This week's episode of Next Man Up is special! The squad pulled up to Madrid early so this one is over seas! Chris Rodriguez talks about being a TRUE next man up and how he always stays ready! Shawn Springs shares his memories of playing in international games and speaks on our Commanders secondary. All that and more on Next Man Up !
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Honestly, it's been a lot smoother for me this year.
(00:02):
I mean, you know, year one.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Battle just not playing very much your two ups and
downs all year. This year I've been on the I've
been on the roster, but you know sometimes the first
few games I didn't play, uh, and then I was
back up playing special teams starting then back to back up.
So I mean it's been it's been tough. But at
the same time, when you go into the game or
(00:26):
go into the week with the mindset up I'm a pair,
like a starter, it just makes the week so much easier,
so much smoother.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And then when what my number is called, it's no lag.
You know, we just had him and running.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
The Next Man Podcast is presented by Lansdown Resort from Kickoff,
the Check, Came, Score, Game Change and Getaway in the
heart of Lounder Lansdown Resort, proud partner of the Washington Commanders.
Commanders Family, Welcome into the Next Man Up. I'm your host,
Brian Corple Junior, and you can see we out here
in the Elements, but we're also out here at Real
Madrid out here and Spade, I'm here with our Next
(00:58):
Man Up.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Chris Rodriguez, my brother. How you doing, man? Man, how
you doing doing good?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
I know this is not normal us doing the whole
standing joining all this stuff, but man, I appreciate you
taking the time.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
How's it been so far? Y'all just got this cool?
Speaker 5 (01:09):
It's cool.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
It's starting to rain a little bit better than that.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Man, it's been cool. Been enjoying the city. Uh, hopefully
I can get out and explore a little bit.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Yeah, we'll find out. We'll see.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Have you been in Spain before?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I have not the first time. This is actually my
second time leaving the country.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Are you serious? What was the first time we left
the country.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
This off season? I went to Jamaica with my wife. Okay,
that's what's up, Rope.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
So, how have you liked this so far? I know
it's been business. I know this is a business trip
and y'all been getting after it. Manber how's it been
just being out in a new in a new area.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It's good man, you know, I feel like, you know,
being out here, we get that extra little time with
some of your some of the brothers, some of the team,
and just getting out and just talking and vibing.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
So that's been a good part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Uh. I know, we have another dinner with the running
Backs Friday. But man, it's honestly been a blessing. Man,
it's been fun because in your.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Three years here, you guys haven't got to do anything
like this.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
So how beneficial has it been getting that extra camaraderie
Because everybody that we spoke to you said the same.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yeah, Man, it's very beneficial.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I think, you know sometimes, especially going through like this
little draft that we're going through, I think it's huge.
You know, you get to hang out with people that
you usually wouldn't back home, you know, So I think
it's big for us, and I think going into the
game we're going into this week and the rest of
the year, it's going to be very beneficial for us.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Have you felt any trouble adjusting being in a new
time zone? Man, being in a new spot, there's so
much going on, man, it's probably be kind of hard
to lock in.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Man, first off, adjusting sleep sleep no city, and I'm
texting my wife and you know.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
She's just waking up and it's like three o'clock. Yeah,
I'm about.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
To get ready to go to bed in a little bit.
So that's been the hardest part is the sleep part
of it. Other than that, I mean just getting used
to the city, you know, moving around without maps or
I guess you have to use it, but moving around
with out the maps and just exploring.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Man, that's dope.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
And Chris, I don't know if there's anybody on the
squad that really embodies that next man up mantra than you, right,
I mean we've talked the last three years. It's been
so many ups and downs for you, man, but every
time your numbers called, you rot to the occasion. Man,
how has it been in year three for Chris Rodriguezz.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Honestly, it's been a lot smoother for me this year.
I mean, you know, you're one battle just not playing
very much Year two ups and downs all year. This
year I've been on the I've been on the roster,
but you know sometimes the first few games I didn't play, uh,
and then I was back up playing special teams to
start and then back to back up. So I mean
(03:30):
it's been it's been tough. But at the same time,
when you go into the game or go into the
week with the mindset of I'm gonna prepare like a starter,
it just makes the week so much easier, so much smoother.
And then when what my number is called, it's no lag.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
You know, we just say running.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
And that's easier said than done. Right, Because you're a
young man, right, it's hard.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
To not have consistency, right and not knowing that, how
have you find ways to deal with it? Because there's
other young guys right that are dealing with the same
type of guys that are younger than you, which.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Is kind of crazy thing. Year three we got rookies
year man, how have you to all that?
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Man?
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Just like I said, preparation man, you know, talking to
some of the older guys like Terry, Zach, Frankie, and
you know, the main thing that they harped on is
just like what is your routine like? So for me,
just having a routine going into every week, whether it's
you know, what do I don't want to review this week?
What I want to work on this week? And I
think DQ helps us a lot with that, you know,
(04:22):
with our with our practice schedule, it gives us extra
five minutes to work on stuff. But as far as routine, man,
it's just getting that routine is It's helped me a lot,
you know, it helps me prepare, like I'm a starter.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Has the routine been affected, but being on the road
for a whole week, I got to imagine it does, right, Like, how.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Do you deal with that?
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Honestly?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Not really, you know, I think you you kind of
adjust your routine. It doesn't really kind of it doesn't
really mess it up. It kind of you just makes
little tweaks and adjusted.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Yeah. Yeah, when you're.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
When you're out here, man, you got the last two games,
getting some touchdowns, man, getting some carries. Like you said,
it's been it's been up and down a little bit.
You never know kind of what amount of care as
you getting. But it seems like lately they've been leaning
on you a lot. Seems like Cliffman calling your number
a lot. Man, how much does that mean to you
to have the confidence from Cliff and his.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Stead I mean it means a lot, you know, Like
we said, like on the past, like it's passes the past.
But at the same time, when I'm here and you know,
Cliff's calling my name or calling my number, uh, it
shows that they believe in me, shows that they are
confident in me. So it makes me feel good about
myself going out there running these plays, and especially when
you got like somebody in there like Marcus. You know,
(05:29):
it shows that he has trusted.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Me as well. But man, it's it's been a ride.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
I'm excited we've been a man.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I've always rooting for you. Man, you're getting off. You
mentioned Marcus Man. Yeah, it's not every day where you
have a backup quarterback that it's just as talented as
even sure a starter in the NFL. But he's been
able to do that. He's been able to step up
for as big. What has it been like watching a
guy like Marcus Mayoda who has had in a story
career from college to the NFL. Man, I gotta imagine
you're learning.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
A lot for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I mean, just to talk about his college career. Man,
I was a big fan of Marcus. He's one of
the reasons I wanted to go to Oregon, especially with
the uniforms and stuff. But man, you know, when I
say I prepare like I'm a starter, he is the
definition of that.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
He he's in super early getting treatment, He's doing walkthroughs.
He texts me like, Hey, like, we're doing a walk
through at whatever time it is in the morning. I
want you to be there, or he said you tell
the guys to be there, and we walked through it.
And even when when five was in and when we
would do a walk through, Marcus being in the back
getting every plague and every rep, he's telling me like, yo,
(06:34):
like this is the protection, this is what we're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So he's helping me prepare.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
And man, he's a great dude, honestly, and I appreciate
him more than he knows.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
That's crazy to set the standard like that as a
backup quarterback, but we've seen it. We've seen it in
real time, and now you get to set the standing
because we have a young bey and.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Bill who's out here running.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Man, he was in your position at one point being
a rookie running back, Matt, what has it been like
being able to play with Bill, being able to look
out for Bill and kind of teach him some of
the things you've learned.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Along the way as well.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Man, honestly, from the jump, looking like watching Bill play,
he's way ahead.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Than I was when I was a rookie. I tell
him that, Well, I went back and watched one of
my games and I'm like, man, it was between me
and Bill. I don't over He's a man.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
He's so smart and he's he's elusive. He has all
the aspects and perks that you want as a running back. Uh,
it's just like the little things that you know. I
like had to tell him like early, like yo, like
you know, body language, you know, just just fix that.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
You're gonna be good.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Like, yeah, you're you're a great running back, you know,
but don't show the don't don't be out there looking
tired like to the coaches, And I know you're not tired.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
You get up.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
He just looks at the sideline like, hey, don't you going, man,
You're good, don't look over here. So man, Bill, he's
he's a phenomenal athlete and I think he's gonna be
great in this league.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
He just keep working. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
It's been dope to see the running back by committee
because it seems like all you guys bring a different thing.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Even McNichols brings a veteran leadership.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Man.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
It's been sold open to see and now y'all get
to make history'all are going to be the first NFL
teams you in Miami Dolphins to play.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
A football game in Spain. Man, Yeah, has that hit
you how heavy that is?
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Like? How important that is, man, Not every day you
get to be a part of NFL history.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, honestly, it hasn't hit me yet. I don't think
it's gonna hit me till we get on the field
and touch the grass. But honestly, it's a tremendous opportunity.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I feel like me and the rest of the team
we're gonna take full advantage of that. I think we're
all excited for it.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
So yeah, And for the Spanish fans that are watching
right now, the ones that maybe didn't grow up watching
the NFL, this is a game you love.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
This is a game I love. Man.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
What do you want the fans that are getting to
experience the NFL for the first time to take away
from the game on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
And that's a heavy question.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, man, Honestly, first off, just to feel the energy,
you know, I feel like, I know in soccer or
football they play with a lot of passion, but I
feel like, you know, as NFL athletes, men, we're out there,
we're hitting. You feel the energy from the very first place,
like kickoff, that's we preach it, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
So I feel like just feeling the energy and getting
into the game. I feel like it'd be fun.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I can tell how excited you are. Man, I'm gonna
let you get going because I know you guys got
to go practice. Last question though, all year the command
of fans that showed up and showed out for us,
whether we're at home, whether on the road, and it's
wild to see the amount of fans that spent their
money to pull up the Spain to come make that
arena Burgundian gold Man. Give a message to the fans
on what they can expect, not only from c Robert,
from this whole team when y'all take on the Miamif.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I mean, obviously you know we're gonna go out there
and play hard, but you can expect us to go
out there and play as a unit, you know, as
a team.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
You know.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I feel like like with DQ coming out here, that's
one thing that we kind of preached about, is getting
out here and spending time with your brother and you know,
wanting to go to battle with them. So I feel
like just to let everybody know we're gonna go out
there and play together.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Yes, playing that command is football, man, command is family.
All next man and one man stood out here in
the ring with US. Chris RODGERI Reiation.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Sir, command is family. We hope you've been a joined.
Next man up. Before we go any further, we have
to pay some bills now well, Vince.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
DC is a proud partner of the Washington Commanders of
This DC is the premier host of meetings, entertainment, sporting,
and cultural events in the nation's capitol, from the Walter E.
Washington Convention Center to care First Arena, we create experiences
that entertain employ serve as an economic engine, and elevate
guests from around the world.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
See how we make DC happen at against DC.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Hey, Marylanders play multi match from the Maryland Lottery, Maryland's
only in state jackpot game. A two dollar ticket gives
you a chance to win a jackpot starting at five
hundred thousand dollars. Drawings Mondays and Thursdays, and remember please
play responsibly. They say your work defines who you are.
Monday through Friday nine to five, you are clocking in. Well,
what happens on the weekend, what happens to your time?
(10:42):
You could take it easy or you could use your
time to get better. In the US Army we think differently.
Your time should be used to improve the skills you
do have to learn some you don't, to put yourself
in new ways, because it's those days that truly define
who you are. That's how you make progress, That's how
you make impact on the world around you. It's your time.
(11:04):
How you spend it is up to you. It's your time.
The US Army Reserve Command his family back to the show.
Command this family for our next man up. We got
a legend right here, Sean Springs. We out here Madrid.
Things a little different. We're gonna stand it for this interview,
but I know you ready for it.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
I love it. We had the real Madrid for self.
Speaker 6 (11:23):
It's crazy, man, this is nuts, man, unbelievable. The experience
here is like you think you know until you know,
like seeing this facility being in here in Spain and
Madrid has been an unbelievable experience.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
And your playing career, you've gotten to play overseas a
little bit. You've gotten to be able to spread football
to countries that didn't have it. Yeah, this is the
first time in Madrid, the first time the NFL's played
in Madrid, and how special is it for you to
be a part of this.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
Well, when I had a chance to play, we played
in London, and obviously the team is continued.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
Teams have continued to play.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
I was with the Patriots when we played Tampa in
London and I thought it was cool and it was
like a lot of different fans. They had all different
type of jerseys and they cheered the whole town. I
don't think they sat down right, but you know, and
now coming to Spain, it's interesting to see you're driving
down the street, you see the signs and you're jading
up on the people wearing jerseys.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Already.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
I'm just so excited about the fact that the NFL is.
You know, we had a Berlin game this year, a
London game this year, and now Madrid in Spain where
the people are just excited.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
They're taking pictures.
Speaker 6 (12:28):
They're like football and they know football here now they
know the soccer.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
Different.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
They know American and football, and it's it's interesting to
see how many people are recognizing, like, oh, you're Redskins,
you know.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
What I mean?
Speaker 6 (12:42):
Sorry, the Commander, the Commanders, you know, so I think
I'm out of some old Redskins jerseys, but the Commanders now.
But I'm just super excited for the NFL and what
we're doing as far as expansion of the league and
recognition all these players and teams are getting.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
And what years you say you played on it.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
I think nine we played that, So you go back.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
To old nine younger. Shawn's still young, but a younger man.
How was it staying locked in on football?
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Man?
Speaker 3 (13:10):
You're traveling, you away from your family, You're an hour's
difference of your time zone.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Man, how hard is it to really luck in as
a player?
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Well? I think it was.
Speaker 6 (13:17):
You know, it's always interesting because you're going somewhere unique.
You're getting that a little bit out of your routine, right,
because you don't have everything at your fingertips, So you
got to set up. You gotta get there, you gotta
get set up in a hotel. You got to get
your routine down. But once you get your routine down,
I think it was like one of those things where
you're just like, man, this is a cool experience, Like
(13:38):
I know, I'm here to play an international football game.
But more importantly, we still gotta win and we got
to do our job. You gotta be focused. But the
thing I remember the most is the amount of time
we split together as team as a team, so we
had events and things that we had to do. I
think we went to a cricket game, or we might
have went to another event when we were in London together.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
But it was just all about bonding. It was all
about just.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
Us spending time together on a plane ride, right, You're
talking about like a six to seven hours, seven hour
plane ride, and we just spent a lot of time together.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
When you talk about that camaraderie, and I look at
this commanded team, it seems like they could probably benefit
from that, from getting some time away from the normal
trying some things new man, How valuable do you think
this trip is, especially knowing that the BODYE week is following.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
Yeah, and we've heard DQ talk about, you know, when
they went to Phoenix for a week and he, you know,
he loved the experience of the guys to get away
for a week. I like it because one we get
a little bit, you know, we have a couple few
tough weeks, so it gets the team away from the noise.
So now you get over here, you just focus. People
are excited. You don't have to hear the everyday ESPN noise.
I don't even think it's on the TV side, it's language,
(14:45):
they talking bad about you, you don't know.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
So you get away from the.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
Noise and you just really get to be around your
guys and it's just it's just like one of those things,
is it is like its refreshing.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Yeah, it's refreshing. Now.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
Of course, you know, it's a beautiful city and like
I said, sight seeing and things to do, but it's
all about what do we do to prepare for the
Miami Dolphins, And that's what the guys are focused on
and I think they will continue to be focused.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
When you were back here playing in London, did you
understand the gravity of what you were doing, because again
we've spoken about it being able to bring a sport
to a being able to show you being the first
taste you might have been people's only of the NFL
at that point.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Did you understand how happy that was at the moment.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
I don't think I did. You know? I think you know,
and I not know.
Speaker 6 (15:35):
There were other teams who went to Japan and play, well,
you know what, that's not true. When I was in
Seattle preseason, we played in Vancouver, but I felt like
a home game for the seaff for sure, because y'all
know because we're pretty close, but I don't. I didn't
think I realized. You know that this is an opportunity
to show the world something unique in different football is
(15:57):
some grown men, big giant and a couple like being missed,
a couple of small guys and a beautiful sport.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
That's a little more about Brackton.
Speaker 6 (16:05):
It might be used to but if you understand the
strategy and you can see that's plays are being ran
and you get to see that there's some talented people
out there, whether they're blocking, tackling, catching, throughing or whatever,
it's like one of those things is like first time
you see that live and in person. To get to
experience it, it's life changing, and I hope that that's
(16:26):
what happens here.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
I'm Madrid.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
Some of the people here in this country of Spain
get to see we call American football, Yes.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Sir, yes, sir.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
And I love your vantage point because you, unlike any
of the other guys we have on our staff, you
are a legacy football player. Football has been in your
life since you probably can't remember, do you remember your
first introduction into football? So I'm sure they edited it
to you as soon as you was a baby. We
don't remember them times, right, Do you remember when you
fell in love with football?
Speaker 6 (16:53):
Well, I think I fell in love with football, probably
because my dad and my mom having pretty young in
high school. So I do remember being like three or
four years old, like three years old going to a
house state game.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Oh yeah, just having Ohio State jersey.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
But I think when I fell in love with football,
it's like it was nothing cooler than going to the
locker room my dad man and seeing those guys and
that Homiet was my dad.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
But in the locker room, I got to see the guys.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
So I thought my uncles like Tony Yo said, hey,
Tucha Jones, Drew Pearce and Roger Star, like Danny White,
all those cowboy leeds don't don't hurt me out there rest.
But I grew up in that, you know, with Tom
Land and all those guys. Mike Dicker names come to mind,
and I was just like, I was just so up
in all these like they're like superheroes to me. So
(17:39):
I fell in love with the fact that, ma'am, I
would love to grow up and be one of like
my uncle or my dad.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Yeah, you did your pops in those moments did your
pops tell you like, hey, this is your future right
here up?
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Man?
Speaker 6 (17:51):
My dad never talked to My dad never talked about
football with me. Tell as I get older. But he
was more focused on like, hey, man, just be playing
high school play. But he was always on me about
grades and different things. And I asked some years later
a while was that he was like, you were around it.
I could see as a little boy. I would take
you to the Jack Lambert football camp. You were catching
the ball, You're always outside running back and forth. So
(18:14):
I knew you loved football. So I just wanted to
make sure that you knew that. I just wanted you.
I didn't want you to feel that pressure. I wanted
you just to live life and enjoy it and just
have fun. And if your life took you to becoming
a football player, then that.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
So did that mindset from him kind of help you
keep your love for football, because a lot of times, man,
when you're in it from jump right, when you've been
doing it your entire life, it's easy to be like,
you know what, I want to try something, especially as
young man, sometimes to go to go different than what
our dads did. Did that not having that pressure of
your dad expecting you to be an NFL player help
you out.
Speaker 6 (18:46):
Yeah, I think he helped out a lot. And another
thing for me, I was small. Then I kind of
grew into my height and skill. But and once I
kind of got to the point where I could run
really fast, I jumped really high.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
I knew at that point I was a gift from God.
Speaker 6 (19:00):
So I never took football as for granted, right, because
I was just like, man, I'm just fortunate it'd be fast,
and I just wanted to make sure that I appreciated
that the fact that I was blessed with unnatural ability
and talents that carried over and made me excel in football.
And I wanted to make sure that every time I
(19:21):
got the opportunity. But I didn't take it for granted. Man,
I know it was hard. Brother, I didn't take it for.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Granted, and you clearly don't, because even through your entire life,
probably the minute you were born, probably touched some type
of football. And now you're still working in football, but
in a different realm. Right, you're on TV, now, you
work with us, you do things at other places. Man,
why has that been important to you? Because you've done
it all right, you could have just said it for
goodbye to the game. Why isn't it important for you
to stick next to the game.
Speaker 6 (19:43):
Well, I think it's one that's important because I really
appreciate the Washington fan base and the Commander's organization.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
I grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
Although my dad played for the Cowboys, I grew up
in the Washington DC area and I saw that respect
over the year. I love still being a part of it. Obviously,
I do a lot of business. I wish I knew
more busy man. I got like four or five companies
right now that I run and things I do. But
it was more it's more about, like I really enjoy it.
I get to hang out with you, man, I appreciate that.
(20:16):
So we do have a team and all the media
team that makes this possible for us to be able
to come to Madrid, cover the stories, cover the teams.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
It's fun.
Speaker 6 (20:27):
It gives it gives me a little bit of it, like, hey,
you know camaraderie and teamwork.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
And I know you get excited watching our guys, especially
our secondary man.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
We have had some big injuries.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Trey Amos on injured reserve now Marshawn Lattimore on injured reserve.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Now Will Harris Man.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
We expected him to be back at practice maybe soon.
When you look at this secondary and it's banged up
like that, You've been a part of some really great secondaries. Man,
how important is it for those guys that haven't even
gotten the rep yet. You have to be on that
field yet to step up in moments like this where
you are just depleted across the world.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
This is the moment that legends of made right.
Speaker 6 (21:00):
Man. This is the moment when you know you coming
too the NFL with everybody, whether your first team team
or third team.
Speaker 5 (21:07):
You you're excited about being in the league.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
And this is something that all your life, since the
little boy we talked about, you probably dedicated your life
to becoming a professional athlete. Now, it doesn't always work
out that you're starter sooner getting there and your and
your journey may be a little different from mine. Where
I was drafting the day one, I'm a starter. But
if you get the opportunity to play, wasn't expecting it.
But now you got the opportunity, you got to go
out there and you got to put into work. You
(21:32):
got to put in that same mindset that you had
to leg you to that point where you were a
star in college bar starting high school.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
So you got to put in that work.
Speaker 6 (21:38):
So what I expected some of these guys Igno, I mean,
who played great when he came in last year. He's
gonna probably continue to play more this year, you said, Santaecheo,
John Jonathan Jones. Hamilton is a guy that we started
playing the preseason. Now he's gonna get some reps and
do special teams. So these guys, when I said the
moment Legends of May, hey man, this is your time
(22:01):
to shine, you know, because the NFL is going to
see you. So somebody is going to say, you know what,
that kid can play. He might not be the starter
when next year when the team was back healthy, but
guess what, I like him. Or Adams just saying hey man, hey,
you know I like this team, DQ saying we like
this guy. That's like, let's he came in the for it.
(22:23):
So we love that.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Man, and we saw nowhere do that right, Like they
bring no in, he gets that love and they keep
him on.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
So there's a lot of gravity to this game, right.
It's not that we're in majory it's not to win
a different time zone.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
We understand that almost every game feels like a must
win game at this point, especially because all.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
The things we've been going through headed into the bide week.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
How important is it to go out there against Miami
and show that not only we could beat them, but
they were a better team.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
It's interesting because coming to this game, there's two teams
the same record, but it.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Feels way it feels way different.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
It feels like why we're here obviously, and that's because
a lot of it was because an injury and we
just haven't been playing well and we but we know,
we understand we have these pieces. We know we have Jade,
we got our quarterback of the future. We know that
we have some pieces and play. We know Terry is
gonna be with us for a while. We know that
we got training him or to come back, so we
have some pieces in Miami. Going into this game, or
(23:17):
going into until they be Buffalo, we would have said,
hey man.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
This would be one, this should be one of the
ones for us.
Speaker 6 (23:24):
But that just goes to show you how quickly can
change in the NFL. That Miami Dolphins team led by
a change, those guys beat a pretty good Buffalo team
the week before that play Kansas City. That Buffalo Bill's
play Kansas City and beat those guys. We thought they
were the next super Bowl team and then guess what
they lose to Miami. So this goes to show you
that each week is different and you gotta put the
(23:46):
pass behind you and you have to go into that
week like they got some players.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
We gotta perform and a win would mean so much more.
And as we rap sean right, you just got here. However,
I'm sure you saw you mentioned, you mentioned the signs,
mentioned the fans. It's wild to see the way our
fans have shown up and show up every single whey
where we go.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
But I don't know about me.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
They Springs is in town and they say, you know what,
let me pull up for this one.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Traveling all the way there, man coming out the space.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Man.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
We have fan rallies out here.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Bro, How dope is that for somebody that is literally
bled burgundy and gold to see that tradition.
Speaker 6 (24:20):
Still going that, that's that's the love that this the
fan base, our fan base has for its organization. They're
traveling to Egypt if they had to, it would be
fun put that on the schedule for the NFL. I
love the fact that, you know, and I think it's
good for the fans. You know, obviously, you know we
love our home games, our fan base, and it's been tough.
(24:43):
I think this is a nice break for everybody. Now
the fans get to enjoy a little more than the players.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Right.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
But I'm glad they showed up.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
You know, I'm glad they showed because we're gonna need it,
and I'm excited to see the folks still encourage about
to take Beseas is not lost. It's not some people,
those punnits on the outside may say, hey, the season
is over for the Commanders. We don't believe that there's
no one in our locker room. And I believes in and
hopefully our fan base is believe and.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
You know, our fan basically gonna rock with us. The
best fans in the NFL. Our Burgney, your Gold fans.
If you pull up to Madrid, we appreciate you for coming.
But if not in your watching that home we have
content for you all week long with the Washington Legends,
Shawn's friends. My god, we still here to the whole interview.
My brother, Hey, this is next Man Up. I'm your host,
Rod Coach command this family. We hope you enjoyed this
episode of Next Man Up. Remember you can stream all
(25:30):
of the Next Man Up episodes right now on the
Commander's YouTube page or the audio wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you so much for supporting the Next Man Up Podcast.
You allowed us to be nominated for not one, but
two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best Male Hosting and Best
Black Male Hosted Podcast. And that's all because of the
best fans in the NFL. I appreciate y'all so much
for supporting us. It's crazy to think we're already in
(25:52):
season three of Next Man Up and we have a
lot more to go. So make sure to subscribe to
the Commander's YouTube page so you don't miss any of
our our content.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
I'm Rankovie Jr. And this is Next Man Up.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
This show was filmed at the Big Bear AI Command
Center Studio. Big Bear AI offers Mission Ready AI for
a rapidly evolving world, proudly protecting the Washington Commanders and
its fans.
Honestly, it's been a lot smoother for me this year.
(00:02):
I mean, you know, year one.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Battle just not playing very much your two ups and
downs all year. This year I've been on the I've
been on the roster, but you know sometimes the first
few games I didn't play, uh, and then I was
back up playing special teams starting then back to back up.
So I mean it's been it's been tough. But at
the same time, when you go into the game or
(00:26):
go into the week with the mindset up I'm a pair,
like a starter, it just makes the week so much easier,
so much smoother.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And then when what my number is called, it's no lag.
You know, we just had him and running.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
The Next Man Podcast is presented by Lansdown Resort from Kickoff,
the Check, Came, Score, Game Change and Getaway in the
heart of Lounder Lansdown Resort, proud partner of the Washington Commanders.
Commanders Family, Welcome into the Next Man Up. I'm your host,
Brian Corple Junior, and you can see we out here
in the Elements, but we're also out here at Real
Madrid out here and Spade, I'm here with our Next
(00:58):
Man Up.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Chris Rodriguez, my brother. How you doing, man? Man, how
you doing doing good?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
I know this is not normal us doing the whole
standing joining all this stuff, but man, I appreciate you
taking the time.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
How's it been so far? Y'all just got this cool?
Speaker 5 (01:09):
It's cool.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
It's starting to rain a little bit better than that.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Man, it's been cool. Been enjoying the city. Uh, hopefully
I can get out and explore a little bit.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Yeah, we'll find out. We'll see.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Have you been in Spain before?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I have not the first time. This is actually my
second time leaving the country.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Are you serious? What was the first time we left
the country.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
This off season? I went to Jamaica with my wife. Okay,
that's what's up, Rope.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
So, how have you liked this so far? I know
it's been business. I know this is a business trip
and y'all been getting after it. Manber how's it been
just being out in a new in a new area.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It's good man, you know, I feel like, you know,
being out here, we get that extra little time with
some of your some of the brothers, some of the team,
and just getting out and just talking and vibing.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
So that's been a good part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Uh. I know, we have another dinner with the running
Backs Friday. But man, it's honestly been a blessing. Man,
it's been fun because in your.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Three years here, you guys haven't got to do anything
like this.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
So how beneficial has it been getting that extra camaraderie
Because everybody that we spoke to you said the same.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yeah, Man, it's very beneficial.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I think, you know sometimes, especially going through like this
little draft that we're going through, I think it's huge.
You know, you get to hang out with people that
you usually wouldn't back home, you know, So I think
it's big for us, and I think going into the
game we're going into this week and the rest of
the year, it's going to be very beneficial for us.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Have you felt any trouble adjusting being in a new
time zone? Man, being in a new spot, there's so
much going on, man, it's probably be kind of hard
to lock in.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Man, first off, adjusting sleep sleep no city, and I'm
texting my wife and you know.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
She's just waking up and it's like three o'clock. Yeah,
I'm about.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
To get ready to go to bed in a little bit.
So that's been the hardest part is the sleep part
of it. Other than that, I mean just getting used
to the city, you know, moving around without maps or
I guess you have to use it, but moving around
with out the maps and just exploring.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Man, that's dope.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
And Chris, I don't know if there's anybody on the
squad that really embodies that next man up mantra than you, right,
I mean we've talked the last three years. It's been
so many ups and downs for you, man, but every
time your numbers called, you rot to the occasion. Man,
how has it been in year three for Chris Rodriguezz.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Honestly, it's been a lot smoother for me this year.
I mean, you know, you're one battle just not playing
very much Year two ups and downs all year. This
year I've been on the I've been on the roster,
but you know sometimes the first few games I didn't play, uh,
and then I was back up playing special teams to
start and then back to back up. So I mean
(03:30):
it's been it's been tough. But at the same time,
when you go into the game or go into the
week with the mindset of I'm gonna prepare like a starter,
it just makes the week so much easier, so much smoother.
And then when what my number is called, it's no lag.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
You know, we just say running.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
And that's easier said than done. Right, Because you're a
young man, right, it's hard.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
To not have consistency, right and not knowing that, how
have you find ways to deal with it? Because there's
other young guys right that are dealing with the same
type of guys that are younger than you, which.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Is kind of crazy thing. Year three we got rookies
year man, how have you to all that?
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Man?
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Just like I said, preparation man, you know, talking to
some of the older guys like Terry, Zach, Frankie, and
you know, the main thing that they harped on is
just like what is your routine like? So for me,
just having a routine going into every week, whether it's
you know, what do I don't want to review this week?
What I want to work on this week? And I
think DQ helps us a lot with that, you know,
(04:22):
with our with our practice schedule, it gives us extra
five minutes to work on stuff. But as far as routine, man,
it's just getting that routine is It's helped me a lot,
you know, it helps me prepare, like I'm a starter.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Has the routine been affected, but being on the road
for a whole week, I got to imagine it does, right, Like, how.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Do you deal with that?
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Honestly?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Not really, you know, I think you you kind of
adjust your routine. It doesn't really kind of it doesn't
really mess it up. It kind of you just makes
little tweaks and adjusted.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Yeah. Yeah, when you're.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
When you're out here, man, you got the last two games,
getting some touchdowns, man, getting some carries. Like you said,
it's been it's been up and down a little bit.
You never know kind of what amount of care as
you getting. But it seems like lately they've been leaning
on you a lot. Seems like Cliffman calling your number
a lot. Man, how much does that mean to you
to have the confidence from Cliff and his.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Stead I mean it means a lot, you know, Like
we said, like on the past, like it's passes the past.
But at the same time, when I'm here and you know,
Cliff's calling my name or calling my number, uh, it
shows that they believe in me, shows that they are
confident in me. So it makes me feel good about
myself going out there running these plays, and especially when
you got like somebody in there like Marcus. You know,
(05:29):
it shows that he has trusted.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Me as well. But man, it's it's been a ride.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
I'm excited we've been a man.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I've always rooting for you. Man, you're getting off. You
mentioned Marcus Man. Yeah, it's not every day where you
have a backup quarterback that it's just as talented as
even sure a starter in the NFL. But he's been
able to do that. He's been able to step up
for as big. What has it been like watching a
guy like Marcus Mayoda who has had in a story
career from college to the NFL. Man, I gotta imagine
you're learning.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
A lot for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I mean, just to talk about his college career. Man,
I was a big fan of Marcus. He's one of
the reasons I wanted to go to Oregon, especially with
the uniforms and stuff. But man, you know, when I
say I prepare like I'm a starter, he is the
definition of that.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
He he's in super early getting treatment, He's doing walkthroughs.
He texts me like, Hey, like, we're doing a walk
through at whatever time it is in the morning. I
want you to be there, or he said you tell
the guys to be there, and we walked through it.
And even when when five was in and when we
would do a walk through, Marcus being in the back
getting every plague and every rep, he's telling me like, yo,
(06:34):
like this is the protection, this is what we're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So he's helping me prepare.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
And man, he's a great dude, honestly, and I appreciate
him more than he knows.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
That's crazy to set the standard like that as a
backup quarterback, but we've seen it. We've seen it in
real time, and now you get to set the standing
because we have a young bey and.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Bill who's out here running.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Man, he was in your position at one point being
a rookie running back, Matt, what has it been like
being able to play with Bill, being able to look
out for Bill and kind of teach him some of
the things you've learned.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Along the way as well.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Man, honestly, from the jump, looking like watching Bill play,
he's way ahead.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Than I was when I was a rookie. I tell
him that, Well, I went back and watched one of
my games and I'm like, man, it was between me
and Bill. I don't over He's a man.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
He's so smart and he's he's elusive. He has all
the aspects and perks that you want as a running back. Uh,
it's just like the little things that you know. I
like had to tell him like early, like yo, like
you know, body language, you know, just just fix that.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
You're gonna be good.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Like, yeah, you're you're a great running back, you know,
but don't show the don't don't be out there looking
tired like to the coaches, And I know you're not tired.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
You get up.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
He just looks at the sideline like, hey, don't you going, man,
You're good, don't look over here. So man, Bill, he's
he's a phenomenal athlete and I think he's gonna be
great in this league.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
He just keep working. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
It's been dope to see the running back by committee
because it seems like all you guys bring a different thing.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Even McNichols brings a veteran leadership.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Man.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
It's been sold open to see and now y'all get
to make history'all are going to be the first NFL
teams you in Miami Dolphins to play.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
A football game in Spain. Man, Yeah, has that hit
you how heavy that is?
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Like? How important that is, man, Not every day you
get to be a part of NFL history.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, honestly, it hasn't hit me yet. I don't think
it's gonna hit me till we get on the field
and touch the grass. But honestly, it's a tremendous opportunity.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I feel like me and the rest of the team
we're gonna take full advantage of that. I think we're
all excited for it.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
So yeah, And for the Spanish fans that are watching
right now, the ones that maybe didn't grow up watching
the NFL, this is a game you love.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
This is a game I love. Man.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
What do you want the fans that are getting to
experience the NFL for the first time to take away
from the game on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
And that's a heavy question.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, man, Honestly, first off, just to feel the energy,
you know, I feel like, I know in soccer or
football they play with a lot of passion, but I
feel like, you know, as NFL athletes, men, we're out there,
we're hitting. You feel the energy from the very first place,
like kickoff, that's we preach it, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
So I feel like just feeling the energy and getting
into the game. I feel like it'd be fun.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I can tell how excited you are. Man, I'm gonna
let you get going because I know you guys got
to go practice. Last question though, all year the command
of fans that showed up and showed out for us,
whether we're at home, whether on the road, and it's
wild to see the amount of fans that spent their
money to pull up the Spain to come make that
arena Burgundian gold Man. Give a message to the fans
on what they can expect, not only from c Robert,
from this whole team when y'all take on the Miamif.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I mean, obviously you know we're gonna go out there
and play hard, but you can expect us to go
out there and play as a unit, you know, as
a team.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
You know.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I feel like like with DQ coming out here, that's
one thing that we kind of preached about, is getting
out here and spending time with your brother and you know,
wanting to go to battle with them. So I feel
like just to let everybody know we're gonna go out
there and play together.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Yes, playing that command is football, man, command is family.
All next man and one man stood out here in
the ring with US. Chris RODGERI Reiation.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Sir, command is family. We hope you've been a joined.
Next man up. Before we go any further, we have
to pay some bills now well, Vince.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
DC is a proud partner of the Washington Commanders of
This DC is the premier host of meetings, entertainment, sporting,
and cultural events in the nation's capitol, from the Walter E.
Washington Convention Center to care First Arena, we create experiences
that entertain employ serve as an economic engine, and elevate
guests from around the world.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
See how we make DC happen at against DC.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Hey, Marylanders play multi match from the Maryland Lottery, Maryland's
only in state jackpot game. A two dollar ticket gives
you a chance to win a jackpot starting at five
hundred thousand dollars. Drawings Mondays and Thursdays, and remember please
play responsibly. They say your work defines who you are.
Monday through Friday nine to five, you are clocking in. Well,
what happens on the weekend, what happens to your time?
(10:42):
You could take it easy or you could use your
time to get better. In the US Army we think differently.
Your time should be used to improve the skills you
do have to learn some you don't, to put yourself
in new ways, because it's those days that truly define
who you are. That's how you make progress, That's how
you make impact on the world around you. It's your time.
(11:04):
How you spend it is up to you. It's your time.
The US Army Reserve Command his family back to the show.
Command this family for our next man up. We got
a legend right here, Sean Springs. We out here Madrid.
Things a little different. We're gonna stand it for this interview,
but I know you ready for it.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
I love it. We had the real Madrid for self.
Speaker 6 (11:23):
It's crazy, man, this is nuts, man, unbelievable. The experience
here is like you think you know until you know,
like seeing this facility being in here in Spain and
Madrid has been an unbelievable experience.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
And your playing career, you've gotten to play overseas a
little bit. You've gotten to be able to spread football
to countries that didn't have it. Yeah, this is the
first time in Madrid, the first time the NFL's played
in Madrid, and how special is it for you to
be a part of this.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
Well, when I had a chance to play, we played
in London, and obviously the team is continued.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
Teams have continued to play.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
I was with the Patriots when we played Tampa in
London and I thought it was cool and it was
like a lot of different fans. They had all different
type of jerseys and they cheered the whole town. I
don't think they sat down right, but you know, and
now coming to Spain, it's interesting to see you're driving
down the street, you see the signs and you're jading
up on the people wearing jerseys.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Already.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
I'm just so excited about the fact that the NFL is.
You know, we had a Berlin game this year, a
London game this year, and now Madrid in Spain where
the people are just excited.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
They're taking pictures.
Speaker 6 (12:28):
They're like football and they know football here now they
know the soccer.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
Different.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
They know American and football, and it's it's interesting to
see how many people are recognizing, like, oh, you're Redskins,
you know.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
What I mean?
Speaker 6 (12:42):
Sorry, the Commander, the Commanders, you know, so I think
I'm out of some old Redskins jerseys, but the Commanders now.
But I'm just super excited for the NFL and what
we're doing as far as expansion of the league and
recognition all these players and teams are getting.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
And what years you say you played on it.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
I think nine we played that, So you go back.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
To old nine younger. Shawn's still young, but a younger man.
How was it staying locked in on football?
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Man?
Speaker 3 (13:10):
You're traveling, you away from your family, You're an hour's
difference of your time zone.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Man, how hard is it to really luck in as
a player?
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Well? I think it was.
Speaker 6 (13:17):
You know, it's always interesting because you're going somewhere unique.
You're getting that a little bit out of your routine, right,
because you don't have everything at your fingertips, So you
got to set up. You gotta get there, you gotta
get set up in a hotel. You got to get
your routine down. But once you get your routine down,
I think it was like one of those things where
you're just like, man, this is a cool experience, Like
(13:38):
I know, I'm here to play an international football game.
But more importantly, we still gotta win and we got
to do our job. You gotta be focused. But the
thing I remember the most is the amount of time
we split together as team as a team, so we
had events and things that we had to do. I
think we went to a cricket game, or we might
have went to another event when we were in London together.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
But it was just all about bonding. It was all
about just.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
Us spending time together on a plane ride, right, You're
talking about like a six to seven hours, seven hour
plane ride, and we just spent a lot of time together.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
When you talk about that camaraderie, and I look at
this commanded team, it seems like they could probably benefit
from that, from getting some time away from the normal
trying some things new man, How valuable do you think
this trip is, especially knowing that the BODYE week is following.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
Yeah, and we've heard DQ talk about, you know, when
they went to Phoenix for a week and he, you know,
he loved the experience of the guys to get away
for a week. I like it because one we get
a little bit, you know, we have a couple few
tough weeks, so it gets the team away from the noise.
So now you get over here, you just focus. People
are excited. You don't have to hear the everyday ESPN noise.
I don't even think it's on the TV side, it's language,
(14:45):
they talking bad about you, you don't know.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
So you get away from the.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
Noise and you just really get to be around your
guys and it's just it's just like one of those things,
is it is like its refreshing.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Yeah, it's refreshing. Now.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
Of course, you know, it's a beautiful city and like
I said, sight seeing and things to do, but it's
all about what do we do to prepare for the
Miami Dolphins, And that's what the guys are focused on
and I think they will continue to be focused.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
When you were back here playing in London, did you
understand the gravity of what you were doing, because again
we've spoken about it being able to bring a sport
to a being able to show you being the first
taste you might have been people's only of the NFL
at that point.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Did you understand how happy that was at the moment.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
I don't think I did. You know? I think you know,
and I not know.
Speaker 6 (15:35):
There were other teams who went to Japan and play, well,
you know what, that's not true. When I was in
Seattle preseason, we played in Vancouver, but I felt like
a home game for the seaff for sure, because y'all
know because we're pretty close, but I don't. I didn't
think I realized. You know that this is an opportunity
to show the world something unique in different football is
(15:57):
some grown men, big giant and a couple like being missed,
a couple of small guys and a beautiful sport.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
That's a little more about Brackton.
Speaker 6 (16:05):
It might be used to but if you understand the
strategy and you can see that's plays are being ran
and you get to see that there's some talented people
out there, whether they're blocking, tackling, catching, throughing or whatever,
it's like one of those things is like first time
you see that live and in person. To get to
experience it, it's life changing, and I hope that that's
(16:26):
what happens here.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
I'm Madrid.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
Some of the people here in this country of Spain
get to see we call American football, Yes.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Sir, yes, sir.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
And I love your vantage point because you, unlike any
of the other guys we have on our staff, you
are a legacy football player. Football has been in your
life since you probably can't remember, do you remember your
first introduction into football? So I'm sure they edited it
to you as soon as you was a baby. We
don't remember them times, right, Do you remember when you
fell in love with football?
Speaker 6 (16:53):
Well, I think I fell in love with football, probably
because my dad and my mom having pretty young in
high school. So I do remember being like three or
four years old, like three years old going to a
house state game.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Oh yeah, just having Ohio State jersey.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
But I think when I fell in love with football,
it's like it was nothing cooler than going to the
locker room my dad man and seeing those guys and
that Homiet was my dad.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
But in the locker room, I got to see the guys.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
So I thought my uncles like Tony Yo said, hey,
Tucha Jones, Drew Pearce and Roger Star, like Danny White,
all those cowboy leeds don't don't hurt me out there rest.
But I grew up in that, you know, with Tom
Land and all those guys. Mike Dicker names come to mind,
and I was just like, I was just so up
in all these like they're like superheroes to me. So
(17:39):
I fell in love with the fact that, ma'am, I
would love to grow up and be one of like
my uncle or my dad.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Yeah, you did your pops in those moments did your
pops tell you like, hey, this is your future right
here up?
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Man?
Speaker 6 (17:51):
My dad never talked to My dad never talked about
football with me. Tell as I get older. But he
was more focused on like, hey, man, just be playing
high school play. But he was always on me about
grades and different things. And I asked some years later
a while was that he was like, you were around it.
I could see as a little boy. I would take
you to the Jack Lambert football camp. You were catching
the ball, You're always outside running back and forth. So
(18:14):
I knew you loved football. So I just wanted to
make sure that you knew that. I just wanted you.
I didn't want you to feel that pressure. I wanted
you just to live life and enjoy it and just
have fun. And if your life took you to becoming
a football player, then that.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
So did that mindset from him kind of help you
keep your love for football, because a lot of times, man,
when you're in it from jump right, when you've been
doing it your entire life, it's easy to be like,
you know what, I want to try something, especially as
young man, sometimes to go to go different than what
our dads did. Did that not having that pressure of
your dad expecting you to be an NFL player help
you out.
Speaker 6 (18:46):
Yeah, I think he helped out a lot. And another
thing for me, I was small. Then I kind of
grew into my height and skill. But and once I
kind of got to the point where I could run
really fast, I jumped really high.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
I knew at that point I was a gift from God.
Speaker 6 (19:00):
So I never took football as for granted, right, because
I was just like, man, I'm just fortunate it'd be fast,
and I just wanted to make sure that I appreciated
that the fact that I was blessed with unnatural ability
and talents that carried over and made me excel in football.
And I wanted to make sure that every time I
(19:21):
got the opportunity. But I didn't take it for granted. Man,
I know it was hard. Brother, I didn't take it for.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Granted, and you clearly don't, because even through your entire life,
probably the minute you were born, probably touched some type
of football. And now you're still working in football, but
in a different realm. Right, you're on TV, now, you
work with us, you do things at other places. Man,
why has that been important to you? Because you've done
it all right, you could have just said it for
goodbye to the game. Why isn't it important for you
to stick next to the game.
Speaker 6 (19:43):
Well, I think it's one that's important because I really
appreciate the Washington fan base and the Commander's organization.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
I grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
Although my dad played for the Cowboys, I grew up
in the Washington DC area and I saw that respect
over the year. I love still being a part of it. Obviously,
I do a lot of business. I wish I knew
more busy man. I got like four or five companies
right now that I run and things I do. But
it was more it's more about, like I really enjoy it.
I get to hang out with you, man, I appreciate that.
(20:16):
So we do have a team and all the media
team that makes this possible for us to be able
to come to Madrid, cover the stories, cover the teams.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
It's fun.
Speaker 6 (20:27):
It gives it gives me a little bit of it, like, hey,
you know camaraderie and teamwork.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
And I know you get excited watching our guys, especially
our secondary man.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
We have had some big injuries.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Trey Amos on injured reserve now Marshawn Lattimore on injured reserve.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Now Will Harris Man.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
We expected him to be back at practice maybe soon.
When you look at this secondary and it's banged up
like that, You've been a part of some really great secondaries. Man,
how important is it for those guys that haven't even
gotten the rep yet. You have to be on that
field yet to step up in moments like this where
you are just depleted across the world.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
This is the moment that legends of made right.
Speaker 6 (21:00):
Man. This is the moment when you know you coming
too the NFL with everybody, whether your first team team
or third team.
Speaker 5 (21:07):
You you're excited about being in the league.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
And this is something that all your life, since the
little boy we talked about, you probably dedicated your life
to becoming a professional athlete. Now, it doesn't always work
out that you're starter sooner getting there and your and
your journey may be a little different from mine. Where
I was drafting the day one, I'm a starter. But
if you get the opportunity to play, wasn't expecting it.
But now you got the opportunity, you got to go
out there and you got to put into work. You
(21:32):
got to put in that same mindset that you had
to leg you to that point where you were a
star in college bar starting high school.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
So you got to put in that work.
Speaker 6 (21:38):
So what I expected some of these guys Igno, I mean,
who played great when he came in last year. He's
gonna probably continue to play more this year, you said, Santaecheo,
John Jonathan Jones. Hamilton is a guy that we started
playing the preseason. Now he's gonna get some reps and
do special teams. So these guys, when I said the
moment Legends of May, hey man, this is your time
(22:01):
to shine, you know, because the NFL is going to
see you. So somebody is going to say, you know what,
that kid can play. He might not be the starter
when next year when the team was back healthy, but
guess what, I like him. Or Adams just saying hey man, hey,
you know I like this team, DQ saying we like
this guy. That's like, let's he came in the for it.
(22:23):
So we love that.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Man, and we saw nowhere do that right, Like they
bring no in, he gets that love and they keep
him on.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
So there's a lot of gravity to this game, right.
It's not that we're in majory it's not to win
a different time zone.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
We understand that almost every game feels like a must
win game at this point, especially because all.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
The things we've been going through headed into the bide week.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
How important is it to go out there against Miami
and show that not only we could beat them, but
they were a better team.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
It's interesting because coming to this game, there's two teams
the same record, but it.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Feels way it feels way different.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
It feels like why we're here obviously, and that's because
a lot of it was because an injury and we
just haven't been playing well and we but we know,
we understand we have these pieces. We know we have Jade,
we got our quarterback of the future. We know that
we have some pieces and play. We know Terry is
gonna be with us for a while. We know that
we got training him or to come back, so we
have some pieces in Miami. Going into this game, or
(23:17):
going into until they be Buffalo, we would have said,
hey man.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
This would be one, this should be one of the
ones for us.
Speaker 6 (23:24):
But that just goes to show you how quickly can
change in the NFL. That Miami Dolphins team led by
a change, those guys beat a pretty good Buffalo team
the week before that play Kansas City. That Buffalo Bill's
play Kansas City and beat those guys. We thought they
were the next super Bowl team and then guess what
they lose to Miami. So this goes to show you
that each week is different and you gotta put the
(23:46):
pass behind you and you have to go into that
week like they got some players.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
We gotta perform and a win would mean so much more.
And as we rap sean right, you just got here. However,
I'm sure you saw you mentioned, you mentioned the signs,
mentioned the fans. It's wild to see the way our
fans have shown up and show up every single whey
where we go.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
But I don't know about me.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
They Springs is in town and they say, you know what,
let me pull up for this one.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Traveling all the way there, man coming out the space.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Man.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
We have fan rallies out here.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Bro, How dope is that for somebody that is literally
bled burgundy and gold to see that tradition.
Speaker 6 (24:20):
Still going that, that's that's the love that this the
fan base, our fan base has for its organization. They're
traveling to Egypt if they had to, it would be
fun put that on the schedule for the NFL. I
love the fact that, you know, and I think it's
good for the fans. You know, obviously, you know we
love our home games, our fan base, and it's been tough.
(24:43):
I think this is a nice break for everybody. Now
the fans get to enjoy a little more than the players.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Right.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
But I'm glad they showed up.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
You know, I'm glad they showed because we're gonna need it,
and I'm excited to see the folks still encourage about
to take Beseas is not lost. It's not some people,
those punnits on the outside may say, hey, the season
is over for the Commanders. We don't believe that there's
no one in our locker room. And I believes in and
hopefully our fan base is believe and.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
You know, our fan basically gonna rock with us. The
best fans in the NFL. Our Burgney, your Gold fans.
If you pull up to Madrid, we appreciate you for coming.
But if not in your watching that home we have
content for you all week long with the Washington Legends,
Shawn's friends. My god, we still here to the whole interview.
My brother, Hey, this is next Man Up. I'm your host,
Rod Coach command this family. We hope you enjoyed this
episode of Next Man Up. Remember you can stream all
(25:30):
of the Next Man Up episodes right now on the
Commander's YouTube page or the audio wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you so much for supporting the Next Man Up Podcast.
You allowed us to be nominated for not one, but
two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best Male Hosting and Best
Black Male Hosted Podcast. And that's all because of the
best fans in the NFL. I appreciate y'all so much
for supporting us. It's crazy to think we're already in
(25:52):
season three of Next Man Up and we have a
lot more to go. So make sure to subscribe to
the Commander's YouTube page so you don't miss any of
our our content.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
I'm Rankovie Jr. And this is Next Man Up.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
This show was filmed at the Big Bear AI Command
Center Studio. Big Bear AI offers Mission Ready AI for
a rapidly evolving world, proudly protecting the Washington Commanders and
its fans.
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