Quan Martin is our next man up! Martin talks about being named a captain for the first time and how important the fans are for Sundays game. Then we catch up with Kay Adams, host of Up and Adams, to talk about what she’s seen from the Commanders so far and if Davante Adams would be a good fit in the burgundy and gold! Then a legend joins the show, we take a walk down memory lane with Champ Bailey.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Command Is Family.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the Next Man Up Podcast, and we have
special guests for you.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
We have Kwan Martin.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We have to go back a little bit to Arizona
where me and Kwan Martin caught up before the world
trip handed. Then we have a true legend Hall of
Famer first Ballot Hall of Famer Champ Bailey joins the
show to talk about his time in Washington and our
happy year is to be back in the fall. Then
we got to get some national love. Hey Adams joins
the show to talk about the thing she's seen from
(00:26):
the Washington Commanders. All that starts now on Next Man Up.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
What's good? Command Is Family. This is Next Man Up.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I'm your host, Blind Cope Junior here with somebody extremely special,
Kwan Martin, my brother.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Man.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's good to see you.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
Appreciate you man.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I think last time we sat down like this, you.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
K like ota yeah, man, like yeah, like ten months
ago type stuff, like you you are really your rookie
and like things have changed for you.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Tell us what has changed for you in year two
since that last time we spoke.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Really man, Just being able to learn, grow, develop, you know,
just kind of find my way in the league. And uh,
you know, just get in while I fit there pretty much, man,
and just really just building that name, making that name
for myself.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, and you really fit in well.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Man.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
You know you're getting a lot of love. You were
named the captain for Arizona. What does that mean to you?
Were you surprised?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
I don't know, because I was captain during the preseason
and I kind of felt the coming. And today in
the meeting, he was like, I got a captain. I
was like, damn, I gotta feel that he might call me.
I kind of felt the coming a little bit, so
you know, it was great man, just to you know,
hear my name come up, see my you know picture
up on the board, and coach just telling me, you
(01:49):
know that I'm counting for this game.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
That means a lot, you know this stuff.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
I talk about my family all the time, man, just
you know, just trying to set an example for everybody, uh,
you know, back where I'm from, kids in my neighborhood. Man,
just you know, showing me that you can do it.
You know it is possible. And man, you know, it's
just a great opportunity to go out there and representing
this program.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
And you even played since you were five years old, man,
So to have that seat on your jersey, Man, what
does that mean to you?
Speaker 5 (02:14):
I mean it means a lot.
Speaker 6 (02:15):
Man.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
My first time really just being the captain and since
I've been playing, man, so it's been great.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Man.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Never had the opportunity in college to.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Be, you know, captain on the team. So just to
be a captain at this level just you know, kind
of speak to herself.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I think what's so special about that is this is
a new coaching staff. This is not a coaching.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Staff that drafted you. They didn't keep a lot of
people around, but you not only was kept, but you
also were named the starter. What is it like to
get that kind of respect before you even played a
regular season game?
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, Man, it means a lot.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
You know. Obviously we talked with you know, coach Quinn
and Adam Peters, you know, before things kind of got rolling,
and you know, he just kind of told me where
my role could be on this team. Man.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
I embraced it.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Man.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
I just went out work hard, put my head down
and just kept grinding. Man, and you know just kind
of you know, made it impossible to go and noticed.
I feel like that's what I've always done my whole.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Career, and I'm sure that there's different expectations that come
with happening in your coaching staff. And I remember you
saying preseason that the coaches want you to be more vocal.
How's that been so far? Because you're very chi.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Man, it's been great.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
I feel like not even just coach Quinn, but really
just everybody in the building just you know, pushing me
to be more vocal. Bobby Wagner, you know, everybody just
standing on me, man when they know that time they
couldn't really hear me on the field. So Coach Quinn
always said like would you want to be led by you?
So you know, like when he say that, I'm like okay,
like like let me make sure I'm getting the calls
(03:41):
out everybody can hear him, and I just show my
leadership on the field.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
You told me last time we sat and spoke, you
said that will motivate you as being overlooked, you were
under recruited even playing your whole life right even.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
The second round pick.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
You know, I'm sure you feel like you're supposed to
go on the first So what motivates you now? Because
now you're getting recognition now you're getting in love now.
People are really starting to see who you are. So
what motivates you now?
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Really?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Man?
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Just this team, the guys around me, and uh, just
not want to let the team down, man, And uh,
just trying to put my best feel forward. And you know,
just knowing that these coaches believe in me and my
teammates believe in me, and uh, you know, I'm just
gonna go out and get him my best every play,
every down, every game. And I feel like it shows.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
You've got a new rerunnament in Jeremy Chin. And I'm
sure you hadn't seen it, but I spoke to him.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
And we had a moment. It was very weird.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I'm not gonna lost wars off the but Jeremy Chin
is like, I'm pissed off and he's got real, real
angry Like playing next to a guy like that that
really like he locks in when.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
He's on that field.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
Man, he's been you know, somebody I've looked up to
since day one. Man, Just you know how he carris
yourself in the building, how he handles itself on the
practice field. So they're just kind of taking a little
things for him, and he don't really even know, but
you know, I'm peeping you know everything he's doing. You
know how he handled every situation.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Man.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
So I've really learned a lot from that dude. And
you know, he's just been that voice for me, that
you're for me, that leader, and you know, you've just
been pushing me to communicate more, like I said, And
it's been great man to play alongside him.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, we had an event where it was me, you
and Jeremy Channing.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
During that event, you said something I thought was very
interesting because it didn't really dawn on me.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
But this is really your first time getting to focus
on one position. You said.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
You're like, man, this is my first time not having
to be all overfield. Man, why why is that so
important to you this season? And why has it been
so beneficial for.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
I Just feel like, you know, it allowed me to
reach my full potential. You know, I can do it
but just float around everywhere, man, I feel like it's
kind of hard to really just lock in on the
small details at each and every position. But yeah, man,
it's just been special for me. And I talked to
my mom, my parents, my girlfriend, every everybody about you know,
(05:46):
just the focus that comes with you know, playing a position,
and the coaches, like I said, they just pushed me
to be more vocal, be that leader and just be
that voice on this defensive.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
And you've been so special this year.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Man, I can't wait to see what you do Sunday
against the the Browns. We'll be back home again. It'll
be your first time back home. We've been on a
little road trip. The fans have showed up and showed
out for us. Man on this road, we've seen them
so much. And then at the home game, it was crazy, Man,
How excited you to see those fans again after being.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
On the road for so long.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Man, Super excited, Man, just to go in and play
another home game.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
I like the fans. They've they've been, you know, pretty excited,
you know with everything going on in the building with
the program and uh, you know, I just fly. You know,
it's time for us to take that next step and
uh just get a fans what they want to see.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And Kwama has been great seeing you developed.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Man.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Man can't wait to see you out on that field. Brother,
appreciate your time, Appreciate.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
You now command this family. Have to bring in a
very special friend of mine. She pulled up for training
camp and saw all the great things we were doing
out here, and it's continued to show the Burgundy and
Gold a lot of national love. Now Command is family.
It's not always the next man up. Sometimes it's the
next woman. For the first time, we have a woman
(06:58):
on the show, so we're gonna call it next Woman.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
It up.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
She is from national media. She has a big time show.
Welcoming in Kay Adams. How are you doing.
Speaker 7 (07:07):
I'm so great, next woman, I'd like to do this.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yes, we love it.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
We love and talk about we'd like to talk about,
you know, our past, what got us here. And just
like me, we don't end up in our seats, right,
We don't end up doing what we do unless we
love the game of football. So you tell me when
did you find your love for football?
Speaker 7 (07:24):
Oh man?
Speaker 8 (07:25):
I started to love football growing up in Chicago. I
was raised by two Polish immigrants who'd never heard of football,
and the Bears were very good or competitive, and me
and my brother just wanted to figure out what's like
the most American communal, bring everybody together thing everybody's talking about.
We of course had the bulls at that point with
(07:46):
Michael Jordan, but still football was huge in Chicago, so
you know, we had Matt Forte and we had Devin
Hester to root for as I was growing up, and then.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
I really liked fantasy football. If you were really.
Speaker 8 (07:57):
Asking me, like, at what point was I like, I
love this. It's the fact that I'm really competitive. So
and I got in my first year drafted my team,
didn't really know the players very well, learned about them.
I won my league the first year I played. But
I think, like I'm trying to think of who it was.
Matt Fourte was definitely on my team, and at that
point it was you have this wealth of knowledge about
(08:18):
thirty two teams and all these different players, not just
the fifty three in your hometown. And I love that
and the competitive nature of it. And I think that
just the storylines of it and getting my heart broken
watching the Bears and to the cults after that Devin
Hester trutch down like that sort of is where it.
Speaker 7 (08:32):
Snapped my heart.
Speaker 8 (08:32):
But similarly to you, you know what you're saying, you
have to love the game. I love celebrating the game.
I love that I'm still at this point curious about
absolutely everything, every team, every storyline, and that's really what's
driven me to keep loving it as much as I do.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
And I'm sure that's what keeps you so interesting when
you do these interviews, when you talk because you have
you know, you're inquisitive, you want to know things, and
we see some great stuff. And you actually were here
during training camp. You had the chance to go to
every think like twelve or fourteen like spots.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
How many thank you?
Speaker 6 (09:05):
Twenty?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Oh my goodness, twenty different training camps and you came
to kick it with us. It was so hot, it
was just the day. What you got to see what
a lot of people are seeing now. You got to
see Jaden Daniels and company and see what they could do.
When you were back here in training camp, did you
really like see what was going to be happening? Did
you have a feeling that hey, commanders a brot to
do something special.
Speaker 8 (09:27):
I thought he was how he looked out there, and
I liked his and that's what I still like now.
I just liked his composure. I liked how he was
carrying himself out there. But I will say my big
take of meeting you and you brought a lot of
energy to our life on up and atoms in that trip.
Speaker 7 (09:45):
But it was so hot.
Speaker 8 (09:46):
I remember, we were so well taken care of by
the commanders. My takeaway was, oh, man, they don't want
me to blow up their spot.
Speaker 7 (09:54):
My thought was.
Speaker 8 (09:55):
And I sat with Dan Quinn for twenty minutes, and
I sat with pain and I, you know, got to
ha you know, the no part of Johan Dutson and
every Bobby Wagner who I've known for.
Speaker 7 (10:04):
Years and years and years.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
The sort of takeaway was like, don't like, don't talk
about us. You know, at that point Dkey was unwilling
to name Jaden the starter, and I was like, oh, no,
is that a bad thing?
Speaker 7 (10:17):
Is that a good thing?
Speaker 8 (10:17):
But it was all a really thoughtful, methodical way of
carrying out this vision that they've all had. And I
really took away this kid is special and they don't
want anybody to know about it until week one. Of course,
you sawated in college and we know that he's a
special player, but he's sort of a one on one
player as well, So I knew. I knew it was
a secret they were trying to keep a lid on.
Speaker 7 (10:39):
That's what I know.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
Okay, we appreciation you keeping that secret for us. But
now that the speakers down now we know what we
have in jayde Dane's real quickly. So you talked to
dan Quinn that I'll talk to a lot of cultures
during your tour. What about dan Quinn stood out to you?
Speaker 8 (10:50):
I think he never gets enough credit for what a
transcendent leader he is. And it's not always superstars. He's
somebody whether you have a that you know, he's somebody
that you know. Aaron Rodgers, I think he could coach him,
while I think you can coach you. I'm rookie like
Jayden Daniels and everything in between, and not every coach
is like that.
Speaker 7 (11:08):
He is so thoughtful.
Speaker 8 (11:10):
I believe that would be a word that I would
use to describe him. As far as a leadership style,
I think he's very organized and mindful about what he
wants to execute, what Jaden needs, what these veterans need
in the messaging. He's always been like that back even
when I knew him with the Falcons. It was about mottos,
it was about buying in. It's about toughness, high energy,
(11:30):
and that's the kind of coaching that's really working in
the NFL right now.
Speaker 7 (11:34):
He had so much success.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Of course, Matt Ryan MVP ye or MVP candidate, and
now we see what he's doing with Jaden and as
special as Jayden is, we have to give Dann credit
for that.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
And I love talking to people like you. Go are outside, right,
you're in the national media, so you're not here. I'm
drinking the kool aid every day. So me, I'm going
to be feeling good. I'm going to be feeling like
we're going to be winning every single game because that's
my job to do that.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
But you you're in the national media on the outside.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
So you tell me at three and one, right now,
how do you feel about the lost Commander is always
for real?
Speaker 8 (12:02):
Oh, you know, it's so funny because you're on the inside.
But I'm friends with Kevin Durant. Now you know over
on FanDuel he is the biggest Commander's fan. I will
say it's a very interesting experience to have. Sometimes, you know,
teams really buy into their hype. Sometimes fans enjoy it,
which is actually really rare. And then sometimes fans are
really demanding and the Bears are like that, you know,
(12:24):
like they're not giving Caleb much patience.
Speaker 7 (12:26):
Much of that.
Speaker 8 (12:27):
Commanders are different. I think it's a fan base that's
waited for it so long. On the outside is very
fun to see guys like Kevin Durant or some fans,
some celebrity fans, Guys that I've known for a long time,
Women that I've known for a long time who have
never told me that their Commanders fans are like, thanks
for saying that about my Commanders, and I'm like, you're Commanders,
and they're like, no lifelong fan, but for whatever reason,
(12:49):
I don't even know about it. So there's certainly this
excitement that I'm feeling known when it comes to ball.
Absolutely they should be considered a contender on up and
atoms today and talking about where DeVante Adams should go.
So I had a list of contenders, and among those
kind of boys, sorry, and among the Jets and the
reuniting with you know, Aaron Rodgers, I put the Commanders
because that's a team that has the space, the need.
(13:12):
They were interested in Brandon Nayuk and what I'm saying
more about the holistic big part of it is that's
a team that I would love to make that move
because it shows you just how all in they are
for this year.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
And I love that because we know you're a Devonte
Adams for it, right. We know that you guys are good,
so I'm hoping they're giving him a little bit of
extra Like, hey man, you know, Burning and Gold ain't
too bad. You know, maybe we talked to the ages
that make that happen, but you just were part of
this Davante Adams debacle right now.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
We don't want to speculate on where he will go.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
However, I find it very I admire it because I
understand what it's like, right, having these personal relationship with players,
but then having to do our jobs as well.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
How tough is it.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Knowing that, like y'all would have a regular conversation about
this and this and that, but then having to do
your job in a way where you can't really spill
the beans on what a player like that's going to do.
But you guys have a relationship where you probably kind
of know where.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
His heads really is.
Speaker 8 (14:02):
I'm just as curious as everybody else to see what happened.
Speaker 7 (14:05):
I said it on my show this morning.
Speaker 8 (14:07):
I think I want I know that I want him
to be happy, and I want him to be playing
meaningful football, and I want him to get a ring.
Speaker 7 (14:12):
I think he deserves it. I think it'd be so
nice if he made.
Speaker 8 (14:15):
The move to secure the bag and be with his
old quarterback and it didn't work out, and now the
move gets made where he does get to contend on
the team. I think last week I asked him about
Jayden Daniels before a lot of this was going on,
and he was emphatic. He went so far as to say,
and I do think DeVante Adams a very easy interview,
very honest, very he doesn't think about it, He's already
(14:38):
thought about the question. He sort of knows the line
of questioning in his head. And he's a true adult,
like a true adult in the way he carries himself
and always has. So it's a very easy interview because
sometimes you worry about how a question is going to
be taken, or how to ask a question in a
way that's going to be respectful, or to get the
(14:59):
information you want, where I don't really have that with Davante.
I really can ask him anything and I know he'll
understand what I'm he'll say what he's going to say,
which he has this entire time. But I asked him
about Jaden and I was a little surprised. I didn't
think I'd get as emphatic of a response where he
said man, I thought, well, you know, I think he's
sort of joking saying, man, I you know if he'd
(15:20):
fallen to us, if only he had fallen to the Raiders,
and you know, the Internet had their way with that.
But really what he's saying is, I'm seeing how special
this young player is that me at my age I
would love to play with him. I see his skills
like Evets don't give Brookies love like that. They just don't.
So that's all you needed to hear from a guy
like Adam's on this. But as far as where he's
(15:40):
going to go, wouldn't that be wild to have him there?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Like?
Speaker 8 (15:44):
Absolutely wild. I can't even imagine what that city would
be like.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
It would make my job a lot more. You tell
you about job's already extremely interesting. So you talk about
these places that DeVante AM's may fit. So let's talk
about the Commanders. Why do you think why was he
Why would the Commanders on your list of places he
would be a good fit for.
Speaker 7 (16:01):
I think because a lot of it is.
Speaker 8 (16:03):
I think Adam Peters did a really good job of
foundationally getting this team to where it needs to be.
And when you're sitting there at three in a run
and you're looking at the complexion of the division that
you're in, and you feel the confidence that Cliff Kingsbury
brings you and that this young quarterback brings you, like,
where's the time to waste?
Speaker 7 (16:18):
Sort of a situation. And we heard the rumors. I'm
sure you did as well.
Speaker 8 (16:22):
You know more than I do about their interests in
Brandon Ayuk in the off season. They were, you know, interesting,
if they were asking or interest in acquiring him, why
would they not feel that way with DeVante Adams? So
that sort of made sense. I think Adam Peters has
it in him. It takes a certain sort of GM
to feel supported by his ownership group and to feel
like the coaching is here right now, in the here
(16:44):
and now to make it happen. And it sort of
seems like it's all working right now and I couldn't
be more excited.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Hey, I love your energy and optimism on it. I
guess we'll just have to wait and see. Just like you,
I have no insider info, but just like the rest
of the four, do.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
You need him?
Speaker 2 (16:59):
It's a great question, That's how I asked me to ask,
because to me, it's like get a weapon, you get
a weapon, right. However, I love the receivers, the tight ends,
I love the weapons we already have in the building,
and we three.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
And one, so it's hard to say we need really anything.
Speaker 8 (17:10):
Yeah, I would just say, like if you don't get
them and it goes to the Jets or you don't
want to go to the Cowboys and and CD, that
we don't want.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
We don't want that.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
If we're Washington, if you.
Speaker 8 (17:19):
Know, if it goes somewhere and you don't get him
like Sill, I wouldn't cry about it if I was
Washington Nott right now.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Yeah, right, there's so many other things to be optimistic about,
and you don't really see that like here, like you
always want that big name free agent, like people freak.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Out about it.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
But now that things are going so well, people are
kind of chilling, like, oh, you know, if it happens, happens,
you know, it's a different type of energy.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Ink.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I know you're busy. I know you got a lot
of people in your CAREB right now. I appreciate you
taking the time World War question for before we go,
we have the Cleveland Browns and I'm not sure if
you went to Cleveland during your training camp visits. However,
I do know you're very familiar with all NFL teams,
So ask you what kind of challenges does a team
like the Cleveland Browns pose for the Commanders. Yes, we
know they're struggling right now, however, they still have a
(17:57):
gotten to Shaun Watson that can get it done.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
I got to be honest, I don't think it's a challenge.
And I hope that this I obviously don't want this.
Commanders seem to be looking past them, but this should
be a team that's looking and staring down you know,
four and one, by being consistent, by having Jaden be
as special as he is. And I would say, I
really don't see the challenge. I feel like the Browns
are inconsistent and they what they lack is what the
(18:21):
Commanders have, and that's confidence and that's poise. And you're
seeing a very lack of confidence on that offense with
the Browns. And I would say, I would say that
the most impressive thing I've seen. I mean, there's obviously
lots to be excited about with the Commander's offense, but
Jayden and will he he doesn't do it often, but
he made a mistake, you know, and once when he
makes a mistake, that's when I'm watching. I'm saying, oh boy,
(18:42):
how is he going to handle himself? How's and for
him to just no problem pull it together. That is veteran,
that is poised. That is I'm not afraid that if
he turns the ball over that he's not getting it back.
Cheering on his defense and he's going to go right
down and score. We've seen that now and I think
that gives that gives them the edge going into this game, and.
Speaker 7 (19:02):
It better not be close. Commanders, Jay, I love.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
The optimism, and you know what, it sounds like, we're
starting to make you a Burgundy and Gold fan slowly.
But Chirley, you don't got to change your family yet.
We don't bring you up on this side.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
I wanted to go to a game so bad.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
I was supposed to come for the Giants opener, and
then I wasn't able to come, And now I'm really
really trying to get down there. But but yes, just
so everybody knows, Kevin Durant comes on up in Adams
and he told me he's picking the commanders every week.
Speaker 7 (19:28):
That he comes out.
Speaker 8 (19:29):
He's a true like a like a sick pup level fan.
So and I'm sure everybody out there knows that as well.
So he will be cheering on the Commanders and I
will be helping be the.
Speaker 7 (19:38):
Hype girl too.
Speaker 6 (19:39):
Hey, we love that. Hopefully you can get kick on
next man up as well.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
We have y'all both on.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
We love the Burgundy and gold love Kate, thank you
so much for your time.
Speaker 6 (19:47):
It's always we appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I love seeing what you're doing with Uppen Adams and
just you just you're just a shooting star taking off.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
So thank You's amazing.
Speaker 8 (19:54):
You have the bad vibes in the business that should
be on your little undertitle.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
Here.
Speaker 6 (19:59):
I take Friday and that I'll take. Hey, I'll take
you take I promise this.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Man commanded family, y'all. Next moving up from up in Adams,
Hey Adams, thank you so much, Key.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Command this family for our next man up.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You know, we love to bring in a legend and
this one is a true legend. Fifteen years in the
NFL Hall of Fame, career holds so many records for
a defensive back. Was drafted here in the first round,
seventh overall and it's just a true legend, one of
the best to ever do it in this game. Welcome
me in, Champ Bailey. My boy got the lok saw.
(20:37):
He's comfee. You feeling good?
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Yeah, man, thanks for having me. Man, I'm chilling.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Oh man.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
It's a blessing to have you. And we have so
much to talk about. But I want to start in
the beginning. Man, I want to start in the beginning.
When you got drafted to Washington. That was a while ago.
But take us back there. What was young Champ Bailey
feeling thinking being drafted so high, going in the first round,
accomplishing those dreams?
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Yeah, man, twenty five years ago. You know, I think
back then, man, I just wanted to play ball.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
That's all that. Man, when you're young.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
I was twenty years old and they called by name,
you know, sort of a dramatic draft.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
But at that time, I was just I just wanted to.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Play ball, and I was fortunate enough to come to
a team that, you know, a story franchise, the hottest
division in football.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
It just it worked out perfectly.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
And then you know, the people I got to connect with,
that's a whole other story.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's not every day, a rookie comes in and has
a locker room right next to Daryl Green, and then
I locker right next to Deon Sanders. Those are Hall
of Fame players and you're coming in and getting that
pedigree right away.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
How valuable was that for young chat Bailey? Well?
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Very valuable.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Well, if you remember, it was just Darren at first,
and you know, our defensive back coach, Tom Hayes really
just put me under Dal's wing and and Drell taught
me only he could, right, it was it was. It
was interesting because we were two different type of players
as far as how we were built, you know, the
(22:14):
things we could do. You know, I was a press corner.
He was off, you know, just staying step for step
with guys.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
That was his mo.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
But the things I learned from him were crucial to
the early part of my career. I mean, I mean, honestly, man,
if I didn't have him in those moments, I didn't
know how to play corner until we got together. Like
I was an athlete, I mean you could see I
could do things, but I had the tools.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
But ultimately, man, it was it.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Was his tutelage that really got me over the top
and solidified who I was going to be earlier in
my career.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
What were some of those things that he did tell
you that helped you? Like, you know, as people that
that don't play the game right, they're like, man, what
are those that advice that you get?
Speaker 1 (23:03):
But it could be anything under the sun.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
It could be life things, it could be family things,
it could be financial things. What were some of those
things that you did get from Darryl green Well?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
He used to have this saying, uh, he still uses it,
I'm sure like your hands are great, but your feet
are better. And what he met is, you know when
when I play bump and run. The thing about Darryl
he don't.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
He don't like to touch people at the line. He
never did.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
His thing was I'm just gonna move with you. You go,
you go later on going latter two and and he
would always tell me, you know, it's great, you got
these long arms, you're strong and all this.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
You've got a bigger body type. But it's really about
your feet.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
And I teach that now when I'm teaching any young
kid about anything, it's all about your feet. And you know,
just just narrowing and focusing in on what was important
and then my hands were just the bonus, and I
bought into it.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
I bought into it because I saw him do it.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
You know, he was good at it, and I'm like, man,
if I could put that in my game where it's
not about it if I touch you, it's more about
if I could stay with you. And you know, it
really helped me become a great bumping rint corner corner,
you know, early in my career, and.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
You're competing and growing as a corner and then they
bring Deon Sanders in one of a legend, right, one
of the best to ever do it.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Man, how did that affect you?
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Well?
Speaker 4 (24:32):
That sort of solidified everything Daryl was saying, because you
got to think my rookie year is really just the
process of me buying in. But then here comes Dion
and then what I realized. You know, Dione would do things,
but he was he was always conscious of his footwork.
Now this is later in his career. He's really buying
into his technique. And you know he would get in
(24:53):
this motorcycle stance and you know people would always.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
You know, try to emulate that.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
But not only was it a fear tactic, it was
still he would when he wouldn't go at you. He
would still come back to bas and being square and
trying to move with you. So it was always about defeat.
And I'm more built like Dion than Darryl, Like we're
both taller, longer corners, you know, with great speed and quickness,
(25:21):
and to be able to understand and buy into the
aspect of your cheek being the integral part of why
you stay toe to toe with these bigger receivers and
these quick guys. I mean it really, it really solidified
what I was going.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
To be and what I could be and what to
do for your confidence because I read somewhere that when
da comes in, you're immediately right like he's the o G.
So you're like, you know what, he's the starter, he's
taking it all. But that wasn't necessarily the case, was
it for you?
Speaker 3 (25:48):
No, it wasn't.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
You know.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
What's funny is that that was my initial thought, like,
I'm not starting. Here's two of my itels obviously gonna
play before me. I was reassured by north Turner like, no,
you're starting one of them coming off the bench.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
It's you know, because I think they knew that I was.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I was in for a great second year because of
how I finished my rookie year. You know, I really
I think that's one playoff game we won that year.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
I had a really good game.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
I mean it was it was just one of those
things like, oh man, coming off this off season, this
kid is ready. And I think they knew that and
I felt it too.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
But still these are my itels. I didn't playing before then.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
But it worked out great because you know, they wanted
to see me grow and become what they had already done,
and you know, it was a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
And Chimp, I really just don't think young corners get
that type of like game and that type of just
path that you have. What is your favorite memory from
Washington when you were playing days in Washington?
Speaker 4 (26:55):
You know, I got some good memories, and it's more
about the people I played with. I mean, you mentioned
two of the greatest right two first ballot Hall of
Fame corners, and I give them a lot of credit
for get me on that first ballot, but it's the
Bruce Smith, ah Man, Sam Jade liilm Evans. I mean,
(27:20):
these guys that were, they were they had something to
do with my growth as a young player.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Darryl pounds. Who who the guy I replaced as a starter?
Speaker 4 (27:34):
I mean I started from my first game, but he
was the starter, you know, all through the spring summer,
we got the training camp, he was a starter, and
then I ended up starting before the first game.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
But he didn't let that get in the way of
him mentoring me, teaching me little things.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
It was just it was just great to have that
kind of mentorship early. So I mean that's what I
really remember the most because every time I see a
guy get drafted, I'm always looking at, well, who's his vets?
Like who are the guys that are gonna be you know,
and you don't know where that leadership for that mentorship
(28:12):
is gonna come from when you walk in the door,
because you don't know these guys, you just see them.
I didn't think Bruce Smith would take to me and
look at me as a potential Hall of famer like himself,
Like these guys were already Hall of Famer.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
Before I ever stepped on the field with them.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
So having that it really it really helped me early
on because I knew what success looked like and I
got the witness it.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Every day we talk about these Washington memories.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
I always think of this photo that I see all
the time, because, as you know, I work with Fred
Smooth quite a lot, so you know, we're looking them
up and doing different things, and there's this photo of you,
Darryl Green and Fred Smooth walking down the field y'all
and y'all uniforms.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
What was it like being a veteran, I guess when
you're still young as well. By having a young guy
like Smooth come into the building and come into the locker.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Room, I mean, it was, it was fun. It was
It was a lot of fun. We had a lot
of good time together. I think it gave a different dynamic.
But you know the thing about Smoothest, he was just
as hungry as I was. You know, he thought he
was the best. He played and practiced like it. And
(29:23):
I would like to think he took some of those
traits that I could show him at that young age
of how to be successful. Because I'm coming off my
first Pro Bowl and then he comes in, Dion goes out,
but Daryl's still there, so we do have our steady
hand at the top. You know, we all respected him
and you know his leadership. But here's Smooth who hasn't
(29:47):
changed a bit, so if you've been around and you
know how he was even back then, like it was
even worse back then, Like how loud and disruptive he were.
He was, but he but I think all in all,
what mattered the most is that he wanted to be
a great football player. He thought he was, and he
worked like it. And man, he was the most fun
(30:09):
teammate I've ever been around. Because it wasn't nothing. He
wasn't down to do it. So, you know, we had
some really good time together. I learned some things from him,
you know, just just little stuff, man, you know.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
The way he played.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
He couldn't do some of the things I could do,
and I couldn't do some things he could do.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
Like it was just you know, as Darrel always had the.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Same man, there was no real book on how to
play corner like you got to figure out what works
for you. There's some things that are constant. But all
in all, man, we're all different. We all gonna get
it done differently.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
And the same way you talk about Fred is the
same way he talks about you.
Speaker 8 (30:45):
Man.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
He revers you guys so much for being those Ojizu
just helped him out being those guys that helped him
just kind of ease his way into the NFL, because
that's a tough locker room to go in and compete with,
right when you got two guys that are really man
established like that, and you know now that you're back
in the fall, Man, let me tell you there's nobody
these fans love more than Fred Smooth. And I don't
know outside of you and Daryl, I don't know if
there's anybody that can give us those Fred Smooth stories.
(31:08):
So if you would give us just that one favorite
memory of your time in friendschoo, whether he's being crazy,
whether he's talking trash in the locker room, because we
hear stories all the time, but I'd love to hear
it from somebody else.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
I never forget this one time. Well, I got two
little things for you, but one is more embarrassing for me.
One is kind of his personality. So you know, as rookies,
you know, I wouldn't say it was hazing, but we
would always make him do certain things. And I can't
remember what the demand was from Smooth, and he just
(31:39):
bust out, man, I'll take the physical challenge. And he
had no idea what he was getting himself into. So
we ended up taping him to the gold post. It
was just but it was smooth though. He was not
going to go down the traditional way. He's not gonna sing,
he's not gonna go get food. He didn't do he
didn't want to do anything. So he was just like,
(32:01):
I'll take the physical challenge. I'm like, I didn't know
what that meant. Of course, I'm not grabbing him and
taking him to the gold post, but I'm making sure
the big boys don't hurt him along the way, right.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
So, but that was who he was.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
But there's also this one incident. I was about to
be late for practice, and I don't know if Freddy
gonna remember this, but but I called Smooth. I'm on
the other side the beltway, and I'm like, Smooth, I'm
forty five minutes out.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
Practice started fifteen minutes. Just tell coach. I'm in the
bathroom on the toilet, Like, just tell him.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
So our coach at the time, I mean, you gotta think,
like I'm kind of established. I'm in my fourth or
fifth year at this point, and you know, I could
get away with some things.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
But at the same.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
Time, I'm accountable and I.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Never did and push the envelope.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
But this one particular time, I just overslept up and
I'm on my way to the facility.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
I mean, I'm trying to you know, the belt Way unpredictable.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
Yeah, so I'm traffic weaving in and now trying to
go back to Potonac and just trying to get down
in Virginia to get the practice. And he held it
down for me till I got there. Of course, they
didn't ask a lot of questions. I remember running out
on the field, staying out there for about twenty minutes,
and running back in like I had to go to
the bathroom because I had to sell the story because
(33:30):
coach thought I had a messed up stothing could get
just be over like that.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
So it was just one of them things, man. And
that's what Smooth was.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
Man. Smooth looked out for me. I looked out for him.
And you know, I'll never forget those moments with him, okay, man.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
And and then Fred talks about those moments a lot too, man.
So it's a member of love on both.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Sides of that.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I can't wait to talk to Hi about it. And
I'm sure what y'all was taking him to the goal post.
He was talking trash deep.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Yeah the whole time, the whole time.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
He didn't shut up one second of it. But it
was who he was and we all laughed too. You know,
nobody wanted to harm me. You just you know, sometimes
you gotta let rookies know.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
It's great to hear those stories because some of you
guys were a true brotherhood.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
And so then I gotta I gotta move forward to
you were traded.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
You were traded for Clinton ports a lot of fans
to this day, one of my best friends is a
Washington fan, and he says it worst trade ever in
NFL history because they felt like they lost somebody they
truly loved. In a champ Bailey talk to us about
what you went through during that time. So I'm sure
you didn't see it coming, or maybe you did. I
know you loved playing here. How did that trade effect?
(34:33):
You bring us back then?
Speaker 1 (34:33):
And you know what went down?
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Well, at the.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Time, they you know, we were contract negotiating. Is you know,
really weird when you're playing. But I remember during that season,
my fifth year, my last year in Washington, they just.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Kept lowballing me.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
And you know, I remember the last statement they told
my agent was you'll never get that what we were
asking for. So that's when they decided, Okay, well we're
gonna attempt to trade, and.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
They franchised me. Then they didn't tempt to trade me.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
I remember Joe Gibbs called me because he was becoming
in as a new coach and I never got to
play for him, but he called me.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
It was like, I hope he worked this out, YadA YadA, But.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
Of course he had no real saying how that was
gonna work out. We didn't have a relationship, so there
was no like loyal to I expected from him.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
But long story short, man, it was just they decided
to trade me.
Speaker 4 (35:28):
I told Denver what I wanted if I would because
I could have bucked the trade all together by not
signing the franchise tag.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
Right, and Denver looked at the contract.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Yeah, they wanted to pay me exactly what I was
asking for, so I was like, damn, I should ask
for more. But you know, at that time that was
good enough. But you know, it happened, and then you know,
I was a little upset with the fact that we
were losing porters. I was like, we can't trade somebody
(36:01):
else because I'm a running back fan. I grew up
playing running back. I played running back in high school.
I'm a running back fan and I love Clinton Ports.
So I'm like, damn, so we gotta go. I gotta
go to Denver. He's coming here. But I think the
icing on the cake was the second round pick, which
they eventually used to get Tatum Ball. So I was
(36:23):
feeling like, oh yeah, we got a we got a good,
good deal. We got this other fast back from from
Oklahoma State and it worked out. But at the time, man,
I did not want Porters to leave. Pray somebody else,
like anybody, but this guy, like I was a big
fan of his and what he did in his short career.
I mean, I think he was coming off his second
(36:45):
season or something. I can't I can't remember, but he was.
He was all pro back, And for me, it was
just it was a little daunting because I didn't.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
Know what to expect. I think Denver, I think snow,
you know, yeah, now I'm going.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
But I'm going to a team and a franchise that
had a good run up to that point and having
a great run game, always in the playoffs, just always
a winning pedigree. I'm like, it's just it just made
it made sense for me in that point in my
career that I make this lead and then, you know,
fortunate enough for guys at that point in their career
(37:23):
it's fifth sixth year when you moved to another team,
people look at you as a leader coming in, So
I had that respect walking in obviously, you know, big
responsibility to be a leader, going from a guy that
was kind of raised in Washington. But now I'm over
here and people think I've done as much as you
(37:43):
know most guys whole career, you know, So it's just
you know, the respect was there. You know they treated
me well, and you know it was the best thing
happened in my career to get traded.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
But in that moment, right like now, we can look
back and say it's the best thing ever. But like
you said, you were raised in Washington, you loved it here.
Did that put a chip on your shoulder? Not just
getting traded but also you know, having to go through
these negotiations and then not really seeing your value.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Did all that put a chip on.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Your shoulder a little bit? A little bit?
Speaker 4 (38:11):
You know, I wasn't really concerned with the past, and
it did. I think what bothered me is that they
didn't respect you know, what I had done, you know,
and it was like, you know, I've been the four
straight Pro Bowls in my five years there, you know,
and I was an alternate as a rookie. But I think,
(38:34):
you know, that really opened my eyes to what really matters,
and it was relationships.
Speaker 3 (38:39):
And you know, they didn't draft me. Dan Snyder didn't
draft me.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
He took over ownership in the summer after I got
drafted by Charlie Cassell. So when Cassley ended up leaving
before my rookie season, you know, there was no they
weren't loyal to me. I mean, if you remember they
drafted LeVar Arrington as Samuelson next year. Well, Lamar ended
up getting a new deal before I left, so you
(39:05):
know you could tell.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Where the loyalties lot.
Speaker 4 (39:09):
I mean, and he deserved it, but I did too,
So it was just it was just obvious, you know,
I wasn't valued. So the best thing was for me
to leave and trust me. I told people all the time,
like I have equally as much Washington fans as Denver
fans come up to me to this day, tap me on.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
The shoulder, talk about the trade.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
It's equal and it's been like that since I left.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
That was twenty years ago, so you know that. So there.
It's always been in the back of my mind to
be reacclimated with the franchise, but it really did take
new ownership to get that done.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
And before we get onto you being back with the franchise,
we have to talk about that first ballot Hall of
Fame because clearly that trade led to what was a
race a great career, turned it into an amazing career,
and then you end up being a first ballot Hall
of Famer. From everything you've been through, man, all of
that stuff, even that trade, right, all of these things
being overlooked.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
What did that.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Moment mean for you to be able to be on
that stage and get that gold jacket?
Speaker 3 (40:15):
I mean it was amazing.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
Yeah, I think I'm on that stage with some guys
I played with, some guys I grew up revering.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
I mean, it was dude, it.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Was amazing, And you know it's people tell me, used
to tell me all the time. You know, within those
five years I was retired before I'm eligible. Yeah, you're
going first ballot, But I never really bought into it
because I'm like, man, anything can happen like that. There's
nothing more I could do to change the minds of
(40:47):
these voters, you know.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
But again it goes back to relationships.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
Like I just remember being a guy in the locker
room that the media could always come up to.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
And now who's voting the media. It's as simple as that.
Speaker 4 (41:06):
I mean, you know, that's that's funny because all these
these things carry over in life, and I'm like, oh, well,
football is a part of my life, so why does
it not exist here. I've seen so much evidence of
how much these relationships mean. And you know, I try
to tell guys all the time, no matter what, like
some point, your career is going to end, and what
your value is going to be based off the relationships
(41:28):
you've built. And I never got away from that. And
I'm lucky for me, it was natural for me. And
I think a lot of people can see how some
guys get left off and not get looked at for
a Hall of Fame, and they deserve it.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
There's so many guys that deserve to be in. But
I do think there's.
Speaker 4 (41:47):
Some people that are not in because they don't have
the right They just didn't rub people the right way
for whatever reason.
Speaker 3 (41:54):
Not that it's warranted, but it is what it is. Like,
that's just how it is, you know, and you know,
but I did.
Speaker 4 (42:03):
I do think my resume spoke for itself. So just
based off game alone, yeah, you know, I felt like
I should have been in, but again it's not in
my control. So I felt good because we had three
first ballots on my in my class with Ed Reed
and Tony Gonzales, and then you throw Tylo in the mix. Man,
(42:23):
you're talking about a hell of a secondary. That was
a great class man. I was just happy to be
in Man with some guys I love watching.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
Oh well deserved. Man, you were such a monster on
that field. And I'm sure Washington fans you know, they
missed you because we talked about this before we got on.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
You had not been back to after being traded.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
You had not The last time you had been in
Washington was O nine, you were playing for the Broncos
against US, and then you hadn't been back since until
last season. New ownership comes in and decides we are
going to make Champ Bailey our legend of the game
for our very first home game as new ownership, which
is I don't think people realize how big of a
deal that is, especially somebody that hadn't been in the
(43:05):
fold in a while.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
How much did that mean to you to be able
to be back on that field, have all those.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Burgundy and gold fans yell at you and cheer for
you and just be so happy to see you. Man,
What was that moment like for you after being separated
for so long?
Speaker 3 (43:17):
It was amazing and it was overdue, you know.
Speaker 4 (43:20):
And I got to give you know, Tim Hottower and
those guys a lot of credit for I mean, continuing
to reach out. And you know, there were calls for
me to come back, but again before new ownership, but
it never felt right. And then when the team was sold,
it just felt right at that time. It just they
(43:45):
they made me feel like I was part of the family.
And it never was a disconnection, because that's how close
knit these circles are when it comes to former athletes
and people you work with in this business. I mean,
those bonds are strong. It's not it's not hard to reconnect.
It's really not like we all could get around and
(44:06):
talk about our times as a player or administrator or
coach or whatever it may be. An owner, you know,
and it's one of those circles you always want to
be a part of. And I'm just happy to be
a part of one of the most story franchises ever
like this. I never wanted to disconnect, you know, from
the franchise and you know, but if you're not valued
(44:30):
in that way, then I'm not. I'm never going to
force my way into somebody's house. That's just not who
I am. But I got to give everybody there a
lot of credit. Man, they're really changing the culture. It's
been overdue. As you can tell.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
It's not hard to do that when when you have
a team and a fan base like that.
Speaker 4 (44:50):
Like like I say, man, there's more people just as
many people come up to me today about my time there,
and there's been so many great players.
Speaker 3 (45:00):
Clint Porters wasn't wasn't a bus. They got something break
out of that trade. So it wasn't like, yeah, it
wasn't like I left for nothing like he was. He
was a beast. So to be remembered, man, I mean,
it's it's gratifying.
Speaker 4 (45:14):
Man.
Speaker 3 (45:14):
It means a lot.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
And your ogi's getting loved too. He will be having
his jersey retired. I know you will be there for that, man,
how awesome.
Speaker 4 (45:22):
He hit me the other day, asked me, was I coming? Like,
what is he talking about?
Speaker 1 (45:27):
Of course I'm gonna be there. How big is that
gonna be there? You're gonna be on that field with him.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
Man, you're gonna see all of his hard work, because you,
better than anybody, have got to really see the work
and the time he put into his craft. And now
he's finally getting recognized. For man, how special is that
gonna be for somebody that.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
Was his mentee?
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Look, man, this dude. The fact that he's having to
wait this long is is.
Speaker 3 (45:53):
It's criminal. It doesn't make anything. But what people don't
understand is we've been can connected.
Speaker 4 (46:01):
Since I've retired, a lot a lot more since I
retired and over the years of my career, like we
always stayed connected, and for me it was it was.
Speaker 3 (46:14):
It was easy.
Speaker 4 (46:15):
Because I looked up to him, not for what he
did on the field, but more what he did off
the field. It's charity work, the business that he's done
since he's retired, and we worked with some of the
same companies now, so it's nothing to do. Like I say,
we never got disconnected, like he was always my mentor.
(46:35):
It still is like, we make sure we are on
the phone at least two or three times a year,
no matter what we're texting about something. You know, he's
presenting opportunities to me and vice versa. So it's there's
always been that bond. So I'm just happy to finally
see him get the recognition that's been overdue for all
(46:55):
these years. Nobody should everwhere twenty eight have ever again
on the whole league, Like it's he means that much
to the younger generation and the career.
Speaker 3 (47:06):
That he had. I mean, this dude played twenty one years.
Speaker 4 (47:09):
Come on, man, you tell me your corner getting past
fifteen These days it's not happening. So, I mean, I
got a lot of respect for him. I'm just happy
I could get there and witness it in person and
watch him cry again because you know he I can
tell this one got to him.
Speaker 3 (47:26):
You know, this one, this one really got to him.
Speaker 2 (47:29):
And it shows the love that you guys had for
this organization and this fan base, the way that you
guys get emotional on the way you got to show up.
So thank you for sharing that. And of course we
got to talk about today's game. We got a lot
of young secondary in there. We got kwalm Martin, we
got Mike Sanders Shill, we have emmanual Force, We have
all these young guys and a lot of things are changing.
How do you feel about the lay of the land
(47:50):
now for Washington.
Speaker 1 (47:51):
And how bright our future looks?
Speaker 4 (47:53):
Well, looks great, I think, you know, defensively, we've always
had some good pieces, just and consistent, and I think
the one constant thing that we have been missing is
the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (48:09):
And we've had a good running game here and there.
Speaker 4 (48:13):
And Brian Robinson looks like a beast for some reason. Man,
he just looked beast mood now for some reason. I
don't know what it is.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
He always was that he always wasn't just you.
Speaker 3 (48:23):
Know, but it feels different.
Speaker 4 (48:26):
It feels like he has another level of confidence that
I hadn't seen. He pops out on the screen to
me like and I feel like in some ways that
reflects the leadership that he has Silently. I don't know
who he is or what type of person he is,
but it just feels like he's energizing the team for
(48:47):
some reason. Now, don't get me wrong, you know, it's
obviously early in his career, but you know, one thing
about this league. If you've noticed, man, you got to
be mobile like that. All the good quarterbacks now have mobility.
I think the least mobile guy is Yo Borrow and
he can move a little bit. So I mean it's
if you don't have some mobility, you're not gonna win early.
(49:10):
And Jayden Daniels looks good in that pocket. But when
you can dial up a quarterback run here and there,
Lamar Jackson, like, I mean, it's dangerous, man. He creates
another headache for the defense, something else they gotta work on.
So you just never know what's coming at you. And boy,
coordinator got to be in heaven with a guy like this.
Speaker 2 (49:33):
I think we are all at heaven, man, and we
cannot wait till Sunday's game against the Browns to see
them boys go out there and just continue to get better.
And before we let you go on Sunday as well
as Santanta Mans another guy that works with me and
fred a lot, he will be the legend of the game.
And you were defensive back for a very long time,
so there's nobody prepared for receivers quite like you. Can
you give us a little bit of Santana Moss story,
(49:55):
something about Santanta mass when you would line up agains
him and playing what kind of player was he in?
How cool is it to see a OG like that
get get on it, just like you were honored last season?
Speaker 3 (50:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (50:04):
Fortunate though for me, I never had to match up
against him, so I didn't I didn't have to like
really tear into who he was. But you know, he
one thing you couldn't, you know, get away from or
at least ignore, was his speed. I mean, he was
just one of those guys and he was always taking
the lid off the defense and just really putting pressure
(50:25):
on him. So I can remember preparing that week and
we were just always trying to figure out, like when
is he going deep? And I never forget he beat
me on a corner route. They were in some kind
of bunch formation or something and he was lined up
at the first receiver. Now, usually the first receive it
don't go deep. He's usually the one going under or
(50:46):
run something short. And ran a corner from that number
one spot and I'm like, whoa hold on? And man,
like I say, man, this dude here, he's one of
those guys that's super underrated. We don't talk about enough
I mean every time his highlights pop up on my timeline,
I just sit I just sit there and watch him.
I mean, because he was amazing to watch. I only
(51:07):
played him that one I think that one. Maybe once
othern when he was with the Jets, but that that
one time I remember vividly.
Speaker 3 (51:15):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (51:15):
Man.
Speaker 2 (51:16):
And it's so great just having legends like you guys
as part of this building. I think it speaks to
not only the fan based on how much you guys
are the fans, but just the people that you guys
are too.
Speaker 1 (51:23):
Man so Champ. We're so happy to have you back
in the fall.
Speaker 3 (51:25):
Man.
Speaker 1 (51:26):
We ain't gonna let you go. We're gonna hold on
to you tight now. Man chat. We're so happy to
have it.
Speaker 3 (51:30):
Man, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (51:31):
Yes, sir, Man, thank you for your time.
Speaker 2 (51:32):
Bro.
Speaker 1 (51:32):
We really appreciate having you on.
Speaker 3 (51:34):
Man all right, Man, looking forward to seeing y'all peace.
Speaker 2 (51:37):
Man Commanded, Sammy, we appreciate you watching this episode of
Next Man Up. You can stream every episode of Next
Man Up, even last seasons, on the Commander's YouTube page
or wherever you get your podcast. Until Next Time Command
His Family. I'm Brian Corpa JUNR. And this is next
man up,
Command Is Family.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the Next Man Up Podcast, and we have
special guests for you.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
We have Kwan Martin.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We have to go back a little bit to Arizona
where me and Kwan Martin caught up before the world
trip handed. Then we have a true legend Hall of
Famer first Ballot Hall of Famer Champ Bailey joins the
show to talk about his time in Washington and our
happy year is to be back in the fall. Then
we got to get some national love. Hey Adams joins
the show to talk about the thing she's seen from
(00:26):
the Washington Commanders. All that starts now on Next Man Up.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
What's good? Command Is Family. This is Next Man Up.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I'm your host, Blind Cope Junior here with somebody extremely special,
Kwan Martin, my brother.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Man.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's good to see you.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
Appreciate you man.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I think last time we sat down like this, you.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
K like ota yeah, man, like yeah, like ten months
ago type stuff, like you you are really your rookie
and like things have changed for you.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Tell us what has changed for you in year two
since that last time we spoke.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Really man, Just being able to learn, grow, develop, you know,
just kind of find my way in the league. And uh,
you know, just get in while I fit there pretty much, man,
and just really just building that name, making that name
for myself.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, and you really fit in well.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Man.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
You know you're getting a lot of love. You were
named the captain for Arizona. What does that mean to you?
Were you surprised?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
I don't know, because I was captain during the preseason
and I kind of felt the coming. And today in
the meeting, he was like, I got a captain. I
was like, damn, I gotta feel that he might call me.
I kind of felt the coming a little bit, so
you know, it was great man, just to you know,
hear my name come up, see my you know picture
up on the board, and coach just telling me, you
(01:49):
know that I'm counting for this game.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
That means a lot, you know this stuff.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
I talk about my family all the time, man, just
you know, just trying to set an example for everybody, uh,
you know, back where I'm from, kids in my neighborhood. Man,
just you know, showing me that you can do it.
You know it is possible. And man, you know, it's
just a great opportunity to go out there and representing
this program.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
And you even played since you were five years old, man,
So to have that seat on your jersey, Man, what
does that mean to you?
Speaker 5 (02:14):
I mean it means a lot.
Speaker 6 (02:15):
Man.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
My first time really just being the captain and since
I've been playing, man, so it's been great.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Man.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Never had the opportunity in college to.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Be, you know, captain on the team. So just to
be a captain at this level just you know, kind
of speak to herself.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I think what's so special about that is this is
a new coaching staff. This is not a coaching.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Staff that drafted you. They didn't keep a lot of
people around, but you not only was kept, but you
also were named the starter. What is it like to
get that kind of respect before you even played a
regular season game?
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, Man, it means a lot.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
You know. Obviously we talked with you know, coach Quinn
and Adam Peters, you know, before things kind of got rolling,
and you know, he just kind of told me where
my role could be on this team. Man.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
I embraced it.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Man.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
I just went out work hard, put my head down
and just kept grinding. Man, and you know just kind
of you know, made it impossible to go and noticed.
I feel like that's what I've always done my whole.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Career, and I'm sure that there's different expectations that come
with happening in your coaching staff. And I remember you
saying preseason that the coaches want you to be more vocal.
How's that been so far? Because you're very chi.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Man, it's been great.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
I feel like not even just coach Quinn, but really
just everybody in the building just you know, pushing me
to be more vocal. Bobby Wagner, you know, everybody just
standing on me, man when they know that time they
couldn't really hear me on the field. So Coach Quinn
always said like would you want to be led by you?
So you know, like when he say that, I'm like okay,
like like let me make sure I'm getting the calls
(03:41):
out everybody can hear him, and I just show my
leadership on the field.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
You told me last time we sat and spoke, you
said that will motivate you as being overlooked, you were
under recruited even playing your whole life right even.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
The second round pick.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
You know, I'm sure you feel like you're supposed to
go on the first So what motivates you now? Because
now you're getting recognition now you're getting in love now.
People are really starting to see who you are. So
what motivates you now?
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Really?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Man?
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Just this team, the guys around me, and uh, just
not want to let the team down, man, And uh,
just trying to put my best feel forward. And you know,
just knowing that these coaches believe in me and my
teammates believe in me, and uh, you know, I'm just
gonna go out and get him my best every play,
every down, every game. And I feel like it shows.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
You've got a new rerunnament in Jeremy Chin. And I'm
sure you hadn't seen it, but I spoke to him.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
And we had a moment. It was very weird.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I'm not gonna lost wars off the but Jeremy Chin
is like, I'm pissed off and he's got real, real
angry Like playing next to a guy like that that
really like he locks in when.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
He's on that field.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
Man, he's been you know, somebody I've looked up to
since day one. Man, Just you know how he carris
yourself in the building, how he handles itself on the
practice field. So they're just kind of taking a little
things for him, and he don't really even know, but
you know, I'm peeping you know everything he's doing. You
know how he handled every situation.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Man.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
So I've really learned a lot from that dude. And
you know, he's just been that voice for me, that
you're for me, that leader, and you know, you've just
been pushing me to communicate more, like I said, And
it's been great man to play alongside him.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, we had an event where it was me, you
and Jeremy Channing.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
During that event, you said something I thought was very
interesting because it didn't really dawn on me.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
But this is really your first time getting to focus
on one position. You said.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
You're like, man, this is my first time not having
to be all overfield. Man, why why is that so
important to you this season? And why has it been
so beneficial for.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
I Just feel like, you know, it allowed me to
reach my full potential. You know, I can do it
but just float around everywhere, man, I feel like it's
kind of hard to really just lock in on the
small details at each and every position. But yeah, man,
it's just been special for me. And I talked to
my mom, my parents, my girlfriend, every everybody about you know,
(05:46):
just the focus that comes with you know, playing a position,
and the coaches, like I said, they just pushed me
to be more vocal, be that leader and just be
that voice on this defensive.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
And you've been so special this year.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Man, I can't wait to see what you do Sunday
against the the Browns. We'll be back home again. It'll
be your first time back home. We've been on a
little road trip. The fans have showed up and showed
out for us. Man on this road, we've seen them
so much. And then at the home game, it was crazy, Man,
How excited you to see those fans again after being.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
On the road for so long.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Man, Super excited, Man, just to go in and play
another home game.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
I like the fans. They've they've been, you know, pretty excited,
you know with everything going on in the building with
the program and uh, you know, I just fly. You know,
it's time for us to take that next step and
uh just get a fans what they want to see.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And Kwama has been great seeing you developed.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Man.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Man can't wait to see you out on that field. Brother,
appreciate your time, Appreciate.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
You now command this family. Have to bring in a
very special friend of mine. She pulled up for training
camp and saw all the great things we were doing
out here, and it's continued to show the Burgundy and
Gold a lot of national love. Now Command is family.
It's not always the next man up. Sometimes it's the
next woman. For the first time, we have a woman
(06:58):
on the show, so we're gonna call it next Woman.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
It up.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
She is from national media. She has a big time show.
Welcoming in Kay Adams. How are you doing.
Speaker 7 (07:07):
I'm so great, next woman, I'd like to do this.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yes, we love it.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
We love and talk about we'd like to talk about,
you know, our past, what got us here. And just
like me, we don't end up in our seats, right,
We don't end up doing what we do unless we
love the game of football. So you tell me when
did you find your love for football?
Speaker 7 (07:24):
Oh man?
Speaker 8 (07:25):
I started to love football growing up in Chicago. I
was raised by two Polish immigrants who'd never heard of football,
and the Bears were very good or competitive, and me
and my brother just wanted to figure out what's like
the most American communal, bring everybody together thing everybody's talking about.
We of course had the bulls at that point with
(07:46):
Michael Jordan, but still football was huge in Chicago, so
you know, we had Matt Forte and we had Devin
Hester to root for as I was growing up, and then.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
I really liked fantasy football. If you were really.
Speaker 8 (07:57):
Asking me, like, at what point was I like, I
love this. It's the fact that I'm really competitive. So
and I got in my first year drafted my team,
didn't really know the players very well, learned about them.
I won my league the first year I played. But
I think, like I'm trying to think of who it was.
Matt Fourte was definitely on my team, and at that
point it was you have this wealth of knowledge about
(08:18):
thirty two teams and all these different players, not just
the fifty three in your hometown. And I love that
and the competitive nature of it. And I think that
just the storylines of it and getting my heart broken
watching the Bears and to the cults after that Devin
Hester trutch down like that sort of is where it.
Speaker 7 (08:32):
Snapped my heart.
Speaker 8 (08:32):
But similarly to you, you know what you're saying, you
have to love the game. I love celebrating the game.
I love that I'm still at this point curious about
absolutely everything, every team, every storyline, and that's really what's
driven me to keep loving it as much as I do.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
And I'm sure that's what keeps you so interesting when
you do these interviews, when you talk because you have
you know, you're inquisitive, you want to know things, and
we see some great stuff. And you actually were here
during training camp. You had the chance to go to
every think like twelve or fourteen like spots.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
How many thank you?
Speaker 6 (09:05):
Twenty?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Oh my goodness, twenty different training camps and you came
to kick it with us. It was so hot, it
was just the day. What you got to see what
a lot of people are seeing now. You got to
see Jaden Daniels and company and see what they could do.
When you were back here in training camp, did you
really like see what was going to be happening? Did
you have a feeling that hey, commanders a brot to
do something special.
Speaker 8 (09:27):
I thought he was how he looked out there, and
I liked his and that's what I still like now.
I just liked his composure. I liked how he was
carrying himself out there. But I will say my big
take of meeting you and you brought a lot of
energy to our life on up and atoms in that trip.
Speaker 7 (09:45):
But it was so hot.
Speaker 8 (09:46):
I remember, we were so well taken care of by
the commanders. My takeaway was, oh, man, they don't want
me to blow up their spot.
Speaker 7 (09:54):
My thought was.
Speaker 8 (09:55):
And I sat with Dan Quinn for twenty minutes, and
I sat with pain and I, you know, got to
ha you know, the no part of Johan Dutson and
every Bobby Wagner who I've known for.
Speaker 7 (10:04):
Years and years and years.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
The sort of takeaway was like, don't like, don't talk
about us. You know, at that point Dkey was unwilling
to name Jaden the starter, and I was like, oh, no,
is that a bad thing?
Speaker 7 (10:17):
Is that a good thing?
Speaker 8 (10:17):
But it was all a really thoughtful, methodical way of
carrying out this vision that they've all had. And I
really took away this kid is special and they don't
want anybody to know about it until week one. Of course,
you sawated in college and we know that he's a
special player, but he's sort of a one on one
player as well, So I knew. I knew it was
a secret they were trying to keep a lid on.
Speaker 7 (10:39):
That's what I know.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
Okay, we appreciation you keeping that secret for us. But
now that the speakers down now we know what we
have in jayde Dane's real quickly. So you talked to
dan Quinn that I'll talk to a lot of cultures
during your tour. What about dan Quinn stood out to you?
Speaker 8 (10:50):
I think he never gets enough credit for what a
transcendent leader he is. And it's not always superstars. He's
somebody whether you have a that you know, he's somebody
that you know. Aaron Rodgers, I think he could coach him,
while I think you can coach you. I'm rookie like
Jayden Daniels and everything in between, and not every coach
is like that.
Speaker 7 (11:08):
He is so thoughtful.
Speaker 8 (11:10):
I believe that would be a word that I would
use to describe him. As far as a leadership style,
I think he's very organized and mindful about what he
wants to execute, what Jaden needs, what these veterans need
in the messaging. He's always been like that back even
when I knew him with the Falcons. It was about mottos,
it was about buying in. It's about toughness, high energy,
(11:30):
and that's the kind of coaching that's really working in
the NFL right now.
Speaker 7 (11:34):
He had so much success.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Of course, Matt Ryan MVP ye or MVP candidate, and
now we see what he's doing with Jaden and as
special as Jayden is, we have to give Dann credit
for that.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
And I love talking to people like you. Go are outside, right,
you're in the national media, so you're not here. I'm
drinking the kool aid every day. So me, I'm going
to be feeling good. I'm going to be feeling like
we're going to be winning every single game because that's
my job to do that.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
But you you're in the national media on the outside.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
So you tell me at three and one, right now,
how do you feel about the lost Commander is always
for real?
Speaker 8 (12:02):
Oh, you know, it's so funny because you're on the inside.
But I'm friends with Kevin Durant. Now you know over
on FanDuel he is the biggest Commander's fan. I will
say it's a very interesting experience to have. Sometimes, you know,
teams really buy into their hype. Sometimes fans enjoy it,
which is actually really rare. And then sometimes fans are
really demanding and the Bears are like that, you know,
(12:24):
like they're not giving Caleb much patience.
Speaker 7 (12:26):
Much of that.
Speaker 8 (12:27):
Commanders are different. I think it's a fan base that's
waited for it so long. On the outside is very
fun to see guys like Kevin Durant or some fans,
some celebrity fans, Guys that I've known for a long time,
Women that I've known for a long time who have
never told me that their Commanders fans are like, thanks
for saying that about my Commanders, and I'm like, you're Commanders,
and they're like, no lifelong fan, but for whatever reason,
(12:49):
I don't even know about it. So there's certainly this
excitement that I'm feeling known when it comes to ball.
Absolutely they should be considered a contender on up and
atoms today and talking about where DeVante Adams should go.
So I had a list of contenders, and among those
kind of boys, sorry, and among the Jets and the
reuniting with you know, Aaron Rodgers, I put the Commanders
because that's a team that has the space, the need.
(13:12):
They were interested in Brandon Nayuk and what I'm saying
more about the holistic big part of it is that's
a team that I would love to make that move
because it shows you just how all in they are
for this year.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
And I love that because we know you're a Devonte
Adams for it, right. We know that you guys are good,
so I'm hoping they're giving him a little bit of
extra Like, hey man, you know, Burning and Gold ain't
too bad. You know, maybe we talked to the ages
that make that happen, but you just were part of
this Davante Adams debacle right now.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
We don't want to speculate on where he will go.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
However, I find it very I admire it because I
understand what it's like, right, having these personal relationship with players,
but then having to do our jobs as well.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
How tough is it.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Knowing that, like y'all would have a regular conversation about
this and this and that, but then having to do
your job in a way where you can't really spill
the beans on what a player like that's going to do.
But you guys have a relationship where you probably kind
of know where.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
His heads really is.
Speaker 8 (14:02):
I'm just as curious as everybody else to see what happened.
Speaker 7 (14:05):
I said it on my show this morning.
Speaker 8 (14:07):
I think I want I know that I want him
to be happy, and I want him to be playing
meaningful football, and I want him to get a ring.
Speaker 7 (14:12):
I think he deserves it. I think it'd be so
nice if he made.
Speaker 8 (14:15):
The move to secure the bag and be with his
old quarterback and it didn't work out, and now the
move gets made where he does get to contend on
the team. I think last week I asked him about
Jayden Daniels before a lot of this was going on,
and he was emphatic. He went so far as to say,
and I do think DeVante Adams a very easy interview,
very honest, very he doesn't think about it, He's already
(14:38):
thought about the question. He sort of knows the line
of questioning in his head. And he's a true adult,
like a true adult in the way he carries himself
and always has. So it's a very easy interview because
sometimes you worry about how a question is going to
be taken, or how to ask a question in a
way that's going to be respectful, or to get the
(14:59):
information you want, where I don't really have that with Davante.
I really can ask him anything and I know he'll
understand what I'm he'll say what he's going to say,
which he has this entire time. But I asked him
about Jaden and I was a little surprised. I didn't
think I'd get as emphatic of a response where he
said man, I thought, well, you know, I think he's
sort of joking saying, man, I you know if he'd
(15:20):
fallen to us, if only he had fallen to the Raiders,
and you know, the Internet had their way with that.
But really what he's saying is, I'm seeing how special
this young player is that me at my age I
would love to play with him. I see his skills
like Evets don't give Brookies love like that. They just don't.
So that's all you needed to hear from a guy
like Adam's on this. But as far as where he's
(15:40):
going to go, wouldn't that be wild to have him there?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Like?
Speaker 8 (15:44):
Absolutely wild. I can't even imagine what that city would
be like.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
It would make my job a lot more. You tell
you about job's already extremely interesting. So you talk about
these places that DeVante AM's may fit. So let's talk
about the Commanders. Why do you think why was he
Why would the Commanders on your list of places he
would be a good fit for.
Speaker 7 (16:01):
I think because a lot of it is.
Speaker 8 (16:03):
I think Adam Peters did a really good job of
foundationally getting this team to where it needs to be.
And when you're sitting there at three in a run
and you're looking at the complexion of the division that
you're in, and you feel the confidence that Cliff Kingsbury
brings you and that this young quarterback brings you, like,
where's the time to waste?
Speaker 7 (16:18):
Sort of a situation. And we heard the rumors. I'm
sure you did as well.
Speaker 8 (16:22):
You know more than I do about their interests in
Brandon Ayuk in the off season. They were, you know, interesting,
if they were asking or interest in acquiring him, why
would they not feel that way with DeVante Adams? So
that sort of made sense. I think Adam Peters has
it in him. It takes a certain sort of GM
to feel supported by his ownership group and to feel
like the coaching is here right now, in the here
(16:44):
and now to make it happen. And it sort of
seems like it's all working right now and I couldn't
be more excited.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Hey, I love your energy and optimism on it. I
guess we'll just have to wait and see. Just like you,
I have no insider info, but just like the rest
of the four, do.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
You need him?
Speaker 2 (16:59):
It's a great question, That's how I asked me to ask,
because to me, it's like get a weapon, you get
a weapon, right. However, I love the receivers, the tight ends,
I love the weapons we already have in the building,
and we three.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
And one, so it's hard to say we need really anything.
Speaker 8 (17:10):
Yeah, I would just say, like if you don't get
them and it goes to the Jets or you don't
want to go to the Cowboys and and CD, that
we don't want.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
We don't want that.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
If we're Washington, if you.
Speaker 8 (17:19):
Know, if it goes somewhere and you don't get him
like Sill, I wouldn't cry about it if I was
Washington Nott right now.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Yeah, right, there's so many other things to be optimistic about,
and you don't really see that like here, like you
always want that big name free agent, like people freak.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Out about it.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
But now that things are going so well, people are
kind of chilling, like, oh, you know, if it happens, happens,
you know, it's a different type of energy.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Ink.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I know you're busy. I know you got a lot
of people in your CAREB right now. I appreciate you
taking the time World War question for before we go,
we have the Cleveland Browns and I'm not sure if
you went to Cleveland during your training camp visits. However,
I do know you're very familiar with all NFL teams,
So ask you what kind of challenges does a team
like the Cleveland Browns pose for the Commanders. Yes, we
know they're struggling right now, however, they still have a
(17:57):
gotten to Shaun Watson that can get it done.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
I got to be honest, I don't think it's a challenge.
And I hope that this I obviously don't want this.
Commanders seem to be looking past them, but this should
be a team that's looking and staring down you know,
four and one, by being consistent, by having Jaden be
as special as he is. And I would say, I
really don't see the challenge. I feel like the Browns
are inconsistent and they what they lack is what the
(18:21):
Commanders have, and that's confidence and that's poise. And you're
seeing a very lack of confidence on that offense with
the Browns. And I would say, I would say that
the most impressive thing I've seen. I mean, there's obviously
lots to be excited about with the Commander's offense, but
Jayden and will he he doesn't do it often, but
he made a mistake, you know, and once when he
makes a mistake, that's when I'm watching. I'm saying, oh boy,
(18:42):
how is he going to handle himself? How's and for
him to just no problem pull it together. That is veteran,
that is poised. That is I'm not afraid that if
he turns the ball over that he's not getting it back.
Cheering on his defense and he's going to go right
down and score. We've seen that now and I think
that gives that gives them the edge going into this game, and.
Speaker 7 (19:02):
It better not be close. Commanders, Jay, I love.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
The optimism, and you know what, it sounds like, we're
starting to make you a Burgundy and Gold fan slowly.
But Chirley, you don't got to change your family yet.
We don't bring you up on this side.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
I wanted to go to a game so bad.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
I was supposed to come for the Giants opener, and
then I wasn't able to come, And now I'm really
really trying to get down there. But but yes, just
so everybody knows, Kevin Durant comes on up in Adams
and he told me he's picking the commanders every week.
Speaker 7 (19:28):
That he comes out.
Speaker 8 (19:29):
He's a true like a like a sick pup level fan.
So and I'm sure everybody out there knows that as well.
So he will be cheering on the Commanders and I
will be helping be the.
Speaker 7 (19:38):
Hype girl too.
Speaker 6 (19:39):
Hey, we love that. Hopefully you can get kick on
next man up as well.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
We have y'all both on.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
We love the Burgundy and gold love Kate, thank you
so much for your time.
Speaker 6 (19:47):
It's always we appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I love seeing what you're doing with Uppen Adams and
just you just you're just a shooting star taking off.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
So thank You's amazing.
Speaker 8 (19:54):
You have the bad vibes in the business that should
be on your little undertitle.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
Here.
Speaker 6 (19:59):
I take Friday and that I'll take. Hey, I'll take
you take I promise this.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Man commanded family, y'all. Next moving up from up in Adams,
Hey Adams, thank you so much, Key.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Command this family for our next man up.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You know, we love to bring in a legend and
this one is a true legend. Fifteen years in the
NFL Hall of Fame, career holds so many records for
a defensive back. Was drafted here in the first round,
seventh overall and it's just a true legend, one of
the best to ever do it in this game. Welcome
me in, Champ Bailey. My boy got the lok saw.
(20:37):
He's comfee. You feeling good?
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Yeah, man, thanks for having me. Man, I'm chilling.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Oh man.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
It's a blessing to have you. And we have so
much to talk about. But I want to start in
the beginning. Man, I want to start in the beginning.
When you got drafted to Washington. That was a while ago.
But take us back there. What was young Champ Bailey
feeling thinking being drafted so high, going in the first round,
accomplishing those dreams?
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Yeah, man, twenty five years ago. You know, I think
back then, man, I just wanted to play ball.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
That's all that. Man, when you're young.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
I was twenty years old and they called by name,
you know, sort of a dramatic draft.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
But at that time, I was just I just wanted to.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Play ball, and I was fortunate enough to come to
a team that, you know, a story franchise, the hottest
division in football.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
It just it worked out perfectly.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
And then you know, the people I got to connect with,
that's a whole other story.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's not every day, a rookie comes in and has
a locker room right next to Daryl Green, and then
I locker right next to Deon Sanders. Those are Hall
of Fame players and you're coming in and getting that
pedigree right away.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
How valuable was that for young chat Bailey? Well?
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Very valuable.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Well, if you remember, it was just Darren at first,
and you know, our defensive back coach, Tom Hayes really
just put me under Dal's wing and and Drell taught
me only he could, right, it was it was. It
was interesting because we were two different type of players
as far as how we were built, you know, the
(22:14):
things we could do. You know, I was a press corner.
He was off, you know, just staying step for step
with guys.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
That was his mo.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
But the things I learned from him were crucial to
the early part of my career. I mean, I mean, honestly, man,
if I didn't have him in those moments, I didn't
know how to play corner until we got together. Like
I was an athlete, I mean you could see I
could do things, but I had the tools.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
But ultimately, man, it was it.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Was his tutelage that really got me over the top
and solidified who I was going to be earlier in
my career.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
What were some of those things that he did tell
you that helped you? Like, you know, as people that
that don't play the game right, they're like, man, what
are those that advice that you get?
Speaker 1 (23:03):
But it could be anything under the sun.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
It could be life things, it could be family things,
it could be financial things. What were some of those
things that you did get from Darryl green Well?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
He used to have this saying, uh, he still uses it,
I'm sure like your hands are great, but your feet
are better. And what he met is, you know when
when I play bump and run. The thing about Darryl
he don't.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
He don't like to touch people at the line. He
never did.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
His thing was I'm just gonna move with you. You go,
you go later on going latter two and and he
would always tell me, you know, it's great, you got
these long arms, you're strong and all this.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
You've got a bigger body type. But it's really about
your feet.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
And I teach that now when I'm teaching any young
kid about anything, it's all about your feet. And you know,
just just narrowing and focusing in on what was important
and then my hands were just the bonus, and I
bought into it.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
I bought into it because I saw him do it.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
You know, he was good at it, and I'm like, man,
if I could put that in my game where it's
not about it if I touch you, it's more about
if I could stay with you. And you know, it
really helped me become a great bumping rint corner corner,
you know, early in my career, and.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
You're competing and growing as a corner and then they
bring Deon Sanders in one of a legend, right, one
of the best to ever do it.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Man, how did that affect you?
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Well?
Speaker 4 (24:32):
That sort of solidified everything Daryl was saying, because you
got to think my rookie year is really just the
process of me buying in. But then here comes Dion
and then what I realized. You know, Dione would do things,
but he was he was always conscious of his footwork.
Now this is later in his career. He's really buying
into his technique. And you know he would get in
(24:53):
this motorcycle stance and you know people would always.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
You know, try to emulate that.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
But not only was it a fear tactic, it was
still he would when he wouldn't go at you. He
would still come back to bas and being square and
trying to move with you. So it was always about defeat.
And I'm more built like Dion than Darryl, Like we're
both taller, longer corners, you know, with great speed and quickness,
(25:21):
and to be able to understand and buy into the
aspect of your cheek being the integral part of why
you stay toe to toe with these bigger receivers and
these quick guys. I mean it really, it really solidified
what I was going.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
To be and what I could be and what to
do for your confidence because I read somewhere that when
da comes in, you're immediately right like he's the o G.
So you're like, you know what, he's the starter, he's
taking it all. But that wasn't necessarily the case, was
it for you?
Speaker 3 (25:48):
No, it wasn't.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
You know.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
What's funny is that that was my initial thought, like,
I'm not starting. Here's two of my itels obviously gonna
play before me. I was reassured by north Turner like, no,
you're starting one of them coming off the bench.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
It's you know, because I think they knew that I was.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I was in for a great second year because of
how I finished my rookie year. You know, I really
I think that's one playoff game we won that year.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
I had a really good game.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
I mean it was it was just one of those
things like, oh man, coming off this off season, this
kid is ready. And I think they knew that and
I felt it too.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
But still these are my itels. I didn't playing before then.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
But it worked out great because you know, they wanted
to see me grow and become what they had already done,
and you know, it was a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
And Chimp, I really just don't think young corners get
that type of like game and that type of just
path that you have. What is your favorite memory from
Washington when you were playing days in Washington?
Speaker 4 (26:55):
You know, I got some good memories, and it's more
about the people I played with. I mean, you mentioned
two of the greatest right two first ballot Hall of
Fame corners, and I give them a lot of credit
for get me on that first ballot, but it's the
Bruce Smith, ah Man, Sam Jade liilm Evans. I mean,
(27:20):
these guys that were, they were they had something to
do with my growth as a young player.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Darryl pounds. Who who the guy I replaced as a starter?
Speaker 4 (27:34):
I mean I started from my first game, but he
was the starter, you know, all through the spring summer,
we got the training camp, he was a starter, and
then I ended up starting before the first game.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
But he didn't let that get in the way of
him mentoring me, teaching me little things.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
It was just it was just great to have that
kind of mentorship early. So I mean that's what I
really remember the most because every time I see a
guy get drafted, I'm always looking at, well, who's his vets?
Like who are the guys that are gonna be you know,
and you don't know where that leadership for that mentorship
(28:12):
is gonna come from when you walk in the door,
because you don't know these guys, you just see them.
I didn't think Bruce Smith would take to me and
look at me as a potential Hall of famer like himself,
Like these guys were already Hall of Famer.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
Before I ever stepped on the field with them.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
So having that it really it really helped me early
on because I knew what success looked like and I
got the witness it.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Every day we talk about these Washington memories.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
I always think of this photo that I see all
the time, because, as you know, I work with Fred
Smooth quite a lot, so you know, we're looking them
up and doing different things, and there's this photo of you,
Darryl Green and Fred Smooth walking down the field y'all
and y'all uniforms.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
What was it like being a veteran, I guess when
you're still young as well. By having a young guy
like Smooth come into the building and come into the locker.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Room, I mean, it was, it was fun. It was
It was a lot of fun. We had a lot
of good time together. I think it gave a different dynamic.
But you know the thing about Smoothest, he was just
as hungry as I was. You know, he thought he
was the best. He played and practiced like it. And
(29:23):
I would like to think he took some of those
traits that I could show him at that young age
of how to be successful. Because I'm coming off my
first Pro Bowl and then he comes in, Dion goes out,
but Daryl's still there, so we do have our steady
hand at the top. You know, we all respected him
and you know his leadership. But here's Smooth who hasn't
(29:47):
changed a bit, so if you've been around and you
know how he was even back then, like it was
even worse back then, Like how loud and disruptive he were.
He was, but he but I think all in all,
what mattered the most is that he wanted to be
a great football player. He thought he was, and he
worked like it. And man, he was the most fun
(30:09):
teammate I've ever been around. Because it wasn't nothing. He
wasn't down to do it. So, you know, we had
some really good time together. I learned some things from him,
you know, just just little stuff, man, you know.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
The way he played.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
He couldn't do some of the things I could do,
and I couldn't do some things he could do.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
Like it was just you know, as Darrel always had the.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Same man, there was no real book on how to
play corner like you got to figure out what works
for you. There's some things that are constant. But all
in all, man, we're all different. We all gonna get
it done differently.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
And the same way you talk about Fred is the
same way he talks about you.
Speaker 8 (30:45):
Man.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
He revers you guys so much for being those Ojizu
just helped him out being those guys that helped him
just kind of ease his way into the NFL, because
that's a tough locker room to go in and compete with,
right when you got two guys that are really man
established like that, and you know now that you're back
in the fall, Man, let me tell you there's nobody
these fans love more than Fred Smooth. And I don't
know outside of you and Daryl, I don't know if
there's anybody that can give us those Fred Smooth stories.
(31:08):
So if you would give us just that one favorite
memory of your time in friendschoo, whether he's being crazy,
whether he's talking trash in the locker room, because we
hear stories all the time, but I'd love to hear
it from somebody else.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
I never forget this one time. Well, I got two
little things for you, but one is more embarrassing for me.
One is kind of his personality. So you know, as rookies,
you know, I wouldn't say it was hazing, but we
would always make him do certain things. And I can't
remember what the demand was from Smooth, and he just
(31:39):
bust out, man, I'll take the physical challenge. And he
had no idea what he was getting himself into. So
we ended up taping him to the gold post. It
was just but it was smooth though. He was not
going to go down the traditional way. He's not gonna sing,
he's not gonna go get food. He didn't do he
didn't want to do anything. So he was just like,
(32:01):
I'll take the physical challenge. I'm like, I didn't know
what that meant. Of course, I'm not grabbing him and
taking him to the gold post, but I'm making sure
the big boys don't hurt him along the way, right.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
So, but that was who he was.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
But there's also this one incident. I was about to
be late for practice, and I don't know if Freddy
gonna remember this, but but I called Smooth. I'm on
the other side the beltway, and I'm like, Smooth, I'm
forty five minutes out.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
Practice started fifteen minutes. Just tell coach. I'm in the
bathroom on the toilet, Like, just tell him.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
So our coach at the time, I mean, you gotta think,
like I'm kind of established. I'm in my fourth or
fifth year at this point, and you know, I could
get away with some things.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
But at the same.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
Time, I'm accountable and I.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Never did and push the envelope.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
But this one particular time, I just overslept up and
I'm on my way to the facility.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
I mean, I'm trying to you know, the belt Way unpredictable.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
Yeah, so I'm traffic weaving in and now trying to
go back to Potonac and just trying to get down
in Virginia to get the practice. And he held it
down for me till I got there. Of course, they
didn't ask a lot of questions. I remember running out
on the field, staying out there for about twenty minutes,
and running back in like I had to go to
the bathroom because I had to sell the story because
(33:30):
coach thought I had a messed up stothing could get
just be over like that.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
So it was just one of them things, man. And
that's what Smooth was.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
Man. Smooth looked out for me. I looked out for him.
And you know, I'll never forget those moments with him, okay, man.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
And and then Fred talks about those moments a lot too, man.
So it's a member of love on both.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Sides of that.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I can't wait to talk to Hi about it. And
I'm sure what y'all was taking him to the goal post.
He was talking trash deep.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Yeah the whole time, the whole time.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
He didn't shut up one second of it. But it
was who he was and we all laughed too. You know,
nobody wanted to harm me. You just you know, sometimes
you gotta let rookies know.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
It's great to hear those stories because some of you
guys were a true brotherhood.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
And so then I gotta I gotta move forward to
you were traded.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
You were traded for Clinton ports a lot of fans
to this day, one of my best friends is a
Washington fan, and he says it worst trade ever in
NFL history because they felt like they lost somebody they
truly loved. In a champ Bailey talk to us about
what you went through during that time. So I'm sure
you didn't see it coming, or maybe you did. I
know you loved playing here. How did that trade effect?
(34:33):
You bring us back then?
Speaker 1 (34:33):
And you know what went down?
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Well, at the.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Time, they you know, we were contract negotiating. Is you know,
really weird when you're playing. But I remember during that season,
my fifth year, my last year in Washington, they just.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Kept lowballing me.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
And you know, I remember the last statement they told
my agent was you'll never get that what we were
asking for. So that's when they decided, Okay, well we're
gonna attempt to trade, and.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
They franchised me. Then they didn't tempt to trade me.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
I remember Joe Gibbs called me because he was becoming
in as a new coach and I never got to
play for him, but he called me.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
It was like, I hope he worked this out, YadA YadA, But.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
Of course he had no real saying how that was
gonna work out. We didn't have a relationship, so there
was no like loyal to I expected from him.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
But long story short, man, it was just they decided
to trade me.
Speaker 4 (35:28):
I told Denver what I wanted if I would because
I could have bucked the trade all together by not
signing the franchise tag.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
Right, and Denver looked at the contract.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Yeah, they wanted to pay me exactly what I was
asking for, so I was like, damn, I should ask
for more. But you know, at that time that was
good enough. But you know, it happened, and then you know,
I was a little upset with the fact that we
were losing porters. I was like, we can't trade somebody
(36:01):
else because I'm a running back fan. I grew up
playing running back. I played running back in high school.
I'm a running back fan and I love Clinton Ports.
So I'm like, damn, so we gotta go. I gotta
go to Denver. He's coming here. But I think the
icing on the cake was the second round pick, which
they eventually used to get Tatum Ball. So I was
(36:23):
feeling like, oh yeah, we got a we got a good,
good deal. We got this other fast back from from
Oklahoma State and it worked out. But at the time, man,
I did not want Porters to leave. Pray somebody else,
like anybody, but this guy, like I was a big
fan of his and what he did in his short career.
I mean, I think he was coming off his second
(36:45):
season or something. I can't I can't remember, but he was.
He was all pro back, And for me, it was
just it was a little daunting because I didn't.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
Know what to expect. I think Denver, I think snow,
you know, yeah, now I'm going.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
But I'm going to a team and a franchise that
had a good run up to that point and having
a great run game, always in the playoffs, just always
a winning pedigree. I'm like, it's just it just made
it made sense for me in that point in my
career that I make this lead and then, you know,
fortunate enough for guys at that point in their career
(37:23):
it's fifth sixth year when you moved to another team,
people look at you as a leader coming in, So
I had that respect walking in obviously, you know, big
responsibility to be a leader, going from a guy that
was kind of raised in Washington. But now I'm over
here and people think I've done as much as you
(37:43):
know most guys whole career, you know, So it's just
you know, the respect was there. You know they treated
me well, and you know it was the best thing
happened in my career to get traded.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
But in that moment, right like now, we can look
back and say it's the best thing ever. But like
you said, you were raised in Washington, you loved it here.
Did that put a chip on your shoulder? Not just
getting traded but also you know, having to go through
these negotiations and then not really seeing your value.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Did all that put a chip on.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Your shoulder a little bit? A little bit?
Speaker 4 (38:11):
You know, I wasn't really concerned with the past, and
it did. I think what bothered me is that they
didn't respect you know, what I had done, you know,
and it was like, you know, I've been the four
straight Pro Bowls in my five years there, you know,
and I was an alternate as a rookie. But I think,
(38:34):
you know, that really opened my eyes to what really matters,
and it was relationships.
Speaker 3 (38:39):
And you know, they didn't draft me. Dan Snyder didn't
draft me.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
He took over ownership in the summer after I got
drafted by Charlie Cassell. So when Cassley ended up leaving
before my rookie season, you know, there was no they
weren't loyal to me. I mean, if you remember they
drafted LeVar Arrington as Samuelson next year. Well, Lamar ended
up getting a new deal before I left, so you
(39:05):
know you could tell.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Where the loyalties lot.
Speaker 4 (39:09):
I mean, and he deserved it, but I did too,
So it was just it was just obvious, you know,
I wasn't valued. So the best thing was for me
to leave and trust me. I told people all the time,
like I have equally as much Washington fans as Denver
fans come up to me to this day, tap me on.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
The shoulder, talk about the trade.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
It's equal and it's been like that since I left.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
That was twenty years ago, so you know that. So there.
It's always been in the back of my mind to
be reacclimated with the franchise, but it really did take
new ownership to get that done.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
And before we get onto you being back with the franchise,
we have to talk about that first ballot Hall of
Fame because clearly that trade led to what was a
race a great career, turned it into an amazing career,
and then you end up being a first ballot Hall
of Famer. From everything you've been through, man, all of
that stuff, even that trade, right, all of these things
being overlooked.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
What did that.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Moment mean for you to be able to be on
that stage and get that gold jacket?
Speaker 3 (40:15):
I mean it was amazing.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
Yeah, I think I'm on that stage with some guys
I played with, some guys I grew up revering.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
I mean, it was dude, it.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Was amazing, And you know it's people tell me, used
to tell me all the time. You know, within those
five years I was retired before I'm eligible. Yeah, you're
going first ballot, But I never really bought into it
because I'm like, man, anything can happen like that. There's
nothing more I could do to change the minds of
(40:47):
these voters, you know.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
But again it goes back to relationships.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
Like I just remember being a guy in the locker
room that the media could always come up to.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
And now who's voting the media. It's as simple as that.
Speaker 4 (41:06):
I mean, you know, that's that's funny because all these
these things carry over in life, and I'm like, oh, well,
football is a part of my life, so why does
it not exist here. I've seen so much evidence of
how much these relationships mean. And you know, I try
to tell guys all the time, no matter what, like
some point, your career is going to end, and what
your value is going to be based off the relationships
(41:28):
you've built. And I never got away from that. And
I'm lucky for me, it was natural for me. And
I think a lot of people can see how some
guys get left off and not get looked at for
a Hall of Fame, and they deserve it.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
There's so many guys that deserve to be in. But
I do think there's.
Speaker 4 (41:47):
Some people that are not in because they don't have
the right They just didn't rub people the right way
for whatever reason.
Speaker 3 (41:54):
Not that it's warranted, but it is what it is. Like,
that's just how it is, you know, and you know,
but I did.
Speaker 4 (42:03):
I do think my resume spoke for itself. So just
based off game alone, yeah, you know, I felt like
I should have been in, but again it's not in
my control. So I felt good because we had three
first ballots on my in my class with Ed Reed
and Tony Gonzales, and then you throw Tylo in the mix. Man,
(42:23):
you're talking about a hell of a secondary. That was
a great class man. I was just happy to be
in Man with some guys I love watching.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
Oh well deserved. Man, you were such a monster on
that field. And I'm sure Washington fans you know, they
missed you because we talked about this before we got on.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
You had not been back to after being traded.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
You had not The last time you had been in
Washington was O nine, you were playing for the Broncos
against US, and then you hadn't been back since until
last season. New ownership comes in and decides we are
going to make Champ Bailey our legend of the game
for our very first home game as new ownership, which
is I don't think people realize how big of a
deal that is, especially somebody that hadn't been in the
(43:05):
fold in a while.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
How much did that mean to you to be able
to be back on that field, have all those.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Burgundy and gold fans yell at you and cheer for
you and just be so happy to see you. Man,
What was that moment like for you after being separated
for so long?
Speaker 3 (43:17):
It was amazing and it was overdue, you know.
Speaker 4 (43:20):
And I got to give you know, Tim Hottower and
those guys a lot of credit for I mean, continuing
to reach out. And you know, there were calls for
me to come back, but again before new ownership, but
it never felt right. And then when the team was sold,
it just felt right at that time. It just they
(43:45):
they made me feel like I was part of the family.
And it never was a disconnection, because that's how close
knit these circles are when it comes to former athletes
and people you work with in this business. I mean,
those bonds are strong. It's not it's not hard to reconnect.
It's really not like we all could get around and
(44:06):
talk about our times as a player or administrator or
coach or whatever it may be. An owner, you know,
and it's one of those circles you always want to
be a part of. And I'm just happy to be
a part of one of the most story franchises ever
like this. I never wanted to disconnect, you know, from
the franchise and you know, but if you're not valued
(44:30):
in that way, then I'm not. I'm never going to
force my way into somebody's house. That's just not who
I am. But I got to give everybody there a
lot of credit. Man, they're really changing the culture. It's
been overdue. As you can tell.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
It's not hard to do that when when you have
a team and a fan base like that.
Speaker 4 (44:50):
Like like I say, man, there's more people just as
many people come up to me today about my time there,
and there's been so many great players.
Speaker 3 (45:00):
Clint Porters wasn't wasn't a bus. They got something break
out of that trade. So it wasn't like, yeah, it
wasn't like I left for nothing like he was. He
was a beast. So to be remembered, man, I mean,
it's it's gratifying.
Speaker 4 (45:14):
Man.
Speaker 3 (45:14):
It means a lot.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
And your ogi's getting loved too. He will be having
his jersey retired. I know you will be there for that, man,
how awesome.
Speaker 4 (45:22):
He hit me the other day, asked me, was I coming? Like,
what is he talking about?
Speaker 1 (45:27):
Of course I'm gonna be there. How big is that
gonna be there? You're gonna be on that field with him.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
Man, you're gonna see all of his hard work, because you,
better than anybody, have got to really see the work
and the time he put into his craft. And now
he's finally getting recognized. For man, how special is that
gonna be for somebody that.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
Was his mentee?
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Look, man, this dude. The fact that he's having to
wait this long is is.
Speaker 3 (45:53):
It's criminal. It doesn't make anything. But what people don't
understand is we've been can connected.
Speaker 4 (46:01):
Since I've retired, a lot a lot more since I
retired and over the years of my career, like we
always stayed connected, and for me it was it was.
Speaker 3 (46:14):
It was easy.
Speaker 4 (46:15):
Because I looked up to him, not for what he
did on the field, but more what he did off
the field. It's charity work, the business that he's done
since he's retired, and we worked with some of the
same companies now, so it's nothing to do. Like I say,
we never got disconnected, like he was always my mentor.
(46:35):
It still is like, we make sure we are on
the phone at least two or three times a year,
no matter what we're texting about something. You know, he's
presenting opportunities to me and vice versa. So it's there's
always been that bond. So I'm just happy to finally
see him get the recognition that's been overdue for all
(46:55):
these years. Nobody should everwhere twenty eight have ever again
on the whole league, Like it's he means that much
to the younger generation and the career.
Speaker 3 (47:06):
That he had. I mean, this dude played twenty one years.
Speaker 4 (47:09):
Come on, man, you tell me your corner getting past
fifteen These days it's not happening. So, I mean, I
got a lot of respect for him. I'm just happy
I could get there and witness it in person and
watch him cry again because you know he I can
tell this one got to him.
Speaker 3 (47:26):
You know, this one, this one really got to him.
Speaker 2 (47:29):
And it shows the love that you guys had for
this organization and this fan base, the way that you
guys get emotional on the way you got to show up.
So thank you for sharing that. And of course we
got to talk about today's game. We got a lot
of young secondary in there. We got kwalm Martin, we
got Mike Sanders Shill, we have emmanual Force, We have
all these young guys and a lot of things are changing.
How do you feel about the lay of the land
(47:50):
now for Washington.
Speaker 1 (47:51):
And how bright our future looks?
Speaker 4 (47:53):
Well, looks great, I think, you know, defensively, we've always
had some good pieces, just and consistent, and I think
the one constant thing that we have been missing is
the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (48:09):
And we've had a good running game here and there.
Speaker 4 (48:13):
And Brian Robinson looks like a beast for some reason. Man,
he just looked beast mood now for some reason. I
don't know what it is.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
He always was that he always wasn't just you.
Speaker 3 (48:23):
Know, but it feels different.
Speaker 4 (48:26):
It feels like he has another level of confidence that
I hadn't seen. He pops out on the screen to
me like and I feel like in some ways that
reflects the leadership that he has Silently. I don't know
who he is or what type of person he is,
but it just feels like he's energizing the team for
(48:47):
some reason. Now, don't get me wrong, you know, it's
obviously early in his career, but you know, one thing
about this league. If you've noticed, man, you got to
be mobile like that. All the good quarterbacks now have mobility.
I think the least mobile guy is Yo Borrow and
he can move a little bit. So I mean it's
if you don't have some mobility, you're not gonna win early.
(49:10):
And Jayden Daniels looks good in that pocket. But when
you can dial up a quarterback run here and there,
Lamar Jackson, like, I mean, it's dangerous, man. He creates
another headache for the defense, something else they gotta work on.
So you just never know what's coming at you. And boy,
coordinator got to be in heaven with a guy like this.
Speaker 2 (49:33):
I think we are all at heaven, man, and we
cannot wait till Sunday's game against the Browns to see
them boys go out there and just continue to get better.
And before we let you go on Sunday as well
as Santanta Mans another guy that works with me and
fred a lot, he will be the legend of the game.
And you were defensive back for a very long time,
so there's nobody prepared for receivers quite like you. Can
you give us a little bit of Santana Moss story,
(49:55):
something about Santanta mass when you would line up agains
him and playing what kind of player was he in?
How cool is it to see a OG like that
get get on it, just like you were honored last season?
Speaker 3 (50:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (50:04):
Fortunate though for me, I never had to match up
against him, so I didn't I didn't have to like
really tear into who he was. But you know, he
one thing you couldn't, you know, get away from or
at least ignore, was his speed. I mean, he was
just one of those guys and he was always taking
the lid off the defense and just really putting pressure
(50:25):
on him. So I can remember preparing that week and
we were just always trying to figure out, like when
is he going deep? And I never forget he beat
me on a corner route. They were in some kind
of bunch formation or something and he was lined up
at the first receiver. Now, usually the first receive it
don't go deep. He's usually the one going under or
(50:46):
run something short. And ran a corner from that number
one spot and I'm like, whoa hold on? And man,
like I say, man, this dude here, he's one of
those guys that's super underrated. We don't talk about enough
I mean every time his highlights pop up on my timeline,
I just sit I just sit there and watch him.
I mean, because he was amazing to watch. I only
(51:07):
played him that one I think that one. Maybe once
othern when he was with the Jets, but that that
one time I remember vividly.
Speaker 3 (51:15):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (51:15):
Man.
Speaker 2 (51:16):
And it's so great just having legends like you guys
as part of this building. I think it speaks to
not only the fan based on how much you guys
are the fans, but just the people that you guys
are too.
Speaker 1 (51:23):
Man so Champ. We're so happy to have you back
in the fall.
Speaker 3 (51:25):
Man.
Speaker 1 (51:26):
We ain't gonna let you go. We're gonna hold on
to you tight now. Man chat. We're so happy to
have it.
Speaker 3 (51:30):
Man, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (51:31):
Yes, sir, Man, thank you for your time.
Speaker 2 (51:32):
Bro.
Speaker 1 (51:32):
We really appreciate having you on.
Speaker 3 (51:34):
Man all right, Man, looking forward to seeing y'all peace.
Speaker 2 (51:37):
Man Commanded, Sammy, we appreciate you watching this episode of
Next Man Up. You can stream every episode of Next
Man Up, even last seasons, on the Commander's YouTube page
or wherever you get your podcast. Until Next Time Command
His Family. I'm Brian Corpa JUNR. And this is next
man up,
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