Bill Croskey-Merritt + Brian Mitchell on Packers, Hall of Fame and Legacy | Next Man Up | Commanders
September 12, 2025 • 41 mins
Fresh off winning Pepsi Rookie of the Week Jacory Croskey-Merritt pulls up to Next Man Up to talk about how his season has gone so far. Then future hall of famer Brian Mitchell talks about what's so special about this years team.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So for me as as an older head, right, I
got you about a few years.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
That's the I get money dance.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Now. I don't know if that's what it was for you.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
What was it or is that just something I never
a call?
Speaker 3 (00:09):
We could call it that. I like that. That's what
we call it.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
The Next Man Of podcast is presented by Landsdown Resort.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
From kick off to checking Score.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Game Change and get Away in the heart of Louder
Lansdown Resort, prime partner of the Washington CANANDUS Commander Family.
Welcome into another episode of Next Man Up. And these
ones hit a little different after a win, especially when
you get to sit down with one of the players
of the game comand this family, our Next Man Up,
Jacoy Krosskey Merrit. Some of y'all call him Bill, and
(00:40):
we're gonna get into that in this second. My brother,
how you feeling, man?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Good?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
How you doing, bron blessed man? I appreciate you pulling up, man.
I mean, after that big old game you had, Bro,
you could have win anywhere, and you chosen me here. Russell.
We appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I'm happy to be Here's always a pleasure. Just so
you know, top of you.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I appreciate you. My brother has been fun man. And
when we first met in this studio, back when you
had just signed the first question and I asked you,
was yo, bro, what a Bill name come from?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Like?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Where that came from? And you told me where it
came from? You want to share that real quick before
we go for you?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I could. I mean, it's just a nickname that my
friends gave me.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
I used to have a ball head and they used
to just call me little Bill and it just kind
of stuck. So I don't really mind people calling calling
me a little Bill, right.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
So when you told me that story in the moment,
I said, Okay, that's a family nickname. I'm gonna call
hi Jakoy and somebody else calls him. And then a
couple of weeks later, Adam Chefter puts out a tweet
and says, yo, he only wants to be called Bill.
I had not seen that tweet yet. We're on the
sideline doing the post. Gave a pregame interview and I
called you jacoy man. Fans lit me up talking about
(01:40):
his name's Bill. Why you called him that? His name's Bill.
So let's settle it right now. If we talked about
it off there. I could call you j right, yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I feel like, man, you just call me with like
whichever one is easier for you.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Like, I like both names. I like Jacor.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Like my whole family they called me Jacory, but like
like friends and like you know, they friends and teammates,
they called me Bill, but I don't.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I like both names.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Okay, I'm glad we got that, like by name, really
know exactly, so it's easy. So what I call you
tocry From time to time, I call you Bill from
tom Town. It's all good.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Now, it's good.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
And you look at something like that, and that's got
to be one of those moments where you're like, oh.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Man, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
There's a lot of eyes on me. There's a lot
of ears on me. A guy like Adam Scheff to
put out a tweet about you you're a seventh round pick. Man.
Was that one of those moments where you're like, oh, man,
like every single thing I say is under the microscope?
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Oh yeah, for sure, man, I mean like this is
something I dreamed of, like just just wanted the world
to see my talents in.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
I feel like we're just getting started. Just that's it's
on the beginning.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
It's only the beginning, and the beginning starts with that
first NFL game, your first time putting those cleats on
the regular season NFL field.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Man, First things first, But how was that?
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Man?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
It was crazy, like just the atmosphere, like the crowd,
just being in the NFL game like a real win,
and like, I mean it was it was fun too,
Like I'm looking forward to Thursday y'all already, Like it's
just like this something I dreamed of my whole life.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Did anything surprise you about that first moment on that field?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I would say, I mean, it was football at the
end of the day, but I mean guys were like
more faster and you know stuff, so like it still
took time for me to like just get used to
the game as it went on. But I had I
had like my teammates. That was my teammates and coaches.
They were there to calm me down, make Sean relax
(03:32):
and just just go out there and play my game.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Brou you looked relaxed and laid your game, and I'm
watching a game you didn't get your first carry to
I think like thirteen minutes in the second.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Quarter, like third position, Bruh.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
What was that like waiting for that moment because I'm
sure the game plan they tell you know, hey, we're
gonna lean on Echo a little bit, We're gonna give
you some Sean. Not only did they give you a
little bit of Shane, but I think you did so
good but they had no choice but to keep you
on the field.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yeah, it's like, I trust coach LN Like I ain't
questioning it, not one big. I kind of knew, like
I'm gonna get in, but I don't know when I'm
gonna get in, Like that was that was my mindset.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
I'm like, I trust him.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
He probably wanted me to see how the game going
instead of just like just throwing me in there, because
it is it's like it's different from college, like you
just so, I mean I trusted his plan, Like I
definitely like how he did that just to let me
see how the game is slowing and stuff. And like
once I got out there, it was it was, it
was it was straight downhill from there.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Man. That anticipation has to be wild because I'm like
most rookies where you had to set out a whole
season last year, so you've had to been chomping at
the bid to get out on that field and show
what you can do. Get that first carry? Man, what's
going through your mind? Do you even remember what was
happening in that moment?
Speaker 4 (04:45):
I definitely remember first carry. I got one yard. I'm like, okay, okay.
I mean I was like, did I in the back
of my head, like did I make the right read?
And I was like, no, I'm not gonna think. I'm
not gonna thank you too much. I'm just gonna go
to the nest play. Once I kind of got once,
it kind of slowed down for me, down like okay, okay,
just just be free and playing like whatever you need
(05:07):
to fish you can, you can fix it on the
sideline or like whenever you whenever y'all watch.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Field the next day. So I just I just go
out there and play free.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
From now, I feel like every time you touch the rock,
it was like you was getting closer and closer to
that super saying mode where you just kept leveling up,
kept leveling up. Was there a part of the game
where you were just like, Okay, I don't even got
to think about this no more. I'm just having a
blast because I'm out here dominating.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, I'll just say it was.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
It was after the first carre like I just I
just let everything go, like I said, Like.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I was like, dang, then I make the right read,
like I f like that'll slow you down.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I mean I got one yard, like I want at
least three or four yards. I like, is that the
right read? But I was like, man, I'm just gonna
just go ouhead and do me.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
B you talked about making that right read. When you
look at that touchdown play, my boy gets the ball
just a little you know what I'm saying, get to
the fender off you and then you run wide open
into the end on man, a moment you've probably dreamed
of your entire life. Man, how was that first touchdown
for Bill?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It was definitely it was good shout out to my
old linement.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
But once I once I got there, once I got
the ball, and it seem like I can I can
kind of set the defenders up because we got two poolas,
two pullas coming around. So I want to like just
give them a hesit and then just go outside because
I know they probably slam down and it it just
opened up. So it just we work on that practice,
(06:31):
just sending up your blocks and like I mean, it
just it just happened.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Happened naturally.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
You talk about the pool, So let's get some love
to your officive line because you have Brandon Coleman and
Larry Me Tumpsel pulling on that outside to monster, somebody
that possibly has a Hall of Fame career, and somebody
that's in the second year working towards that. Man, when
you look at this offensive line and the size of
the athleticism of versatility, how optimistic and confident does it
make you as a runner?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
I love them, They love they love doing their job. Man.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
That just it's just like, I mean, they'll they'll do
whatever for us. And like we were brothers, so we
don't want to let each other down. Like we got
this saying like not my man, Like not my man
is gonna make this tackle or whatever, and like that's
something that's something we go by and like we just
we just got full full confidence in each other because
we know what, like the end goal lives of the season.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Was that Selly premeditated, Like had you been thinking about it,
like yo, when I get my first touchdown, I'm doing
this celebration or was it just in the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I mean, I feel like I knew I was gonna
do that.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Yo.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Yeah, I'm trying to I'm trying to figure out what
else I got in my bad Like it's kind of
it's kind of hard because.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
I usually don't celebrate.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
But like my friends they were like, man, you gotta
do something in the end zone, Like you just can't
just be boring, like you gotta you gotta come up
with something.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So I'm still trying to like figure out what I like,
what I like best.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
But I mean that's a good one. You can always
just make that your signature sell so for me as
an older head, right, I got you a few years,
that's the I Get Money dance. Now, I don't know
if that's what it was for you?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
What was it or is that just something a car
we could call it that.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I like that. That's what we call.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
It in the game to after I Get Money.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Perfect for Bill, Right, Okay, so there you go.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Maybe something you can stick with. Bill. We talked to
head coach Dan Quinn on the game plan and I
asked him, I said, Yo, you guys didn't give him
that carry to the second quarter. Were you surprised with
how he was able to build so much momentum so
quickly on so few carries, and dan Quinn said, nope,
he said, people outside the building are surprised, he said,
but why not because we have seen that every single day.
(08:30):
We've seen that burst, We've seen that first step every
single day. He shows us something special. Man. How dope
is it to get that voter confidence from your head
coach and you've only been here a couple months.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Man, It's it's definitely dope.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Just I just like to be the same person every day,
Like when I get the ball, I mean, I just
want to be special with I want to be I
want to be different with it and like show that
I belong here because I've been counted out like my.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Whole career basically.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
So I mean when I'm on that practice field, I
treated like the game and make the cuts that I'm
gonna make in the game. So it just it's just
come natural, and like I feel like that's just how
I get better at what I do.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
And not and not every receiver gets the tandem with
a guy like Austin, with somebody who has had such
longevity in the league that is not made for running
backs to have longevity, getting to play with him geting
to watch him that first quarter and kind of watch
him cook. Man. How has that helped you in your development?
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Austin, Man, he helped me on and off the field,
like with business on the business side, like just like
just knowing how the game go, like knowing how to
read defenders, Like just just small stuff. And I mean,
like that's a that's a vent that I'm proud to
proud to have.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Man. I just learned new stuff from every day, like.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
How he how he how he go about his business
before the game, how he stay warned up on the sideline,
and like he an open person, like he share, He
share with me what he do it like he don't
he don't keep it to hisself. And like I just
I got a ton of respect for us.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
And a guy like Austin doesn't make it this far
in the league without putting in the hard work but
also taking time to rest his body, relax, be a
little chilling off. Our partners over at Landsdown Resort, they
want you to get it done on the field, they
also want you to be able to relax and chill Man.
So how do you spend your time to unwind Man?
How did you celebrate after that big game.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Just cold up.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
I get into cold up, man, shout out my shout
out to my Don Revo.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
He got me some Norman Tep boots, so like those
are big time.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
When I when I'm at the crib, I'm just I'm
just saying my boots just chilling, like thirty forty minutes
and now roll out something like that. So, I mean,
that's that's how I recover.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
And man, that's what it's all about, because we want
to see you have a very long career like Austin Ekler. Man,
it's something that was really fly. You told me when
you sat down, that's your pops got to pull up
to this game and I got to see his boy
out there play. Man. How fly was that to have
your pops there in the stands around all these fans
cheering your name.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Man, it was it was definitely amazing.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I spotted him before the game and I scored in
the same end zone that there was that there was
by and like it was, it was. It was definitely
a great moment. I know he was. He was super proud,
like he want to come to every game.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Man.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Like that just shows you like he supported me my
whole career. I don't think he ever missed the game,
a football game, and like and like for that moment
just to come, it was it was definitely like it
was unreal.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
What was it like seeing him after the game after
because of course, you know, there's so much anticipation, so
much expectation. We don't know how we're going to do
in those moments, you rose to the occasion. Man, What
was it like celebrating with your posts? Man?
Speaker 3 (11:38):
It was good.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
We went to the house just chill, just talked a
little bit and like we just we just had a
good time.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
That's beautiful and that's a blessing. Man. Did you remember
to get your game ball after you scored?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Yeah? Yeah, tear in again.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
And for me, like I was, I told myself I
was gonna keep it after I after I scored, but
I mean it took over again and I just tripry.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
You see in the video he's.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
Just running behind to get the ball, so like shut out,
tear But like next time, Oh no, I think I
might start just keeping all the game balls.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I don't know yet.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
How cool is that though, to have vets that care
so much about you, man, to make sure that you
live in those moments and remember and have these momstones.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
It means a lot. They just show like the leaders
we got around us. And for Hnnah just he could
have he could have just celebrated with me and just
and just went to the sideline. But he he know
how big that moment is. Like just to like have
your first NFL ball, that's where everybody dream of and
like for him to just like just think about me
(12:39):
like that, that means.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
A lot to Cory. Congratulations, bro, that's a big, big
deal man. Final question before we let you go. Quick
turnaround on being Green Bay against the Package, My guy,
what can fans expect to see from their commanders after
such a quick turnaround?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
They can see us being being the same team. We
got one goal.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
We want to want to dominate every week and just
go out and play off football.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Command of family. Couldn't say it better than my Ford
builder Corey krossky merrit in the building after a major
game against the New York Giants. Comands family, our next
man up, My dog, Bill, appreciate you, brother, appreciate you
command this family.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
For our next man up.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
We had to bring one of my favorite Washington legends
of all time a Super Bowl champion, a future Hall
of Famer. You do not say his name without saying
future Hall of Famer. If you are a COMMADUS fan
introducing my guy, Brian Mitchell, my brother you doing. We're
always good to kick it with you. Man, It's crazy
to think we are just days away from our third
(13:41):
season doing Game Day Live together, post game line together.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Boy, we've been having so fun.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
How cool is it to be back at Northwest?
Speaker 6 (13:49):
It's very very cool, you know, to be back and
having a team like we have, having you know, Jayden
going into his second year and watching all the other
young guys who come along and the older guys to
join this team with the same mindset. You know, for me,
when I can see guys believing in themselves and each other,
it makes me feel good because you win like that.
(14:11):
You know, when coaches can say something that people buy
into it. When coach can say something and the other
players are going to go out there and begin to
preach that, it makes a world of difference.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
And b you've been around for a while now, man,
you played on that field, now you've been covering the team.
Do you ever not have that moment where it's special
to you when you get to Northwest City. When you
see those commanders on that field, Yes you want a
command aby. However, you play for Washington, you rock that
brandy and gold.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Does that ever stop?
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Because I know when I'm watching you and I feel
like I'm looking.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
At a kid in the candy store.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
Well, it's the thing about it is, I have two
things I live with. Somebody told me that football is
a sport that you play as a kid. Never lose
that exuberance, and then pay label said when you stop
being excited about something, which means you don't get the butterflies,
and it's not important. I get butterflies for every show. I
(15:03):
get butterflies before these guys play games. When I go
out there and I'm watching them play the game and
I see a guy like Jaden running around smiling, having
fun like he's a little kid, that makes me feel
good because in my fourteenth year, I had young guys
telling me, man, you're always smiling and joking. Why don't
you take this series? And I'm like, fool, I take
(15:25):
a serious all off season so I can have fun
during the season. I say, maybe you should try my way,
because this is my It was my leventh year when
I say that to the guy, and I say, I'll
probably play more years than you from this point on.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
I played four more. He played five total. You know
what I mean.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
It's just like you have to find a way. And
this thing is it's a profession, but it's a game.
It's a child's game. And the way that you do
the professional side as a player, your body is your tool.
You have to take your body through the riggers in
the off season. So when the season comes, it's nice
camera baby, it's ready to shut you know, it's ready
(16:01):
to go out there and put on the show. And
that's how I felt about it. And I think when
I see guys Jaden and Mikey, you know, and still
see Bobby how he goes at it in New Year fifteen,
it gets me excited and be this.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Nobody better to talk about that longevity with, especially you
being around this area for so long. And then this offseason,
let's go back a little bit because we want to
talk about game day a little more this off season.
Dan Quinn said, Hey, man, I need you to pull
up to practice. I need you to rap these guys.
He needs to give them some game.
Speaker 5 (16:28):
Man.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
How important was that for you to be able to
give back in that way because as long as you've
been around, it's been a while since you got to
do something like that.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Well, nobody asked me to come when then asked me
that that was Hey, that put that gave me have
we choked up?
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Wow?
Speaker 6 (16:42):
Because you know, it's like I think the thing about
it is when you play and then you're gone. I
think the next regimes that come in, they it seemed
like they feel like you're like not a part of them.
And what I thought it was before that ownership, before
they were competing with what we did, you know, with
(17:05):
Jack kN Cook and John kin Cook and Joe Gibbs
and all of it and all that we had won
championships and then they were competing against that. So but
when Josh rolled in, Josh is coming from a point
of he was a fan, you know, and a lot
of guys on that team, you know, Ian and all
the or fans, and they grew up watching that team
(17:26):
be successful.
Speaker 5 (17:27):
So they're part of that.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
They didn't come in like thinking we were against them
or they were against us. They wanted to bring that
back because when you look, man, when you got past,
present and future all together, that's how you build legacies,
and they wanted to continue doing that. So when Dan
asked me that, I was like, COO, hell yeah, of course,
you know, because I feel I have something I can
(17:50):
give to a young guy, you know. And then I
talk with Jalen, and Jalen hit me and asked me
questions and stuff, and I said, I'm gonna check it out.
Speaker 5 (17:59):
I'll let you know.
Speaker 6 (18:00):
So my thing is, if I can help anybody get
to the point where I got, are even close, I'm
gonna do that. You know, because Ernest Byner did it
for me, you know, Mike Nailms did it for me.
So when you get that and I did it with
James Drash and all those guys, you want to just
keep reach out to the olive branch and pull him up,
(18:21):
pull him up, and that's that's what you have to do.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
And pull back the court curtain for us because all
of us know DQ, me and you. We see him
all the time, we get to work with him, but
the fans don't ever get to really see him. They
get to hear from un the pressure count. We had
to see him during the game. Pull that curtain back
a little bit and let us know what that conversation
was like, how did DQ ask you to come and
pull up? Well, he hit me.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
We were doing the show and during training can one day,
I was one of the many counters. We were in
that little tent and he had done any interview with us,
and he said, hey, man, would you come talk to
the players. I really want you to talk to him.
I'm like, yeah, I'll be thrilled too. And then he
got my number from Jay Penny called me and said, hey,
you remember we talked.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
I said, I've been waiting on you to call me,
you know.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
And then when we decided to do it and I
went out, I went sat in the meat I talked
to the guys in the meeting room, and then later
on he asked me to come out on the field
with him. When I was out on the field, I
was standing to the sideline just being away. He's like, hey,
we didn't actually to come out here and stand on
the side, like get on that dad, peel, go earn
your keep.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
I was like, coach, you're not paying me, so, you know,
But it was.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
Fun just to go out there and and like when
I started talking with Jalen, he was like, yeah, man,
he said, my dad when I told him I had
talked to you, He's like, yo, man, y'all know Devin Hester.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
That dude was Devin Hester before Devin Hester.
Speaker 6 (19:42):
So I guess that made him understand who I was
and just knock it off. But like when I talked
to him, I see, Jalen is the quietest dude. Dude
got talent like hell no.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Dog and he got fire on that shoe.
Speaker 5 (19:54):
He does bro. He has a lot of talent.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
So it's just it makes you I think, just like
Gary Clark even says that it's like although.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
You're not here, you still feel like you're a part
of it.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
And I think Dan has found ways to make us
really feel like we're a part of it.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Be until this moment, I did not know that that
was your first time being asked to do.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Something like that. That is wild to me.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Somebody that's accomplished all of you've accomplished getting to do that.
So you have this first moment years later, probably soly
you never were expecting. What did you want to convey
to the guys when you're out on that field with them?
Speaker 6 (20:26):
Well, first thing I talked to guys about is making
sure you have you do everything you can to make
sure you stay around.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
You know.
Speaker 6 (20:35):
When I was talking to him, I used Austin as
an example. Austin Eckler wasn't highly drafted. They came as
a free agent. Austin Eckler played and became a name
in this league because of hard work. Austin Neckler is
now here, still a name because of hard work. Austin
is not the biggest guy, but he's strong as hell.
(20:57):
He puts the work in. And I was making sure
guys understood, like I didn't return kicking punksy I got here.
So it's about putting in the work, taking care of yourself. Look, man,
so a lot of it's gonna be a lot of
people come to you with a lot of crap. Be careful,
you know, have fun while this thing is going on.
Like Manti Coleman told me, Man, let's go win a
(21:19):
super Bowl. Do everything you can, and then you could
do whatever you want to do when your career is over.
You know, like people always say, do you get a
chance to revel and experience the things you've done. I'll
do it when I'm finished, because while you're doing it,
you don't really think about it, you know. And I've
had guys asking, man, when you were playing that you
know all this stuff. No, when I left Washington, I
(21:43):
didn't know where I plan where I was set when
it comes to the amount of yours in the team.
On the team I got to Philly, they told me
where I was it wants to and then started letting
me know where I was in the league. I never
thought about that crap. I was trying to be the
best wa God could be today.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
You know.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
So I read this book. I mean I got released
from Washington and someone gave me the book, this book
called Who Moved My Cheese? And I read that book
and I read it so quick. I was like, can't
be this easy. So I read it again and it
talked about you know, who moved your cheese? So your
cheese could be your career, it could be your job,
it could be a car, whatever you're doing. And so
(22:24):
my cheese had moved to Philly. Then I got another
book called The Present. So and I use I conveyed
this and every message I tell.
Speaker 5 (22:32):
O the people. You have to be present in what
you're doing.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
You know.
Speaker 6 (22:36):
The book has a gift on it, but it talked
about the present and when you look at it. You
think it's talking about an actual gift, but no, it's
talking about the present. So whatever you've been through, you
learn from it and you put everything into what you
can do today. So maybe if it was something bad,
you don't have to experience that later. So if I'm
not worrying about yesterday, not worry about tomorrow, and I
(22:58):
do everything I'm capable of doing right now, I'm gonna
have a great future. And I try to make sure
guys understand that, because, like you know, you get drafted,
first thing you think is, man, I can start making
this money. I do this, I do, But you're not
even taking care of right now. And if you take
care of right now, it'll work out for you. But
if you keep thinking about what you're going to do,
(23:20):
you got problems because you'll never get there.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
And b that's got to take some time to grasp.
Right said you had to read a book twice, but
going through it in that moment it me And You've
talked about this a lot off air. I don't think
people understand because you still found success in Philly and
after the fact, how tough that really was for you
to be here a place that you love so much.
And have to go somewhere that you didn't necessarily plan
(23:42):
on going to. Man, take us back to that moment,
because I think young people that are listening to this,
like you said, people's sheese gonna get moved all the
time and totally in that moment, young Brian Mitchell, Man,
how did you navigate that outside of the books, outside
of the London because at the end of the day,
it's still a human being.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Yeah, yeah, I am.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
But you know what though, I grew up with a
military dad and you and I had that conversation. My
dad always said, control what you can control. And when
I got released, I was hurt. I'm serious, dude, I
was down. But the people in my support system was like, look, man,
you could do it somewhere else, you know, And all they.
Speaker 5 (24:22):
Had to do what would your dad tell you?
Speaker 6 (24:24):
And once I hear that's it, I knew get to
work and I remember going to visit different teams and
David Cully, he was a receiver coach in Philly.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
He was my actual quarterback coach in college. He coached me.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
He recruited me out of high school, knowing me since
I was fifteen sixteen years old, and he was like, man,
these people want you up here.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
I say, you know me, coach, is it a good
place for me? He say yes.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
I say no more questions asked, And I went there
with the same mindset that I attacked football when I
was here. I came into Washington. They say, the only
way you're gonna make teams being a return guy. I
never returned in my life. I didn't return in Lily.
I didn't return in junior high high school. First time
I touched it, I went to the house, you know,
(25:15):
and it's just God put me in positions where it
was something I hadn't done that. It was a little difficult,
but I've had success early to where I guess he knew.
Once I have success, I'm putting everything into it.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
You know.
Speaker 6 (25:33):
I told people, I think at my hometown, I said,
I'll come home to visit, but I'm not coming home
because I'm gonna lose a job. And I had a
lot of haters.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
You know.
Speaker 6 (25:44):
Oh man, they're gonna release you. You're gonna get cut now.
I have to go home because I didn't have anything anymore.
I go home to visit, you know, and I make
sure they understand I wear my ring. You know, I
don't know, and I'm gonna be honest with you. I
have my ring all my you do.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (26:02):
And the people that were those haters in my life,
when they asked to see it, I.
Speaker 5 (26:08):
Show it to them.
Speaker 6 (26:10):
Then one fingures a one. But it's just listen, bro.
All they did was they energized me.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Man, and motivation.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Yeah, yeah, man.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
And when you look back at all that and all
those things you've been through, the heartbreak that was leaving well,
you decided to come back, right. You decided when it
was all over that this is your it's your home
away from home.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Really, man, your kids, My house didn't go over.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
A beautiful What made that decision right?
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Because again, you could have been salty and said, yo,
forget this place, but you chose to say why was that?
Speaker 6 (26:44):
Why be salty when it was an individual that was
no longer around And it's a small part of this area.
The fans loved me and still do today. Even when
I was in Philly. You know, I would come back
and you get a idiot is gonna boo you in
the crowd, and I came back and play. But for
the most part of their seventy eight ninety dollars. Well
(27:06):
they had, I guarantee you ninety five percent.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Was cheering yes. And when I would come home in
the off.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Season, it made me feel good because this is a
place where I cut my teeth. This is a place
where I became a man. This is a place where
I grew, I built the family. I mean, yeah, I'm
gonna go over here and play with Phil because I
can still play and they want me. So that's combination.
I can still play and you want me. I'm gonna
go play for you, but I'm not gonna change what
(27:34):
I truly.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
Truly love.
Speaker 6 (27:35):
But I can tell you this them three years there,
you might think I played ten years there because they
know I came in and gave what I had because
what I learned about that town. If you come in
with a certain expectation and you could live up to it,
they gonna love you no matter what. If you don't
live up to it, they will tell you in your face.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
You know.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
So.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
So I've gone up there with some friends and now
I'm not up there with you, and they're liked, why
don't you live here?
Speaker 5 (28:04):
I'm like, he loved you, love DC.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
You know, that's where I became that young man that
got my name, you know, got my chance, and I
owe that they're a gratitude to this place more than
anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
That's one thing I wonder when I walk around with
you in Tanna, because we go to all of these
different places, all these different arenas, if fans really truly
understand that y'all could have been anywhere that y'all could
have chose to put y'all roots anywhere, y'all could have worked.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
For any team y'all had loved everywhere you go.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Tanne walk in Dallas and you would have thought he
played the Cowboys. It wasn't a cowboy killer. So it's
just great to know that you guys came back here
because of how much you guys loved this fan base
and love what you guys did for this city. You
look like a guy like Jaalen Lannon And I don't
know if Commander fans know this, but it wasn't just
you going to practice rapping with him. He reached out
to you directly. He went and found your number. When
(28:53):
guys take the time to do that. Even though he
never saw you play. He wasn't born when you were playing,
but he recognized.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
He just called me.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Because again, I'm all older than Jalen too, so we're
all there.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
But to get that recognition from a guy that truly
wasn't around during your heyday, but they know you did
something special? Man, how important is that? And what does
that say about the players that do that?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Well?
Speaker 6 (29:18):
You know, I think in Jaen's In Jalen's case, it
shows how parents.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Make sure people understand what somebody is and what they were.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
And I think that comment is because his dad is
a coach and his dad mentioned things. So you know,
most guys that play football things of that nature, they
close with their pops. And if like my dad made
sure I knew about the boxers, he was a boxer
and stuff taught meself from his era, so I wanted
to learn about it because I respect my pops and
(29:50):
I think that's what his dad did. And but the
thing of it is just for a young person to
make the move to reach out to you. It's totally
different than this day and age. And you know what,
he didn't text me. He called and he left a
message and I called him back.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
You know, that is an adult thing to do.
Speaker 6 (30:10):
That's the older person thing kids that day text you, Yeah,
you know, it's so impersonal. But he called and I
called him back, and now we still communicate through all
types of aspects, and I think that's the best thing,
you know, because but the thing of it is when
I've said something or whatever, he follows up, I follow up.
(30:33):
And all you need to understand, I think for any
young kid out there that may see this, if someone
tells you reach out to me or give you a
card and they call me, do it. They're not doing
it just to do it. And that person, if that
person has information that could make you better and you
(30:54):
don't do it, you making a mistake.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
And b that's something I think me and you've always
connected on because we're raised very very similar. Pops helped
guide us and it's been dope at least for me
being able to be like your little brother right watching
you put your arm around so many people, and one
of those people is our co host on Game Day Live,
Santana Moss. So truly, I don't know if people truly
understand how close y'all are that that's like a real brotherhood.
(31:18):
He looks up to you, You admire him and what
he was able to do this past Sunday Man you
got a very special chance to honor that brother and
be a part of him. Joining the Ring of Fame
something you were able to do. Now. I know you've
seen a ton of people go into that Ring of Fame,
but it felt like this one.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
Watching Tanner get in felt a little different.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
It felt more special to me because when Tanner was
in New York I was a fan of his. I
just watched how he proached the game. Then he came
here in DC, all he did was ball, ball ball.
And then when we sit and we talked with him,
he talks about his career.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
Like it was just a regular career he does, you know,
But I'm like, d like that, you know what I mean.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
And the thing about it is, you want those people
to get their flowers, man. And like Andre Johnson when
he was on the show with us, Andre was the
same way.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Man.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
It's like Andre and ten I grew up in the
same area. They know the struggles, they know what people
went through to get to get somewhere. And like I
always said, ten, I said, dog, you played ten years,
I played ten years here. You know, we had that
connection of being returned guys. And then when you watch
his love for this community the same way. My love
(32:31):
for this community is you know you respect that, and
I'm gonna be honest with you.
Speaker 5 (32:36):
You know. I was told ten I was.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
Trying to get tears out of him when his dad
shook my hand and embrace me and say, bro, he
looks up to you.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
Bruh.
Speaker 6 (32:46):
I got choked up because it tells you he spoke
to his pops about me.
Speaker 5 (32:51):
You know that that's something that I'm not thinking about
nothing like that. But when his dad said that, I
was like, whoa.
Speaker 6 (32:58):
It hit me, you know, and it's just it's listen, man,
we were grown men. Yeah, but when you see your
brother get what he deserves, it makes you feel.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Good, man, especially when you know the man, you know,
the person that deserves right, know that he doesn't even
want the record is he doesn't need it, right, but he.
Speaker 5 (33:20):
Was trying enjoy.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
And he's like, no, this is too much tantus on.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
But we had to because, like you said, you got
to be able to give people their flowers when they
hear the small and it was just so cool to
be a part of man. I was fighting back here
seeing his whole family, having people come up to us
that were his kids or his cousins and be like, oh, no,
I know who.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
You guys are.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
And it's like, like you said, it's like, oh dang
man like Tannes City. He's like, bro, We're like we're
not only co works, but we're brothers. And to me, man,
that that is so special and it's something that we've
been able to build doing Game Day Live to the
postgame Livena. We travel together, we travel together, we eat
dinner together, we get a fight to.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
Walk off the elevator and not knowing who's who, I get. Man,
you should have tennis to tell you to cook some gumbo.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yeah, exactly, because I'm right with you and it's like
gumbo travel.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
So I had said some guba home. He went home
and I said, and he was like, man, I don't
eat shrimp. Well it's people like I eat shrimp. So
I made some gumbo for for him before he's like.
I was like, you know what he should have told me?
She said, well, you can make something real soonie if
you want to. So it's just all of those little things.
It shows you that it's it's like a family thing,
(34:31):
you know, and we become like that sotand you understand your.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
True family, Man, breaking bread, having conversations, learning from each other. Man,
It's been great and we're gonna hit the road for
the first time this year. Man, third season, we get
to do this where we're going to be in Green Bay. Man,
being in this seat right, like you've been radio for years. However,
doing what we do here for the team, right, actually
working for two We talked about it's a little different. Man.
How special is it for you to be able to
(34:55):
work for the team in this capacity, do these game
day and postgame shows.
Speaker 6 (34:59):
It It was good to me because, like I said,
I'm a big fan. Yes, I played for the team.
I'm a fan of it and I want to see
their success. And if I could be the person shouting
to the rooftop talking about how good they are, I
would be that as well. But it is different than
doing just the regular radio. But I also understand that
(35:19):
I'm truthful about stuff, you know, and the thing of
it is people say, well, I remember, people always say, well,
bebit true to everything you want to say. I said, no,
I don't, you don't. I never said everything I wanted
to say, even on the radio in the TV because
I wouldn't have a job. Okay, But the thing of
it is, if you ask me a question about what
I think, I'm gonna tell you about what I think
(35:41):
if I see something, because I'm not a person in
doing this that want to be attacking people individual personally.
I'm here to talk about the football aspect of what
goes on. And I could tell you a guy had
a subpar game without being personal, you know what I mean.
Some people want to like talk about the size or No,
(36:03):
I don't care about all that. He didn't play very
very well this week, you know, but he will play
better because you know that once you start to know
a person, you know to work at the go of
a person. I remember when Tanner was playing with Tanna
had a game one day. I forgot what exactly happened,
and they were like, what do you think about it?
I say, well, it's not what I'm accustomed to seeing,
and I'm sure he'll get it corrected.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 6 (36:26):
You you you don't have to sit up here and
pile on today media and anything like this content has become.
Let's just pile up on the negative. Why you know,
I know the person, so I'm gonna get that person
to respect and the benefit of the doubt, you know,
And I think watching this team, I do the same thing.
(36:47):
You know, I have to give the benefit of the doubt.
But the thing about it, lately, they've been giving us
a lot to talk about, a lot of positive things
to talk about, and you see that growth, and you
want to be a part of that, you know, and
you want to make sure people.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
Understand when they do something great. Look at this. If
one guy have a bad team a bad game, the
whole team.
Speaker 6 (37:12):
Man have a bad game, and you got to be
able to address that but also show this, you know
what I mean. And I don't think a lot of
people understand that because but as you go through life,
you'll realize people are always telling you what you should
say because they don't have the opportunity to say anything.
Speaker 5 (37:33):
And that's for a reason because if.
Speaker 6 (37:35):
They were in your position, they probably wouldn't know what
to say in this position, and they damn sure wouldn't
say everything that they want.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
To say exactly. And you really don't know until you know.
And again I don't think even people understand like the
position you're in, Like you come in and you on
a tanna, you leave in a family funeral, right you
come right in that morning, man.
Speaker 6 (37:54):
And I think that people should understand that my oldest
sister had passed away at Sunday and my nieces they
were like, they didn't want this stuff to fester, so
they were like, well, we're gonna do the funeral Saturday.
Speaker 5 (38:09):
I'm like, wow, that's quick.
Speaker 6 (38:12):
But I'm thinking, like Ryanan asked me, would I do
to then? Once I make a commitment, I stick to
my family for sure, for sure. So I left Friday morning,
went to a Hall of Fame deal, then I went
to my sister's funeral, drove back to New Orleans. He
got on a five forty five flight. Well, we didn't
(38:33):
get home to get the new aunt til two o'clock.
Went to sleep on three, got on the fire fighter
flight to make sure I could be back here because
I wanted to be here for that.
Speaker 5 (38:40):
You did, you know?
Speaker 6 (38:42):
And my family will tell you the same thing like
I told my my niece and my sister said, you
know what I had this event. They were like, what
would your sister want you to do? And they say,
if if you care about somebody like that, she would
want you to go back. And I could take this
back to nineteen ninety my brother was killed while I
(39:02):
was in training camp, and I went home to the
wake and the funeral was the next day. We had
a game. My mom said, your brother would wants you
to be playing that game tomorrow. I flew back and
played that game. So my family raised me as I
said earlier, take care of what you can take care of,
(39:24):
and that's what I've always done.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
And I appreciate you opening up on that because people
see the smile, people see you on the field being
that dog, just busting through people, but people forget human,
being a man and the things you're carrying man. So
I appreciate you sharing that because it made what we
were able to do for Tanne Sunday even more special
because Wall carrying things right, Like today's the anniversary of
my dad passing right and.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Wall carrying things.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
But we have to keep going because, like you said,
what would they want us to do? And be I
have no doubt, all of your loved ones, all your angels,
you're doing exactly what they would want you to do.
And you miss and you mentioned the Hall of Fame
brother in the closing. That's what I want people to
know and me and you speak like this because they
hear you all the time talking sports.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
We could talk the game all day.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
We're gonna do it Thursday. But I want to talk
about the man because to me, yes, you did it
on the field, you the best to ever do it.
But you're an even better human being. You're an even
better person. You love and you care for so many people.
You've taken me and my wife under your wing, man,
and it's just been It's been incredible, and I cannot
wait to continue all season to push this Hall of
Fame future Hall of Famer Brian Mitchell. And I can't
(40:26):
wait because I know it's coming to be there with you, man,
when you get that ceremony and they give you that
gold jacket. My brother, it's coming, and I have no
doubt we're all going to be there to support you.
Speaker 5 (40:36):
I bet your my eyes will be sweating that day.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
Boy.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
Listen, man, I'll get choked. I'm just thinking about being
able to share that more on with you. But again,
it's not just because of what you're doing on the field, brother,
it's because of the person you are. Man. I appreciate
you always for looking out for me. Dog. Thank you
for what you did for Tanna.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
Think you what you do for all of us.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
Man command his family, y'all, Next Man Before I get
misty out of it, this joint my brother, future Hall
of Famer. Don't forget the future Hall of Famer Brian
Mitchell brother. I appreciate man, appreciate you, bro, command this family.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Next Man if
you can stream all the episodes of Next Man Up
from even the past seasons on the Commander's YouTube page,
or stream the audio wherever you get your podcast. We
(41:12):
appreciate our Commander's family so much. You help Next Man
Up getting nominated for two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best
Male Hosted and Best black Mail Hosted. We couldn't do
that without y'all love and support. We appreciate y'all so much.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Don't forget to subscribe, share life, and.
Speaker 7 (41:27):
Follow, and we'll see y'all next week.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
Sc
So for me as as an older head, right, I
got you about a few years.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
That's the I get money dance.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Now. I don't know if that's what it was for you.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
What was it or is that just something I never
a call?
Speaker 3 (00:09):
We could call it that. I like that. That's what
we call it.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
The Next Man Of podcast is presented by Landsdown Resort.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
From kick off to checking Score.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Game Change and get Away in the heart of Louder
Lansdown Resort, prime partner of the Washington CANANDUS Commander Family.
Welcome into another episode of Next Man Up. And these
ones hit a little different after a win, especially when
you get to sit down with one of the players
of the game comand this family, our Next Man Up,
Jacoy Krosskey Merrit. Some of y'all call him Bill, and
(00:40):
we're gonna get into that in this second. My brother,
how you feeling, man?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Good?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
How you doing, bron blessed man? I appreciate you pulling up, man.
I mean, after that big old game you had, Bro,
you could have win anywhere, and you chosen me here. Russell.
We appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I'm happy to be Here's always a pleasure. Just so
you know, top of you.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I appreciate you. My brother has been fun man. And
when we first met in this studio, back when you
had just signed the first question and I asked you,
was yo, bro, what a Bill name come from?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Like?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Where that came from? And you told me where it
came from? You want to share that real quick before
we go for you?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I could. I mean, it's just a nickname that my
friends gave me.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
I used to have a ball head and they used
to just call me little Bill and it just kind
of stuck. So I don't really mind people calling calling
me a little Bill, right.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
So when you told me that story in the moment,
I said, Okay, that's a family nickname. I'm gonna call
hi Jakoy and somebody else calls him. And then a
couple of weeks later, Adam Chefter puts out a tweet
and says, yo, he only wants to be called Bill.
I had not seen that tweet yet. We're on the
sideline doing the post. Gave a pregame interview and I
called you jacoy man. Fans lit me up talking about
(01:40):
his name's Bill. Why you called him that? His name's Bill.
So let's settle it right now. If we talked about
it off there. I could call you j right, yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I feel like, man, you just call me with like
whichever one is easier for you.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Like, I like both names. I like Jacor.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Like my whole family they called me Jacory, but like
like friends and like you know, they friends and teammates,
they called me Bill, but I don't.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I like both names.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Okay, I'm glad we got that, like by name, really
know exactly, so it's easy. So what I call you
tocry From time to time, I call you Bill from
tom Town. It's all good.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Now, it's good.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
And you look at something like that, and that's got
to be one of those moments where you're like, oh.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Man, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
There's a lot of eyes on me. There's a lot
of ears on me. A guy like Adam Scheff to
put out a tweet about you you're a seventh round pick. Man.
Was that one of those moments where you're like, oh, man,
like every single thing I say is under the microscope?
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Oh yeah, for sure, man, I mean like this is
something I dreamed of, like just just wanted the world
to see my talents in.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
I feel like we're just getting started. Just that's it's
on the beginning.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
It's only the beginning, and the beginning starts with that
first NFL game, your first time putting those cleats on
the regular season NFL field.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Man, First things first, But how was that?
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Man?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
It was crazy, like just the atmosphere, like the crowd,
just being in the NFL game like a real win,
and like, I mean it was it was fun too,
Like I'm looking forward to Thursday y'all already, Like it's
just like this something I dreamed of my whole life.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Did anything surprise you about that first moment on that field?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I would say, I mean, it was football at the
end of the day, but I mean guys were like
more faster and you know stuff, so like it still
took time for me to like just get used to
the game as it went on. But I had I
had like my teammates. That was my teammates and coaches.
They were there to calm me down, make Sean relax
(03:32):
and just just go out there and play my game.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Brou you looked relaxed and laid your game, and I'm
watching a game you didn't get your first carry to
I think like thirteen minutes in the second.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Quarter, like third position, Bruh.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
What was that like waiting for that moment because I'm
sure the game plan they tell you know, hey, we're
gonna lean on Echo a little bit, We're gonna give
you some Sean. Not only did they give you a
little bit of Shane, but I think you did so
good but they had no choice but to keep you
on the field.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yeah, it's like, I trust coach LN Like I ain't
questioning it, not one big. I kind of knew, like
I'm gonna get in, but I don't know when I'm
gonna get in, Like that was that was my mindset.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
I'm like, I trust him.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
He probably wanted me to see how the game going
instead of just like just throwing me in there, because
it is it's like it's different from college, like you
just so, I mean I trusted his plan, Like I
definitely like how he did that just to let me
see how the game is slowing and stuff. And like
once I got out there, it was it was, it
was it was straight downhill from there.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Man. That anticipation has to be wild because I'm like
most rookies where you had to set out a whole
season last year, so you've had to been chomping at
the bid to get out on that field and show
what you can do. Get that first carry? Man, what's
going through your mind? Do you even remember what was
happening in that moment?
Speaker 4 (04:45):
I definitely remember first carry. I got one yard. I'm like, okay, okay.
I mean I was like, did I in the back
of my head, like did I make the right read?
And I was like, no, I'm not gonna think. I'm
not gonna thank you too much. I'm just gonna go
to the nest play. Once I kind of got once,
it kind of slowed down for me, down like okay, okay,
just just be free and playing like whatever you need
(05:07):
to fish you can, you can fix it on the
sideline or like whenever you whenever y'all watch.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Field the next day. So I just I just go
out there and play free.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
From now, I feel like every time you touch the rock,
it was like you was getting closer and closer to
that super saying mode where you just kept leveling up,
kept leveling up. Was there a part of the game
where you were just like, Okay, I don't even got
to think about this no more. I'm just having a
blast because I'm out here dominating.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, I'll just say it was.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
It was after the first carre like I just I
just let everything go, like I said, Like.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I was like, dang, then I make the right read,
like I f like that'll slow you down.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I mean I got one yard, like I want at
least three or four yards. I like, is that the
right read? But I was like, man, I'm just gonna
just go ouhead and do me.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
B you talked about making that right read. When you
look at that touchdown play, my boy gets the ball
just a little you know what I'm saying, get to
the fender off you and then you run wide open
into the end on man, a moment you've probably dreamed
of your entire life. Man, how was that first touchdown
for Bill?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It was definitely it was good shout out to my
old linement.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
But once I once I got there, once I got
the ball, and it seem like I can I can
kind of set the defenders up because we got two poolas,
two pullas coming around. So I want to like just
give them a hesit and then just go outside because
I know they probably slam down and it it just
opened up. So it just we work on that practice,
(06:31):
just sending up your blocks and like I mean, it
just it just happened.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Happened naturally.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
You talk about the pool, So let's get some love
to your officive line because you have Brandon Coleman and
Larry Me Tumpsel pulling on that outside to monster, somebody
that possibly has a Hall of Fame career, and somebody
that's in the second year working towards that. Man, when
you look at this offensive line and the size of
the athleticism of versatility, how optimistic and confident does it
make you as a runner?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
I love them, They love they love doing their job. Man.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
That just it's just like, I mean, they'll they'll do
whatever for us. And like we were brothers, so we
don't want to let each other down. Like we got
this saying like not my man, Like not my man
is gonna make this tackle or whatever, and like that's
something that's something we go by and like we just
we just got full full confidence in each other because
we know what, like the end goal lives of the season.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Was that Selly premeditated, Like had you been thinking about it,
like yo, when I get my first touchdown, I'm doing
this celebration or was it just in the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I mean, I feel like I knew I was gonna
do that.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Yo.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Yeah, I'm trying to I'm trying to figure out what
else I got in my bad Like it's kind of
it's kind of hard because.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
I usually don't celebrate.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
But like my friends they were like, man, you gotta
do something in the end zone, Like you just can't
just be boring, like you gotta you gotta come up
with something.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So I'm still trying to like figure out what I like,
what I like best.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
But I mean that's a good one. You can always
just make that your signature sell so for me as
an older head, right, I got you a few years,
that's the I Get Money dance. Now, I don't know
if that's what it was for you?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
What was it or is that just something a car
we could call it that.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I like that. That's what we call.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
It in the game to after I Get Money.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Perfect for Bill, Right, Okay, so there you go.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Maybe something you can stick with. Bill. We talked to
head coach Dan Quinn on the game plan and I
asked him, I said, Yo, you guys didn't give him
that carry to the second quarter. Were you surprised with
how he was able to build so much momentum so
quickly on so few carries, and dan Quinn said, nope,
he said, people outside the building are surprised, he said,
but why not because we have seen that every single day.
(08:30):
We've seen that burst, We've seen that first step every
single day. He shows us something special. Man. How dope
is it to get that voter confidence from your head
coach and you've only been here a couple months.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Man, It's it's definitely dope.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Just I just like to be the same person every day,
Like when I get the ball, I mean, I just
want to be special with I want to be I
want to be different with it and like show that
I belong here because I've been counted out like my.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Whole career basically.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
So I mean when I'm on that practice field, I
treated like the game and make the cuts that I'm
gonna make in the game. So it just it's just
come natural, and like I feel like that's just how
I get better at what I do.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
And not and not every receiver gets the tandem with
a guy like Austin, with somebody who has had such
longevity in the league that is not made for running
backs to have longevity, getting to play with him geting
to watch him that first quarter and kind of watch
him cook. Man. How has that helped you in your development?
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Austin, Man, he helped me on and off the field,
like with business on the business side, like just like
just knowing how the game go, like knowing how to
read defenders, Like just just small stuff. And I mean,
like that's a that's a vent that I'm proud to
proud to have.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Man. I just learned new stuff from every day, like.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
How he how he how he go about his business
before the game, how he stay warned up on the sideline,
and like he an open person, like he share, He
share with me what he do it like he don't
he don't keep it to hisself. And like I just
I got a ton of respect for us.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
And a guy like Austin doesn't make it this far
in the league without putting in the hard work but
also taking time to rest his body, relax, be a
little chilling off. Our partners over at Landsdown Resort, they
want you to get it done on the field, they
also want you to be able to relax and chill Man.
So how do you spend your time to unwind Man?
How did you celebrate after that big game.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Just cold up.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
I get into cold up, man, shout out my shout
out to my Don Revo.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
He got me some Norman Tep boots, so like those
are big time.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
When I when I'm at the crib, I'm just I'm
just saying my boots just chilling, like thirty forty minutes
and now roll out something like that. So, I mean,
that's that's how I recover.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
And man, that's what it's all about, because we want
to see you have a very long career like Austin Ekler. Man,
it's something that was really fly. You told me when
you sat down, that's your pops got to pull up
to this game and I got to see his boy
out there play. Man. How fly was that to have
your pops there in the stands around all these fans
cheering your name.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Man, it was it was definitely amazing.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I spotted him before the game and I scored in
the same end zone that there was that there was
by and like it was, it was. It was definitely
a great moment. I know he was. He was super proud,
like he want to come to every game.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Man.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Like that just shows you like he supported me my
whole career. I don't think he ever missed the game,
a football game, and like and like for that moment
just to come, it was it was definitely like it
was unreal.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
What was it like seeing him after the game after
because of course, you know, there's so much anticipation, so
much expectation. We don't know how we're going to do
in those moments, you rose to the occasion. Man, What
was it like celebrating with your posts? Man?
Speaker 3 (11:38):
It was good.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
We went to the house just chill, just talked a
little bit and like we just we just had a
good time.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
That's beautiful and that's a blessing. Man. Did you remember
to get your game ball after you scored?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Yeah? Yeah, tear in again.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
And for me, like I was, I told myself I
was gonna keep it after I after I scored, but
I mean it took over again and I just tripry.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
You see in the video he's.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
Just running behind to get the ball, so like shut out,
tear But like next time, Oh no, I think I
might start just keeping all the game balls.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I don't know yet.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
How cool is that though, to have vets that care
so much about you, man, to make sure that you
live in those moments and remember and have these momstones.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
It means a lot. They just show like the leaders
we got around us. And for Hnnah just he could
have he could have just celebrated with me and just
and just went to the sideline. But he he know
how big that moment is. Like just to like have
your first NFL ball, that's where everybody dream of and
like for him to just like just think about me
(12:39):
like that, that means.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
A lot to Cory. Congratulations, bro, that's a big, big
deal man. Final question before we let you go. Quick
turnaround on being Green Bay against the Package, My guy,
what can fans expect to see from their commanders after
such a quick turnaround?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
They can see us being being the same team. We
got one goal.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
We want to want to dominate every week and just
go out and play off football.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Command of family. Couldn't say it better than my Ford
builder Corey krossky merrit in the building after a major
game against the New York Giants. Comands family, our next
man up, My dog, Bill, appreciate you, brother, appreciate you
command this family.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
For our next man up.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
We had to bring one of my favorite Washington legends
of all time a Super Bowl champion, a future Hall
of Famer. You do not say his name without saying
future Hall of Famer. If you are a COMMADUS fan
introducing my guy, Brian Mitchell, my brother you doing. We're
always good to kick it with you. Man, It's crazy
to think we are just days away from our third
(13:41):
season doing Game Day Live together, post game line together.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Boy, we've been having so fun.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
How cool is it to be back at Northwest?
Speaker 6 (13:49):
It's very very cool, you know, to be back and
having a team like we have, having you know, Jayden
going into his second year and watching all the other
young guys who come along and the older guys to
join this team with the same mindset. You know, for me,
when I can see guys believing in themselves and each other,
it makes me feel good because you win like that.
(14:11):
You know, when coaches can say something that people buy
into it. When coach can say something and the other
players are going to go out there and begin to
preach that, it makes a world of difference.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
And b you've been around for a while now, man,
you played on that field, now you've been covering the team.
Do you ever not have that moment where it's special
to you when you get to Northwest City. When you
see those commanders on that field, Yes you want a
command aby. However, you play for Washington, you rock that
brandy and gold.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Does that ever stop?
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Because I know when I'm watching you and I feel
like I'm looking.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
At a kid in the candy store.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
Well, it's the thing about it is, I have two
things I live with. Somebody told me that football is
a sport that you play as a kid. Never lose
that exuberance, and then pay label said when you stop
being excited about something, which means you don't get the butterflies,
and it's not important. I get butterflies for every show. I
(15:03):
get butterflies before these guys play games. When I go
out there and I'm watching them play the game and
I see a guy like Jaden running around smiling, having
fun like he's a little kid, that makes me feel
good because in my fourteenth year, I had young guys
telling me, man, you're always smiling and joking. Why don't
you take this series? And I'm like, fool, I take
(15:25):
a serious all off season so I can have fun
during the season. I say, maybe you should try my way,
because this is my It was my leventh year when
I say that to the guy, and I say, I'll
probably play more years than you from this point on.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
I played four more. He played five total. You know
what I mean.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
It's just like you have to find a way. And
this thing is it's a profession, but it's a game.
It's a child's game. And the way that you do
the professional side as a player, your body is your tool.
You have to take your body through the riggers in
the off season. So when the season comes, it's nice
camera baby, it's ready to shut you know, it's ready
(16:01):
to go out there and put on the show. And
that's how I felt about it. And I think when
I see guys Jaden and Mikey, you know, and still
see Bobby how he goes at it in New Year fifteen,
it gets me excited and be this.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Nobody better to talk about that longevity with, especially you
being around this area for so long. And then this offseason,
let's go back a little bit because we want to
talk about game day a little more this off season.
Dan Quinn said, Hey, man, I need you to pull
up to practice. I need you to rap these guys.
He needs to give them some game.
Speaker 5 (16:28):
Man.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
How important was that for you to be able to
give back in that way because as long as you've
been around, it's been a while since you got to
do something like that.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Well, nobody asked me to come when then asked me
that that was Hey, that put that gave me have
we choked up?
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Wow?
Speaker 6 (16:42):
Because you know, it's like I think the thing about
it is when you play and then you're gone. I
think the next regimes that come in, they it seemed
like they feel like you're like not a part of them.
And what I thought it was before that ownership, before
they were competing with what we did, you know, with
(17:05):
Jack kN Cook and John kin Cook and Joe Gibbs
and all of it and all that we had won
championships and then they were competing against that. So but
when Josh rolled in, Josh is coming from a point
of he was a fan, you know, and a lot
of guys on that team, you know, Ian and all
the or fans, and they grew up watching that team
(17:26):
be successful.
Speaker 5 (17:27):
So they're part of that.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
They didn't come in like thinking we were against them
or they were against us. They wanted to bring that
back because when you look, man, when you got past,
present and future all together, that's how you build legacies,
and they wanted to continue doing that. So when Dan
asked me that, I was like, COO, hell yeah, of course,
you know, because I feel I have something I can
(17:50):
give to a young guy, you know. And then I
talk with Jalen, and Jalen hit me and asked me
questions and stuff, and I said, I'm gonna check it out.
Speaker 5 (17:59):
I'll let you know.
Speaker 6 (18:00):
So my thing is, if I can help anybody get
to the point where I got, are even close, I'm
gonna do that. You know, because Ernest Byner did it
for me, you know, Mike Nailms did it for me.
So when you get that and I did it with
James Drash and all those guys, you want to just
keep reach out to the olive branch and pull him up,
(18:21):
pull him up, and that's that's what you have to do.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
And pull back the court curtain for us because all
of us know DQ, me and you. We see him
all the time, we get to work with him, but
the fans don't ever get to really see him. They
get to hear from un the pressure count. We had
to see him during the game. Pull that curtain back
a little bit and let us know what that conversation
was like, how did DQ ask you to come and
pull up? Well, he hit me.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
We were doing the show and during training can one day,
I was one of the many counters. We were in
that little tent and he had done any interview with us,
and he said, hey, man, would you come talk to
the players. I really want you to talk to him.
I'm like, yeah, I'll be thrilled too. And then he
got my number from Jay Penny called me and said, hey,
you remember we talked.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
I said, I've been waiting on you to call me,
you know.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
And then when we decided to do it and I
went out, I went sat in the meat I talked
to the guys in the meeting room, and then later
on he asked me to come out on the field
with him. When I was out on the field, I
was standing to the sideline just being away. He's like, hey,
we didn't actually to come out here and stand on
the side, like get on that dad, peel, go earn
your keep.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
I was like, coach, you're not paying me, so, you know,
But it was.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
Fun just to go out there and and like when
I started talking with Jalen, he was like, yeah, man,
he said, my dad when I told him I had
talked to you, He's like, yo, man, y'all know Devin Hester.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
That dude was Devin Hester before Devin Hester.
Speaker 6 (19:42):
So I guess that made him understand who I was
and just knock it off. But like when I talked
to him, I see, Jalen is the quietest dude. Dude
got talent like hell no.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Dog and he got fire on that shoe.
Speaker 5 (19:54):
He does bro. He has a lot of talent.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
So it's just it makes you I think, just like
Gary Clark even says that it's like although.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
You're not here, you still feel like you're a part
of it.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
And I think Dan has found ways to make us
really feel like we're a part of it.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Be until this moment, I did not know that that
was your first time being asked to do.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Something like that. That is wild to me.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Somebody that's accomplished all of you've accomplished getting to do that.
So you have this first moment years later, probably soly
you never were expecting. What did you want to convey
to the guys when you're out on that field with them?
Speaker 6 (20:26):
Well, first thing I talked to guys about is making
sure you have you do everything you can to make
sure you stay around.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
You know.
Speaker 6 (20:35):
When I was talking to him, I used Austin as
an example. Austin Eckler wasn't highly drafted. They came as
a free agent. Austin Eckler played and became a name
in this league because of hard work. Austin Neckler is
now here, still a name because of hard work. Austin
is not the biggest guy, but he's strong as hell.
(20:57):
He puts the work in. And I was making sure
guys understood, like I didn't return kicking punksy I got here.
So it's about putting in the work, taking care of yourself. Look, man,
so a lot of it's gonna be a lot of
people come to you with a lot of crap. Be careful,
you know, have fun while this thing is going on.
Like Manti Coleman told me, Man, let's go win a
(21:19):
super Bowl. Do everything you can, and then you could
do whatever you want to do when your career is over.
You know, like people always say, do you get a
chance to revel and experience the things you've done. I'll
do it when I'm finished, because while you're doing it,
you don't really think about it, you know. And I've
had guys asking, man, when you were playing that you
know all this stuff. No, when I left Washington, I
(21:43):
didn't know where I plan where I was set when
it comes to the amount of yours in the team.
On the team I got to Philly, they told me
where I was it wants to and then started letting
me know where I was in the league. I never
thought about that crap. I was trying to be the
best wa God could be today.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
You know.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
So I read this book. I mean I got released
from Washington and someone gave me the book, this book
called Who Moved My Cheese? And I read that book
and I read it so quick. I was like, can't
be this easy. So I read it again and it
talked about you know, who moved your cheese? So your
cheese could be your career, it could be your job,
it could be a car, whatever you're doing. And so
(22:24):
my cheese had moved to Philly. Then I got another
book called The Present. So and I use I conveyed
this and every message I tell.
Speaker 5 (22:32):
O the people. You have to be present in what
you're doing.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
You know.
Speaker 6 (22:36):
The book has a gift on it, but it talked
about the present and when you look at it. You
think it's talking about an actual gift, but no, it's
talking about the present. So whatever you've been through, you
learn from it and you put everything into what you
can do today. So maybe if it was something bad,
you don't have to experience that later. So if I'm
not worrying about yesterday, not worry about tomorrow, and I
(22:58):
do everything I'm capable of doing right now, I'm gonna
have a great future. And I try to make sure
guys understand that, because, like you know, you get drafted,
first thing you think is, man, I can start making
this money. I do this, I do, But you're not
even taking care of right now. And if you take
care of right now, it'll work out for you. But
if you keep thinking about what you're going to do,
(23:20):
you got problems because you'll never get there.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
And b that's got to take some time to grasp.
Right said you had to read a book twice, but
going through it in that moment it me And You've
talked about this a lot off air. I don't think
people understand because you still found success in Philly and
after the fact, how tough that really was for you
to be here a place that you love so much.
And have to go somewhere that you didn't necessarily plan
(23:42):
on going to. Man, take us back to that moment,
because I think young people that are listening to this,
like you said, people's sheese gonna get moved all the
time and totally in that moment, young Brian Mitchell, Man,
how did you navigate that outside of the books, outside
of the London because at the end of the day,
it's still a human being.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Yeah, yeah, I am.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
But you know what though, I grew up with a
military dad and you and I had that conversation. My
dad always said, control what you can control. And when
I got released, I was hurt. I'm serious, dude, I
was down. But the people in my support system was like, look, man,
you could do it somewhere else, you know, And all they.
Speaker 5 (24:22):
Had to do what would your dad tell you?
Speaker 6 (24:24):
And once I hear that's it, I knew get to
work and I remember going to visit different teams and
David Cully, he was a receiver coach in Philly.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
He was my actual quarterback coach in college. He coached me.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
He recruited me out of high school, knowing me since
I was fifteen sixteen years old, and he was like, man,
these people want you up here.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
I say, you know me, coach, is it a good
place for me? He say yes.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
I say no more questions asked, And I went there
with the same mindset that I attacked football when I
was here. I came into Washington. They say, the only
way you're gonna make teams being a return guy. I
never returned in my life. I didn't return in Lily.
I didn't return in junior high high school. First time
I touched it, I went to the house, you know,
(25:15):
and it's just God put me in positions where it
was something I hadn't done that. It was a little difficult,
but I've had success early to where I guess he knew.
Once I have success, I'm putting everything into it.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
You know.
Speaker 6 (25:33):
I told people, I think at my hometown, I said,
I'll come home to visit, but I'm not coming home
because I'm gonna lose a job. And I had a
lot of haters.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
You know.
Speaker 6 (25:44):
Oh man, they're gonna release you. You're gonna get cut now.
I have to go home because I didn't have anything anymore.
I go home to visit, you know, and I make
sure they understand I wear my ring. You know, I
don't know, and I'm gonna be honest with you. I
have my ring all my you do.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (26:02):
And the people that were those haters in my life,
when they asked to see it, I.
Speaker 5 (26:08):
Show it to them.
Speaker 6 (26:10):
Then one fingures a one. But it's just listen, bro.
All they did was they energized me.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Man, and motivation.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Yeah, yeah, man.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
And when you look back at all that and all
those things you've been through, the heartbreak that was leaving well,
you decided to come back, right. You decided when it
was all over that this is your it's your home
away from home.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Really, man, your kids, My house didn't go over.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
A beautiful What made that decision right?
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Because again, you could have been salty and said, yo,
forget this place, but you chose to say why was that?
Speaker 6 (26:44):
Why be salty when it was an individual that was
no longer around And it's a small part of this area.
The fans loved me and still do today. Even when
I was in Philly. You know, I would come back
and you get a idiot is gonna boo you in
the crowd, and I came back and play. But for
the most part of their seventy eight ninety dollars. Well
(27:06):
they had, I guarantee you ninety five percent.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Was cheering yes. And when I would come home in
the off.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Season, it made me feel good because this is a
place where I cut my teeth. This is a place
where I became a man. This is a place where
I grew, I built the family. I mean, yeah, I'm
gonna go over here and play with Phil because I
can still play and they want me. So that's combination.
I can still play and you want me. I'm gonna
go play for you, but I'm not gonna change what
(27:34):
I truly.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
Truly love.
Speaker 6 (27:35):
But I can tell you this them three years there,
you might think I played ten years there because they
know I came in and gave what I had because
what I learned about that town. If you come in
with a certain expectation and you could live up to it,
they gonna love you no matter what. If you don't
live up to it, they will tell you in your face.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
You know.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
So.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
So I've gone up there with some friends and now
I'm not up there with you, and they're liked, why
don't you live here?
Speaker 5 (28:04):
I'm like, he loved you, love DC.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
You know, that's where I became that young man that
got my name, you know, got my chance, and I
owe that they're a gratitude to this place more than
anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
That's one thing I wonder when I walk around with
you in Tanna, because we go to all of these
different places, all these different arenas, if fans really truly
understand that y'all could have been anywhere that y'all could
have chose to put y'all roots anywhere, y'all could have worked.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
For any team y'all had loved everywhere you go.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Tanne walk in Dallas and you would have thought he
played the Cowboys. It wasn't a cowboy killer. So it's
just great to know that you guys came back here
because of how much you guys loved this fan base
and love what you guys did for this city. You
look like a guy like Jaalen Lannon And I don't
know if Commander fans know this, but it wasn't just
you going to practice rapping with him. He reached out
to you directly. He went and found your number. When
(28:53):
guys take the time to do that. Even though he
never saw you play. He wasn't born when you were playing,
but he recognized.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
He just called me.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Because again, I'm all older than Jalen too, so we're
all there.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
But to get that recognition from a guy that truly
wasn't around during your heyday, but they know you did
something special? Man, how important is that? And what does
that say about the players that do that?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Well?
Speaker 6 (29:18):
You know, I think in Jaen's In Jalen's case, it
shows how parents.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Make sure people understand what somebody is and what they were.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
And I think that comment is because his dad is
a coach and his dad mentioned things. So you know,
most guys that play football things of that nature, they
close with their pops. And if like my dad made
sure I knew about the boxers, he was a boxer
and stuff taught meself from his era, so I wanted
to learn about it because I respect my pops and
(29:50):
I think that's what his dad did. And but the
thing of it is just for a young person to
make the move to reach out to you. It's totally
different than this day and age. And you know what,
he didn't text me. He called and he left a
message and I called him back.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
You know, that is an adult thing to do.
Speaker 6 (30:10):
That's the older person thing kids that day text you, Yeah,
you know, it's so impersonal. But he called and I
called him back, and now we still communicate through all
types of aspects, and I think that's the best thing,
you know, because but the thing of it is when
I've said something or whatever, he follows up, I follow up.
(30:33):
And all you need to understand, I think for any
young kid out there that may see this, if someone
tells you reach out to me or give you a
card and they call me, do it. They're not doing
it just to do it. And that person, if that
person has information that could make you better and you
(30:54):
don't do it, you making a mistake.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
And b that's something I think me and you've always
connected on because we're raised very very similar. Pops helped
guide us and it's been dope at least for me
being able to be like your little brother right watching
you put your arm around so many people, and one
of those people is our co host on Game Day Live,
Santana Moss. So truly, I don't know if people truly
understand how close y'all are that that's like a real brotherhood.
(31:18):
He looks up to you, You admire him and what
he was able to do this past Sunday Man you
got a very special chance to honor that brother and
be a part of him. Joining the Ring of Fame
something you were able to do. Now. I know you've
seen a ton of people go into that Ring of Fame,
but it felt like this one.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
Watching Tanner get in felt a little different.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
It felt more special to me because when Tanner was
in New York I was a fan of his. I
just watched how he proached the game. Then he came
here in DC, all he did was ball, ball ball.
And then when we sit and we talked with him,
he talks about his career.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
Like it was just a regular career he does, you know,
But I'm like, d like that, you know what I mean.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
And the thing about it is, you want those people
to get their flowers, man. And like Andre Johnson when
he was on the show with us, Andre was the
same way.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Man.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
It's like Andre and ten I grew up in the
same area. They know the struggles, they know what people
went through to get to get somewhere. And like I
always said, ten, I said, dog, you played ten years,
I played ten years here. You know, we had that
connection of being returned guys. And then when you watch
his love for this community the same way. My love
(32:31):
for this community is you know you respect that, and
I'm gonna be honest with you.
Speaker 5 (32:36):
You know. I was told ten I was.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
Trying to get tears out of him when his dad
shook my hand and embrace me and say, bro, he
looks up to you.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
Bruh.
Speaker 6 (32:46):
I got choked up because it tells you he spoke
to his pops about me.
Speaker 5 (32:51):
You know that that's something that I'm not thinking about
nothing like that. But when his dad said that, I
was like, whoa.
Speaker 6 (32:58):
It hit me, you know, and it's just it's listen, man,
we were grown men. Yeah, but when you see your
brother get what he deserves, it makes you feel.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Good, man, especially when you know the man, you know,
the person that deserves right, know that he doesn't even
want the record is he doesn't need it, right, but he.
Speaker 5 (33:20):
Was trying enjoy.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
And he's like, no, this is too much tantus on.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
But we had to because, like you said, you got
to be able to give people their flowers when they
hear the small and it was just so cool to
be a part of man. I was fighting back here
seeing his whole family, having people come up to us
that were his kids or his cousins and be like, oh, no,
I know who.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
You guys are.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
And it's like, like you said, it's like, oh dang
man like Tannes City. He's like, bro, We're like we're
not only co works, but we're brothers. And to me, man,
that that is so special and it's something that we've
been able to build doing Game Day Live to the
postgame Livena. We travel together, we travel together, we eat
dinner together, we get a fight to.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
Walk off the elevator and not knowing who's who, I get. Man,
you should have tennis to tell you to cook some gumbo.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yeah, exactly, because I'm right with you and it's like
gumbo travel.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
So I had said some guba home. He went home
and I said, and he was like, man, I don't
eat shrimp. Well it's people like I eat shrimp. So
I made some gumbo for for him before he's like.
I was like, you know what he should have told me?
She said, well, you can make something real soonie if
you want to. So it's just all of those little things.
It shows you that it's it's like a family thing,
(34:31):
you know, and we become like that sotand you understand your.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
True family, Man, breaking bread, having conversations, learning from each other. Man,
It's been great and we're gonna hit the road for
the first time this year. Man, third season, we get
to do this where we're going to be in Green Bay. Man,
being in this seat right, like you've been radio for years. However,
doing what we do here for the team, right, actually
working for two We talked about it's a little different. Man.
How special is it for you to be able to
(34:55):
work for the team in this capacity, do these game
day and postgame shows.
Speaker 6 (34:59):
It It was good to me because, like I said,
I'm a big fan. Yes, I played for the team.
I'm a fan of it and I want to see
their success. And if I could be the person shouting
to the rooftop talking about how good they are, I
would be that as well. But it is different than
doing just the regular radio. But I also understand that
(35:19):
I'm truthful about stuff, you know, and the thing of
it is people say, well, I remember, people always say, well,
bebit true to everything you want to say. I said, no,
I don't, you don't. I never said everything I wanted
to say, even on the radio in the TV because
I wouldn't have a job. Okay, But the thing of
it is, if you ask me a question about what
I think, I'm gonna tell you about what I think
(35:41):
if I see something, because I'm not a person in
doing this that want to be attacking people individual personally.
I'm here to talk about the football aspect of what
goes on. And I could tell you a guy had
a subpar game without being personal, you know what I mean.
Some people want to like talk about the size or No,
(36:03):
I don't care about all that. He didn't play very
very well this week, you know, but he will play
better because you know that once you start to know
a person, you know to work at the go of
a person. I remember when Tanner was playing with Tanna
had a game one day. I forgot what exactly happened,
and they were like, what do you think about it?
I say, well, it's not what I'm accustomed to seeing,
and I'm sure he'll get it corrected.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 6 (36:26):
You you you don't have to sit up here and
pile on today media and anything like this content has become.
Let's just pile up on the negative. Why you know,
I know the person, so I'm gonna get that person
to respect and the benefit of the doubt, you know,
And I think watching this team, I do the same thing.
(36:47):
You know, I have to give the benefit of the doubt.
But the thing about it, lately, they've been giving us
a lot to talk about, a lot of positive things
to talk about, and you see that growth, and you
want to be a part of that, you know, and
you want to make sure people.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
Understand when they do something great. Look at this. If
one guy have a bad team a bad game, the
whole team.
Speaker 6 (37:12):
Man have a bad game, and you got to be
able to address that but also show this, you know
what I mean. And I don't think a lot of
people understand that because but as you go through life,
you'll realize people are always telling you what you should
say because they don't have the opportunity to say anything.
Speaker 5 (37:33):
And that's for a reason because if.
Speaker 6 (37:35):
They were in your position, they probably wouldn't know what
to say in this position, and they damn sure wouldn't
say everything that they want.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
To say exactly. And you really don't know until you know.
And again I don't think even people understand like the
position you're in, Like you come in and you on
a tanna, you leave in a family funeral, right you
come right in that morning, man.
Speaker 6 (37:54):
And I think that people should understand that my oldest
sister had passed away at Sunday and my nieces they
were like, they didn't want this stuff to fester, so
they were like, well, we're gonna do the funeral Saturday.
Speaker 5 (38:09):
I'm like, wow, that's quick.
Speaker 6 (38:12):
But I'm thinking, like Ryanan asked me, would I do
to then? Once I make a commitment, I stick to
my family for sure, for sure. So I left Friday morning,
went to a Hall of Fame deal, then I went
to my sister's funeral, drove back to New Orleans. He
got on a five forty five flight. Well, we didn't
(38:33):
get home to get the new aunt til two o'clock.
Went to sleep on three, got on the fire fighter
flight to make sure I could be back here because
I wanted to be here for that.
Speaker 5 (38:40):
You did, you know?
Speaker 6 (38:42):
And my family will tell you the same thing like
I told my my niece and my sister said, you
know what I had this event. They were like, what
would your sister want you to do? And they say,
if if you care about somebody like that, she would
want you to go back. And I could take this
back to nineteen ninety my brother was killed while I
(39:02):
was in training camp, and I went home to the
wake and the funeral was the next day. We had
a game. My mom said, your brother would wants you
to be playing that game tomorrow. I flew back and
played that game. So my family raised me as I
said earlier, take care of what you can take care of,
(39:24):
and that's what I've always done.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
And I appreciate you opening up on that because people
see the smile, people see you on the field being
that dog, just busting through people, but people forget human,
being a man and the things you're carrying man. So
I appreciate you sharing that because it made what we
were able to do for Tanne Sunday even more special
because Wall carrying things right, Like today's the anniversary of
my dad passing right and.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Wall carrying things.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
But we have to keep going because, like you said,
what would they want us to do? And be I
have no doubt, all of your loved ones, all your angels,
you're doing exactly what they would want you to do.
And you miss and you mentioned the Hall of Fame
brother in the closing. That's what I want people to
know and me and you speak like this because they
hear you all the time talking sports.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
We could talk the game all day.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
We're gonna do it Thursday. But I want to talk
about the man because to me, yes, you did it
on the field, you the best to ever do it.
But you're an even better human being. You're an even
better person. You love and you care for so many people.
You've taken me and my wife under your wing, man,
and it's just been It's been incredible, and I cannot
wait to continue all season to push this Hall of
Fame future Hall of Famer Brian Mitchell. And I can't
(40:26):
wait because I know it's coming to be there with you, man,
when you get that ceremony and they give you that
gold jacket. My brother, it's coming, and I have no
doubt we're all going to be there to support you.
Speaker 5 (40:36):
I bet your my eyes will be sweating that day.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
Boy.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
Listen, man, I'll get choked. I'm just thinking about being
able to share that more on with you. But again,
it's not just because of what you're doing on the field, brother,
it's because of the person you are. Man. I appreciate
you always for looking out for me. Dog. Thank you
for what you did for Tanna.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
Think you what you do for all of us.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
Man command his family, y'all, Next Man Before I get
misty out of it, this joint my brother, future Hall
of Famer. Don't forget the future Hall of Famer Brian
Mitchell brother. I appreciate man, appreciate you, bro, command this family.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Next Man if
you can stream all the episodes of Next Man Up
from even the past seasons on the Commander's YouTube page,
or stream the audio wherever you get your podcast. We
(41:12):
appreciate our Commander's family so much. You help Next Man
Up getting nominated for two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best
Male Hosted and Best black Mail Hosted. We couldn't do
that without y'all love and support. We appreciate y'all so much.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Don't forget to subscribe, share life, and.
Speaker 7 (41:27):
Follow, and we'll see y'all next week.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
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