NFL Cover Zero: Hard Knocks revealed and 49ers LB Eric Kendricks!

Summary

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NFL Cover Zero: Hard Knocks Revealed and 49ers LB Eric Kendricks!

Podcast: NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin
Episode Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Drew Franklin (joined by Billy Rutledge, guest hosting for Matt Jones)
Special Guest: Eric Kendricks (San Francisco 49ers Linebacker)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Drew Franklin and Billy Rutledge dive into current NFL storylines, with a focus on the San Francisco 49ers, the Hard Knocks series' big news, quirky football culture moments, and an engaging interview with standout linebacker Eric Kendricks. The episode blends news, humor, and authentic player perspectives, offering both behind-the-scenes peeks and broader NFL insights.

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Key Topics & Segments

1. 49ers Catch-Up & Maintenance on the Pod (02:22–05:52)

• Host Configuration: Drew welcomes Billy as co-host while Matt Jones is away.
  • “I've got plenty more to talk about and I have not replaced Matt on the show. He's just doing his own thing right now.” — Billy Rutledge (02:36)
• Big Interview Tease: The highlight is their sit-down with Eric Kendricks—his midseason signing with the 49ers, playoff heroics, and uncertain career trajectory.
• Billy & Drew: The Car Guys? The hosts joke about their mechanical skills (or lack thereof), setting up for Kendricks’ automotive passion later.
  • “Don't forget your Johnson Rod. That's right.” — Drew Franklin (04:07)
• San Francisco Injuries & The Electrical Substation Conspiracy:
  • Discussion of the rumor that a nearby electrical substation has caused the 49ers’ injury problems. GM John Lynch's recent statement dismissed the theory.
  • “They hired an independent scientist to come in and study it... I would love to just see what they did. They probably walked in and did nothing. Just took that check from the 49ers.” — Drew Franklin (05:17)

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2. Breaking News: Hard Knocks Teams Revealed (05:52–08:52)

• NFL Hard Knocks Announcement:

  • For the first time since the first season, the defending Super Bowl champion—the Seattle Seahawks—will be featured in this year's Hard Knocks.
  • Next year, the New England Patriots (under Mike Vrabel) will be the team.
  • “And with a plot twist, we already know next year will be the Patriots. So we're getting both teams from the Super Bowl.” — Drew Franklin (07:19)

• Host Reactions & Discussion:

  • Drew is always persuaded by Hard Knocks: “No matter the team, no matter what their previous record was. For some reason, Hard Knocks convinces me that I love them and I want the best for them and that they're going to be good.” (06:24)
  • Billy wonders about personalities and drama, especially with new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel soon.

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3. NFL Coaches Photo: The Ultimate Offseason Ritual (11:14–15:17)

• NFL League Meetings Culture:

  • Discussion of the annual, famously awkward NFL coaches group photo—their poses, clothing choices, and how it reflects their personalities and current fortunes.
    • “You have half of them in the front row sitting down with their hands on their knees, the other half standing behind them with their arms crossed.” — Drew Franklin (11:43)
  • Fashion highlights: Robert Saleh in a hoodie, Andy Reid with a Hawaiian shirt, Liam Coen’s sunglasses, and John Harbaugh’s “white sock, black penny loafer look” (13:29).
  • “You can also kind of tell how these guys feel about their teams. Aaron Glenn looks like he does not want to be there...” — Drew Franklin (13:49)
  • Vrabel gets special attention for his hands-on approach at the Arizona State pro day, in contrast with more staid coaches.

• Player News:

  • Patriots rookie QB Drake May’s “buzz cut” (14:57), recalling Tom Brady’s style and fueling Patriots fans' hopes.

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4. Interview: Eric Kendricks, 49ers Linebacker (16:08–25:54)

A. Return to the NFL, Late-Season Signing, and Playoff Heroics

• On nearly sitting out the season:
  • “No, actually, the people who I was closest to… I feel like maybe they were a little bit more worried than I was.” — Eric Kendricks (16:33)
  • He waited for the right situation after the offseason with Dallas and a slow-developing free agency market.
  • “I just gotta wait. Gotta hold.” (16:59)
• Family pressure:
  • Kendricks’ family and friends wanted him “to show the world what you can do.” (18:24)
• On his mindset:
  • “It’s kind of crazy how it goes full circle, you know, from when I was in college…” (18:26)
• The playoff moment: Breaking up a crucial fourth-down pass vs. the Eagles.
  • “You never know when your moment’s gonna kind of happen…When everyone was asking me after the game, you know, how did it feel? I was like, I should have picked it off…” (19:01)
  • “To be in a position to…help the team that I joined late succeed… in the most crucial part of the game…was just pretty surreal.” (19:25)

B. Minnesota Days & Off-Field Life

• California to Minnesota Culture Shock:

  • “I tell people all the time, you know, I didn’t own a jacket before I moved to Minnesota…I didn’t really know anything about Minnesota…I knew it was cold.” (20:14)
  • Highlighting the shock and the pleasant surprise at the organization’s support and the defensive scheme fitting his style.

• Team Bonding Off the Field:

  • Favorite activity in Minnesota: riding Bird scooters downtown with teammates, “like 16-year-old girls do.” (21:45)
  • “We would all go hang out downtown, we would all ride down the river together…It was really a good time.” — Eric Kendricks (22:09)

C. Car Guy Cred

• Defining “car guy” status:
  • Enjoys working on cars, collecting them, attending car shows, and doing automotive work himself.
  • “I got a whole set of tools…from Harbor Freight…change my own oil…have a lift…” (23:06)
  • “If you’ve played with Legos…some things are intimidating. There’s other things that are really more straightforward.” (24:19)
• Dream car?
  • “R34 Nissan GTR…the one that Paul Walker…jumped over into…It was unattainable…until it’s 25 years old in the United States, which it just turned. So I got one.” (24:22–24:51)

D. What’s Next for Kendricks?

• Looking ahead:
  • “Yeah, you know, I’m, I’m, I feel great…after the Eagles game, I played 71 plays…This is my profession. Like, I’ve been doing this. I do this. Like, I take it seriously.” (25:01)
  • Attributes his longevity to being a “late bloomer”: “That youthfulness kind of just placed in my advantage.” (25:35)
• Light moment:
  • “I will come over and change your air filter if you need to here on Cover Zero.” (25:42)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the infamous Levi’s Stadium substation conspiracy:
  “I would love to just see what they did. They probably walked in and did nothing. Just took that check from the 49ers.” — Drew Franklin (05:17)

• On every year’s Hard Knocks effect:
  “For some reason, Hard Knocks convinces me that I love them and I want the best for them and that they're going to be good.” — Drew Franklin (06:24)

• The NFL Coaches Photo:
  “You can also kind of tell how these guys feel about their teams…It’s almost like you could go through and do your season predictions based on facial expressions.” — Drew Franklin (13:49)

• Kendricks’ car guy energy:
  “I got, I got a whole set of tools set up… I have a lift. I change my own oil.” — Eric Kendricks (23:06)

• On returning to the game:
  “I’m in shape...if I'm sacrificing, you know, certain things on my end...I need to focus on the things that are important to me.” — Eric Kendricks (17:02)

• On his pivotal playoff play:
  “To just in the…most crucial part of the game when I could just, you know, show my ability and my talents, it was just pretty surreal. And, you know, everything happens for a reason.” — Eric Kendricks (19:25)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | | ------------- | ----------------------------------- | | 02:22 | Show open with Drew and Billy; Matt's absence explained | | 03:26 | Teasing the Eric Kendricks interview | | 04:16 | The 49ers “injury conspiracy” & John Lynch’s statement | | 05:52 | Breaking news: Hard Knocks teams revealed | | 06:37 | Hosts discuss their personal dream Hard Knocks teams | | 08:05 | Discussion of past Hard Knocks seasons and NFL docuseries | | 11:14 | NFL Coaches group photo breakdown & offseason rituals | | 14:17 | Mike Vrabel “hands-on” coaching at a pro day | | 15:02 | Discussion of Patriots rookie Drake May’s buzz cut | | 16:08 | Main interview: Eric Kendricks joins | | 19:01 | Kendricks describes his pivotal playoff play | | 20:14 | Kendricks on adjusting to life in Minnesota | | 21:39 | Team scooter rides: humorous bonding stories | | 22:19 | Kendricks the car guy — wrenching & dream cars | | 25:01 | Kendricks discusses future plans and his approach to longevity | | 25:42 | Light close: Kendricks jokes about being available for car maintenance deals |

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Episode Highlights & Tone

• Authentic and humorous: The hosts mix legit football insight with offbeat takes (fashion breakdowns, car jokes, “Johnson Rods,” and more).
• Humanizes athletes: Kendricks shines as a multidimensional person with wit, perseverance, and earthy interests (from the gridiron to the garage).
• News, nostalgia, and nitty-gritty: From latest NFL media announcements to pandemic player comebacks and old school locker room tales.

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For New Listeners

This episode delivers a sharp slice of NFL culture, both quirky and honest—perfect for those who appreciate both the games and the stories in between. For fans craving offseason content, behind-the-scenes peeks, and a real sense of the personalities shaping today’s league, it hits all the right marks.

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Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

NFL Cover 0 with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart PODC.

[Drew Franklin]

Welcome in to a new edition of NFL Cover 0. Drew Franklin here with Billy Rutledge as we continue the look back on that San Francisco trip. Billy it keeps getting farther and farther away on the calendar, but we don't care. We just have more content to put out and we're still smiling.

[Billy Rutledge]

I've got plenty more to talk about and I have not replaced Matt on the show. He's just doing his own thing right now. Just the way that we've lined up these recordings and his vacation time, he will be back. I have not Wally pipped Matt on this podcast yet.

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Not yet.

[Drew Franklin]

You know, we still got a few more to go while Matt's away, but we're having fun time doing these. These short conversations where we hit big news items and set up some of our interviews that lingered from that trip to the Super Bowl. Today we'll have our interview with Eric Kendricks. Played for the 49ers and made one of the plays of the year for the 49ers when he helped seal their victory over the Eagles by breaking up that fourth down pass in the red zone to send them on to the next stage. Didn't reach their ultimate goal, but with a team riddled with injuries, he came in and made a huge play for him and had a big year. And as you'll hear in the. You wasn't sure where his career was heading before this season. So. It's a fun interview, Billy.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah. All pro guy in Minnesota finds a home in San Francisco and makes a difference. That's another cool part of that. We're just talking to all pro players, you know, and then, you know, talked a little bit about being a big car guy. Drew, could you change your own oil if I asked you to?

[Drew Franklin]

I can do anything with YouTube. I'm one of those guys. I fixed a fireplace with YouTube. I've unfortunately had to change my tire more than I wanted. I've had several. Three or four flats, once on the side of the highway. Handled it just fine. Did need help, but oil, I've never given it an attempt. I bet I could figure it out, though. What about you? You a car guy?

[Billy Rutledge]

No, No, I. I will go get it done by somebody else because I'll make the car worse somehow. I'll forget the Johnson Rod or whatever it is.

[Drew Franklin]

Don't forget your Johnson Rod. That's right.

[Billy Rutledge]

But no, it was. It was fun to hear from him. And, you know, we still got a couple more after this, so looking forward to hearing it again.

[Drew Franklin]

That's right. And this one's kind of topical. I don't know if you saw this, but just yesterday, The San Francisco 49ers general manager John lynch came out and they investigated the conspiracies about that substation leading to injuries, which we talked about with Eric Hendricks months ago. It's actually a headline today. Lynch said they looked into it and it's a big nothing burger, that there are no adverse effects on the players by that big electrical substation next to Levi's Stadium. Do you believe him, or is that him just trying to push things away? You know, we just talked about him getting your Boy, Mike Evans. I know you're worried.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, John's my guy. Even though he's. He's taken a legend away from Tampa Bay. Maybe he's covering for the training staff, Drew. I mean, you wouldn't want to just have it be their fault, so, you know, I'm not sure. I guess if he was covering for the training staff, he would have said it was the electrical station's fault.

[Drew Franklin]

But you can't put that out there either. That's a tough spot.

[Billy Rutledge]

So I. I probably the what we expected the answer to be, but nevertheless, there's still something going on in San Francisco with all those injuries.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. They hired an independent scientist to come in and study it and then to see if they contribute to their injuries. I would love to just see what they did. I. They probably walked in and did nothing. Just took that check from the 49ers, like, oh, yeah, good. Keep practicing. You're fine.

[Billy Rutledge]

Just walking a little bit.

[Drew Franklin]

What, does he just knock on the ground? You know, has he got any kind of, you know, like, ghost hunters have those readers walking around checking things?

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah. What was that noise?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

You think he's got something like that?

[Billy Rutledge]

Probably, yeah. I mean, you got to have something. Yeah. Making sure that everything's working fine. Knocking on some things in the facility just to see if it's hollow or not. I could definitely see a ghost hunters reenactment there.

[Drew Franklin]

We also have some kind of breaking news from the NFL came out this morning. Maybe if you're listening to cover zero on March 31, you're hearing it for the first time. But we have our Hard Knocks team, plural, this year.

[Billy Rutledge]

I don't know this, so I'm going to be surprised by this. Who is it, Drew?

[Drew Franklin]

Do you have any guesses or who would you like to see? You know, we've had some fun wins over the year. I'm the kind of person that just whatever the team is, I just fall for them. The jets, that year, I'm like, jets are winning the Super Bowl. They did not win the Super Bowl. Dan Campbell, that's kind of when we all learned about him. He actually did get the Lions going in the right direction, but that was a fun one to watch. No matter the team, no matter what their previous record was. For some reason, Hard Knocks convinces me that I love them and I want the best for them and that they're going to be good.

[Billy Rutledge]

I'd love to see Sean Payton in the Broncos a little bit behind the scenes. You know, Bo, Nick's drama at the end There. I wonder if any of that still lingering. Or you could just go like dumpster fire. Let's see what Todd Monkin and the Browns are doing. Right. DeShawn Watson, is he going to come back? Shadur sanders switching from 12 to 2. There's always going some drama there and some intrigue. Anything that jumps off for you? Anybody? Oh, maybe all the bald coaches in Tennessee now.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. I would love for the Titans to get on there. I would love for the Titans. I drove by the new stadium recently.

[Billy Rutledge]

How's it look?

[Drew Franklin]

Looking beautiful. Looking beautiful. Loving that. But it is not the Titans. It is. Drum roll, please. It's a good drum roll. How about for the first time since the first season of Hard Knocks.

[Billy Rutledge]

Oh.

[Drew Franklin]

The defending super bowl champ will be the team. It is the Seattle Seahawks. And. And with a plot twist, we already know next year will be the Patriots. So we're getting both teams from the Super Bowl. Seattle will be this year. Next year the Patriots. Which is odd in itself because for years Belichick wouldn't even let a. Couldn't even take your phone in there with a camera. And now New England with Variable is going to open the doors. But ahead of us this year will be Seattle. Are you excited to see what's going on with the 12th man and all the fun they're having since winning the Lombardi?

[Billy Rutledge]

Maybe. I mean, hopefully Mike McDonald becomes more of a likable character if we see more of them. You know, how about Kenneth Walker, super bowl mvp leav Seattle to go to Kansas City. That's a big blow for them. But I'm going to have to pull you away from the TV when the Patriots come on and all the Mike Vrabel loving that you'll be doing watching that.

[Drew Franklin]

It'll be weird. It'll be weird. But I'm glad we're getting two good teams. What was it? We had the Bills in season last year. We've had the end seasons and throw me off a little bit. I don't watch those as much as the. As the. The ones with the lead up. It's just really. That music is all I need that gets my juices flowing for football season.

[Billy Rutledge]

The one they did with the Raiders back in the day. It's like the. What, the wind is an autumn breeze or whatever. Yeah, it's.

[Drew Franklin]

It just.

[Billy Rutledge]

It hits. It does. So looking forward to that. And you know, I don't think they're doing the. The prec. What was it the one with the GM and the Giants. I don't think they decided to do that again.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I think that might have been the in season version. I didn't watch that one live, but a lot of clips came out from that where they had some pretty horrible takes about their future and those backfired.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, I hope Saquon doesn't go to the Eagles. Well,

[Eric Kendricks]

yeah,

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[Drew Franklin]

We also before we throw this Eric Hendricks interview, we also had what everybody loves in the offseason. You know, people think Kanban, they think draft off season Moves free agency now. A lot of people just want to see the coaches photo from the league meetings. And you know, I know we're a podcast, we can't do visuals, but that came out yesterday. For everyone that doesn't know, they all meet up somewhere in Florida, right? Looks like Florida. I should.

[Billy Rutledge]

No at the. Arizona.

[Drew Franklin]

Arizona.

[Billy Rutledge]

Arizona is where they were at.

[Drew Franklin]

I just saw a lot of sunshine in guest. Florida, Arizona, even better. But all the coaches get together. They do meeting things. They complain about tush pushes. They probably talk about each other. Some probably have to be separated. But they all get together and do that awkward photo where you have half of them in the front row sitting down with their hands on their knees, the other half standing behind them with their arms crossed. And that came out yesterday. You mentioned Robert Sala, my guy rocking a hoodie. I love it. I don't know why. Casual like it. Love, love that he's rocking the hoodie and he's back in this team photo. You know, he's there with Jets a few years ago. Now he's back involved. Andy Reid got the little pattern, kind of a Hawaiian type shirt. Least surprising piece of casual.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Least surprising wardrobe of all of it. But it's always fun watching these guys get together and take this awkward photo. It is.

[Billy Rutledge]

I mean, you've even got Liam Cohen looking cool over there on the side and the sunglasses T shirt combo.

[Drew Franklin]

Only person in the entire photo wearing

[Billy Rutledge]

sunglasses and looks a little bit. A little space between him and Mike McCarthy. I think he's kind of doing his own thing, the trailblazer that he is. I look at the other side of the photo, I see Clint Kubiak's calf muscles over there.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, wow.

[Billy Rutledge]

Do you see that?

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, I do now. Now that you're pointing it out.

[Billy Rutledge]

I mean, those pants are tight, but he's got some. The leg muscles to do it. Also, Joe Brady. Look how big he is compared to Mike LaFleur, the new Arizona Cardinals coach. Like Joe Brady, like middle right there. I mean, he, he looks. Looks like it's a big boy over there.

[Drew Franklin]

That Sirianni looks like he's either weight or cheesesteaks. Looks a little big and front and center. Do the do. Do the Harbaughs get to pick? Because I feel like it's a, it's a big spot being the middle seat, you know, like right there, front and center. I would have maybe guessed Andy Reid. He's probably the longest tenured. I guess John Harbaugh is probably close, but you got Jim and John right there. In the front.

[Billy Rutledge]

I lied.

[Drew Franklin]

Jim's got on sunglasses. He and Liam Cohen are the two. But the Harbaughs get center stage.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, I was looking at John's shoes. He's got kind of like the white sock, black penny loafer look going on right now. So everybody's got their own unique style. Andy Reid, I think is my favorite out of this one though, with the Hawaiian shirt. But Mike McCarthy over there looking sharp with his button down too. I don't know how he's going to do in Pittsburgh, Drew. I just don't know how that's going to work.

[Drew Franklin]

You can also kind of tell how these guys feel about their teams. Aaron Glenn looks like he does not want to be there over there on the far end. Good point. The guys that are smiling like Sean Payton, who just had a good run with the Broncos. Mike Vrabel, it's almost like you could go through and do your season predictions based on facial expressions.

[Billy Rutledge]

Did you see Vrabel putting guys through workouts recently or. He is. I mean, he's putting his hands on these guys. Can all these coaches get that same evaluation like Rabel can? It just seems like the right guy for the job.

[Drew Franklin]

I miss him so much. This came out. He went to Arizona State's pro day and he just gets down on the three point stance and he's just hitting their draft prospect whose name I do not know. But I mean, you know, the, the offensive lineman's kind of got a whole of variable shirt and his shirts pulling up a little bit and you know, he's just in there. Other coaches are on the sideline with their arms crossed and taking notes and variables like, no, I want to get in there and hit him.

[Billy Rutledge]

I'm worried about his ve like is he could get his hand under his vest and that could rip. I just don't see like Zach Taylor doing something like that, you know, so that's just unique.

[Drew Franklin]

Mike Rabel, I miss him so much.

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, you know, don't worry. You'll get him on Hard Knocks in a couple years here. And I mean, I don't see the Patriots going away anytime soon.

[Drew Franklin]

No, unfortunately not. Drake May shaved his head. That's big news. You know, Tom Brady went with the buzz cut one year.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

So Patriots fan. I know they're trying to speak Drake May into existence as being the next Tom Brady, but he went and did the full buzz like Tom did. So maybe even he's leaning into it.

[Billy Rutledge]

But that's a good sign. That' like a no nonsense. Not dealing with the outside noise. I'm only worried about football. Kind of cut, you know.

[Drew Franklin]

That's right. And we're only worried about football here on NFL Cover Zero. Yes. And up next is Eric Hendricks. You mentioned fixing his own cars. We talked about the. The big season the 49ers have with his big play and the injuries they had. But he really, you know, had the highs of his career and thought he was on the way out and then found new life in San Francisco. So it was fun talking to him and seeing him at the Super Bowl.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, absolutely. And somebody that, you know, joined San Francisco late into the year and then made a big impact. So looking forward to hearing this again.

[Drew Franklin]

Played min Minnesota a little bit. We'll have that up for you next. After that, we'll have Justin Reed next week. And we're still counting down to my favorite maybe of all of them, Orlando Brown from the Bengals. We're saving him from the end. He goes into so much about Joe Burrow and the fossils and the samurai swords and the fun they have in Cincinnati. So we're excited about all of these. But up next on this episode is Eric kendricks of the 49ers. Enjoy.

[Matt Jones]

All right, happy to be joined now from the this year 49ers, Eric Kendricks, who. What an exceptional story this year, by the way. Looked like you weren't going to play. You joined the 49ers at the end of the year and then made big play in the playoffs. That had to be an awesome. Well, first of all, did you feel like midway through the year you were going to play this season?

[Eric Kendricks]

No, actually, the people who I was closest to there, they kind of. I feel like maybe they were a little bit more worried than I was probably.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, they felt like you'd been away so long, they were just kind of. Your bones were too creaky.

[Eric Kendricks]

They were just kind of like, so are you gonna play? Or like, is that, you know. Or are you gonna get off the couch? Are you gonna. You're working out really hard. So, like, what, are you gonna put it to use? Like, what? Go. You know, got kind of showing me off, you know, go. Go do something. And I was like, you know, I just gotta. I just gotta wait. Gotta hold.

[Matt Jones]

Were you waiting, like, for the right situation? Is that what it was?

[Eric Kendricks]

Definitely. I feel like, you know, once this. The season kind of started and kind of things didn't work out how I thought they were going to be in the off season this past year, especially after the last season with Dallas, I kind of was like, you know what? Let me just wait and maybe someone, you know, a position will open up where they need me, and I could fill in. I'm ready to go. I'm in shape. But then, you know, as the season progressed, it was kind of like, okay, if I'm sacrificing, you know, certain things on my end, you know what I mean? I need to focus on the things that are important to me, you know,

[Matt Jones]

but we're family and friends. Like, we need you to get out of the house. Like, you're. You're starting to, like, you know, you're sticking up the place we need you to go actually, and get a job.

[Eric Kendricks]

I just think that is more. I think it was more of the fact that they just knew that I. You. They know what I'm capable of, and they've kind of watched me very closely. I know that a lot of people, you know, are thinking, oh, man, this guy was. Wasn't even playing. And then he just comes into the game and he. And he balls out, and it's like, really, like, no, I've actually really been playing. Well, I mean, in my. I mean, obviously, you know, you. I want to see myself do better as a competitor. I can always do better. But I really had 10 years of straight, consistent work at linebacker, so they knew what I'm capable of. They know how. How healthy I was. They knew how hard I worked to get back from my shoulder surgery. So they were just kind of eager themselves to be like, nah, man. Like, I. Trust me, you still got it. Like, you need to get back out there. You need to show the world what you can do. So they were just more. They just wanted it for me, you

[Matt Jones]

know, like, more than even you wanted you for yourself.

[Eric Kendricks]

Yeah, because they just knew that people were kind of counting me out again and, you know, like, it's kind of crazy how it goes full circle, you know, from when I was in college, it seemed like. But I think they were just eager to be like, no, we want you. We want to. She wants you to show the world that you still got it.

[Drew Franklin]

Eric gonna tell on us here. Not a lot of athletic accomplishments between the three of us.

[Matt Jones]

That's not true. I won seventh grade golf tournament.

[Drew Franklin]

Let's remember big moments moment. Explain to me the feeling on that fourth down stop in the playoffs to clinch that game, knowing you're moving on. What. What goes through. Is it just an instant relief when you all get that stop and you being the big part of it?

[Eric Kendricks]

I mean, it's crazy how you never know when Your moment's gonna kind of happen, to be honest with you. When everyone was asking me after the game, you know, man, how did it feel? I was like, I should have picked it off. I mean, I got. I got Stafford, I got, you know, I got Tom Brady, I got Russell Wilson, I got a couple, you know, super bowl quarterbacks. I'm like, I gotta get. I had to get a Jalen Hurts ball. I'm kind of pissed about that still. So, you know, it's kind of a

[Matt Jones]

murderous row of interceptions there.

[Eric Kendricks]

I just feel like, you know, to be in a position to, like, not only, you know, help. Help the team that I joined late succeed, but to just in the. In the. In the most crucial part of the game when I could just, you know, show my ability and my talents, it was just pretty surreal. And, you know, everything happens for a reason.

[Billy Rutledge]

Eric, you were born in California, you played in college at ucla, and then you're drafted and you play eight to nine years in Minnesota. Like, is there, like, was there any part of you that you're. You're feeling, you're living your dream, but you're also in Minnesota. Get a little cold out there for you.

[Matt Jones]

Why you gotta hate on Minnesota?

[Billy Rutledge]

Freezing up there.

[Drew Franklin]

It's a beautiful place. It's cold.

[Eric Kendricks]

I tell people all the time, you know, I didn't own a jacket before I moved to Minnesota. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know that there was a city. I didn't really know anything about Minnesota. I knew it was cold and I knew that it was on a different part of the. Different part of the coast. And I'm, you know, not on any coast, actually, but, you know, a different part of the earth than I'm used to being on. So it completely exceeded all my expectations as far as, you know, organization and just joining the team early and being able to contribute and the defense fit, you know, my style of play and, you know, just all the. All the things that are. That are great for a young rookie to come in at a linebacker and have success, they were.

[Matt Jones]

They were there for. What did you do? Like, what do you do off the field in Minneapolis? Like. Like what? Like, what's, you know, if you're in Miami, you go to south beach, right? If you're in la, maybe you go to the beach. What are you doing in Minnesota when things aren't going well, aren't playing football?

[Eric Kendricks]

To be honest with you, during the season, you're really kind of locked in. No matter where you are. You may. You may Go out a little bit, you know, on, on a day off or you may, you know, enjoy a dinner in the town or, you know, try to have a little team camaraderie somewhere. But for the most part, everyone's really super locked in and focused for those six months or so. But in the off seasons, you know, when it was a lot nicer weather there, what I, One of my favorite things to do was get a bunch of the guys and we used to get bird scooters and kind of just ride down the river in downtown. The Mississippi river in downtown Minneapolis. We used to ride up and down.

[Matt Jones]

So you're telling me the Minnesota Vikings in their free time do the same thing like 16 year old girls do?

[Eric Kendricks]

Scooters around the Neil Hunter. I'm talking about like, you know, big dudes. Wilson. We were all just rolling down and people would recognize us. We were kind of just like, all right, see you, you know, but we would, we would all, you know, work out in the, in the like OTAs, you know, many. We would all be working out in the morning, we'd be done by 12. We would all go hang out downtown, we would all ride down the river together, we would all come back, eat dinner. It was, it was, it was really a good time.

[Matt Jones]

Now I, if I understand correctly, you're a car guy, right? So is that, do you own a bunch of cars? You like to work on them? Are you a NASCAR fan? Like, what does that mean, that you're a car guy?

[Eric Kendricks]

A little bit of everything. You know, I was more of a NASCAR fan when I was a kid. I, I just watched more, more sports in general as a kid. I don't really. I, I feel like I kind of fell off as I got into my profession as this became my job. I watch more game film now. But that being said, you know, I enjoy working on cars. I enjoy collecting cars, I enjoy going to car shows. I enjoy bringing my, you know, so

[Matt Jones]

you can, you could like change an alternator?

[Eric Kendricks]

I mean, I mean, I can if I just like watch a little YouTube video, you know, like if.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, you got the wrench for sure.

[Eric Kendricks]

I got, I got, I got a whole set of set of tools set up. The Harbor Freight, you know, the Harbor Freight hooked me up with a tool set. I have a whole set of tools and you know, I think, I mean, what. I did something recently that I like the other day that I do.

[Matt Jones]

You have the thing like where you like, you lay on it and you scoot under the car.

[Eric Kendricks]

Yeah, I have all I Have everything

[Matt Jones]

you got all that I got.

[Eric Kendricks]

I got a lift. You know, you have your own. I change my own oil. You know, most of you change your own oil. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Look at you.

[Eric Kendricks]

There's a, there's, there's sometimes where the oil filter is too. And I don't want to get my garage message messy. So I'll be like, I'm not going to change that oil filter.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Eric Kendricks]

So to speak.

[Matt Jones]

In my GTR when I was, when I was growing up, my stepdad kept all his oil. When he changed it, he keep the used oil in, in two liter Coke bottles.

[Eric Kendricks]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And it was. What do you do with it?

[Eric Kendricks]

You gotta turn it in.

[Matt Jones]

So you go like drive it down and recycle it. Look at this guy.

[Eric Kendricks]

I mean there's some things on a car that like. I mean, I just changed. Oh, I have a, I have a 2022 Cadillac Black Wing and, and my oil filled my, my. Not my oil filled my engine. My engine air filter. The light came on and you know, you take it to the shop. Probably, probably cost you like 600. I literally, I literally pulled up to Cadillac like, I'm like, oh, Cadillac dealership. Pulled up to the Cadillac, went to the parts department. They, the lady gave me a discount on the part. So the part was 160 bucks. She gave me a hundred dollar part. I went into my garage and I changed the oil filter in. Look at this, 15 minutes. I mean it was a hundred dollars. I mean it was really not that like if you've played with Legos, if you've done this, like there's some things on the car where it's very. There's some things that are intimidating. There's other things that are really more straightforward.

[Drew Franklin]

Do you have a dream car, like a favorite car? Maybe you already have it.

[Eric Kendricks]

I got a thousand dream cars. But I mean one of the dream cars that I have was the R34, like the, the Nissan GTR, the one that Paul Walker, you know, jumped over into when you got air over, you know, the Dominican. You know, I remember that when I remember watching that movie as a kid and you hear the ludicrous song playing and you hear, you see Paul Walker with the blue glow underneath and he's sliding through traffic. I thought that was so cool. And it was a Japanese car. It was unattainable. And until it's 25 years old in the United States, which it just turned. So I got one.

[Matt Jones]

You got, you got one?

[Eric Kendricks]

I have one.

[Drew Franklin]

You hit the NOS button and I

[Eric Kendricks]

don't have any nas. It's pretty stock for the most part.

[Matt Jones]

So what are we doing next year? Are you, you planning on coming back?

[Eric Kendricks]

Yeah, you know, I'm, I'm, I feel great. You know, I take, I take extreme pride in taking care of my body. You know, I feel like after the Eagles game, I played 71 plays, and they kind of were like, how do you feel? Like, you know, you kind of just jumped in there and played a whole game. And I was like, hey, listen, this is my profession. Like, I've been doing this. I do this. Like, I take it seriously. I feel great. And on top of that, like, I feel like in high school, I was always like, Like a late bloomer. College, I was a late bloomer. And I, I just feel like that kind of like, that youthful, that youthfulness kind of just placed in my place, in my advantage.

[Matt Jones]

Get some Metamucil. Get yourself. Get those bones worked up, and I look forward to seeing you next year.

[Eric Kendricks]

I appreciate it.

[Matt Jones]

All right, there you go. Eric Kendrick's car aficionado. And also, he will come over and change your air filter if you need to here on Cover 0.

[Eric Kendricks]

I'm going to charge less in the dealership, but I, I, I can make a deal with you if you want.

[Matt Jones]

Go to task Rabbit and see Eric now.

[Drew Franklin]

All right, that was NFL Cover 0's interview with Eric Kendrick at the super bowl in San Francisco. Loved meeting him. Had a great time talking to him. Learned about cars, maybe. Billy, do you think after all that, you can go try to change your own oil if you had to? No. No, still not trying. Nothing in the last 30 minutes made you change your mind?

[Billy Rutledge]

No, I'm kind of going the other way. Like, I think my next car is a Tesla. I don't even want to drive. Like, you know, I'm done with that. I, I think that, you know, a hundred years from now, we probably treat cars like we do horses today, where it's like, you know, kind of do your own thing, go on a track.

[Drew Franklin]

Horses. Yeah, that's the comparison. We're. We're going backwards. I did not think you were going to say horses there. I was with you on your point. I thought we're going to be more like the Jetsons, and we just get in something and.

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, no, I'm saying, like, nobody uses horses today, so I don't think many people will use cars.

[Drew Franklin]

I thought you were saying we're going towards horses. You're saying our current automobile, my Toyota Highlander right now that's about to turn 11 will be like a horse. Exactly.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yes. And we will, you know, we'll just be. The cars will drive us to the destination. I don't know. But Jetson's future may be after that.

[Drew Franklin]

Yep. Well, after this next week, we'll be back for more of this banter on the latest news. Might have Matt, might be me and Billy again. Whatever the case, we'll have Justin Reed in that conversation from the super bowl as we continue on in the off season with NFL Cover Zero. Thanks for listening.

[Matt Jones]

NFL Cover 0 with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcast. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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