Tampa Bay Buccaneers icon Lavonte David sits down with Richard Sherman to talk about the Bucs’ NFL playoff mindset, their upcoming game against the New England Patriots, and what it takes to get another ring in Tampa Bay. The veteran linebacker shares insights on Baker Mayfield’s passionate leadership, his long-time connection with Todd Bowles, and why the Bucs’ locker room feels different this year. Sherman and Lavonte also discuss leadership, staying power, and loyalty. If you’re into smart football talk, behind-the-scenes locker room stories, and winning mindset tips, you’ll want to check this out.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Broke off two sacks.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
You know, I thought he was gonna throw it after that,
but then you know, Baker magic kick in.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Welcome back to Richard Trumman Podcast. We got an incredible guest,
a good friend of mine, Lavonte David, the veteran never
gets enough credit.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
How you I'm good, bro, Thank you for having me
as always.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Man.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Good talking to you.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Good talking to you too. You're having another great season.
You have fifty seven tackles, two and a half sacks.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
In a book. How your body feeling?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Body feeling good man?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Getting it back on track, you know, especially having this
all week off week this past week during the middle
of the season.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Perfect tim Man. You know, get a chance to.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Kind of like online, get away from football a little bit,
work on a little small things as far as like
body and getting some much needed rest for show. You know,
with a guy in my age, I needed off but
definitely felt good Man.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
I'm ready to get back to it.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
You are one of the few players with fifteen hundred tackles,
thirty five plus sacks, send ten plus interceptions. How do
you balance your run duty and all the responsibilities you
have with that with your your ability and coverage?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Man?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
It's a lot that goes into it. You know, obviously
a film study is the main thing. And understanding your
opponent and then understanding what you can do within the defense,
you know what I'm saying, Understanding when you can be aggressive,
Understanding when you can't be aggressive, Understanding when you cannot
kind of like jump routes and stuff like that, Understanding
when you can't jump routes, and understanding who you're working with.
You know, you got some guys and you know, our
(01:31):
back end who I'm pretty comforted in. So they did
do give me an opportunity to be aggressive and coverage
and also in the run game where you got a
guy like Vida Veil, you know who you know, takes
up multiple blocks and things like that give you a
chance to you know, kind of run freely and shoot gaps.
So definitely a chance. You know, times where you have to,
you know, pull your trigger and then sometimes you just
have to hold back a little bit. But you know
(01:51):
what I'm saying, never take that aggressiveness, aggressiveness away you know,
out your game, and that's what I try to do.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I want to talk about your relationship with Top, yeah,
because I think that's one of the coolert relationships in
the National Football League, at least when I was there
for the little bit of you know, a couple of
coffee I was in Temple. An incredibly smart coordinator, but
just a good human being and a good leader of men.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, yeah, man, it's incredible.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
You know, just usually have to try to see what
a lot of people don't see, you know, Everybody always
you know, seeing him as this mild mannered guy who
don't you know, get on people who just be quiet
and everything.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
But it's the complete opposite, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
When you when you got a devisive mind, their head
coach sometimes and the difense not working the way he
ruins it, you could definitely see a different side of him.
And we've seen it. We've seen it. I seen it,
you know what I'm saying. But uh, he's one of
those guys who's very open man, very open. Uh, jokes
a lot, you know, always happy to you know, always
work in his mind is always working, and that's what
(02:51):
we love about him, man, you know. Uh, he always
want to put us in the best position to make plays,
and that's why a lot of guys you know, love
to play for him. And my relationship with him is
just that, you know, it's an open door policy with him.
I could text him whenever I have questions about anything
in life.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You know, the same thing with him. You know, when
you know you.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Witness the man or something that you know we're not
good with something in the defense, you know, all you
gotta do is telling me.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
He'll throw it out. And that's what I love.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Man.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
You know, most decordinators and not really like that, they
kind of strumming guys, But not bolls Man. He's very
open and uh you know, he he let his players,
you want to put his players the best position to
make plays.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
This is your fourteenth season with one team. Not not
many players in the National Football League in the history
of the National Football League can say that. Can you
talk about just the loyal to you feel to that
franchise and what they feel back to you, because I.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Love the family environment that create out there.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, man, it's definitely that. It's a family environment.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You know a lot of guys where they draft, they
try to keep intact, you know, for guys things like that.
You've seen it with me, you see it with Mike,
you see with Chris Godwin. Uh, you see him with
Will Goson and guys like that and much guys to come.
You know, I feel like in my bit that way,
we went into a winfield with Vita. You know, Court
guys want to keep those guys around, and you know,
(04:07):
for me, man like just going through what.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I went through early in my career in this program,
you know.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I thought I was probably gonna be one of the
first guys out when the changing.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Uh you know, the regime, Newdrey regime came in.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
But I was one of the first people they called
and said they wanted me to be a part of it.
So that did make me feel you know, kind of
you know, comfortable in a way and things like that,
but still knowing that I have to do my job
and take care what i'd even to take care of,
and you know, for them to you kind of like,
you know, relate that back to me having a relationship
with Jason Light and all those guys, you know, when
(04:37):
they you know, reach out to me and let me
know like, hey man, you know we want you to
be a part of this.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
You want to keep Court foundations of what we want
to build continue to build around.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And all it does for me is just giving me
confidence as a player, you know, continue to, you know,
go out there and put my best foot forward and
try my best to be a leader for the program,
for the up and coming guys.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But it's not even just your play on the field,
you know, which has been incredible. You have been one
of the best middle linebackers in National Football AGU. One
of the best linebackers you forget middle, but off the field,
you work hard, You do what you're supposed to do.
You a do ship right guys what they say, do
shit right? Guy, done it your entire career. You talk
about surviving regime, survive more than regime, but it's always
(05:21):
every year they're drafting somebody to replace you, the replacement,
the next guy. And that's what they're saying about Mike.
They're like they always drafted somebody there to to retire
Mike Evans. Mike Evans just getting another thousand offs.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
My heart was broken when damn.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
That was tough.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
But that was tough.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
But I say all that to say, like, talk me
through how how what you do off the field to
take care of your body and take care of yourself
to last as long as Mike line back?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, man, I think the main thing is it's being disciplined,
you know what I'm saying. Like, my whole goal was
the you know, when I got a chance that I
figured I could make it to the NFL.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
My whole goal was to make it an interfront of
the last in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
And I had to do what it takes to be
able to, you know, do that and sustain in this league.
You know, me wanting to be one of the best people,
best players in the game, and me wanting to you know,
protect my legacy, protect my name in the back of
my jersey. So I was doing everything that I had
to do to you know, take care of that. I
had a good I got a good support and.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Cast round with my family and friends, things like that.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So it definitely kept me on tacking and be able to,
you know, take care of what I need to take
care of. It's a time. Time to play in the time,
not to play for me, you know what I'm saying.
All season, you know, all seasons. It may seem long,
but it's not that long, you know how it is.
You may have a good month at max for a
couple of weeks at max to be able to you
know kind of like have a little fun and do
(06:45):
what you gotta do. But at the same time, and
you got to get back to it because you know
these seasons. You know, these seasons are very long, and
you a got to be able to sustain your level
of play. And you know, for the most part, man,
I just try to stay level headed, you know, always,
you know, focus on the main goal, and that's being
a that's after you. I can be and when I
do that, you know what I'm saying, I have time
to play when I retire. But you know, right now,
when I'm in the game, I just try to put
(07:07):
my best foot for it and be the best player.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Every year, at least out in Tampa, I know the
main goal is to win your division. Winning your division
guarantees your playoff spots. And y'all have wonted four years straight.
But it's always been a grind's been last game, you
better hope somebody lose.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
They win, etcetera, etcetera. But this year has been a
little different.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
And even the year y'all win the Super Bowl with
Tom that wasn't like a smooth like we felt good
at the whole year and we're going to the playoffs.
Y'all were on the road. So talk about the differences
between that season and just the confidence you guys feel
this season.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Man, you know that year, that that year that we
went to the Super Bowl, I believe were going to
the Bible. We were seven and five, so you know,
it was pretty tough, so we definitely had to battle. Uh,
you know, luckily we didn't lose a game after that,
but that was pretty cool. But you know, right now
and in the years after eight and nine, nine and eight,
ten and seven, you know, you grinding, man, you got
to grind, and it always come down to that last game.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
But uh, you know, as you know, man, you don't
want to be in that situation.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
So our whole main thing is, you know, win the
games you're supposed to win and just you know, just
dominate throughout.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
We feel like we compete with any team in this league.
You know, we got a time to roster. You know,
it's a lot of Doublin's roster that that we haven't
had a very long time. That's something that you know,
I really love to see. And the guys are hungry,
you know what I'm saying. Guys are hungry. Guys want
to go out there. Guys want to battle and guys
want to make plays. And that's what you see out
a lot of guys right now on this team. And
you know, obviously, you know, start with Baker, you know
(08:39):
the way he's carrying, the way he's leading us, and uh,
everybody just feeding off him, and uh, it just trickling
down to everybody. Man.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
You got a lot of young guys stepping up, and.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
That's the testament to you know, the veterans in the
locker room, man, you know, showing the way, showing how
things things are supposed to be done and how we
want things done and let them know, you know, when
we don't want to be in these situations and how
we was the past couple of years, you know, corner
kind of like not this out early. You know, hopefully
you know, lead to a NFC and get us a
bye week in the playoffs, but you know, that time
(09:08):
to come when it comes. But you know, right now,
we just focused on one game at a time. And
it's been pretty cool. Man.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
It's been some extremely fun to be a part of.
And you're ready to get back to.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
It, no question about it, y'all. Y'all have had some
some some different games. Y'all went on the road, gotten
a shootout with Seattle. We're able to pull off the win.
I know Bows wasn't happy about after that, a lot
of stern conversations. But but talk about Baker Mayfield and
(09:39):
what he has meant to this team, because it's you know,
I'm not gonna be the lazy guy to ask you
the difference between Baker Mayfield and Tom Brady. It's just
such a lazy question. That's clear difference. But there was
a play that almost defines y'all season and defines Baker
Mayfield against the San Francisco forty nine when it was
third and seventeen. He had no business getting the first
down on this play. He breaks two or three tackles
(10:01):
in the backfield, gets out of there, drops his shoulder,
breaks another one, reaches for the first down.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
What was going through your mind at that moment?
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Yeah, man, you know at that moment, I'm standing up
washing it. You know.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
So it's third or seventeen, so you know you got
a live faith. But you know how it is, man,
you know how it is on third seventeen. Defense love
for third and seventeen. So I'm you know, I'm assuming
something that happen, and he might he might get a
little pass off or run the ball, get a little screen,
you know, something safe and you know, putting.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
The ball out.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Let us get on the field. So I'm standing up
watching and I see and I've seen the magic happen.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
You know what I'm saying. He broke off two sacks.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
You know, I thought he was gonna throw it after that,
but then you know, Baker magic kicked in.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You know, I'm on the sideline jumping up hype crunk,
you know, when he got the first down, got up
all hype and I'm.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
On the side. I'm flexing and everything too. Like I
love that. Man.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
You see a quarterback doing stuff like that, it just
does something to you, man like, and that's just him
that he been like that since day one, since he
got in the building. And you know, he just brings
a different type of energy, you know, to talk to
our locker room man like. And it's crazy because like
in a locker room, you know, he smiling kind of
at a little little shy you know, playing around and
(11:11):
stuff like that, and then you know, game time come.
You know, he's just a different animal, and Uh, that's
what I love to see, man like.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
He plays with a chip on his shoulder.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
You know, obviously for the stuff that he's been through,
you know, being counted out and things like that. But
for him, I think it's a part of uh. You know,
he got a group of guys around believe in him
and giving him the confidence to go out there and
be the best player he can be in Uh, knowing
that he got his back is definitely true.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
True likely you can see it.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, you would have never believed in a million years
when he first got there. There was a QB controversy.
We didn't even talk about that. But he really has
just coming to his own. He got a young kid,
a Mecca a Buka playing playing lights out football. We
we talked about Chris, we talked about my big Mic. Yeah,
(11:59):
it just seems like this team is jailing like. It's
a good culture. It's a reason why you guys keep winning.
It's a reason why guys stay even Jamail d Is
I said Jamel d like a slave, right you see, give.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Him a hard time about that all the time.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Ye give me a hard time. He texts me every
interception you get. You see that one.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, yeah, you know, we always give him a hard
time about it. So God tell me you gotta catch
the one to throw to you, bro, and he bringing
him down and I love.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
To see it, man, I love it.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Yeah. Man, I have to text Rock the other day.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
I don't know how you survive with these boys stressing
you out like a least he got one.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, yeah, you know, Rock Rock on them right, Rock
is on, no question about it.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
So this this Patriots game.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Before the season, you know, we're not going to sit
here and not like NFL teams or in NFL teams.
But it didn't look like it looked now looks like
game of the week two six and two teams. They're
playing well. You guys are playing incredibly well. Talk about
Drake May what challenges he gives.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah, man, he's gonna be a challenge.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Man.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
He's a young quarterback, but he's playing like a veteran.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
You know, he making all his right reads, he's taking
his shots when he's supposed to take his shots when
he got guys.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Checking the ball down.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
He's getting rid of football and it's just like, man,
he letting the game come to him. You know, he's
not pressing he not rushing the strolls and things like that.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
He's just letting the game come to him.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
And you know, they been doing a good job of you're,
you know, getting guys around him. You know, they got
some weapons on the outside that he can get the
ball to. Got two great tight ends, and you know
he got the young running back making players in the
open field things like that, getting the ball out to him,
you know, creating advocate space. And you could tell, man,
you could tell the way he looks. Man, he's just
letting the game come to him. And it's just like
(13:51):
he's playing like with no pressure and that what you
want for a young quarterback.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Man.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
And they're doing a great job, you know, scheming things
up and allow him to make plays sometimes you know,
we're taking off with the football.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
He's athletic, he could do that too.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
So obviously it's gonna be a challenge for us, you know, uh,
defensively to be able to combat that and kind of
like you know, do things to minimize you know, especially
those are supposed players that they get, you know, so
definitely gonna be a challece for us.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Man, and they're playing great football, no.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Question about that. Then what what are you feeling. What
are your expectations for for the rest of this year? Man?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
You know, I just want us to keep climbing, you
know what I'm saying. Uh, It's been a lot of
times where, you know, in the middle of the season
we kind of hit all and things don't go our way.
But uh, you know, we kind of like want to
kind of like just capitalize on what we've been doing
earlier in the season. You know, we just still want
to be that that that that team that grinds out
through you know, all four quarters. You know, Uh, we're
(14:47):
a team who played with a lot of grit, you
know what I'm saying, and need to continue to go
out there and making plays and continue to building on
building on the success that we have, especially defensively.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
You know, defensively, I feel like we started at a little.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Slow and uh, and now we're kind of like getting
a groove of things stuff like that. I think guys
are getting more comfortable because there was a lot of
moving parts obviously, you know, a couple guys getting to hurt, guys,
you know, switching here and there, you know, guys coming
back from injurying things like that. So I feel like
it's everybody started getting a little jail, and everybody's trying
to get kind of like understanding what office is trying
(15:20):
to do against us, you know, and you know how
there is man in the middle of the season. You know, offense,
you're gonna get what you're gonna get. It just basically
comes down to, you know, playing on player at athlete
and whos gonna be the best, and uh, we feel
like we got the best.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
So we're gonna see how it go.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
We're gonna see how I go see how I can't
wait to see it because it's been great so far.
I appreciate always. I know you this ye, this your
day off. You gotta get some rests and spend some
time with them. Is you taking a chance to spend
some time.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
With your boy?
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Yeah, you definitely appreciate you man. You know it's all
love with you.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Man.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
You know how it is. Bro appreciate you
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Man, Yes, sir, I love I love my gosh.
Broke off two sacks.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
You know, I thought he was gonna throw it after that,
but then you know, Baker magic kick in.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Welcome back to Richard Trumman Podcast. We got an incredible guest,
a good friend of mine, Lavonte David, the veteran never
gets enough credit.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
How you I'm good, bro, Thank you for having me
as always.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Man.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Good talking to you.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Good talking to you too. You're having another great season.
You have fifty seven tackles, two and a half sacks.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
In a book. How your body feeling?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Body feeling good man?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Getting it back on track, you know, especially having this
all week off week this past week during the middle
of the season.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Perfect tim Man. You know, get a chance to.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Kind of like online, get away from football a little bit,
work on a little small things as far as like
body and getting some much needed rest for show. You know,
with a guy in my age, I needed off but
definitely felt good Man.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
I'm ready to get back to it.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
You are one of the few players with fifteen hundred tackles,
thirty five plus sacks, send ten plus interceptions. How do
you balance your run duty and all the responsibilities you
have with that with your your ability and coverage?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Man?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
It's a lot that goes into it. You know, obviously
a film study is the main thing. And understanding your
opponent and then understanding what you can do within the defense,
you know what I'm saying, Understanding when you can be aggressive,
Understanding when you can't be aggressive, Understanding when you cannot
kind of like jump routes and stuff like that, Understanding
when you can't jump routes, and understanding who you're working with.
You know, you got some guys and you know, our
(01:31):
back end who I'm pretty comforted in. So they did
do give me an opportunity to be aggressive and coverage
and also in the run game where you got a
guy like Vida Veil, you know who you know, takes
up multiple blocks and things like that give you a
chance to you know, kind of run freely and shoot gaps.
So definitely a chance. You know, times where you have to,
you know, pull your trigger and then sometimes you just
have to hold back a little bit. But you know
(01:51):
what I'm saying, never take that aggressiveness, aggressiveness away you know,
out your game, and that's what I try to do.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I want to talk about your relationship with Top, yeah,
because I think that's one of the coolert relationships in
the National Football League, at least when I was there
for the little bit of you know, a couple of
coffee I was in Temple. An incredibly smart coordinator, but
just a good human being and a good leader of men.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, yeah, man, it's incredible.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
You know, just usually have to try to see what
a lot of people don't see, you know, Everybody always
you know, seeing him as this mild mannered guy who
don't you know, get on people who just be quiet
and everything.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
But it's the complete opposite, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
When you when you got a devisive mind, their head
coach sometimes and the difense not working the way he
ruins it, you could definitely see a different side of him.
And we've seen it. We've seen it. I seen it,
you know what I'm saying. But uh, he's one of
those guys who's very open man, very open. Uh, jokes
a lot, you know, always happy to you know, always
work in his mind is always working, and that's what
(02:51):
we love about him, man, you know. Uh, he always
want to put us in the best position to make plays,
and that's why a lot of guys you know, love
to play for him. And my relationship with him is
just that, you know, it's an open door policy with him.
I could text him whenever I have questions about anything
in life.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You know, the same thing with him. You know, when
you know you.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Witness the man or something that you know we're not
good with something in the defense, you know, all you
gotta do is telling me.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
He'll throw it out. And that's what I love.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Man.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
You know, most decordinators and not really like that, they
kind of strumming guys, But not bolls Man. He's very
open and uh you know, he he let his players,
you want to put his players the best position to
make plays.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
This is your fourteenth season with one team. Not not
many players in the National Football League in the history
of the National Football League can say that. Can you
talk about just the loyal to you feel to that
franchise and what they feel back to you, because I.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Love the family environment that create out there.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, man, it's definitely that. It's a family environment.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You know a lot of guys where they draft, they
try to keep intact, you know, for guys things like that.
You've seen it with me, you see it with Mike,
you see with Chris Godwin. Uh, you see him with
Will Goson and guys like that and much guys to come.
You know, I feel like in my bit that way,
we went into a winfield with Vita. You know, Court
guys want to keep those guys around, and you know,
(04:07):
for me, man like just going through what.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I went through early in my career in this program,
you know.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I thought I was probably gonna be one of the
first guys out when the changing.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Uh you know, the regime, Newdrey regime came in.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
But I was one of the first people they called
and said they wanted me to be a part of it.
So that did make me feel you know, kind of
you know, comfortable in a way and things like that,
but still knowing that I have to do my job
and take care what i'd even to take care of,
and you know, for them to you kind of like,
you know, relate that back to me having a relationship
with Jason Light and all those guys, you know, when
(04:37):
they you know, reach out to me and let me
know like, hey man, you know we want you to
be a part of this.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
You want to keep Court foundations of what we want
to build continue to build around.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And all it does for me is just giving me
confidence as a player, you know, continue to, you know,
go out there and put my best foot forward and
try my best to be a leader for the program,
for the up and coming guys.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But it's not even just your play on the field,
you know, which has been incredible. You have been one
of the best middle linebackers in National Football AGU. One
of the best linebackers you forget middle, but off the field,
you work hard, You do what you're supposed to do.
You a do ship right guys what they say, do
shit right? Guy, done it your entire career. You talk
about surviving regime, survive more than regime, but it's always
(05:21):
every year they're drafting somebody to replace you, the replacement,
the next guy. And that's what they're saying about Mike.
They're like they always drafted somebody there to to retire
Mike Evans. Mike Evans just getting another thousand offs.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
My heart was broken when damn.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
That was tough.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
But that was tough.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
But I say all that to say, like, talk me
through how how what you do off the field to
take care of your body and take care of yourself
to last as long as Mike line back?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, man, I think the main thing is it's being disciplined,
you know what I'm saying. Like, my whole goal was
the you know, when I got a chance that I
figured I could make it to the NFL.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
My whole goal was to make it an interfront of
the last in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
And I had to do what it takes to be
able to, you know, do that and sustain in this league.
You know, me wanting to be one of the best people,
best players in the game, and me wanting to you know,
protect my legacy, protect my name in the back of
my jersey. So I was doing everything that I had
to do to you know, take care of that. I
had a good I got a good support and.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Cast round with my family and friends, things like that.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So it definitely kept me on tacking and be able to,
you know, take care of what I need to take
care of. It's a time. Time to play in the time,
not to play for me, you know what I'm saying.
All season, you know, all seasons. It may seem long,
but it's not that long, you know how it is.
You may have a good month at max for a
couple of weeks at max to be able to you
know kind of like have a little fun and do
(06:45):
what you gotta do. But at the same time, and
you got to get back to it because you know
these seasons. You know, these seasons are very long, and
you a got to be able to sustain your level
of play. And you know, for the most part, man,
I just try to stay level headed, you know, always,
you know, focus on the main goal, and that's being
a that's after you. I can be and when I
do that, you know what I'm saying, I have time
to play when I retire. But you know, right now,
when I'm in the game, I just try to put
(07:07):
my best foot for it and be the best player.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Every year, at least out in Tampa, I know the
main goal is to win your division. Winning your division
guarantees your playoff spots. And y'all have wonted four years straight.
But it's always been a grind's been last game, you
better hope somebody lose.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
They win, etcetera, etcetera. But this year has been a
little different.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
And even the year y'all win the Super Bowl with
Tom that wasn't like a smooth like we felt good
at the whole year and we're going to the playoffs.
Y'all were on the road. So talk about the differences
between that season and just the confidence you guys feel
this season.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Man, you know that year, that that year that we
went to the Super Bowl, I believe were going to
the Bible. We were seven and five, so you know,
it was pretty tough, so we definitely had to battle. Uh,
you know, luckily we didn't lose a game after that,
but that was pretty cool. But you know, right now
and in the years after eight and nine, nine and eight,
ten and seven, you know, you grinding, man, you got
to grind, and it always come down to that last game.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
But uh, you know, as you know, man, you don't
want to be in that situation.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
So our whole main thing is, you know, win the
games you're supposed to win and just you know, just
dominate throughout.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
We feel like we compete with any team in this league.
You know, we got a time to roster. You know,
it's a lot of Doublin's roster that that we haven't
had a very long time. That's something that you know,
I really love to see. And the guys are hungry,
you know what I'm saying. Guys are hungry. Guys want
to go out there. Guys want to battle and guys
want to make plays. And that's what you see out
a lot of guys right now on this team. And
you know, obviously, you know, start with Baker, you know
(08:39):
the way he's carrying, the way he's leading us, and uh,
everybody just feeding off him, and uh, it just trickling
down to everybody. Man.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
You got a lot of young guys stepping up, and.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
That's the testament to you know, the veterans in the
locker room, man, you know, showing the way, showing how
things things are supposed to be done and how we
want things done and let them know, you know, when
we don't want to be in these situations and how
we was the past couple of years, you know, corner
kind of like not this out early. You know, hopefully
you know, lead to a NFC and get us a
bye week in the playoffs, but you know, that time
(09:08):
to come when it comes. But you know, right now,
we just focused on one game at a time. And
it's been pretty cool. Man.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
It's been some extremely fun to be a part of.
And you're ready to get back to.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
It, no question about it, y'all. Y'all have had some
some some different games. Y'all went on the road, gotten
a shootout with Seattle. We're able to pull off the win.
I know Bows wasn't happy about after that, a lot
of stern conversations. But but talk about Baker Mayfield and
(09:39):
what he has meant to this team, because it's you know,
I'm not gonna be the lazy guy to ask you
the difference between Baker Mayfield and Tom Brady. It's just
such a lazy question. That's clear difference. But there was
a play that almost defines y'all season and defines Baker
Mayfield against the San Francisco forty nine when it was
third and seventeen. He had no business getting the first
down on this play. He breaks two or three tackles
(10:01):
in the backfield, gets out of there, drops his shoulder,
breaks another one, reaches for the first down.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
What was going through your mind at that moment?
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Yeah, man, you know at that moment, I'm standing up
washing it. You know.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
So it's third or seventeen, so you know you got
a live faith. But you know how it is, man,
you know how it is on third seventeen. Defense love
for third and seventeen. So I'm you know, I'm assuming
something that happen, and he might he might get a
little pass off or run the ball, get a little screen,
you know, something safe and you know, putting.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
The ball out.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Let us get on the field. So I'm standing up
watching and I see and I've seen the magic happen.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
You know what I'm saying. He broke off two sacks.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
You know, I thought he was gonna throw it after that,
but then you know, Baker magic kicked in.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You know, I'm on the sideline jumping up hype crunk,
you know, when he got the first down, got up
all hype and I'm.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
On the side. I'm flexing and everything too. Like I
love that. Man.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
You see a quarterback doing stuff like that, it just
does something to you, man like, and that's just him
that he been like that since day one, since he
got in the building. And you know, he just brings
a different type of energy, you know, to talk to
our locker room man like. And it's crazy because like
in a locker room, you know, he smiling kind of
at a little little shy you know, playing around and
(11:11):
stuff like that, and then you know, game time come.
You know, he's just a different animal, and Uh, that's
what I love to see, man like.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
He plays with a chip on his shoulder.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
You know, obviously for the stuff that he's been through,
you know, being counted out and things like that. But
for him, I think it's a part of uh. You know,
he got a group of guys around believe in him
and giving him the confidence to go out there and
be the best player he can be in Uh, knowing
that he got his back is definitely true.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
True likely you can see it.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, you would have never believed in a million years
when he first got there. There was a QB controversy.
We didn't even talk about that. But he really has
just coming to his own. He got a young kid,
a Mecca a Buka playing playing lights out football. We
we talked about Chris, we talked about my big Mic. Yeah,
(11:59):
it just seems like this team is jailing like. It's
a good culture. It's a reason why you guys keep winning.
It's a reason why guys stay even Jamail d Is
I said Jamel d like a slave, right you see, give.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Him a hard time about that all the time.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Ye give me a hard time. He texts me every
interception you get. You see that one.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, yeah, you know, we always give him a hard
time about it. So God tell me you gotta catch
the one to throw to you, bro, and he bringing
him down and I love.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
To see it, man, I love it.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Yeah. Man, I have to text Rock the other day.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
I don't know how you survive with these boys stressing
you out like a least he got one.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, yeah, you know, Rock Rock on them right, Rock
is on, no question about it.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
So this this Patriots game.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Before the season, you know, we're not going to sit
here and not like NFL teams or in NFL teams.
But it didn't look like it looked now looks like
game of the week two six and two teams. They're
playing well. You guys are playing incredibly well. Talk about
Drake May what challenges he gives.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah, man, he's gonna be a challenge.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Man.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
He's a young quarterback, but he's playing like a veteran.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
You know, he making all his right reads, he's taking
his shots when he's supposed to take his shots when
he got guys.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Checking the ball down.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
He's getting rid of football and it's just like, man,
he letting the game come to him. You know, he's
not pressing he not rushing the strolls and things like that.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
He's just letting the game come to him.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
And you know, they been doing a good job of you're,
you know, getting guys around him. You know, they got
some weapons on the outside that he can get the
ball to. Got two great tight ends, and you know
he got the young running back making players in the
open field things like that, getting the ball out to him,
you know, creating advocate space. And you could tell, man,
you could tell the way he looks. Man, he's just
letting the game come to him. And it's just like
(13:51):
he's playing like with no pressure and that what you
want for a young quarterback.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Man.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
And they're doing a great job, you know, scheming things
up and allow him to make plays sometimes you know,
we're taking off with the football.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
He's athletic, he could do that too.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
So obviously it's gonna be a challenge for us, you know, uh,
defensively to be able to combat that and kind of
like you know, do things to minimize you know, especially
those are supposed players that they get, you know, so
definitely gonna be a challece for us.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Man, and they're playing great football, no.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Question about that. Then what what are you feeling. What
are your expectations for for the rest of this year? Man?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
You know, I just want us to keep climbing, you
know what I'm saying. Uh, It's been a lot of
times where, you know, in the middle of the season
we kind of hit all and things don't go our way.
But uh, you know, we kind of like want to
kind of like just capitalize on what we've been doing
earlier in the season. You know, we just still want
to be that that that that team that grinds out
through you know, all four quarters. You know, Uh, we're
(14:47):
a team who played with a lot of grit, you
know what I'm saying, and need to continue to go
out there and making plays and continue to building on
building on the success that we have, especially defensively.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
You know, defensively, I feel like we started at a little.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Slow and uh, and now we're kind of like getting
a groove of things stuff like that. I think guys
are getting more comfortable because there was a lot of
moving parts obviously, you know, a couple guys getting to hurt, guys,
you know, switching here and there, you know, guys coming
back from injurying things like that. So I feel like
it's everybody started getting a little jail, and everybody's trying
to get kind of like understanding what office is trying
(15:20):
to do against us, you know, and you know how
there is man in the middle of the season. You know, offense,
you're gonna get what you're gonna get. It just basically
comes down to, you know, playing on player at athlete
and whos gonna be the best, and uh, we feel
like we got the best.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
So we're gonna see how it go.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
We're gonna see how I go see how I can't
wait to see it because it's been great so far.
I appreciate always. I know you this ye, this your
day off. You gotta get some rests and spend some
time with them. Is you taking a chance to spend
some time.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
With your boy?
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Yeah, you definitely appreciate you man. You know it's all
love with you.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Man.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
You know how it is. Bro appreciate you
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Man, Yes, sir, I love I love my gosh.
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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