"Own your role" - Jacob Martin on the NFC East + Fred Smoot'a Claus | Next Man Up | Commanders | NFL
December 26, 2025 • 39 mins
Commanders' defensive end Jacob Martin is our Next Man Up! Martin talks on his first season as a Washington Commander and how he's found success in his new role. Martin also talks about learning from Von Miller and the importance of these NFC East matchups.
And for our legend, we wanted to get you in the holiday spirit! Fred Smoot joins the show to bring some holiday cheer and to talk about the ups and downs of an NFL season.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I think that that is the difference between those who
are good and great, you know what I mean. I
think a good player they'll go into the game expecting like, oh,
I'm gonna get the sack right here, and they don't
get the sack, and then they don't ever think about
it again. But the great players are the ones that are, oh,
he got me this time, but the next, the next one,
the next one, the next play, the next play, the
next play.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
The Next Man Up Podcast is presented by Lansdown Resort
from kickoff to checking you score, game change and get
away in the heart of Lounders. Lansdown Resort, proud partner
of the Washington Commanders. Welcome into the Next Man Up
and Happy holidays, Commanders family. I'm your holdt Brian Corwa
Junior here from the Big Bear AI Command Center studio
and on the Next Man Up. Been here before, but
his first time on Next Man Up as a player
(00:43):
is before you was a free agent. You just came
to this building. You just signed pen to Faithfoot, just
got your bag. Now you're here, man, got a big
smile on your face.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
And how you feeling dump.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Blessed man, blessed, extremely honored for y'all to have it
back on you know, uh, exumely honored to be put
place in this position.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Yeah, man, blessed, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Blessed is an understatement, brother, because it's been dope to
see what you were able to accomplish and being here,
because I remember last time when you came in you
talked about being traded multiple times, trying to find a home,
trying to find an opportunity. That it looks like you
found a good home here and a good opportunity. Would
you agree, Yeah? Yeah. How do you feel about this
coaching staff, this defensive staff, trusting.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
You the way that they have this year?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Because man, we have had injury after injury, but you
came in. It's that true next man up and became
a bright spot for this man.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
How dope was that for you?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
It's been awesome, man, it's been awesome to have that support,
that belief, you know, and my abilities. Obviously I came
in knowing what I was capable of, you know, but
to have the confidence of like your peers, you know,
whether it be your teammates or your coaches, in collaboration
in terms of what we're trying to accomplish on each call,
(01:54):
that's been tremendous, you know what I mean. And just
the shout out to the coach in the d line room,
you know, Reef tap r K, even Bond Preston. You know,
it's a it's a it's a good good crew to
pick their minds that played a lot of football, been
a lot of big situations, you know, done things assistently
(02:16):
right throughout their career.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And some of those names you name those future Gold jackets,
some of them, you know, those are Hall of famers,
those are some of the best to have ever done it.
How valuable is that to be in a building like
this right because you don't really know what you're getting
when you signed to a place. Would you come into
a building with all these x NFL players, x NFL stars,
What has that been like for you?
Speaker 3 (02:32):
In your development?
Speaker 1 (02:33):
It's been huge, huge, man. You know, whether it be
on field development, off the field development. You know, I
talked to Von every day, you know, whether I'm texting
them or calling them or facetiming them his lockers right
across from mind. You know, whether it be business ventures,
football ventures, or watching tape late at night, like you know,
text Ryan in the morning and he made you know,
(02:54):
he got the kids and stuff at the house, so
he may text me back or tap. They may text
me back the next day, you know, once they get home.
They you know, family, which I respect, you know what
I mean. So like just being able to reach out
like from them to answer my questions or ask questions,
you know what I mean, and like that it's real collaborative,
you know what I mean. You don't really get that
in a lot of places where they're trying to figure out, Okay,
(03:14):
if I see it this way, you know, how how
can they coach me to see it how they want
me to see it? Or if they didn't see it
that way, can they go ask a question you know,
to DQ and he'll come back with the response for us?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
You know So I think that's super dope.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
And it's funny you mentioned Vaughn because like, even sitting
here listening to you talk, I'm like you and Vaughn
are actually very similar. You'll a very similar mindset, y'all,
very similar demeanors and personalities.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
And I know, just like me, we've been watching Vaughn forever,
way before we got into this building.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
What was it like when he does come into this
building and he is your peer now, right, because yet
we look up to this guy, we've watched him for years.
What has it been like being his peer? And was
it tough asking him those first questions?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Or did you just die?
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Right?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I know some people they get a little nervous, get
a little shot while they see there, you know, somebody
that's like they idle.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
What was it like for you? You know, Van and
I are passive, you know, crossed. We've looked weirdly, been
connected in so many different ways, you know, before we
were teammates, you know. So it's asking them questions, whether
it'd be a good question or a bad question, you know,
I just ask him, you know, and if it's dumb,
he may laugh at me or something like that. Or
(04:18):
just his thought process. Man, he thinks a lot differently
than most people would assume, you know, And I think
that's part of the reason why he's a Hall of
Famer man, Like truthfully, like the way he thinks.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
The way he sees things, this positive outlook.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You know, even if you mess up or have an
m A or emmy you know, for those that don't know,
a mental error or emmy like a or te like
a technique error those kind of situations. So like his
ability to like, yeah, I get you took a bad
step here, but they get off was great. You know
what I'm saying, just finding that positive so you're not.
I think that that is the difference between those who
(04:52):
are good and great, you know what I mean. I
think a good player they'll go into the game expecting like, oh,
I'm gonna get the sack right here, and they don't
get the sack, and then they don't ever think about
it again. But the great players are the ones that are, oh,
he got me this time, but the next the next one,
the next one, the next play, the next play, the
next play, you.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
That's the that's their that's their mindset, you know what
I mean. I think just hearing him, hearing him say
stuff like that, or just the little pointers of his
mindset in games or situations, man, that is that's truly changed.
Like how I I've always kind of thought that way,
but not confirmed. Okay, it's okay for me to think
this way, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, and it shows on the field. Yeah, five and
a half sacks and you ain't done yet. We still
got a few games left. What is going right for
Jacob Martin here in the Burgundy and Gold.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Really is the testament to my preparation. You know.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I try to be as consistent as I possibly can.
You know, almost OCD is in terms of my preparation.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Every week.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I try to make sure I'm doing the same things
every week, you know, to make sure my body and
my mind and my game are right going into whether
it be a Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday game, you know
what other case may be. I try to replicate that
process every week, you know, and try to ask those
questions every week and really just trying to understand what
we're trying to accomplish on each call. I think that's
(06:10):
also helped me play faster, for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Use the word consistency. There's not a lot of consistency
in life. There's not a lot of consistenty in the NFL,
and you've kind of been a testament to that this
year because your role has not been consistent.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
You come in, it's a crowded defensive.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Line room, right, we got guys ahead of you and
Durrance Armstrong wise, but then the season progresses and God's
fall injury after injury, and your role becomes less of
a rotation guy and now you're an every down guy.
You're a guy that we need desperately. How was the
patience while you're waiting for this role to develop, while
you're waiting to get these more snaps, because I know
you want to be on that field all the time,
(06:44):
but you had to wait a little bit.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
What was that patience?
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Like, you know, I think that's really where I built
my process. I would say, you know, coming off the
bench or being a rotational guy or a DPR guy,
you know, that has allowed me to like have both views.
(07:10):
I would guess, like as a as a you know,
DPR designate pass rusher, you know, you don't necessarily have
the opportunity always to set up your rush, right, so
you've got to throw throw your best one, right And
similar to this process, Like, Okay, I came in, I
was playing Sam, so I was doing a little bit
more for a second down type of work, red lower,
(07:31):
red zone type of work when we in big personnels,
that kind of thing. But I think that allowed me
to hone in even more on my process, right, Okay,
I can understand the process of the play. I can
understand the process of whether it be Joe or dq like,
you know, installing the defense or making a tweak on
(07:52):
the defense. And it allowed me to understand their thought
process on what they want to accomplish. And you know, unfortunately,
you know, we had guys you know, go down and
stuff like that. But I never took my mindset off
of Okay, let's let's go through the process. Let's own
this this role. You know, I think it's another big
thing I first came in. You know, we would be
(08:12):
out there stretch lines and you know, Tap has you know,
his little mantras for guys every day, you know what
I mean, And for me, he always can tell me,
you know, Jmar own it, own it, go out there
and own own that spot like, own it like.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
And I took that wholeheartedly.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
You know, I'm going to own the spot, right So
that to me, that meant, Okay, I'm control with things
I can control. I can't control when I'm getting into
the game. I can't control if my number is going
to be called, when my number is going to be called,
But I can know I can control being prepared, being
locked into the situation, and understanding my role and my
assignment to the utmost to the up utmost of my ability,
(08:47):
you know, And I think that's that's kind of where
where I'm where I where I like to stay in
that pocket, you know, control things you can control because
you can't control, you know, guys getting hurt. You can't
control you know, whether you're gonna play or not. I
think a lot of young players, there are players that
may be in situations where they're up and down on
the roster, or even they may be a core special
(09:07):
teams guy. You know what I mean, owning your role,
whether wherever your your your number is called, wherever you're
asked or tasked to do. You know, no job is
too big, no job is too small. But being able
to accept that role and own it, you know, and
then if your role changes, okay, roll with the punches,
own the next role, you know what I mean. So
(09:28):
just staying in that pocket of I can control what
I can control. I can control my effort. I can
control knowing and doing my job. I can control my physicality.
I can control how I arrive to to to work.
I can control how I'm uh perceived as a as
a professional, you know what I mean. And in controlling
those things in terms of okay, showing up on time,
(09:50):
doing the extra work. And these aren't things that are
that are new for me. It's something I've always done.
But but to have that I guess validation here.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
It's been nice.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
And you say own your role. Your role is a
lot bigger.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Now, especially in these last few games we're playing these
NFC supponents. What do you feel your role is and
how do you own it? Like if a young player
comes to you and says, what's your role? Teach me
what that means? When coach tells me to own it?
What would you say?
Speaker 1 (10:19):
I think there's there's two parts of that, right, Understanding
what the what you're trying to accomplish in the call, right,
So if the call requires you to drop into coverage, okay,
how can I own my role in coverage?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Right?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So that's knowing where I need to be in certain
fronts or against certain looks and owning that space.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
So if you're dropping strong hook, you know it's ten
to twelve plus one of the hash that doesn't change,
you know what I mean? So let me be demonstrative
in how I perform that task right and doing it
with urgency. I think that's that's another thing, you know
what I mean? Because you know, players are gonna mess up,
(11:05):
coaches are gonna mess up. That happens with football man
and nobody perfect. But if you can understand that doing
stuff with urgency and playing fast, you know that eliminates
a lot of things. But I think understanding the purpose, right,
the why of doing something in a call, I think
that's just as important as that that that allows you
(11:27):
to own your role even out even that more right,
you know, as a teammate or as a as a player,
you want to care like I like, you know, temples
ingrained into me. You know, we had a we had
a player mantra, you know what I mean, and one
of the things was like I will care for my teammates, right,
and caring for your teammates to me is okay, this
opportunity for whether it be McGhee or Oose or Bobby
(11:50):
or Kwan or Mike, you know what I mean, If
they have a blitz or something like that and it's
required for the d N or the D line to
slant or stay high or stay vert or be in
this pocket, you know what I mean, so they have
their moment right, like I'm doing this for.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Them, right. My wife for being so demonstrative and how
I arrive or or.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Perform a certain tasks, like because I want my guy
to eat, Like my why is okay, I got to
I gotta take these three steps up the field so
oos can get free or Bobby can get free. And
then I got dropping the coverage to buy him time
to get to the sack, you know what I mean? Like
those that's how I think you know what I mean,
And I think that's important to understand the why, then
(12:34):
you can understand the purpose of the call. If you
can understand the why and the purpose of the call,
you can control a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Say like a true commander, sait like a true leader.
And I know you lead by example. And another part
of leading is also showing these guys how to shut
it down sometimes and how to relax and.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Spend down time.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
And all partners that landsdown resort like to know y'all
getting done on the field. But that's y'all also get
it from downtown too, So normally I ask how do
people spending downtown? But you just told me you just
got you a nice little gift from me, teammate, a
little crossbow.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Have you used the crossbow before?
Speaker 4 (13:04):
No, It's my first crossbow, so I'm excited to sell
this guy.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
So how do you plan on using this cross But
what's what's the plan?
Speaker 4 (13:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
I need a backyard first. I don't have a backyard
out here. I'm in the townhouse, so me too. So
I once I you know, once the season is over,
I may spend some time trying to figure out how
to use the crossbow in the backyard.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Have you hunted?
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Yeah, I have hunted. I have hunted it.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
You know, I'm a very avid hunter.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Oh yeah, I mean, honestly, I'm not surprised because you
be hunting on that field.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
You be hunting for those sacks.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Like I said, you got five and a half sacks now,
but we know more are coming these NFC East opponents.
It's been kind of crazy because our last four games
have been all NFC East. You didn't really get a
taste of that before coming here, and now you've gotten
to see it. You've gotten to see the difference because
everbody talks about these difference in those games. Can you
speak on that and what it's been like being able
to compete at the highest level against some.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Of the best teams in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I'm just say there's a lot of historic French sides
franchises in this division. You know, a lot of heavy
hitters in this division, you know what I mean, a
lot of physical football. When you think of you know,
the NFC, you think of cold, you think of outdoor games,
you think of physical football. You know, you think physical
(14:19):
running game, physical bags, big offensivelignment, you know, so that
that's that's what you think. And then you just have
historic organizations that that are in this in this this conference,
this division.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
You know.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
So for me, it's like I kind of looked at
myself as a hired hitman my whole career, you know
what I mean, hitman for higher So like it's easy
for me, I think I approach the game every week
is as if it's a rivalry game. That's just how
my mind works, you know. So it's not necessarily I'm
(14:57):
getting even more up for you know, these division games
and stuff like that. But I know that they're gonna
give me their best because of it's the division, you
know what I mean. So I I love I love
stuff like that, you know what I mean. I love
knowing that I'm going to get your best shot. You
(15:18):
know what I mean, because you're going to get mine.
So like, so I love that, man. You know, I've
always I've always admired, you know, the football that's played.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
In this this division.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
You know what I mean, There's been some great football players,
uh to to walk not only these halls, but the
halls of other other buildings. Man, that that I you know,
grew up watching.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
Man, So like I can't I'm not gonna mention nobody.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
But but I got you.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
But uh but uh but yeah, man, So like I
I've always been tied, like locked in in terms of
this division. You know, there's there's been I've been a
big fan of a lot of players in this division.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
And I'm sure you've gotten a ton of fans this year, man,
Jacob Martin. I don't think too many people knew what
we were getting with you, but now they know, and
now they want you here and they want to keep
you here in this Burgundy and gold.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Jacob.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
We appreciate your time so much. And also, happy holidays,
my brother, thank you. I'm expecting my crossbow on the
man shot commanded Family, our next man five and a
half sex already he is just getting started.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
My god, Jacob, Martin.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Appreciate you, Bro, appreciate you. But dot boom happy Holladays everybody.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Commanders family, We hope you have been enjoying. Next man up.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Before we go any further, we have to pay some
bills now. Events DC is a proud partner of the
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Speaker 3 (16:33):
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Speaker 2 (16:47):
Hey, Marylanders, play multi Match from the Maryland Lottery, Maryland's
only in state jackpot game. A two dollar ticket gives
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hundred thousand dollars. Drawings Mondays and Thursdays, and remember please players.
Possibly they say your work defines who you are. Monday
through Friday nine to five, you are clocking in. What
happens on the weekend, what happens.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
To your time.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
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.
(17:30):
How you spend it is up to you. It's your time.
The US Army Reserve. Command his family back to the show,
Command his family for our next man up. I don't
even got to intro them. He's your favorite, he's my
favorite to work well welcome. It did alleged it himself
on the field and off the field for us when
my brother was good.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
It's the holiday, that's what's good. Can you know as
parents it's fathers. Yes, they say it's more about giving
than receiving. And when it's an only child. I didn't
really figure that out. I was like, nah, Mama, I
don't think I'm ever gonna feel that way. But now
when I give and watch my kids smile on Christmas,
no matter what's going on, the fact that.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
We ain't one before games and what's going on.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
That doesn't bother me for this small win though, because
the holidays do make you focus in on the things
that really do matter.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
And that's why I wanted to have you on this
episode because yes, like there's not a lot of great
football to talk about, right, we have a four win team. However,
you have seen the ebbs and flows. I've been a
part of it. You've been a part of it. You've
been a part of great teams, been a part of
not so great teams. When you look at what this
team's going through, right, because this is essentially year two
of the rebuild, right, year two for Jay and Daniels,
(18:39):
year two for dan Quinn, how are you feeling about
the team, And like where we stand right now, I'm grounded.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
I understand the ebby flow of football. We all won
injury away, we won bad bounce away. And think about it,
this year, no matter what game's been, the ball has
just not bounced our way.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Last year, the ball bounced out wait a lot.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
And now we're sitting back and we're watching the New
England Patriots and Drake may do what we did last year.
We're watching the Chicago Bears do what we did last year.
And now we're sitting in the background, and now we're
mumbling amongst each other. About how bad we hate the situation.
But I was always taught tough times don't last. Tough
(19:22):
people do yes. And we got to eight when you
offended them, when you have fended them, It's very much
similar to a relationship. I wish I could tell you
every day with your wife gonna be good days. You
know where ain't gonna be like that. But guess what,
it's the hard days that make y'all know y'all meant
to be together, right, because it's figuring it takes no
energy to enjoy good day. It takes a lot of
(19:44):
energy to figure out the bad ones. And the bad
ones make you appreciate your partner way more than a
good one. And it's what you do with the hard
time suit right, it's how you use them, how you
manifest because losses can't be lessons, especially when you are
a young team. When you have been in these situations
where wins weren't necessarily coming, players would developing, Young guys
would develop, And what is that message in the locker
room to understand, like, hey, we got to make the
(20:05):
most of this time. Well, we got this bad taste
in that mouth, do you ever want to taste this again?
Because I don't want to taste this again. How did
we get here? That's what we ask ourselves first. How
did we end up at this spot? Because in the
beginning of every season, every team think they going seventeen
and oh, knowing none of us going seventeen and oh,
when we look at that schedule, we don't see no
(20:26):
thing that we say a loss, right, we don't pick loses.
We look at the schedules that we're gonna win each
and every game. We're gonna take it one player at
a time. Well, guess what, some seasons start to unravel.
This season had start to unravel, and now we're looking around.
We're looking for answers. When you gotta look inside, you
gotta look in this locker room. We are the answer.
We weren't healthy. What can we do this off season
(20:48):
to make sure we donna go back through this again?
What can I do as a player to protect myself?
What can my other team may do to get much faster?
Did much stronger? Understand that much more of the game plan.
It's all about internally looking and saying we're gonna fix
it inside. Looking outside, I ain't gonna get the job done.
And I hate to say this. It takes a little
(21:10):
luck for good seasons to have. If we saw that
last year, the ball gotta bounce your way in health,
the ball gotta bounce your weight on the field, the
ball gotta bounce your way with scheduling, The ball gotta
bounce your weight in so many variables in here that
everything has to add up and be a perfect storm.
And this year, that perfect storm has been a hurricane.
(21:31):
And listen, and it's drowned in the city right now,
and everybody miss, I totally understand. But the good part
we live to fight another day. And the thing I
can say is if you ever gonna get a win,
it needs to be against the cowboys.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Amen.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
You know, especially while they intact. We are not intact, right,
we are not in We're gonna have our struggle. We
got so many gaffs to feel where they were they
coming in here with Dak George Pick and City lamb furcusing. Uh,
they are intact and they're ready to go, and they
ain't gonna take it easy on us. We need to
be there on Christmas Day and understand, and I know
(22:07):
a lot of people got their Christmas preod. They're gonna
open it up and it's gonna be tickets tickets to
the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commander's game. You need
to take those tickets, go to Northwest Stadium where I
will see you, be seeing see you, and let's finish
what we started.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
We started this year.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
It hasn't went the way we want to go, but
you got to finish what you start, no matter what
I tell my kids did all the time.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
And because there's a pride to it too, right, Yeah,
Like there has to be a pride there. And I
think people are like, oh, what are you playing for?
They talking about draft all those different things, but that's
not the case when you're a player. And like I
look at our secondary. You talk about all those weapons.
Our secondary, man, they've probably gone through it the worst
as far as injuries go. We lose two starters, but
we have a guy Mikey Sanders. Yeah really man ready
to play four interceptions already. I saw a lists today
(22:50):
actually and had Mikey Santas on there and at the
bottom they had fresh Smoothcuse you had five in the season, yes,
four maybe a get there?
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Man? How cool would that be to see him hit
that milestone? Because you know how tough.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
No, it's hard to do, and I think it'll be
good for him because I think what he is out
to prove the people is I'm an outside corner. Y'all
want to pincheonhole me and want me to because of
my size. Like how visually look I look like a nickel.
I am an outside corner. That's where I thrive at.
That's where I play the best at. That's where I
can see the field at. And people What people don'
understand when you're playing a nickel, you're a part of
(23:23):
the run game. You are a hybrid lying back of
slash deepensive back, and it can get tough in there.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Think about it.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Shun Springs was my my nickel. Do you understand how
big Blue was? Blue was two hundred and ten pounds big.
He could he could take that, he could take that pounded.
So I think what Mikey is intellectually, he's so smart, physically,
he's so gifted, and he understands the game. It slows
down for him in the inside, I mean in the outside,
(23:52):
and I think it speeds up for him in the inside.
And I think that's something him and the coaching staff
have to really have a dialogue about because when I
he just looks comfortable. He looks comfortable outside and no
matchup seems to bother him. Not the big receiver, not
the fast receiver, not the nothing bothers him outside.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
And he's so versatile. And a lot of times when
you are that versatile, it's hard because you're getting used
in a bunch of ways.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
It's hard for you to measure in one thing because
they want you the minor and fourth thing. So when
you are versative like that, come on the dude, play
wide receiver. Like when he gets the ball in his hand,
you can see glimpses of that wide receiver. But when
you are so versatile, it's sometimes coaches put a lot
on your plate. And when they put a lot on
your plate, now I can't master one thing. Like in
(24:38):
the NFL, you have to master one thing. If you're
a corner, I'm a man man corner, you have to
mash the man. The man I'm his own corner. I'm
a good tackling corner. I'm a good press corner. Like
you have to master these things and be able to
repeatedly do them over and over again, no matter who's
staying in front of you, and I think that's what
he's doing. I think they put a lot on his plate,
(24:59):
and I think that's what coach. If we wanna do
this off season, take a lot. Office players say, just play.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Fast and Fred's funny, we talk versatility.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
I think about you because we put a lot on
your plate here at commands say, Man, you were such
a great defensive back. But I feel like you get
more credit and love for the things you do in
on TV, what you do in the community, what you're
doing on the radio all the time. Man, is that
wild for you as somebody that just exceeded at the
highest level to get the type of love you get
(25:26):
for being in media like that.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
I think I had already set myself up for a
while I was playing. I already let them know that
I'm gonna keep it real with you. I'm gonna tell
the truth. It might come out of little awkward sometimes,
but I'm gonna let you know how I feeling. I'm
gonna give you honesty, and if you honest with people,
they'll be honest with you back. And I think through
my journey of football and then going to the media,
(25:48):
and I've worked for basically every major media outlet in America.
So they are used to hearing the country boyd talk,
and they are used to hearing my dialogue.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
They used to hearing my point of view.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
In my point of view, I try to keep my
feet grounded at all times and my point of view
of things. And I always look and I always say
to myself, even when I'm dealing with my kids, what
would you have thought at fifteen? What would you were thinking?
If what was going through your head at fifteen? So
I try to keep the people prospect in everything I do.
(26:21):
So I enjoyed that they actually listen to me, you
know what I'm saying, Like, actually listen to me.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
And I like to have fund.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
I don't take Fred Smooth serious.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
And I think a lot of athletes, because we put
on a pedestal so young in life that they start
some of them started to take theirselves a little bit
too serious. And I think what made me always was
a people person was I never I never took Fred
smooth s heious. And I don't care about all that
I'm just faster than you. Other than that, I'm not
better than you. I'm like, I'm not a better person
(26:50):
than you. I'm just me and you get to see
me on TV. And sometime when they see people in
that box right there, they go from being human to
deal tsus huth right, And it changes the outlook of
how people. And that's why I think people say it
ain't always cool to meet your hero, because when they
meet some of these people.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
They don't turn out to be the person that they
think they are.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
And I think that's what people admire so much about you, though,
is in real time they've gotten to see the highest
seele going to see you overcome adversity. And one thing
I've gotten to watch you do is you remain the
same no matter what you go through. But you see,
sometimes somebody has one mistake and it's over. Yeah, they crash,
it's done, They crash, lose everything. You've managed to have
(27:34):
multiple mistakes, it still overcomes, still find ways to do that.
I gotta imagine that's not missed on you at all.
Imagine you don't take that for granted.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
I'm from Mississippi. First of all, I was always talking
about my mom and daddy. Just because you follow. You
gotta get back up. Now, getting back up is the
hard part, all right, But you gotta get back up.
You gotta hold your head up high. Every time you
go through something in life, that's when you learn. You
don't learn from goods good times. You don't put no
(28:02):
energy in good times. But the true test of a
man i woman is when things don't go your way?
Speaker 2 (28:08):
What do you do? Then?
Speaker 5 (28:10):
How do you rebound? How do you consume it? That's
the thing about it. You can consume it and be woe.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
It's mean.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
I can't believe something happening to me. All you can
be like, man, that's myself. Back up, Let me get
back up, Let me rebuild what I just burnt down, like,
let me figure it out. Let me wean my way
through here. And I tell you what the bad times
also do. And this is what everybody needs. Bad time
purges you of the people that shouldn't be around you.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Amen.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
So that what they say, sometime when the lightning hit
that the forest and burn it down just for other
things can grow.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
That farest needs to be burnt down for new growth
can happen.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
Well, new growth can't happen unless you break that thing
down and rebuild it. You need new studs, you need
new plot woods, you need new sheet rock. You need
to know everything. But you can get there unless you fall.
And most people tell you how they got there. They
won't tell you about the dirty time. They won't tell
you about when things did not go the way I
want to. Well, I didn't have that luxury of living
(29:13):
my life private. My life was on that big streen
for everybody to see. So once you agree to that,
you got to agree to let them see. You reveal
yourself and.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
When you're rebuilding yourself right, because it's easier sat than done. Yeah,
you can say, you know, hey, losses or lessons and
you have all these things that you can say, appliche
things you can say, but you have to do it.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
You have to get through it.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
And again we see so many people not what gets
Fred smooth back when you're in that hill, when you're
in that valley? What gets Fred smooth back up top
of What are the things you've leaned on to do that?
Speaker 3 (29:42):
I think it's the lessons football that's taught me. It's
a corner. I play a flawed position.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
That's a position where you go out there you could
be the best, but they all you always know, I'm
gonna get burned at some point, I'm gonna get burned,
and I'm gonna have to get back up in front of.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
Thousands of people, and millions of people watch you and
say do it again and again and again and again.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
And my position is a position of failure. It's like
going to the battle's box. If I go three for
ten or four for ten, I'm an all star. That
mean this is a flawed job by flawed people. So
I am flawed. And as soon as you learn that
I am a flawed human being, you forgive yourself for
making mistakes. You say, I'm just gonna not do that again.
(30:25):
I'm gonna be a better me. I'm gonna figure this out.
Like once you stop growing, I was taught you are dying.
Once you stop growing mentally and physically as a person,
you have made it to the end of your road.
So therefore that map gonna have to have some You're
gonna have to weave out of that lane. Sometime, you
have to weave back into that lane sometime. Life is
(30:46):
constantly evolving, Life is constantly changing. So if you ain't
evolving and you ain't changing, that mean you're gonna get
left behind.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
My thing was always, Hey, it.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Won't I won't lose from not trying the only shot
that's miss truly, it's a shot not taking. Now, I
can take a bad shot, been on the court, Like, man,
why you take that shot?
Speaker 3 (31:06):
I needed to know I need to try it, so
I don't have to try it yet check so I
need to try it.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
So that's the thing about it, man, that Mississippi mentality
mixed with football that troubleshoot and I had to do
on the run.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
It made life kind of easy when it came to
that point.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
And do it with no shame. I was always one
of those people. I'm not shamed of anything I've been through.
I'm a human just like you.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
And again that's easy.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Just said, thing done And now you get to watch
your son, Yeah, do the same thing, go through the
same things. Now I have to ask you, because I
was reading this article. What popped up when I google
your aggs? Always google y'all names for y'all? Pull up
who's the best football playing smooth?
Speaker 3 (31:42):
It's me steal you up? Well, really, I'll be honest.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
My uncle Junior, oh Wow, who taught me how to
play football, was the best athlete.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
Him and my mom.
Speaker 5 (31:52):
Him and my mom, they brothers and sisters. My uncle
used to get me in the middle street. He'd get
like ten years away from me and he would just
throw the.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Ball it's hard as he could, and I would just
leave with black eyes out time I just get hit.
And it got to a point where I could just
catch no matter how hard he threw, I could just
catch it without even second guess.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
He just whipped me into shape. And then my mom
she found out she was pregnant with me playing football
with my uncle Junr Like pick up a run in
the front yard. So a part of me felt like
I was.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
Meant to do this, I was born to do this.
So its just the people around you make you who
you are. I'm scrowng because my grandmama, my uncle, my mom.
I'm scrown because of them and what they put inside
of me. And now your son is Now my son
gets to see it, and he has his own Virginia
swag to it. But he know he got them Southern
(32:42):
roofs to it. And now the one thing I can
say about my son, I like he want all the smoke.
Like some some some X athletes sons, they don't the.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Shadow to be right for sure. For sure, my son
wanted all he think I ain't did nothing.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
He thinks he's the first to play at his level,
and I enjoyed it about him that says to me,
he has a confidence that he believe in hisself over everything.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
I know he gets that off of this and love you.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
I like it if you don't believe, how you gonna
make me believe for sure? Like how you gonna make
a fan believe you the best? Why receive you are
the best? Connem when you don't even believe in yourself,
We don't do that smooth.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
And as much fun as you had on the field,
I feel like watching you be a dad and watching
you see your daughter as your sons find success.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Yeah, are you you ever had more fun than what
you're having right now?
Speaker 5 (33:33):
It's an only child growing up, I used to always
think I wanted to have my kids. How they're gonna
be more like me and more like they mom. How
they're gonna view life. They're gonna be grind like, they're
gonna be funny, and they all got.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
My personality, I all got my swag and they keep
a smile on my face.
Speaker 5 (33:51):
This is what they do because Lord, the conversations we
have off the chain, and I just enjoy them like
I told him, I got to take my mom and
dad on this voorge. Now y'all are taking me on
this vorge. But the AAU, I tell it'll drain you.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
Good lord, it's long, it'll drain you.
Speaker 5 (34:10):
But watching them excel in sports in the time that
they put in and just following my directions, it does
a lot for me.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
It does, it does, and I really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (34:22):
And I'm really enjoying the ride because now I'm sitting
back and joining this ride free. I get to go
to all these colleges. I can go on these college trips.
I get to do all this stuff with the new school.
But the fun part about it, all these universities we
go to. It's guys I played against the coaches now
like so it's like I'm living in this world that
revolving around my kids and I know everybody.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
So it works.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
And when you're not being the dad, where you're not
running around here in the studio doing a bunch of
different things, you're servicing your community. Man, I don't know
how many times I pull up a photo or I
pull up an event and you're there. You're always there,
and you say it. You're from Mississippi. This is not
your commit this is your kids community. Why is it
so important, especially during the holiday season, for you to
(35:04):
give back to this community and just be such a
part of it, man, Cause I feel like DMV and
fresh with a synonymous.
Speaker 5 (35:10):
Most definitely, these are the people that cheered me on.
These is the people that had my back through the highs,
through the lows. Why I can't have your back back? Like,
why I can't be there for you at one point?
Like the thing is, man, with people, Life is not complex.
People make it complex. Life is simple. Treat people how
you want to be treated. I want to be treated nice.
(35:32):
I treat people nice. It don't take fifteen minutes out
your day to make sure somebody else having a good day.
And if all I gotta do is have my presence
be here, all I gotta do is be there for
you on Christmas, give you some couple of extra gifts
that you probably won't go to get in here.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
That does it for me?
Speaker 5 (35:50):
Like I've always wondered with people, like why would the
simple Why would you make the simple things hard?
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Like the Golden rule?
Speaker 5 (36:02):
Treat people how you want to be treated and just
repeat it, just keep repeating it. That's always my theme, man.
And when you meet these people at a game, they
never forget that moment. Right, Well, guess what when I
meet you at a charity charity event, I never forget
that moment.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
That's true because I know one.
Speaker 5 (36:20):
Day I always tell the young kids, girls and boys,
one day I'm gonna be asking for your autograph, and
I want you to say, I never forget Fred Smooth.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
I came to one your charity event. You gave me
a prison, and I'll never forget that.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
Like this way make me feel way more than I
came to your game and seen you make a play.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Right, That's that's that's useless in the big.
Speaker 5 (36:40):
Scheme of things, But for me to be there for
them and get them a memory that they'll never forget,
and guess what it makes them.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Do turn around and give again.
Speaker 5 (36:50):
So it's just creating a cycle, that's all you're doing.
I had the cycle made for me with Steve McNair.
He used to come back to Mississippi, him and Jay
Wrights all the time do stuff for us.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
I'm gonna do the same thing.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
So if it rubbed out on me from them, it's
gonna rub I'm gonna rub out on some of these kids,
and they gonna the cycle is just gonna keep on going,
and the giving gonna keep on going, and the people
that need it, that appreciate it, they will never forget
them times some of the best times in their life.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Smooth claws man. That's why it was perfect to have
you here on this holiday show. And one thing we
do on Command Center we do a fresh fight up
where you talk directly to the fans. So in this
episode right here, I want you to look at your
ISO cam. You got an IO cam, I think it's
right there. Look directly at your ISO cam and give
us a fresh fighter. For Christmas Day, we take on
the Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
I'm gonna reverse this thing because it's Christmas. It ain't
f fired up.
Speaker 5 (37:43):
It's fred ice cold Christmas, and this was what I want,
all right for Christmas. I want you to open up
those press on Christmas Eve. I want you to eat
that Christmas breakfast, and then I want you to head
the Northwest.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
Stadium where I b C.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
Santana, Moss, Be, Mitch Logan, paulsy London, Big Beg Fletcher,
all the guys will be there. We want to see
you in the house. We want to see you making noise.
We play the cowboys, you know, we hate they guts
and it ain't no better time to give them a
Christmas present than Christmas of an ale a hot ale
might serve with some hot coco.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
So I mean child in Northwest Stadium on Christmas Day.
I might have gifts with me.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
I might not. I had to move to.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Mic away from me because I just start laughing. Whatever
Frega sent that. Brother.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
We appreciate you, and I know this community appreciates you
so much because again, you take so much time to
get back.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Man.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
You got so much things going on. You don't got
to be here, but you choose to be here. Whether
we appreciate you so much. Our Next Man Up a
man of the people, a big mouth, but even bigger heart.
Smoother clause, my brother Fred smoo. Appreciate you, Doug anytime
command this family. We hope you enjoyed this episode of
Next Man Up. Remember you can stream all of the
Next Man Up episodes right now on the Commander's YouTube
(38:56):
page or the audio.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Wherever you get your podcast. Thank you so much for
supporting the Next Man Up podcast.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
You allowed us to be nominated for not one, but
two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best Male Hosted 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
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
(39:22):
our content.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
I'm ronkow Jr. And this is Next Man Up.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
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.
I think that that is the difference between those who
are good and great, you know what I mean. I
think a good player they'll go into the game expecting like, oh,
I'm gonna get the sack right here, and they don't
get the sack, and then they don't ever think about
it again. But the great players are the ones that are, oh,
he got me this time, but the next, the next one,
the next one, the next play, the next play, the
next play.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
The Next Man Up Podcast is presented by Lansdown Resort
from kickoff to checking you score, game change and get
away in the heart of Lounders. Lansdown Resort, proud partner
of the Washington Commanders. Welcome into the Next Man Up
and Happy holidays, Commanders family. I'm your holdt Brian Corwa
Junior here from the Big Bear AI Command Center studio
and on the Next Man Up. Been here before, but
his first time on Next Man Up as a player
(00:43):
is before you was a free agent. You just came
to this building. You just signed pen to Faithfoot, just
got your bag. Now you're here, man, got a big
smile on your face.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
And how you feeling dump.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Blessed man, blessed, extremely honored for y'all to have it
back on you know, uh, exumely honored to be put
place in this position.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Yeah, man, blessed, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Blessed is an understatement, brother, because it's been dope to
see what you were able to accomplish and being here,
because I remember last time when you came in you
talked about being traded multiple times, trying to find a home,
trying to find an opportunity. That it looks like you
found a good home here and a good opportunity. Would
you agree, Yeah? Yeah. How do you feel about this
coaching staff, this defensive staff, trusting.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
You the way that they have this year?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Because man, we have had injury after injury, but you
came in. It's that true next man up and became
a bright spot for this man.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
How dope was that for you?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
It's been awesome, man, it's been awesome to have that support,
that belief, you know, and my abilities. Obviously I came
in knowing what I was capable of, you know, but
to have the confidence of like your peers, you know,
whether it be your teammates or your coaches, in collaboration
in terms of what we're trying to accomplish on each call,
(01:54):
that's been tremendous, you know what I mean. And just
the shout out to the coach in the d line room,
you know, Reef tap r K, even Bond Preston. You know,
it's a it's a it's a good good crew to
pick their minds that played a lot of football, been
a lot of big situations, you know, done things assistently
(02:16):
right throughout their career.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And some of those names you name those future Gold jackets,
some of them, you know, those are Hall of famers,
those are some of the best to have ever done it.
How valuable is that to be in a building like
this right because you don't really know what you're getting
when you signed to a place. Would you come into
a building with all these x NFL players, x NFL stars,
What has that been like for you?
Speaker 3 (02:32):
In your development?
Speaker 1 (02:33):
It's been huge, huge, man. You know, whether it be
on field development, off the field development. You know, I
talked to Von every day, you know, whether I'm texting
them or calling them or facetiming them his lockers right
across from mind. You know, whether it be business ventures,
football ventures, or watching tape late at night, like you know,
text Ryan in the morning and he made you know,
(02:54):
he got the kids and stuff at the house, so
he may text me back or tap. They may text
me back the next day, you know, once they get home.
They you know, family, which I respect, you know what
I mean. So like just being able to reach out
like from them to answer my questions or ask questions,
you know what I mean, and like that it's real collaborative,
you know what I mean. You don't really get that
in a lot of places where they're trying to figure out, Okay,
(03:14):
if I see it this way, you know, how how
can they coach me to see it how they want
me to see it? Or if they didn't see it
that way, can they go ask a question you know,
to DQ and he'll come back with the response for us?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
You know So I think that's super dope.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
And it's funny you mentioned Vaughn because like, even sitting
here listening to you talk, I'm like you and Vaughn
are actually very similar. You'll a very similar mindset, y'all,
very similar demeanors and personalities.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
And I know, just like me, we've been watching Vaughn forever,
way before we got into this building.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
What was it like when he does come into this
building and he is your peer now, right, because yet
we look up to this guy, we've watched him for years.
What has it been like being his peer? And was
it tough asking him those first questions?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Or did you just die?
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Right?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I know some people they get a little nervous, get
a little shot while they see there, you know, somebody
that's like they idle.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
What was it like for you? You know, Van and
I are passive, you know, crossed. We've looked weirdly, been
connected in so many different ways, you know, before we
were teammates, you know. So it's asking them questions, whether
it'd be a good question or a bad question, you know,
I just ask him, you know, and if it's dumb,
he may laugh at me or something like that. Or
(04:18):
just his thought process. Man, he thinks a lot differently
than most people would assume, you know, And I think
that's part of the reason why he's a Hall of
Famer man, Like truthfully, like the way he thinks.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
The way he sees things, this positive outlook.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You know, even if you mess up or have an
m A or emmy you know, for those that don't know,
a mental error or emmy like a or te like
a technique error those kind of situations. So like his
ability to like, yeah, I get you took a bad
step here, but they get off was great. You know
what I'm saying, just finding that positive so you're not.
I think that that is the difference between those who
(04:52):
are good and great, you know what I mean. I
think a good player they'll go into the game expecting like, oh,
I'm gonna get the sack right here, and they don't
get the sack, and then they don't ever think about
it again. But the great players are the ones that are, oh,
he got me this time, but the next the next one,
the next one, the next play, the next play, the
next play, you.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
That's the that's their that's their mindset, you know what
I mean. I think just hearing him, hearing him say
stuff like that, or just the little pointers of his
mindset in games or situations, man, that is that's truly changed.
Like how I I've always kind of thought that way,
but not confirmed. Okay, it's okay for me to think
this way, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, and it shows on the field. Yeah, five and
a half sacks and you ain't done yet. We still
got a few games left. What is going right for
Jacob Martin here in the Burgundy and Gold.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Really is the testament to my preparation. You know.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I try to be as consistent as I possibly can.
You know, almost OCD is in terms of my preparation.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Every week.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I try to make sure I'm doing the same things
every week, you know, to make sure my body and
my mind and my game are right going into whether
it be a Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday game, you know
what other case may be. I try to replicate that
process every week, you know, and try to ask those
questions every week and really just trying to understand what
we're trying to accomplish on each call. I think that's
(06:10):
also helped me play faster, for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Use the word consistency. There's not a lot of consistency
in life. There's not a lot of consistenty in the NFL,
and you've kind of been a testament to that this
year because your role has not been consistent.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
You come in, it's a crowded defensive.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Line room, right, we got guys ahead of you and
Durrance Armstrong wise, but then the season progresses and God's
fall injury after injury, and your role becomes less of
a rotation guy and now you're an every down guy.
You're a guy that we need desperately. How was the
patience while you're waiting for this role to develop, while
you're waiting to get these more snaps, because I know
you want to be on that field all the time,
(06:44):
but you had to wait a little bit.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
What was that patience?
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Like, you know, I think that's really where I built
my process. I would say, you know, coming off the
bench or being a rotational guy or a DPR guy,
you know, that has allowed me to like have both views.
(07:10):
I would guess, like as a as a you know,
DPR designate pass rusher, you know, you don't necessarily have
the opportunity always to set up your rush, right, so
you've got to throw throw your best one, right And
similar to this process, Like, Okay, I came in, I
was playing Sam, so I was doing a little bit
more for a second down type of work, red lower,
(07:31):
red zone type of work when we in big personnels,
that kind of thing. But I think that allowed me
to hone in even more on my process, right, Okay,
I can understand the process of the play. I can
understand the process of whether it be Joe or dq like,
you know, installing the defense or making a tweak on
(07:52):
the defense. And it allowed me to understand their thought
process on what they want to accomplish. And you know, unfortunately,
you know, we had guys you know, go down and
stuff like that. But I never took my mindset off
of Okay, let's let's go through the process. Let's own
this this role. You know, I think it's another big
thing I first came in. You know, we would be
(08:12):
out there stretch lines and you know, Tap has you know,
his little mantras for guys every day, you know what
I mean, And for me, he always can tell me,
you know, Jmar own it, own it, go out there
and own own that spot like, own it like.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
And I took that wholeheartedly.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
You know, I'm going to own the spot, right So
that to me, that meant, Okay, I'm control with things
I can control. I can't control when I'm getting into
the game. I can't control if my number is going
to be called, when my number is going to be called,
But I can know I can control being prepared, being
locked into the situation, and understanding my role and my
assignment to the utmost to the up utmost of my ability,
(08:47):
you know, And I think that's that's kind of where
where I'm where I where I like to stay in
that pocket, you know, control things you can control because
you can't control, you know, guys getting hurt. You can't
control you know, whether you're gonna play or not. I
think a lot of young players, there are players that
may be in situations where they're up and down on
the roster, or even they may be a core special
(09:07):
teams guy. You know what I mean, owning your role,
whether wherever your your your number is called, wherever you're
asked or tasked to do. You know, no job is
too big, no job is too small. But being able
to accept that role and own it, you know, and
then if your role changes, okay, roll with the punches,
own the next role, you know what I mean. So
(09:28):
just staying in that pocket of I can control what
I can control. I can control my effort. I can
control knowing and doing my job. I can control my physicality.
I can control how I arrive to to to work.
I can control how I'm uh perceived as a as
a professional, you know what I mean. And in controlling
those things in terms of okay, showing up on time,
(09:50):
doing the extra work. And these aren't things that are
that are new for me. It's something I've always done.
But but to have that I guess validation here.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
It's been nice.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
And you say own your role. Your role is a
lot bigger.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Now, especially in these last few games we're playing these
NFC supponents. What do you feel your role is and
how do you own it? Like if a young player
comes to you and says, what's your role? Teach me
what that means? When coach tells me to own it?
What would you say?
Speaker 1 (10:19):
I think there's there's two parts of that, right, Understanding
what the what you're trying to accomplish in the call, right,
So if the call requires you to drop into coverage, okay,
how can I own my role in coverage?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Right?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So that's knowing where I need to be in certain
fronts or against certain looks and owning that space.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
So if you're dropping strong hook, you know it's ten
to twelve plus one of the hash that doesn't change,
you know what I mean? So let me be demonstrative
in how I perform that task right and doing it
with urgency. I think that's that's another thing, you know
what I mean? Because you know, players are gonna mess up,
(11:05):
coaches are gonna mess up. That happens with football man
and nobody perfect. But if you can understand that doing
stuff with urgency and playing fast, you know that eliminates
a lot of things. But I think understanding the purpose, right,
the why of doing something in a call, I think
that's just as important as that that that allows you
(11:27):
to own your role even out even that more right,
you know, as a teammate or as a as a player,
you want to care like I like, you know, temples
ingrained into me. You know, we had a we had
a player mantra, you know what I mean, and one
of the things was like I will care for my teammates, right,
and caring for your teammates to me is okay, this
opportunity for whether it be McGhee or Oose or Bobby
(11:50):
or Kwan or Mike, you know what I mean, If
they have a blitz or something like that and it's
required for the d N or the D line to
slant or stay high or stay vert or be in
this pocket, you know what I mean, so they have
their moment right, like I'm doing this for.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Them, right. My wife for being so demonstrative and how
I arrive or or.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Perform a certain tasks, like because I want my guy
to eat, Like my why is okay, I got to
I gotta take these three steps up the field so
oos can get free or Bobby can get free. And
then I got dropping the coverage to buy him time
to get to the sack, you know what I mean? Like
those that's how I think you know what I mean,
And I think that's important to understand the why, then
(12:34):
you can understand the purpose of the call. If you
can understand the why and the purpose of the call,
you can control a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Say like a true commander, sait like a true leader.
And I know you lead by example. And another part
of leading is also showing these guys how to shut
it down sometimes and how to relax and.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Spend down time.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
And all partners that landsdown resort like to know y'all
getting done on the field. But that's y'all also get
it from downtown too, So normally I ask how do
people spending downtown? But you just told me you just
got you a nice little gift from me, teammate, a
little crossbow.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Have you used the crossbow before?
Speaker 4 (13:04):
No, It's my first crossbow, so I'm excited to sell
this guy.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
So how do you plan on using this cross But
what's what's the plan?
Speaker 4 (13:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
I need a backyard first. I don't have a backyard
out here. I'm in the townhouse, so me too. So
I once I you know, once the season is over,
I may spend some time trying to figure out how
to use the crossbow in the backyard.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Have you hunted?
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Yeah, I have hunted. I have hunted it.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
You know, I'm a very avid hunter.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Oh yeah, I mean, honestly, I'm not surprised because you
be hunting on that field.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
You be hunting for those sacks.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Like I said, you got five and a half sacks now,
but we know more are coming these NFC East opponents.
It's been kind of crazy because our last four games
have been all NFC East. You didn't really get a
taste of that before coming here, and now you've gotten
to see it. You've gotten to see the difference because
everbody talks about these difference in those games. Can you
speak on that and what it's been like being able
to compete at the highest level against some.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Of the best teams in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I'm just say there's a lot of historic French sides
franchises in this division. You know, a lot of heavy
hitters in this division, you know what I mean, a
lot of physical football. When you think of you know,
the NFC, you think of cold, you think of outdoor games,
you think of physical football. You know, you think physical
(14:19):
running game, physical bags, big offensivelignment, you know, so that
that's that's what you think. And then you just have
historic organizations that that are in this in this this conference,
this division.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
You know.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
So for me, it's like I kind of looked at
myself as a hired hitman my whole career, you know
what I mean, hitman for higher So like it's easy
for me, I think I approach the game every week
is as if it's a rivalry game. That's just how
my mind works, you know. So it's not necessarily I'm
(14:57):
getting even more up for you know, these division games
and stuff like that. But I know that they're gonna
give me their best because of it's the division, you
know what I mean. So I I love I love
stuff like that, you know what I mean. I love
knowing that I'm going to get your best shot. You
(15:18):
know what I mean, because you're going to get mine.
So like, so I love that, man. You know, I've
always I've always admired, you know, the football that's played.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
In this this division.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
You know what I mean, There's been some great football players,
uh to to walk not only these halls, but the
halls of other other buildings. Man, that that I you know,
grew up watching.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
Man, So like I can't I'm not gonna mention nobody.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
But but I got you.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
But uh but uh but yeah, man, So like I
I've always been tied, like locked in in terms of
this division. You know, there's there's been I've been a
big fan of a lot of players in this division.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
And I'm sure you've gotten a ton of fans this year, man,
Jacob Martin. I don't think too many people knew what
we were getting with you, but now they know, and
now they want you here and they want to keep
you here in this Burgundy and gold.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Jacob.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
We appreciate your time so much. And also, happy holidays,
my brother, thank you. I'm expecting my crossbow on the
man shot commanded Family, our next man five and a
half sex already he is just getting started.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
My god, Jacob, Martin.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Appreciate you, Bro, appreciate you. But dot boom happy Holladays everybody.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Commanders family, We hope you have been enjoying. Next man up.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Before we go any further, we have to pay some
bills now. Events DC is a proud partner of the
Washington Commanders. Events DC is the premier host of meetings, entertainment, sporting,
and cultural events in the nation's capitol.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
From the Walter E.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
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 3 (16:42):
See how we make DC happen at eventsdc dot com.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
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 players.
Possibly they say your work defines who you are. Monday
through Friday nine to five, you are clocking in. What
happens on the weekend, what happens.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
To your time.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
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.
(17:30):
How you spend it is up to you. It's your time.
The US Army Reserve. Command his family back to the show,
Command his family for our next man up. I don't
even got to intro them. He's your favorite, he's my
favorite to work well welcome. It did alleged it himself
on the field and off the field for us when
my brother was good.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
It's the holiday, that's what's good. Can you know as
parents it's fathers. Yes, they say it's more about giving
than receiving. And when it's an only child. I didn't
really figure that out. I was like, nah, Mama, I
don't think I'm ever gonna feel that way. But now
when I give and watch my kids smile on Christmas,
no matter what's going on, the fact that.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
We ain't one before games and what's going on.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
That doesn't bother me for this small win though, because
the holidays do make you focus in on the things
that really do matter.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
And that's why I wanted to have you on this
episode because yes, like there's not a lot of great
football to talk about, right, we have a four win team. However,
you have seen the ebbs and flows. I've been a
part of it. You've been a part of it. You've
been a part of great teams, been a part of
not so great teams. When you look at what this
team's going through, right, because this is essentially year two
of the rebuild, right, year two for Jay and Daniels,
(18:39):
year two for dan Quinn, how are you feeling about
the team, And like where we stand right now, I'm grounded.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
I understand the ebby flow of football. We all won
injury away, we won bad bounce away. And think about it,
this year, no matter what game's been, the ball has
just not bounced our way.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Last year, the ball bounced out wait a lot.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
And now we're sitting back and we're watching the New
England Patriots and Drake may do what we did last year.
We're watching the Chicago Bears do what we did last year.
And now we're sitting in the background, and now we're
mumbling amongst each other. About how bad we hate the situation.
But I was always taught tough times don't last. Tough
(19:22):
people do yes. And we got to eight when you
offended them, when you have fended them, It's very much
similar to a relationship. I wish I could tell you
every day with your wife gonna be good days. You
know where ain't gonna be like that. But guess what,
it's the hard days that make y'all know y'all meant
to be together, right, because it's figuring it takes no
energy to enjoy good day. It takes a lot of
(19:44):
energy to figure out the bad ones. And the bad
ones make you appreciate your partner way more than a
good one. And it's what you do with the hard
time suit right, it's how you use them, how you
manifest because losses can't be lessons, especially when you are
a young team. When you have been in these situations
where wins weren't necessarily coming, players would developing, Young guys
would develop, And what is that message in the locker
room to understand, like, hey, we got to make the
(20:05):
most of this time. Well, we got this bad taste
in that mouth, do you ever want to taste this again?
Because I don't want to taste this again. How did
we get here? That's what we ask ourselves first. How
did we end up at this spot? Because in the
beginning of every season, every team think they going seventeen
and oh, knowing none of us going seventeen and oh,
when we look at that schedule, we don't see no
(20:26):
thing that we say a loss, right, we don't pick loses.
We look at the schedules that we're gonna win each
and every game. We're gonna take it one player at
a time. Well, guess what, some seasons start to unravel.
This season had start to unravel, and now we're looking around.
We're looking for answers. When you gotta look inside, you
gotta look in this locker room. We are the answer.
We weren't healthy. What can we do this off season
(20:48):
to make sure we donna go back through this again?
What can I do as a player to protect myself?
What can my other team may do to get much faster?
Did much stronger? Understand that much more of the game plan.
It's all about internally looking and saying we're gonna fix
it inside. Looking outside, I ain't gonna get the job done.
And I hate to say this. It takes a little
(21:10):
luck for good seasons to have. If we saw that
last year, the ball gotta bounce your way in health,
the ball gotta bounce your weight on the field, the
ball gotta bounce your way with scheduling, The ball gotta
bounce your weight in so many variables in here that
everything has to add up and be a perfect storm.
And this year, that perfect storm has been a hurricane.
(21:31):
And listen, and it's drowned in the city right now,
and everybody miss, I totally understand. But the good part
we live to fight another day. And the thing I
can say is if you ever gonna get a win,
it needs to be against the cowboys.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Amen.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
You know, especially while they intact. We are not intact, right,
we are not in We're gonna have our struggle. We
got so many gaffs to feel where they were they
coming in here with Dak George Pick and City lamb furcusing. Uh,
they are intact and they're ready to go, and they
ain't gonna take it easy on us. We need to
be there on Christmas Day and understand, and I know
(22:07):
a lot of people got their Christmas preod. They're gonna
open it up and it's gonna be tickets tickets to
the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commander's game. You need
to take those tickets, go to Northwest Stadium where I
will see you, be seeing see you, and let's finish
what we started.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
We started this year.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
It hasn't went the way we want to go, but
you got to finish what you start, no matter what
I tell my kids did all the time.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
And because there's a pride to it too, right, Yeah,
Like there has to be a pride there. And I
think people are like, oh, what are you playing for?
They talking about draft all those different things, but that's
not the case when you're a player. And like I
look at our secondary. You talk about all those weapons.
Our secondary, man, they've probably gone through it the worst
as far as injuries go. We lose two starters, but
we have a guy Mikey Sanders. Yeah really man ready
to play four interceptions already. I saw a lists today
(22:50):
actually and had Mikey Santas on there and at the
bottom they had fresh Smoothcuse you had five in the season, yes,
four maybe a get there?
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Man? How cool would that be to see him hit
that milestone? Because you know how tough.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
No, it's hard to do, and I think it'll be
good for him because I think what he is out
to prove the people is I'm an outside corner. Y'all
want to pincheonhole me and want me to because of
my size. Like how visually look I look like a nickel.
I am an outside corner. That's where I thrive at.
That's where I play the best at. That's where I
can see the field at. And people What people don'
understand when you're playing a nickel, you're a part of
(23:23):
the run game. You are a hybrid lying back of
slash deepensive back, and it can get tough in there.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Think about it.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Shun Springs was my my nickel. Do you understand how
big Blue was? Blue was two hundred and ten pounds big.
He could he could take that, he could take that pounded.
So I think what Mikey is intellectually, he's so smart, physically,
he's so gifted, and he understands the game. It slows
down for him in the inside, I mean in the outside,
(23:52):
and I think it speeds up for him in the inside.
And I think that's something him and the coaching staff
have to really have a dialogue about because when I
he just looks comfortable. He looks comfortable outside and no
matchup seems to bother him. Not the big receiver, not
the fast receiver, not the nothing bothers him outside.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
And he's so versatile. And a lot of times when
you are that versatile, it's hard because you're getting used
in a bunch of ways.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
It's hard for you to measure in one thing because
they want you the minor and fourth thing. So when
you are versative like that, come on the dude, play
wide receiver. Like when he gets the ball in his hand,
you can see glimpses of that wide receiver. But when
you are so versatile, it's sometimes coaches put a lot
on your plate. And when they put a lot on
your plate, now I can't master one thing. Like in
(24:38):
the NFL, you have to master one thing. If you're
a corner, I'm a man man corner, you have to
mash the man. The man I'm his own corner. I'm
a good tackling corner. I'm a good press corner. Like
you have to master these things and be able to
repeatedly do them over and over again, no matter who's
staying in front of you, and I think that's what
he's doing. I think they put a lot on his plate,
(24:59):
and I think that's what coach. If we wanna do
this off season, take a lot. Office players say, just play.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Fast and Fred's funny, we talk versatility.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
I think about you because we put a lot on
your plate here at commands say, Man, you were such
a great defensive back. But I feel like you get
more credit and love for the things you do in
on TV, what you do in the community, what you're
doing on the radio all the time. Man, is that
wild for you as somebody that just exceeded at the
highest level to get the type of love you get
(25:26):
for being in media like that.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
I think I had already set myself up for a
while I was playing. I already let them know that
I'm gonna keep it real with you. I'm gonna tell
the truth. It might come out of little awkward sometimes,
but I'm gonna let you know how I feeling. I'm
gonna give you honesty, and if you honest with people,
they'll be honest with you back. And I think through
my journey of football and then going to the media,
(25:48):
and I've worked for basically every major media outlet in America.
So they are used to hearing the country boyd talk,
and they are used to hearing my dialogue.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
They used to hearing my point of view.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
In my point of view, I try to keep my
feet grounded at all times and my point of view
of things. And I always look and I always say
to myself, even when I'm dealing with my kids, what
would you have thought at fifteen? What would you were thinking?
If what was going through your head at fifteen? So
I try to keep the people prospect in everything I do.
(26:21):
So I enjoyed that they actually listen to me, you
know what I'm saying, Like, actually listen to me.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
And I like to have fund.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
I don't take Fred Smooth serious.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
And I think a lot of athletes, because we put
on a pedestal so young in life that they start
some of them started to take theirselves a little bit
too serious. And I think what made me always was
a people person was I never I never took Fred
smooth s heious. And I don't care about all that
I'm just faster than you. Other than that, I'm not
better than you. I'm like, I'm not a better person
(26:50):
than you. I'm just me and you get to see
me on TV. And sometime when they see people in
that box right there, they go from being human to
deal tsus huth right, And it changes the outlook of
how people. And that's why I think people say it
ain't always cool to meet your hero, because when they
meet some of these people.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
They don't turn out to be the person that they
think they are.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
And I think that's what people admire so much about you, though,
is in real time they've gotten to see the highest
seele going to see you overcome adversity. And one thing
I've gotten to watch you do is you remain the
same no matter what you go through. But you see,
sometimes somebody has one mistake and it's over. Yeah, they crash,
it's done, They crash, lose everything. You've managed to have
(27:34):
multiple mistakes, it still overcomes, still find ways to do that.
I gotta imagine that's not missed on you at all.
Imagine you don't take that for granted.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
I'm from Mississippi. First of all, I was always talking
about my mom and daddy. Just because you follow. You
gotta get back up. Now, getting back up is the
hard part, all right, But you gotta get back up.
You gotta hold your head up high. Every time you
go through something in life, that's when you learn. You
don't learn from goods good times. You don't put no
(28:02):
energy in good times. But the true test of a
man i woman is when things don't go your way?
Speaker 2 (28:08):
What do you do? Then?
Speaker 5 (28:10):
How do you rebound? How do you consume it? That's
the thing about it. You can consume it and be woe.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
It's mean.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
I can't believe something happening to me. All you can
be like, man, that's myself. Back up, Let me get
back up, Let me rebuild what I just burnt down, like,
let me figure it out. Let me wean my way
through here. And I tell you what the bad times
also do. And this is what everybody needs. Bad time
purges you of the people that shouldn't be around you.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Amen.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
So that what they say, sometime when the lightning hit
that the forest and burn it down just for other
things can grow.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
That farest needs to be burnt down for new growth
can happen.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
Well, new growth can't happen unless you break that thing
down and rebuild it. You need new studs, you need
new plot woods, you need new sheet rock. You need
to know everything. But you can get there unless you fall.
And most people tell you how they got there. They
won't tell you about the dirty time. They won't tell
you about when things did not go the way I
want to. Well, I didn't have that luxury of living
(29:13):
my life private. My life was on that big streen
for everybody to see. So once you agree to that,
you got to agree to let them see. You reveal
yourself and.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
When you're rebuilding yourself right, because it's easier sat than done. Yeah,
you can say, you know, hey, losses or lessons and
you have all these things that you can say, appliche
things you can say, but you have to do it.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
You have to get through it.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
And again we see so many people not what gets
Fred smooth back when you're in that hill, when you're
in that valley? What gets Fred smooth back up top
of What are the things you've leaned on to do that?
Speaker 3 (29:42):
I think it's the lessons football that's taught me. It's
a corner. I play a flawed position.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
That's a position where you go out there you could
be the best, but they all you always know, I'm
gonna get burned at some point, I'm gonna get burned,
and I'm gonna have to get back up in front of.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
Thousands of people, and millions of people watch you and
say do it again and again and again and again.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
And my position is a position of failure. It's like
going to the battle's box. If I go three for
ten or four for ten, I'm an all star. That
mean this is a flawed job by flawed people. So
I am flawed. And as soon as you learn that
I am a flawed human being, you forgive yourself for
making mistakes. You say, I'm just gonna not do that again.
(30:25):
I'm gonna be a better me. I'm gonna figure this out.
Like once you stop growing, I was taught you are dying.
Once you stop growing mentally and physically as a person,
you have made it to the end of your road.
So therefore that map gonna have to have some You're
gonna have to weave out of that lane. Sometime, you
have to weave back into that lane sometime. Life is
(30:46):
constantly evolving, Life is constantly changing. So if you ain't
evolving and you ain't changing, that mean you're gonna get
left behind.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
My thing was always, Hey, it.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Won't I won't lose from not trying the only shot
that's miss truly, it's a shot not taking. Now, I
can take a bad shot, been on the court, Like, man,
why you take that shot?
Speaker 3 (31:06):
I needed to know I need to try it, so
I don't have to try it yet check so I
need to try it.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
So that's the thing about it, man, that Mississippi mentality
mixed with football that troubleshoot and I had to do
on the run.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
It made life kind of easy when it came to
that point.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
And do it with no shame. I was always one
of those people. I'm not shamed of anything I've been through.
I'm a human just like you.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
And again that's easy.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Just said, thing done And now you get to watch
your son, Yeah, do the same thing, go through the
same things. Now I have to ask you, because I
was reading this article. What popped up when I google
your aggs? Always google y'all names for y'all? Pull up
who's the best football playing smooth?
Speaker 3 (31:42):
It's me steal you up? Well, really, I'll be honest.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
My uncle Junior, oh Wow, who taught me how to
play football, was the best athlete.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
Him and my mom.
Speaker 5 (31:52):
Him and my mom, they brothers and sisters. My uncle
used to get me in the middle street. He'd get
like ten years away from me and he would just
throw the.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Ball it's hard as he could, and I would just
leave with black eyes out time I just get hit.
And it got to a point where I could just
catch no matter how hard he threw, I could just
catch it without even second guess.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
He just whipped me into shape. And then my mom
she found out she was pregnant with me playing football
with my uncle Junr Like pick up a run in
the front yard. So a part of me felt like
I was.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
Meant to do this, I was born to do this.
So its just the people around you make you who
you are. I'm scrowng because my grandmama, my uncle, my mom.
I'm scrown because of them and what they put inside
of me. And now your son is Now my son
gets to see it, and he has his own Virginia
swag to it. But he know he got them Southern
(32:42):
roofs to it. And now the one thing I can
say about my son, I like he want all the smoke.
Like some some some X athletes sons, they don't the.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Shadow to be right for sure. For sure, my son
wanted all he think I ain't did nothing.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
He thinks he's the first to play at his level,
and I enjoyed it about him that says to me,
he has a confidence that he believe in hisself over everything.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
I know he gets that off of this and love you.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
I like it if you don't believe, how you gonna
make me believe for sure? Like how you gonna make
a fan believe you the best? Why receive you are
the best? Connem when you don't even believe in yourself,
We don't do that smooth.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
And as much fun as you had on the field,
I feel like watching you be a dad and watching
you see your daughter as your sons find success.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Yeah, are you you ever had more fun than what
you're having right now?
Speaker 5 (33:33):
It's an only child growing up, I used to always
think I wanted to have my kids. How they're gonna
be more like me and more like they mom. How
they're gonna view life. They're gonna be grind like, they're
gonna be funny, and they all got.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
My personality, I all got my swag and they keep
a smile on my face.
Speaker 5 (33:51):
This is what they do because Lord, the conversations we
have off the chain, and I just enjoy them like
I told him, I got to take my mom and
dad on this voorge. Now y'all are taking me on
this vorge. But the AAU, I tell it'll drain you.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
Good lord, it's long, it'll drain you.
Speaker 5 (34:10):
But watching them excel in sports in the time that
they put in and just following my directions, it does
a lot for me.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
It does, it does, and I really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (34:22):
And I'm really enjoying the ride because now I'm sitting
back and joining this ride free. I get to go
to all these colleges. I can go on these college trips.
I get to do all this stuff with the new school.
But the fun part about it, all these universities we
go to. It's guys I played against the coaches now
like so it's like I'm living in this world that
revolving around my kids and I know everybody.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
So it works.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
And when you're not being the dad, where you're not
running around here in the studio doing a bunch of
different things, you're servicing your community. Man, I don't know
how many times I pull up a photo or I
pull up an event and you're there. You're always there,
and you say it. You're from Mississippi. This is not
your commit this is your kids community. Why is it
so important, especially during the holiday season, for you to
(35:04):
give back to this community and just be such a
part of it, man, Cause I feel like DMV and
fresh with a synonymous.
Speaker 5 (35:10):
Most definitely, these are the people that cheered me on.
These is the people that had my back through the highs,
through the lows. Why I can't have your back back? Like,
why I can't be there for you at one point?
Like the thing is, man, with people, Life is not complex.
People make it complex. Life is simple. Treat people how
you want to be treated. I want to be treated nice.
(35:32):
I treat people nice. It don't take fifteen minutes out
your day to make sure somebody else having a good day.
And if all I gotta do is have my presence
be here, all I gotta do is be there for
you on Christmas, give you some couple of extra gifts
that you probably won't go to get in here.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
That does it for me?
Speaker 5 (35:50):
Like I've always wondered with people, like why would the
simple Why would you make the simple things hard?
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Like the Golden rule?
Speaker 5 (36:02):
Treat people how you want to be treated and just
repeat it, just keep repeating it. That's always my theme, man.
And when you meet these people at a game, they
never forget that moment. Right, Well, guess what when I
meet you at a charity charity event, I never forget
that moment.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
That's true because I know one.
Speaker 5 (36:20):
Day I always tell the young kids, girls and boys,
one day I'm gonna be asking for your autograph, and
I want you to say, I never forget Fred Smooth.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
I came to one your charity event. You gave me
a prison, and I'll never forget that.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
Like this way make me feel way more than I
came to your game and seen you make a play.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Right, That's that's that's useless in the big.
Speaker 5 (36:40):
Scheme of things, But for me to be there for
them and get them a memory that they'll never forget,
and guess what it makes them.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Do turn around and give again.
Speaker 5 (36:50):
So it's just creating a cycle, that's all you're doing.
I had the cycle made for me with Steve McNair.
He used to come back to Mississippi, him and Jay
Wrights all the time do stuff for us.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
I'm gonna do the same thing.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
So if it rubbed out on me from them, it's
gonna rub I'm gonna rub out on some of these kids,
and they gonna the cycle is just gonna keep on going,
and the giving gonna keep on going, and the people
that need it, that appreciate it, they will never forget
them times some of the best times in their life.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Smooth claws man. That's why it was perfect to have
you here on this holiday show. And one thing we
do on Command Center we do a fresh fight up
where you talk directly to the fans. So in this
episode right here, I want you to look at your
ISO cam. You got an IO cam, I think it's
right there. Look directly at your ISO cam and give
us a fresh fighter. For Christmas Day, we take on
the Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
I'm gonna reverse this thing because it's Christmas. It ain't
f fired up.
Speaker 5 (37:43):
It's fred ice cold Christmas, and this was what I want,
all right for Christmas. I want you to open up
those press on Christmas Eve. I want you to eat
that Christmas breakfast, and then I want you to head
the Northwest.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
Stadium where I b C.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
Santana, Moss, Be, Mitch Logan, paulsy London, Big Beg Fletcher,
all the guys will be there. We want to see
you in the house. We want to see you making noise.
We play the cowboys, you know, we hate they guts
and it ain't no better time to give them a
Christmas present than Christmas of an ale a hot ale
might serve with some hot coco.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
So I mean child in Northwest Stadium on Christmas Day.
I might have gifts with me.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
I might not. I had to move to.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Mic away from me because I just start laughing. Whatever
Frega sent that. Brother.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
We appreciate you, and I know this community appreciates you
so much because again, you take so much time to
get back.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Man.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
You got so much things going on. You don't got
to be here, but you choose to be here. Whether
we appreciate you so much. Our Next Man Up a
man of the people, a big mouth, but even bigger heart.
Smoother clause, my brother Fred smoo. Appreciate you, Doug anytime
command this family. We hope you enjoyed this episode of
Next Man Up. Remember you can stream all of the
Next Man Up episodes right now on the Commander's YouTube
(38:56):
page or the audio.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Wherever you get your podcast. Thank you so much for
supporting the Next Man Up podcast.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
You allowed us to be nominated for not one, but
two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best Male Hosted 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
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
(39:22):
our content.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
I'm ronkow Jr. And this is Next Man Up.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
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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