Mike Vrabel On Coaching vs. Playing With The New England Patriots In The Super Bowl | Bussin'

Summary

Bussin' With The Boys - Episode 366 Summary

Episode Title: Mike Vrabel On Coaching vs. Playing With The New England Patriots In The Super Bowl
Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: Mike Vrabel

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Episode Overview

This episode features current NFL coach and former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, focusing on his journey to coaching in the Super Bowl, the differences between coaching and playing, building team cultures, leadership growth, and navigating adversity—interspersed, in the signature Bussin' fashion, with plenty of banter, nostalgia, and locker room storytelling. The interview offers both laughs and rare insight into high-level football culture, delivered with candid realness as the hosts revisit viral moments, share personal stories, and get Vrabel’s direct takes on NFL life.

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Key Topics and Discussion Points

Opening Banter & Current Events

• Ice storms and power outages dominated the Nashville off-season for the boys, leading to stories about driveway inclines, generator woes, and the hosts’ evolving "survival skills."
• Vibrant debate on Nashville’s food scene, especially the quality of Mexican food, with both hosts coming to nuanced conclusions about local cuisine (29:00–34:00).
• Ongoing merch design contest for the show's audience, with details and significant cash prizes for winning entries (04:28–05:36).
• “Clean takes” segments highlight both playful and sincere opinions on food, football, and life transitions (36:13–37:35).

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Super Bowl Week Vibes

• The crew is in San Francisco for Super Bowl festivities, sharing stories about travel, media commitments, and anticipation (32:00–37:00).
• Quick analysis and shout-outs to NFL teams and players, focusing on the LA Rams and Matthew Stafford (40:11–41:10).
• Touching dad moments: discussed how becoming a father changes your emotional response to sports and movies (42:03–43:26).

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Featured Interview: Mike Vrabel

Set-Up and Nostalgia (47:56–56:00)

• Vrabel jokes about seating, reminisces on past viral podcast moments—“the clip of you cutting your dick off” for a Super Bowl—acknowledging its role in "putting us on the map."

"Kind of? Which, I mean, we don't need the 'kind of'. We don't need 'kind of.' Let's just call it what it is."
— Mike Vrabel, (55:52)

On Coaching vs. Playing in the Super Bowl

Comparing Emotional Experiences

• As a player, the routine remains intense but linear—a clear focus on preparation and limited to oneself.
• As a coach, emotions and responsibilities linger, with constant mental review, planning, and ensuring readiness for the group.

"I think as a coach, it just continues to, like, linger and stay on your mind. And, am I doing this? And what do I have today?"
— Mike Vrabel, (86:34)

Building Team Culture & Leadership

• Vrabel emphasizes setting a vision where players feel alignment and clarity. The goal: a united building, clear jobs, and a sense of direction (68:56–70:00).
• New traditions, like the “Weekend Update”—a Friday team skit with jokes, food menus, and camaraderie—keep vibe loose but connected (63:02–63:53).

On Team Growth and Overachieving (67:40–70:50)

• The process of exceeding expectations with a young team:
  • Tough joint practices became proving grounds.
  • An early big win validated belief and sparked momentum.
  • Emphasized focusing on attacking, not playing cautious, and allowing players to grow through mistakes.

"We were just kind of guarded and cautious. And I said, we're going to have to attack and be aggressive and not be worried about making mistakes."
— Mike Vrabel, (69:36)

Game Management and Situational Excellence (71:20–76:47)

• Vrabel credits clear communication and extensive practice of end-game scenarios (moving from "four-minute" to "five-minute" drills to align with NFL timing rules), with particular praise for key analyst "Stretch."
• Details the importance of speedy and accurate replay decisions, always weighing the replay coordinator’s advice (Stretch) versus gut feeling.

"I think at this point, obviously Stretch and I are constant communication... Stretch has his own dedicated line."
— Mike Vrabel, (72:17)

Leadership: Drake Maye & Player Development (78:04–80:25)

• Young QB Drake Maye’s evolution attributed to:
  • Coaching support (Josh and Ashton).
  • Confidence gained through an unselfish receiver group.
  • Player development amid adversity, especially in leadership roles.

"Drake's mindset is exactly what we want: the competitiveness, the energy and the performance."
— Mike Vrabel, (79:02)

Family and Personal Struggles (81:03–82:22)

• Vrabel talks about his sons—Carter's fierce loyalty and emotional investment, Tyler's calm demeanor—and how the Super Bowl run impacts his family.
• Describes Carter's post-game exuberance and devotion in defending his dad’s reputation against critics.

Locker Room Stories & “Cutting” Players (84:35–88:28)

• Nostalgic laughs about camp fights (especially with Jeffrey Simmons), prank stories, and the infamous “trash bag” moment when leaving the Titans.
• Both Lewan and Compton re-live being released by Vrabel and the unique, awkward ways those conversations play out.

"Who was harder to cut in your career, Will or Taylor?"
"Both. Fairly easy. I mean, those are easy decisions. Maybe mine was the team's best interest... No, emotionally, Will."
— Taylor Lewan & Mike Vrabel, (88:04–88:19)

Reflections on Titans Transition & Vrabel’s Legacy (89:34–90:46)

• Both hosts tease Vrabel about Titans fans joking "they fired Mike Vrabel and hired a lesser Mike Vrabel."
• Vrabel offers professional respect to his successor, Robert Saleh, and gratitude for his time in Tennessee, reinforcing fan appreciation and complicated loyalty post-departure.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On taking nothing for granted in football:

"I try to tell these guys not to take this for granted. And I hope that you guys realize that in your career... Everybody's journey [is] different to the NFL and what your career looks like..."
— Mike Vrabel (61:55)

Locker room myth-busting:

"I know I'm going to get credit, but I also know in the back of my mind that probably wasn't my play."
— Mike Vrabel (49:36)

The “cutting the dick off” viral moment, re-litigated:

"I'd probably cut it in half... leave her six."
— Mike Vrabel (56:38)

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Important Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro/Contest Details: 04:28–06:44
• Ice Storm Survival, Driveway Banter: 07:11–17:00
• Nashville vs. West Coast Mexican Food Debate: 29:00–34:53
• Dad Moments & Emotion in Sports: 40:47–43:26
• Start of Vrabel Interview: 47:56
• Viral Podcast Nostalgia: 55:44–56:41
• Preparing for the Super Bowl as Coach vs. Player: 86:30–87:43
• On Being Let Go by Vrabel: 88:04–88:46
• Vrabel on Titans/Robert Saleh Transition: 89:34–90:46

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Tone & Style

Casual, irreverent, but insightful—classic Bussin’ With The Boys: unfiltered locker room humor with surprising candor and heart. Vrabel’s blunt, dry delivery bounces against Will and Taylor’s goofiness, keeping things both fun and honest. The episode pivots deftly from inside jokes to deep football wisdom.

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For New Listeners

If you’re looking for both laughs and real football insight, this episode’s a top-tier example—detailing NFL culture through stories, leadership lessons, and coach-player dynamics, delivered by personalities who aren’t afraid to laugh at themselves or pull back the curtain. The legendary Mike Vrabel drops serious knowledge alongside some of the most viral podcast moments in sports media.

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End of Summary.

Transcript

[Will Compton]

The postseason is upon us and there's really nothing like it. But the postseason can be stressful. Crushing losses, wild upsets, your unhinged six game parlay falling apart at the literal last second. Things can get rough and it can leave you feeling a little sour. But you got to look at the bright side. Once your team is out and headed to decompress, you can finally relax. Now you can actually enjoy the postseason with all of the heart palpitations. That's why we're partnering with Jim Beam. We want to help you turn that lemon of a loss into delicious, tasty Jim Beam and lemonade because it's really the perfect bevy for the offseason. It's refreshing, it's got the perfect sweetness and a little bit of tang on your tongue. Best paired with stress free watching when your team is out. So gather the boys and grab some Jim Beam and lemonade to make the rest of the postseason just a little bit sweeter. Refresh your season with Jim Beam and lemonade best enjoyed together. Please drink responsibly. Jim Beam Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey 40% alcohol by volume 2025 James B. Beam Distilling Company Clermont, Kentucky Stugats here I.

[Mike Vrabel]

Have a podcast empire that I have brought here to iheart and I'm also hosting a daily live radio show from 3 to 5pm Eastern called Stagouts and Company Live, which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes every single day. You can expect a lot of laughter, great guests, a ton of calls and a lot of fun. Listen to stewgots and company Live and our original podcast, Stugatson company and God Bless Football and you can check all of those out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. All right, we're good.

[Taylor Lewan]

Be like busing with the boys, hanging with the fellas.

[Will Compton]

Betting on a game no woman's gon tell us what to do and I've been over here just drinking beer and making that noise baby.

[Mike Vrabel]

I'm hanging with the fellas Busting with the Boys bro.

[Will Compton]

Welcome to another episode of Busting with the Boys. This is episode 366. We have a a lot of stuff to cover in this intro, but mainly you guys are prob for the Mike Vrabel interview which will be coming here in a little bit. We got some sweepstakes to talk about. We have a merch contest giveaway that we're doing. Don't give them too much.

[Taylor Lewan]

That's a sprinkle.

[Will Compton]

We got some clean takes from Kevin's Natural foods. We got some taste of the off season coming up. We'll be talking a lot of lore nes our power still being out. But this podcast is powered by and presented by the FanDuel Sports Book. You know them, you love them. That's because they're America's number one sportsbook. And it may be the last call for football, but with FanDuel's Touchdown Jackpot, you can win a share of $6 million in bonus bets. That's right. FanDuel is giving us one more chance to cash in on, opt in and place an anytime touchdown score bet before the game kicks off. And if your player scores the first or the last touchdown, you'll win your bet plus a share of the bonus bets. Love, Kenneth Walker. This weekend just head to fanduel.com bussin to get started. Play your game with FanDuel, the official sportsbook partner of Super Bowl 60.

[Taylor Lewan]

God, that's absolutely Bill. There's a bunch of New England Patriot fans right now that are doing the little Leonardo DiCaprio GIF from once upon a time in Hollywood. But I know those guys from somewhere.

[Will Compton]

This that one show.

[Taylor Lewan]

There's that one show that got Mike Vrabel to say he cut his dick off for a Super Bowl.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

And Mike Vrabel somewhere smoking a jewel.

[Will Compton]

Been married 20 years.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, I made them right now. That is. That is us. And we will get into that and you will get the answer to that question when this mic variable interview takes place. But I'm here to talk to you. If you're a tier one, if you know the ranking system and you put yourself in the Tier 1 category, this is for you guys. Now, you might be all about bus with the boys or the locker room or inside the bus or for the dads. There's a bunch of things under the bus with the boys universe that you love. Now what we're going to do, Garrett, put together a nice little design competition. Here's what's going to take place right now.

[Will Compton]

This is a create your own merch competition.

[Taylor Lewan]

Build your own merch competition is exactly what this is. AI the whole thing. User creative brain, plug it in there. Design T shirts. You're going to enter them in to bwtb.com yes, sir. Or in the link in the bio. Correct. Or in the description on this YouTube that you're watching right now. That is how you're going to enter in. You're going to enter in with your design T shirt. We're going to take all the entries and as a group we're going to narrow it down to the top five or top 10. What's going to happen then? I'm so glad you asked. We're going to put them for sale on Busting with the boys. Now you're thinking, oh, you're just getting us to do Garrett's job for you. That is not quite the case. Bwtv. We're gonna. We're gonna see which shirts sell for the most and we're gonna do cash prizes to give away. I talked to Garrett a little bit ago and he asked me, he told me about the numbers we're gonna do. Do you mind if I just throw a zero on the other side of that number?

[Will Compton]

I know you're gonna do it no matter what.

[Taylor Lewan]

No matter what. That's what I'm gonna do.

[Will Compton]

Because it's a.

[Taylor Lewan]

You're the audience, hear the audience, and it is going to. We're doing a lot of giveaways this year. A lot of giveaways. So stay tuned to that. We're going to be giving away lots of money.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

Lots of merch.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

But the winner, if you sell the most amount of merch from your design on BWTB.com we're going to give that person not one, not two, but $3,000 cash. That's free. Put it in the piggy bank, save it for a rainy day. Maybe Nest doesn't have power at your house like mine for eight days straight. You're going to need that money. And whoever gets second place, you're going to get $2,000, your bank account. And then finally third place. We don't like participation trophies in this game, but we're going to give you $1,000 as well. So that is the way this game is going to take place. I'm going to tell you what, the schedule is on all this as well. So the submission window is going to be February 3rd, which, by the way, is today, when this episode comes out till February 15, the boys will review from February 16 to February 23. So as a rounding around third on the month of February is when we are going to put the 210 best designs on bwtb.com we will announce them, we'll announce the winners, and then we will see who sells the most. And you will find out if you're going to win 1, 2, or $3,000 or give a hell of a shot, man. Just give your best go. That's all you can ask.

[Will Compton]

It's the year of the audience.

[Taylor Lewan]

The year of the audience. We want your best 26, the year of the audience. We got everything dialed. Will sends out a little text. Text, the group chat. Take care of your. Your wife, your kids, your family. Like this is. These are Titanic rules. You got to take care of your. Your own house first. We've kind of dialed. Dialed it into an extent because we all have Internet. Will is just without one more item than we are. Monday happens and what is it, like 8am you call me or text me.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

8Am Will hits me with a text. Amen. I'm not going to be able to make it this hill I got. It's uphill. It's a. This is. This is a. This is a hill now. I'm not going to be able to make it out.

[Mike Vrabel]

No, no.

[Taylor Lewan]

Time out.

[Will Compton]

Here's where I need the timeout is. I said, go ahead and leave me because I don't. I didn't want to be gone too long because there's stuff. There's. There's just. There's chaos going on. Right. The text the night before was you. You were down to handle the podcast, but I was basically letting everybody know, hey, if the shop is shut down in your brain. Yeah. And you, like, the podcast is priority number two right now. Right. So there's zero expectation for anybody to come in. Yeah. So on that night, I was already pretty, like, doing the pod in my head.

[Taylor Lewan]

Got you. So Monday.

[Will Compton]

Monday, 8am Happens. I love to get some salt. Yeah. Willie boy ain't getting out of this driveway.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's too steep.

[Will Compton]

Road's dangerous.

[Taylor Lewan]

Driveways too steep is what I heard.

[Will Compton]

Oh, buddy. It's like, you know how we're driving around San Fran?

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Like, I. We were hit. We were hitting some of these hills. I saw one sign that basically said Willie C's driveway as we were driving up.

[Taylor Lewan]

And that's the biggest incline of all of them. Huge, huge incline. So I think I tell Will, listen, if you need me, I'll bring the salt first and then I'll go do all the stuff for bus with the boys. Will goes, leave me. Go without me. Save yourself. Go do busting with the boys without me because this driveway is too much for me to handle.

[Will Compton]

That was outside.

[Taylor Lewan]

And I was like, this is insane.

[Will Compton]

Okay, hang on. Time out, time out. So, yeah, I said, don't worry about coming to drop the salt off because I'm talking to the cats who are there. Jared, who's trying to figure out Airbnb. Sherm's like, hey, I got a dip right after the pod. I'm thinking, all Right. Don't push anything back because you just got to come bring me salt.

[Taylor Lewan]

Right, Right. Which is.

[Will Compton]

Go ahead.

[Taylor Lewan]

Which is a boy move. We come, we do the show. I think we made lemonade out of lemons. We did. It was.

[Will Compton]

Oh, 100.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. It was a good show. I thought we had a lot of fun. Definitely got. We got to save zips. That's. That's. That's staying the same.

[Will Compton]

Biggest takeaway, save zips. And also Josh Pate storytelling. Josh paid storytelling with his grandpa.

[Taylor Lewan]

How insane was that?

[Will Compton]

Nuts, dude.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, that's a good one to go. Listen back to. So we're like, you. Will had a great comment to the Voice. Hey, think about things you can do for making content, for busting in a time like this. Right? It's. It's shitty out. Will's doing his best with the generator. He's at the E5L 1S2 code going on his generator. You need to fix that. I got all the things for you on the Generac. I believe he called, not knowing it was called Generac.

[Will Compton]

Time out, Jack.

[Taylor Lewan]

Hey, how many timeouts you get in five minutes?

[Will Compton]

I'm just saying, you ain't gonna sit here and be like, I know what it meant, Jack.

[Taylor Lewan]

Look, I don't know if Will pronounce it right or wrong. I will say, will is a king of content, and he knows how to capitalize on a good situation. And maybe he knew the term generic, and maybe he did it. I had five people text me, like, make sure your boy knows, and voicemail. To Will's credit, he's literally texting me. It's like he's texting me about to set the world on fire. Like, I'm about to call it a ganner. He's like, just wait for the comments. You're lying. Oh, I. I actually, I. Look, that's a heady play. It was a heady play. And then two minutes of the tweet, he's, like, already sending me screenshots. He's like, people are texting me, and, like, people just want to get mad at Will already online, especially in these moments. And this is why I really respect him, is because he takes it one step too far, and he's out there getting these good old boys riled up, and he's. He's wearing the full camo.

[Will Compton]

You know how to say it, right?

[Taylor Lewan]

But I love it. It's a heady play. Did he text you also and be like, hey, I'm going to tell Taylor my driveway is insanely steep? No, I Didn't get that text. And, and, and JP also, we have to credit jp. He was like, hey, it would be great content if you guys delivered some salt as well. Yeah. So that's what we did.

[Will Compton]

You.

[Taylor Lewan]

You were in your side by side. I drove my 044Runner. That's got 297, 000 miles on it and the pits of hell that no one could drive it, especially around West Nashville. Couldn't do it. I will say though, I'm taking selfie videos. You're taking videos?

[Will Compton]

There's nothing.

[Taylor Lewan]

Will, you're out of timeouts, dog.

[Will Compton]

I'm just saying. You guys come over. It been sunny out. It was like in the middle of the afternoon.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's not the point. Hey. The one saving grace that Will has is the main road that the old Hillsboro high school runs off of, it was destroyed. Destroyed. Every single property you had, you were weaving in between one neighborhood was like, it was destroyed.

[Will Compton]

There was a lot going on.

[Taylor Lewan]

When we got to Will's house, I could have put my car in two wheel drive and gone up backwards 100.

[Will Compton]

Yo, yo, guys. By the time y' all came over.

[Taylor Lewan]

Like, I drive it. Hey, you're out of timeouts. I'm driving.

[Will Compton]

Go ahead.

[Taylor Lewan]

And I. I look over and I'm looking at my phone like, okay, it says it's in 500ft. And I'm looking, I'm like, these are flat lots. These lots are flat. So I'm thinking, oh. And knowing my brain, I'm like, I messed up the address on this house. I turn up in this driveway. 1% incline. Get up the driveway. I get out. I look at Jack, I go, hey, are you thinking what I'm thinking? Goes. Craziest non steep driveway of our entire lives.

[Will Compton]

We were.

[Taylor Lewan]

We were laughing for a minute straight until Will came out. And then he goes, have y' all been bitten? This is the first thing he says to us.

[Will Compton]

And doing some I am legend bits in my head like, show me your hands. Do you have any bite marks?

[Taylor Lewan]

Taylor can't even breathe.

[Mike Vrabel]

And.

[Taylor Lewan]

But honestly, it was great. We got to see Will's new house. Beautiful property. I love the green with Ruse. Saw all the cool stuff. His Gooner cave is all time. Great shades of green everywhere. Love the shades of green you guys got there. Will's house is like a Rolex box.

[Will Compton]

There you go.

[Taylor Lewan]

Honestly. Yeah, I can see that. I didn't know where you're going.

[Will Compton]

Love the new. Love the new spot, buddy.

[Taylor Lewan]

The green I've been obsessed with for a while.

[Will Compton]

Wild now in the morning, that entire driveway was ice, bro. The streets were ice. There's a massive tree down to my right that was cleaned up. By the time you guys got there, the road did look good. The road did look good. But, like, by the time you guys came over, the road did look good.

[Mike Vrabel]

Weren't you driving around to Target earlier in the day?

[Will Compton]

That was when it was slush. So when we had.

[Taylor Lewan]

In the beginning of the show, he tried to say, like, oh, no, no. The ice storm came the next day. Like, the ice storm already came on.

[Will Compton]

It was getting cold. Listen, if you're in Nashville on Saturday, it snowed about 2 or 3 inches. The next morning is when there was a rain. There was like a rain moment where it was slush going on Saturday mornings.

[Taylor Lewan]

When that happened and.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, but Sunday is when it dropped down to single digits.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yes.

[Will Compton]

To where everything was hardened over.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Throughout that night.

[Taylor Lewan]

Right.

[Will Compton]

So I don't like the snowstorm. The ice storm didn't happen all, like, on, like, Saturday night to where everything was down in the single digits part. Like, ice happened, but not to the extent where it got even worse and hardened up overnight on Sunday. Because it was single digits on Sunday, dude.

[Taylor Lewan]

Saturday morning, 5am, Taylor wakes me up and she's like, the power's out. I go outside not knowing what to do. I'm wearing camo gear that I got from. From Meat Eater, thinking, this is enough. And I'm. I'm wandering around outside thinking, I don't. I'm not sure what she wants me to really do, but I'm gonna be out here and I'm gonna try to figure out. It's 27 degrees outside and it's raining.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. It was the weirdest.

[Taylor Lewan]

It was the weirdest thing ever. I'm looking off in the distance. I'm hearing, like, gunshots go off, but it's branches that are breaking in the distance because the ice is already piling up on top of it. I go to our generator that's not starting. I'm fuming, thinking about the guy who built our house being like, this is. I gotta do something.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I was terrified you'd be like, there's.

[Taylor Lewan]

No way Taylor's beating this guy's ass. He's way too strong and handsome. He would be. He would handle me. I go over, literally jukebox the thing. I just start hitting it, and ice crumbles off this little vent area. It starts right up. Been running 200 hours ever since.

[Will Compton]

Dude, those things grind, man.

[Taylor Lewan]

Those things grind. Yeah. I fonzied. It, dude. I just hit it. Ice fell, turned on. I'm like, got it. I'm a handyman. I've. I've been. I've been having a pocket. I've had a pocket knife in my pocket since that day. Have it. Because we're on a commercial flight today. That'll happen right now. But I. I'm. I'm changing my identity because of this ice storm. I've become more of a man.

[Will Compton]

We've had to do more.

[Taylor Lewan]

I brought cowboy boots. I'll be wearing them tomorrow. I. I feel different. I've saved people.

[Will Compton]

It was solid ice on Monday morning. And there's a couple things you just don't do. You just don't mess with ice. Like, I don't play around with ice. You know, you can say flat in 1%, but you'll be wrong on a 1% incline. Never mind.

[Taylor Lewan]

All right, that sounded. There's no way for me to go to the public and, like, prove this without, like, putting your house on blast and be like, this is Will's house. I'll.

[Will Compton]

I'll figure out a way to measure it. Will posted his driveway incline.

[Taylor Lewan]

Whatever you post is good. Is fake news.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's more than 1%.

[Will Compton]

It's a. The drive. The driveway is. Is an incline. Like, it's by definition.

[Taylor Lewan]

Show me the angle of the hand.

[Will Compton]

He put it on Twitter. Will put his driveway on Twitter. Yeah, I posted. I posted. The photo is crazy. I posted the photo.

[Taylor Lewan]

Freeze frame that screenshot. That photo.

[Will Compton]

That gif is gonna go crazy over.

[Taylor Lewan]

For Compton on that one.

[Will Compton]

It's a. That's an immediate gift.

[Taylor Lewan]

You think it's like that?

[Will Compton]

Yes, bro.

[Taylor Lewan]

All right.

[Will Compton]

You know, like. Like, I am.

[Taylor Lewan]

When I pulled up to your house when I thought Will needed a vacation day, and I. That's okay with me.

[Will Compton]

Oh. So. No, no, no, no, bro. We had guys, I thought, oh, my.

[Taylor Lewan]

Man just didn't want to come into work.

[Will Compton]

That's all.

[Taylor Lewan]

Good. He just told me, hey, I'm really not feeling it today. No, I see it. No, the way he was talking me on the phone in the morning, I'm thinking this, man. You never were at my house.

[Will Compton]

I literally told. And I told you too. I was like, you don't have to bring the ice right now or not. The ice, the salt right now.

[Taylor Lewan]

I did that, like, six times, too, that morning.

[Will Compton]

Like, you don't have to bring the salt right now. You can do it after. But, yeah, in my brain, I'm like, bro, there's power lines down everywhere. There's trees down everywhere. I've driven around. Like, the two guys that were at the shop that were going to run the podcast were just sleeping there because they had power out at their house. Yeah. Like, you have Sherm with his family. They're trying to figure out a hotel situation because they're staying with their friend. Jared's there with his two dogs. Sherm's there with his two dogs. Jared's also there with McKenzie. They're trying to figure out an Airbnb. In my head, when I'm making a call on how it being single digits on something Sunday and how it's going to freeze over, it's like, yo, doing a podcast should be the least of our worries. Not, I want a vacation day.

[Taylor Lewan]

Well, do you think I really thought you needed a vacation day?

[Will Compton]

That's what you just said. What do you mean?

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, I said there was a smirk and a smile on my face.

[Will Compton]

Well, I know, but I'm saying, like, that. That was, like, what was going on through my head, like, when. When I'm basically saying, like, yeah, there's no need to go in if you don't want to go in.

[Taylor Lewan]

I just need you to admit your driveways like that.

[Mike Vrabel]

That.

[Will Compton]

I will say this. My driveway is higher than a 1% incline.

[Taylor Lewan]

That's fair. Less than 5.

[Will Compton]

I. I'm not good with the angles and, like, that geometry, but I'm saying the driveway is like. It's on. Like, it's on a hill, bro.

[Taylor Lewan]

Like a four.

[Will Compton]

I'll tell you, it's higher than treadmill.

[Taylor Lewan]

You're not hitting zone two cardio on that. You're not. You're not going to be able to hit zone two cardio.

[Will Compton]

If that my driveway was a mile long, you'd be in zone two cardio. You be hands on two cardio, bro. It would be.

[Taylor Lewan]

Man, you had a beautiful home. You thought about you gonna have me.

[Will Compton]

Out there laying on the ground with a ruler and trying to figure out the angle.

[Taylor Lewan]

I need you with that little. That little balance. That's not a ruler.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Protractor.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. That Projet is gonna be like 2.1. You're like.

[Will Compton]

As long as it's higher than 1.

[Taylor Lewan]

Maybe I did want a vacation day.

[Will Compton]

Golly.

[Taylor Lewan]

But, hey, it's awesome to be out here at the Super Bowl. It's been hell. It's been hell in Nashville, boys. It's been hell. Now we're down in San Francisco while Will and I, as wives, are just fending for themselves with children, bro.

[Will Compton]

Charl Hit me up today, too, saying, like, the generator is still blinking green, but it's got a yellow backlight. So I'm like, all right, let me figure it out. But essentially, we figured out that, like, if it's blinking green, that's good. And the hours. Because it can go, like, I want to say the Generac 24K Watt can go, like, 200 hours at a time. And I just don't think it reset. Like, whenever I did learn, whenever I did figure out how to change the oil. So I just don't think it reset. I think it's still running off of hours protected from day one that it started working.

[Taylor Lewan]

So what does that mean?

[Will Compton]

I think she's good. I was like, hey, I think you're fine, but I'll get somebody out there to check it.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. At this point, it's kind of just who's gonna sustain the grit longer? The power outage or the generators?

[Will Compton]

At this point, I'm just hoping the power gets up, bro. Like, they. They're saying the latest can be on Sunday on February 8, but my optimistic says, like, maybe they're just airing on just the worst you would hope scenario, because, again, the house that we just moved out of, it's in the same zip code, and that one came on yesterday. So I'm just thinking, like, you know, slowly but surely, I'm sure they'll get them up and running.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. I was on the way back from Media Days or wherever. Is that the name of what. We were just at Media Days, opening night, on the way back, I'm on the phone with Taylor, and she's like, there's Ness, like, a couple blocks away from where we're at right now. But the block. The blocks they're at are to the right, where all the power is. So I don't know what they're doing. Probably getting warm.

[Will Compton]

You're. I mean, Jared's situation. His power went off, what, three different.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, tell that story. Because that's maybe the most gangster move of all time.

[Will Compton]

So his power went out for a decent period of time. Then the power kicks back on. So then he comes back from the Airbnb because his power kicks back on. Then his power goes off again. Did he go anywhere that night or that day? Did he go back to the Airbnb? Like, he still had the Airbnb? I think. No. I think when the power came on.

[Mike Vrabel]

They got rid of the Airbnb, and.

[Will Compton]

Then they were in limbo. I think that's why they stay at the shop. And then they try to take Sherm's hotel room because apparently come back on. Apparently the hotel was diabolical. There was a million dogs just yapping everywhere.

[Mike Vrabel]

Right?

[Will Compton]

Because there's a pet friendly hotel. Yeah, golly, bro. There is a friend that I had that was in the hotel like all week long. But anyway, the power comes back on for the second time. Jerry gets back and he's fired up. Power goes off for the third time because he's sending. When the power came back on the second time, he's like sending photos, like in his house, like, hands up, like posing, being funny. And then he's showering the next morning and in the middle of him showering, the power goes out and he just says, his body just fills with rage and he puts on his clothes. He goes outside and starts driving to find NES trucks. He finds them at a gas station. And he said he was super kind about it, but he was enraged at the same time. It was just like, hey, what did he say? He asked him at first, like, hey, in the power? Or like, my power's out at the house? They're like, oh no, your area. We just got it up and running. He's like, no, it's not. He's like, I said it way nicer than that. But I'm like, no, no, it's not. He's like, I'm pretty sure we got all up and running. He's like, do you want me to show you? He's like, yeah, if you want me to show you. And he said he got in his car and he started driving to his house and the entire flee of the NES trucks were just behind him. As he's going to show him the powers out in his house and other people around in the area, he gets out, starts pointing at wires. He's like, this one's out. They're out over there. Ours went out. And the postseason is upon us. And there's really nothing like it. But the postseason can be stressful. Crushing losses, wild upsets, your unhinged six game parlay falling apart at the literal last second. Things can get rough and it can leave you feeling a little sour. But you got to look at the bright side. Once your team is out and headed to decompress, you can finally relax. Now you can actually enjoy the postseason where you with all of the heart palpitations. That's why we're partnering with Jim Beam. We want to help you turn that lemon of a loss into delicious, tasty Jim Beam and lemonade. Because it's really the perfect bevy for the offseason. It's refreshing. It's got the perfect sweetness and a little bit of tang on your tongue. Best paired with stress free watching when your team is out. So gather the boys and grab some Jim Beam and lemonade to make the rest of the postseason just a little bit sweeter. Refresh your season with Jim Beam and lemonade. Best enjoyed together. Please drink responsibly. Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 40 alcohol by volume 2025 James B. Beam Distilling Co. Clermont, Kentucky.

[Mike Vrabel]

Welcome to the A building. I'm Hans Charles. I'm Menelik Lumumba. It's 1969. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr have both been assassinated and black America.

[Will Compton]

Was at a breaking point.

[Taylor Lewan]

Rioting and protest broke out on an.

[Mike Vrabel]

Unprecedented scale in Atlanta, Georgia. At Martin's alma mater, Morehouse College, the students had their own protest. It featured two prominent figures in black history, Martin Luther King Sr. And a young student, Samuel L. Jackson. To be in what we really thought was a revolution, I mean, people were dying. 1968, the murder of Dr. King, which traumatized everyone.

[Will Compton]

The FBI had a role in the murder of a Black Panther leader in Chicago.

[Mike Vrabel]

Go. This story is about protest.

[Will Compton]

It echoes in today's world far more than it should.

[Mike Vrabel]

And it will blow your mind. Listen to the A Building on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Will Compton]

They stayed there and fixed it in that time.

[Taylor Lewan]

In that time, 20 minutes, right?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah. They got it up and going like within an hour.

[Taylor Lewan]

I believe Talen like Sunday, yesterday Sunday was like, hey, can you just go find nest people and ask them questions? Like, ask them when they're gonna get it done. I'm like, I would love to, but you know, that's not gonna me going up to some real man and me pulling up my car be like, hey, when are you guys gonna fix my power?

[Will Compton]

They probably heard that thinking, yeah, people that just been driving by them and.

[Taylor Lewan]

I understand where her head's at. She's like, she just wants answers. We all just want answers. But I'm thinking you just want me to get my truck.

[Will Compton]

Because there hasn't been like a whole lot of transparency on like when all the power is going to get up.

[Taylor Lewan]

And running and they don't know. They're just subject to hey, you gu here now.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

And they're going to be there and it's like when they like Karen's and Taylor pull up and we're like, hey, why aren't you at my House. Yeah. Like, what the wrong with this guy?

[Will Compton]

We're on day seven over here.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. Do you understand I'm having a hard time? It's like. Yeah, we're. We're all having a hard time.

[Will Compton]

We've been operating three days straight.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. Not slept at all. Anyway, man, Ness is having a tough time. Yeah, yeah, they're having a tough time. Good thing is, is when chaos like this happens and we see him not prepared, good opportunity to fix some things. Going to the next issue that will probably come about because our power goes out once a year.

[Will Compton]

I wonder how many generators have been sold in Nashville.

[Taylor Lewan]

No, dude, the guy I told you about, my guy, right? He was fixing the generator. He was just, like, surfacing it. He's like, we've sold 5 million generators in the last year.

[Will Compton]

That's crazy.

[Taylor Lewan]

Net profit. Just nuts, ma'. Am.

[Will Compton]

We're out here in San Fran. And by the way, when we were flying out here to San Fran, I want to say Shefty dropped a tweet saying that a little earthquake hit. Just going to the next. Just going to the next zone of chaos. Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

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[Will Compton]

While we're out here in San Fran, if you're in. If you're in the Bay Area watching this right now or listening, Drop some spots. We should go eat, eat.

[Taylor Lewan]

Drop some Mexican spots. We should go eat. Because I know you guys went to El Cilantro or wherever y' all went to.

[Will Compton]

That's crazy.

[Taylor Lewan]

You said El Cilantro.

[Will Compton]

Why are you hating on El Cilantro, bro? Oh, wait, hang on. What was it called?

[Taylor Lewan]

Just Cilantro.

[Will Compton]

Just Cilantro?

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Why you gotta hate on the Mexican food in Nashville?

[Taylor Lewan]

Because it's not that good. Mexican food in general, if you make Mexican food is good. It's just a good meal.

[Will Compton]

Like Mexican. Honestly, it's hard to.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's hard to. So it's like pizza. Pizza is always good when you eat it. But there's obviously a different variety of this is much better. And this is not. And Nash will be in the category of not. It's just not. And that's okay.

[Will Compton]

You think it's bad for Mexico if.

[Taylor Lewan]

You were just to put Mexican food as a meter, because like I just said, you can't really up Mexico. So any Mexican food place you guys go to, I'm sure there are comments made like, the service was great. Great. Love the vibe in there. What, what, what about.

[Will Compton]

How about my tummy, my tongue?

[Taylor Lewan]

You say when the food is lacking.

[Will Compton]

The chips and salsa was great. Was great. The queso was great.

[Taylor Lewan]

Missouri, Pennsylvania.

[Will Compton]

But, bro, what's so difficult about making some of these dishes? And what's so special about, like, the great of the greats of the great? It's not like, it's like, oh, this guac is insane because I'm eating it in Arizona.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, it's the way they make it in Arizona. It's the way they make it in California. But how to make it in Texas.

[Will Compton]

What's this? What's the recipe that these, that everybody, if they love Mexican food, wouldn't be able to come to Nashville and recreate awesome guacamole.

[Taylor Lewan]

That answer. I'd have a Mexican spot in Nashville. I don't know these amazing ingredients, but you know why there's not a high Mexican population in Nashville. So more Mexican dense, populated areas are going to have better Mexican food.

[Will Compton]

I, I, the entire argument, I've never disagreed in saying that Arizona and all these spots, like Texas, west coast has better Mexican food overall. Like, there's way more places and opportunity.

[Taylor Lewan]

And I've, I've gone.

[Will Compton]

I'm just not in the campus saying, like, Nashville has bad Mexican food. Because that's just not true.

[Taylor Lewan]

Because there's no such thing as bad Mexican food. Mexican food.

[Will Compton]

But there's also good. There's also. You can find good Mexican food in Nashville.

[Taylor Lewan]

I haven't. I have not now. I, We've. I've gone back and forth with the bad food in Nashville or overrated. You guys have. I've walked that off a little bit, but then the Mexican.

[Will Compton]

So hang on, just to be clear, you're saying you're wrong about saying national's a bad food. I've said what I said, but I'm saying.

[Taylor Lewan]

I know I just said. But I said that earlier this week.

[Will Compton]

Right. But now that we're on cameras, on all mic cameras.

[Taylor Lewan]

We're on.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, but let's just. For the podcasting audience.

[Taylor Lewan]

For the podcasting audience, you can go back on our socials and see what I talked about when I was referring back to the conversation we'd had about national.

[Will Compton]

Have a hard time taking an L, bro. L. What you mean you were saying that you were wrong.

[Taylor Lewan]

Nashville has blind spots in their food in their food category.

[Will Compton]

That's not to generally say.

[Taylor Lewan]

To generally say that Nashville's food is bad is wrong. That's incorrect. That's a good. That's the take. That's the.

[Will Compton]

Nashville's food is not bad.

[Taylor Lewan]

It has blind spots. Like Nashville, Mexican food's not bad, but it's not great.

[Will Compton]

Time out, Time out. Time out. It's this not. It not even started. It didn't even. The whole thing didn't even start from Mexican food. It was the food scene. No, it was the food scene zips. It started from la. Look out. Look how we're out here in LA and can find some great food. Like Nashville has a bad food Scene. I was like, no, no, no, no, no. That's wrong. Nashville. Nashville has a good food.

[Taylor Lewan]

I feel like Nashville is missing a good, solid, middle class tier of food, which would be fixed by zips.

[Will Compton]

Middle class food is like, overall, we're just talking about average nobles places. Fire.

[Taylor Lewan]

Depends. Talking about affordable food. Zips is affordable and delicious, not average. Would you say Zips is an average place?

[Will Compton]

I love zips. I'm saying my takes are. I love zips. Nashville has a good food scene.

[Taylor Lewan]

Okay. I'll do both those.

[Will Compton]

Perfect.

[Taylor Lewan]

With the next thing. With the next thing of. But they have some blind spots, which is fair.

[Will Compton]

Sure.

[Mike Vrabel]

Is there.

[Taylor Lewan]

Is there one plate? Like one type of food in particular.

[Will Compton]

You wish that Nashville had in that he wants affordable Mexican food with wings that knocks him off his feet and reminds him of the west Coast. Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

I went to Sunday last night because if.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I've never been there.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's crazy.

[Will Compton]

It says it's a go too. Sunda is a Lawan staple. It has been since 2018.

[Taylor Lewan]

Nice. Just go pick it up, dude. I am a creature of habit.

[Will Compton]

And then Taylor. Taylor got tacos last week at a spot next to Sunda and he's like, I like to them. So. So there's good. You guys, they would be.

[Taylor Lewan]

People would go if I. If I took you guys to Cali Taco, which, no disrespect, you walk in there, they got the thing going. They have a nice little vibe. They have a little corner we can put all the fixings on. I ordered tacos. What happened? I ate the tacos and I thought to myself, people from Nashville will think this is the best.

[Will Compton]

You said, I like the tacos.

[Taylor Lewan]

Solid. You. Why? Because I've already said Mexican food is good. Point blank, there are different levels of Mexican food. Yeah. Speaking of different levels of Mexican food.

[Will Compton]

Apparently the world's best burrito is in San Francisco.

[Taylor Lewan]

We're going, oh, the world's best burrito. It could be the country. I'll give it its flowers. If it's could be the country. But the world. So here's. For the longest time, I was like, Southern California and Arizona have the best Mexican food. Dude in the country. I. I stood ten toes on that. Blah, blah. People are like, no, Tex, Mex, Texas. That's those kind of guys I would fight against. When we were in Houston and we went to that place, that was the best Mexican food I've ever had in my life.

[Will Compton]

It was phenomenal.

[Taylor Lewan]

There's not a place like that near Nashville. Houston's the Closest place.

[Will Compton]

There are spots. There's Mexican spots in Nashville. I'm like, this is good.

[Taylor Lewan]

Now if someone's like. Like, I'm in Portland, Oregon, and we make great hot chicken, I bet you the hot chicken's not as good as Nashville's hot chicken.

[Will Compton]

You got to think, too, like, everybody who's like, oh, Nashville, Bonaire, all these different spots. It's just like when our group goes to the northeast and tries bagels, and we're like, they're not out of this world. Like, when you go and have Mexican in these different spots, it's not like it's so out of this world to where it's like, oh, yeah, I see what people mean when it's not even close. Like, you can still get within the ballpark. The majority, especially in cities.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, they'll look the same. Tacos will look the same. Burritos look the same. But, buddy, you've never had a taco from Indian Village.

[Will Compton]

I'm sure it tastes like a good taco. What do you get on that taco? It tastes like a good taco.

[Taylor Lewan]

You know, you just get. You don't. You don't say, well, can I get that on the. And then put this on the side, and you could add a little. No, dude, let me get three tacos. Get the taco. And if it's a good Mexican food spot, It's a true Mexican food spot. It'll have a little cart.

[Will Compton]

I got. I got a.

[Taylor Lewan]

With your. Your cilantro, your onion, a little bit of chez. If you want that. Go ahead.

[Will Compton]

I got a Kevin's Natural Foods clean take.

[Taylor Lewan]

Go ahead.

[Will Compton]

You can find good food just about anywhere.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's a clean take. That's a clean take. That's a clean take.

[Will Compton]

Clean take.

[Taylor Lewan]

I love that. I agree.

[Will Compton]

Do you have a Kevin's Natural Foods clean take?

[Taylor Lewan]

My Kevin's Natural Foods clean take is Will Compton's driveway is less than 5 degrees.

[Will Compton]

I see you're walking back here one degree.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's definitely not one walk. But it's definitely not.

[Will Compton]

It's that. Hang on a second. That's flat. I'll give it that right there. Oh, if that's full ice.

[Taylor Lewan]

That'S two or three, then his is one. Jack, give it. Yeah, what do you got?

[Mike Vrabel]

That was like 15 degrees that will just did.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, you think it's that much?

[Will Compton]

Thank you. That's a big win.

[Mike Vrabel]

But it's a long.

[Taylor Lewan]

It is a long stretch of a. It's a long stretch of under one degree. And then the last, probably 20 yards, I would say it gets up to eight degrees. Okay, yeah, I'll get on board with that. That's a good take. That's a very clean take.

[Will Compton]

Clean take.

[Taylor Lewan]

Clean take right there. I've got one more clean take. I may. Even though we're running long days and we're just the beginning of the super bowl, being with the fellas in San Fran for the super bowl, we had a great first day. It just rips just being with clean.

[Will Compton]

Shout out to the New England fans. They've just been grinding intro with the boys.

[Taylor Lewan]

All right, Kevin's Natural Foods. But talking about that clean take all day. We got clean takes at the ying yang right now. Kevin's is hosting, by the way. This is a big giveaway here, so you need to listen up. Kevin's is hosting a clean game sweepstakes for every minute of penalty free play during the big game on February 8, 2026, Kevin's will randomly select five lucky winners to receive free Kevin's Natural foods for a year. Text to enter and go to Kevin's NaturalFoods.com/forward/Sweepstakes 2026 for the complete rules. That's clean take. Do we. Do we know. Do we know the name of this burrito spot in San Fran?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

What's it called?

[Will Compton]

Does it look.

[Taylor Lewan]

Does it look good? La Taquera.

[Will Compton]

I tell you what, some of them breakfast burritos we had at dogs out in la. I might be butchering the pronunciation. Waking late.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's just incredible.

[Will Compton]

La Taquero, serving the best tacos and.

[Mike Vrabel]

Burritos in the whole.

[Taylor Lewan]

A C, a R, I, a T, a Q. It's a different place then.

[Will Compton]

No free shout out, no free shout outs.

[Taylor Lewan]

No for sh, T, T, a C, a space, R, I, O, Tacario. Oh, taco. So I'm walking through. I'm in BNA this morning and I'm walking, doing my thing, about to go grab a coffee, and some guy, like, power walks up to me and takes about like five to ten strides with me. And I'm like realizing, oh, this. This gentleman wants to speak with me, but I'm gonna have to basically wait for him to say the first thing. Leans over in the mid stride and just goes. Heard your take on national Mexican food. Oh, what you got for me? He goes, couldn't agree more. Okay, yes. You had the super bowl, like, I guess we're on the same flight. Let me, let me. You want a good spot? Oh, yeah. He goes, latacaria Latina district. Go there. Pretty famous spot, so you might have to wait for a little bit. But that spot apparently is fire tacos. The same one, the taqueria. Yeah, Taco Ria Takaria.

[Will Compton]

Hey, listen, I think we. I think we got. I think we got the spot.

[Taylor Lewan]

And you know what?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, look.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

That'S clean.

[Will Compton]

Look at that. Clean day. Clean day.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. While we're on the subject of food, beverages, the whole thing, is it fair that we give a Jim Beam taste of the off season?

[Will Compton]

Let's give a Jim Beam taste of the off season.

[Taylor Lewan]

Our Jim Beam taste of the off season is going to go to another California team. That'd be the LA Rams. Specifically, Matthew Stafford in that beautiful offense.

[Will Compton]

Is he coming back?

[Taylor Lewan]

Is he coming back? Is. I don't think the question. I think he's coming back with a vengeance. But you had a guy who is, what, mid to late 30s, playing the best ball of his entire life.

[Will Compton]

Puka Nakua, probable mvp.

[Taylor Lewan]

Probable mvp. Puka Nakua. The Yak King. Puka Yaknakua. And then Devonte Adams having a resurgence in his career. Red zone threat. Boys, you had a lot to be proud about, A lot to be a devious defensive line, a lot to be proud about. Out next year might be your year. I think as fans, you guys have a lot to look forward to.

[Will Compton]

The biggest factor of all of it, Blake Corm. Sean McVeigh.

[Taylor Lewan]

Sean McVeigh. Another year of wondering if Sean McVeigh comes back.

[Will Compton]

Is he start. Is that starting to get out there?

[Taylor Lewan]

I don't know.

[Will Compton]

Starting to get out there. Like, that's every year.

[Taylor Lewan]

Every year it's like a Sean gonna come back.

[Will Compton]

I feel like he kind of found like some of his old interviews he's done like, over the past, like, year, year and a half. I feel like he's.

[Taylor Lewan]

He's.

[Will Compton]

He's found like his. His rekindled love for coaching football.

[Taylor Lewan]

That's good.

[Will Compton]

I am curious if Stafford's gonna come back, though.

[Taylor Lewan]

Speaking of love and Stafford and shout out to for the dads, that clip of him after the loss, going home to his kids.

[Mike Vrabel]

I don't know if you saw it.

[Will Compton]

I didn't see it. Was it awesome?

[Taylor Lewan]

It was like 2am he just got.

[Will Compton]

Back from losing, just walked in the room, just gave the kids a kiss on the. The monitor and like walked out. It was awesome.

[Taylor Lewan]

It was a great clip.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

One of those ones when you're like, man, these are. These are people as well is awesome.

[Taylor Lewan]

Shout out to Matt Stafford and another Clean take. Once you become a father, it's so much easier to cry at almost anything.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

Is that not a clean take? Clean take. For the dad's clean take.

[Will Compton]

Clean take.

[Taylor Lewan]

Watch Parent Trap the other day with my kids. Bald dude. When the girl. So when they switch and the girl goes to the dad, which, by the way, the ranch house in Napa. The funniest part of that. That movie to me was the. The mom is like some fashion wedding dress designer in the heart of London who has a butler, and the dad is a Napa Valley, like, vineyard granter. And then they get plugged into this first date, like, back in wherever on the boat. They're like, how did you guys afford this? It's like how the. You guys could clearly afford renting a boat for an hour.

[Will Compton]

And their butlers fall in love too, which is crazy. Nice twist.

[Taylor Lewan]

But when the. When she's in the car and she keeps calling him dad, dad, dad over again, and he's like, why you keep calling me dad? She's like, I don't know. I just love saying dad. And he's like, I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. And every kid meets their dad. I was just sitting there, like, Lindsay Lohan is so right right now, dude.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

I'm sitting there. I'm like a swivel chair. And I swivel over to Taylor and tears in my eyes goes, look at you. Like Lindsay Lohan.

[Will Compton]

And you're just like, how do you not love this?

[Taylor Lewan]

This is incredible. Yeah, but it's beautiful. It's a beautiful movie. Lindsay Lohan, by the way. Child actor.

[Will Compton]

And just the chances of them linking up at a camp.

[Taylor Lewan]

Crazy. It's like there's a lot of holes in that movie. The. The boat thing. You're going to send your kid to a camp and then your husband. You guys haven't talked in 11 years, but you split the kids when they were born, right? Is that not nuts? No one like about how that's like a thing like, hey, this is obviously not working out between us. Which one? Which one do you want?

[Will Compton]

Which one do you want? I'll take the other one. We'll never see each other.

[Taylor Lewan]

A little weird. I'll take that one. Rock, paper, scissors over one of them. Great movie, though.

[Will Compton]

Great movie.

[Taylor Lewan]

Great movie, huh? Oreos and peanut butter.

[Will Compton]

Is that where that came, like a.

[Taylor Lewan]

Crazy snack they have in, like, the.

[Mike Vrabel]

For the girls.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's like how they become friends or like, oh, yeah, that's like, oh, I must have missed that part.

[Will Compton]

I Haven't seen it in a while.

[Taylor Lewan]

So Michigan was playing Nebraska the same night.

[Will Compton]

So.

[Taylor Lewan]

So I was between cries. I was watching Michigan have 10 turnovers. People.

[Will Compton]

People have been saying too since we dropped the shirts. Nebraska zone, too.

[Taylor Lewan]

Oh, who'd y' all lose to again?

[Will Compton]

Illinois. But we're still ranked 9. Illinois's 5. Apparently Illinois is really good. Yeah, they are.

[Taylor Lewan]

Is it getting close to a Willie curse?

[Will Compton]

Hey, we put that. I don't really. I don't really post about it. Like, I follow him, but it's not like I'm sitting there watching every. I was gonna say every snap, but every minute of every game. And I am cautious. I legitimately. In my brain, I'm like, don't tweet about Nebraska basketball because the Husker fans are just in my head telling me that I'm a curse. We posted that one graphic of the ranking of y' all in the uniforms and people were like, please keep Will Compton away from my basketball team. I tweeted about the m. That Michigan game happening just one time and just acknowledge that I was watching it. And then that's when Michigan took the lead. Lead in the last three minutes.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. Yeah. Which is crazy.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

It was the first time since like 3, 2.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

Because y' all were up by like 10 points at one point.

[Will Compton]

I know I'm sitting there, I'm like, man, it is crazy how Nebraska has a good team like this.

[Taylor Lewan]

Sloppy as well. All these turnovers. I'm thinking, this is not fundamental basketball.

[Will Compton]

Make March Madness a lot of fun because I got done. I'm like, hard fought game. And everybody's like, oh, the refs, the.

[Taylor Lewan]

I'm thinking I'll be a one seed. Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

What are they ranked right now?

[Taylor Lewan]

I think two or three. I really don't know. I know Arizona's one.

[Will Compton]

Michigan, Arizona, Kansas. I forget who's too. Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

I might have to watch that first day again. We're falling off.

[Will Compton]

I mean, our team, Nebraska is going to be in it.

[Taylor Lewan]

You'll be way.

[Will Compton]

Y' all might be that right there. Could I just.

[Taylor Lewan]

No. Somehow you missed.

[Will Compton]

Regardless. I know I said it regardless, but I'm thinking like, like, I mean, how.

[Taylor Lewan]

Many games could possibly be left in the season?

[Will Compton]

I'm assuming it's February. That we're not only going to manage, we're gonna. We're gonna have like a good ranking. I'm assuming based on my. My surface level knowledge about 4 seed, which is nuts. Nuts.

[Taylor Lewan]

Y' all didn't even make it last year. Two years ago. You're talking about some Asian cat.

[Will Compton]

Tomanaga.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. Balling as soon as you start talking about him. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Lost a m. Done.

[Taylor Lewan]

Should we get in the micro episode? See?

[Will Compton]

Let's get in the mic. Braves, dude. Let's get in the mic, Braves. That's what the people came here for.

[Taylor Lewan]

That's what they came here for. Not to hear Clean take. Let's get into Braves. Boys. Thank you for sticking around for that intro. Please subscribe. Leave a comment Design those clothes. Let's have a hell of an episode.

[Will Compton]

If you're new too, and you're like, these guys are kind of fun. They're kind of funny. They're dumb, but they're kind of funny. Like, just. Just hit the subscribe button. Hit the follow button. On audio platforms, subscribe.

[Taylor Lewan]

Dumb guys. Clean take.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Clean take.

[Taylor Lewan]

All right, boys.

[Will Compton]

Pickaxe. Tiny kisses.

[Taylor Lewan]

See you.

[Will Compton]

Before we jump into this interview, we just want to remind you that this interview is brought to us by Bud Light. Bud Light is always brewed. Four simple ingredients for a clean, crisp taste. Bud Light is the official beer sponsor of the NFL. The NFL Draft tight end you, the UFC, Shane Gillis, 2020. Bud Light Partners include Peyton Manning, George Kittle, Baker Mayfield, Emmett Smith, Dustin Poirier and Post Malone. Stock up now on Bud light. Head to www.bud light.com locator to find a store near you. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. And now enjoy this episode. This interview with Mike Brable.

[Mike Vrabel]

Is this how we're doing? You guys close together? Me with a little bit more space.

[Will Compton]

We know last time you like to move it around long arms. When we said there, they're like, he's the of part going to move it to where he faces.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah, I like to see my boys.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I was trying to get some intel for you too. I asked Coach McDonald. I just painted him the picture. I'm like, fourth quarter, 26 seconds left. It's second goal in the one. You're down four. You run the ball or throwing it? He did a good job. Kind of just. Do I need to call Marshawn Lynch? We all kind of laughed, but I was trying to see if you get a runner pass there.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah, yeah, probably a lot of that depends on what. What personnel we have out there.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, I mean, he's.

[Mike Vrabel]

You were on the goal line package, weren't you?

[Will Compton]

Hey, come on, Detroit Lions.

[Mike Vrabel]

I still have that clip. I can go find that clip right now.

[Will Compton]

I know you can.

[Mike Vrabel]

Friday tape.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

Show defend every blade of grass.

[Will Compton]

Get out there. Willie C. You're my boy.

[Mike Vrabel]

So I couldn't tell if it was Daquan that hit it out and you just recovered it or did the hit knock it out? Are you sure that that was publicly.

[Will Compton]

I will set the record straight. I got the stat for forceful fumble, but. But Daequan started drawing it loose. But the helmet was placed nicely, right?

[Mike Vrabel]

It was. It probably would have come out either way.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I feel like. Have we talked about this before?

[Taylor Lewan]

I don't know if we've talked about it publicly, but I know that Daquan, like, pulled you over in the locker room after the game. Big win takes place.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Daequan came in and was upset with me. He's like, they're gonna give it to you because your social media. I was like, hey, man, I'll tell.

[Mike Vrabel]

Everybody that you have. You have. This is the first time that you've publicly given.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, he's sitting there.

[Will Compton]

That was the only defensive play I had that game.

[Mike Vrabel]

I will say I've been there before where you're like, I know I'm going to get credit, but I also know in the back of my mind that probably wasn't my play.

[Will Compton]

Deserve it.

[Mike Vrabel]

But you're trying to get every stat that you possibly can, anything you possibly.

[Will Compton]

Can, ball sitting there right in front of you.

[Mike Vrabel]

It's just like that dynamic of, do I, like, come out or do I just let them know? Like, hey, Daquan, man, it was all you, but you're not going out publicly. And then some defensive linemen, they'll, like, turn it in. Like, be like, hey, can you turn this playing? I need a half a sack.

[Will Compton]

So. So you're liar. You've been in a situation where you might have gotten a sack.

[Mike Vrabel]

Oh, absolutely, yes.

[Will Compton]

A dude comes to you and he's like, hey, you want to turn that?

[Mike Vrabel]

And then, you know, I mean, like, the media, like, our media person would, like, turn it in, and then they review it. The Elias Sports Group, they. They review it for, like, sacks.

[Will Compton]

Have you ever gotten to get back for your stats? Like, have you ever been like, have you turned in. Have you ever turned in before?

[Mike Vrabel]

I think probably I've turned in.

[Taylor Lewan]

Have to, had to. Did you ever have, like, a incentive? Like, you get this certain amount of stacks, certain amount of tackles, you get, like, extra.

[Mike Vrabel]

No, I think it was. I think it was just play time. It was just play time. When I was in New England, it was just tied to, like, PT. Yeah, yeah. 50, 60, 70%. Etc.

[Will Compton]

We were talking to class and you had the postseason. Is upon us, and there's really nothing like it. But the postseason can be stressful. Crushing losses, wild upsets, you're unhinged. Six game parlay, falling apart at the literal last second. Things can get rough and it can leave you feeling a little sour. But you gotta look at the bright side. Once your team is out and headed to decompress, you can finally relax. Now you can actually enjoy the postseason with all of the heart palpitations. That's why we're partnering with Jim Beam. We want to help you turn that lemon of a loss into delicious, tasty Jim Beam and lemonade. Because it's really the perfect bevy for the offseason. It's refreshing, it's got the perfect sweetness and a little bit of tang on your tongue. Best paired with stress free watching when your team is out. So gather the boys and grab some Jim Beeman lemonade to make the rest of the postseason just a little bit sweeter. Refresh your season with Jim Beem and lemonade. Best enjoyed together. Please drink responsibly. Jim Beam Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey 40% alcohol by volume 2025. James B. Beam Distilling Co. Clermont, Kentucky.

[Mike Vrabel]

Welcome to the A building. I'm Hans Charles. Our Menelik Lumumba. It's 1969. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr have both been assassinated and black America was at a breaking point.

[Taylor Lewan]

Rioting and protest broke out on an.

[Mike Vrabel]

Unprecedented scale in Atlanta, Georgia. At Martin's alma mater, Morehouse College, the students had their own protest. It featured two prominent figures in black history, Martin Luther King Sr. And a young student, Samuel L. Jackson. To be in what we really thought was a revolution. I mean people would. 1968, the murder of Dr. King, which traumatized everyone.

[Will Compton]

The FBI had a role in the murder of a Black Panther leader in Chicago.

[Mike Vrabel]

This story is about protest.

[Will Compton]

It echoes in today's world far more than it should.

[Mike Vrabel]

And it will blow your mind. Listen to the A Building on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts to make the playoffs or something like that.

[Will Compton]

And the Pro Bowl.

[Mike Vrabel]

No, no, just, just play time. Okay.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

Did you guys go over there yesterday to Pro Bowl?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah, I know you guys wouldn't miss that. That's like tight end. You on steroids.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, it's.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's just honestly, they need to go back to the game and do. Because we walked in, it's like a conference center and we like get off the plane. We immediately rush there and like, all right, you're judging the Kicking competition. We get there like, hey, so what's the deal? Like, tell if they hit, Tell us if they hit it or not. And it was kind of like there's.

[Will Compton]

Just a lot of people around. Like they, they sell. They still take it. So fans want to come in and watch and everything else, but it's just not. I don't know.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah, it's, it's. It's tough. I think I coached the last year, our staff coached the last year that it was an actual game or they went out onto a football field. Yeah, I wouldn't consider it a game, but it had to be better than what they're doing now.

[Taylor Lewan]

It's way better than just having a game, even if it's a jog through.

[Will Compton]

Dodgeball was happening and so two teams were playing afc, nfc. But if the guy. Any of the guys who weren't part of the first game, they're starting to just trickle out because they could have came in and played like after a game is done, new guys can come in, but it basically was just the two same teams for like four or five games.

[Mike Vrabel]

Maybe you guys should put something together and, and fix it.

[Will Compton]

We might have to.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, we might have to get some access.

[Mike Vrabel]

So is this a big week for you guys?

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

Who else you got on here?

[Taylor Lewan]

Oh, it's.

[Mike Vrabel]

We.

[Will Compton]

We had some names.

[Taylor Lewan]

Oh, they.

[Mike Vrabel]

Secrets.

[Taylor Lewan]

We got names up in the air right now. You talking about.

[Will Compton]

We can't allude to it being secrets, but really we're. We're in crunch time and we need some plays to be made and plays are not getting made.

[Taylor Lewan]

Right.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

That's okay.

[Taylor Lewan]

There'll be conversations had during this week about, hey, this is where we. This is. This is the. That gets you beat type of conversation.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

We'll be in the team meeting with a couple of people. Yeah. Hey, listen, these are the things we did good. We sandwich it. This is the. Right here. We're going to lose a lot of games doing this.

[Mike Vrabel]

And are these. These are the guys that you guys personal?

[Taylor Lewan]

These are the guys that, when we're in the team meeting, we put J.P. you know what I'm talking about? Clump. Am I right? Like, just like you hit Jeffrey Simmons or KB or Derek in a meeting, like over and over and over again. Yeah, these are the guys you can rely on back here. We got some best players that need to play their best in order us to win. We gotta have it.

[Mike Vrabel]

I appreciate you paying attention. Yeah, you didn't play every game, but you, you paid attention. You might have not Been out there every day.

[Will Compton]

But you.

[Taylor Lewan]

Not all the time. I'll tell you, there is nothing that makes you tighter than those damn team meetings.

[Will Compton]

It ain't that funny.

[Taylor Lewan]

Will, shut the up.

[Will Compton]

It's funny because you knew something was coming.

[Taylor Lewan]

He's, like, smiling like, okay. He's on a high horse right now.

[Will Compton]

Finger came. It's time to bring it down.

[Taylor Lewan]

You didn't play a whole lot. I came in.

[Mike Vrabel]

I was like, I'm gonna flip the script. I'm just gonna be completely professional. I am so proud of you guys. I would have never dreamt this for you guys in a million years. You guys are crushing it.

[Will Compton]

Dude, thank you.

[Taylor Lewan]

Let's go. Hey, that's big time.

[Will Compton]

And to think about it, the clip of you cutting your dick off, that went viral. Kind of put us on the map. Did put us.

[Mike Vrabel]

Kind of. Which, I mean, we don't need the kind of. We don't need kind of. Let's just call it what it is.

[Will Compton]

Let's just call what it is. But what, six years later, here we are.

[Mike Vrabel]

Here we are at the super bowl, one game away.

[Will Compton]

Super Bowl. You're with the Patriots.

[Mike Vrabel]

You guys are covering daddy. You guys are staying at the team hotel. Family plan.

[Will Compton]

We got it all, man.

[Taylor Lewan]

Family plan is exactly right.

[Will Compton]

I was catching up with Jen yesterday. I know. They get in today.

[Mike Vrabel]

They are. They're in route.

[Will Compton]

You know what. What can be some fun questions to ask coach Braves or you got anything out there? And she was like, just. Just play the hits. She's like, bring back up the. Bring back up the. Cutting off the piece for the Super Bowl.

[Mike Vrabel]

I mean, you guys got plenty. You guys have plenty of stuff.

[Taylor Lewan]

What is. How many times have you been asked this week about that?

[Mike Vrabel]

Just a couple. I mean, somebody asked me in Boston.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

What was your answer to them?

[Mike Vrabel]

I mean, I'd probably cut it in half.

[Taylor Lewan]

Okay.

[Mike Vrabel]

Leave her six.

[Will Compton]

Do we. Do he show our gifts?

[Taylor Lewan]

I. I have in my pocket other than the hat. Well, we have gifts.

[Will Compton]

We have another gift.

[Mike Vrabel]

Okay.

[Taylor Lewan]

Do you want the. This is. So we went out, we looked all over the earth, and we found this for you. So this is just in. Just in case.

[Mike Vrabel]

Just in case.

[Taylor Lewan]

And we know with the situation you've got. You talked about six went over centimeters.

[Will Compton]

We know you're about the details, so.

[Taylor Lewan]

That'S so thank you. Right. You want a clean cut. You want a clean cut, so we got to make sure we have that.

[Will Compton]

Can we just get you just to smile and like, the.

[Mike Vrabel]

For some reason, I feel like Will uses This to trim his cubes. Busing with the boys. Cube trimming. Face stockings. Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

How was. What was it like when you guys were playing the Bronco with a backup quarterback? How much was. Was it humbling your squad to be like, hey, you're not going to get up every single day and just put clothes on and beat teams. Doesn't matter if bows out.

[Mike Vrabel]

Well, again, it was.

[Will Compton]

You get.

[Mike Vrabel]

You could see the defenses in this playoffs.

[Taylor Lewan]

Disgusting.

[Mike Vrabel]

They are good and the longer you go, the better the defenses get. So quarterback play is critical. I think. I think the way that the weather turned out, it turned into a defensive game. We were able to take care of the ball and sometimes you don't know how it's going to go. But again, we took care of the football. We talked about the three teams. You guys would have loved this. There were three teams that had gone into Denver in the past two years and won. I called, you know, they were part of the Mile High Club. I said, said, do you guys want to join the Mile High Club? And I asked one player, I said, you know what that is? He's like, no. I said, well, Diggsy, explain it to him. And. And so I said, the Mile High Club is, you know, when you're on a plane, whatever, but our Mile High Club is going to be Jacksonville. Pittsburgh and the Chargers were the three teams that beat them in the last two years. None of them had turned the ball over and they had gotten two turnovers from. From Denver. Lo and behold, we go out, we don't turn the ball over. We get two turnovers from Denver. So it's a hard place to play. You know, you got altitude, 75,000 people, great defense. And so again, we played the game pretty much how we needed to play it.

[Will Compton]

The blizzard hit, too. That's out of nowhere, crazy, bro.

[Mike Vrabel]

Nowhere. I mean, well, we walk out for pregame and it was like one of those like 42 degree days, sunny. You're like, I got too much. Take some of this stuff off. Within two hours, hour and a half, it was 15 degrees. I look over, everybody's face is just covered with snow. And I'm like, this. This got real in a hurry. And sometimes that's how these things go.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Handle business. You were bringing up Diggsy and there's the. The clip that was going viral about him coming up to you on the sideline. One wanting to block, and you're telling him to shut the up. But what is he said storylines and headlines throughout his career. What do you feel like is the biggest misconception with Stefan Diggs, that he's.

[Mike Vrabel]

Somehow not a great team. I mean, he's been an unbelievable teammate. He's been engaged. I would say that he has some sort of relationship with everybody in our building. Whether that's his wide receiver, coach Todd Downing, whether that's Josh, whether that's the quarterback, whether that's defensive players, that's me. He's got a great spirit to him. You guys would love him. And he's been a great addition.

[Taylor Lewan]

At camp, we were talking about. About his significant other, Cardi B. And you're like, I haven't met her yet. Heard good things. Can't wait. How has your relationship developed with Ms. Cardi B?

[Mike Vrabel]

Good. I think she's absolutely hysterical. But, I mean, I don't see her bunch. I saw her after the Denver game. Couldn't miss her. She had lime green hair. It was the only thing that was standing out in the snow. But the stuff she says. Sometimes I take them to Tulum tonight on Delta. I'm like, this girl is hilarious. Again, whatever they do and however, if they seem like they're having a good time and enjoying this thing, and I'm sure I'll see her this week.

[Taylor Lewan]

I love it.

[Will Compton]

Dude, how.

[Mike Vrabel]

What are you getting nervous?

[Will Compton]

You forgetting questions?

[Mike Vrabel]

Are we reminiscing when we signed you late in the year during COVID Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I was just thinking the coach speak we might get. But how nuts is it that you guys are sitting at 17 and 3 about.

[Taylor Lewan]

Be honest.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah, no, coach.

[Will Compton]

When we're there in training camp, it's. We're. We're looking around.

[Mike Vrabel]

So when. When I had you guys in Tennessee, clearly that wasn't enough to get us to the super bowl. So I had to get different players. I had to go to another place. I mean, I had to get guys better than you guys for us to get to the Super Bowl. That's. Dude, you didn't want. Coach speak.

[Taylor Lewan]

You told me 2019. Oh, we got a squad that can get it done.

[Mike Vrabel]

I know.

[Taylor Lewan]

Derek. AJ Tannehill was slinging it. Great offensive line. We were playing, all of us, all out there. All of us.

[Mike Vrabel]

It is.

[Taylor Lewan]

We were. Hey, I played every single day.

[Mike Vrabel]

I try to tell these guys not to take this for granted. And I hope that you guys realize that in your career is to not take it for granted. We also talk a lot about everybody's journey being different to the NFL and what your career looks like again, between the three of us, different journeys. First round pick, third round. Willie's story but it doesn't matter. And I think that this is. I know I'm not taking it, but this is. This is.

[Will Compton]

He's staring at me.

[Mike Vrabel]

No, because you're, like getting teary eyed.

[Will Compton]

Like, I'm up for a good cry. Being a dad now. I'll cry.

[Taylor Lewan]

Please. Grabbing your boot. It's gonna be all right.

[Mike Vrabel]

Is. It's just don't take it for granted. Don't take these opportunities. Don't take these moments for granted. But also, we've got a lot of guys from a lot of different places that have come together quickly. And I think that you guys would appreciate it, what they've done in the off season of building a team, of not taking yourself too seriously, making jokes. You know, we do this thing. We've added on Friday tape. We've added the Weekend Update, so.

[Will Compton]

Oh, give us some Weekend Update.

[Mike Vrabel]

Willie Campbell does the Weekend Update. He'll talk about the weather for the game. He'll talk about birthdays that are coming up, any. Any events. And then we go into this, like, monologue of, like, making fun of people. And he goes up there with his, like, southern draw and he kind of deadpans it. And, you know, we have a group of writers that write these jokes.

[Taylor Lewan]

A group of writers?

[Will Compton]

No shit.

[Mike Vrabel]

So it's like, they'll make fun of me. It's like the same six people just rotating. And the guys love it. Everybody laughs. And then I tell him to sit down and then he goes through the food menu on Friday, you know what I mean? Like, you know, oh, we're having burgers from this place or, you know, tacos from this place, or burritos, whatever the Friday menu is that they bring in. And it's something that we've added and the guys love it.

[Will Compton]

Dude, that is awesome.

[Mike Vrabel]

So we've got the last one this Friday.

[Taylor Lewan]

Getting Campbell up there too, to talk in front of the team. I'm sure the first four or five times he was nervous. Is he kind of learning it now?

[Mike Vrabel]

Dead aren't brutal. And these last three weeks, like, bringing heat. And I'm like, you're going to be amazing next year. You're going to be amazing next year. He's like, I'm not doing it next year. I go, hell, yes, you are.

[Taylor Lewan]

How has his rookie season, like, there was a bunch of criticism around the arm length, which I think is ridiculous. He gets drafted fourth overall. I thought he was playing relatively well. And then he goes into this gauntlet and he's getting a lot of criticism. Are you having that Sit down, conversation. Like, listen, man, you have a couple plays here and there, it's like you.

[Mike Vrabel]

Just gotta, you sign up, play left tackle, you sign up to play corner. I mean, that's what happens, right?

[Taylor Lewan]

There's gonna be games, you get got.

[Mike Vrabel]

And that's what this, that's what this league is about. It's about, it's not about the success. It's about can you have adversity and come back the next week, come back the next play. And I said, listen, we, you're the guy that we wanted to play this position, and we can't wait to watch you continue to play, improve, get better. I mean, we have a lot of guys that are 21, 22, 23 years old. Our quarterback's younger than Corey Carter, if you can imagine that. And that's exciting to think that. And again, you know, this is how this league goes. Whether you get beat as a tackle, you get beat as a corner, whatever that may be, you know, you just come back the next day and next week and keep fighting. So I'm proud of them for doing that. And, you know, but you got to protect the quarterback. You guys know all that.

[Will Compton]

All right, quick little potty break to shout out neutral. Neutral tastes great and tastes much better than anything else out there that we've tried. Nutral is made with real vodka and real juice. That's what makes it taste great. It comes with a variety of flavors like watermelon, black cherry, strawberry, new flavors like peach and blueberry. And it's perfect for social occasions because it's such a crowd pleaser, especially during spring vacation and basketball, college basketball, or holidays like St. Patty's Day or Mardi Gras. All they have the their new variety 12 packs that launch nationwide. That is their biggest pack yet. They got bucket deals. You can go, you know, grab a 12 pack of neutral for the game or grab a bucket deal in your favorite bar as you root on your favorite team. Neutral. Keep it tasty. We are also brought to you by Jim Beam. This postseason is upon us and there's really nothing like it. But the postseason can be stressful. Crushing losses, wild upsets, your unhinged six game parlay falling apart at the literal last second. Things can get rough and it can leave you feeling a little sour. But you gotta look on the bright side. Once your team is out and headed to off to decompress, you can finally relax. Now you can actually enjoy the postseason without all the heart palpitations. That's why we're partnering with Jim Beam. We want to help you turn that lemon of a loss into delicious tasty Jim Beam and lemonade. Because it's really the perfect bevy for the offseason. It's refreshing, it's got that perfect sweetness, that little bit of tang on your tongue. And it's best pain paired with stress free watching when your team is out. So gather the boys and grab some Jim Beam and lemonade to make the rest of the postseason just a little bit sweeter. Refresh your season with Jim Beam and lemonade best enjoyed together. Please drink responsibly. Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 40 alcohol by volume 2025 James B. Beam Distilling Co Clermont, Kentucky Back to this episode. Yeah, I know, I know. Obviously you're as competitive as anybody. What, what is your brain? What is going on in your brain when you see all the chatter of the, when people talk about the strength of schedule and the path that you guys have had to get here.

[Mike Vrabel]

I mean they let me do a lot of things. They don't let me schedule the games, they don't let me schedule where we play or who we play. I mean I have control over a lot of things as the head coach here. That's not one of them. We've tried to improve. I think we have. Regardless of who we've played, I think we've gotten done better and we're doing a lot of things that you need to do in the playoffs to, to get to this point.

[Taylor Lewan]

Well, Will was alluding to this before when we were at camp kind of watching your, your team looking at the roster, you kind of walk around, you see like okay, this team's young. Hopefully Drake may takes a step but you know, probably with the cold, with the raves culture, we're going to double the wins from last year.

[Will Compton]

Wins. Probably competing for second, right?

[Taylor Lewan]

Competing for second type situation. And I'm sure you guys sat there as a, as a staff and sat back and like what are our expectations this year behind closed do doors? At what point were you guys like hey we really, we really got a shot at this thing. Like logically not like hey we're gonna every game.

[Mike Vrabel]

You know, I've never tried to set expectations one because that way you're not disappointed.

[Taylor Lewan]

Key to happiness is low expectations.

[Mike Vrabel]

That's it.

[Will Compton]

Do you ever have any for like you have taken on this next job as a head coach known that they were 3 and 13 the two years prior like have some type of expectation for yourself yourself?

[Mike Vrabel]

No, I wanted to build a program that when the player I tried to think what would I want to have as if I was a player? And I said, I want to try to build a program that when these guys walk in, they feel like this is what it's supposed to look like. Everything is in alignment. Everybody knows what their job is to help us, and that the players feel like this is something that's heading in the right direction. Whoever the players ended up being, that was my goal, to try to unite the building and make sure that everybody was, you know, moving in, in the same direction and they knew what the expectation was. Now, once we got going, you know, I think the joint practice against Washington was good. I think the joint practice against Minnesota was good. Took some lumps, came back, you know, I mean, it was back and forth against a really good defense. So I was like, okay, let's see what happens. You know, put the quarterback in a blender with all the blitzer blitzes and stuff like that. That handled it pretty well, you know, started off with the Raiders, and again, I think we're just tentative. You know, we didn't really know and that. That's on. That's on me. We didn't really know how we wanted to play or that we were just kind of guarded and cautious. And I said, we're going to have to be attack and be aggressive and not be worried about making mistakes. And so you go through this little stretch, you go to Buffalo on Sunday night, win that game. You know, my dad said something to me that he. I didn't really. He's like, you got a lot of young guys that just went out there on a big stage on Sunday night, crowd, noise, environment, all this stuff, and you won the game. And I didn't really. It didn't dawn on me that, again, whoever plays, plays. I didn't age and everything else. I don't. But I guess you have to look at some of those things. So I think that helped us get going, going, and then I think we got better along the way. We finished strong. We had, you know, we lost to Buffalo. We had some adversity there where we were up and then gave up a lead and. And then finished strong.

[Will Compton]

Oh, yeah. I was out on Twitter talking about this ass whooping happening in New England right now, and then it backfired. So it was a. It was a tough L to take by the end of that game.

[Taylor Lewan]

Are you talking about the second one?

[Will Compton]

Just saying, personally, the second Buffalo Bills game. Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

And coming off a buy, too. If Braves is undefeated in a buy, you're like, oh, this is a clear win.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. With the pod stats, media, and they're like, you're kind of attacking the whole strength of schedule thing. Buffalo's coming in. They're whooping their ass.

[Mike Vrabel]

I'm like, here we go. You're like, can we get a punt here? Can we get a stop?

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah. Josh Allen, did we. One thing that you clearly do extremely well is game management, having your guys understand two minute, four minute. Hey, this situation here, I don't want.

[Mike Vrabel]

To cut you off. We changed it to five minutes.

[Taylor Lewan]

Minute. Why is that?

[Mike Vrabel]

Because the timing rolls coincide with being under five minutes. So instead of saying four minutes, we say five minutes. Because the clock stops when you go out of bounds under five minutes. We might as well call it five minute so that the players all know, like, what the timing rules are. But go ahead. Sorry to cut you off.

[Taylor Lewan]

No, that's a great. Yeah. Big brain thought. And that's exactly where it leads me into the question is your players, when we know this from experience, like, everyone knows what to do and when to do it, but you also got guys in the headset. You're putting the laundry in the field when you want to challenge something. What is the process when you're reviewing plays and it's so like, you know, bang, bang, as far as, like, guys are trying to get the ball, like big deep pass happens. Right. Is it a catch? Is it not a catch?

[Mike Vrabel]

I think at this point, obviously Stretch and I are constant communication.

[Taylor Lewan]

Is it just you two like that are on the headset during those situations?

[Mike Vrabel]

Yep. Stretch has his own dedicated line.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

Just like you guys. You guys can. You guys can talk to daddy whatever you want.

[Will Compton]

There it is.

[Taylor Lewan]

What's what? Stretches percentage on challenges.

[Mike Vrabel]

I think I overruled him one time and I was like, I just was pissed and so I challenged. He's like, I told you not to challenge. It was going to mess his record up. I think it's okay. I mean, it's tough sometimes right now to figure out where they're going and review. I would say that the call on the field is very critical that you understand what the call on the field is because they need a lot to.

[Will Compton]

The postseason is upon us and there's really nothing like it. But the postseason can be stressful. Crushing losses, wild upsets, your unhinged six game parlay falling apart at the literal last second. Things can get rough and it can leave you feeling a little sour. But you got to look at the bright side. Once your team is out and headed to decompress, you can finally relax. Now you can actually enjoy the postseason season with all of the heart palpitations. That's why we're partnering with Jim Beam. We want to help you turn that lemon of a loss into delicious, tasty Jim Beam and lemonade because it's really the perfect bevy for the offseason. It's refreshing, it's got the perfect sweetness and a little bit of tang on your tongue. Best paired with stress free watching when your team is out. So gather the boys and grab some Jim Beam and lemonade to make the rest of the postseason just a little bit sweeter. Refresh your season with Jim Beeman Lemonade Lemonade best enjoyed together. Please drink responsibly. Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 40 alcohol by volume 2025 James B. Beam Distilling Co. Clermont, Kentucky welcome to the A building.

[Mike Vrabel]

I'm Hans Charles our Menelik Lumumba. It's 1969. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr have both been assassinated and black America was out of breaking point.

[Taylor Lewan]

Rioting and protest broken on an unprecedented scale.

[Mike Vrabel]

In Atlanta, Georgia. At Martin's alma mater, Morehouse College, the students had their own protest. It featured two prominent figures in black history, Martin Luther King Sr. And a young student, Samuel L. Jackson. To be in what we really thought was a revolution. I mean people were dying. 1968 the murder of Dr. King which traumatized the everyone.

[Will Compton]

The FBI had a role in the murder of a Black Panther leader in Chicago.

[Mike Vrabel]

This story is about protest.

[Will Compton]

It echoes in today's world far more.

[Mike Vrabel]

Than it should and it will blow your mind. Listen to the A Building on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Stugatz here. I have a podcast empire. It continues to grow, grow and I have brought it here to iHeart. I'm also doing a live radio show from 3 to 5pm Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me out of the house. It's called Stugatsy company Live which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports, a lot of phone calls.

[Taylor Lewan]

I love you guys show.

[Mike Vrabel]

It's one of my favorites. A lot of interaction. Guys not taking themselves out too seriously. Those are just some of the things that you can expect from Stugots Co. And Stugots Co. Live. So listen to Stugots Co. Live and our original podcast. Please subscribe, rate and review Stugots Co. And God bless football. Taylor's livelihood depends on it. Do it today and you can check all of those out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever. Wherever you get your podcast, return it.

[Taylor Lewan]

Why do you think your teams do such a good job with those situations and you see other teams that maybe lack in that area? From a communication perspective, I can only.

[Mike Vrabel]

Coach one team at a time. I don't. Again, I'm trying to focus on explaining what we're trying to do at the end of the game or the end of the half to help us, trying to have everybody in place so that the coaches understand that I'm stretching out our communication, Peyton. I'm communicating to Josh about what we want to do, and I'm communicating to Zach on what we want to do defensively. And as long as our players understand it, that's the most important thing. We rep it, we practice it. We'll have to do it this week. We've got a whole practice dedicated to that on Thursday.

[Will Compton]

What stretches ego like, these days?

[Mike Vrabel]

I told him to come out and say hi.

[Will Compton]

I know. I see he's above saying, what's up?

[Taylor Lewan]

You know what's crazy is early in the year, like, the first three weeks of the season, I would text and call Stretch, and he would text and call me back. Late in the season, I have about three unanswered texts to him.

[Will Compton]

He's.

[Mike Vrabel]

He does a lot. He's doing a lot, and he did.

[Taylor Lewan]

A lot in the beginning of the year, too.

[Mike Vrabel]

He's doing a lot of. Really? Yeah. I mean, he had a podium last night at the media night.

[Will Compton]

No, he didn't.

[Taylor Lewan]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

I was gonna say, how did we miss.

[Taylor Lewan]

That is crazy. If you. You.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah. You're not gonna. He's not gonna do many interviews, but, you know, you guys know what he means to me personally, to this team and. And to my family, so I'm thankful that. That he's. He's with us and he's along for this journey.

[Will Compton]

Are you. Are you ever sitting there thinking, like, I'm gonna have to keep fighting to keep this guy around? Because it.

[Mike Vrabel]

It.

[Will Compton]

I mean, it's starting to. It's leaking, it's getting out.

[Mike Vrabel]

We're not gonna let Stretch go anywhere.

[Will Compton]

What would the record be without Stretch?

[Mike Vrabel]

I don't know.

[Taylor Lewan]

League's built to be. League's built to be 500.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

League's built to be 500. You don't gotta stretch.

[Mike Vrabel]

It's an 8 and 8 league.

[Taylor Lewan]

8 and 8 league. What do you. Yeah. What do you think it'd be? How vital is striking?

[Mike Vrabel]

I mean, he's. Hell, he's. I've said this all along. He's helped us win games when we were in Tennessee, he's helped us win games here.

[Will Compton]

When we were at training camp, we were talking about the leadership of Drake and. And bus you were busting his balls about celebrating after touchdowns or big plays. What's the leadership learning curve been like for Drake? And what have you seen like this season?

[Mike Vrabel]

Good. And again, you have to understand, he's young, and in his mind he's like, I haven't done anything. And so I don't want to, you know, lead or be out there if I haven't really done anything. I said, well, that's not really how it goes. You know, I mean, you're the quarterback here, and you have to, you know, there's certain things that you have to do. And he embraced that. And you can see the growth there. And you can see the way that guys respond to him and him being the conductor. And, you know, when the quarterback does stuff, then people are like, okay, you know, we can. That. That's okay to do. It's okay to celebrate. It's okay to do these things.

[Taylor Lewan]

And.

[Mike Vrabel]

Again, we talked about everybody's personality being different. Certainly Drake's mindset is exactly what we want. Want the competitiveness, the energy and the performance.

[Will Compton]

Go ahead.

[Taylor Lewan]

When you take this job and you and all the coaching staff are watching the film of the previous season, you're not the head coach then, but you're seeing a lot of the same guys and the way they're playing on the field. And you look at Drake May, who has 15 touchdowns, 10 interceptions last year, and then you fast forward to the end of this year and it's 31 touchdowns to eight interceptions. Makes a master. John basically doubles his passing yards. Like, what has been the most critical change that he's had from year one to year two.

[Mike Vrabel]

I mean, I think that there's a great system. I think Josh does a great job. I think Ashton Grant, quarterback coach, provides a really good balance between Josh. Ashton's younger, so Josh does the majority of that stuff. And then Ashton is able to kind of fill in the blanks and be a different type of coach. And then it's obviously, you know, Drake's improvement. I think our receivers have done a fantastic job. We've had guys step up each and every game, and it's not been just one or two guys. We've had guys fill the stat sheets. Everybody has a couple, you know, touchdowns. Everybody's got yards and catches and, you know, so I think that's a very unselfish group that has allowed him to succeed and that he has confidence in each and every one of them.

[Will Compton]

Those guys are those treats that his wife brings in, Are they. They like that?

[Mike Vrabel]

They're good. They're delicious. Yeah. And Michael does a great job. Bake Miss was good.

[Will Compton]

Bake Miss?

[Mike Vrabel]

Bake Miss?

[Taylor Lewan]

What's Bake Miss?

[Mike Vrabel]

Christmas. It's a holiday season instead of Christmas, it's Bake Miss. And so she bakes something every day.

[Taylor Lewan]

Every day.

[Mike Vrabel]

Every day. Gotta love what's been your favorite that she had. I think there was a snickerdoodle with, like, Cinnabon icing on there.

[Will Compton]

That's going around right now. Yeah, he's the snickerdoodle. But they got an icing on top.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah, it's like a cinnamon buttercream. Cinnamon.

[Taylor Lewan]

How's. How's Carter. Carter and Tyler taking all this?

[Mike Vrabel]

Good.

[Taylor Lewan]

They're handling it well. Are they letting it get to their head that their dad's in the super bowl?

[Mike Vrabel]

Not Tyler? You know, I mean, Tyler doesn't say too much.

[Will Compton]

He's pretty even keel.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, he's. He's. Carter's out here. He's got to be enjoying.

[Mike Vrabel]

Carter is. He's. He's en route right now. Now out here. But again, there is not a bigger supporter of me than Carter. And he. When somebody says something bad about his dad, he's ready to fight, and he will hold grudges. And I love him, and he is loyal, and I'm glad that he can enjoy this. Jen said when Drake got that first down in Denver, she just felt this, like somebody like, Jack her from behind, and he was, like, just squeezing her for, like, a minute because he was just like, you know, we get in this business and we are always judged. You're judged as a tackle or judged as a player. I'm judged as a coach. And so the people that love us the most, they see that stuff and they're just like, I'm keeping the receipts, and I'm going after each and every one of them. That's how Carter is. So I'm glad that they can enjoy this. They. They are great for me and allow me to. To be here and do this. And. And they're a large part of it.

[Will Compton]

You still put the. The beanie cap on and get out there and mix it up. I feel like I haven't seen a whole lot of variable moments throughout this season. Getting older, mixing it up.

[Mike Vrabel]

In practice, I put the pad on. I don't. I mean, I put the pad on. Try to get around and O, line, D line.

[Will Compton]

Anybody putting you on your ass.

[Mike Vrabel]

I mean, that game, that day you guys were there for training camp, I went diving into a fight. It was like I was going to save Taylor from another fight. I had to go jumping another. Another training camp fight. I had to go diving into the pile to protect them.

[Taylor Lewan]

Do you have a player like Jeff that you protect under any circumstances? I wish we could find the clip.

[Will Compton]

One of their old moments in training camp.

[Mike Vrabel]

I heard, like Carter said, you guys had, like, this Twitter moment.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, because I was watching the time.

[Will Compton]

I had them both apologize to each other.

[Taylor Lewan]

I'm watching. I'm watching the game, and I'm literally watching Jeff manhandle individuals. But it's like he's getting double teamed. He's still just killing people. And it's to the point where I'm like, I have to publicly acknowledge how dominant Jeffrey Simmons is. And I do. And he, like, tweets above it. Appreciate you, big dog. He comes on the pod and we start breaking down a story that happened. I was a night 1920 camp where, you know, zone blitz on the right end drops Jeff tries to loop out light one. Yeah, Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

I was like, what?

[Taylor Lewan]

You're not. You don't like that?

[Mike Vrabel]

We're not taking shots. No, no, no.

[Will Compton]

Take a shot.

[Taylor Lewan]

It wasn't a shot.

[Mike Vrabel]

It was like.

[Taylor Lewan]

It was. I'm. Obviously, I got to put something into.

[Mike Vrabel]

You could have used length and just kept him.

[Taylor Lewan]

Okay, so you're on Jeff's side. Okay.

[Mike Vrabel]

I remember the.

[Taylor Lewan]

I catch him on the. But do you remember him trying to fight me for, like, the next six days straight?

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah. I loved every second of it.

[Taylor Lewan]

I told him every day, just, hey, Braves. It got to the point where I'm walking around the halls. I'm like, if he's around the corner, I feel like he's going to start swinging on. On me. And hey, hey, that's a big guy. Big scary man.

[Mike Vrabel]

That's it.

[Taylor Lewan]

And I like to instagate and have.

[Mike Vrabel]

Fun, but I'm not sure there's a line there.

[Taylor Lewan]

And he said some things he had.

[Mike Vrabel]

But now you guys. Now you guys are good.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I love that. Yeah. Like, when we were at the. The kicking competition for the Pro bowl yesterday, Jeff's. He's kind of hanging out with us.

[Taylor Lewan]

Where.

[Mike Vrabel]

And so he came on. You guys had him as a guest.

[Will Compton]

Yes.

[Mike Vrabel]

I love this. This is great.

[Taylor Lewan]

And I'll. I'll say, this clump reached out to me. Like, Sunday night, he's like, how do you feel about Jeffrey Simmons? I'm like, I guess, man, I guess we can have him on. And I'm walking into the pod being like, I really don't want to have.

[Mike Vrabel]

And so what are you doing in Nashville? Where is it? Where you guys have the bus? You guys still have the warehouse or what?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, still got the same setup.

[Mike Vrabel]

Same setup.

[Taylor Lewan]

Same setup.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. The last time you came home with the trash bag, we're still there.

[Mike Vrabel]

How much of that stuff did you keep?

[Taylor Lewan]

It was. There's trash in it.

[Mike Vrabel]

Oh, I thought it was your equipment. I thought there was some of your equipment and stuff.

[Taylor Lewan]

You guys took that personally, didn't you? That was a. That was funny.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah, it was funny.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

Coming with the trash bag.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

I remember getting a call from Puff, and he's like, what are you doing? We're getting. We're getting killed over here for, like, leaving you. I'm like, dude, I. I really didn't care.

[Mike Vrabel]

I just thought it was funny.

[Will Compton]

It was funny for coming in with the trash. Did you see. Have you seen the. The clip going around with Cushing? Yeah, he got you.

[Mike Vrabel]

You know, the guy was like the scout team running back and like a walk through and I'd be like, you know, I mean. And he knocked the out of me one time in Houston, and it's a lot of years later he wants to talk about it. I was like, dude, this didn't happen. Like, you didn't knock me on my ass.

[Will Compton]

Oh, he did knock you on your ass.

[Mike Vrabel]

No, no.

[Will Compton]

He made it seem like he's like, I put everything into. And I knocked him on his ass. Coaches were coming up being like, oh, yeah.

[Mike Vrabel]

And then he, like, he cut. Put blood on his forehead, and he was like, ah, yeah, that says just kush.

[Will Compton]

What else, man, I feel like this.

[Mike Vrabel]

Has been a good. I know. It's been a great week.

[Will Compton]

What's the.

[Mike Vrabel]

What, Our time, too.

[Will Compton]

What I was hearing, we got longer.

[Mike Vrabel]

Now, you guys, the. The deal was on the. It was 30 minutes.

[Taylor Lewan]

Minutes.

[Mike Vrabel]

30 what?

[Taylor Lewan]

Keep a little longer. We keep a little longer.

[Mike Vrabel]

Hey, how is it ot? It's time and a half.

[Taylor Lewan]

How is it getting to this game as a coach as opposed to a player and then being able to, like, emotionally catch yourself?

[Mike Vrabel]

Because I think that's probably the biggest thing is trying to catch yourself that you're here, right? Because it happens pretty quick. We stayed the night in Denver because of the weather. It took us a while to get back. And then it was like, okay, like, put this schedule together and try to figure out what we need to do to get the team ready. And I think just as a player, you just have a different mindset. The players, like, yep, I lock in. I know what to do. When it's done, it's done. And then I can kind of get back to it the next day. I think as a coach, it just continues to, like, linger and stay on your mind. And, am I doing this? And what do I have today? And, you know, I think that's been.

[Taylor Lewan]

The biggest thing, seeing, like, Haas and Dues and, like, all the old coaches, watching them walk around like media as you just tell, like, buddy, I kept going. I'm like, yo, you're one game away from having a ring on your finger. You see their eyes, like, light up, but then quickly, like. Like, how do I sit back? Like, I got. I can't have that type of emotion.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah. And I want them to enjoy it. We've talked. We've talked this whole year about embracing the preparation, embracing how hard this league is, and also enjoying what you do, where you do it and who you get to do it with, and then obviously enjoy the execution.

[Will Compton]

I got nothing else.

[Taylor Lewan]

He's getting. He had a time limit in his head.

[Will Compton]

He looked at his watch once. He said, time and a half.

[Taylor Lewan]

Oh, Clump's got one. Who was harder to cut in your career, Will or Taylor? Both.

[Mike Vrabel]

Both. Fairly easy. I mean, those are easy decisions. Maybe mine was the team's best interest in mind and no, emotionally, Will. Will.

[Taylor Lewan]

The thing that sucks, too, Clump, is. I knew that was the answer, but I just hated hearing it come out of his mouth. I hated every bit of that.

[Mike Vrabel]

That. I'm so proud. I'm proud of you guys, man. I appreciate the friendship.

[Will Compton]

Jack did have one. He's our titan. Or. Well, that was. Sorry, I didn't mean to do that.

[Taylor Lewan]

Jack, come on. Yeah. And I do want to say just one thing. We were in Cabo when Vrael called me, and he's like, hey, listen, we're gonna. You know what's gonna happen. Like, you go and pick the day. Like, pick one. We're gonna kill you, essentially. And I was like, hey, I'd love to do this. He's like, we gotta do it before the combine, so it's got to be sooner than that.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

And so I go in and braves just like.

[Will Compton]

But after that, you get off the phone because we're out there together, and we kind of just sit there quietly, and I'm like, so how you feel?

[Taylor Lewan]

And it sucks. You knew, like, when I. When I was, you know, 22. When it's like you play two games.

[Mike Vrabel]

It was longer than the conversation I got when I got traded from New England to Kansas City. That lasted about nine seconds.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor Lewan]

And you can't. When I went into your office and you're like talking to me, hey, yeah, we're at Park City, Utah, skiing. I'm thinking myself, man, just pull out the gun, like, talking to me. Ran comes in. I don't even know Ran. And you're like, hey, so you know the deal. Like, all right, yeah, it was. Then it just got uncomfortable. Let me just get out of here.

[Mike Vrabel]

Okay, go ahead. What do you got?

[Taylor Lewan]

So I know all the Titans fans back home would like to hear about this. Our recent hire, Robert Sala. The news media wants to say that we fired Mike Vrabel and hired a lesser Mike Vrabel. I think the Titans fans just want to know if there's anything you have to say about Robert Sala and what you think of him as a coach.

[Mike Vrabel]

I think he'll do a great job. I enjoy my relationship with Robert and I think he'll do a fantastic job back there.

[Will Compton]

Feel good.

[Taylor Lewan]

Yeah, you can live with that.

[Mike Vrabel]

Well, we miss you guys, too.

[Taylor Lewan]

I sent him an Instagram video of like, how Titans fans are like, I've been at a party, like, nah, I'm happy for him. And this dude, like, basically saying like, he's stomach. He just text me back, hi, buddy.

[Will Compton]

For the Titans fan base, I feel like it's one of those situations where you're happy seeing Brave achieve and accomplish all the things, but now that he's gotten to the super bowl, it's like.

[Mike Vrabel]

God, if he does, he does. Basically. He is a huge Titan guy. Huge Titan guy.

[Will Compton]

Huge Titan.

[Mike Vrabel]

Yeah, I know. But that doesn't mean you still have to, like, you're just like a cheerleader now.

[Taylor Lewan]

Now that's very. Actually, I'll take that because they would say the opposite now. That's it. Okay. Subscribe please.

[Mike Vrabel]

No free shout outs. Proud of you guys.

[Will Compton]

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[Mike Vrabel]

I have a podcast empire that I have brought here to iheart and I'm also hosting a daily live radio show from 3 to 5pm Eastern Cults to Gods and Company live, which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes. Every single day you can expect a lot of laughter, great guests, a ton of calls, and a lot of fun. Listen to Stugatson company Live and our original podcast, Stugatson Company and God Bless Football. And you can check all of those out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.