September 3, 2024 • 23 mins
On this episode of Rams Revealed, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford reflects on his career and successful 2023 season, a possible future after football, playing alongside wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, trading arms with another quarterback, and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Well.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hello, and welcome to a new season of RAMS Revealed.
I'm your host, JB Long, and here in twenty twenty four,
we are presented by Sleep Number, the RAMS Sleep and
Wellness partner. Our guest is familiar to you. He set
up for his sixteenth NFL season Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford,
who's already called our first audible of twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I did.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
It's right out here in Woodland Hills, at our beautiful
new facility, so I decided to throw the shades on.
I hope everybody's okay with that. JB is nice enough
to have a pair of waiting for himself to play.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Long all right, So you're making a bit of history.
You are transitioning us from Clue to our new home
here in Woodland Hills. I think the studio will be
ready for our next episode of RAMS Reveal, but we're
outdoors here for Game week.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
So yeah, there you are a special bit. Yeah you know,
I'll take it. I like being the inaugural guest. But
it is a beautiful new place. Like you said, there's
still some things worked in progress, but people are working
day and night to get this thing up and rolling
and we appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Well.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
This show is very much about getting to no rain
underneath the helmet at a deeper level. I think you're
familiar with this guest today, but nonetheless I hope we
can cover some new territory. And before we look ahead
to twenty four, it's okay with you. I want to
highlight a couple of things about twenty twenty three. First,
because Matthew, I think there's a case to be made
that it was your best professional season. I know it
didn't end in confetti falling, but statistically I think it
(01:19):
could be agree or disagreeing.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Why I'll agree.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
With you on some parts of it, you know, I
don't know about the statistics, but as far as the
last I would say eight nine games of the season,
I was playing pretty good football and the guys around
me were playing great too, So it definitely was a
fun finish to the season. And frankly, I thought we
played pretty well in the first half of the season.
We just didn't close games out the way we needed to.
And then in the second half of the season you
look back and that's what we were able to do.
You know, We're just we weren't blowing people out all
(01:45):
over the place. But we were finding ways to win
games at the end of it, and you know, that's
what it takes to get wins in this league, and
I was happy to be a part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
There was just this selective aggression, I would call it,
where you were making big plays, but you were also
minimizing mistakes in a way that maybe you hadn't done
as well in your previous years.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
You know. I gotta get a lot of credit to
Sean and the guys you know that are calling plays
and giving me opportunities at the right times. And there
were a couple of times where we were able to
get in and out of some plays that ended up
in being big ones. But yeah, I mean, I think
that's the fine line, right, That's the balance where you're
trying to be explosive because it's so hard to go
fifteen twenty plays, you know, and have no negative plays
(02:24):
and score touchdown on the drive. You gotta have those
chunk plays and so you gotta find ways to get them.
We were able to do that and still avoid a
lot of the negatives, which is a you know, a
sign of good offense.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Is it as fun to play this position as it
was earlier in your career. Now that you're seeing so
many light boxes, so many safeties sitting over the top, Like,
can you still go after it the way that you
might have been a younger day.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Yeah, you know, I think the landscape of the league's
evolved so much. Right Like when I first came in
the league, it was Tampa two and then people were
bringing Mike Mike sam or Mike Nickel and playing three
D three hundred, three D four hundred with the backside drop.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
You know, that was it. That's all.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
You kind of saw a couple, you know, exotic blitzes.
But now it's it's all over the place. Defensive coordinators
have done such a great job of, you know, deterring
big plays. They've said they read the stats too right.
The teams that have explosive, explosive plays score points and
that's a recipe for losing the game. So as on
the defense side of the ball, they've done a great
job of playing everything kind of deep to short, catching it,
having body presence on you know, crossing routes and all
(03:19):
these kind of things that used to be big plays
that are tougher now. So it's it's definitely, it's different.
I feel like I've seen a whole lot more than
obviously I did when I was younger. But it's still
a still a fun position to play, all right, So
twenty three was one of your best.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
The question is do you have an even better one
in your future? You know, I hope, So, I sure hope.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So. You know, I was lucky enough.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I had a little bit of a setback and you know,
missed the game or two last year. But hopefully if
I can stay healthy a game, we can pick up,
you know, kind of where we left off and and
just go out there and try to execute play good football.
It's gonna look different as it does every single year, right,
new pieces up front, new pieces on the outside in
the backfield, all those kind of things. But just as
far as the urgency, the energy to word's going to
(04:00):
execute doing all those kind of things, that's that's what
we're looking for. It's not going to look the exact same,
but you know, I am excited about it and give ourselves.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
A chance to go play with good football.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Matthew, I took a deep dive this offseason in terms
of your Hall of Fame case. Okay, I would like
to believe that you're there if you don't play another down.
I know for almost certain that if you have another
good season, you're in. How much is that possibility of
cementing your legacy play into your desire to keep going.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
It's part of it, but it's not the main driving factor,
you know. I'm still so, you know, blessed to play
this game and really enjoy coming to work every single day,
to work with these guys, to work with the coaches.
I know that I'm a part of something special, whether
that ends with confetti like you said or not. I
know working here and working with Sean and our coaching
staff and these players is something that you know, not
(04:47):
everybody gets a chance to do, and so I appreciate
those opportunities, and I want to continue to do that
as best I can, for as long as I can,
as long as I'm healthy and I feel good about it.
But I'd be lying if I sat there and thought, man,
when I started playing this game, I was doing everything
I could to build a career, right, and then midway
through your career doing everything you can't try and win
games and do all those things and have team success.
And that's still the same goal. But you know, you
(05:09):
got fifteen years in the rearview mirror right now, and
I am proud of what I've been able to accomplish.
And I couldn't have accomplished any of it without the
help of the teammates, coaches and everybody you know along
the way. But it is something that when I started
playing this game, I grew up watching NFL films. I
grew up watching the greats play and wanting to be
a part of that and just having any kind of
(05:29):
an inkling and that could ever be a possibility as
something that's a motivating.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Factor for sure, but it's not the main one.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Mentioned your teammates along the way and that answer, and
I think about Megatron, I think about Cooper Cup, I
think about Pukinnakua and the role that you have played
orchestrating historic NFL seasons for receivers. How much of that
is in your mental trophy case, like special moments helping
them achieve their dreams too?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, it's part of it, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I think I look back on those with, you know,
less reflection towards myself and more towards them, right, I mean,
those are such special players with special seasons. I know
what each and every single one of those guys went
through to be on the field every Sunday and everybody
sees them go out there and make great plays and
have these great seasons, and you go, man, if you
could see them Wednesday through Friday fighting like hell, because
all those guys that had those big seasons, I mean,
(06:16):
their use rate was huge, right, So they're getting the ball,
they're getting hit, they're getting tackled, they're getting covered, all
those kind of things. And to be able to show
up every Sunday for the team and execute and make
plays the way they did, it's incredible. I definitely loved
being able to throw to all those guys and really
all the guys I've ever gotten the chance to throw to.
But those three seasons are really special, and it's really
(06:36):
more credit to those guys than anything else. I Mean,
what they've put their bodies through, they put their mind
through to get out there and go is really really impressive.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
One of the best things I think you have going
for you is what I'm loosely terming like the game
recognized game factor, Like whether it's your guy Dan or
Lotski representing for you. The league executives love you rank
you highly. But more recently there's this young undercurrent of quarterback.
And I'm sure you heard what c J. Stroud and
Caleb Williams said this offseason. But let's pause here and
let our audience listen to those and then I'll ask
(07:05):
you to reflect on them.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
I almost a game Stafford. He is a no, you
don't understand, bro, you saying that. That's all I watched.
I don't watch nobody else. I watched Mahomes at times
because Mahomes then some stuff that like, you can't coach
Stafford dog, he will beat you with the same thing
every time. All that no lick stuff. I got that
from Bruh. Literally, that's one of my big life I'm
(07:27):
I'm a fan of.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
He was like, he's unbelievable. I don't know how.
Speaker 6 (07:31):
I think it was forty six, right on the top
one hundred and fifty six. It was something unbelievable that
he should I.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
Was not happy. But would you put him Matthew Stafford
is probably? I can't. I don't think I can name.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
Two quarterbacks, two three quarterbacks that play a position better
than Matthew Stafford. Wow, not obviously playing right now. I'm
not saying forty two.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
He was forty two. I don't know how he's forty two.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Tell me he's better than Josh Allen. He's better than
like that.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
That's Stafford is Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
All right.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
So the bad news is you're old enough to be
one of the guys that they grew up watching. But
the good news is your reflection. Yeah, I mean, it's
it's really humbling. I remember being in their shoes thinking
about that when I was a young player man, getting
to place against some of the guys that I grew
up watching, and and the amount of respect that I had.
I think it's it's just really humbling that they feel
that way about me. I have a ton of respect
(08:25):
for the way that the younger quarterbacks, including those two
guys you know, are are coming into the league. They
are so ready to play. CJ's year last year was incredible,
the way he played the position no fear, but also
not reckless. I mean, it's it's a tough line to teeter.
We were talking about it earlier, and he did an
incredible job of doing that. He's a, you know, an
(08:45):
unbelievable player, you know, playmaker type guy. And I think
Caleb is going to be the same.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
And uh, you know it's gonna be Uh, it's gonna
be fun to watch their careers when I'm all said
and done, and then they got ten, twelve, fifteen more
years to play, It'll be fun to watch them. But
I do appreciate you know, those guys, you know, saying
those kind words towards my game, and and you know
what small part in their football journey I might have had,
you know, them watching.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Like you said, CJ's already off and rolling, Caleb's about
to begin this journey. And as a former one one yourself,
if he were to come to you and say, hey, Matthew,
what advice would you give to a number one pick?
What would you say in terms of what he's walking
into and how to have sixteenth sustaining success in this league?
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing is it's
a journey, right, you know, you get you get picked
first overall, And and you know, I was in a
little bit of a different situation. We were coming off
an oh to sixteen season in Detroit and really trying
to find our footing as a team. I think Chicago
had a really nice finish to the season. It's got
a chance to be a really solid team this year.
So but I would just say it's a journey man.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Enjoy it.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Know that there's gonna be great plays because he's an
unbelievable talented player, and know that there's gonna be tough moments,
right and I gotta have teammates and coaches you can
lean on in those situations. I know I did, and
I appreciate those guys growing up. But just enjoy it
and know that it is a right. You don't have
to go out there and win the super Bowl in
your first game. Shoot, go play great and get a win.
That's awesome, but you know it's it's gonna take time
(10:06):
and you're gonna continue to get better. And I think
he's got a really good head on his shoulders. I
know they've got a great coaching staff over there as well,
so he's gonna he's gonna have a good future.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
So those are the young up and comers. You're at
the other end of the spectrum. Only Aaron Rodgers an
older starter in this league now, And so the question, naturally,
how many more years do you want to do this?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Truthfully?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Is there any way you can answer that question before
February of twenty twenty five. No, there isn't.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
And you know that's that's great perspective for you to
know that, because that is the truth, you know, I
mean that is the truth. Is I love playing this game.
I'm having a blast out here practicing, getting ready to
play you know, football games and get going. But I
don't know what the future holds for me. I do
know that when I'm out here on the grass, I
have an unbelievable time. I love competing. I feel like
I can still do it at a high level. But
(10:49):
you know, those things are for decisions that are down
the road. I'm enjoining the moment. I'm embracing the moment.
I got a beautiful family at home that I love
being around.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
You know.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
So there's a lot of things to think about. But
I still do love playing this game.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Okay, So when you do call it quits, though, do
you have a sense of what retirement might look like like?
Do you see yourself on the Tom Brady track, where
like ownership or TV might be a thing. Do you
want to be like the Tony Romo making run an
amateur golf? Do we never see you again? If you're
coaching eighth grade girls basketball.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Yeah, I don't know, you know, some maybe maybe a
combination of all three minus the golf. I don't know
that I can do it. Tony's got a hell of
a swing. He's a great player. But now I enjoy
playing the game of golf. I probably will still enjoy
being around the game of football, whether that's you know,
you know capacity working with the team, or if that's
you know, on on the television screen wearing sunglasses trying to,
(11:40):
you know, see if I can get the whole crew.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
To do it with me.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
But no, I think you know, some capacity of football
for sure. But I definitely feel like I have spent
a lot of time away from my family playing this game.
So I want to have opportunities to make sure that
I'm around as much as I possibly can because I
love being around him. So it'll be it'll be a balance,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Sean keeps talking about your ten game and how that's
unpacked your football. Yeah, how much are you playing in
the offseason? And what's your USTA?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
No ranking? No ranking, But uh no, I do. I
do like to play. Kelly's a really good player. Uh
she picked it up a couple of years ago and
it has been playing a lot, so I've been able
to play with her some good groups around the neighborhood.
It's fun. I love it. It's a good workout. But
I don't know about my uh my USTA ranking, I don't.
I don't think I'll ever have one of those you know,
who's sneaky, good player, never talks about is sewn. Sean's
(12:27):
a good player. I hit with him one time and uh,
he's exactly what you would think, right, spark plug just
rips it back and covers the covers the court pretty well.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I think he's a Macinroe probably, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
One hundred percent. Yes, there's some rackets smashing.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
You need to bring a couple of rackets, I would think, uh,
if I know him.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Speaking of Sean, there was that viral clip of you
in the huddle. You can already yeah, I'm going with this.
How did that play? Behind the scenes, just out of curiosity?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
It was great. He knows uh, he knows. You know that.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Uh uh, you know that's the way it goes on
game day. It's dialed up, the you know, the energy.
You know, he's he's a great coach for a reason, right,
He's a communicator. He wants to sit there and tell us, hey, man,
these are all the little coaching points along the way
of this certain play. And I always tell him, man,
it's always worse during the TV time out because he's
got unlimited time with the button down and he wants
to tell me all these things. That was a crunch
time moment in that game, and there were some minute,
(13:19):
you know, coaching points on that play. But the best
part about that is, you know, it's loud enough. You
know in my hear that the guys in the huddle
can hear it. And they're like, is he still going.
I'm like, he's still going, guys, And they're like, and
they can hear it and love it, so they play
it up to it's it's a whole lot of fun.
But you know, he only does all that stuff because
he loves us and wants us to play as good
(13:39):
as we can and win games. And and as part
of it, Man, I love working with him. It's a
blast to uh, to get to experience that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Good news is you will not have any chance of
hearing him this Sunday anyway.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
That's exactly right. It's gonna be a it's gonna be
a heck of environment in Detroit. Last time we played
there in the playoffs, it was crazy loud. I assume
you know, a Sunday night football to open the season.
I remember playing a Sunday night opener I believe it was.
It was either Sunday night or Monday night against the
Giants back in the day, and that place was rocking
and roll and then we weren't coming off of, you know,
a run like they did. So, uh, it's gonna be
(14:11):
a it's gonna be a fun environment, a tough environment
for some of the young guys on our team that
haven't played in those scenarios.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
It'll be a new thing for them, but it'll be fun.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
I wrote down the addcibel level of one thirty four
to three is the new record from their playoff run
last year. That's what they're trying to break this week.
But I mentioned the thing in the huddle because of continuity, right,
and one of the things you're saying there to your
huddle is I got it.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I got it.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
And that's what I took away from that moment, which
is year four with him, back to back with Laflor.
Have you ever felt this level of I got it.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Uh No, I mean I feel really comfortable in what
we're trying to do, how we're trying to attack defenses
week in and week out. Where are personnel fits in
those things? How I can utilize you know, our rules,
you know, because basically football turns into a little bit
of a rules game at some point, you know, And
how can I utilize our rules get our guys in
the in the best position to go out there and
try to succeed. And you know, Sean has unbelievable plans
(15:01):
every single week where to be honest, my job is
easy sometimes, right. I just go out there and execut
what we said we were gonna do, and it plays
out just like we thought. Now you go into a
season opener, there's some unknown there, right, And so okay, Matthew,
how can you help us in certain situations? Try to
get us into something a little bit better and or
fix a small problem here there to help us have
(15:21):
a successful play.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
It feels like as much continuity as you've ever had
in your career too.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Yeah, definitely at the skill position spot, you know. I mean,
we have a lot of guys that are coming back,
you know, I think you know, up front, you know,
it's pretty darn clean too, you know, when you look
around the league and the amount of turnover that there is.
I feel like on the offensive side of the ball,
we're on the low end of the spectrum this years,
which is always nice. But you got to go out
there and prove it again, you know, every single season
is hey, you know, they roll the ball out and
(15:46):
you got to go prove yourself again every single week.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And we're looking forward to the opportunity. I'm a believer
in the Cooper Cup Comeback Tour. I know you are too,
like you're kind of the campaign manager of it behind
the scenes. I'm sure now that everyone's drafted their fantasy
football teams, can you give us some content as to
why you think it's gonna work this year?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
I mean I think he's the first time he's really
been healthy for about two years, you know, and and
that's that's such a huge part of it. You know,
I think he's worked his tail off this offseason. He
and Puka both you know, getting together, working out doing
their thing. It's it's really impressive to see what he's done.
And he's a guy that you know, you sit there
and he's getting a little bit older, and you're going, hey,
should we should we hold him out of this? Shall
(16:24):
we hold him out of that? Try to keep his
legs fresh? And he is so smart and understands. He says, hey, man,
I met my best when I just work, you know,
and I just put the work in, I get strong,
I get in great shape. I do all these things.
And and he's done that this year. And kudos to
our guys in the you know, in the office there
that have let him do that. And uh, you know,
it looks really good.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Right now, continue with the thought on opening weekend in
Detroit at Ford Field, what would you say to Rams fans,
who I think are understandably a bit spooked to get
the this stage of the summer and to hear that
you're making a shift on your offensive line, that Jonah
and Steve are gonna flip going into this silent count environment.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Yeah, you know, I'm not too worried about it. You know,
I think the you know, Joe as a veteran player,
we made a switch a couple of years ago and
during training camp, you know, in twenty twenty one, when
I first got here, it wasn't quite as late just
because of the fact that Jonah really wasn't practicing. Had
he been practicing, I think that switch probably would have
happened a bit earlier, you know. But I do think
we're just finding our way to get the best five
(17:18):
out there and the best position to go succeed.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
You know. I have no qualms about how he's gonna
play or how we're gonna play. Up front.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
I was reminded of what I think are actually my
favorite moments of yours as a ram, kind of reflecting
on last year's wild Card game, and one was this
Super Bowl when you kind of go after I think
Mike Hilton first, but then you end up with von
Bell kind of defending Cooper Cup. And then again last
year when you go up and have it work with
Kirby Joseph. And this is kind of like my Chris
Farley Saturday Night Live, like Paul McCartney moment. Like this
(17:45):
is not really a question. This is just me saying like, hey,
that was pretty cool. Do you remember that?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Those are good skits?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
But like what is that? How does it come out
of you? And why does it matter?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (17:57):
I mean that's just care for my teammates, you know,
And and I care so much about what these guys
go through. You know, there's sometimes things said about, hey, Matthew,
you play through stuff, you're tough, this, that and the other.
I'm like, you guys don't know the half of it.
You know, like I get hit five ten times a game.
Maybe these guys are going through the same thing I'm
going through, and they're out there, you know, runner routes
(18:17):
getting hit, blocking defensive end and the deal. Last year,
I just felt like, you know, I don't like it
when guys in this you know, for one reason or
another take shots of guys that I feel like are
not the way the game should be played at that moment.
And you know that that was something that had you know,
been on tape, you know, in previous weeks he had
done that, and you look back in games past our
game and the same kind of thing is showing up.
(18:38):
So I was just I was frustrated for my guy
in the moment, and really just protective of the guys
that I get. You know, I'm in the huddle with
I care so much about him and want those guys
to be, you know, able to finish seasons and and
do all that kind of stuff. Is it important I
don't know, you know, I just feel like it's the
right thing to do, so I just go for it.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Definitely some of the backdrop for the game. As the
RAMS rematch with the lines time Now for a new segment,
we're calling the wind Down Rock to you by Sleep Number,
and each week here on Rams Revealed, we'll get insight
into how sleep and recovery impact performance in the NFL. So, Matthew,
the question is what does your bedroom bedtime routine look like?
And do you have certain rituals involved?
Speaker 4 (19:19):
You know, I hope I have the rituals that everybody
else has, like brushing your teeth and doing all those things.
So that's part of it for sure. But you know,
I think part of my bed time routine really revolves
around my kids too, right, I Mean it's wind down
time with them, trying to create good habits for them
as well, you know, whether that's a bath or brushing
their teeth, three to story, all those kind of things
get the girls to bed. And then, to be honest
(19:40):
with you, I'm up so early. I'm usually right there
behind them, so I'm going from their room to my room,
you know, doing all the normal things, just trying to
get myself in the mode to to get ready to
go to sleep. And then obviously I have a I
have a sleep number bed in my house and hoping
that thing, I turned the cooler on and try to
get to bed as soon as I possibly can. But
I'm pretty bit sick when it comes down to it.
(20:01):
But I do enjoy sleeping in my sleep number.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Thanks for that. Now, let's turn out the lights on
this episode of Rams revealed with a few rapid fire
questions to finish. Okay, right, if I made you Roger
Goodell for a day, so you're the commissioner, Okay, what's
one NFL rule that you would adjust?
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Not so much a rule, but a thing I would push,
you know, for the ownership. It would be to try
to have grass in every single stadium as soon as possible.
I feel like from a safety standpoint, not only lower
body injuries, but you watch people hit their head on
the turf, and then they hit their head on the grass,
and the guys that you know hit their head on
the grass more often than not pop up and the
guys hit their head on the turf don't. So that'd
be one I would I would try to push for.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
All Right, So, you know the start bench cut game.
I'm gonna get you three, I think. All right, so
here's your three under center, pistol shotgun Okay, bench cut.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Oh man, that's tough. Uh.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I'd probably start shotgun. Uh, you can do it all
from everywhere. To be honest, with the start shotgun, we'll
bench pistol and we'll cut under center.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Really okay, I mean I know it's a no win situation.
Here's another bad news good news. I have to take
your right arm Okay, Okay, it's gone, But the good
news is you get to trade it with anyone else
on the planet, past or present. Who would it be
right arm Ooh?
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Uh, I'll go Brett Favre. He was fun to watch man.
He had a cannon and ran around, made plays. But yeah,
I would say Brett was a fun on him.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Or Dan Marino.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I feel like very little adjustment there. If you got
either one of theirs, you could keep doing exactly what
you want to do. And part of the reason I
asked is because last week in Houston, our fans saw
before that preseason finale, Cooper cut through like a flat
footed fifty yard er to you in the end zoneh
you break down that throwing motion.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Yeah, no, he's it's a little muscly as you might think.
Uh you know, Cooper, big weight room guy, a little muscly,
but you know he can get it out there.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
He's always talking to me about, hey man, do you
think with a year of training could I be a
third string quarterback? And I'm like, I think it's gonna
take a little bit more than a year. And you
got to stop thing waits immediately. But uh he uh
he can throw it around, which is fun, which you
know is surprising considering you look at his passer rating
as a pro and I think it's pretty bad for four.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Yeah, oh for.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Four and I had memory hold the one the super
Bowl in Philly.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Special.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Yeah, So, I mean there were some opportunities to show
up in games and uh, you know, he kind of
withered under the pressure.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
But it's quarterbacks, not for everybody.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
After last year in Dallas, I swore I never wanted
to see you catch another pass and then you go
and do it in Auxnard to yourself.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
I didn't stop doing it. Yeah, I yeah, that was
a that was an interesting one. I just wanted to
prevent the interception more than anything to be honest.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Matthew, thank you for your time for sure's to your
best season yet. We'll look forward to more last with
you in Coop this season on on nine and Die
for Now go get him in Detroit, And thanks to
all of you for joining us for a season debut
of Rams revealed presented by sleep Number for Matthew Stafford
on JV Long
Well.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hello, and welcome to a new season of RAMS Revealed.
I'm your host, JB Long, and here in twenty twenty four,
we are presented by Sleep Number, the RAMS Sleep and
Wellness partner. Our guest is familiar to you. He set
up for his sixteenth NFL season Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford,
who's already called our first audible of twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I did.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
It's right out here in Woodland Hills, at our beautiful
new facility, so I decided to throw the shades on.
I hope everybody's okay with that. JB is nice enough
to have a pair of waiting for himself to play.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Long all right, So you're making a bit of history.
You are transitioning us from Clue to our new home
here in Woodland Hills. I think the studio will be
ready for our next episode of RAMS Reveal, but we're
outdoors here for Game week.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
So yeah, there you are a special bit. Yeah you know,
I'll take it. I like being the inaugural guest. But
it is a beautiful new place. Like you said, there's
still some things worked in progress, but people are working
day and night to get this thing up and rolling
and we appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Well.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
This show is very much about getting to no rain
underneath the helmet at a deeper level. I think you're
familiar with this guest today, but nonetheless I hope we
can cover some new territory. And before we look ahead
to twenty four, it's okay with you. I want to
highlight a couple of things about twenty twenty three. First,
because Matthew, I think there's a case to be made
that it was your best professional season. I know it
didn't end in confetti falling, but statistically I think it
(01:19):
could be agree or disagreeing.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Why I'll agree.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
With you on some parts of it, you know, I
don't know about the statistics, but as far as the
last I would say eight nine games of the season,
I was playing pretty good football and the guys around
me were playing great too, So it definitely was a
fun finish to the season. And frankly, I thought we
played pretty well in the first half of the season.
We just didn't close games out the way we needed to.
And then in the second half of the season you
look back and that's what we were able to do.
You know, We're just we weren't blowing people out all
(01:45):
over the place. But we were finding ways to win
games at the end of it, and you know, that's
what it takes to get wins in this league, and
I was happy to be a part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
There was just this selective aggression, I would call it,
where you were making big plays, but you were also
minimizing mistakes in a way that maybe you hadn't done
as well in your previous years.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
You know. I gotta get a lot of credit to
Sean and the guys you know that are calling plays
and giving me opportunities at the right times. And there
were a couple of times where we were able to
get in and out of some plays that ended up
in being big ones. But yeah, I mean, I think
that's the fine line, right, That's the balance where you're
trying to be explosive because it's so hard to go
fifteen twenty plays, you know, and have no negative plays
(02:24):
and score touchdown on the drive. You gotta have those
chunk plays and so you gotta find ways to get them.
We were able to do that and still avoid a
lot of the negatives, which is a you know, a
sign of good offense.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Is it as fun to play this position as it
was earlier in your career. Now that you're seeing so
many light boxes, so many safeties sitting over the top, Like,
can you still go after it the way that you
might have been a younger day.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Yeah, you know, I think the landscape of the league's
evolved so much. Right Like when I first came in
the league, it was Tampa two and then people were
bringing Mike Mike sam or Mike Nickel and playing three
D three hundred, three D four hundred with the backside drop.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
You know, that was it. That's all.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
You kind of saw a couple, you know, exotic blitzes.
But now it's it's all over the place. Defensive coordinators
have done such a great job of, you know, deterring
big plays. They've said they read the stats too right.
The teams that have explosive, explosive plays score points and
that's a recipe for losing the game. So as on
the defense side of the ball, they've done a great
job of playing everything kind of deep to short, catching it,
having body presence on you know, crossing routes and all
(03:19):
these kind of things that used to be big plays
that are tougher now. So it's it's definitely, it's different.
I feel like I've seen a whole lot more than
obviously I did when I was younger. But it's still
a still a fun position to play, all right, So
twenty three was one of your best.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
The question is do you have an even better one
in your future? You know, I hope, So, I sure hope.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So. You know, I was lucky enough.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I had a little bit of a setback and you know,
missed the game or two last year. But hopefully if
I can stay healthy a game, we can pick up,
you know, kind of where we left off and and
just go out there and try to execute play good football.
It's gonna look different as it does every single year, right,
new pieces up front, new pieces on the outside in
the backfield, all those kind of things. But just as
far as the urgency, the energy to word's going to
(04:00):
execute doing all those kind of things, that's that's what
we're looking for. It's not going to look the exact same,
but you know, I am excited about it and give ourselves.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
A chance to go play with good football.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Matthew, I took a deep dive this offseason in terms
of your Hall of Fame case. Okay, I would like
to believe that you're there if you don't play another down.
I know for almost certain that if you have another
good season, you're in. How much is that possibility of
cementing your legacy play into your desire to keep going.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
It's part of it, but it's not the main driving factor,
you know. I'm still so, you know, blessed to play
this game and really enjoy coming to work every single day,
to work with these guys, to work with the coaches.
I know that I'm a part of something special, whether
that ends with confetti like you said or not. I
know working here and working with Sean and our coaching
staff and these players is something that you know, not
(04:47):
everybody gets a chance to do, and so I appreciate
those opportunities, and I want to continue to do that
as best I can, for as long as I can,
as long as I'm healthy and I feel good about it.
But I'd be lying if I sat there and thought, man,
when I started playing this game, I was doing everything
I could to build a career, right, and then midway
through your career doing everything you can't try and win
games and do all those things and have team success.
And that's still the same goal. But you know, you
(05:09):
got fifteen years in the rearview mirror right now, and
I am proud of what I've been able to accomplish.
And I couldn't have accomplished any of it without the
help of the teammates, coaches and everybody you know along
the way. But it is something that when I started
playing this game, I grew up watching NFL films. I
grew up watching the greats play and wanting to be
a part of that and just having any kind of
(05:29):
an inkling and that could ever be a possibility as
something that's a motivating.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Factor for sure, but it's not the main one.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Mentioned your teammates along the way and that answer, and
I think about Megatron, I think about Cooper Cup, I
think about Pukinnakua and the role that you have played
orchestrating historic NFL seasons for receivers. How much of that
is in your mental trophy case, like special moments helping
them achieve their dreams too?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, it's part of it, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I think I look back on those with, you know,
less reflection towards myself and more towards them, right, I mean,
those are such special players with special seasons. I know
what each and every single one of those guys went
through to be on the field every Sunday and everybody
sees them go out there and make great plays and
have these great seasons, and you go, man, if you
could see them Wednesday through Friday fighting like hell, because
all those guys that had those big seasons, I mean,
(06:16):
their use rate was huge, right, So they're getting the ball,
they're getting hit, they're getting tackled, they're getting covered, all
those kind of things. And to be able to show
up every Sunday for the team and execute and make
plays the way they did, it's incredible. I definitely loved
being able to throw to all those guys and really
all the guys I've ever gotten the chance to throw to.
But those three seasons are really special, and it's really
(06:36):
more credit to those guys than anything else. I Mean,
what they've put their bodies through, they put their mind
through to get out there and go is really really impressive.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
One of the best things I think you have going
for you is what I'm loosely terming like the game
recognized game factor, Like whether it's your guy Dan or
Lotski representing for you. The league executives love you rank
you highly. But more recently there's this young undercurrent of quarterback.
And I'm sure you heard what c J. Stroud and
Caleb Williams said this offseason. But let's pause here and
let our audience listen to those and then I'll ask
(07:05):
you to reflect on them.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
I almost a game Stafford. He is a no, you
don't understand, bro, you saying that. That's all I watched.
I don't watch nobody else. I watched Mahomes at times
because Mahomes then some stuff that like, you can't coach
Stafford dog, he will beat you with the same thing
every time. All that no lick stuff. I got that
from Bruh. Literally, that's one of my big life I'm
(07:27):
I'm a fan of.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
He was like, he's unbelievable. I don't know how.
Speaker 6 (07:31):
I think it was forty six, right on the top
one hundred and fifty six. It was something unbelievable that
he should I.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
Was not happy. But would you put him Matthew Stafford
is probably? I can't. I don't think I can name.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
Two quarterbacks, two three quarterbacks that play a position better
than Matthew Stafford. Wow, not obviously playing right now. I'm
not saying forty two.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
He was forty two. I don't know how he's forty two.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Tell me he's better than Josh Allen. He's better than
like that.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
That's Stafford is Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
All right.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
So the bad news is you're old enough to be
one of the guys that they grew up watching. But
the good news is your reflection. Yeah, I mean, it's
it's really humbling. I remember being in their shoes thinking
about that when I was a young player man, getting
to place against some of the guys that I grew
up watching, and and the amount of respect that I had.
I think it's it's just really humbling that they feel
that way about me. I have a ton of respect
(08:25):
for the way that the younger quarterbacks, including those two
guys you know, are are coming into the league. They
are so ready to play. CJ's year last year was incredible,
the way he played the position no fear, but also
not reckless. I mean, it's it's a tough line to teeter.
We were talking about it earlier, and he did an
incredible job of doing that. He's a, you know, an
(08:45):
unbelievable player, you know, playmaker type guy. And I think
Caleb is going to be the same.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
And uh, you know it's gonna be Uh, it's gonna
be fun to watch their careers when I'm all said
and done, and then they got ten, twelve, fifteen more
years to play, It'll be fun to watch them. But
I do appreciate you know, those guys, you know, saying
those kind words towards my game, and and you know
what small part in their football journey I might have had,
you know, them watching.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Like you said, CJ's already off and rolling, Caleb's about
to begin this journey. And as a former one one yourself,
if he were to come to you and say, hey, Matthew,
what advice would you give to a number one pick?
What would you say in terms of what he's walking
into and how to have sixteenth sustaining success in this league?
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing is it's
a journey, right, you know, you get you get picked
first overall, And and you know, I was in a
little bit of a different situation. We were coming off
an oh to sixteen season in Detroit and really trying
to find our footing as a team. I think Chicago
had a really nice finish to the season. It's got
a chance to be a really solid team this year.
So but I would just say it's a journey man.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Enjoy it.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Know that there's gonna be great plays because he's an
unbelievable talented player, and know that there's gonna be tough moments,
right and I gotta have teammates and coaches you can
lean on in those situations. I know I did, and
I appreciate those guys growing up. But just enjoy it
and know that it is a right. You don't have
to go out there and win the super Bowl in
your first game. Shoot, go play great and get a win.
That's awesome, but you know it's it's gonna take time
(10:06):
and you're gonna continue to get better. And I think
he's got a really good head on his shoulders. I
know they've got a great coaching staff over there as well,
so he's gonna he's gonna have a good future.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
So those are the young up and comers. You're at
the other end of the spectrum. Only Aaron Rodgers an
older starter in this league now, And so the question, naturally,
how many more years do you want to do this?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Truthfully?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Is there any way you can answer that question before
February of twenty twenty five. No, there isn't.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
And you know that's that's great perspective for you to
know that, because that is the truth, you know, I
mean that is the truth. Is I love playing this game.
I'm having a blast out here practicing, getting ready to
play you know, football games and get going. But I
don't know what the future holds for me. I do
know that when I'm out here on the grass, I
have an unbelievable time. I love competing. I feel like
I can still do it at a high level. But
(10:49):
you know, those things are for decisions that are down
the road. I'm enjoining the moment. I'm embracing the moment.
I got a beautiful family at home that I love
being around.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
You know.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
So there's a lot of things to think about. But
I still do love playing this game.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Okay, So when you do call it quits, though, do
you have a sense of what retirement might look like like?
Do you see yourself on the Tom Brady track, where
like ownership or TV might be a thing. Do you
want to be like the Tony Romo making run an
amateur golf? Do we never see you again? If you're
coaching eighth grade girls basketball.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Yeah, I don't know, you know, some maybe maybe a
combination of all three minus the golf. I don't know
that I can do it. Tony's got a hell of
a swing. He's a great player. But now I enjoy
playing the game of golf. I probably will still enjoy
being around the game of football, whether that's you know,
you know capacity working with the team, or if that's
you know, on on the television screen wearing sunglasses trying to,
(11:40):
you know, see if I can get the whole crew.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
To do it with me.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
But no, I think you know, some capacity of football
for sure. But I definitely feel like I have spent
a lot of time away from my family playing this game.
So I want to have opportunities to make sure that
I'm around as much as I possibly can because I
love being around him. So it'll be it'll be a balance,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Sean keeps talking about your ten game and how that's
unpacked your football. Yeah, how much are you playing in
the offseason? And what's your USTA?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
No ranking? No ranking, But uh no, I do. I
do like to play. Kelly's a really good player. Uh
she picked it up a couple of years ago and
it has been playing a lot, so I've been able
to play with her some good groups around the neighborhood.
It's fun. I love it. It's a good workout. But
I don't know about my uh my USTA ranking, I don't.
I don't think I'll ever have one of those you know,
who's sneaky, good player, never talks about is sewn. Sean's
(12:27):
a good player. I hit with him one time and uh,
he's exactly what you would think, right, spark plug just
rips it back and covers the covers the court pretty well.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I think he's a Macinroe probably, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
One hundred percent. Yes, there's some rackets smashing.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
You need to bring a couple of rackets, I would think, uh,
if I know him.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Speaking of Sean, there was that viral clip of you
in the huddle. You can already yeah, I'm going with this.
How did that play? Behind the scenes, just out of curiosity?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
It was great. He knows uh, he knows. You know that.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Uh uh, you know that's the way it goes on
game day. It's dialed up, the you know, the energy.
You know, he's he's a great coach for a reason, right,
He's a communicator. He wants to sit there and tell us, hey, man,
these are all the little coaching points along the way
of this certain play. And I always tell him, man,
it's always worse during the TV time out because he's
got unlimited time with the button down and he wants
to tell me all these things. That was a crunch
time moment in that game, and there were some minute,
(13:19):
you know, coaching points on that play. But the best
part about that is, you know, it's loud enough. You
know in my hear that the guys in the huddle
can hear it. And they're like, is he still going.
I'm like, he's still going, guys, And they're like, and
they can hear it and love it, so they play
it up to it's it's a whole lot of fun.
But you know, he only does all that stuff because
he loves us and wants us to play as good
(13:39):
as we can and win games. And and as part
of it, Man, I love working with him. It's a
blast to uh, to get to experience that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Good news is you will not have any chance of
hearing him this Sunday anyway.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
That's exactly right. It's gonna be a it's gonna be
a heck of environment in Detroit. Last time we played
there in the playoffs, it was crazy loud. I assume
you know, a Sunday night football to open the season.
I remember playing a Sunday night opener I believe it was.
It was either Sunday night or Monday night against the
Giants back in the day, and that place was rocking
and roll and then we weren't coming off of, you know,
a run like they did. So, uh, it's gonna be
(14:11):
a it's gonna be a fun environment, a tough environment
for some of the young guys on our team that
haven't played in those scenarios.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
It'll be a new thing for them, but it'll be fun.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
I wrote down the addcibel level of one thirty four
to three is the new record from their playoff run
last year. That's what they're trying to break this week.
But I mentioned the thing in the huddle because of continuity, right,
and one of the things you're saying there to your
huddle is I got it.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I got it.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
And that's what I took away from that moment, which
is year four with him, back to back with Laflor.
Have you ever felt this level of I got it.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Uh No, I mean I feel really comfortable in what
we're trying to do, how we're trying to attack defenses
week in and week out. Where are personnel fits in
those things? How I can utilize you know, our rules,
you know, because basically football turns into a little bit
of a rules game at some point, you know, And
how can I utilize our rules get our guys in
the in the best position to go out there and
try to succeed. And you know, Sean has unbelievable plans
(15:01):
every single week where to be honest, my job is
easy sometimes, right. I just go out there and execut
what we said we were gonna do, and it plays
out just like we thought. Now you go into a
season opener, there's some unknown there, right, And so okay, Matthew,
how can you help us in certain situations? Try to
get us into something a little bit better and or
fix a small problem here there to help us have
(15:21):
a successful play.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
It feels like as much continuity as you've ever had
in your career too.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Yeah, definitely at the skill position spot, you know. I mean,
we have a lot of guys that are coming back,
you know, I think you know, up front, you know,
it's pretty darn clean too, you know, when you look
around the league and the amount of turnover that there is.
I feel like on the offensive side of the ball,
we're on the low end of the spectrum this years,
which is always nice. But you got to go out
there and prove it again, you know, every single season
is hey, you know, they roll the ball out and
(15:46):
you got to go prove yourself again every single week.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And we're looking forward to the opportunity. I'm a believer
in the Cooper Cup Comeback Tour. I know you are too,
like you're kind of the campaign manager of it behind
the scenes. I'm sure now that everyone's drafted their fantasy
football teams, can you give us some content as to
why you think it's gonna work this year?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
I mean I think he's the first time he's really
been healthy for about two years, you know, and and
that's that's such a huge part of it. You know,
I think he's worked his tail off this offseason. He
and Puka both you know, getting together, working out doing
their thing. It's it's really impressive to see what he's done.
And he's a guy that you know, you sit there
and he's getting a little bit older, and you're going, hey,
should we should we hold him out of this? Shall
(16:24):
we hold him out of that? Try to keep his
legs fresh? And he is so smart and understands. He says, hey, man,
I met my best when I just work, you know,
and I just put the work in, I get strong,
I get in great shape. I do all these things.
And and he's done that this year. And kudos to
our guys in the you know, in the office there
that have let him do that. And uh, you know,
it looks really good.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Right now, continue with the thought on opening weekend in
Detroit at Ford Field, what would you say to Rams fans,
who I think are understandably a bit spooked to get
the this stage of the summer and to hear that
you're making a shift on your offensive line, that Jonah
and Steve are gonna flip going into this silent count environment.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Yeah, you know, I'm not too worried about it. You know,
I think the you know, Joe as a veteran player,
we made a switch a couple of years ago and
during training camp, you know, in twenty twenty one, when
I first got here, it wasn't quite as late just
because of the fact that Jonah really wasn't practicing. Had
he been practicing, I think that switch probably would have
happened a bit earlier, you know. But I do think
we're just finding our way to get the best five
(17:18):
out there and the best position to go succeed.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
You know. I have no qualms about how he's gonna
play or how we're gonna play. Up front.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
I was reminded of what I think are actually my
favorite moments of yours as a ram, kind of reflecting
on last year's wild Card game, and one was this
Super Bowl when you kind of go after I think
Mike Hilton first, but then you end up with von
Bell kind of defending Cooper Cup. And then again last
year when you go up and have it work with
Kirby Joseph. And this is kind of like my Chris
Farley Saturday Night Live, like Paul McCartney moment. Like this
(17:45):
is not really a question. This is just me saying like, hey,
that was pretty cool. Do you remember that?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Those are good skits?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
But like what is that? How does it come out
of you? And why does it matter?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (17:57):
I mean that's just care for my teammates, you know,
And and I care so much about what these guys
go through. You know, there's sometimes things said about, hey, Matthew,
you play through stuff, you're tough, this, that and the other.
I'm like, you guys don't know the half of it.
You know, like I get hit five ten times a game.
Maybe these guys are going through the same thing I'm
going through, and they're out there, you know, runner routes
(18:17):
getting hit, blocking defensive end and the deal. Last year,
I just felt like, you know, I don't like it
when guys in this you know, for one reason or
another take shots of guys that I feel like are
not the way the game should be played at that moment.
And you know that that was something that had you know,
been on tape, you know, in previous weeks he had
done that, and you look back in games past our
game and the same kind of thing is showing up.
(18:38):
So I was just I was frustrated for my guy
in the moment, and really just protective of the guys
that I get. You know, I'm in the huddle with
I care so much about him and want those guys
to be, you know, able to finish seasons and and
do all that kind of stuff. Is it important I
don't know, you know, I just feel like it's the
right thing to do, so I just go for it.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Definitely some of the backdrop for the game. As the
RAMS rematch with the lines time Now for a new segment,
we're calling the wind Down Rock to you by Sleep Number,
and each week here on Rams Revealed, we'll get insight
into how sleep and recovery impact performance in the NFL. So, Matthew,
the question is what does your bedroom bedtime routine look like?
And do you have certain rituals involved?
Speaker 4 (19:19):
You know, I hope I have the rituals that everybody
else has, like brushing your teeth and doing all those things.
So that's part of it for sure. But you know,
I think part of my bed time routine really revolves
around my kids too, right, I Mean it's wind down
time with them, trying to create good habits for them
as well, you know, whether that's a bath or brushing
their teeth, three to story, all those kind of things
get the girls to bed. And then, to be honest
(19:40):
with you, I'm up so early. I'm usually right there
behind them, so I'm going from their room to my room,
you know, doing all the normal things, just trying to
get myself in the mode to to get ready to
go to sleep. And then obviously I have a I
have a sleep number bed in my house and hoping
that thing, I turned the cooler on and try to
get to bed as soon as I possibly can. But
I'm pretty bit sick when it comes down to it.
(20:01):
But I do enjoy sleeping in my sleep number.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Thanks for that. Now, let's turn out the lights on
this episode of Rams revealed with a few rapid fire
questions to finish. Okay, right, if I made you Roger
Goodell for a day, so you're the commissioner, Okay, what's
one NFL rule that you would adjust?
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Not so much a rule, but a thing I would push,
you know, for the ownership. It would be to try
to have grass in every single stadium as soon as possible.
I feel like from a safety standpoint, not only lower
body injuries, but you watch people hit their head on
the turf, and then they hit their head on the grass,
and the guys that you know hit their head on
the grass more often than not pop up and the
guys hit their head on the turf don't. So that'd
be one I would I would try to push for.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
All Right, So, you know the start bench cut game.
I'm gonna get you three, I think. All right, so
here's your three under center, pistol shotgun Okay, bench cut.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Oh man, that's tough. Uh.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I'd probably start shotgun. Uh, you can do it all
from everywhere. To be honest, with the start shotgun, we'll
bench pistol and we'll cut under center.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Really okay, I mean I know it's a no win situation.
Here's another bad news good news. I have to take
your right arm Okay, Okay, it's gone, But the good
news is you get to trade it with anyone else
on the planet, past or present. Who would it be
right arm Ooh?
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Uh, I'll go Brett Favre. He was fun to watch man.
He had a cannon and ran around, made plays. But yeah,
I would say Brett was a fun on him.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Or Dan Marino.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I feel like very little adjustment there. If you got
either one of theirs, you could keep doing exactly what
you want to do. And part of the reason I
asked is because last week in Houston, our fans saw
before that preseason finale, Cooper cut through like a flat
footed fifty yard er to you in the end zoneh
you break down that throwing motion.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Yeah, no, he's it's a little muscly as you might think.
Uh you know, Cooper, big weight room guy, a little muscly,
but you know he can get it out there.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
He's always talking to me about, hey man, do you
think with a year of training could I be a
third string quarterback? And I'm like, I think it's gonna
take a little bit more than a year. And you
got to stop thing waits immediately. But uh he uh
he can throw it around, which is fun, which you
know is surprising considering you look at his passer rating
as a pro and I think it's pretty bad for four.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Yeah, oh for.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Four and I had memory hold the one the super
Bowl in Philly.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Special.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Yeah, So, I mean there were some opportunities to show
up in games and uh, you know, he kind of
withered under the pressure.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
But it's quarterbacks, not for everybody.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
After last year in Dallas, I swore I never wanted
to see you catch another pass and then you go
and do it in Auxnard to yourself.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
I didn't stop doing it. Yeah, I yeah, that was
a that was an interesting one. I just wanted to
prevent the interception more than anything to be honest.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Matthew, thank you for your time for sure's to your
best season yet. We'll look forward to more last with
you in Coop this season on on nine and Die
for Now go get him in Detroit, And thanks to
all of you for joining us for a season debut
of Rams revealed presented by sleep Number for Matthew Stafford
on JV Long
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