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June 5, 2025 • 48 mins
Longtime NFL Columnist John McClain joined the program and shared his thoughts on the Texans and OTAs, what awaits next week in mandatory minicamp, and a whole lot more.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's happened? Everybody?

Speaker 2 (00:01):
Welcome in to the Thursday ED issue that Texans All
Access from the Honday Texans Radio studio. I'm your host
this evening, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter and as
Mark says, and Mark is on a very well deserved break.
He's doing something very very cool. I' let him tell
you about it when he gets back. But you know, Thursday,
it's Death of Taxes. And John McClain very reliable to general.

(00:25):
I'd love to see him at this time. And I General,
how are you doing? Receivedar my friend John.

Speaker 3 (00:30):
I'm doing great? How are you?

Speaker 1 (00:33):
You know?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
It's kind of football time and kind of not I mean,
the off season's going pretty quickly.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
So let's start right here. John. I know you out
of OTAs.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
You saw the same thing everybody else did that CJ
Stroud didn't throw.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
We heard what Themiko Ryans had to say.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
I just wanna get your gut reaction, the general's reaction
to kind of everything going on with CJ.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
Should we be worried? Are you worried?

Speaker 2 (00:56):
What are your thoughts about kind of the whole CJ
not throwing, not working out thing during.

Speaker 3 (00:59):
A John I basically don't worry about anything involving OTAs.
OTA's is for the mental part, and CJ's there and
he's learning Nick Kaylee's new system. He's been given a
lot more authority at the line of scrimmage. I remember
when they hired Kaylee. A friend of mine who's coached

(01:20):
in the NFL forever said that immediately said, if they
run the same system as Sean McVay runs, then Stroud's
gonna have a lot more responsibility at the line of scrimmage.
And it's in as he's in his third year. So
as long as he's learning those responsibilities, I think now,

(01:43):
if he's not throwing it started training camp, I certainly
don't expect him to throw at the mini camp. He
had thrown OTAs why would he throw at the mini camp?
And I did watch it warming up and throwing the ball.
He just wasn't zipping it and they didn't use him
in the team drills. But if he's not throwing started
training camp, then I think people are start to get worring.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Yeah, I know, I've heard a couple of people say this.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
I don't know too many are trying to draw a parallel,
But every time I see Anthony Richards's name. I can't
help but think, Okay, Richardson had shoulder issues kind of
dating all the way back to high school. Then he
had to have surgery, and then last year we kind
of tracked it with Indianapolis like Okay, is he gonna throw?

Speaker 1 (02:27):
Is he not?

Speaker 2 (02:28):
And then as he got into the season. I don't
think it was so much that he had issues throwing
the ball. He just had issues as he always did
throwing the ball. I don't think it was a physical
thing for him. I just think it was the fact
that he couldn't throw the ball. But I've seen some
people kind of try and make a parallel or say, hey,
Anthony Richardson had this kind of shoulder situation last year.
I'm like, I don't think the situation's even close. But

(02:52):
as I bring up Richardson, it makes me think about
that situation with Indianapolis. When it's all said and down general,
where do you think it goes Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well came out today Richardson's got a sore shoulder and
he's not throwing, and so that's got to scare of them.
I'm guessing they want to give Richardson every opportunity to
be the quarterback they thought he could be when they
drafted him so high based on only thirteen starts at

(03:22):
Florida and his great combine, which is exact opposite of
what you should be doing, but they did it. And
if he doesn't start and not be a star, but
so that he can be because he hasn't that, I'm
wondering what the ersays daughters Carly that's running the franchise now,

(03:47):
how she's going to feel about Chris Ballard as the
GM who made that decision. So they want him to
start day one and they want him to be their quarterback,
and they I'm Daniel Jones, who you know, he's bouncing
around now on his third team. Maybe this will be

(04:09):
the right team for him. But that's kind of scary
for them up there, and he could go down as
one of the biggest bus ever. Not Ryan leaved to me,
is the biggest bus in history because of all the
comparisons in nineteen ninety eight, its Pade Manning. Remember there
was a lot of people you go back and read

(04:31):
the reviews that thought he should have been the first
overall pick before Manning. So to me, he's always the
biggest bus, but guys like JaMarcus Russell was another one,
and I think Regidson go right up there with them
if he cannot be a regular starting quarterback in the NFL.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, it's I mean, I just remember everything that came
out of Indianapolis after Richardson was drafted, and it was
video after video of look at what this he is
and what he can be, and he's super Yeah, he's superman.
And then some in general, I will say till my
dying days. In Week one, when he makes the throw

(05:13):
when we went up seven to nothing, he makes the throw, no,
we want three nothing. He makes the throw to pierce
down the field where he's kind of fading away from
the defensive line and.

Speaker 1 (05:25):
Just uncorks it.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
I mean, I'm watching a ball in the air and
I'm thinking, because I'm at the line of scrims, I'm thinking,
by that ball's thrown a long way. I didn't realize
he threw it that far. And then they score a touchdown.
I thought, oh boy, this guy's gonna be a guy
to be wrecking with for a long time if he's
doing that, and it just hasn't materialized that particular way.
For him or for them, and with obviously Jim passing

(05:48):
away and the family taking over, if Richardson isn't all that,
I got a feeling that it could be a short
It could be a short rest of his career in
Indianapolis for Chris. But then again, you know, the Colts
could get it turned around general. I know it's been
viral video hype, if you will. Mark and I we

(06:09):
haven't been battled about this, but we talked about it.
Mark's more of a yeah, we'll wait and see. On
Travis Hunter, I'm kind of like, yeah, he worries me.
Where do you kind of stand on Travis Hunter with Jacksonville?
Whether he plays corner and wide receiver, just wide receiver
or one or the other, but just what he could
meet to that organization. Where do you stand on Travis Hunter?
Do you think he's closer to being the guy that

(06:31):
James Gladstone thinks he is or do you think he
could be a bust as well in Jacksonville?

Speaker 3 (06:36):
Uh? No, I think he's a true superstar. And I
watched too many Colorado games because they were in the
Big twelve and saw what he could do, which was
absolutely amazing. They got him midwide receiver, and he's going
into some meetings on the defensive bags, but it looks
like he's going to be a receiver. And they've really

(07:00):
wide receiver of the last two drafts. Or Trevor Lawrence.
You know, Trevor Lawrence has not left up to be
in a generational quarterback as he was supposed to be.
When he won the National championship, everybody said, whenever he
comes out, he'll be the first overall pick, and he was,
and he and a lot of it has to do

(07:21):
with the upheoval that they've had on their offensive staff
and systems and play calling. And maybe this will be
the season because Liam Cohen looks like a really good
offensive coach and he'll call the plays. And now I
think Hunter, my goodness, every coach would love to have him.

(07:42):
He's a hard worker, he's a great guy. He avoids controversy,
he wants to play. He doesn't scream and whine when
he doesn't get the ball. But he's not confident enough
to know that he can produce big plays. And I
as a fan, I'm gonna love seeing him twice a year.
But I'll tell you what Texans won't like seeing him

(08:04):
twice a year, because that kid can be magical.

Speaker 2 (08:08):
I watched the Jaguars behind the scenes general and they
discussed that trade. Apparently that trade had been agreed upon
as long as the Titans did in draft Travis Hunter
that draft. That trade was agreed upon like three weeks
prior to the draft. And I'll give you those teams
credit because that was not leaked out ever, which I give.

Speaker 1 (08:27):
Them a lot of credit. It's really amazing, It was
really amazing.

Speaker 2 (08:31):
I saw this article on PFF General had the Texans'
rank number seven in the NFL overall starting lineup roster,
and I thought that was kind of interesting. But one
of the things in the article that they discussed was
what they call the X factor for twenty twenty five. Now,
people have different definitions for X factor. Mine is more

(08:52):
someone kind of not in the spotlight but has to
produce for that unit or that team or whatever to succeed.
They had Cam Robinson to tackle as the X factor
for the Texas at.

Speaker 1 (09:05):
Twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (09:06):
Who or what would you say is the X factor
in your opinion for twenty twenty five for the Houston Texans.

Speaker 3 (09:13):
The offensive line overall, we've talked about before. They've got
a super Bowl caliber defense. They may have the best
secondary in the NFL. They've got edge rushers as good
as anybody. They got depth at defensive tackle, depth at linebacker.
It would help, of course, the Christian Eiras to be
healthy for the first time since two years ago. He

(09:34):
was in the last year of his contract. It's kind
of scary that we still don't seem on the field,
and he came back last year and he didn't make
much of a contribution. And one of the reasons Henry
Totoa made big improvement in this second season. As you
want players to do. Once they learned how to be

(09:56):
pros and what to eat and how to sleep and
how to work out and practice and all that, then
you want them to make that big push in the
second season. They'd be great if Cam Robinson could come
in and start seventeen games and play well. Now, he's
not going to be a better pass protector than Laramie

(10:16):
Tunsil was, but hopefully he won't jump off sides as
much and commit as many penalties. And there's no guarantees
even going to start, but we all know, yes, they
have some questions. A wide receiver but they have the talent.
What they have in the offensive line is they've got
a bunch of pieces. They've got second round picks and

(10:38):
Blake Fisher and Juice Scrubs and poor old Kenyon Green
will go down as one of the biggest busts in
franchise history. But they've got a lot of pieces. For
Kole Popovich in his first season as the offensive line
coach and run gain coordinator, and he works great with
Nick Kyley. They've worked together in New England, and to me,

(11:01):
they're we can't say they got a super Bowl caliber
offense till we know how the Lion's gonna do. And uh,
maybe ariantay Ersery ends up winning the left tackle job.
I just don't think it can be one player right now.
It's that unit that everybody talks and writes about when

(11:21):
they talk about the Texans.

Speaker 1 (11:24):
General here's uh.

Speaker 2 (11:26):
I got to ask this the other day and it
kind of, I want to say, it perplexed me a
little bit, but I had to really kind of step
it step back and think about it. At OTA's they've
had different combinations. I mean, I think Titus has played
every position on the offensive line during OTAs They've moved
guys around. They're this group with this group, these two,
with these two, this one next to this one. They've

(11:48):
moved the groups around a bit during OTAs, which I
don't mind, it's OTA's, But at some point they've got
to quote unquote settle on what the five they think
is going to be.

Speaker 1 (12:03):
When do you think they'll they'll do that?

Speaker 2 (12:05):
Obviously have to watch him in training camp, So Mike
my gut tells me somewhere between preseason game one and
preseason game two. But in your mind, when do they
have to kind of start honing in on the five
they think will be the starting five for this year.

Speaker 3 (12:20):
If you put them down the way they're using them
in the OTA's the only guy who started at the position.
He's playing his right tackle, Blake Fisher, and he wasn't
even a full time starter as a rookie. Is because
of injuries right and and Andrews at center. That that's

(12:40):
kind of baffling to me. Uh over over Jared Patterson
and j Just Scruggs, who was the second round big
to play center, is not the center then he was
a bust at center. So he's got to produce at guard.
And he's not even a starter. And uh uh if
Cam Robinson was number one pick and he is very

(13:02):
productive when he was healthy at Jacksonville and then they
ship him to Minnesota and then he signs here, and
you would like for him to be the regular starter.
And uh, I just think those Gonna and Tomlinson playing
left guard. What I don't like is it's fine to
move guys like Tomlinson and and uh Titus around. Although

(13:27):
I feel bad for Titus right tackle, left guard, right tackle,
left guard, right tackle, left guard, now right guard when
he played well the left guard, but Tomlinson played left
guard and he didn't play left guard all that well.
I young guys, I don't like seeing move you know,
I'd put Ursery in the place that he was in
college and leave him there. I hate it when teams

(13:50):
and it happens all the time because the V word
versatility is so important. But when you got a young
guy coming in the NFL on the offensive line in
his heart to play the line, put him in one
position and leave him unless it's an emergency. And they
don't have any emergencies. And I think we're gonna see
a lot of shuffling and we're not gonna be able

(14:11):
to tell squat until they played a couple of games,
and really in the preseason they're gonna play Cam Robinson, Lake,
Tomlinson and Andrews and those guys a lot, not if
they do, but what they've done in the past. So
I'd say by the first game and then when they
can unveil what they're really gonna do. We're not gonna

(14:32):
see schemes. We're not gonna see play calls in the preseason.
I can't wait to watch the two OTAs and see
what they do going at full speed against other players.
But I think it's gonna be early in the season.
We'll still see moves. Injuries will dictate some of it,
of course, but I bet you John, it's a quarter

(14:54):
of the season before we go. Aha. Those are the
five best guys because so much is new.

Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah, so much as new.

Speaker 2 (15:04):
Just when you think about offensively, all that ends up
being new on the offensive line, I mean, offensive line
coach is new, the ovis coordinators new. We obviously know
Nick Kaylee carries a lot of pressure as the offensive
coordinator to get this thing turned around, no question about that.
Jade Higgins, Jalen Nole, They're both new offensively general, I

(15:26):
think wide receiver is still gonna be a difficult, really
difficult cut, but maybe for a different reason than last year.
Last year we knew the top three for sure, probably
top four. Robert Woods kind of felt pretty good about
what they had in those four, but then after that
we thought, man, it's gonna be a dogfight for spots
five to six and potentially seven. I don't know if
wide receiver is quite that this year, but in your estimations,

(15:51):
is at the position outside of offensive line that is
still probably the biggest position battle on this team.

Speaker 3 (15:56):
They got more talent than they had last year, and
because of Higgins and Noel, those guys. I've tried to
read what a lot of people, the draft experts who
I trust, and all of them loved those picks, and
especially Noel. And I was listening to Christian Kirk talked

(16:19):
the other day, Man, he was just so impressive. So
you've got your top four, and the top four of
course be Nico and Higgins, White and Kirk and Noel
playing inside and Nico could no telling what Nico Collins
can do if he can stay healthy. He's not had
a healthy season. He missed five games last year. He's

(16:42):
become elite. You know, he becapable of ninety two hundred
catchesn't close to fifteen hundred yards. The way that he
catches d balls, in the way he turns those slant
routes into big games and away he breaks tackles. He
just becomes such a difference maker. And it's strange when
I look at him and Higgins and I stand behind

(17:04):
him and see him against each other, next to each other,
and he look like basketball players because there's six' four
AND i went back and looked exactly the. Height higgins
was sixty four in a quarter And niko was sixty,
four and they just resemble each. Other and they played
a lot in college in a pro style offense For

(17:25):
Matt campbell At Iowa, state and both of them are
not going to hit the ground running and be terrific
off the. Mark but that's an impressive first. Four kirk
needs to stay healthy and he knows, it and he
pointed that. Out and he's played so well against The
texans since he got in THE nfl OUT a and
M SO i think they're in a better position this

(17:47):
year than they were last. Year even Though Stefan diggs
was the receiver Opposite Nico collins and those two the
way they got hurt shows you you cannot have a
nuch depth AND i see a lot of. Stuff will
they try to Trade John matchie the third to get
a low draft pick and this kind of make or
break For Xavier. HUTCHINSON i thought last year was going

(18:10):
to be his year to, produce and he's real good
on special. Teams maybe it'll be his third. Year remember
it Took nico a third year before he really proved
that he was going to be one of the, Best
so it'd be something else If hutchinson could step up
and give them Three Iowa state receivers and the third

(18:31):
one With nico And higgins that had great. Size so
that's going to be fun for that group And ben
McDaniel's going to have a great time sorting through that
is Is Nick, KAYLEY i can't wait to see those.

Speaker 1 (18:45):
Receivers, Yeah i'm with.

Speaker 2 (18:47):
You just watch him in OTAs you see a lot
of things that you really like about, them and you
get an idea In ota is a little bit more
on receivers and defensive back than you do on offensive.
Lineman BECAUSE i see it's a contact sport in the,
spring it becomes a clision. Sport and that's when in the,
fall and that's when we start to make our assessments

(19:08):
even more so at that point. General one of the
teams on The texans schedule The Las Vegas. Raiders one
team that's not on the, schedule The New England. PATRIOTS
i give you a hundred bucks to go to The
Golden nugget Or leberge or whatever casino you, choose and
you got to put it on one of those two

(19:29):
teams to make the, Playoffs patriots Or. Raiders which of
those two do you think takes the leap and makes the.

Speaker 3 (19:36):
PLAYOFFS i think most people would say The patriots Because Mike.
Brabo but we're talking About hall Of fame coach And Pete,
carroll and they have a great running back and if
you analyze boy What Gino smith did last, year AND
i think he had a career hnding. Yards they have

(19:57):
an experienced. Quarterback while everybody Loves, MAY i think The
raiders The greaders have a really good defensive. Line they
should have a great running, game even though they got
questions up. FRONT i Think Ashton jenny will be the
runaway winner For Offensive rookie of The. Year and you
got to go Against Kansas, city you gotta go Against,

(20:21):
denver and you're going against The, chargers and you're going
against potentially And harbaugh's got a long way to go
before we can talk about him as A hall Of fame,
coach but he's still. Great and uh so it's gonna
Be it's a tougher. Division The dolphins look like they're
headed in the wrong. Direction you, know The. JETS i

(20:42):
don't see any reason to be excited about The jets
and The bills Or. Runaways so IF i had to pick,
ONE i would pick The patriots because they play in
a division that is not as talented or as. Good
over The.

Speaker 1 (20:58):
Raiders he had won The, west and you brought this.

Speaker 2 (21:01):
Up The, west the division The texans crossover With this,
year they play At Kansas, city they Played denver And
Las vegas at. Home uh and then they go To
Los angeles to take on The chargers the second last
week of the. Year it feels like every year The
texas gets stuck playing the best division in THE.

Speaker 1 (21:18):
Afc however that works.

Speaker 2 (21:20):
Out do you think this is a year Where, Denver Las,
VEGAS la could knock Off Kansas city and one of
those three could win The.

Speaker 1 (21:29):
WEST i think.

Speaker 3 (21:31):
If we think of The Super, bowl we're all gonna think.
That but, yeah who else has a pass rush like The.
Eagles they just totally totally Dominated Patrick mahomes frustrated him
and you don't see that. Much also gemping from making
plays off, schedule and then they just dominated The chiefs. Defense,

(21:54):
Now Super bowl losers don't go back to The Super
bowl other than The patriots one, year you gotta go,
BACK i think To. Buffalo they just. Don't doesn't mean
they're not gonna win The. Vision i'm not gonna pick
against them to win the, division but if they, don't
it won't surprise. Me Sean payton did a fabulous job

(22:15):
last year Because Bo nicks developed into a terrific rookie
quarterback and they had terrible salary cap problems because of
The Russell wilson. Contract and then The, chargers even though
The texans beat them up bad in the, playoffs you
know they're gonna come back with a. Vengeance and we've
Seen harball go to The Super, bowls so that division

(22:37):
is going to be so. Tough but there's no WAY
i could pick against my homes And Andy reid when
it comes to winning the.

Speaker 1 (22:45):
Title, Yeah i'm the.

Speaker 2 (22:46):
SAME i, MEAN i see Where Kansas city has, flaws
but THEN i think they're still so damn. GOOD i,
mean they're still so. Talented they've got to fill in some.
Holes they'll Miss Justin reid at safety and that'll hurt
them a little. Bit but long as fifteen is pulling
the trigger And Andy reid is on the, sideline got
A i got a hard time picking against those. Guys

(23:07):
AND i hate the fact that we have to play
them At arrowhead on A sunday. Night but you, KNOW
thems the. BREAK i, mean that's what happens when you
play really good. Football you gotta play really good football
teams and match up with, them and that's one game
they definitely have to go prove themselves this year if
they're going to take that next.

Speaker 1 (23:24):
Step general is.

Speaker 3 (23:26):
Good excuse. ME i think it's good that they play
there in regular season because they could play there again
in the. Playoffs. Yep and they have one there since
the twenty nineteen regular season when they overcame three homes
touchdown passes and then they prove they could build a
monster lead in the playoffs before they blew. It BUT

(23:47):
i think the more they play, there the better it
will be if they go back in the.

Speaker 2 (23:52):
Playoffs and the one thing that they were able to
do in twenty nineteen that they have to do this
year is they have to run the ball. Consistently they
had the ball for almost forty minutes in that win
Against Kansas city in twenty nineteen and they, dominated Kept
malmes on the sideline and then in the fourth, QUARTER
i Think mahomes touched it like six plays if that

(24:12):
in the fourth. Quarter and that was the one thing
that they needed to be able to do and they
need to be able to do it this. Year, general
you're taking off for a little trip next week where
you headed what you got going on next one, day.

Speaker 3 (24:25):
We're headed To Key, Largo florida to work on our
documentary Work six months into A Puryview Interscholastic league high
school football In texas before integration and the. Team the
first team to win the integrated state championship Was Corpus
Christy miller in nineteen, sixteen Which Johnny, rowland LONGTIME nfl

(24:47):
player and, coach was the star player in their toughest,
game according to their ninety seven year old Coach Pete,
regas who we went To lubbock interview. With toughest player
they came across was in The simmis when they won
six to zero Over Port Arthur. Jefferson he, Said Jimmy,
johnson a little middle linebacker and, guard was the best

(25:08):
player they. Played we Called jimmy and told him, that
ask him if we could come talk to. Him he,
said come. On so we're going to interview him next
week at his restaurant And Key largo and talk to
him about what football was like when you had an
all black organization and an all white, organization The University

(25:28):
Interscholastic league and a pair of Review Inner Scholastic. League
and he played At, jefferson the white, school and then
there Was Port Arthur, lincoln which put out some of
the best players in the state. History he went on
to THE. Nfl so he'll talk to us just about
the environment back in back then when everything was.

Speaker 4 (25:50):
Segregated, general how have you found this documentary?

Speaker 2 (25:54):
Process you found this fun to kind of find out
things maybe you didn't, know or just be able to
talk to these individuals And, Obviously jimmy's such a legend
of the game of, football But i'd imagine there have
been some pretty cool individuals you talked. To what's been
kind of the best part about get involved in this.
DOCUMENTARY i know you've been involved in another one as.
Well what's it been like for you to be involved
in these? Documentaries so much.

Speaker 3 (26:15):
Of it is. NEW i grew up In. WACO i
went to an all white. School richvielle and Aj moore
was the PV il school there and they won multiple
PV il championships And Lewis richardson was the head. Coach
he was hired By, wisconsin the second black coach in
any sport in The Big, ten the first At. Wisconsin

(26:38):
stayed up there as an administrator for. Years his, Son Lewis,
junior was a great. Quarterback probably the big reason That
wisconsin brought To daddy was to get the. Son and
the son lives In Fort worth and we're going to
interview him. Soon my favorite interview as we've done meet
And Joe, Green Kenny, Yearston Jerry, lebias And Pete regis

(27:02):
at ninety seven year old coach who's in better shape
THAN i am in. Lubboock we've been To, habilin we
got plans to go To, austin and so we're far from.
Finished BUT i tell You john has been a labor of.
LOVE i do all the interviews working with a, Director
Mark burns and our two, Producers Rob. Lnch it Was

(27:23):
ROB'S i did to THE PV i L i was
pushing for The southwest conference And i'm so glad we're
doing THE puri reviewinger scholastically because the stories are just.
Unbelievable how About high School men'sville Outside Fort. Worth they
were supposed to integrate and to keep the black kids from,

(27:43):
coming they called in The Texas, rangers and we have
pictures Of Texas rangers outside the entrance mingling with the,
students underneath a dummy of a black guy with a
noose around his neck hanging from the. Root i'm trying
to discover maurage black kids from coming to school. There
can you imagine?

Speaker 1 (28:03):
That oh my, GOSH i.

Speaker 3 (28:08):
Think everybody's trying to help. Us Rob lynch has done
a great job of getting. Pictures any documentary got to
have a lot of. Pictures. Letters he's gotten so many.
Pictures he has a Letter Jackie robinson sent our governor
about you not complying with what you're supposed to, do
and it was just it's, anyway it's just been. Amazing

(28:30):
AS i tell, people it's been a labor of.

Speaker 1 (28:33):
Love that's very. Cool.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
GENERAL i, MEAN i shouldn't be, envious BUT i just
love learning about the history of our, state the history
of our. SPORT i think this is really really, cool
And i'm glad you're going to get to spend some
time With jimmy next.

Speaker 1 (28:46):
Week that'll be, very very.

Speaker 2 (28:47):
Fun we thank you as, always my, friend travel safely
AND hopefu well get a chance to catch up with.

Speaker 1 (28:53):
You know you're gonna be busy next.

Speaker 2 (28:54):
Week hopefully we'll catch, up but if, Not i'll have
a good week down In, florida.

Speaker 3 (28:57):
My, Friend, don thank you very much as. Always what a.

Speaker 1 (29:00):
Great time that was catching up with The. General all.

Speaker 2 (29:02):
Right coming up, next we catch up with another, Legend
toro Aka Andrew. Johnson we caught up with him about
five six weeks, ago and we had a blast talking
to him About toro's bid for The Mascot hall Of
fame for some good juju to see if he can make.
It we're gonna play the interview. Again we did this
With George springer back in twenty seventeen and it worked

(29:25):
And springer WAS mvp of The World. Series we play
this interview Of Andrew johnson. Again that's gotta mean That
toro's getting Into hall Of. Fame we'll do that next
ray here In Texans All. Access welcome back This thursday
edition Of Texans All access.

Speaker 1 (29:39):
From The Hunday Texans Radio.

Speaker 2 (29:40):
STUDIO i Am John harris Foot fainals sideline, reporter AND
i teased into this segment that if it worked For George,
springer it can work For.

Speaker 1 (29:49):
Toro and here's WHAT i mean by.

Speaker 2 (29:51):
That back in twenty, SEVENTEEN D B city AND i
were able to catch up With George springer AT i
think it Was Houston Sports. Awards we had a chance
to catch up with him. Before it's about eight nine minute.
Interview we played it that, night but we always had
it in the. Can one of The ashers got in
The World series that, year AND i remember In game
one they get beat out IN la AND i, thought manh,

(30:11):
okay we did need some good, juju, Right we got
to get him some good, vibes and so that night
On Texans All. Access even during the, SEASON i played
our interview With George Springer springer than that night went.

Speaker 1 (30:21):
NUTS i played that interview the rest basically of The World.

Speaker 2 (30:26):
Series George springer is The World SERIES, mvp and it
made me think About Andrew johnson In. Toro we sat
down With toro probably about six seven weeks ago as
he made a bid to get into the Mascot hall Of,
fame AND i, thought, man why not bring it, back
Give andrew And toro some good vibes to get into

(30:46):
The hall Of.

Speaker 1 (30:46):
Fame so here it Is Andrew johnson With mark AND.
I great stuff right.

Speaker 5 (30:50):
Here it's another visited, studio and we knew there had
to be a part, two but it's really timely as.
Well toro Ak Andrew. Johnson Andrew johnson Portrays? Toro do
you portray? Him do you play?

Speaker 6 (31:02):
Him how do you worry that Channel? Toro, yeah, man
that's a good. QUESTION i, mean just embrace.

Speaker 5 (31:09):
It become the, bull you become the, character the character Of,
toro and has the character Of. Toro we'll get to
The hall Of fame stuff in a moment, here by the,
way has the character Of toro changed because we talked
last time About Jonathan, frost the first guy portrayed Played
Toro Channel, toro and then you how does the character
Of toro? Evolve Because toro is a character right, Right

(31:32):
AND i think that was the unique thing about taking
on this.

Speaker 6 (31:34):
Job you, Know jonathan had done it for fourteen years
and had established Who toro was and What toro's known.
For jonathan was doing some really crazy aerial stunts inside
the stadium AND i remember WHEN i was here interviewing
for the job and they were talking to me about
Who toro, is AND i had obviously seen a lot
of the crazy stunts he had. Done i'm, LIKE i
don't know IF i can do. That so you're having
to live up to the character That jonathan had already,

(31:56):
created AND i think hopefully we've been able to do
that justice and carry on his, legacy but also add
some new things into the. MIX i, mean social media
really wasn't as big of a thing When jonathan was,
here AND i think that's something that we've added To torro's.
Persona he's known as a, prankster but he's also still
known as that daredevil that That jonathan kind of created
for The. Texans, yeah you've done your share of. Repelling,
yeah you've made us on the broadcast.

Speaker 2 (32:17):
Crew at times we have discussions during breaks and we
see you up there and we're, like, nope, nope they're
not one of.

Speaker 1 (32:24):
Us you can pay to go up.

Speaker 2 (32:25):
There and you AND i talked ABOUT i can't remember
which game it, was all that went in to your
pregame event AND i can't.

Speaker 4 (32:33):
REMEMBER i think you were repelling from the. Ceiling you
were talking about how it was it.

Speaker 2 (32:38):
Was, close like there were so many people involved and
you weren't confident about how it had gone kind of in.
TESTING i don't remember what event that, Was, Andrew but
do you mind kind of going through. That do you remember,
that like it was like one or two in the
morning and you were deciding whether you were actually gonna
do it for the game or.

Speaker 1 (32:54):
Not how often does something like that?

Speaker 2 (32:56):
Happen and can you take us kind of through that
process of, well, man this might be a little bit.

Speaker 6 (33:01):
Much, YEAH i, mean the stunts are a lot of,
work and obviously people see the thirty second to sixty
second result on any Given, sunday but they don't understand
that the process starts so far in, Advance so like right,
now we're actually having the conversations and brainstorming what we
want to do for the twenty five. Season so we're
all sitting around a table and here's the, stunts what
we've done in the, past and we're talking to the
stunt crew about what could be possible so we.

Speaker 4 (33:22):
Won't take things to the next.

Speaker 6 (33:23):
Level we've obviously done some really cool, things but next
season is a completely blank, slate and so we're ide
eating now and then once we get the schedule release next,
week then we'll actually put dates to when we want
to do. It we usually like to do them around,
primetimes primetime games and we have the eyes of the,
Nation so we'll select the, dates we'll select the, stunts
we'll select kind of brainstorm what the storyline.

Speaker 4 (33:42):
Is how do we get to the actual. Stunt is
it a?

Speaker 6 (33:44):
Video is it some kind of pr stunt that leads
into this big stunt in? Stadium but will ideate that
we'll go to contract with our stunt. Crew they actually
come in From. Arizona they're not. Local, yeah so there's
two guys that fly in From arizona to bring them.
Up they've been here since the very, beginning and then
we're having to communicate operation around the, building when they're coming,
in where they're, parking how they're getting into the, building

(34:04):
make sure that everybody knows when they're going to be doing.

Speaker 1 (34:06):
It when we're doing.

Speaker 6 (34:07):
Stunt, practices and the game that you're, REFERENCING i think
was Our Christmas day. Game we were going to do
a big repel stunt In Stateum, well we originally wanted
to do a big, swing and then we realized That
beyonce was going to be hanging things from the. Ceiling
she had different lighting, structures and she had a stunt
that she was doing, herself and so we're having to
work all of our rigging around what she. Had not
to mention that was also a two skycam, game so

(34:27):
people don't think about how the aerial space inside the
stadium is. Utilized so we're having to share that air,
space and so if we're going to do a big
swing or, things we got to make sure that those
ropes aren't going to. Cross so there's a lot of
coordination that we do with the building With. Skycam we've
become really good friends with them here over the. Years
and then we actually have to rig up the, stunt
and once that stunt is, rigged we do a thorough
testing and so we actually drop weight on all of

(34:48):
our stunts before we ever put a human life on the,
line and so we'll drop two hundred pounds worth of.

Speaker 4 (34:53):
Weight whether it be a.

Speaker 6 (34:54):
Repel or a swing or a reverse, repel we test
the stunt with, weight then the stunt crew does, it
and THEN i on the, line and so we do
some thorough testing to make.

Speaker 4 (35:01):
Sure you have you ever had to eighty six a
stunt Like, nope it's we just can't do.

Speaker 1 (35:09):
It it's just not safe. Enough have you ever had
to do?

Speaker 6 (35:11):
That we have, not you, Know and we've actually got
close when we had The playoffs stunt where it was
a big swing stunt and the stunt crew had some,
challenges but because of the, testing we will know whether
it holds up or. Not they go back, in they'll
tweak some, things make it, work we'll test it. Again
and we got pretty close with The playoff swing that
we did just last year where it got pretty late
on that game was a what was that?

Speaker 1 (35:32):
Game So sunday Or?

Speaker 6 (35:34):
Saturday it was A, Saturday so, yeah we were here
really really Late friday night Into saturday, morning testing and
making sure that it was going to hold. Up but
they were ultimately able to pull it. Off and So
i'm very thankful for the stunt. CREW i put a
lot of faith in. Them but they've been here since
the beginning and they've earned that trust and they do
a really good.

Speaker 4 (35:48):
Job So toro has been nominated for The Mascot hall Of.
Fame that's.

Speaker 5 (35:52):
Right there is such a thing as A Mascot hall Of,
fame and it was established in two thousand and five
and some of the And duck d just to give
you a picture here The Philly. Fanatic hard to imagine
The Philly fanatic not being in, there, right the famous
chicken formerly known as The San Diego. Chicken of, Course
in The Mascot hall Of, fame there is a local,

(36:14):
inductee and that would Be Clutch clutch The bears already.

Speaker 6 (36:16):
Is it's actually two. Inductees, Now, okay what you? Got
orbit got inducted last. Year orbit got in last year last.

Speaker 4 (36:22):
Year that's.

Speaker 1 (36:23):
RIGHT i forgot about.

Speaker 5 (36:23):
That oh, Boy, oh The Nitney lion is in From Penn.
State i'm just looking around. Here, oh The Nitney lion
is in The why wouldn't The Nitney lion be?

Speaker 1 (36:32):
In is it The bill O'Brien.

Speaker 5 (36:33):
VERSION i don't think it's the O'Brien. Version is there
A bill O'Brien? VERSION i didn't brutus the BUCK guye,
okay mister met is.

Speaker 2 (36:40):
In.

Speaker 4 (36:41):
Uh smokey from The university Of. Tennessee. Uh these are all.

Speaker 5 (36:46):
Sports andrew would would Like smoky The bear be considered
a mascot or. No, No smoking The bear is a
talking thing that's a publicity psa thing for forest, fires
so that wouldn't count. True So andrew tell, us what's
the process? Here how could people Help toro get into
The Mascot hall Of? Fame we need all the help
we can. Get so it is going to go to
a public. Vote the voting period Is may eleventh Through

(37:08):
may twenty, fourth and fans can vote once every twenty
four hour, period so it's a rolling twenty four. Hours
if you vote at eight, am let's say On, saturday
you won't be able to vote again until eight am On,
Sunday so it's not just once a, day it's a
twenty four, rolling twenty four hour rolling.

Speaker 6 (37:22):
Clock, basically only real elections worked like. This oh wait a,
minute go, on, Right but, yeah we want you guys to.
Vote we Need texans fans help to Get toro into
The Mascot hall Of.

Speaker 2 (37:33):
Fame so every, year like With, andre they're always, like you,
know start with, fifty then we get down to, fifteen
then we get down to, ten and eventually get down a.
Five how is it for The Mascot hall Of? Fame
are the OTHER nfl mascots in there with? You? Is
obviously it must be all. Mascots how many of the
mascots are in there With toro kind of? Fighting and
how many get selected each?

Speaker 6 (37:54):
Year, yeah that's a good. Question so there's twenty eight
mascots on the. Ballot it's a pretty big ballot this.
Year it's they've ever. Had i'm not exactly sure how
many mascots or are going to get. Selected don't think it's.

Speaker 5 (38:05):
Too, many Because i'm looking at the list of inductees
here since two thousand and five and it's not a,
ton but it looks like they took a long break
from like two thousand and eight to twenty nineteen to induct.

Speaker 6 (38:16):
Mascots so So Mascot hall Of fame actually had a
physical location for about five or six. Years it was
about thirty minutes outside Of chicago in a little city Called, Whiting.
Indiana and it has since shut, down so there is
not a physical location for The Mascot hall Of fame.
Anymore it's just a virtual hall of. Fame that's, okay
it is, Okay, yeah it's still, there it still. Exists
WHAT nfl mascots are in the? Group in the finalist

(38:37):
group With, Toro so there's only TWO nfl mascots on
the ballot this. Year It's toro And blitz from The Seattle.

Speaker 2 (38:42):
Seahawks nice, chance no Chance blitz get, Out no, Chance
blitz doesn't do.

Speaker 5 (38:47):
ANYTHING i see a hall of fame or in the
Mascot hall Of, fame and it's. Good it's upsetting.

Speaker 1 (38:52):
Me i'm, LIKE i am. Upset who is in see?

Speaker 4 (38:55):
This jackson De villa is in the freaking mascot all
that was a couple of years.

Speaker 1 (38:59):
Ago this is.

Speaker 5 (39:00):
Unacceptable how Did Jackson deville get in over Freaking?

Speaker 1 (39:04):
Toro, Ridiculous it's.

Speaker 6 (39:06):
Ridiculous there's two A Fc south guys in the Mascot
hall Of. Fame you've got The Indianapolis, Colts Blue Blue Jackson.

Speaker 4 (39:13):
Diville, OH i See.

Speaker 1 (39:14):
Blue, oh, now, okay.

Speaker 4 (39:17):
All, right we gotta get go With blue Before.

Speaker 2 (39:20):
Jackson to me, too Like, blues Like blue is pretty,
talented even That stunn he does where he throws the
ball from the like third or fourth floor and puts
it into like a water, bucket like it's incredible round,
though Was blue.

Speaker 4 (39:35):
Of baltimore cult?

Speaker 5 (39:36):
Mascot he got THAT i could go with more If
blue was, around since you know who's on the ballot this, year,
Though sebastian THE i heard. This THE ibis is. On,
yeah and that's The university of and THE. Ibis i'm
surprised it's not in. ALREADY i just.

Speaker 4 (39:53):
Got the ibis IS i should have been in before
the Nitty LION i think so.

Speaker 5 (39:58):
Too THE ibis is a legendary mascot and THE IBIS
i MEAN i did a game with THE ibis got
called for Two no one fifteen yard penalty for celebrating
in the.

Speaker 4 (40:09):
Mascot, yeah at The Sugar. Bowl can you imagine doing?

Speaker 5 (40:11):
That here the guy would be and then somebody else
got a fifteen yard or on the same play was
after a, Touchdown So Todd severs had to kick a
fifty yard extra point and he made, it and he made.
It it was.

Speaker 1 (40:23):
Awesome it was, like, yes in your face.

Speaker 5 (40:26):
Anyway some of the other, ones The Oriel, Bird, yeah
but they were In Jazz, bear.

Speaker 4 (40:34):
The Utah jazz basketball, team a jazz bar is The Phoenix.

Speaker 1 (40:38):
Suns gorilla in, There, yes, okay think he was one
of the first.

Speaker 2 (40:41):
Class, yeah the gorilla does like he does good, things all,
Right so the Inaugural Class bear, Do Philly, fanatic The
gorilla and the Famous.

Speaker 4 (40:49):
CHICKEN i mean that's. GOOD i mean you have to.
Do that's like The Babe ruth and.

Speaker 1 (40:53):
Whatever.

Speaker 2 (40:54):
Yeah what the hell's Mister mett done other THAN i
have a big old Baseball he lives In New York.

Speaker 1 (40:59):
City he's, like that's exactly.

Speaker 2 (41:00):
Right the Unique, yeah if does, stunts visits to, community
does all kinds of work in the. Community are the
sausages In milwaukee eligible because they have the Sausage.

Speaker 1 (41:12):
Are they they're? IN i think are they? In reggie
And john were talking about this On.

Speaker 2 (41:18):
Tuesday wednesday came remember which day, was and THEY i
thought they said that The Running sausages were.

Speaker 5 (41:24):
IN i think they're making that. Off that's not like
A lopez. Fabrication you know what that does kind of
sound Like Lopez. Andrew what is Your do you have a?
Favorite do you have an iconic mascot that you say
that that's the one for? Me because it's all subjective, Obviously, YEAH.

Speaker 6 (41:39):
I mean all the ones you. NAMED i, mean WHENEVER
i was entering this, business you, know this is a
dream come true for. ME i had watched a lot
of these guys growing, up and so the fanatics one
of the, best The Famous. Chicken but for, ME i
grew up In Kansas, city and SO i grew up
watching the chief, Mascot Casey. Wolf and the guy WHO
i grew up watching is still the chief mascot to this.
Day he's been doing it for thirty five years and

(41:59):
he's still has a ton of. Energy he's still doing
it at the highest level possible and really makes a
great impact in The Kansas city. Community SO i, think to,
me he's he's my goat when it comes to the mascot.

Speaker 2 (42:09):
WORLD i, mean it makes. SENSE i mean it makes.
SENSE i, mean if he's been around that, long he's
a good. MASCOT i could go with.

Speaker 5 (42:14):
That you, know it's strong For houston though that tore
is definitely gonna get it at some. Point yeah, Yeah
and the fact That orbit And clutch are already in
says a lot About. Houston this is not a big
list of mascots that are in The Mascot hall Of.
Fame it points out how awesome we are at This
yeah with, mascots for.

Speaker 1 (42:32):
Sure it's The.

Speaker 4 (42:33):
Dynamo what do they? Have? Diesel The Fox diesel The. Fox,
okay well.

Speaker 1 (42:36):
It's a cool, mascot but it's not to it's Not.

Speaker 5 (42:39):
Torol but so in the af, shots If toro gets,
in we got THREE Afc south. Mascots that says a
lot about THE Afc. South, now t is it t
rack for The? TITANS i still no, shot no shot.

Speaker 2 (42:50):
EVER i have yet to figure out how they came
up with a damn raccoon for their. MASCOT i still,
Like i'm bid Think Gamy.

Speaker 5 (42:58):
Adams would want it to be like a Mini Oil
derek or. Something, yeah parking, back it's The.

Speaker 2 (43:03):
Titans they could run out some rocked up, dude yeah
in the Like titans loincloth and like you, know.

Speaker 1 (43:10):
The new thor you, know they could have come up
with something really cool they came up with the.

Speaker 4 (43:14):
Raccoons what was the?

Speaker 5 (43:15):
Reason it's what would you call the mountaineer For West
virginia because that's a Human oh, yeah the mountaineer. GUY
i feel like that would be one of the hardest
jobs when your face is out, There like for, ME
i can hide behind the costume and do WHATEVER i want.
To most people other than you two know who's inside the,
Costume but when you're out, there it's just it's.

Speaker 4 (43:31):
You SO i think that'd be a really hard character to.

Speaker 5 (43:33):
Portray it is The Notre Dame leprechaun up for, IT
i don't, know but the leprequan' is a pretty good, one,
right that's a good one if it's if it's not
IN i mean, again another one where you see his
face AND i find, that you, know. FASCINATING i MEAN i,
always Always i'm enthralled by seeing two mascots getting after

(43:53):
it on the sidelines with one.

Speaker 1 (43:55):
Another AND i can't.

Speaker 2 (43:56):
REMEMBER i think it Was arizona And New mexico were,
PLAYING i, believe and they got a big fight and one.

Speaker 1 (44:03):
Of the mascots lost his head and it was like
fight was.

Speaker 2 (44:06):
Over he grabbed it and took off like did not
want to be seen as you, know as the. Mascot
the other one THAT i always think About andrew Is
cocky From South. Carolina you know about, this that's the
mascot for the mascot For South carolina is Named. Cocky

(44:26):
and at graduation is it like a, chicken you find
out Who cocky was because he or she wears the
feet of the mascot and you find, Out oh so you,
like that's the time when you find out who the
mascot has been for that, year for a couple of
years because they actually wear the claude feet uh to

(44:47):
the graduation.

Speaker 1 (44:48):
Ceremony that's that's one of the neat ONES i.

Speaker 5 (44:49):
Think so one that jumps out to me WHEN i
was in The atlantic Ten Saint joe's had The. HAWK
i don't know if you know the, Yes andrews flappers,
wings the hawk will never die.

Speaker 1 (44:59):
Great fingers still.

Speaker 2 (45:01):
Crossed hopefully that's good enough juju to Get andrew And
toro into the Mascot hall Of.

Speaker 1 (45:05):
Fame all, right we get. Back we have quarterback. News
we think that next On Texas All.

Speaker 2 (45:10):
Access welcome back to final segment of This thursday edition
Of Texans all, access appreciate to general being.

Speaker 1 (45:15):
Here Andrew johnson Aka toro fingers.

Speaker 2 (45:18):
Crossed he's getting into The hall Of fame and hopefully
that was a little bit of good vibes to get
him And toro into The hall Of. Fame that'd be,
great all, Right it's get the news THE, Nfl and
earlier this, morning we had a story that will directly
impact The texans more than likely Because texas do.

Speaker 1 (45:35):
Play The Nnapolis.

Speaker 2 (45:36):
Colts The colts are shutting Down Anthony richardson due to
shoulder tightness shoulder. Situation they were more. Specific they related
to the ac. Joint, now for those of you who don't,
know the ac joint is literally on top of your.
Shoulder And i'm pressing on mind right, now and it
hurts like hell BECAUSE i heard mine my junior year
in college and it's never been right.

Speaker 1 (45:57):
Since and it hurts Like i'll get anything you do with.
You so it hurts like you won't believe.

Speaker 2 (46:04):
It's called a separated shoulder because it's a joint and all.
That it just hurts like, HELL i can tell you.
That So Anthony richardson shut down for the time. Being
the hope is that he'll be ready for training, camp
but they will not have him throw through the rest
Of OTA's in mini camps there In. Indianapolis, now the
other news that came through as it related to the
quarterbacks in THE, nfl is probably the least surprising. News

(46:28):
Aaron rodgers is signing a one year deal with The Pittsburgh,
steelers Said Adam, schefter AND i. Quote steelers never wavered
in their Belief Aaron rodgers eventually would sign With Pittsburgh.
Steelers head Coach Mike tomlin moved large in this entire.
Situation tomlin was a drawing card For rodgers and was
happy to work Within rogers.

Speaker 1 (46:47):
Timeline he is a major reason That rogers will be A.

Speaker 2 (46:52):
Steeler he is going to sign his contract and plans
to participate in The steelers mandatory mini camp next. Week
what do you, KNOW i, mean for a guy that's
so mysterious and iahwask and all, that this is exactly
what everybody. Said you know, What he's probably gonna sign
sometime for mini. Camp get in, there get a couple of,
days get the, playbook go off to his adventures or,

(47:16):
whatever and be ready for the.

Speaker 1 (47:18):
Season and there it Is Aaron rodgers one year Deal Pittsburgh.

Speaker 2 (47:22):
STEELERS i think we all sort of saw it, happening
and then of course you're seeing all these tweets of
who The steelers play this. Year week one The steelers
Play Justin fields and The New York. JETS i think
It's week eight The steelers travel To Green bay to
take on The. Packers there's gonna be some fun moments For,

(47:43):
rogers who is forty one and will play his twenty
FIRST nfl season for The Pittsburgh. Steelers texas play, them
it'll be in the, playoffs which could be kind of,
fun and hopefully we will see them in the. Playoffs
but it's gonna be a story to watch In pittsburgh's
no question about, it all. Right big thanks To, Andrew John,
hunts And, mark to all of you for. Listening thank
you so. Much oh to my Man john mcclaney was awesome.

(48:05):
Again can't wait for that documentary to come. Out see
you next, time and as, always Go.

Speaker 1 (48:09):
Texans
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