Best of NFL News Part 2: Bears GM Ryan Poles CALLING OUT the NFL for MINORITY rules, NOTHING but the BENCH waiting on Anthony Richardson next season

Summary

Nightcap Podcast – Best of NFL News Part 2

Hosts: Shannon Sharpe (“Unc”), Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson (“Ocho”), special guest “Joe”
Date: February 28, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively, unfiltered, and often humorous episode, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson tackle major NFL headlines, from the struggles and uncertain future of quarterback Anthony Richardson to Bears GM Ryan Poles’ pointed comments about the NFL’s minority hiring incentives. Along the way, they riff on league culture, memorable player journeys, contract controversies, injuries, and locker room dynamics—intertwined with personal stories, fitness talk, and classic athlete banter. The tone is candid, insightful, often playful, and occasionally poignant.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Anthony Richardson’s NFL Future

[03:11–13:52]

• The Colts have given Anthony Richardson Sr. permission to seek a trade after injuries and locker room concerns led to a tumultuous stint.
• Richardson’s stats: 15 starts, 11 TDs, 13 INTs; dealt with shoulder surgery, fractured orbital bone, and vision issues.
• Richardson expected to be replaced by Daniel Jones and draft pick Riley Leonard.
• Sharpe’s Take: Richardson’s off-field habits and lack of commitment (“first one out, last one in”) strained his standing as a franchise QB.

"You think you can be the last one in the building and the first one out... You can't do that in the NFL... They gonna get you up out of there." (Sharpe, 06:31)

• Both hosts emphasize the importance of professionalism and leadership as a young QB.
• Analogies to “projects” and fixer-uppers: Teams want instant results, have little patience for player development.
• On the Market: The hosts agree Richardson won’t garner a 1st round pick—likely a 4th at most.
• Advice: Sharpe comments on the need for personal growth:

"Sometimes... you have to go through something to really appreciate it." (Sharpe, 07:43)

Memorable Quote:

"All that stuff does not equate to playing the quarterback position... What good is that [a 40-inch vertical] gonna do me? Unless he at the one yard line going over the top like Walter Payton." (Sharpe, 08:44)

---

2. Aaron Glenn’s “Nap” at the Combine

[13:56–18:08]

• Jets’ head coach Aaron Glenn was caught appearing to nap during the combine’s 40-yard dash drills, causing social media buzz.
• Ocho’s Defense: Not a big deal; head coaches have long, exhausting days—delegation and teamwork make a difference.

"He took an extended blink. I don't think it's a big deal." (Ocho, 14:20)

• Reminder that the combine is a marathon and that fatigue is human.

---

3. Bears GM Ryan Poles Questions NFL’s Minority Hiring Incentives

[23:13–30:04]

• The NFL awards teams two 3rd-round picks when minority staff are hired away for GM or head coach jobs.
• Ryan Poles (audio clip): Finds it "a little strange" to be compensated for hiring minorities, suggests opportunities shouldn't require incentives.

"At the end of the day, you should want to develop your staff regardless of the color of their skin." (Poles, 23:29)

• Sharpe’s Take: The need for incentives is a sign of systemic reluctance to hire minorities; situation unchanged despite rules.

"You have to incentivize teams with picks in the draft just to hire minorities...And the fact that they have to do that in 2026 tells you all you need to know." (Sharpe, 24:03)

• Discussion on the “familiarity bias” in coaching hires, the lack of Black offensive coordinators, and short leashes/minimal opportunities for Black head coaches.

"Most of the time, when you see coordinators, black coordinators, they're on the defensive side. There are not a handful of black offensive coordinators." (Ocho, 30:04)

• Byron Leftwich’s Plight: Called plays for a Super Bowl team, couldn’t get a head coaching job. Contrasts with White coaches getting jobs without comparable experience.
• Pointed Irony: Even celebrated Black coaches are handed “bad jobs” or placed in unfavorable situations.

Memorable Moments:

• Sharpe likens the “best man for the job” trope to the meritocracy of playing: “In sports, you can find out who the best man for the job [is].” (Sharpe, 32:20)
• Ocho’s weary realism: “But Uncle Joe, the point of fighting for a spot where people don’t even want you there, it makes absolutely no sense—because when they do put you there, they’re going to put you in situations that aren’t good for you.” (Ocho, 28:00)

---

4. NFL Contracts & Kicker Market

[51:51–54:13]

• Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey is seeking a contract north of $10 million/year—would make him highest-paid in NFL.
• Ocho’s Take: Aubrey (and a select few) have elite range and accuracy, justifying a market reset.

"My best friend...he should get 11. He gonna get...He should get [it]." (Ocho, 52:41)

• Not every kicker can command that value; only 2–3 have that combination of distance and consistency.

---

5. Player Health, Injuries, and Life After Football

[54:13–65:34]

• The hosts share candid stories about football’s physical toll: meniscus tears, knee surgeries, and post-career rehab.
• Sharpe describes struggling with stairs and the hard decisions about surgery, using humor and “old man” banter to lighten the conversation.
• The grind: from eating regimens to training routines—athlete life extends far beyond the playing field.

"I didn't owe the game nothing, and the game didn't owe me nothing. Now, the game took a lot from me, but it gave me a lot, too." (Sharpe, 65:09)

• Ocho prides himself on escaping major surgery (“damn near 50 years old”).

---

6. Locker Room Culture, Athlete Banter & Life Lessons

Scattered Throughout

• Classic athlete one-upmanship: who’s the best athlete, who lifts more, running contests.
• Locker room stories: rookies being put on injured reserve, the old school vs. new school mentality.
• On Commitment:

"You got to win something first, bro. You can't be trying to get in all the commercials and you ain't won nothing." (Sharpe, 13:37)

• On Opportunity:

"You don't know what a person can or can't do if you don't give them an opportunity." (Sharpe, 25:54)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Shannon on QB professionalism:
  “You think you can take yourself out of the game, and that’s just gonna be okay…You can, but they gonna get you up out of there.” ([06:31])
• Ocho on combine naps:
  "I don't call them naps. I call a quick little blink. Yeah, he took an extended blink." ([14:20])
• Ryan Poles on minority incentives:
  "To be compensated for [hiring minorities], that's a little strange…I saw the Chiefs get a pick because of me, and then I watched that player go and play." ([23:29])
• Sharpe on systemic bias:
  "And the fact that they have to do that in 2026 tells you all you need to know." ([24:03])
• Sharpe on opportunity:
  “You don’t know what a person can or can't do if you don’t give them an opportunity.” ([25:54])
• Ocho on being the “best athlete”:
  "Actually, I’m the best athlete out of us three." ([67:06])

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Anthony Richardson saga: 03:11–13:52
• Aaron Glenn combine nap: 13:56–18:08
• Ryan Poles / NFL minority rules: 23:13–30:04
• Kicker contract talk: 51:51–54:13
• Injuries & life after football: 54:13–65:34

---

Overall Tone

The banter is real and raw—equal parts analysis, story-sharing, and camaraderie. There’s frustration with NFL hiring practices, hope for struggling players, and acceptance of the physical sacrifices of football. The episode weaves serious topics with locker-room laughter, staying relatable yet insightful throughout.

---

Summary

This “Nightcap” episode offers an unfiltered window into today’s NFL with sharp analysis and the unmistakable voice of guys who’ve lived the sport’s highest highs and lowest lows. Whether discussing why minority coaches are still boxed out, how talent gets squandered, or what makes a kicker worth eight figures, Shannon and Ocho keep it grounded, real, and just a little bit wild—making it a must-listen for NFL fans and culture watchers alike.

Transcript

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[A]

Ocho the Colts have given Anthony Richardson senior permission to seek a trade, his agent told ESPN. The former 2023 fourth overall pick has made 15 starts for the Colts, throwing 11 touchdowns, 13 interceptions while battling a string of injuries, including a shoulder surgery, a fractured orbital bone and and vision issues. Following the procedure, the Colts are expected to move forward this year with Daniel Jones and 2025 draft pick Riley Leonard at one and two. Oo.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

What you think. What do you think Anthony Richardson ends up?

[H]

Oh, that's. That's a good question. That's a good question. I mean, what, what teams are willing to, to develop Anthony Richardson and, and allow him to, to be a backup? I mean, that, that's, that's. That's the part I don't know. I'm sure there's someone, some team that might give him a chance, but that's, that's tough. That's tough. You understand the quarterback position, It's a premium position.

[A]

Yep.

[H]

And it's, it's very, very important. So. I, I'm not sure. I mean, your guess is as good as mine. Who's willing to give him a chance. That. That's the only thing.

[A]

And you might have to go be a backup for a couple of years, you know what I'm saying? Because we look at Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold left. He went to Carolina. That wasn't a great situation for him. Remember Ocho, he went to San Fran before he went to Minnesota.

[I]

Yeah.

[A]

And he said it was there where he learned how to play the quarterback position. Yes. So now he goes to Minnesota Parlays, that plays really well, goes to the Pro bowl, and boom. That wasn't enough to convince the, the Vikes to keep him. He goes to Seattle in the next year, he wins the Super Bowl.

[H]

Damn, man. That's.

[A]

I think a lot of it's Going to be contingent on Ocho. How much do I have to give up for Anthony Richardson? I mean, the best you can probably hope for is the fourth round pick, right? You're not getting the first. The top five pick, and three years later, you getting up off him. Four years later, you're getting up off him o fourth round.

[H]

He had the Colts, you know, he had the Colts right in the. In the palm of his hand. Huh. You know, I mean, he kind of forced their hand in a sense, with some of the issues that were going on internally that we didn't know about. Obviously, I've heard about him and obviously his play on the field, like. And then Daniel Jones comes in and takes the team that we thought there were issues. And look at. Look how things turn around.

[A]

Ocho, when you had the conversation, I said, this is gonna be an issue. And everybody jumped on us, man. Uncle, you old school, man. Let that man live. Let him breathe. I said, guys, you don't understand how locker room works. Yeah. You can't do some of the things that he's doing. I'm not. Look, I don't want to beat the young man up, but I'm just telling you the mindset. They paid this man a lot of money, and you think that you can be the last one in the building and the first one out. You think you can take yourself out of the game, and that's just gonna be okay. See, I think you guys are looking at it from. You not looking at it from a team perspective. You're not looking at. From a competitive perspective. Okay. You work a regular job, Ocho, you know, hey, well, hey, I'm tired. I ain't going into work today or I'm.

[I]

Yeah, I got.

[A]

I'm gonna. I'm gonna leave work. You can't do that in the NFL.

[H]

You can't.

[A]

Yeah, because you. You can, but they gonna get you up out of there.

[H]

Yeah.

[A]

Don't get you up out of there. It's really that simple, Ocho. It's really that simple.

[H]

Yeah.

[A]

And the mere fact, Ocho, you a rookie and having a team meeting to have to talk to you. I've never.

[H]

I.

[A]

Honestly, Ocho, I've never heard that before.

[H]

Right.

[A]

You played a long time. I played a long time. And we stayed around the game. I've never heard of a team having to have a meeting to talk to a rookie.

[H]

Not. Not that position. And a quarterback not at that position. No, absolutely not. That's the one position you shouldn't have to worry about. You shouldn't have to worry about.

[A]

No, but you can't. Everybody can be replaced, right? You just hope it comes later than sooner.

[I]

Sooner.

[A]

Yeah, but they will. They'll eat that money. Whatever they gave him 30 million guarantee they'll eat that and write it off.

[H]

Absolutely.

[A]

We've them teams they take on 80 million, 100 million dead cap.

[H]

They don't care.

[A]

They don't care.

[H]

They don't care.

[A]

They don't. Hopefully he bounces back and. And gets an opportunity. Sometimes Ocho, you have to, you know, you have to go through something to. To really appreciate it. I think he really appreciates the game of football. Now. He dealt with some injuries, the shoulder injury, the. You know, the freak accident with the band pops him in his eye fractures oral and he has a vision issues after that. I think his. His agent said everything division is, is healthy, is healed now, everything is good to go. But maybe this is the wake up call that he needed. I sure hope so. Yeah, I sure hope so. I think he got put in. He got put in a bad situation. I thought he was a project coming out, watching him at Florida. Yeah, yeah, I understand all the measure with Oo you talking about somebody 6465, 245 running 44, can throw the ball standing long jump, all vert. All of that.

[C]

That's a great.

[A]

All that stuff does not equate to playing the quarterback position.

[H]

Yeah, that's a great estimate.

[A]

Who cares? Let me ask you a question. What are you gonna be doing? Is Superman jumping over the top? Right now? If you go, if you got a something like the tush push with where Jalen hurts, 600 pound squat comes into effect. Right. For the quarterback with a 40 inch vertical. What good is that gonna do me? Unless he at the one yard line going over the top like Walter Payton. Right? You're right.

[H]

Right. But listen, that was a good project to have based on the measurables that it was a great project to have. It just. I don't think they oo. I can't say they didn't give them time to develop because they did their due diligence.

[A]

Let me ask you a question.

[H]

Yeah.

[A]

They still fix it on your grandma house? When you asked Chauncey, did you put Chauncey up? You couldn't move right back in there, could you?

[H]

Nah.

[A]

Cause it was a project. You see, he was a project and they tried to get into play right away.

[H]

Right.

[A]

You didn't develop it. So now if you take time, possibly develop him the right way. You said he was a project. Everybody Said he was a project.

[H]

Yeah, they ain't got that kind of patience, though.

[A]

Well, you should have left him alone.

[H]

Hey, they don't have that kind of patience.

[A]

We should left him alone. Yeah, if it Ocho, I get a car. Ocho, this is a fixer upper. What I look like trying to drive it when it put me downside the road on the interstate, and I'm mad. Man, this man, Ocho, this mofo put me downside the road.

[I]

Well.

[A]

Oh, you said it was a fixer upper.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So that means you got to take time to fix it up. He's a project. That means you gotta invest time in him to get him up to par.

[H]

But they can invest time because the longer you wait. You understand what's coming up soon after that third year?

[A]

I do. Boy, they ain't let Patrick Mahomes play his first year. He damn sure could wait.

[H]

Yeah,

[A]

You moved him up. I. It's hard for me to see a scenario, Ocho. Now, I don't know and, and. And who. I forget who was in front of him, but it's hard for me to believe based on what he was when he actually got in the game. He had shown you enough in training camp and minicamps and OTAs, right? Yeah. This guy deserves to start right now. It's just hard for me to see that scenario. And so when I look at it like that, they didn't do him. They didn't do him any favors. And. And he didn't do himself any favors. Yeah, you got it. That position, you got to know everything front wasn't backwards. Every position, you got to know what you're doing. You got to know what everybody on, off. You got to know the offensive line, man. Hey, look at man supposed to be going real, but the man lives this. And let's throw hot. Let's throw hot at the guy coming in my face, not the guy that's going to drill me in the back. Not only do you got to know what pause. Not only do you got to know what you have to do. Not only do you have to know what the quarterback. You have to do what, what the entire offense. You better know what that defense doing.

[H]

Oh, yeah, you got to.

[A]

You better know what they doing, Ocho.

[H]

You got to.

[A]

But I just hope the young man. I hope the young man finds a home. Somebody have some patience and. And he develops that. Somebody develops him. But see, the problem is Ocho, is that if I trade for him, I got to take the contract.

[H]

Yeah,

[A]

I like him. I ain't in Love with him. I like it. I mean, man, man, I, Man, I like. Man, I like this outfit. If it was 500 cheaper. I like the quarterback, Ocho. If I could get him at minimum, so. But I think, I think the first, like the first fight, the contracts are guaranteed, so.

[H]

Yeah. Yep. It is what it is. I wish, I wish him the best, though. I hope he finds somewhere, you know, where he can develop and what he has to do is he has to make football his number one priority. I don't think football was his number one priority. It wasn't. From what I'm hearing, it wasn't. He has his other passions, and he's putting those other passions before the game of football.

[A]

Not when you young coming in get you. About to get you about 10 years in the league. Yeah. Then, Tommy, if you go back and look at most of these guys, they ain't really do nothing till they were really, really established.

[I]

Right.

[A]

You got to win something first, bro. You can't be trying to get in all the commercials and you ain't won nothing. Right. I get it. You know, everybody. Oh, man, you man, gotta have something, man. You gotta do something. You can't be football 24 7. Well, if you play that position and you want to be good at it, it better be.

[H]

And everything, everything else will take care of itself after that.

[A]

There you go. The NFL Network cameras captured Aaron Glenn, the Jets head coach after three and 14 rookie season, appearing to nap as prospects like Texas Tech. David bailey ran the 40 yard dashes. This obviously went viral. Ocho, is this a big deal or no? I mean, they make it a big deal, huh? They gonna make it a big deal?

[H]

Yeah, I mean, they gonna make it a big deal. I mean, Mr. Glenn. Mr. Glenn was obviously, obviously sleepy. Try to, you know, try to. I don't call them naps. I call a quick little blink. Yeah, he took an extended blink. I don't think it's a big deal. Obviously, it's not just you there as a head coach. Obviously you have a team of people there to let you know if there's anything that you. You're doing your homework, you have scouts are for. I mean, yeah, you. You have everybody you need to there. So I'm. I'm sure people will make it a big deal because you are the head coach. Honestly, it's really not. Man, get. Get your. Get you a little nap in whatever it may be. It's a long day. You've had a long day. People don't know what goes in and entails in. In Being a head coach and all the hours that they put in, the stress around draft time.

[A]

You up early, long time. Cause you got your ME you probably got your. Your meeting with your staff before you head over there. So they probably up at the crack of dawn. They got meetings with players. You know, you get your players that you want to talk to, okay, Have a conversation with them for the most part, they're not gonna be like, time. Because, you know, you have meetings, obviously time's gonna come off the board. Yeah, time go. They call the Giants call time in there. Time sitting down, he looking around. He like, hold on. What y' all pick? We pick 15. He's like, no, I ain't gonna even be there.

[D]

Hey, what.

[H]

What pick? The prime. Where the time go?

[A]

Pride with five.

[H]

Okay.

[A]

Pride with five.

[H]

Well, hold on. Who the hell went in front of him?

[A]

Troy Aikman.

[H]

Okay.

[A]

Tony Manderich. Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas. Prime.

[H]

Okay, Understandable, understandable, understandable.

[A]

Because they got. Because they got. Yeah. Four of the first five in the hall. Yeah. Yeah.

[H]

Hey, Tony Mandarich. What happened?

[A]

Oh, broderick thomas.

[G]

Yes.

[A]

Can you name the guys that went after. After prime? Hold on. Where did they go? I know, brother. He went to Tampa. Steelers. Steelers. Who went to the Steelers?

[H]

What year was that draft?

[A]

89.

[H]

Oh, God damn.

[A]

Okay, give me the next day. I'll come back. The chargers. The chargers. Char. Burt grossman. Yes. Miami dolphin.

[H]

Oh, but.

[A]

Oh, rich. Oh, no, no, no. Rich was. Came out my draft. Reb. Came out my draft. The dolphins. Not sweet lou oliver. Did he. Oh, sammy. Florida state. You remember sammy smith? I played with sammy. He ended up. We ended up swapping. Trading bobby humphrey for sammy smith. Sammy ain't want to do number play, tonk.

[H]

Oh, I ate. Who else ate at 89? Draft went to cleveland.

[A]

Yeah, the steelers. Okay. They took tim worley and lars tate. Where did lars tate go? Did lars tate go to tampa or do with. Because all them was in the same backfield. Tim Worley, Lars Tate, Rodney Hampton, Hamp. Came out my draft went to the Giants.

[H]

It's some good

[A]

Lars. L, A, R S. Lars.

[H]

It's some good picks in this first round. I ain't seen some of these names in a minute.

[A]

Why? Lars Takeo. Where'd he go? He had to be in that draft. He wasn't in my draft. Oh, he was an 88. He came out my brother then. Wow. I didn't know that. It's Lars. I was like, damn, David Bailey. He put on a show, too. Ocho from Texas Tech. Yeah. Yeah, he put a show on today. But look, anytime you're cold, you're gonna make a big deal out of it. So you just have to be mindful. The camera's looking to catching everything. They're looking to catch everything, bro. So you just gotta, you gotta, you gotta be mindful. You gotta be mine.

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[B]

I'm Daniel Jeremiah.

[E]

And I'm Greg Rosenthal.

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And this is 40s and free agents.

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The games may be over, but the NFL never stops. This is my favorite part of the calendar.

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I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[G]

Ready for a different take on Formula 1? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid.

[A]

Lewis Hamilton, Capricorn Sun Cancer Moon Wouldn't you know it, Michael Schumacher is also a Capricorn Sun Cancer Moon.

[G]

The story of the sport's most consequential driver Strike. We have one man who, upon hearing that he was going to be fired, freaked out and apparently climbed out the window of the bathroom and was Daniel Ricardo's illustrious F1 career a success story, a cautionary tale, or some combination of both? He started getting all of this attention and he maybe started to think, I'm bigger than this, I'm better. And plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful, decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip starting March 4th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

Ocho Ryan Po says the NFL rule awarding two third round picks if a minority coach or executive leaves to become the GM or head coach is a strange rule. Let's take a listen to what he had to say, guys.

[J]

Yeah, I mean, I'll be honest.

[A]

I think it's.

[J]

It is a little strange. I mean, at the end of the day, you should want to develop your staff regardless of the color of their skin. I think that's important. I think we take a lot of pride with the Bears on how we have our setup, and I take a lot of pride in that. So to be compensated for, that's a little strange. I mean, I saw the Chiefs get a pick because of me, and then I watched that player go and play.

[H]

It's just.

[J]

It's just a little odd. But at the end of the Day if they think that's what's best to help incentivize, then that's what they wanted to do.

[H]

I mean, the fact that they have to incentivize anything that tell you all you need to know right there where the opportunity that we can make our team, we can help our team get better and you know, by hiring X, Y and Z. Why does you have to incentivize it? You know why. And it doesn't mean anything. Doesn't mean anything. And the fact that they have to do that in 2026 tells you all you need to know that the fact that we're still fight. Never mind. But you. You understand what I'm trying to say, Joe? They have to incentivize teams with picks in the draft just to hire minorities.

[I]

Really?

[A]

Remember Ocho and I was just having a conversation about incentivizing. If somebody don't want to do it, what's not going to happen? Joe, you done? Oh, just sit down. He don't start. You see it, Joe? He done stole myself. Hey, you dirty ojo.

[H]

My bad, my bad. Hey, hey. I've been using that with my kids and all.

[A]

I just stole it.

[H]

My bad.

[A]

That's. And that's the thing. And the thing is, like, if somebody is unmotivated or not incentivized to do something, they're not gonna do it.

[H]

No matter what, you got to do it.

[A]

And I think Ryan Poles has done a great job. I think he's done a great job. You look at Caleb Wade, you look at the Roman Dunes, you see the trade for DJ Moore, you see Burton, you see Loveland, you see Joe Thuney, and you see the guys that they brought in. So I think he's done a great job. I think he's done a great job. But I think there are a lot of other people that could do a great job. But in order for me to do the job, Ocho, you got to at least give me a chance to do the job right.

[I]

Yeah, right.

[H]

Absolutely.

[A]

You don't know how well I can stack the shelf, sweep the floor, be a cashier, be a manager. You don't know how well I can do anything if you don't present the opportunity for me to be able to do said thing what you're asking. You don't know what a person can or can't do if you don't give them an opportunity sometimes. And that's what it comes down to. They didn't know how well I could play in the game. Wayne Phillips say damn Put his ass in the game. We can't cover him in practice. Hell, let's see if they can cover it. They had no idea. They was like, well, hell, let's see. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, but I played well enough to like. Well, damn, if he actually knows what the hell he's doing, he might be a pretty good player.

[I]

Right?

[A]

So if you give somebody an opportunity, you don't know if a person can or can't do something if you don't give them an opportunity. That's all I'm saying. And like you say, you gotta. You gotta want to give somebody that opportunity, Ocho, but you gotta get. Because here's the thing, Ocho and Joe, sometimes you just familiar with somebody. Hey, Ocho, man, I got a homeboy and say such and such. He can. Hey, he can get you that car you like. You got a homeboy. He can get me a.

[I]

He gave me a.

[A]

A Tesla or he gave me a Benz. He can give me this. Okay, let's go check it out. That's your homeboy. He vouched for it. That's how coaching works. Hey, I got a good coach. I think he got. I think he got what it takes to be a good head coach. I think, you know, just rise him up, put it. Let him be an assistant. Let him be a pass game coordinator. Let it be this. You see how they advance?

[I]

Yeah.

[A]

That's all you got to do. But you have to be somebody that chance. I don't know, man.

[H]

Yeah, they not. It's not happening. Not happening. It hadn't happened by the. I mean, just. I just. I just don't understand. I love. I love fighting the fight. I love fighting the good fight. Hey, I like that part. But Uncle Joe, the point of fighting for a spot where people don't even want you there, it makes absolutely no sense because when they do put you there, they're going to put you in situations that aren't good for you.

[I]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[H]

They give you. Hey, they're giving you the bad jobs. They gonna give you the jobs.

[A]

I mean, Joe, like they gave Steve Wilson, Arizona. They gave him one year. They got Josh Rose and then boom, he out. And then they get Kyler Murray set

[I]

you up for failure.

[H]

Hey, that's. That's what they're gonna give you.

[A]

I mean, Byron left, which actually called plays for a Super bowl winning.

[I]

Still couldn't get one.

[A]

He. And I think he. I think he on. On time staff at Cuz.

[H]

I see you. Yeah.

[I]

You saying he Never could get a chance to be a head coach.

[A]

Hey, he got demoted. I mean, they. They let him go. Oh, and he was close. Oh, Joe. He interviewed for the job at Jacksonville, and then a few years later, the same OC And Liam Cohen did an unbelievable job. I'm not saying that he hasn't. He's done an unbelievable job. Good. Yeah, but he interviewed. He got the job.

[H]

Yeah. That's all. That's all smoking is. Anytime they bring people in.

[A]

And. But the problem was, I think what. I think I could be wrong, Chad. And I don't. I don't really wanna. I don't really want to, but I think that he had a problem with the general manager. Liam Cohen says, look, I take the job, but the general manager, he gotta go.

[H]

Oh, that's right.

[A]

That's right. You'll take this job if I get rid of general manager. He said, I sure will. Hey, come up here and you ain't got no playbook, but bring your. Your pass card. You keep your key fob. Bring that with your company.

[H]

Hey, bring your car key, too.

[A]

Yeah. It's so. Look, and. And. And that's the thing. But you. But if you think about it, Ocho, it's not a whole lot of. Most of the time, when you see coordinators, black coordinators, they're on the defensive side. There are not a handful of black offensive coordinators.

[H]

No.

[I]

Why is that?

[H]

Now, the hand. There's a handful of position coaches on the opposite side.

[A]

Yes. That's about running back as far as it goes.

[H]

Wide receivers.

[A]

Yep.

[I]

Why is that? Why is no blacks. No black ocs?

[A]

Your guess is good as mine, Joe,

[H]

but I mean, hold on. What about B enemy?

[A]

Yeah.

[H]

Do we credit Andy Reid? Because he's the one that's acting, actually pulling the strings, man.

[A]

What you call him? Got a job. Think about all the coaches that have gotten hired off Sean McVeigh staff and not call no plays.

[H]

Okay.

[A]

All the coaches that got hired off of Kyle Shanahan staff that don't call plays on offensive side of football. Right. They use that if they don't want to give you the job. If they want you to have the job, it don't give a damn. Well, he was a janitor. Okay. Yeah, I think you'll make a great head coach then. Because he can sweep up some bull. You don't. Man, please. Think about this. Think about this. Think about this, Joe. Oo. Philip Rivers interview for the Buffalo Bill's head coaching job. He calling plays in high school. We not getting no opportunity like that. Hell, it's hard for us to get a job, and we've been calling plays, defensive, offensive plays for years in the NFL.

[I]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Hey, come on now. We just got. You know, I keep it real, But it's hard. Well, I just want to hire the best man for the job. Well, who said he's the best man for the job? How you know I ain't the best man for the job? That's why. That's why I love the actual plague of sports. Because you can find out who the best man for the job, Ocho.

[H]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

And you can find out who the best man for the job.

[H]

Hey, and it don't take long to find out either.

[I]

At all.

[A]

All you know. Hey, only one of you guys could play. Are you saying. Hold on. Okay, say no more. Yeah, well, they got a position on the other side. You can play the X, but the Z gonna be occupied. So I hope you like playing on the ball, because you will never take one snap off the ball at the Z. Receiver. That's me, right?

[I]

Hey, hey. Hey. They remind me of my rookie year. It was three of us. Three of us rookies winning the first round. He came to us, he said, two of y' all gonna have to be on IR every game. I said, okay. I never went on.

[A]

I ain't gonna.

[H]

Hey, Joe, it wasn't gonna be you, huh?

[I]

It wasn't gonna be me. It was not gonna be me, Ocho.

[A]

Yeah, that's it. Hey, Coach. Put the job up, Ocho. We was alternating back and forth.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Come my sophomore year, coach. Coach Davis said, hey, every job, Every job is available. Every job. I'm a quarterback, running back, wide receiver. After that first practice, he say, call the sub. He's smoking a cigarette. He said, got down home. It was a great day. First day of practice, you guys gave it hell. He said, I appreciate that. He said, but long as I'm the head coach, there's 23 positions available. The Z receiver is Shannon Sharp. As long as I'm here. All right, have a good day. Hey. Hey.

[I]

You must been out there cutting rug, ain't you?

[A]

He called us up before practice and said, every job is available. Okay? That's all I needed to hear because I had already told him. I said, coach, I can't show you what I can do. I said, look, because me, it was me, Squirrel. It was a couple of guys. I said, coach, rotate. I said, I can't show you what I could do, Coach. Rotating. I said, just put the job up. I said, coach, if I Don't win the job, I'll rotate, I'll do. I said if you needed me to move, go to the other side of the ball, I'm fine with that. I said, but just put the job up. Coach Davis said, hey, there's 22 positions available. Say no more, boy, when I, hey, when I say I cut up, yeah, smoke that cigarettes at home. The 21 positions available, now that was it. And hey, and ain't left the field since. But that's what that. But, but see in the coach Ocho, somebody comes in, it's like, well, I really like your scheme. I like the way they organize this and I like the practices and I like the meeting schedule and I like how, you know, we go, leave. But because at some, I mean everybody pretty much doing the same thing, Ocho, you know, you leaving the X amount of time, you're going to probably get there by 5:30 in the afternoon, you're going to have 8 o' clock special teams meeting, you will have 9 o', clock, you know where the coach comes, stand in front of y', all, then you go break up and go get a snack and take your ass to bed. You practice schedule, okay, what do you, what do you do? Okay, after the game we come in, get run, watch a little film. You get Tuesdays off. Okay, we back at it on Wednesday, back at it Thursday, got a half a day. Friday you come in, do walk through on Saturdays and get ready to catch the plane if you're going out of town or go get your rest because you got to check in the hotel. Gotta check in the hotel by 7 o'. Clock. I don't know what's so complicated about it though. That's just me.

[H]

But hey, yeah, it's not. And it ain't complicated at all.

[I]

Hey, you guys be moving around during the week, don't you? But I'll be seeing, hey, I'll be seeing football players everywhere during the week. Oh yeah, you never know who you gonna run into. That one, you, that weren't you, I

[A]

went out, I told you probably about

[H]

me about three times a year I was on the video game. Joe.

[A]

Three times a year, counting, not accounting. Rookie night out, you know, because rookie got to take the boy, you got to take us out. I got to get me a car. I need a limo. Yeah man, yeah. I mean, why can't we just have a limo pick you up and then go pick up everybody else? I said, because I don't want to ride with nobody else. I want a limo by myself. Send the Limo to my house. When they call, I'll tell the gate, let them in. They go, come pick me up. Because I know y' all don't want to go after. Y' all gonna want to go somewhere after. Afterwards, I'm going to eat, and then I'm going home.

[I]

Right? Right.

[A]

Hey.

[H]

Hey, man.

[E]

Oh, why?

[H]

You know, I just thought about why, man. Guess where I gotta fly to this weekend?

[A]

Where?

[H]

Man, I gotta go to Houston.

[G]

Ah.

[A]

Let us know how it is.

[H]

I ain't going for that.

[A]

My.

[H]

It's the SEC Championship track meet, you know, Universal, baby. Running Kentucky. Yeah, they run that. Texas A M. Oh, yeah, but that's not really Houston. That's far, ain't it?

[A]

That's College Park. Not College Station. I'm talking about the College park station.

[H]

I don't know about that. That's. That's a long ways.

[A]

I'm not sure, Joe, you know?

[I]

Joe, how long are you gonna be out there?

[A]

How far is College Station?

[H]

I got it Friday. I fly 90 minutes Ojo. That ain't bad. And I leave. I'm probably gonna leave Saturday night. She runs. She runs Saturday night when she run. I'm probably gonna get act. I mean, I don't want to be out there like that. I mean, in and out, she began.

[I]

Your daughter be getting busy out there.

[H]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[H]

She's nice with it, Joe. She nice with it. I, I, I'm curious what would happen if we were to race right now?

[A]

Who?

[I]

What?

[H]

Me and my baby.

[A]

Well, you gonna pull all your muscles?

[H]

I don't think so.

[I]

You think you get her?

[H]

I think so.

[I]

Like, realistically. Keep it, keep it. 100.

[H]

Hey, Joe. You know I don't lie about nothing, Joe. I would never allow my child to beat me, Joe. I tripping before she passed me, Joe. Yeah. I would not, would not live to hear that.

[A]

No, sir. Yeah, that must have been. Would I be able to show. Wish I could. I just want to be able to walk briskly. Damn. Running. Running is out of his way, Joe. Ocho ain't overrunning for the kid that the last time I ran was 2009. I'm talking about ran. Ran, like, opened up.

[H]

Damn. You ain't ran since then. Hey, you know what you should do? You should do. You should just try to run and just open up and see what I

[A]

already know what's gonna happen.

[I]

No, ain't gonna be no more.

[A]

You know, I ain't carrying no hamstring, no quad, no. No Achilles. Ain't none of that. That's old. All I Need to be able to do is get on the assault bike, get on the concept bike, do the erg, the roll machine, which is the roll machine. Or do the. The ski erg. That's it. If I can do that, I'm good. That's. That's all the cardio I need and be.

[I]

Oh, yeah, you can do that once

[A]

I get this knee back. Right? Give me. Give me. Give me about five weeks. I'll be right back.

[I]

Hey, man, we all gotta. Hey, hey, hey. We all should get in the weight room together, man. I ain't saying, like, you know, we ain't trying to.

[H]

Hey, come on, Joe.

[I]

Hey, we can back.

[H]

We can max out, Joe.

[I]

Okay. I know we are.

[A]

We.

[I]

We all got three different body types. Y' all live.

[H]

Whoa, what you mean three? I'm. I'm built like a ib. IBF pro.

[I]

No, that's what I'm saying. Y' all probably lift a lot different from me. That's what I'm saying. But I think. I think we can get in there, man, get us a good little lifting session.

[H]

I like that. I like that. Hey, hey, hey, Joe, you seen the picture with me and Tio today?

[I]

Yeah.

[H]

You see how much big. You see how much big I am than to now?

[I]

No, no, look at it.

[H]

Look at the picture real quick. Joe, where your phone at?

[I]

My phone right here, bro.

[H]

Yeah, go to my Instagrams.

[I]

All right, let me go to.

[A]

You.

[H]

Go to my Instagram. Look at the main. Hey, look. Look how much, you know, t playing pickleball right now, so, you know, he didn't slim down a little bit because

[A]

he's really, really good. Was muscly. He just don't have the muscle density that he once had. But Tio, I mean, yeah, Tio's always been. He's always.

[H]

Oh, yeah. Oh, hey, he in hella shape, right?

[A]

He's never not going to be, I think.

[I]

Yeah. Oh, y' all seen you on her rapping. Got the. Got the ISO hoodie on.

[H]

Yeah, See? Hey, Joe, that's why I told you to look, because I got him.

[I]

I had seen this earlier, man. I seen it. I see you better repping for your boy, Joe. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's.

[A]

That's me.

[I]

That's me.

[A]

I mean, what. What's your rep scheme, Joe?

[I]

I'm Normally anywhere from 15, 20 reps.

[A]

I see. I do 12 to 15.

[I]

I'm saying I can't.

[A]

I can.

[I]

I can. I can compromise.

[A]

I'm more of a time. A tut guy. Time and attention. So I'm One. Yeah. Three down.

[I]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Three. Yeah, I'm one, two, three. One, two, three. Four down. Pause. Back up.

[I]

Yeah, man, we get a good little session and I probably can even learn a little something from y', all, man.

[H]

Yeah, I got. I got you, Joe. Hey, Joe, I teach you a little something in that. In that weight room, Joe. Yeah.

[I]

You get down like that.

[A]

Hey, boy.

[H]

Hey, boy ain't number. I ain't moving in that thing with me, Joe. Ain't number. Iron Joe.

[A]

Hey, I put him up and put it down. I gotta save my joints.

[H]

Oh, my bad, my bad.

[A]

You could probably get. I probably still get like 3. 15. Probably like 8 to 10.

[I]

Yeah, 8 to 10.

[H]

I get it maybe twice, maybe two, depending on how I'm feeling.

[A]

So now I just mainly Smith Machine occasionally. I was telling Jordan I did the dumbbells for the first time since October. I was able to get like 8, 9 reps with 110. How much is 55 kg? That's like 120, right?

[C]

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[D]

This is the biggest night in podcasting. The countdown is on to our 2026 I Heart Podcast Awards. Live from south by Southwest, March 16th. We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry. It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world. Creativity, knowledge and passion will all be on full display. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is. See all the nominees now at iheart.com podcast awards.

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[B]

I'm Daniel Jeremiah.

[E]

And I'm Greg Rosenthal.

[B]

And this is 40s and free agents.

[E]

The games may be over, but the NFL never stops. This is my favorite part of the calendar.

[B]

Yeah, mine too, Greg. Free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, pro days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future.

[E]

This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money. On 40s and free agents. We break down every move that actually

[B]

matters, from my draft evaluations, mock drafts

[E]

and team fits to my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built. Cap space, contracts and all the tough decisions included.

[B]

You got quarterbacks on the move.

[E]

We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season.

[B]

Absolutely, it's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team.

[E]

Smart analysis. Real conversations every week.

[B]

I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[G]

Ready for a different take on Formula one? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid, Lewis

[A]

Hamilton Crapicorn Sun Cancer Moon. Wouldn't you know it? Michael Schumacher is also a Capricorn Sun, Cancer Moon.

[G]

The story of the sport's most consequential driver. Strike. We have one man who, upon hearing that he was going to be fired, freaked out and apparently climbed out the window of the bathroom. And was Daniel Ricardo's illustrious F1 career a success story, a cautionary tale, or some combination of both? He started getting all of this attention, and he may be so started to think, I'm bigger than this. I'm better. And plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip starting March 4th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[I]

Yeah, 120.

[H]

Hey, Joe.

[A]

112. 55. Yeah,

[I]

yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

So I'm. I'm good.

[I]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

But we getting there. We getting there, Joe.

[I]

All right.

[H]

Hey, Joe, I'm gonna wear it. I'm wet this thing in the next three weeks, boy. You know, you notice I didn't have. I didn't have my pants on in every picture for the last month.

[I]

Hey, hey, it ain't cold out there in Florida.

[H]

Yeah, man, like 50 degrees right now.

[A]

Joe, you ever did CrossFit?

[H]

Hey, listen, huh?

[I]

Yeah, I have. I have.

[A]

I used to be. I used to be. I was on the roll machine. I could have been competitive on the roll machine. Yeah, I could do the best. I've done. I've done a thousand. I've done a thousand meters in like257,258. I could have been good. Yeah, I'm going to be good at the numbers, man.

[I]

I had one. I had one of them hydro roll machines, Unc, that you look like you

[A]

can be in a different place. I had one, too, man.

[I]

My dang on dog ate the thing, man. Oh, he ate the cable up the seat and everything.

[H]

Wait, the dog?

[I]

Yeah, man.

[H]

You know, he not trained, Joe.

[I]

No, I had just got him. I had just got him, Ocho and where I had him at, he was in there with some of my weight equipment.

[A]

Yeah.

[I]

And the seat, you know, the seat kind of like got like this little cushion. I don't know if he just thought it was something you want toe it up, right? Yeah.

[H]

Okay. Damn. Hey, let me know if you need some tr.

[A]

I could do. I did 50 calories in a minute.

[I]

Damn. Wait, which one you hauling?

[H]

Yeah, okay, okay, okay.

[I]

That's upper and low.

[A]

Yeah. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I was really. I was really, really, really, really, really, man. Before my hips got bad. I could do like 30, 32 burpees in a minute. 30, 32, 33 burpees in a minute.

[H]

Hey, hey, hey, Uncle. I be hitting them jailhouse burpees.

[A]

Look.

[H]

Hey, yeah. Hey, you nice. Hey, hey, Joe, when I was locked up. Why, Joe? I used to get crazy.

[I]

What you liked up for what, Joe?

[H]

We don't need to bring up no pass, boy. Joe, you know, I did a little time, though.

[I]

I like. I like to. I like to know the type of people I'm hanging out with.

[H]

Hey, Joe, I'm a good dude. I just, you know, I'm. I'm, you know, I'm. I try to flash straight, Joe, but, you know, I veered off track for a little bit, man. God got me, though.

[A]

He got you? Yeah, he got okay, okay.

[H]

Hey, Joe, if your dog trained, because, you know, I do canine training, too, on the weekends out here in Miami.

[I]

No, mine turn.

[A]

Dang. Hey, now, you talk about anatomy chart. You talking about. Hey, Oo. That's me.

[I]

That boy say he was here with his.

[A]

Why you swole? What?

[H]

Huh? Well, un. Swo. What?

[A]

Damn,

[I]

man, how you. How y' all be having y' all trapped so big like that? What y' all be doing today?

[A]

Let me show you, Joe.

[I]

It's like it's all. Football player. All y' all walk around with them

[A]

big thick traps like this, Joe, Them shoulders. Drugs? Nah.

[I]

Bad.

[A]

I was doing. Oh, I was. I was eating around the clock, so every. I would wake up every two hours because I wanted to see how far I could push myself. Man, I gotta be like. I was probably two. I was two. I think I was 257 in that picture. But I. But I was lean. I was leaning to Ocho. I'm talking about. I'm talking about like an. Like an anatomy chart. Yeah, yeah, I see you.

[H]

I see you. And you know, you can get back.

[A]

No, no, no, that's too much, Ocho. It takes. It takes too much. I mean, you got to eat. I mean, right? Eating every two. I may be eating every two and a half hours around the clock, and I gotta get. God damn. I don't want to do that no more.

[H]

Eating every two hours.

[A]

Yeah, that's the only way.

[H]

Maybe give me strokes. Hey, and see, that's my damn problem, Joe. It's something wrong with me. I don't know if it's because I drink coffee, Joe. I eat one time a day, Joe, And I. And I be good. That man, my baby be trying to get me to eat. You hungry? And I'm like, no, I ain't really got no appetite. But I think it's the fact that I drink so much coffee, so many, whether it's Starbucks or lattes, it suppresses my hunger. And I'd be content eating one big meal a day.

[A]

Yeah, but you do too much cardio. You're not gonna grow because you gotta. You do too much cardio. See, like, once I get. Once I get to a. A certain weight. Now, I'm just trying to like. Yeah, I do like cardio, but not excessively, because I want to strip it. I want to strip. You know, I still want to maintain the muscle, but take some of the.

[H]

Right, right.

[A]

But if you do too much cardio, right.

[H]

See, I. I can't stop playing soccer, Joe. That's my problem.

[I]

Yeah, you ain't number running back.

[H]

I can't help it.

[A]

The Cowboys and Brandon Aubrey's agent agree that he should be the highest paid kicker in the NFL, but there's a disagreement over how much. Per ESPN's Tart Archer, Dallas has offered a deal to. To the restricted free agent kicker. That would. That is more than the league high. $6.4 million. I think Harrison Buckner gets that from the Kansas City Chiefs. They offered him a deal more than that, but he's looking, I think Todd Francis, his agent, who Todd France also represents Dak Prescott, but he's looking for a deal in the neighborhood of 10 million per year. Ocho and Joe, I like that.

[H]

And he's. And he's worth that. Brother Aubrey is worth that because when he gets that 10 million, my best friend, very good friend of mine, he's the kicker, Daniel, right up north. He should get 11. He gonna get. He should get.

[A]

Are you talking about Cam Ludle?

[H]

God damn. You goddamn right. God damn right. So I'm wait. I'm waiting on Aubrey. I hope brother Aubrey is blessed. You know, Brother Aubrey come from a soccer background. He was very, very good. He was, he was the. He was the defender, you know, when he, when he, when he plays soccer. So he has a soccer background, which is why he's able to kick the ball and it looks so effortless. Hey, hey, hey, Joe. Well, he got a pretty. He got a pretty swing, Joe. It looked like he's not even trying, but you look up, he kicking from 65, he kicking from 66, from 67, right down the middle.

[I]

Oh, yeah, he did his thing. He did his thing. He gonna reset the market for these kickers, boys.

[H]

Yeah, yeah, he. He worth every penny, bro.

[A]

Yeah, but no, everybody ain't worth that kind of money because everybody ain't got that kind of leg and they got that kind of actor.

[H]

No, no, no, it's about.

[A]

It's about three.

[H]

It's about maybe. Maybe three. Three kickers in the league, Joe. Yeah, that kind of leg like that. But not only do they have that kind of leg for that kind of distance, they also accurate with it. The problem is the further you go out, the harder it is to be accurate.

[A]

Oh, yeah. You got up here like a disc. But no, it's. Yeah, I mean, he gonna get it. He should. I mean, I think. How many kicks he got for. He got like eight kicks from 60 yards with a longer 65.

[I]

Boy got a foot on.

[A]

Well, speaking of.

[I]

What's that?

[A]

What your boy gonna have to go up under the knife. O. Joe, Joe, I got.

[H]

Damn.

[A]

I got a. No, I'm good. I got a partial, I got a partial tear of my, my medial meniscus.

[H]

Hey, that's, that's in your knee, huh?

[A]

Right here. Dang.

[H]

Are you sure you need surgery?

[A]

Well, I gotta go see the orthopedic. I got an MRI yesterday, and they gave what? They said, no, I'm bone on bone on the lateral right. Arthritis. Severe arthritis. But I got a media. I got a slight chair. I still got some cartilage in the, in, in the medial side. So I'm gonna. See what they're gonna do. That. Dude, they're gonna go in there and cut and snip. Are they gonna. What else. What are they going to do? Are they gonna do a complete repair or do they cut and snip?

[I]

So, man, you trying to. Hey, you trying to catch up with your boy under that knife?

[A]

Damn. Oh, I might have been bowling.

[H]

Oh, so you did it when you were bowling?

[I]

Oh, man. Good, man.

[A]

Sit like that, man, why you think I feel like that? My ish was over.

[I]

Okay, okay.

[A]

And then think about it. We did all that in one day. And then all that standing on Netflix.

[I]

Yeah, yeah. The thing swollen up on you the next day.

[A]

Swell. It. It didn't swell, but I just noticed. I was like, well, damn, how the. I was like, man, it just hurt. It hurt so bad. First when I got home, I had to go up the steps. I'm like, well, damn, my knee hurting. But I was like, you know what? Hey, I've been on the plane. I've been standing. I've been. I just flew six hours back cross country. I'm like, I'll be all right in the morning. And, boy, I tried to come down the steps, man, I like my dog. I was scooting down the step. One, two, three.

[H]

Hold on, hold on. I, I, I got, I got a question, right? Not, you know, health is healthy. Health is what's most important. But does this mean we're not doing nightcap outside no more?

[A]

We are. We just, you know, we just had to, you know, take a couple of, Take a couple of days off. I'll be back. I'll be back better than ever. And I was just okay, getting into a swing of things. I'm doing my cardio. I'm getting six hours. Right, right. A week. I was like, I'm feeling so good. Yeah, man.

[H]

Damn.

[A]

Oh, so that's it. But I knew something was wrong. I told myself, I'm getting all right. She said, what's wrong? She said, probably just. I said, nah, Libby, something wrong? I said, I probably. I think I told my meniscus. She say, how? I said, I don't want to tell you.

[I]

Hey, hey, hey, hold on. Hold up. Hey, when we had them injuries, we be knowing. Yeah, because, boy, let me tell y' all something. When I tore it, when. When I blew out this patella tendon.

[C]

Yeah.

[I]

You know, it happened. I got right on the plane, so, you know, swollen.

[A]

Oh, my goodness, it smell up.

[I]

But when I got home, my lady told me, I was like, oh, you. You gonna be all right. Put some ice on it. Then I'm standing, I'm steady. Tell her. I'm like, man, listen, let me tell you something. This thing, he ain't right. I ain't never felt like.

[A]

Did it roll up, Joe? Did it roll up? Did it roll up your quad?

[I]

Yeah, it rolled. Not all the way, but it rolled up enough to where, like, if I'm sitting straight, if I'm sitting, I can't lift. I couldn't lift my leg at all.

[A]

Yeah.

[I]

You know what I mean? I could still walk. And I could tell because I'm walking the stairs. I'm like, every week it kind of kept getting better, but I'm like, it wasn't good enough to be out there doing no moving, I can tell you that. So I went on, got that mri, and it was a rap, man.

[A]

Man, you talk about getting up, going to the bathroom, because once that leg be done, that thing be done, boy. I was like, lord, I said, I need to lay some plastic down. I should just pee in the bed.

[I]

Hey, with this patella, boy, it had you thinking that, for real.

[A]

I'm like, oh, Lord. I mean, I really, truly try to stop. I'm. Because chat. Y' all know, I used to drink. I used to drink tea. I mean, I used to drink. You know, man, I try to stop drinking water by 5 o', clock,

[C]

just

[A]

eat a plate of food and no water, no drink, no. No nothing.

[H]

So you ain't got to get up.

[I]

Huh? Hold on. Hey, Auger Ocho with this patella, they gave me this big jug. Yeah, go.

[A]

You ain't gonna be.

[I]

Because the first couple days, you can't even get out the bed. You just gotta. Gotta keep it. Oh, they.

[A]

They gave you that goose on Joe, you know, normal. They give you that goose like they would give you the hospital. You have to.

[I]

Well, listen, hey, I had that thing filled up

[A]

because, you know, now they won't let you leave unless you pee the Hospital. They won't? Nope. So I was like, hey, go and give me that joke. Go and give me that goose.

[I]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

You're going.

[I]

Yeah.

[A]

Mr. Sharp, you need some help? No, I need y' all to get up out of here. I need y' all to get up out of here. When y' all come back, I have something for you. When I did my hips, Joe, When I did my hips, I got my hips done. I probably got them done at like, 10. It's like an hour and a half surgery. So they take it down to the recovery room. They like, Mr. Sharp. Mr. Sharp.

[I]

Right, right.

[A]

I can hear Shelly. Shannon. Shannon. I said, yeah. I said, it's over with. She's like, yeah, your surgery done. You did well, Mr. Sharp. I'm like, has anybody done bad in surgery? But okay, I'm gonna take your word for. You said, I did good. Okay. It's like, well, Mr. Sharp, I mean, as soon as you can get up and walk, you gotta walk up and down a flight of stairs, you know, three times, walk down the hall, and we'll let you go. Excuse me. It's like, yeah, if you walk up and down. You walk up and down the hall and fly the stairs a couple of times, we'll let you go. I said, shelly, help me get up. Yeah. I said, help me get up.

[H]

You're ready to go?

[A]

Yeah, I'm getting up out of here. Absolutely.

[I]

That was tough, though.

[H]

What?

[A]

Joe, man.

[H]

But.

[A]

And the doctor told me, say. He said, Mr. Sharp. He said, you're not going to feel any pain. He said, the only pain you're gonna feel is the ins, where we actually went in. Because they go in, take the ball lot. It's a. You know, you got a ball, like a big. Like a big gumball. They take it out.

[H]

Yeah.

[A]

It's like, Mr. Sharp, you want it? I'm like, what the hell I'm gonna do with it? I mean, it ain't no troll. It ain't no trophy to me. Oh, JoJo, it ain't no trophy.

[H]

Right?

[A]

Throw that issue away. So, man, I got up there. Shelly helped me down. I walked up and down the face, and she's like, slow down. You're gonna fall. I said, man, please, I need to get up out of here. I walked up and down. Hey, I like, Doc. Y' all looking. They're like. It was like, Mr. Sharp. But they won't let you walk out of the hospital. They put you in a wheelchair because we got, you know, fall on their watches and own the hospital. So, hey, hey, when they numb it. Walk me to the thing. Man, I jumped in there so quick. They're like. Then, you know, they give you all these instructions. You know, no driving, no operating, no heavy machinery, blah, blah, blah. But three days I was driving. Drove myself to rehab.

[I]

Hey, hold on, though. When they numb it. When they. When they numbing stuff wore off, how was you out there? You had to take, like, pain medicine?

[A]

Well, what happened was Joe and Ocho, I had a. They gave me something that I had allergic reaction to, so I ended up having to get rushed to UCLA Medical Clinic. I'm just breaking this news of y'. All. Y' all didn't know this, so. So I'm glad it wasn't there. Nobody see me, but I had to go. Cause I had allergic reaction. Hives everywhere. Face swollen.

[H]

Damn.

[A]

I'm talking about everywhere. I'm talking about arms, torso, all down my back. And my. My throat started to close. So I had allergic reaction. I don't. They don't know what they said. Well, with Mr. Sharp, we would literally have to give you adult. Some of everything that we gave you to find out what the reaction to. So they would literally have to stick me, wait 10 minutes to see if that caused it. Stick me. I said, oh, hell no. I'm good. We'll figure it out. I said, just give me. Guess what. Go back. Have the other one done the same reaction. What, Yo. The exact same reaction.

[H]

Damn. But, yo, y' all, boy, Y' all, boy, like little pin cushions, boy.

[I]

Chill, chill, chill, chill.

[H]

I'm just. I'm just saying, this is. This.

[I]

Hey, hey, hey.

[A]

This. This. This.

[I]

This. This is sensitive subject, bro. This is sister. I know, I know.

[H]

I feel you. I feel you. I commend you. I commend you.

[A]

You know, they talking about you wearing me built. Oh, man.

[I]

Come on, man. Hey, come on, now. Come on, come on.

[A]

Hey, once I get this thing back. Oh, rematch. It's on. Hold on, hold on. How long? It all depends. It all depends. It all depends on what? What they do. I mean, it could be three to four weeks. It could be three to six months. Damn.

[I]

Hey, hey, listen. Let's.

[H]

Let's.

[I]

Let's stick to, like, some shooting, pool throwing.

[A]

Hey, I'm Errol Strickland. You don't want. You don't want.

[C]

Here you go.

[I]

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

[A]

Y' all don't want nothing. Slim. Oh, Georgia Slim. Y' all heard of Minnesota fans? Oh, Georgia Slim.

[I]

Hey, listen, y' all know what's going on?

[A]

Yeah. But, hey, man, look here Like I said. Hey, I was like, man, got my homeboy bucket, man, that joker. To have both knees replaced. He had back. My homeboy messed up. And like the last. Last two years, he'd had neck surgery, back surgery, and both knees replaced. Damn.

[H]

Jesus.

[I]

Hey, man, we got. Hey, we gotta get y' all back moving.

[A]

I was a. I was a triple jumper. I was a long jumper. Hey, like I said, there are some times I went out there on the football field. I ain't have no damn business out there. The way I was feeling, I ain't have no business. I know that. So that's why it's hard for me to have simply forgotten. Look, I'm gonna go out there. I. I got to. I know my teammates counting on me, and I know it's a. It's a. It's a finite period of time in which I got to be great at this, because once it's over. And that's why I was able to walk away, Joe. Ocho, I was in such peace. Because I know. Yeah.

[I]

Yeah.

[A]

I left it. Everything I had. I left it on that thing. I left it. I left no stone unturned. As far as my eating, as far as my training, as far as my rest, as far as the way I met the practice, I left nothing. That get. I didn't owe the game nothing, and the game didn't owe me nothing. Now, the game took a lot from me, but it gave me a lot, too.

[I]

Yeah, right.

[A]

It gave me a lot.

[H]

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[A]

But. But, hey, knock on wood. Knock on wood. Ocho, you ain't had no surgery. You had me. Hey, you are damn near 50 years old, and they ain't had no surgeries.

[H]

I'm 58. I'm 58, man.

[I]

Get the hell.

[A]

Yeah, Joe. That's an asterisk, man. I was hurt.

[I]

That's answer. The game was so loud.

[A]

Yo, man, I told. I told my. I told my meniscus, like, the third frame. We were right there, Joe. We were back in that chat.

[I]

Go back and look at Ocho. Can I talk to chat? Chad, I need y' all to chime in on this, man. It wasn't even close, you know, for them to be coming up with all these.

[H]

Them.

[I]

Yeah, you just. You just.

[H]

You. You. You.

[I]

I know. I know you. I know you. I know how you get down, brother.

[H]

No, no, I'm. That was. Unc said he would hurt. Unc said he was hurt. That's why he lost to you.

[I]

Yeah, I know. What was wrong with you?

[H]

Oh, I. I don't Bowl. That's not something I do. I don't bowl and I don't golf. So I'm. I'm doing things that you guys are familiar with.

[A]

So, therefore, 20 years. I think the last time I bowled, I bowled with the kids, it had to be like, 2000.

[H]

Hey, don't start that. You and you talking. You talking about you got a. You got your own.

[A]

I got four bowling balls, man.

[I]

Hey, listen, listen, listen. Y' all athletes, though. Y' all athletes, man. Y' all supposed to be able to adapt. Y' all supposed to be able to pick stuff up.

[A]

Looking at the other one, you couldn't tell he was an athlete who.

[H]

Actually, I'm. I'm the best athlete out of us three.

[A]

Huh?

[I]

You might.

[H]

You might be the best athlete out of us three. I just. I just. It was one of those days where I was like, k. N. That ain't

[I]

had nothing to do with it.

[H]

Hey, hey, hey, hey, Joe. I would like K. Cunningham the other night. I just know. You know, we know what I can do. I just ain't show up that day.

[I]

You know what?

[A]

I'mma be right back. Here we go. Be right back here. I would see how y' all talking with y'. All. 58.

[I]

Hey, hey, hey. 82 of the chat. I appreciate y'. All. Chad, they said that it's not an asterisk.

[A]

I'm sorry, Joe, stop reading the comments.

[I]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I told you, I'm with the people, so I. I got to be in tune to what's going on.

[A]

No, but I don't know. I mean, the thing is, like, you go to. Guys used to have bowling things, and so you go to the bowling thing, you can get a bowling ball. They like, okay, you get shoes or you get a bowling ball. So, hey, I get a bowling ball made, right?

[D]

Tournament.

[A]

The Broncos. That was. You know, we have offense against defense, bowling ball made.

[I]

Even here in Atlanta, we had. We had events that were at bowling alley. Oh, what y' all were doing in Cincinnati?

[A]

Nothing. What kind of event?

[H]

I mean, Joe, I don't. The only thing. I can't recall us ever doing no bowling. Joe, I'm gonna be honest with you, man.

[A]

We went to the movie. We went to the movies. We, like, after practice or ot doing OTAs or something. We go to.

[I]

We all go to the movies.

[A]

It'd be about 12 guys in the movie. Everybody. Hey, everybody be in that thing. Sleep about 30 minutes in. Somebody wake up, hey, man, you got some popcorn left?

[H]

Yeah, but.

[A]

No, no, no, no, no. We did. We went bowling every damn like every Tuesday. And we be. Now you see how I was. I was acting bowling. Oh, it was worse than that with us. Yeah, it's worse.

[I]

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah, man. Oh yeah.

[A]

Guys break dancing, doing the centipede. Guys dribbling the bowling ball like it's a basketball.

[I]

Yeah.

[A]

Hey, you. They both, you go to bowl. They bowl down the other lane. I said, man, y' all be cheating. You all be doing some kind of cheating, man. But nah, it wasn't.

[I]

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