Loading summary
Podcast Host
You're listening to an iHeart podcast.
Co-Host
The volume.
Podcast Host
Blending Vice's signature dynamic storytelling with the high octane world of sports, Vice Sports brings an exciting and diverse range of programming that goes beyond the game. From action packed live events to gripping behind the scenes documentaries, to hard hitting investigative pieces and in depth profiles of athletes, coaches, teams, Vice Sports captures the raw energy, drama and passion that makes sports truly unforgettable. Catch live events and other exclusive sports programs Only on Vice TV. Go to Vicetv.com to find your cable channel.
Kadarius Tony
No Warrior now. All right, Rory, we are back with another episode of Don't Know Ball. I feel like though we're gonna have to change the name soon. Cause we learning, learning more than I expected. Us with our guests, you know, helping us, helping us learn about some of these sports that we think we know about. But today we are joined by another, another world champion, another, another, another athlete that has achieved the highest level of success. Today we are joined with the. The 20th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Giants select Kaderius Tony from the University of Florida. I feel like you gotta say University of Florida.
Co-Host
Yeah.
Kadarius Tony
Kaderius, what's going on, man?
Guest Athlete
How you doing, man? Thank y' all for having me, man. I was saying you gotta say Universal of Florida. You gotta say it.
Kadarius Tony
I think it's almost a thing. But real quick, I want to jump into it because I don't know the story, but I do know that you're from Alabama. How the hell did you pick Florida over Alabama?
Co-Host
Yeah, someone's blasphemous.
Guest Athlete
Me personally, it was a. It was the weather.
Kadarius Tony
It was the weather.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, it was kind of the weather. Yeah. But ain't gonna lie, it was a vibe when I went to Florida that I didn't catch anywhere else that I visited, you know what I'm saying? At the time. Because me, I was, I was a big field person. Like if I felt like this is where I needed to be, you know what I'm saying? This is where I needed to be. And when I went to Florida, that's the feeling that the coaches gave me and the players and just the environment overall.
Kadarius Tony
Do you feel like it's important for. Because you were a hell of a high school player coming up in Alabama. Do you feel like it was important for your level of focus to kind of get away from home a little bit as far as going to college and being able to focus? Cause being the star that you were is in Alabama and then to go to the University of Alabama? I'm sure it would have been pretty tough to kind of stay focused. It's home. Everybody knows you. You're a local hero. Did that play a part in you choosing the University of Florida? Like, I need to get away a little bit just to kind of focus.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, it kind of did especially come from where I come from. It's kind of like the environment there, not kind of really great for what you like. You try to do anything kind of positive, you know what I'm saying? It's like, it's good to give back, but as far as, like, trying to be the first person to do something different, it's like. It's kind of hard because you're gonna get a lot of criticism and stuff. So. Yeah, that's kind of what that kind of was, like a kind of a role in. Yeah. Why I chose. Yeah, I wanted to get away from home. Yeah. Cause I feel like I'd be too accessible, I guess you could say.
Kadarius Tony
A lot of athletes don't talk about that, though. We don't talk about that. Part of, you know, becoming successful when you're on the road and on your journey early, how being in your environment and being in your hometown can have its negative effects on your trajectory. Like, you can, you know, fall into little pockets that you're comfortable with. You know, it's your comfort zone. You hanging out with your boys, get into the same dumb shit that y' all was getting into when y' all was younger. But now when you trying to elevate and they know that you're becoming somebody, it's important for us to get away from those things that pull at us and keep us in those type of situations. So it's good to hear that you recognize that. And you took that into account when it came to picking the University of Florida.
Co-Host
Well, Anna Hernandez.
Guest Athlete
Yeah. I had a lot of people around me that just tell me, you know what I'm saying? It made me make a lot of the right decisions.
Co-Host
What was the biggest cultural difference going from Alabama to the University of Florida?
Guest Athlete
The diamonds in your mouth? Not diamonds. I mean, the golds in your mouth really ain't gonna lie. It was like. It was really. In Florida, they just really don't care. It's just like, you can just be yourself there and nobody really gonna judge you. Nobody gonna really, you know, look at you different or sideways, you know what I'm saying? Like, you hear about the most crazy stories in Florida, like the Alligator man and all, you know, you know, everybody do they sell?
Kadarius Tony
So. So talk to us about when you get to The University of Florida. And you know that you're now a Gator. What is that feeling? Because obviously there's a long, you know, tradition and history with the University of Florida. Like, what was it like, you know, being, you know, all American, coming in, one of the highest, highest recruits coming in. What was it like for you adjusting, like, all right, I'm here. I have like, you know, this thing to uphold because this is the University of Florida. I'm a Gator now. Like, there's a whole line of great players that come out of this university. Did you put a lot of pressure on yourself? Like, I want to be on the list of those names that have come through this university and have done great things, or was it like, I'm just going to continue to be Darius?
Guest Athlete
Yeah, it was kind of both, I guess you could say, because I feel like it was more of a. I need to focus on myself, to better myself, but at the same time, I want to have, like goals and aspirations, you know what I'm saying? I always keep myself self motivated, you know what I'm saying? Like, I want to do this, I gotta have one. I gotta be this person, you know what I'm saying? Like, just always having that drive for myself, honestly. But yeah, I would say, yeah, it was. It's a lot. It really ain't gonna last a lot. It's a lot.
Kadarius Tony
The first game, what was the first home game like? Coming out that tunnel, what was that feeling like?
Guest Athlete
Sensational. Honestly, I feel like it's probably a feeling I'll never forget just because it was just like. I feel like I walked into like tone relieving. No, I probably just a big art of walking into, I guess a sold out arena or something. It was just like a crazy. It was like I walked around, I couldn't see nothing but people. Like, it was so many people, you couldn't even see people, you know what I'm saying? It was like it was crazy then, just the environment, the band playing, the players, like just knowing everything behind it too. It just drove you. It didn't make you want to play hard, make you want to just, you know what I'm saying, go crazy.
Co-Host
I mean, did it almost feel like you would hit the pros? Because, I mean, obviously high school football in Alabama is huge, but I don't even know if there's certain stadiums in the NFL that don't compare to Gainesville and everything in Florida. Did you actually feel like, all right, this is professional football that I'm playing right now?
Guest Athlete
Yeah, most definitely yeah, Yeah. I definitely felt that environment there, like, it prepared me for what was coming to. You know what I'm saying? In the league, like, especially, like the. The good, the bad, the ugly, the. You know what I'm saying? Whatever.
Co-Host
With NIL and everything going on, I think there's a statute of limitations on everything. Now, did the boosters come to you senior year of high school, freshman year? What was that process like, even before? You know, now that players are getting paid.
Guest Athlete
Honestly now, I was never really approached by anybody, or if I was. Like, my parents kind of, like, probably took on that role for me to talk to them. For me, I really never was really approached by anyone. Like, I probably was, but not to my knowing, you know what I'm saying? Hundreds. Because that was never my focus, to be caught up in the money, the hype and all. It was always just ball, you know, I never, like, really cared about, like, really getting paid from. Really just like when life happened, you know, you're kind of like, I'm working now. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's nine to five more now. Yeah.
Co-Host
Because I feel like the movies and TV shows always make it seem like the boosters have their own little section at practice. Like, they don't even go to work. They just sit there and they know nothing about football. They should be giving suggestions and.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, they probably look. They probably do. I just don't know. But I wasn't looking for. I was focused on.
Kadarius Tony
As far as the nil. You know, high school players going into college and all of that. We've talked to a few guests that we've had on here, and some of them have expressed their thoughts and feelings on it. What do you feel about the nil? I feel like I love the fact that athletes are getting paid to go to these schools. Cause they generate so much money for these universities and things like that. But I do feel like the transfer portal is hurting college sports. Like, do you feel like you sit back and you see guys that enter the transfer portal and you sit back now that you're, you know, in the NFL and say, yo. Like, this is crazy. Like that. This is an actual thing where the season kids can say, yo, I'm gonna go to this university next year and I don't have to sit out. I could play next year. Do you think that that's helping NCAA or hurting ncaa?
Guest Athlete
Laughing like it's hurting it because it's. It's taking away from the hunger and the drive of the game for the players. Because it's it's turned into like a money game now. I feel like, like a lot of people. I see a lot of people talking about how much people getting paid like this and that. Like, oh, I think Quinn, your ear. I don't know the last name. Yours. Ears. He had a years or something crazy.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah.
Guest Athlete
Like, it became a money game instead of more of a I love the game, you know what I'm saying? Type of thing. And I feel like it's hurting. It's making the. The college game weak to me. I don't really even watch college football a lot unless it's really Florida, because a lot of people that was there or whatever I played with, you know what I'm saying? I really partake there with. But I don't really even watch college. I feel like it watered down just because everybody want to go chase the bigger bag or chase. You know what I'm saying? Chase what's not what. And it like me, I didn't have no option to, oh, I can go here for a million, go here for 500. You know what I'm saying? I didn't have the option. It was more about why I felt like my heart wanted to be and where I really feel like I could thrive it. You know what I'm saying? Like, I feel like it just. It watered it down.
Kadarius Tony
So we just had the. We just had the NFL draft a couple weeks ago, and obviously Shador Sanders fell to fifth round, I believe, watching the draft. And you said you really don't watch college football, but you obviously played the game at the highest level, so you have an eye and understand the game and see it differently. Do you feel like Shadore, obviously he shouldn't have dropped to the fifth round, but do you feel like Shador is as good as a lot of people think he is?
Guest Athlete
Personally? Probably not. I mean, but just really based off, like, the big games, I feel like he didn't win enough big games to say that he was because there's a lot of great quarterback that came through and they won a big game. I feel like he didn't win enough big games and the caliber of ball that he was playing wasn't high enough on his life. I feel like because he went from Jackson State to Colorado, that wasn't a real major jump. Like, he went from Jackson State to Florida or Alabama, a different school then I feel like, yeah, he might would have earned it, like, even if he didn't win anything, you know what I'm saying? But just because of the caliber of football they Playing because that's a real NFL caliber type of ball. Like not saying all college football or not, but I know the NFL program. I didn't, I mean, not NFL. I mean SEC program. And I didn't went through it and no, yeah, he gets you prepared in every aspect for the NFL. So. Yeah, I just. Yeah, nah, I feel like. Yeah, yeah, like take one down.
Kadarius Tony
But you don't feel like he should have dropped to the fifth round though.
Guest Athlete
Nah, I don't really say fifth, but you know what I'm saying, I'm not a GM or nothing, so I really can't say what they seen and what I didn't see because you know what I'm saying, like, that's what people like on the outside looking at. They don't really see like the, the cut ups, you know what I'm saying? Like. Cause you can see it like from the side angle all day, what they show on tv, but if you watch the cut up, you'll see it differently. Like, okay, boom, we should have made this read at this point. Okay, boom, he held the ball on. He did this wrong. Like that's what they're critiquing. Like that's what everybody else not saying. They just saying the plays when it's done. You know what I'm saying?
Kadarius Tony
Right?
Guest Athlete
Yeah. They go through a whole evaluation. You got to be in it to.
Co-Host
Know what was the toughest defense you went against in college.
Guest Athlete
Oh, my God, I hate these people. Missouri. Missouri.
Co-Host
Missouri, okay.
Guest Athlete
Missouri. Yes, Missouri. Missouri had the strongest bad players. Man, I swear I thought 1 of 4 broke my arm on your ass. They got a real weight. They got a weight program over there in Georgia. Gonna lie? I can't. I, I. Georgia for sure, but Missouri, I don't know what they used to do in Missouri, but them folks was hitting.
Kadarius Tony
Who's the, who's the, who's the greatest college player that you, that you've watched personally?
Guest Athlete
Probably Cam Newton.
Kadarius Tony
I would say I was great to say Cam Newton, to me, is the greatest college football player. Like, I still to this day don't understand how he won a college championship with that Auburn team.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, I don't even understand.
Kadarius Tony
I cannot figure that out. I'm like, bro, if you go back and look at his team, the roster, to say that, yo, he won it all with this team. And not saying those guys weren't good and talented, but there were way better teams out there that everybody had winning it that year over that Auburn team. So to me, Cam Newton is the greatest college football player Ever. But glad you said Cam, because I was trying to bring up Cam's name. The one thing that I do remember about Shador is he got into a little thing with Cam Newton. Cause he didn't like some of the things that Cam had to say about him, so. And when Cam approached him on the field to talk to him, Shador kind of gave him a cold shoulder, walked away from there. I don't know if they ever spoke privately and hashed out whatever differences they had, but that was kind of telling to me because, one, they're both two black quarterbacks. But again, I feel like Cam, this is the greatest college football player ever. And if he has something to say about the way you're playing or performing. I kind of looked at Shadore a little awkwardly when he got upset at what Cam. Cause I didn't think Cam had any venom or any malice towards Shador. I think he was given an honest critique from somebody who played that position, who won at that position, and is now obviously in this part of his life where he's talking about players and analyzing the game. I didn't like the way Shador handled that and kind of gave Cam Newton a cold shoulder. To me, I felt like it was a little disrespectful. Cause it's like, yo, Shador, you still trying to earn your stripes in this thing here, versus who I think is arguably the greatest college player ever? Do you feel like there's a certain amount of respect owed? Like, if you see a great college receiver and he has something to say about you on his podcast, would you see him at the game and then kind of give him the cold show, though? Would you have that conversation? Like, I appreciate it and I take your words into account because you've done it, you've won at this level, and you've accomplished what I'm trying to accomplish?
Guest Athlete
Yeah, I mean, kind of. I can see both point of views from Andrews, because I'm a big on respect type of thing, too. Like a person too. So, like, even although you feel me, you try to approach me. Like, you approach me, really cut the cameras out. That's how I feel about it. You have to cut it in your face because you already just talk bad about me on the Internet. That's how I'm just talking from Shadow. I know how you're feeling. You feel me at the same time, because I go through a lot of Internet stuff, too, but I know you're feeling like he only approached me because the camera was out this and that, and then it's like you badmouth me on the Internet, but you want to see me and show me love. That's kind of weird. Like I noticed how she do a feeling but at the same time like, like most people would feel that way because like it's a lot of ways to do a lot of stuff, you know what I'm saying? Like, like how he could see him in person and dude, he could have told him that in person, he would probably respect him or handle the situation differently. But it like you, the Internet blast me, talk bad about me and then want to see me in person and want to show love. Like I, I feel it on that kind of. But at the same time, like me, I'm not that type of person to be disrespectful like that. So like I'm. You know what I'm saying? Like that's why like I wouldn't like you want to see that out of me at all. Like as far as that, you know what I'm saying? Like as far as showing respect because me, I love watching or being approached by the older players and stuff like that. When Randy Moss came to me, I think when we was playing against the Chiefs, when I played with New York, matter of fact, he told me that, man, have you feeling good at the game? Yeah, you know something feeling great, you know what I'm saying? Because it's like, it's so much respect and love that just for him just being a great player. Like I don't even know him personally, but just him being a player is. I got some respect for him to where I would just listen to him even if he did say something bad at the same time. But it's just like, it's just all about character and who you is too at the same time. Like that's why, that's what it just boiled down to.
Co-Host
Yeah. You know, malls brought up the draft. I know players aren't allowed to say what team they wanted to go to. They have to say, hey, I just want to get drafted and do the best I can, whatever team takes me on draft night. Did you have a particular team in mind that you wanted to go to?
Guest Athlete
Nah, not personally. Nah, not really. I was kind of open minded. It was more of I didn't want to play ball. I don't really care. Put me somewhere, you know what I'm saying? Because I really don't even like the cold. But guess what? I go to the coldest place in America, you know what I'm saying? New York, you know what I'M saying, so it's like, I can't be mad. I just want to go out here and ball. Yeah.
Co-Host
Well, I was about to ask because almost already answered with the cold, but, you know, Alabama to Florida isn't the craziest transition, but Florida.
Guest Athlete
Yeah.
Co-Host
Nah, to New York is definitely one of those. What was that cultural shock like, coming up here?
Guest Athlete
It was really shocking, but. It was really shocking, but it wasn't nothing I wasn't ready to embrace, though, just for the love of the game or really the love for the organization, even though it turned sour because I felt like they really played me. You feel me? But love, I didn't really care, you know what I'm saying? Like, whatever.
Kadarius Tony
So you got drafted to New York. What is the first thing on your mind after hearing your name called and walking that stage? Like, now that everything is official, like, I'm officially in the NFL, you know, do you go back to that time as being a kid in the park, like, you know, dreaming about being in the stadium, like, yo, you're finally here. Like, what is that? I always wanted to know what athletes. That one initial, once you hear your name called, and it's like, oh, shit. Like, it happened. I heard my name. I'm on the stage. I'm shaking the commissioner's hand. I'm taking pictures. I gotta go backstage and do all of this media now. Like, you're in the NFL. Like, that moment. What is that moment? Like, what is that feeling when you're sitting at the table with your family and then you hear your name called?
Guest Athlete
It feels so surreal. They called my name, and I still didn't realize that they called my name. I was tripping. Like, I was. Oh, my God. You know what I'm saying? I was so in shock because it was like a dream come true. Because it's like you grow up your whole life, you hear about it, and you just knowing the steps that you got to go through and you finally make it, it's just like. Just. I don't know. I really can't even explain the feeling. It's just like. I don't know. Like, I really want to just enjoy that feeling. I mean, how that feel the rest of my life, like, it just felt that great. You know what I'm saying? It's just like. I don't know, like, his dream come true might well say literally just that.
Kadarius Tony
So now. So now you're in New York. You had a. Probably your best game that I can remember was against the Cowboys, I think.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, yeah, yeah. 189, 189.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah. Yeah. Like, you go right back to it. You know exactly what you had. Like, what are those moments like as a player? Like, when you go out and you have those type of games where it's like, everything that I worked for, all the work, like, it clicked at the right time, everything came together. Because as guys that just watch the game, I don't think that, you know, a lot of the fans, when we watching it, we don't realize how much preparation it takes to just get that moment of that play. The receiver catching the ball. Like, so many things has to happen in those moments. Like, but then at the end of the game, game is over, and you look back and you had the game that you had. What is that feeling like in the locker room? Like, damn. Like, okay, that was what I worked for all season. Like, one of those type of games. Like, what is that feeling like after having a game that you had against the Cowboys?
Guest Athlete
After a game like that? Me, personally, I just feel like I wanted to do it again. Cause I feel like me at that time, me and my mindset I was having at the time, I just want to do everything I can to help my team win. So, like, at that point, it was just like, man, just throw me the ball. I just felt like I just was proving the point, making a statement for myself at that point. You know what I'm saying? Just like, hey, just. I want to be that guy for y' all. You know what I'm saying? Personally, like, it was just. It was just, I guess, like a statement, I guess you could say. Like, personally, it just. It was life changing because it was just like, from playing park ball to just making big plays, being talked about and everything in the NFL, just, like, all over the NFL, it just is different, you know what I'm saying? It's way different. I ain't gonna lie. It's way different.
Kadarius Tony
Now, you told us Missouri and Georgia was the toughest defense. Who was the toughest defense and the toughest corner you had to matchup against in the NFL?
Guest Athlete
Toughest defense, probably be the Eagles. Probably toughest matchup. I don't really know because I ran a lot of short routes, you know what I'm saying? I couldn't really, like, really get into a lot of matches. Like, a lot of matches I had on the outside. I kind of, like, really, you know what I'm saying, handle my business. I kind of feel like, you know, so, like, I don't really. It's a lot of great DBs in the league for sure, though. So it's like, you want a great DBI went against or just played against or just had chance. You had a feel with. Probably had to be slay. Yeah. Darius late.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah.
Guest Athlete
Probably had to be there. Sleep. Yeah. The way he. His footwork, the way he just played, like, he just. He just smoothed me. Then he. He not. No trash talking, none of that. He just chill. He laid back. Good play, man. We good. We good. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, he a great guy. You know what I'm saying? Just overall, like, yeah.
Co-Host
With even breaking Odell's rookie game record for receiving yards. What do you think was the disconnect with you and the Giants while you. While you were there?
Guest Athlete
Honestly, I felt like it was more of. I think it was just. Probably just availability. It was just a lot that they was trying to throw on my plate at the time that I wasn't really just prepared for, I guess you could say, because it was like, I'm trying to play through injuries. I'm acquiring new ones, new ones, trying to. You know what I'm saying? Just trying to be the same player. And like, when you have an injury or something going on, you can't really be that same player. And it's just like, I feel like they was asking for what more than what I was able to give at that time, from my body standpoint, I guess you could say, you know what I'm saying? Like, it was more of like, okay, I'm pushing myself to the limit every day, and it's like, okay, I get the Sunday, I might burn myself out, or I get to the day before the Friday, burn myself. You know what I'm saying? Do I just do, like, something crazy might just happen to us? Like, yeah, I just held myself back, I guess you could say. But that's just what. Just take care of your body. More preparation and just knowing just what it is, how to handle it, you know?
Co-Host
Yeah.
Guest Athlete
I found out I was related to the guy that I was dating. I don't feel emotions correctly. I am talking to a felon right now, and I cannot decide if I like him or not.
Podcast Host
Those were some callers from my call in Podcast Therapy. Gecko. It's a show where I take real phone calls from anonymous strangers all over the world as a fake gecko therapist and try to dig into their brains and learn a little bit about their lives. I know that's a weird concept, but I promise it's pretty interesting if you give it a shot. Matter of fact, here's a few more examples of the kinds of calls we get on this show.
Guest Athlete
I live with my boyfriend, and I found his piss jar in our apartment. I collect my roommates toenails and fingernails. I have very overbearing parents. Even at the age of 29, they.
Co-Host
Won'T let me move out of their house.
Podcast Host
So if you want an excuse to get out of your own head and see what's going on in someone else's head, search for therapy gecko on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's the one with the green guy on it.
Kadarius Tony
Now, you still hold the record for. I believe you still hold the record for longest punt return in Super Bowl. I think it was 65 yards or something like that. What was that? What was that? Like, your time with Kansas City. You left New York and went to Kansas City, I believe. What was that feeling like, getting there and then obviously getting to the super bowl, but not only getting to the super bowl, having a moment in the super bowl that no other player ever had. Like, in that moment, can you hear the stadium? Can you hear players on the field? Or is it just, like, you zoned out? And at what point does the oh, shit moment kick into your head? Like, I'm doing some crazy shit right now that no player has ever done in the Super Bowl?
Guest Athlete
For the first question, I mean, I zoned out. Like, I didn't hear anything. The second one, it was when I made the first move, when I came around and I saw my whole fleet of white jerseys. It was that old shit moment. Like, oh, my God, what the is happening right now? You know what I'm saying? It was. It was. It was a crazy moment because it was. It was just like, just facing all that virtually. I had just went through New York, dealing with. With all that, and then just all that and then just being able to be the player. I was in the studio, both of my team, and we won. It felt unreal, Like, I couldn't do them, but. I couldn't do them but cry out of the game, like, because it was crazy. I was playing to get, like, one of my closest friends from Florida. Matter of fact, I was playing against him. He was on the Eagles at the time, too, so I couldn't do no cry. Like, it was just everything. It was just everything that was going on because I had just lost one of my closest friends, like, earlier that year, too. So, like, I was just going through a lot, you know what I'm saying? Just personally, you Know what I'm saying? Andy knew that. So, like, that just made our relationship grow even closer because he understood what was going on just overall, and you know what I'm saying? Like, just that relationship, it just grew.
Co-Host
What was some of the first conversations you had with. With Coach Reed coming from New York to Kansas City?
Guest Athlete
Really just playbook, you know, Just ready to really just implement me at asap. He. Oh, we need you. Like, oh, yeah. Like, let's. Let's get this started. Like, hey, what you like this? You like that? What you like to do? You like? You know what I'm saying? He implement all. He going back to watching Florida film. Oh, yeah. I like the way he did this motion right here. Like, that's kind of the motion come in. In the Super Bowl. Why I did the motion while I scored on. That's where that kind of come in. Like, he liked the way I did the one against Tennessee, like, my senior year. He was like, we could do something like this, but without you doing that, we just gonna bring you right back, because the way that defense came up, you know what I'm saying? He a real guru. I love Coach Reed. I swear. Like, that's why that's my favorite person right now.
Kadarius Tony
Like, you had a. In high school, you played quarterback position as well. Playing with a. Playing with a quarterback like Pat, in those moments when you first got there, did you recognize, like, how long did it take for one, the chemistry to connect with y' all? And then at what moment did you realize, like, okay, like, Pat is special. Like, he's me and our connection, our chemistry. He gets it. He's putting the ball right where I can go get it. At what moment did you realize, like, yeah, Pat Mahomes, he's as good as advertised?
Guest Athlete
The moment I realized that was. I think it was, like, one practice. Man threw some. He threw like, a jump. It was a crazy. I don't know what kind of pass he threw, man, I wish I recorded on film, man. The man threw a crazy pass. I'm like, yeah, he's different. You know what I'm saying? I was real. I'm like, yeah, I don't. I ain't never seen nobody do nothing. Like, they're not even playing nothing. No viral video. Like, the man serious, and it was on the money. But our chemistry started to kind of build, like, kind of when I first got there. Because when we. When I first got there, we kind of like, you know what I'm saying, was talking a lot of just, you know what I'm Saying, just spending more time, like, oh, just running around. Let's do this. Or whatever, something. So, like, so it was kind of, like, easy for me to, like, catch on and get involved early. You know what I'm saying? Like, the coaches kind of made it, like, emphasis, like, oh, yeah, we got to make sure y' all put y time and make sure everything kind of on point because we need you right now. Like, just be a player.
Co-Host
What's the biggest difference between practicing practices with the Giants and the practices with the Chiefs?
Guest Athlete
Chief just go full speed all the time. They don't know no breaks. They don't know breaks at all. It's a vibe at practice, but it like, boy, you gonna run. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, yeah.
Kadarius Tony
All right. So you just announced, I guess, a few days ago, you're retiring from the NFL to pursue. To pursue. To pursue a rap career.
Guest Athlete
I ain't retired from the NFL.
Kadarius Tony
All right, so you said that. So you were just talking.
Guest Athlete
Nah, I'm saying I don't even know where the audio even come or if I don't know where it even come from. Why I said I was retiring to play. I mean, to do music. I always did music. I've been doing music since, like, 2018.
Kadarius Tony
Right, so you're not retiring from music?
Guest Athlete
Like, no, no, no, I'm not retiring to do music. No, no, no. Nowhere near.
Kadarius Tony
All right, good.
Guest Athlete
Now, I want more exposure for my music because I'm really better than a lot of the other people they be listening to. They be rap, be artists, maybe athletes. But, nah, I ain't. No. I ain't saying about no return from football because, like. Like, why. Why chased wondering when I got both. Like, I do both. Like, I leave practice.
Kadarius Tony
No, I'm glad you cleared that up, because that's. That's exactly what I was about to get into. Like, yo, I think you could do both.
Guest Athlete
Like, yeah, leave practice, might come home, record or whatever. Like, anytime I get a chance when I'm just free. Ain't doing that. Ain't you know what I'm saying? I'm free. I'm recording. Or just handling my business, because I know that's another passion of mine, like, just artistry to me now, coming up.
Kadarius Tony
In Alabama, who was some of. Like, what's the music scene like in high school? What are y' all listening to in Alabama?
Guest Athlete
In Alabama, we released to a lot of people. I mean, during the. Like, we wave riders, too, at the same time, because we list a lot of the high artists, you know, What I'm saying, like, back then, it was like, rich homie, no thug. Well, future. Well, future, my top art. That's why I listen to a lot. But, you know, everybody else just pretty much popping a lot of local artists at the time, like Rich Boy C. Now, it might have been a few more people, but as far as, like, local music and stuff like that, it wasn't really a lot. We'll just listen to a lot of main artists. We was on Youngboy kind of before he kind of blew up, you know what I'm saying? For, like, when he first dropped 38, baby, and all that. Like, we was like, the first one to catch wind. Cause we, like, right next door. But, yeah, we influenced by everybody.
Kadarius Tony
Are you one of those artists that you push your music on your team? Like, you go in the room, the locker room, grab the orcs. As soon as you lay something down, you just start playing your new shit for the team and see what they feel about it. Or you kind of keep that separate from your teammates?
Guest Athlete
Yeah, yeah, I kind of keep that separate. I don't really intertwine the two. Like, I have teammates that have came up to me, like, oh, yeah, but I like your music. You know what I'm saying? That teammate didn't throw it on in the locker room or something. Just play it. But personally, I don't really force them on nobody. I don't really like to push it on nobody. A lot of people really don't even know how to make music, you know what I'm saying? Honestly? Because it's like, I really just put ball first, you know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? Because that's really my priority. Like, really, like, my heart, you know what I'm saying? Like, at the end of the day, I know I could do music again, but I know my timeline of football. I'm gonna be so long, you know what I'm saying? My body can't. I can't do this. Or, like, I'm just trying to maximize my opportunity with that. Got you.
Co-Host
When you were going out in Florida, was the music much different than what you were listening to in high school? But, I mean, you're saying future.
Guest Athlete
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sure. Yeah. Florida was way different, though. I said, I just don't, man. Major 9. It was a lot of Kodak. I said, yeah, Kodak. Like, it was a lot of Coley pull. You know, young in age. You know, it was like I had a lot of different Florida influences down there.
Co-Host
What about when you came up to New York and you were going out to some of the clubs, was that a complete, completely different situation?
Guest Athlete
Nah, not really. I mean, me personally, I don't really go club like that, so I really don't even catch the wave with no, like no other music anywhere else. I don't really. I don't really like clubbing like that, honestly. I'll be chilling.
Co-Host
What about in the locker room? Was it who. Who was controlling the music?
Guest Athlete
He'll mainly control the music, but he playing. He playing all kinds of music. He might play some sizzling here, you know what I'm saying? He might play all kinds. Like he playing R B and stuff too. So like it wasn't just no. No New York culture, just in the locker room, you know what I'm saying? At the time.
Co-Host
Yeah.
Kadarius Tony
Now, as a, as an artist and as an athlete, would you rather have a Grammy nominated album for your music or would you rather have a Super bowl mvp?
Guest Athlete
Mm, really? I thought I was gonna win Super Bowl MVP two years ago.
Co-Host
I thought he was going at the.
Guest Athlete
Back of his head. Like it could be me personally, but. Nah, personally though, probably just be an NFL mvp. I mean, I mean, a Super Bowl MVP just. Cause the simple fact that's like always been like a dream to win a Super bowl, but to be an MVP of it, that's. They probably put icing on the cake. You know, I got two rings, but I still ain't really satisfied, you know, personally, like, I still want to kind of, you know what I'm saying? Like accomplish more. Break my. Break my whole record, you know what I'm saying? I want to do more. So like, yeah, like I'm always hungry. Yeah.
Co-Host
Is there an artist you compare your music to the most or.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, kind of, but not really. I like, I say sometimes. Well, back when I first started making music, like, people just tell me I sound like Thug Gunner, like Little Baby, like that type of vibe. But over the years I kind of like kind of transition. Like I kind of really like to be kind of compared to people. So like, I kind of kind of like transition rap, you know what I'm saying? Kind of like try to change my style, you know.
Kadarius Tony
And a lot of some of your songs I listen to. One of the things that I hear you say a lot is you always got your head down, focused, stay in your own lane, mind your business. How much of that is true to Kadarius as the man? Like how much do you stay in your own lane and not really focus on what Anybody else got going on and just lock in on what the. When what you're doing.
Guest Athlete
Always do that. Personally, that's a lot of reasons why I be going MIA off the Internet, really. Like, I did my pages or whatever. Like, I just really just get into my life, get into myself, focus on me, like, because I feel like a lot of people being influenced by too much, like, as far as the Internet of celebrities and stuff like that. Me, I try to get as far away from that as possible. Like, you feel me? Just because the simple fact, like, people be thinking this, it's so much to it, but it's really not that. It's like people put you on the pedestal, but at the same time, you go through the same stuff they go through, you know, like, it's like people look at you differently or treat you differently because of money. And it's like, I get it, but at the same time, like, we all human, you know what I'm saying? Like, I just try to get away from all that, or, you know what I'm saying? I just try to get it far away from it and just be myself and be true to my people, you know what I'm saying? Be like just. You know what I'm saying? Like family. I'm saying just be who I am. Like, I'm not trying to be nobody else. You know what I'm saying? To be nothing. Like, no, no, I'm not. You know what I'm saying?
Co-Host
Like, yeah, being a professional athlete, I'm sure you've ended up in a lot of rooms with other rappers, other musicians, especially. Even after super bowl parties. Etc. Have you ever approached a rapper for. For a collab request? Like, yo, I rap too.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, I said something to Travis Scott. He came into our. We got a picture. Matter of fact, I said something when I was in the locker room. I think I was in the training room. So he came in, I was talking to. I said something to him. But besides that, I don't really reach out to a lot of artists and stuff, like, because it'd be kind of weird. Like, some people be, you know I'm saying. Like, you know, I said, like, it just. Like, we know certain stuff, know certain people be like, nah, people don't be who they say they is on the Internet, you know what I'm saying?
Kadarius Tony
Who's the. Who's the one artist that you absolutely like, damn, I gotta get a verse. I gotta get on the song with him. Outside of Future, I know future's your favorite, but outside of Future, who's the one guy that you like. Damn. I gotta get a. I gotta get a song with him.
Guest Athlete
Lil Durk.
Kadarius Tony
Okay. He's in a little bit of trouble right now. I don't know. I don't know if that verse is ever gonna happen. I hope it does. Listen, salute and love to Durk. I hope it does. I want that for you, but he's in a little tough predicament right now.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, most definitely. Free of him, though. Freedom.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah. Shout out to Dirk.
Co-Host
Is there any other athletes that rap that you would collab with? Because we've talked to a few people just on this series that also make music. Is that something you would ever do?
Guest Athlete
Yeah. Facts. I would say I'm hoping to drop this song. I got us. Oh. I'm trying to get him to finish his verse, but JD Obviously. I don't know if y' all know jd.
Kadarius Tony
JD yeah.
Guest Athlete
Jalen Darden.
Co-Host
Okay.
Kadarius Tony
Okay.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jalen Darden. Yeah. That's. Yeah, I make music with him. But a lot of the other athletes or whatever, they don't really reaching out to try to know, make no music, you know what I'm saying? So I just really just stay in my lane with that, too. You know what I'm saying? I just stayed, like, to myself, like, let somebody approach me or come out of my way. I ain't really going looking for nobody. You know what I'm saying? Yeah.
Kadarius Tony
Who's one of your teammates, though, that we. We might not know, but you know that they can. They can. They can make music. They can rap.
Guest Athlete
I would say. Gary. Gary Bright. Brightwater, I would say. I would say I play with him in New York, too, but he. He a rap, too. I'm saying he could rap, too. He just dropped, like. I think probably a few months ago. But I was listening to his. Yeah, like, he could spit, though. I was. There's a few people that really spit in this, but. You know what I'm saying? But they don't really get no. You know what I'm saying? No shine recognition.
Co-Host
I mean, we had Pac man on, and Pac man was much better than I expected. Yeah, Pac Man Jones, he could rap for real. And his music is pretty good, too. He's not just rapping. He's making songs that are pretty good. Pac man shocked me. And didn't he freestyle on the show, too? Was that him or someone else?
Kadarius Tony
He may have. It wasn't Pac. He was in a golf simulator store. Pac was on all kind of shit that day. We was getting one night shout out To Pac man, though, for sure. All right, so we got some questions. We got some questions for you, and you got some questions for us. We want to see exactly how much you know. We don't know ball, but we want to know exactly how much music you know. So we got some questions for you, and then you gonna give us some questions to see how much either we don't know more or how much you don't know music. All right, so for the first question, which of these Young Thug features was his first to go number one on the Billboard Hot 100? Is it go Crazy? Chris Brown and Young Thug. Way Too Sexy. Drake and Young Thug Franchise? Travis Scott and Young Thug or Havana? Camila Cabello and Young Thug?
Guest Athlete
It's Havana, ain't it?
Co-Host
You are correct. First one. And isn't Way Too Sexy with Drake and Future? I don't even think that's with Doug.
Kadarius Tony
Oh, yeah, that is.
Guest Athlete
Yeah.
Kadarius Tony
No, Thug might be on that.
Guest Athlete
On it.
Co-Host
Thug is on it.
Kadarius Tony
Okay. I think so. Yeah.
Co-Host
Future's on there, right?
Kadarius Tony
Yeah.
Guest Athlete
All right, cool.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah.
Co-Host
Making sure I wasn't tripping. All right. You could ask what.
Kadarius Tony
All right, you got a question for us now?
Guest Athlete
Oh, yeah, I got y' all. Yeah, I got y' all. Let me see.
Kadarius Tony
Well, we gotta. Gotta keep our street going.
Guest Athlete
Let me get y' all together, all right? Let me get y' all together every bit. So who has the most passing touchdowns as a wide receiver in the NFL history? One, Me Cadarius. Tony. Two. Antoine Randell. Three. Julian Edelman, four times. Ward.
Co-Host
That's tough.
Kadarius Tony
All right?
Co-Host
I know for a fact Edelman has, like, two.
Guest Athlete
Yeah.
Kadarius Tony
What was the question? Who has the most. What? What was the question?
Guest Athlete
Who has the. Who has the most passing touchdowns as a rival receiver. Wide receiver in the NFL history?
Co-Host
And I feel like Heinz Ward, they.
Kadarius Tony
Used to throw often.
Co-Host
He used to thr.
Kadarius Tony
I feel like Hans Ward got a few of them.
Co-Host
And who was B.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, yeah. Sticking with John Else.
Co-Host
No, I'm saying who was B. I forgot the name.
Guest Athlete
Randall. Antoine Randale.
Kadarius Tony
Okay.
Guest Athlete
Randall L. I think Randall L. Yeah. All right.
Co-Host
I'm gonna go D. Hans Ward.
Guest Athlete
Hines Ward.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah. I'm gonna say Hans Ward.
Guest Athlete
Hines Ward. Well, both of y' all do not know ball. How y' all think this? Ant4randy Layer it, man.
Kadarius Tony
You know what I'm saying? Sometimes you gotta sw. You gotta swing for the fences sometimes, man. It. Man, I have any.
Guest Athlete
Hey, how many.
Kadarius Tony
How many. How many do you. How many do you have.
Guest Athlete
In the NFL? To my past, I ain't Got nothing in the NFL. Okay. They don't let me scare me.
Kadarius Tony
I'm not gonna lie. I would have felt like if it was you, if you would have said me, I got them. I would have been like. I did not know that. All right.
Guest Athlete
Nah, this kid let me throw.
Co-Host
All right. The year you were drafted, what was the most Streamed song of 2021? A DOA cat need to Know. B. Drake. Lil Baby Wants and Needs Cardi. B Up or D? Lil Nas X. Montero.
Kadarius Tony
Montero. Yeah.
Co-Host
I don't keep up with this catalog. I'm sorry.
Guest Athlete
Yeah. Because I don't really like the other people. Oh.
Kadarius Tony
If you said you said who.
Guest Athlete
You say, what's the needs?
Co-Host
That's B. Is that your answer?
Guest Athlete
Yeah. Yeah, I'm gonna go with B.
Co-Host
It's D. Lil Nas X. Lil Nas.
Guest Athlete
X. I already know it. I know it. I didn't want to say your name.
Kadarius Tony
You ain't want to say. It's only the song you like they want to say.
Guest Athlete
You knew it. You felt.
Kadarius Tony
You like watching me. Little Nas X. We like. I can't say. Little Nas X. I can't say.
Guest Athlete
Get my rights right here.
Kadarius Tony
All right, you got one for us?
Guest Athlete
Facts. Okay, so I finished my college career with 12 touchdowns. Which former New York Giant wide receiver is tied for second all time in Florida Gators history with 29 receiving touchdowns? One, Amani Tumor. Two, Odell Beckham Jr. Three, Hiller. Four. Hakeem Nicks.
Co-Host
Wait, but they had to be a Florida Gator, right?
Kadarius Tony
Florida Gator.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Florida Gator receiver.
Kadarius Tony
Did Amani go to?
Guest Athlete
Hello? Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All time Florida. Yeah. Florida Gator history.
Co-Host
Yeah, well, Dell didn't go to Florida, so get him out of here.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Co-Host
Did Hakeem Nicks go there?
Kadarius Tony
I don't. I can't remember if Hakeem Nicks went to Florida. I can't remember is him or Cooper.
Co-Host
I'm gonna go Hakeem next.
Kadarius Tony
I'm gonna go Monty. Cooper.
Guest Athlete
Ah, Monty. Toomer Tumor. Yeah. Yeah, both of y' all wrong again. Yeah, y' all need to get in y' all a little y' all history book.
Co-Host
Not really a Gators fan, man.
Kadarius Tony
No. Yo, Kaderius said y' all need to get in the history books. Not even the sports books.
Co-Host
Listen, I like Florida State.
Guest Athlete
Hey, the answer.
Kadarius Tony
All right. Okay. All right. All right.
Co-Host
So we got the lsu.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah.
Co-Host
Then I would have got it right.
Kadarius Tony
We got one more question for you. All right. What song did Rihanna open with during her super bowl halftime show. Obviously, you were part of that super bowl was.
Guest Athlete
Was segregated. We couldn't go home.
Co-Host
Ask that part. We have had a debate this past year. Do the players watch the halftime show during the Super Bowl?
Guest Athlete
No, we do not. Our coaches have a lock then. They have a lock then. Now we got to win this game.
Co-Host
TV maybe in the corner or something that maybe just happens to have it on. And you looking past the chalkboard.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, maybe look people around the curtain.
Kadarius Tony
But we got bigger. We got bigger business going on. We got bigger business going on.
Guest Athlete
Yeah. We got to finish this game right here spinning because we know we were down 10 at that point during our game. So. Yeah, they like. Oh, nah, cut everything. Everybody close your eyes. Yeah, yeah, like so.
Co-Host
But can you hear some of the performance, though? Because, I mean, it's.
Guest Athlete
Nah. The way. The way the locker room is that just soundproof. You can't hear nothing. Like, you can't hear nothing. Yeah, you can't hear none.
Kadarius Tony
Okay, cool. All right. So which song did Rihanna open the halftime performance with? Was it A, better have my money. B, diamonds, C, where have you been? Or four poured up.
Guest Athlete
I really might say diamonds, but I don't really. A.J. clyde. Wouldn't that see if I would have had a cheat code. I don't know. I'm gonna go with Diamonds, though. I'm gonna go with diamonds.
Kadarius Tony
Finally got one wrong. It's Better have my Money.
Co-Host
But she did close with Diamonds. Diamonds was like the finale.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah, she closed with diamonds.
Guest Athlete
At least I remember some of that. Yeah. Won the game.
Kadarius Tony
The most important part. You won the game.
Co-Host
We are.
Guest Athlete
I would say my last one right here, though.
Co-Host
Yeah.
Guest Athlete
I say who has the most touchdowns by a player born in the UN in the state of Alabama. One, Julio Jones. Two, Nico Collins. Three, Terrell Owens. Four, Amari Cooper.
Kadarius Tony
Who has the most touchdowns?
Co-Host
All right.
Guest Athlete
Yeah. About a player born in the state of Alabama.
Co-Host
The only person I know that was born in Alabama for sure is Julio Jones at the.
Guest Athlete
That.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah. Julio. Julio. Alabama.
Co-Host
I'm just going to go with who I actually know is from Alabama. It's Terrell Owens from Alabama.
Kadarius Tony
He sound like it.
Co-Host
Everyone in the south sounds the same.
Kadarius Tony
I. I don't know which I'm gonna go with. I feel like I should know. This man, Julio Jones is from Alabama. He got a lot of touchdowns.
Guest Athlete
We were he from. He from out there where I'm from almost. He, like, from Foley, like Foley and Mobile. Probably like four to five minutes away.
Kadarius Tony
Way. Okay, who are the other names?
Guest Athlete
Nico Collins. Love him in the All Star Game. Terrell Owens and Amari Cooper.
Kadarius Tony
Who has the most touchdowns for a player born for. I'mma say Julio Jones.
Guest Athlete
Y' all both going. Julio.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah.
Co-Host
Yeah.
Guest Athlete
Y' all both need to just go ahead. Just go and type it in y' all phone right now. Y' all wrong. It's Terrell. You would know that, though.
Kadarius Tony
It's Terrell.
Guest Athlete
I thought you was gonna go with.
Kadarius Tony
Your move, but you know what it was. I couldn't. I couldn't remember if Terrell was from Alabama or not. And I'm like, damn. Like, where is he from? Alabama. He is obviously from Alabama.
Co-Host
Alexander, I didn't learn.
Guest Athlete
Look, I didn't learn that right here today. I ain't know he was from.
Kadarius Tony
You didn't even know. All right, So I don't feel bad.
Co-Host
And this is what I thought. Josh set up the questions, and when he put Odell Beckham in the Florida Gators question, I was like, all right, well, he went to lsu, so this May. Yeah, Terrell Owens is probably from, like, Tennessee or some.
Guest Athlete
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Co-Host
But I knew they were all from Alabama. Alabama. I would definitely say Terrell Owens.
Kadarius Tony
Kadaris is one of the greatest high school players in Alabama history. And he didn't even know Terrell Owens was from Alabama.
Guest Athlete
I did not know.
Kadarius Tony
He didn't even know that. So we don't feel bad. Fuck it, man. We lost today. It's all good. Kadarius, thank you for joining us. Good luck with everything, all your music. I'm gonna keep tuning in, listening. I've been listening to a couple of your joints, watching your videos.
Guest Athlete
Appreciate it.
Kadarius Tony
Put the chopper down, though. Leave the chopper. Leave the chopper at home.
Co-Host
It was a problem.
Kadarius Tony
Yeah, it was a problem. That's Kadarius. Tony Kaderius. Than you, my brother.
Guest Athlete
I appreciate y' all.
Kadarius Tony
No worry. Okay. Have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant. Their fans rebelled and wanted the old sim back. And degree Listen, that doesn't happen often. They admitted that they effed up and are bringing the original Cool Rush scent back. And it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp, and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one Manzani purse Sprint and is back in Walmart, Target, and other stores for under $4. So try it and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local stores to try the OG cool rush for yourself.
Podcast Host
You're listening to an iHeart podcast.
Podcast Information:
In this episode of "New Rory & MAL," hosts Rory and Mal engage in a candid and in-depth conversation with Kadarius Toney, the 20th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Kadarius, a standout wide receiver from the University of Florida, shares his journey from high school in Alabama to the collegiate and professional levels of football. Additionally, he delves into his passion for music, providing listeners with a multifaceted view of his life both on and off the field.
Kadarius opens the discussion by explaining his decision to attend the University of Florida instead of staying closer to home in Alabama. He emphasizes the impact of environment and how the vibe at Florida garnered his attention more than any other institution he considered.
Notable Quote:
"It was a vibe when I went to Florida that I didn't catch anywhere else that I visited..."
[01:56]
He highlights the importance of moving away from his hometown to maintain focus and avoid distractions. Being a local hero in Alabama would have made attending the University of Alabama challenging in terms of staying centered on his athletic and personal growth.
Notable Quote:
"I wanted to get away from home. Cause I feel like I'd be too accessible, I guess you could say."
[03:09]
Kadarius discusses the cultural differences he encountered transitioning from Alabama to Florida. He appreciates the non-judgmental atmosphere in Florida, which allowed him to express himself freely without fear of criticism.
Notable Quote:
"You can just be yourself there and nobody really gonna judge you."
[04:05]
He reflects on the responsibility of upholding the University of Florida's storied football legacy. Balancing personal ambition with the expectations tied to being a Gator was both motivating and challenging.
Notable Quote:
"I always keep myself self-motivated... I want to do this, I gotta have one."
[05:12]
Kadarius recalls his first home game experience as surreal and electrifying, marking a pivotal moment in his collegiate career that solidified his love for the game.
Notable Quote:
"It was probably a feeling I'll never forget... The band playing, the players..."
[05:43]
Moving into his professional career, Kadarius shares his experiences with the New York Giants and later with the Kansas City Chiefs. He discusses the differences in team dynamics, coaching styles, and the heightened level of competition in the NFL.
Notable Quote:
"It was a lot. It really ain't gonna last a lot. It's a lot."
[05:36]
Kadarius vividly describes the emotions he felt upon hearing his name called during the NFL Draft, encapsulating the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
Notable Quote:
"It feels so surreal... It's just like, it just felt that great."
[17:41]
He highlights his record-breaking performances, particularly mentioning a standout game against the Cowboys where he excelled and made significant plays that solidified his presence in the league.
Notable Quote:
"After a game like that, I just feel like I wanted to do it again."
[19:08]
Kadarius offers a critical view of the current state of college sports, particularly focusing on the impact of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements. He believes these factors have shifted athletes' motivations from passion for the game to financial gain, potentially weakening the competitive spirit.
Notable Quote:
"I feel like it's turning into like a money game now... I feel like it watered it down."
[08:24]
The conversation takes a turn as Kadarius critiques Shadrach Sanders, questioning his draft position and skill level based on his performance in big games. He contrasts Sanders with other quarterbacks who have proven themselves under pressure.
Notable Quote:
"I feel like he didn't win enough big games to say that he was..."
[09:53]
Kadarius recounts an interaction with Cam Newton, expressing his disappointment in how Sanders handled criticism from an accomplished quarterback like Newton, viewing it as a missed opportunity for growth and mutual respect.
Notable Quote:
"I feel like it was a little disrespectful... to show love."
[14:10]
Beyond football, Kadarius passionately discusses his involvement in music. He clarifies misconceptions about retiring from the NFL to pursue music, emphasizing his desire to gain more exposure for his artistic endeavors while continuing his athletic career.
Notable Quote:
"I want more exposure for my music because I'm really better than a lot of the other people..."
[27:38]
He explains how he manages to juggle both careers, often recording music during his free time and keeping his artistic pursuits separate from his teammates and football life.
Notable Quote:
"I kind of keep that separate. I don't really intertwine the two."
[29:15]
Kadarius shares his musical influences from different regions, noting the distinct sounds from Alabama, Florida, and New York. He also mentions artists he aspires to collaborate with, highlighting his respect for fellow musicians like Lil Durk.
Notable Quote:
"I started making music, people tell me I sound like Thug Gunner..."
[31:51]
In a light-hearted trivia segment, Rory and Mal challenge Kadarius with questions about music and football history. This segment showcases Kadarius's knowledge and leaves room for humorous interactions when answers don't quite match up.
Notable Exchange:
Kadarius: "It could be him personally, but Nah, personally though, probably just be an NFL MVP." [31:18]
Co-Host: "We're all wrong again." [40:59]
Kadarius reflects on the challenges of fame, including the pressures of public perception and maintaining personal integrity. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and avoiding the pitfalls of internet fame.
Notable Quote:
"I just try to get as far away from that as possible... I just try to be myself and be true to my people."
[32:34]
The episode wraps up with Kadarius expressing gratitude for the opportunities he's received in both football and music. He reiterates his commitment to excelling in both fields while maintaining his authenticity and focus.
Notable Quote:
"I appreciate it. Put the chopper down, though. Leave the chopper at home."
[45:20]
This episode offers a comprehensive look into Kadarius Toney's life, exploring the intersections of sports, personal development, and artistic expression. Listeners gain insights into the decisions that shaped his career, his perspectives on evolving aspects of college and professional sports, and his dedication to music as a parallel passion.