Safety Kyle Hamilton joins team insiders Garrett Downing and Cassie Cherigo to discuss his record-setting contract extension, early impression of first-round pick Malaki Starks, becoming a face of the franchise, and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the lounge represented by DraftKings. I'm Garrett Downing.
I'm here with Cassie Cherigo. We are so excited today
to be joined by Kyle Hamilton, fresh off signing a
new contract. So Kyle, let's start here. My favorite reaction
to your contract extension had to be from your mom
on Twitter, who said, my college drop out got a
raise at his seasonal job.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah I didn't.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I didn't see she's actually tweeted that. She's she's always
talking to me about getting my degree, so I need
to check that box.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
But yeah, she was.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Happy for you started on that process, right, I did.
So there's still a little bit more to go.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I have like three classes left, and.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I'm sure your mom reminds you that often it sounds.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Like, yeah, you know, the further you get away, the
harder is actually go back and do it. But I
need to show my kids that having your degree is important.
So at some point before kids exist, I need to
get that.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
There you go, spoken like someone who went to Notre Dame.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah I didn't graduate though, Yeah that's he just took
a few classes there.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yeah, So what's it been like?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Man?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Getting this contract sign Now? The dust has settled a
little bit, but you have you signed this contract. It's
it's obviously something that was well deserved by you. But
what does this contract extension mean for you?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I mean it's one just shows how much faith the
Ravens and the organization hasn't me. And I've said it before,
but just appreciate them for drafting me and developing me.
And you know, it's it's now I feel like I'm
forever associated with the Ravens and that's until my football
career is over, until my life's over. I feel like
that's gonna be kind of a bond there. And uh no,
(01:40):
it's awesome, but you know, it's kind of weird. I
don't feel that much different. It's cool, like having that security,
but everybody's like, what it's like the first thing you're
gonna buy and all that stuff, and I really have
no clue, so maybe I'll just save it.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
It's not a boat answer.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
One of the things I thought was really interesting when
you were talking about your presser like right after the extension,
was like just kind of enjoying what the process looked
like from your standpoint, and you talked about like seeing
the back and forth. So were you like literally reading
emails back and forth Like.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
No, yeah, I literally felt like I was like at
a desk job, like firing emails back and forth to
EDC and Nick. And obviously it wasn't me like actually
writing the emails, but my agents would call me before
they sent them and we'd read them together and I'd
provide my insight, like what I felt was good, what
I felt wasn't necessary, And you know, I get emails
(02:28):
from the Ravens and it was really cool just to
see the whole process and something I was a little
interested in, just like how it went. And I know
some guys aren't involved really at all, and I wasn't
super hands on, like I wasn't talking to Nick and
EDC directly, but being involved with it kind of you know,
it's like you're raising a baby a little bit and
then you get to the point where you actually signed.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
It's like I had a part in this, so a
minuscule part.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
My agents did a lot of work, but it was
cool to still see the whole process.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Well, clearly you had a big part, because it's all
about what you've done here.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, well will you put that way?
Speaker 4 (03:01):
Yeah, but you said there's like some humor in there.
So how is like their humor in a contract negotiation?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, so my agent, I mean, this isn't like divulging information,
but my agent, one of my agents, Brian Murphy's from Boston,
ADCs from Boston area. So there was some back and
forth about some random Boston suburbs and stuff like that.
There was almost like a theme to it, which was
like poems or quotes, and it was very like Edgar
(03:28):
Allan poe Ish. I don't know if he was actually used,
but it would almost be like a header page and
like preface the email with this quote or poem. And
it's like if you appreciate good writing and appreciate people
put an effort into an email, then you would appreciate
those emails. So I appreciate about those things, and it
was cool just to see that.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
It's cool.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Some guys are like, I don't want any part of it.
My agent deals with it, like let me know when
the deal's done. This is what I want. But like,
why did you want to be part of it just
because you thought it'd be interesting to see the process
play out? Like why why were you involved in?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, it's important, it's a It's a unique situation to
be in. And I think when you see contracts and
you see numbers, and that's very prevalent in our profession,
you kind of have an outside end perspective on it.
And I feel like that gave me more of a
more knowledge on like how these things actually go down
and how you get to a number, and from both sides,
(04:21):
whether arguments and how it goes and no hard feelings
at all. I mean, both sides have to do a job.
And so I was more so reading it just from
a third party perspective, even though I'm literally the most
probably prominent party in the two party.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
But no, that's literally what I was doing.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
I was reading like if I was just looking at
Cayle Hamilton's contract or negotiation from an outside your.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Perspective, like how would I just view this?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
So I wasn't very I wasn't emotionally attached to it
really at all, and just kind of looking at looking
at it for more of a educational perspective, maybe like
a little academia. But no, it was really cool and
to say, like I understood why each part of the
language and stuff like that I've had to get explained
a little bit by my agents. Obviously they went to
(05:08):
school for that stuff. But it was cool to like
just say the whole process just kind of nosy, honestly.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
So even though he hasn't finished it in Notre Dame, he's
still working, he's still learning.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, you can always take you're from somewhere.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
So you talked a little bit about the process of
the contract, not just the actual negotiation process, but basically
getting to this point. Like there are three years in
the NFL, and to me, like I go back to
when the Ravens drafted, you still can't believe you were
there for the Ravens when they drafted you. So, like,
when you sign a deal like this, do you think
about that process and like, as you think about this
whole this whole journey, what is it that stands out
(05:42):
the most to you.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That's a good question.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I think, you know you kind of you obviously recollect
and just look back on everything that you've been through
to get to this point. I mean, it's a kind
of a culmination of all the hard work that other
people have put into me and that I put in
to get to this point. But I don't know if
there's specifically one moment that that I think about, but
(06:05):
it's a little it's more so just all around what
I've done to get here, and it's cool to reap
the benefits. And again I'm super appreciative, but I think
going back to me not being a little bland about it,
like it it's something that I always expected for myself,
and I don't want to sound conceded when I say that,
but like, I always expect the highest out of what
(06:28):
I do, and that's in anything, and parents raised me
to think like that.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
So if you're going to do anything, do it to
the best of your abilities.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
And when I first realized like I want to go
to the NFL, probably told myself, I want to be
all pro I want to be pro Bowl, I want
to be highest paid, all this and that and look
back on it and be happy about what I did.
And so when it does come to actually be like
real and happen, it's it's kind of cool, but at
the same time, it's like, this is what I expected
(06:54):
for myself, and you know, still got more work to do,
so I'm kind of just looking forward and glad to
have checked that box.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Kind of on the same thing about your journey from
when you came here. Now you are kind of one
of the guys of like this organization. You're one of
the faces of this franchise at this point because you
because of what you've done here. But like from a
leadership standpoint, how does how have you kind of been
able to step into that role from the guy who
walked in here as a rookie to now being one
of like the faces of the franchise.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Yeah, and it's kind of weird you say that, it's
kind of happened really fast. But I mean there were
some ups and downs there for a second. And but
I always take the good with the bad and have
a short memory and never get too high and never
get too low. So I felt like it was easy
for me to kind of move on and from bad
plays from good plays and just kind of be the
same me. And I think as a leader, that's a
(07:43):
good thing. You know, you're not You're kind of somebody
people look to in times of stress and times of joy.
And it happens kind of naturally as our DV room
gets younger and I'm obviously getting older.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I'm not old. Maybe I feel a little.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Old sometimes, but but you know, it just happens naturally
like draft and Malachi like as obviously on me to
kind of help him out, and you know, I've been
through it at the same time, first round safety and
there's different expectations here than other places. So just kind
of on that front, giving him my two cents and
that's what everybody in the room and where that's play
calls or just life as a Raven, as a first
(08:21):
round pick or as an undrafted guy, it's you can
help in a lot of different ways, and I feel
like I've tried to do a good job of that.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Do you think when you look at beyond just the Ravens,
but the league as a whole, college, in high school,
do a degree? Do you do you think that you
are changing the safety position at all? No, You're a
pretty hot, humble guy, because I think you are. I'll
just answer that in part. I think that you Like
(08:47):
I went to the Combine this year and every player
Malachi included was like, I'm modeled my game after Kyle Hamilton.
I look what he does, the versatility, like all all
of those things, Like every safety it seemed like, was
talking about that they look at your tape all that stuff.
So like I can see you kind of playing the
modest car. But I think that like there's an element
that that teams and players are looking at the way
(09:07):
that you play the game and wanting to emulate that
to a certain degree.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, I think anytime there's it's kind of like, you know,
the game's kind of shifted to tight ends or pass
catchers now, and you kind of need somebody to combat that.
So if you have a taller safety or a taller
nickel that you can play inside, then it'll help you.
They can blitz, they can do all this other stuff,
And I'm sure there's been people before to do that,
(09:34):
but it's cool to It's cool to obviously be looked
up to in that sense and have people kind of
emulate their game after Bits of Mind and I did
the same thing with a bunch of people. So it's
just natural ways the way that things go. But I
don't know if I want to be the one to
say I'm revolutionizing it. But I think Mike McDonald did
(09:55):
a great job of kind of finding a place for
me to fit in my rookie myself I can year,
and getting creative with that and allowing me to kind
of grow into my role as a safety or as
a nickel and bringing me along, being hard on me.
And I think Zeo has done a great job as well,
just expanding on that and all the coaches around them
and just let me be myself and not trying to
(10:17):
put a where they say, square block into a hole.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yep, yeah, I didn't graduate, so.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
But yeah, I think it's it's been a culmination of
just smart people around the game just helping me out,
trying to figure out what I'm best at, and it's worked,
so it's been good.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Do you think the like the fit piece is really important?
Like it I don't want to say it was that
hard of an idea in the sense of like you
were you're a great player coming out in the draft,
but like for every player that comes to the NFL,
part of it is fit and like coaches finding the
right way to use you, and like, there's good players
that go places and it's a bad situation and for
whatever reason it doesn't pan out. So do you think
(10:55):
that like the fit and the willingness for Mike and
the defense of coaches you rookie and second year to
like shift things around was part of what allows you
to have the success that you did.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I think especially in the sport, there's people who are
OC's or DC's that just think my system is the
best system ever and you're going to conform to this,
and you know they're not ultimately the people drafting, So
like if you're GM like somebody, then you're gonna have
to figure out away from them to get on the field.
So I think the Ravens have done a great job
(11:28):
of that just philosophically from the top. Harves is kind
of a beacon of that. Just like guys put guys
where they'll excel. You know, it's not about exces and
o's about Jimmy and Joe's. So if you can get
people in the right spots and make plays and let
them do that and doesn't have everything, doesn't have to
conform to a playbook. So that's something every coach here
is preached. And you know they've put that out in
(11:50):
the field like Marlin's moved around a ton and last
year like b Steve will go play dime and Trey
White would play corner and it's just like it makes
us super deep just talking second, but like guys up
front who will go play on the edge and we
have different packages and it just gives offense different looks.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Speaking of the secondary and the coaching, you've always been
working with Chuck now for a few months. He's coached
a lot of football, but has said that this is
one of the talent, most talented groups that he's ever
worked with. Like, how do you kind of see this
secondary as a whole?
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah, I think it's the I don't really think we
understand what we have in the room right now until
like we get on the field and we start making
plays and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
It's which is a good thing. I think.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
You know, we're all approaching this season like we have
done nothing, and you know, that's feel like I feel
like that's how you have to approach every season. And
guys are really humbled in the room. It's really tight
group and really different group and a bunch of like
ranges of people like Malachi's engage and just coming out
of college and then Marlon Jaire or Marlon Jaire and
(12:49):
it's it's cool, yeah, right, it's cool just to see
everybody gel together. And but on that note, that talent,
like you still have you go out there and produce
with it, and I'm sure Chuck would say the same thing, like,
you can have all the talent in the world, but
if you're not working hard or you're not playing well together,
it doesn't really matter. So I think we're looking forward
to getting out there and putting on tape.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
But you mentioned JayR and he kind of came in
at kind of a weird time, like right before you
guys went on that like big break. How have you
seen him kind of be able to integrate himself, like
into y'all's position group.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah. I remember the first day he was here.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
He was on a visit and I saw him and
I was like joking around about him signing, and then
he signed, and then he came to practice and it
was like he had been in the room for three years,
like he was. I've never seen somebody so outgoing and
making everybody feel warm around him, and he's just he
gets all awkwardness out of the room quickly, and I
think it's really good to have. And obviously he's a
(13:46):
really good player too, so on top of that, it's
just a good guy to have around.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
You use the different word I think you've used eccentric
maybe for him and Marlin. It's like weird kind of
beings there too, and the most respectful that.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Money, that'd be weird, but have many of their.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Centrics, which one is more is more eccentric, weird.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I think Marlin's more annoying. I think, uh, and that's like,
in the most delicate way I could put it, it's
like he's like a middle middle child who just like
needs attention. That's just who he is and he gains it.
And uh, but I'd say Gyr is a little more eccentric. Yeah,
he just has some different trains of thought where you're like,
(14:27):
I don't know how you got to that conclusion that
that's a good thought, but you know, I think it's
kind of it's kind of a trend in the league.
Playing cornerback, like you're like, you gotta be a weird
individual just to kind of sack yourself out good play,
bad play, And you know, you gotta have a short memory,
and you gotta have creative mind. And those two are
probably the two most creative minds in the league at
(14:50):
any position.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Honestly, the d b room is always the biggest personalities
on the team. I feel like that's like that's consistent. Yeah,
every single year I saw Marlin posted on Instagram that
he gave you a break on buying his condo and
so is he trying to get some money back.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
No, yeah, I told him, I'm running it from him,
just trying to see how downtown.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Life is least about to go up because he has.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Already signed, So yeah, he's stuck in the least Hess signed.
I signed like a week later, so I got a
good deal on it. Good smart man, But I'm doing
him a favorite. Nobody was running that he took.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
It off his hands from I'm curious, Like, going back
to the dB room, you mentioned Malchai a couple of
times and like he's a serious guy and he's super smart,
and he's come in and seemed to step in really well,
basically been a starter from the time that he arrived here,
and you talked this off season about how you felt
like he was he's further along than you were as
a rookie. Like, I'm just curious how it was going
(15:41):
in terms of building that chemistry with him and why
you feel like he's even further along than you were
at this time.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Yeah, I think just mentally, he he's probably one of
the best rookies I've seen. I've only been in the
league four years now, but including myself, like just grasping
things after seeing it one time, or messing up something
once and never have again. Like that's really rare, especially
at the safety position. You have to be so vocal
and you have to know a lot of stuff, and
that's something I struggled with my rookie year. And it
(16:08):
seemed like he just came in. It was kind of seamless.
I was a little jealous of it, honestly. He came
and it was just like, yeah, I'm starting I know
all the calls, all this stuff, and I.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Was like, I don't know what I'm doing out here.
And I told him that.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I was like, you're so far ahead of probably ninety
nine percent of safeties to get drafted in this league,
like at the time that you're at. And I said
it earlier, like he's gonna have to grow up quick,
but like he's already done it, and I'm excited for
him going to season things and make a ton of plays.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
He told us this offseason we were talking about the
versatility and you guys can both do some of the
different things, and he was like, I'm just gonna let
Kyle kind of pick what he wants to do and
then I'll do the opposite.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
No, I think, uh, it's it's as a safety tandem,
like you kind of somebody like maybe you rolled your
ankle with one play and you're supposed to go do
something like Yoky, you go do this for me, So
like he'll go take the hard down and I'll go
do whatever, and I'll do the same for him. And
I think that's something that just as time comes, you
kind of understand what you guys want to do at
(17:06):
a certain point in the game. And he's always willing
to ask questions, not even to me, but like coaches,
and never a bad question for him, and he's always
just willing to learn. So he's kind of like a
sponge just with knowledge. Right now, he's doing a good job.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Right it's week one obviously, Buffalo on Sunday. What was
your thought when the schedule came out and you saw
that that was first up.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I thought it.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
I feel like it was something that we wanted and
you know, I feel like we obviously didn't get the
result that we wanted last year, and there's a lot
of players we left on the table there, and you know,
you get the chance to write your wrongs and there's
no excuses now coming back, and you know.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
They were the last team we played.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
We got film on him, we played him twice last year,
so now it's like, it's not snowing, it's not cold,
just go out there and play football, So you have
no excuses now.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I think we're ready for the challenge.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Is there any like obviously it's a weak one and
you're excited. Everyone's kind of fired up already. Is there
any like extra juice with it being like a primetime
game or not really in this week?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Not really?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
I honest me, personally, I don't like went around the
hotel room all day because you're kind of like just
watching other teams play and you're like, I wish that
was me, and now you're just waiting all day and
you know it's especially on the road getting home late.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I feel like we're kind of at.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
The point because we've been focusing in all camp, like
we just want to get out there and play, and
we coach Haarbs always talks about peaking too early, which
I'll have trouble with because I'll wake up on Sunday
and we have an eight twenty game and I'm like
it's eight twenty twelve hours while I play. So I
think that just kind of shows I feel like everybody
kind feels that way. We just want to get out
there and play and we're excited.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
It's interesting here you talk about just kind of the
mindset of the team, Like, I just feel like this
is a mature team. It's obviously everyone knows what you
want to do, what you want accomplish, Like that's obvious,
but like there's not too much talk about it. Like
there seems to be this focus on like the here
and now and not peaking too soon and all those things.
So like the mindset of the team seems to be
in a really good place. Do you get that same sense?
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Yeah, I think it's it's kind of like what's understood
doesn't have to be said kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
And if you.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Ask everybody on the team, like what's our goal for
the season, they're gonna say, right, super Bowl? No, right,
And so now everybody in the building thinks that, and
you know, we don't need to come in here and
be like we're trying to win Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Were trying to win Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
I think that's something that we struggled with last year
and then we came out to a slow start. We're like,
you can't win super Bowl if you don't win these
games in the beginning, middle, and the end of the season.
So I think that's something we focus on, like just
taking one week at a time, and everybody's willing to
do that and not looking too far ahead because now
the past two years seemed like we had that kind
of mindset and it hasn't worked out for it. So
(19:40):
it's like, all right, well, let's just focus on one
week at a time and really emphasize that. And I
think the coaches, everybody's done a good job of that.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
He talked a lot about your contract. We obviously talked
about the season, but the other big life change for
you was you've got engaged recently, like I did. Do
you does that kind of hit you at any point
that like there's all these like crazy big things happen
in your life like around the same time, Like are
you able to kind of like take a step back
and like enjoy that all of that at once?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah, I'm pretty bad at that. Honestly.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
My fiance rees she always gets not mad, but she's
like annoyed when I'm like, I have no reaction to
big events and like when I got drafted, somebody sent
it to me this off season, like my draft call.
When EC called me, I was like, yeah, thanks for
drafting me. I appreciate it. And dudes in there like
ball and crying and stuff. I don't know it's something
wrong with me or not, but just not super emotional.
(20:33):
And she's like, are you happy about your contract? I'm like, yeah,
like am I really happy about it? Like it's good.
She's like, I don't understand how you're not like bouncing
on the walls. But no, she's a good girl. And
we got engaged over in France and surprised her with
their friends. Actually went a lot better than I thought
it would and it was kind of perfect. So got
a lot of life events going on now, so hopefully
(20:55):
after it's all done, I could just sit back and chill.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
Well then, not being like too high too low probably
helped in the field, not so much in the reactions.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, I'm pretty bad about that. She
uh she's She was like, are you gonna cry on
her wedding day? And I was like, I don't know,
maybe maybe, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
You just say yes, you just say yet I don't want.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
To be definitely not. I don't want to be like,
yeah I am.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
And then she's like walking down the ais and I'm
like trying to motion.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
You just have to make you just have to make
your face look emotional.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
That's like what everyone looks for at the wedding. They
always look at the groom to see, like what his
face looks like when the you're married, Like you know
this like when their bridees walking down the aisle, you
have to look emotional. Tear is like you don't.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Got to go water works, just a little bit a
little dusty, a little cut in the onions.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
It's a little Yeah, I don't know. I just I
feel like I am emotional. I just don't show my emotions,
if that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Internalize it.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Yes, yes, that's what she says. You internalized, She says.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Right there, all right, I can see that you honestly
kind of play like that too, because like you're not
like an outwardly like showy guy on the field.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Uh huh.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
You don't do a lot of celebrations, like is that
a conscious thing? Is just kind of how you are.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
That's just kind of how I've always been honestly, And
I think it's because I treat it like a like
a job, like like it's like a nine to five,
Like I'm not here to do my job, and.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Your seasonal job is a.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Job that the Ravens deployed me forward, thank you.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
But but yeah, it's like a play to play to
play life and I'm out here trying to do my
job and I feel like I'm trying to exert all
my energy between the snaps so I can do it
to the best of my abilities.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I just like we do the too small celebration.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Yeah, I don't really know where that stuff comes from. Honestly.
That might be like a subconscious that's me showing my emotion.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah, and you got I feel.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Like you've we've heard of some zingers, like maybe a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Of trash talk, Yeah, a little bit. But I'm not like.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Twenty years from now noways gonna be like that was
a huge trash dog. It'll be like I didn't say anything. Probably,
but you know that's I leave that to where we
don't have any trash talkers on the team. Actually, Okay, yeah,
I'm excited to see that. I'm excited to see it.
Maybe I'll try to take a little bit from him.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Does the contract extension help in the wedding budget situation?
Speaker 2 (23:13):
You know what? Probably? I mean, yeah, naturally it does.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
Don't worry a little bit less about the crying on
the wedding.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Maybe I'll cry that the venue it is so nice,
so pretty.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
We do need to plan on that.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
We're both procrastinators, so we need to how to get
a wedding planner or just decide quickly which probably is
going to happen. So I told her, like I planned
the engagement and it was a lot of planning on
my part. Just put on the back and I was like,
you gotta like strong arm this this wedding, like this
is your wedding.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
You're passing the baton.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I was like, I don't care about the flower colors.
I kind of just want people. I want there and
then where it is. That's two big things. And golf
golf nearby?
Speaker 1 (23:55):
All right, Actually there you go. Well that's good engagement,
wedding on the way, big contract done, season is here,
it gets.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
I was next, Yeah, we're in a role right now.
Let's go.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Yeah awesome, man, Well, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Congratulations again, thank you, Fired up for you and glad
to be continuing to work with you for a long time.
So this is a well deserved like we said, and
I can't wait to see what you this team happens
toward this year.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Thank you appreciate y'all.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Welcome back to the lounges. We're coming to you from
the c GEK Studio. We also want to mention our
partners with Draft King sports Book. They are an official
sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sports Book.
The Crown is yours well. Thanks to Kyle for joining us.
I always love sitting down with him. I think fans
and listeners just get a sense of kind of who
he is. Obviously a cerebral player, great player, and his
(24:39):
personality shine through as well. So just enjoyed the conversation
with him and I can't wait to see what he
does this year.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
He's a really easy person to work for. Just a
great dude for us to work with on a daily
basis here at the facility. Obviously a great player on
the field and just one of those people who like
it's always felt like Kyle is a raven and like
what should always be here long term. So it's great
when you have that young he and you are able
to retain it here.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Yeah, he said, I went back and looked at this
when he got drafted, he said, I failed to the
right team. And I think that, like that was definitely true.
And I think when the Ravens went through this process
of like deciding on the contract, it's like, all right,
this guy's an All Pro player, he's a leader of
the defense, he's great off the field. Like, let's just
get the thing done. What are we waiting for. We
know Kyle Hamilton is someone we want here for a
(25:22):
long time, so like, let's just get the deal done
and like not complicated, don't wait, get into the contract,
and everybody's happy. And I think it's a win win
across the board.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Yeah, it's a layup, And I mean he even talked
about like both sides wanted it to be fair to
either side, like they want to do the right thing
for the organization, and so it's a no brainer to
get that done.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Yeah. So obviously the focus this week now is going
to turn into the Buffalo Bills. We're just a few
days away from that game. We've all been talking about
it and anticipating it and it's just it's exciting. And
like I said to him, like the mindset and like
the attitude going into the game, Like it just seems
to me like the team is in a really good
place in terms of how they're approaching that not just
(26:01):
this game, but the season as a whole. And like, yeah,
we're all going to talk about like they're going back
to the place for the last season ended, Like no
doubt that, Like that's part of the story of this team.
But I just feel like this team is like in
a really good headspace entering the season.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
I feel like we've seen a really good vibe like
throughout Campa. This feels like a team that's really like
gelled together across the board. And I did think it
was interesting today like hearing from John Harbaugh, Nomdi Medabike,
Ronnie Stanley that they all feel comfortable like owning that
the way that last season ended is motivation, Like there's
no way to shy away from that. At this point.
We all know that they had this hour taste in
(26:34):
their mouth like in the offseason, and so they've owned
that that is motivational going into the season because they
do want to right the wrongs that they've watched the film,
they've seen the mistakes that were made, the things that
they want to correct going into this game. And it's
so important in the NFL to get out to a
hot start. This team knows that last season they weren't
able to, and so I think that's a big piece
of it too, not just who the opponent is, but
(26:55):
like knowing if they want to accomplish what they want
to accomplish this season, Like these first couples are so important.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
I think Kyle he even said it early on the
off season when he talked about like, look, we all
know where we want to go, and just part of
the conversation we had with him, like, yes, that's there's
an awareness of that, but like we got to take
care of business in the regular season, in every game
every week. You can't look past things because like then
you can find yourself in a situation where you hurt
your playoff seating, or you're on the road when you
(27:22):
could have been at home, like all that stuff, and
like it all matters, Everything matters, And I think that,
like that's what I like about this team's approach going
into the season, Like they really are taking the attitude
and the mindset that like everything is important, and every game,
every practice, every meeting, like it's all important. And I
think it's going to serve the well this year.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
I mean we even saw on the off season program,
but just like how the attendance throughout the off season,
throughout camp like so it's they've done the little things
all year long to prepare for this moment and now
they're just ready to start having the actual games.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Yeah, we can't wait. Sunday primetime game Sunday night eight
twenty pm, Raven's Bills, NBC. So we're going to continue
breaking that thing down over the course of this week.
As always, you can email us at the lounge at
Ravens dot NFL dot net. Cassie, thank you so much
for filling in for Ryan today and I'd love to
hear from you guys listeners, So thank you so much
for watching and listening, and we will be back with
(28:15):
you again soon
Welcome into the lounge represented by DraftKings. I'm Garrett Downing.
I'm here with Cassie Cherigo. We are so excited today
to be joined by Kyle Hamilton, fresh off signing a
new contract. So Kyle, let's start here. My favorite reaction
to your contract extension had to be from your mom
on Twitter, who said, my college drop out got a
raise at his seasonal job.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah I didn't.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I didn't see she's actually tweeted that. She's she's always
talking to me about getting my degree, so I need
to check that box.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
But yeah, she was.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Happy for you started on that process, right, I did.
So there's still a little bit more to go.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I have like three classes left, and.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I'm sure your mom reminds you that often it sounds.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Like, yeah, you know, the further you get away, the
harder is actually go back and do it. But I
need to show my kids that having your degree is important.
So at some point before kids exist, I need to
get that.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
There you go, spoken like someone who went to Notre Dame.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah I didn't graduate though, Yeah that's he just took
a few classes there.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yeah, So what's it been like?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Man?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Getting this contract sign Now? The dust has settled a
little bit, but you have you signed this contract. It's
it's obviously something that was well deserved by you. But
what does this contract extension mean for you?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I mean it's one just shows how much faith the
Ravens and the organization hasn't me. And I've said it before,
but just appreciate them for drafting me and developing me.
And you know, it's it's now I feel like I'm
forever associated with the Ravens and that's until my football
career is over, until my life's over. I feel like
that's gonna be kind of a bond there. And uh no,
(01:40):
it's awesome, but you know, it's kind of weird. I
don't feel that much different. It's cool, like having that security,
but everybody's like, what it's like the first thing you're
gonna buy and all that stuff, and I really have
no clue, so maybe I'll just save it.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
It's not a boat answer.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
One of the things I thought was really interesting when
you were talking about your presser like right after the extension,
was like just kind of enjoying what the process looked
like from your standpoint, and you talked about like seeing
the back and forth. So were you like literally reading
emails back and forth Like.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
No, yeah, I literally felt like I was like at
a desk job, like firing emails back and forth to
EDC and Nick. And obviously it wasn't me like actually
writing the emails, but my agents would call me before
they sent them and we'd read them together and I'd
provide my insight, like what I felt was good, what
I felt wasn't necessary, And you know, I get emails
(02:28):
from the Ravens and it was really cool just to
see the whole process and something I was a little
interested in, just like how it went. And I know
some guys aren't involved really at all, and I wasn't
super hands on, like I wasn't talking to Nick and
EDC directly, but being involved with it kind of you know,
it's like you're raising a baby a little bit and
then you get to the point where you actually signed.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
It's like I had a part in this, so a
minuscule part.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
My agents did a lot of work, but it was
cool to still see the whole process.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Well, clearly you had a big part, because it's all
about what you've done here.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, well will you put that way?
Speaker 4 (03:01):
Yeah, but you said there's like some humor in there.
So how is like their humor in a contract negotiation?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, so my agent, I mean, this isn't like divulging information,
but my agent, one of my agents, Brian Murphy's from Boston,
ADCs from Boston area. So there was some back and
forth about some random Boston suburbs and stuff like that.
There was almost like a theme to it, which was
like poems or quotes, and it was very like Edgar
(03:28):
Allan poe Ish. I don't know if he was actually used,
but it would almost be like a header page and
like preface the email with this quote or poem. And
it's like if you appreciate good writing and appreciate people
put an effort into an email, then you would appreciate
those emails. So I appreciate about those things, and it
was cool just to see that.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
It's cool.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Some guys are like, I don't want any part of it.
My agent deals with it, like let me know when
the deal's done. This is what I want. But like,
why did you want to be part of it just
because you thought it'd be interesting to see the process
play out? Like why why were you involved in?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, it's important, it's a It's a unique situation to
be in. And I think when you see contracts and
you see numbers, and that's very prevalent in our profession,
you kind of have an outside end perspective on it.
And I feel like that gave me more of a
more knowledge on like how these things actually go down
and how you get to a number, and from both sides,
(04:21):
whether arguments and how it goes and no hard feelings
at all. I mean, both sides have to do a job.
And so I was more so reading it just from
a third party perspective, even though I'm literally the most
probably prominent party in the two party.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
But no, that's literally what I was doing.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
I was reading like if I was just looking at
Cayle Hamilton's contract or negotiation from an outside your.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Perspective, like how would I just view this?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
So I wasn't very I wasn't emotionally attached to it
really at all, and just kind of looking at looking
at it for more of a educational perspective, maybe like
a little academia. But no, it was really cool and
to say, like I understood why each part of the
language and stuff like that I've had to get explained
a little bit by my agents. Obviously they went to
(05:08):
school for that stuff. But it was cool to like
just say the whole process just kind of nosy, honestly.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
So even though he hasn't finished it in Notre Dame, he's
still working, he's still learning.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, you can always take you're from somewhere.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
So you talked a little bit about the process of
the contract, not just the actual negotiation process, but basically
getting to this point. Like there are three years in
the NFL, and to me, like I go back to
when the Ravens drafted, you still can't believe you were
there for the Ravens when they drafted you. So, like,
when you sign a deal like this, do you think
about that process and like, as you think about this
whole this whole journey, what is it that stands out
(05:42):
the most to you.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That's a good question.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I think, you know you kind of you obviously recollect
and just look back on everything that you've been through
to get to this point. I mean, it's a kind
of a culmination of all the hard work that other
people have put into me and that I put in
to get to this point. But I don't know if
there's specifically one moment that that I think about, but
(06:05):
it's a little it's more so just all around what
I've done to get here, and it's cool to reap
the benefits. And again I'm super appreciative, but I think
going back to me not being a little bland about it,
like it it's something that I always expected for myself,
and I don't want to sound conceded when I say that,
but like, I always expect the highest out of what
(06:28):
I do, and that's in anything, and parents raised me
to think like that.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
So if you're going to do anything, do it to
the best of your abilities.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
And when I first realized like I want to go
to the NFL, probably told myself, I want to be
all pro I want to be pro Bowl, I want
to be highest paid, all this and that and look
back on it and be happy about what I did.
And so when it does come to actually be like
real and happen, it's it's kind of cool, but at
the same time, it's like, this is what I expected
(06:54):
for myself, and you know, still got more work to do,
so I'm kind of just looking forward and glad to
have checked that box.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Kind of on the same thing about your journey from
when you came here. Now you are kind of one
of the guys of like this organization. You're one of
the faces of this franchise at this point because you
because of what you've done here. But like from a
leadership standpoint, how does how have you kind of been
able to step into that role from the guy who
walked in here as a rookie to now being one
of like the faces of the franchise.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Yeah, and it's kind of weird you say that, it's
kind of happened really fast. But I mean there were
some ups and downs there for a second. And but
I always take the good with the bad and have
a short memory and never get too high and never
get too low. So I felt like it was easy
for me to kind of move on and from bad
plays from good plays and just kind of be the
same me. And I think as a leader, that's a
(07:43):
good thing. You know, you're not You're kind of somebody
people look to in times of stress and times of joy.
And it happens kind of naturally as our DV room
gets younger and I'm obviously getting older.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I'm not old. Maybe I feel a little.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Old sometimes, but but you know, it just happens naturally
like draft and Malachi like as obviously on me to
kind of help him out, and you know, I've been
through it at the same time, first round safety and
there's different expectations here than other places. So just kind
of on that front, giving him my two cents and
that's what everybody in the room and where that's play
calls or just life as a Raven, as a first
(08:21):
round pick or as an undrafted guy, it's you can
help in a lot of different ways, and I feel
like I've tried to do a good job of that.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Do you think when you look at beyond just the Ravens,
but the league as a whole, college, in high school,
do a degree? Do you do you think that you
are changing the safety position at all? No, You're a
pretty hot, humble guy, because I think you are. I'll
just answer that in part. I think that you Like
(08:47):
I went to the Combine this year and every player
Malachi included was like, I'm modeled my game after Kyle Hamilton.
I look what he does, the versatility, like all all
of those things, Like every safety it seemed like, was
talking about that they look at your tape all that stuff.
So like I can see you kind of playing the
modest car. But I think that like there's an element
that that teams and players are looking at the way
(09:07):
that you play the game and wanting to emulate that
to a certain degree.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, I think anytime there's it's kind of like, you know,
the game's kind of shifted to tight ends or pass
catchers now, and you kind of need somebody to combat that.
So if you have a taller safety or a taller
nickel that you can play inside, then it'll help you.
They can blitz, they can do all this other stuff,
And I'm sure there's been people before to do that,
(09:34):
but it's cool to It's cool to obviously be looked
up to in that sense and have people kind of
emulate their game after Bits of Mind and I did
the same thing with a bunch of people. So it's
just natural ways the way that things go. But I
don't know if I want to be the one to
say I'm revolutionizing it. But I think Mike McDonald did
(09:55):
a great job of kind of finding a place for
me to fit in my rookie myself I can year,
and getting creative with that and allowing me to kind
of grow into my role as a safety or as
a nickel and bringing me along, being hard on me.
And I think Zeo has done a great job as well,
just expanding on that and all the coaches around them
and just let me be myself and not trying to
(10:17):
put a where they say, square block into a hole.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yep, yeah, I didn't graduate, so.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
But yeah, I think it's it's been a culmination of
just smart people around the game just helping me out,
trying to figure out what I'm best at, and it's worked,
so it's been good.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Do you think the like the fit piece is really important?
Like it I don't want to say it was that
hard of an idea in the sense of like you
were you're a great player coming out in the draft,
but like for every player that comes to the NFL,
part of it is fit and like coaches finding the
right way to use you, and like, there's good players
that go places and it's a bad situation and for
whatever reason it doesn't pan out. So do you think
(10:55):
that like the fit and the willingness for Mike and
the defense of coaches you rookie and second year to
like shift things around was part of what allows you
to have the success that you did.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I think especially in the sport, there's people who are
OC's or DC's that just think my system is the
best system ever and you're going to conform to this,
and you know they're not ultimately the people drafting, So
like if you're GM like somebody, then you're gonna have
to figure out away from them to get on the field.
So I think the Ravens have done a great job
(11:28):
of that just philosophically from the top. Harves is kind
of a beacon of that. Just like guys put guys
where they'll excel. You know, it's not about exces and
o's about Jimmy and Joe's. So if you can get
people in the right spots and make plays and let
them do that and doesn't have everything, doesn't have to
conform to a playbook. So that's something every coach here
is preached. And you know they've put that out in
(11:50):
the field like Marlin's moved around a ton and last
year like b Steve will go play dime and Trey
White would play corner and it's just like it makes
us super deep just talking second, but like guys up
front who will go play on the edge and we
have different packages and it just gives offense different looks.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Speaking of the secondary and the coaching, you've always been
working with Chuck now for a few months. He's coached
a lot of football, but has said that this is
one of the talent, most talented groups that he's ever
worked with. Like, how do you kind of see this
secondary as a whole?
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah, I think it's the I don't really think we
understand what we have in the room right now until
like we get on the field and we start making
plays and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
It's which is a good thing. I think.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
You know, we're all approaching this season like we have
done nothing, and you know, that's feel like I feel
like that's how you have to approach every season. And
guys are really humbled in the room. It's really tight
group and really different group and a bunch of like
ranges of people like Malachi's engage and just coming out
of college and then Marlon Jaire or Marlon Jaire and
(12:49):
it's it's cool, yeah, right, it's cool just to see
everybody gel together. And but on that note, that talent,
like you still have you go out there and produce
with it, and I'm sure Chuck would say the same thing, like,
you can have all the talent in the world, but
if you're not working hard or you're not playing well together,
it doesn't really matter. So I think we're looking forward
to getting out there and putting on tape.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
But you mentioned JayR and he kind of came in
at kind of a weird time, like right before you
guys went on that like big break. How have you
seen him kind of be able to integrate himself, like
into y'all's position group.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah. I remember the first day he was here.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
He was on a visit and I saw him and
I was like joking around about him signing, and then
he signed, and then he came to practice and it
was like he had been in the room for three years,
like he was. I've never seen somebody so outgoing and
making everybody feel warm around him, and he's just he
gets all awkwardness out of the room quickly, and I
think it's really good to have. And obviously he's a
(13:46):
really good player too, so on top of that, it's
just a good guy to have around.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
You use the different word I think you've used eccentric
maybe for him and Marlin. It's like weird kind of
beings there too, and the most respectful that.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Money, that'd be weird, but have many of their.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Centrics, which one is more is more eccentric, weird.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I think Marlin's more annoying. I think, uh, and that's like,
in the most delicate way I could put it, it's
like he's like a middle middle child who just like
needs attention. That's just who he is and he gains it.
And uh, but I'd say Gyr is a little more eccentric. Yeah,
he just has some different trains of thought where you're like,
(14:27):
I don't know how you got to that conclusion that
that's a good thought, but you know, I think it's
kind of it's kind of a trend in the league.
Playing cornerback, like you're like, you gotta be a weird
individual just to kind of sack yourself out good play,
bad play, And you know, you gotta have a short memory,
and you gotta have creative mind. And those two are
probably the two most creative minds in the league at
(14:50):
any position.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Honestly, the d b room is always the biggest personalities
on the team. I feel like that's like that's consistent. Yeah,
every single year I saw Marlin posted on Instagram that
he gave you a break on buying his condo and
so is he trying to get some money back.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
No, yeah, I told him, I'm running it from him,
just trying to see how downtown.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Life is least about to go up because he has.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Already signed, So yeah, he's stuck in the least Hess signed.
I signed like a week later, so I got a
good deal on it. Good smart man, But I'm doing
him a favorite. Nobody was running that he took.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
It off his hands from I'm curious, Like, going back
to the dB room, you mentioned Malchai a couple of
times and like he's a serious guy and he's super smart,
and he's come in and seemed to step in really well,
basically been a starter from the time that he arrived here,
and you talked this off season about how you felt
like he was he's further along than you were as
a rookie. Like, I'm just curious how it was going
(15:41):
in terms of building that chemistry with him and why
you feel like he's even further along than you were
at this time.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Yeah, I think just mentally, he he's probably one of
the best rookies I've seen. I've only been in the
league four years now, but including myself, like just grasping
things after seeing it one time, or messing up something
once and never have again. Like that's really rare, especially
at the safety position. You have to be so vocal
and you have to know a lot of stuff, and
that's something I struggled with my rookie year. And it
(16:08):
seemed like he just came in. It was kind of seamless.
I was a little jealous of it, honestly. He came
and it was just like, yeah, I'm starting I know
all the calls, all this stuff, and I.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Was like, I don't know what I'm doing out here.
And I told him that.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I was like, you're so far ahead of probably ninety
nine percent of safeties to get drafted in this league,
like at the time that you're at. And I said
it earlier, like he's gonna have to grow up quick,
but like he's already done it, and I'm excited for
him going to season things and make a ton of plays.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
He told us this offseason we were talking about the
versatility and you guys can both do some of the
different things, and he was like, I'm just gonna let
Kyle kind of pick what he wants to do and
then I'll do the opposite.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
No, I think, uh, it's it's as a safety tandem,
like you kind of somebody like maybe you rolled your
ankle with one play and you're supposed to go do
something like Yoky, you go do this for me, So
like he'll go take the hard down and I'll go
do whatever, and I'll do the same for him. And
I think that's something that just as time comes, you
kind of understand what you guys want to do at
(17:06):
a certain point in the game. And he's always willing
to ask questions, not even to me, but like coaches,
and never a bad question for him, and he's always
just willing to learn. So he's kind of like a
sponge just with knowledge. Right now, he's doing a good job.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Right it's week one obviously, Buffalo on Sunday. What was
your thought when the schedule came out and you saw
that that was first up.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I thought it.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
I feel like it was something that we wanted and
you know, I feel like we obviously didn't get the
result that we wanted last year, and there's a lot
of players we left on the table there, and you know,
you get the chance to write your wrongs and there's
no excuses now coming back, and you know.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
They were the last team we played.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
We got film on him, we played him twice last year,
so now it's like, it's not snowing, it's not cold,
just go out there and play football, So you have
no excuses now.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I think we're ready for the challenge.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Is there any like obviously it's a weak one and
you're excited. Everyone's kind of fired up already. Is there
any like extra juice with it being like a primetime
game or not really in this week?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Not really?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
I honest me, personally, I don't like went around the
hotel room all day because you're kind of like just
watching other teams play and you're like, I wish that
was me, and now you're just waiting all day and
you know it's especially on the road getting home late.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I feel like we're kind of at.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
The point because we've been focusing in all camp, like
we just want to get out there and play, and
we coach Haarbs always talks about peaking too early, which
I'll have trouble with because I'll wake up on Sunday
and we have an eight twenty game and I'm like
it's eight twenty twelve hours while I play. So I
think that just kind of shows I feel like everybody
kind feels that way. We just want to get out
there and play and we're excited.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
It's interesting here you talk about just kind of the
mindset of the team, Like, I just feel like this
is a mature team. It's obviously everyone knows what you
want to do, what you want accomplish, Like that's obvious,
but like there's not too much talk about it. Like
there seems to be this focus on like the here
and now and not peaking too soon and all those things.
So like the mindset of the team seems to be
in a really good place. Do you get that same sense?
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Yeah, I think it's it's kind of like what's understood
doesn't have to be said kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
And if you.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Ask everybody on the team, like what's our goal for
the season, they're gonna say, right, super Bowl? No, right,
And so now everybody in the building thinks that, and
you know, we don't need to come in here and
be like we're trying to win Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Were trying to win Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
I think that's something that we struggled with last year
and then we came out to a slow start. We're like,
you can't win super Bowl if you don't win these
games in the beginning, middle, and the end of the season.
So I think that's something we focus on, like just
taking one week at a time, and everybody's willing to
do that and not looking too far ahead because now
the past two years seemed like we had that kind
of mindset and it hasn't worked out for it. So
(19:40):
it's like, all right, well, let's just focus on one
week at a time and really emphasize that. And I
think the coaches, everybody's done a good job of that.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
He talked a lot about your contract. We obviously talked
about the season, but the other big life change for
you was you've got engaged recently, like I did. Do
you does that kind of hit you at any point
that like there's all these like crazy big things happen
in your life like around the same time, Like are
you able to kind of like take a step back
and like enjoy that all of that at once?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah, I'm pretty bad at that. Honestly.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
My fiance rees she always gets not mad, but she's
like annoyed when I'm like, I have no reaction to
big events and like when I got drafted, somebody sent
it to me this off season, like my draft call.
When EC called me, I was like, yeah, thanks for
drafting me. I appreciate it. And dudes in there like
ball and crying and stuff. I don't know it's something
wrong with me or not, but just not super emotional.
(20:33):
And she's like, are you happy about your contract? I'm like, yeah,
like am I really happy about it? Like it's good.
She's like, I don't understand how you're not like bouncing
on the walls. But no, she's a good girl. And
we got engaged over in France and surprised her with
their friends. Actually went a lot better than I thought
it would and it was kind of perfect. So got
a lot of life events going on now, so hopefully
(20:55):
after it's all done, I could just sit back and chill.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
Well then, not being like too high too low probably
helped in the field, not so much in the reactions.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, I'm pretty bad about that. She
uh she's She was like, are you gonna cry on
her wedding day? And I was like, I don't know,
maybe maybe, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
You just say yes, you just say yet I don't want.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
To be definitely not. I don't want to be like,
yeah I am.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
And then she's like walking down the ais and I'm
like trying to motion.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
You just have to make you just have to make
your face look emotional.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
That's like what everyone looks for at the wedding. They
always look at the groom to see, like what his
face looks like when the you're married, Like you know
this like when their bridees walking down the aisle, you
have to look emotional. Tear is like you don't.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Got to go water works, just a little bit a
little dusty, a little cut in the onions.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
It's a little Yeah, I don't know. I just I
feel like I am emotional. I just don't show my emotions,
if that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Internalize it.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Yes, yes, that's what she says. You internalized, She says.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Right there, all right, I can see that you honestly
kind of play like that too, because like you're not
like an outwardly like showy guy on the field.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Uh huh.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
You don't do a lot of celebrations, like is that
a conscious thing? Is just kind of how you are.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
That's just kind of how I've always been honestly, And
I think it's because I treat it like a like
a job, like like it's like a nine to five,
Like I'm not here to do my job, and.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Your seasonal job is a.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Job that the Ravens deployed me forward, thank you.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
But but yeah, it's like a play to play to
play life and I'm out here trying to do my
job and I feel like I'm trying to exert all
my energy between the snaps so I can do it
to the best of my abilities.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I just like we do the too small celebration.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Yeah, I don't really know where that stuff comes from. Honestly.
That might be like a subconscious that's me showing my emotion.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah, and you got I feel.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Like you've we've heard of some zingers, like maybe a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Of trash talk, Yeah, a little bit. But I'm not like.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Twenty years from now noways gonna be like that was
a huge trash dog. It'll be like I didn't say anything. Probably,
but you know that's I leave that to where we
don't have any trash talkers on the team. Actually, Okay, yeah,
I'm excited to see that. I'm excited to see it.
Maybe I'll try to take a little bit from him.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Does the contract extension help in the wedding budget situation?
Speaker 2 (23:13):
You know what? Probably? I mean, yeah, naturally it does.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
Don't worry a little bit less about the crying on
the wedding.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Maybe I'll cry that the venue it is so nice,
so pretty.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
We do need to plan on that.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
We're both procrastinators, so we need to how to get
a wedding planner or just decide quickly which probably is
going to happen. So I told her, like I planned
the engagement and it was a lot of planning on
my part. Just put on the back and I was like,
you gotta like strong arm this this wedding, like this
is your wedding.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
You're passing the baton.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I was like, I don't care about the flower colors.
I kind of just want people. I want there and
then where it is. That's two big things. And golf
golf nearby?
Speaker 1 (23:55):
All right, Actually there you go. Well that's good engagement,
wedding on the way, big contract done, season is here,
it gets.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
I was next, Yeah, we're in a role right now.
Let's go.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Yeah awesome, man, Well, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Congratulations again, thank you, Fired up for you and glad
to be continuing to work with you for a long time.
So this is a well deserved like we said, and
I can't wait to see what you this team happens
toward this year.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Thank you appreciate y'all.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Welcome back to the lounges. We're coming to you from
the c GEK Studio. We also want to mention our
partners with Draft King sports Book. They are an official
sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sports Book.
The Crown is yours well. Thanks to Kyle for joining us.
I always love sitting down with him. I think fans
and listeners just get a sense of kind of who
he is. Obviously a cerebral player, great player, and his
(24:39):
personality shine through as well. So just enjoyed the conversation
with him and I can't wait to see what he
does this year.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
He's a really easy person to work for. Just a
great dude for us to work with on a daily
basis here at the facility. Obviously a great player on
the field and just one of those people who like
it's always felt like Kyle is a raven and like
what should always be here long term. So it's great
when you have that young he and you are able
to retain it here.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Yeah, he said, I went back and looked at this
when he got drafted, he said, I failed to the
right team. And I think that, like that was definitely true.
And I think when the Ravens went through this process
of like deciding on the contract, it's like, all right,
this guy's an All Pro player, he's a leader of
the defense, he's great off the field. Like, let's just
get the thing done. What are we waiting for. We
know Kyle Hamilton is someone we want here for a
(25:22):
long time, so like, let's just get the deal done
and like not complicated, don't wait, get into the contract,
and everybody's happy. And I think it's a win win
across the board.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Yeah, it's a layup, And I mean he even talked
about like both sides wanted it to be fair to
either side, like they want to do the right thing
for the organization, and so it's a no brainer to
get that done.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Yeah. So obviously the focus this week now is going
to turn into the Buffalo Bills. We're just a few
days away from that game. We've all been talking about
it and anticipating it and it's just it's exciting. And
like I said to him, like the mindset and like
the attitude going into the game, Like it just seems
to me like the team is in a really good
place in terms of how they're approaching that not just
(26:01):
this game, but the season as a whole. And like, yeah,
we're all going to talk about like they're going back
to the place for the last season ended, Like no
doubt that, Like that's part of the story of this team.
But I just feel like this team is like in
a really good headspace entering the season.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
I feel like we've seen a really good vibe like
throughout Campa. This feels like a team that's really like
gelled together across the board. And I did think it
was interesting today like hearing from John Harbaugh, Nomdi Medabike,
Ronnie Stanley that they all feel comfortable like owning that
the way that last season ended is motivation, Like there's
no way to shy away from that. At this point.
We all know that they had this hour taste in
(26:34):
their mouth like in the offseason, and so they've owned
that that is motivational going into the season because they
do want to right the wrongs that they've watched the film,
they've seen the mistakes that were made, the things that
they want to correct going into this game. And it's
so important in the NFL to get out to a
hot start. This team knows that last season they weren't
able to, and so I think that's a big piece
of it too, not just who the opponent is, but
(26:55):
like knowing if they want to accomplish what they want
to accomplish this season, Like these first couples are so important.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
I think Kyle he even said it early on the
off season when he talked about like, look, we all
know where we want to go, and just part of
the conversation we had with him, like, yes, that's there's
an awareness of that, but like we got to take
care of business in the regular season, in every game
every week. You can't look past things because like then
you can find yourself in a situation where you hurt
your playoff seating, or you're on the road when you
(27:22):
could have been at home, like all that stuff, and
like it all matters, Everything matters, And I think that,
like that's what I like about this team's approach going
into the season, Like they really are taking the attitude
and the mindset that like everything is important, and every game,
every practice, every meeting, like it's all important. And I
think it's going to serve the well this year.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
I mean we even saw on the off season program,
but just like how the attendance throughout the off season,
throughout camp like so it's they've done the little things
all year long to prepare for this moment and now
they're just ready to start having the actual games.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Yeah, we can't wait. Sunday primetime game Sunday night eight
twenty pm, Raven's Bills, NBC. So we're going to continue
breaking that thing down over the course of this week.
As always, you can email us at the lounge at
Ravens dot NFL dot net. Cassie, thank you so much
for filling in for Ryan today and I'd love to
hear from you guys listeners, So thank you so much
for watching and listening, and we will be back with
(28:15):
you again soon
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