Deebo & Joe - Part 2: Josh Cribbs on Shedeur Sanders, Infamous James Harrison Hit & Kent State Stories

Summary

---

Nightcap Podcast: Deebo & Joe – Part 2

Episode Title: Josh Cribbs on Shedeur Sanders, Infamous James Harrison Hit & Kent State Stories
Date: May 11, 2026
Hosts: Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson
Featured Guests: James Harrison ("Deebo"), Josh Cribbs, Joe Thomas

---

Episode Overview

In Part 2 of this lively Nightcap episode, NFL legends break down stories from their playing days and provide unfiltered commentary on hot-button NFL and college football topics. This episode is highlighted by guest appearances from Josh Cribbs, Joe Thomas, and James Harrison, who discuss infamous on-field hits, wild college stories, and weigh in on the Cleveland Browns quarterback controversy between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Infamous James Harrison Hit and Teammate Camaraderie

Timestamps: 02:34 – 04:55

• Discussion of Harrison’s Notorious Hits: The trio reminisces about James Harrison’s (“Deebo”) hardest hits, especially the ones laid on fellow Browns and his own teammates in practice.

  • Joe Thomas: "He has to give me a concussion… I'm like, bro, Cribbs, brother." (02:36)
  • Josh Cribbs: Recalls moving up as backup returner after seeing others get "spun around" by Deebo’s tackling.

• Locker Room Fallout & Player Loyalty:

  • Harrison’s mother even got involved after a brutal hit:
    • Joe Thomas: "His mom hit him like he was 10 years old, like he did something wrong at school... Right in the scoop." (03:48)

• Athlete Brotherhood: Despite hard hits, there’s mutual respect and understanding that tough play is "part of the job."

  • Joe Thomas: "That's what you want your linebacker to do. Like, you want your linebacker to hit, man. That's football, man." (09:27)

---

2. Wild Kent State Stories & James Harrison’s Reputation

Timestamps: 10:51 – 18:20

• College Recruiting Tales:

  • Joe Thomas: Recounts a night bringing a recruit to see James Harrison, who pressures a freshman to take a shot of 151 proof liquor and, perhaps for effect, slams a revolver on the table.
    • Joe Thomas: “He pulled out a revolver, allegedly... and slams it on the table. Boom. No, you gonna drink.” (12:47)
  • James Harrison: Clarifies the story, stating he was a heavy drinker and not intending to intimidate the recruit.

• Harrison’s High School Legacy:

  • Joe Thomas: Shares that Harrison’s name is legendary but shrouded in whispered incidents even at his former high school.
    • “Legend, like, fictitious... and then it was... and then to that incident. I was like. The incident... They wouldn’t tell me what happened.” (16:11)

• A Violent High School Altercation:

  • Harrison explains being expelled after a fight stemming from possession of a senior’s incriminating diary.
    • James Harrison: "He says something, and I... I go to swing on him... I just let loose. Fly, bang. He fall into the classroom, dude. I jump up over top of him to get some more." (18:20)
  • Humor and humility underlie even the most brutal memories.

---

3. AFC North Rivalry, Super Bowl, and the Business of Winning

Timestamps: 25:11 – 38:04

• Contextualizing the Browns’ Struggles:

  • Joe Thomas puts the Browns’ records in perspective, emphasizing the unforgiving nature of AFC North:
    • “We still couldn't even make the playoffs at 10 and 6. You guys, if you look at your team, you arguably had hall of famers on offense and defense.” (26:21)

• Super Bowl MVP Dispute:

  • Harrison reveals he was nearly awarded the Super Bowl MVP, but alleges a behind-the-scenes veto over his eligibility due to a controversial play.
    • James Harrison: "Sources say that somebody put a hold on and said if I get it, they wouldn't go be doing nothing else with the NFL because I had dogged the punt returner." (27:42)

• Memorable Cold-Weather Game Stories:

  • James Harrison: “That was the coldest game I ever played in my life, bruh... I would have took a fine just to be warm, bro.” (35:01 – 35:23)
  • The laugh-out-loud banter about the icy games and running for the heaters paints a vivid picture of the hardships faced in the trenches of playoff football.

---

4. NFL Rule Changes: Hitting the QB & Fines

Timestamps: 36:17 – 38:46

• Impact of Rule Changes on Defensive Play:
  • James Harrison: Explains how lowering the strike zone led to just as much trouble with fines, and the inconsistency and impossibility of avoiding penalties given the speed and angles of play.
    • “If I go to tackle a guy... he bent his whole body in half and put his head down there, and I hit his helmet. That's on me?... I said well, we ain't got nothing else to talk about.” (37:02 – 37:33)
  • Express frustration at the player safety movement without enough consideration for defensive players, especially with running quarterbacks.

---

5. The Browns QB Controversy: Shedeur Sanders vs. Deshaun Watson

Timestamps: 38:48 – 51:54

• Who Should Start for Cleveland?

  • Josh Cribbs wants Shedeur Sanders, citing his potential when the lights come on.
  • Joe Thomas sees merit in both, but highlights the business aspect—Watson’s hefty guaranteed contract can't be ignored by the front office.
    • “If it's our team and I'm spending that money, I'm like, man look, man, come on. Cause the money's gonna be spent regardless.” (40:00)

• Fan Base Division & The Future:

  • Joe Thomas: “Right now it's not because Deshaun is getting the first reps. He's just getting the first reps in practice. And he looks good. If I'm a quarterback coach... he looks like the prototype.” (44:17)
  • James Harrison: Reminds that coaching rhetoric about open competition is often just lip service; usually, the staff already has a starter in mind.

• Financial and Strategic Considerations:

  • Cribbs and Thomas hash out the logic of letting Watson play to build trade value versus giving the keys to Shedeur for the future.
  • Contention that “teams get desperate for a QB1” and the business may override the heart of the fan base.

---

6. Special Teams and Hall of Fame Debate

Timestamps: 55:03 – 56:28

• Special Teams Vital For Championships:

  • Joe Thomas: "The best teams had some of the greatest special teams units. You can look at the dynasty that Tom Brady, Bill Belichick had. They're special teams, and y' all know this…sometimes our defense and special teams was the only thing to keep us in the game." (55:40)

• Cribbs’ Hall of Fame Candidacy:

  • James Harrison: “You are that as a returner in this game. I really hope you make it to the Hall, man.” (52:53)

---

7. Rapid Fire: Fan Super Chat Questions & Banter

Timestamps: 53:21 – 60:19

• Answering questions about Drew Aller, the stress of playing against Harrison on special teams, the origin of “true blue,” and inside jokes about alumni weekend and college matchups.
• Notable Exchange:
  • Joe Thomas: “I had to block him... He just gonna come and just tee off on me. I'm like, oh, bro, hey, like, come on.” (57:23)
  • Harrison: “Nah, I'm fine. I'm firing off on him, man.” (57:40)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joe Thomas on Harrison’s reputation:

  • "He was the prototype. You don’t want your linebacker to be friendly... mean as hell. Just, you know, nobody. He’s a loner..." (05:29)

• James Harrison on the coldest game:

  • "If you put on sleeves as a linebacker, that's a fine... I got three steps out and... started to turn around to put sleeves on, and I said, if I do it, they’re going to kill me." (35:01)

• On Browns deserving more credit:

  • "We still couldn't make the playoffs at 10-6. That's crazy." (26:22)

• Cribbs on special teams:

  • "Special teams can change a game. When you have a good offense, a good defense, all you need is the superior special teams and they could change the play in one game." (56:07)

• On Browns QB room:

  • Cribbs: "I'd rather go Shedeur first and if Shedeur doesn't perform then we can let... then we can put Deshaun back in..." (50:17)

---

Segment Timestamps

• James Harrison’s Infamous Hits & Locker Room Fallout: 02:34–09:46
• Kent State & College Stories: 10:51–18:20
• Browns, AFC North, and Cold-Weather Games: 25:11–35:41
• Rule Changes & Defender Perspective: 36:17–38:46
• Browns QB Debate (Shedeur vs. Watson): 38:48–51:54
• Special Teams and Hall of Fame Talk: 55:03–56:28
• Listener Questions & Super Chats: 53:21–60:19

---

Episode Tone

Camaraderie, high-spirited humor, storytelling, and honest football analysis. The language is frank, playful, and brimming with inside jokes, while reflecting the guests’ deep respect for the game and each other.

---

This episode offers unfiltered access to NFL locker room stories, illuminates team culture, and provides direct insight into current and future NFL debates—making it a must-listen for football fans craving stories and analysis straight from the source.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Podcast Host]

Guaranteed Human what does it mean to live a rich life? It means brave first leaps, tearful goodbyes, and everything in between. With over 100 years experience navigating the ups and downs of the market and of life, your Edward Jones Financial advisor will be there to help you move ahead with confidence. Because with all you've done to find your rich and we'll do all we can to help you keep enjoying it.

[Sean Duffy]

Edward Jones Member, SIPC I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. We all seem to be in a rush these days, from work to driving our kids around. But when you're behind the wheel, please do not speed. A few minutes saved by going faster is never worth the risk. So follow the speed limit, enjoy the drive, maybe bring some snacks for the kids. And know that along the way you're getting quality time with your family, paid for by nhtsa.

[Podcast Announcer]

When you manage procurement for multiple facilities, every order matters. But when it's for a hospital system, they matter even more. Grainger gets it and knows there's no time for managing multiple suppliers and no room for shipping delays. That's why Grainger offers millions of products in fast, dependable delivery so you can keep your facility stocked, safe and running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Amazon Health AI]

Amazon Health AI presents Painful Thoughts I

[Amazon Health AI Voice]

I can't stop scratching my downtown. Mm, yeah, but I'm not itching to go downtown and tell a receptionist I'm here to talk about my downtown. Some things you'd rather type than say out lo.

[Amazon Health AI]

There's no question too embarrassing for Amazon Health AI. Chat your symptoms and get virtual care 24. 7 Healthcare just got less painful.

[DirecTV Advertiser]

This one's for all my TV lovers. My entertainment from DirecTV gets you 60 channels and Disney, Hulu and HBO Max all in one pack. But here's the with so much great TV and my entertainment, you're going to want to talk about everything you've been watching. Just remember that your friends might not be as well watched as you. Don't be a spoiler and encourage them to get my Entertainment for just $34.99 a month. Go to directtv.com genrepacks and sign up today. New customers only. Service renews monthly unless canceled. Credit card required conditions apply to apps HBO Max Basic with ads begins after DirecTV five day trial. Learn [e-mail] restrictions apply.

[James Harrison]

That boy Exaggerator man.

[Joe Thomas]

So look, let me tell you this. Because of that he Would hit me not only in practice, but just like that for the Browns. Like, no, no. Like, I'm just, you know, a nice form tackle. That's my teammate. That's my former teammate, my quarterback. Let me go ahead and take him to the ground. No, he has to give me a concussion. He has to get me eliminated from the game. I'm like, bro, cribs, brother.

[James Harrison]

Hey, man, don't bring this nigga on here no more.

[Cribs]

No, no. Exactly, Cribs.

[Joe Thomas]

No, no, I ain't done. I ain't done.

[Cribs]

No, you ain't done.

[Joe Thomas]

Go ahead, crib.

[James Harrison]

Let him have it. Let him have it.

[Joe Thomas]

So, people, I. I was even looking in the comments when I was coming on the show, people was like, hey, crib still cool with James? Like, after he be hitting him? Cause that's the same thing. Look, my wife be like, hey, man, like, do you reach out? Are you gonna reach out to him and tell him? Like, hey, like, the hit was. That wasn't cool. Like, we teammates, people really upset. Like, man, that's your teammate. But James, hey, do you remember what your mom did after that hit?

[James Harrison]

Man, I don't remember what you talking about. My mom ain't do that, man.

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah, your mom. Yeah. See, he already know, man.

[James Harrison]

He exaggerate.

[Cribs]

Truth telling, crib, what you do.

[Joe Thomas]

His mom hit him like he was 10 years old. Like he did something wrong at school. Like right in the back of the soft spot of the head. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right in the scoop. Yeah, right there. Right there.

[James Harrison]

Why you hit that boy like that?

[Joe Thomas]

And then I gave his mother a hug and looked at him like, yeah, that's.

[James Harrison]

Cause he can't listen, man. He came over there looking like a lost, lost puppy and shit, you know what I'm saying? Looking like this.

[Joe Thomas]

His mom was like, come here.

[James Harrison]

All the fake action.

[Joe Thomas]

His mom was like, come here, baby. And then smacked him on the. I was like, I know, right? I was like, yeah. I reached out to his m. You

[James Harrison]

remember what you told me? You remember what you told me about Master Quiet? You was like, I a. I'm good. He was like. He was like, man, Master Quiet, man, he's still messed up. He don't know where he at, right?

[Joe Thomas]

See, bro, that's Joe. We was in you, I think. Hold up. Was you there yet on the team?

[Cribs]

Crips, Cribs, Cribs, Cribs. This was my rookie season, and this is why I told Debo, you. You got. When he put you down, that made me. I was your backup returner, and that's when I got back at Kickoff return. And they spun my ass around, too. They was hitting out there.

[Joe Thomas]

Hey, you seen how I was getting hit? You was like, what you mean? I'm mad?

[James Harrison]

What you mean?

[Joe Thomas]

Cribs hold up. Cribs out. Oh, hell. And you was looking at coach like, me, bro. You mean me, bro.

[Cribs]

It was me. Your man Deebo. It was me. Well, you got hit Massaqua, and then he hit Colt in the same gym.

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah, so?

[James Harrison]

No, I hit Colton the other game. It was a different game.

[Joe Thomas]

Nah, it was.

[James Harrison]

It was.

[Joe Thomas]

It was me and Massacre. Because, okay, people would talk about the hits, right? And I'm gonna tell you about the hit, like, everything that you expect from a linebacker. J. Bo James, you were. You were it. You were the. The antithesis to an offense.

[Covenant Life]

Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

Like, he was the prototype. You don't want your linebacker to be friendly and, you know, y' all hanging out and, you know, going to the store. Yes. He was the prototype. Like, mean as hell. Just, you know, nobody. He's a loner at that. We had. We had the Pro Bowl. He ain't want to come out his room. We like, man, we in Hawaii. You remember that, James? We had the hobo, bro.

[James Harrison]

Hey, he ain't even. That was my first one.

[Cribs]

That was your first one. He ain't one.

[James Harrison]

I knew the protocol, what they was gonna do if I came down to that bar. You know, the rookies, they go, hit your tab. They go, put it on your room. I had to stay.

[Joe Thomas]

I had to stay out the way, bro. Like, ain't want to be friends with nobody. I'm like, bro, like, we having fun, bro. We just. It's a luau out there. Our families are out there. It was like a reunion between our two families. And he and I went up to his room. He in there, like, looking at TV like a seven o'.

[James Harrison]

Clock.

[Joe Thomas]

And I'm like, bro, we. We outside of the pool, bro. And he like, nah, man. Like, he was basically like, that's for y' all suckers, man.

[James Harrison]

That was 2007, right? Yeah, that was. Listen, that was my first Pro Bowl. What I did not know is the Pro bowl wasn't a game. So, listen, I get to practice, bro. And I got. I got. I got Ray and Ed there, and,

[Cribs]

you know, okay, we going.

[James Harrison]

We moving. Da, da, da. And they like, damn, baby, what's wrong? Slow down, man. What you doing? Slow down. I'm like, what you mean, slow down? I'm trying to. What you mean? I'm like, all right, so they don't take it. They don't. They don't go hard in practice, right? Yeah. All right, cool. Whatever. Whatever. We get into the game, right? And it's kickoff. I'm gonna kick off.

[Joe Thomas]

Wow.

[James Harrison]

I fire off from Jason on Jason Wynton, I think Cowboys, right?

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah.

[James Harrison]

I get to the sideline, the boy say, oh, my God. What the hell did he do to you, man? Why did you hit him like that? I said, man, I'm playing football. What y' all talking about?

[Joe Thomas]

Everybody's about to start quitting.

[James Harrison]

It's like.

[Joe Thomas]

Like, nah, man. James, the Steelers. Yeah. He out there hitting, man. Somebody go talk to him. Cause look, that was the same year. Look, we on the same squad. And I don't know if you remember Ray Lewis. He brought my ties to our meeting. And that was when I knew it wasn't a game. Like, it wasn't gonna be like, you know, hitting her. You know, it was gonna be fun. Supposed to be when Ray Lewis ordered my ties for the meeting, but this guy didn't want to have fun. And I'm gonna take it back to, you know, our game when we. When he put out me and Massacoy. Yes. We was. Look. So, you know, in the symptoms of a concussion, it's obviously forgetting. And one thing that's high among players. Cause they wanna play is anger.

[James Harrison]

Yeah.

[Joe Thomas]

And I was like, so I'm in the showers mad. Like, I had a whole package in running the wildcat and I can't play no more. So I'm in there angry. And Massacoy got hit so hard, he ain't know what he was doing in the shower. He was like, I ain't going, bro. And this my dog, bro. I was mad at him for asking me.

[Cribs]

I love Massaquar.

[Joe Thomas]

He's the. I love him. I was asking him. I was mad for him asking me. So hold on. So we both got hit. And I was. So I responded like, bro, we in the showers. The game is going on now. Like, what do you mean? So I'm mad, bro. Which is a symptom.

[James Harrison]

Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

And he looking up like, what are we doing in here? Yeah, he got.

[Cribs]

You got symptoms of anger? He got symptoms of memory loss.

[Joe Thomas]

Both of us. Yeah, we both in there. Product getting hit by this guy.

[James Harrison]

See?

[Cribs]

Yeah, but look, cribs, I think. Do you choose. You choose loyalty or over anger when it comes to Debo? Because end of the day, you know, it was a game. You know, it's football. You know, he was doing what his job?

[Joe Thomas]

Was he doing his job, okay? That's his job. So even though. Listen, Even though people hated him, even for the. Like, they hated him. They like, oh, man, he's a. You know, he's low, below the belt. This. And I'm like, man, that's what you want your linebacker to do. Like, you want your linebacker to hit, man. That's football, man.

[James Harrison]

Appreciate it. Appreciate it, brother.

[Joe Thomas]

I appreciate it. It ain't no. Because, look, people don't realize he played for Kent and Roethlisberger played for Miami of Ohio. If you show him what he did to Roethlisberger, people would feel different. Now, he sacked Roethlisberger. Not regularly. He ran up, hit him from the back, and then suplexed him and then flipped him behind his shoulders and made him fall on his head. Like. He grabbed him, bro. And then did a suplex, bruh. Put him on his head, broke him up.

[James Harrison]

I didn't suplex him. I went to the side. Not over my back, bro.

[Joe Thomas]

You went like this. No, I got the highlight, bro.

[James Harrison]

Exaggerate, man.

[Joe Thomas]

He ran up on him.

[Cribs]

He got the film.

[Joe Thomas]

Chris got the film. Because, look, Ben is tough to bring down, so. So he was like, okay, he wants. Yeah, yeah, you got. You got to look at that again, bro. And I gotta look at it again. I'm gonna tell. I'm gonna tell this alleged story, and

[James Harrison]

it's a recruiter Myron Wyler story.

[Joe Thomas]

No, it's a recruiting story.

[James Harrison]

Oh, okay, okay, okay.

[Joe Thomas]

Cause, you know, we used to recruit and we used to bring certain players over to guys house to meet them, and we made a mistake, Joe, and brought a recruit to Jaaybo. Yes. And it was just like a pre. Before we hang out. Yeah. So alleged. And I. I'm allegedly an eyewitness. I'm saying all this so we can. We can. I'm giving him cover. So this may or may not happen. Right, but we know it happened. But maybe allegedly, right?

[Cribs]

Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

So we walk in there with the young recruit, still in high school, you know, in the choir. Never tasted a lick of alcohol before, for sure. We about to take him out to show him a good time and show him, hey, Kent State has a lot to offer. We gonna stop past one of our, you know, our star linebackers, you know, place let you meet him. We get in the spot. Jaebo's sitting at a round table, bro. He's sitting at the table. We like, yeah, this such and such. And he told him he slammed a bottle. A glass shot. A shot glass on the table. Bang. Yeah. He was like, Take a shot. We like, what? Like. And we laughing and he put.

[James Harrison]

Oh, he missing the story. He messing the story up.

[Joe Thomas]

151. 151.

[Cribs]

Oh, my God.

[Joe Thomas]

151.

[James Harrison]

I'll tell you. And he tells. I'm gonna tell you the story.

[Joe Thomas]

Get some hair on. Get some hair under your arms. Young butt. Get some hair under your arms. You ready for division one? Get some hair under your arms. He like, we like, take a shot and we like, yeah, man, he don't drink, man. Yeah, yeah. He don't drink. And. Hold on, man, let me get. I ain't gonna mess my story up. Y' all still got me?

[Cribs]

Yeah, I got you.

[Joe Thomas]

All right. So the guy we. We like, man. He don't drink. He pulled out a revolver, who Allegedly.

[Cribs]

Allegedly.

[Joe Thomas]

And slams it on the table. Boom. No, you gonna drink. And we like, hey, yeah, you gotta drink that. You got. I know you don't drink, but you gotta drink that. So the young buck. The young buck take he 151. And he kinda starts weeping a little bit. We like, all right, Jaybo. We just wanna introduce ourselves to him and we just gonna head out. Yeah, Took him out of there. We like, man, we can't bring over Cruise over here no more. Ain't nobody gonna come here.

[Cribs]

Ain't nobody gonna come there.

[Joe Thomas]

151, bro. For the first time, his first three.

[James Harrison]

Listen, listen.

[Cribs]

I tell you.

[James Harrison]

Stop, stop.

[Joe Thomas]

Witness like Peter Paul.

[James Harrison]

I'm gonna tell you. I'm gonna tell you the truth for the story. Listen, listen, listen. I'm gonna tell you.

[Joe Thomas]

Allegedly.

[James Harrison]

Sit back, sit back. I'm gonna tell you the real story. Okay? He got it messed up. He got it messed up. I'm listening. So I was a little different back then.

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah, for sure.

[Cribs]

Okay.

[James Harrison]

I was something different.

[Joe Thomas]

That's an understanding

[James Harrison]

now. So this is what happened. The recruit had nothing to do with that. He just happened to be there. The person that wanted the drink was, dude, Myron Waller. That's who you're talking about.

[Joe Thomas]

Okay?

[James Harrison]

So I'm sitting there and I got a fifth and a pint. I used to drink so heavy back then. That's what it took me to get a buzz.

[Cribs]

Oh, my goodness. Okay.

[James Harrison]

Myron is.

[Joe Thomas]

You see the monster we was dealing with, Joe? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[James Harrison]

Listen, listen, listen. So Myron is sitting there like, yo, deebo Jaebo, let me get a drink. Let me get a drink. I'm like, no, man, I need all this to drink. I need all this, man. So finally, I'm all right. To hell with it. Red solo cup, right? I take the red Solo cup and I pour him a shot. But I pour my shot, so the shot is like that big. And I say, all right, here you go, man. Drink it. He say, I can't drink all that. I say, what you mean you can't drink all that? You done sat here and begged me for this shit. And you telling me you can't drink all that? Nah, nah, Jay Bo, I can't drink all that, man. I can't drink all that. At one time. I said, well, could you drink it if your life depended on it? He said, yeah.

[Joe Thomas]

I said, that's even worse now that Crips.

[James Harrison]

And he drank it.

[Joe Thomas]

You.

[Cribs]

Oh, okay.

[Joe Thomas]

And I told the PG13STOR

[Cribs]

it wasn't EPG.

[James Harrison]

You was P. Then he went straight. It wasn't a recruit. I'm just tell you this real.

[Joe Thomas]

He turned it into a documentary.

[James Harrison]

You know, that's that. Like I said, I was.

[Joe Thomas]

I was. I was unsolved mystery back then. Hey. And that wasn't. That was just a tip. That was just a. You know. You see what type of guy he was? Feared.

[Cribs]

Yeah.

[Joe Thomas]

So we started clearing him, Joe.

[James Harrison]

Hey, you know, I lost a bunch of scholarships off of who I was back then, Joe. I could have went anywhere, Joe. I could have went. Real talk. I could have went anywhere.

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah, he could have. Hey, look. Hey, Joe. My son goes to his old high school in Akron. Hoban. Yeah, yeah, My son go there and they. They tell stories of him.

[James Harrison]

Like, I was only there my freshman year.

[Joe Thomas]

Legend, like, fictitious. They. They like, oh, James. James Harrison. Yeah. Yeah.

[Insurance Advertiser]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe Thomas]

He went here for a hot minute, and then it was. And then to that incident. I was like. The incident. I was like, what you mean? They was like, oh, I didn't call. We don't talk about that no more. That's what they said. We don't. They looking around like, we don't really talk about that no more. Just tell your son he gonna have a good education here. He gonna play football. I was like, james went here for real. I was like, I ain't know. You know, we went to college and we played. He was like, yeah. I was like, so what happened? Nothing. I mean, we just going. And they wouldn't tell me what happened.

[James Harrison]

You wanna know what happened?

[Joe Thomas]

Nah, nah, we gotta say that. Next show for show.

[James Harrison]

This is what happened. So my freshman year, it was me and my dude, Wayne. Wayne. Wayne Humphrey. So we was playing ball, whatever. Da, da, da. So Wayne got a hold of a. A diary, a Journal. A dude had a journal, okay? And in this dude's journal, this is a private Catholic school. He's talking about how they doing all these drugs and all this sex and all this stuff, right? And dude is a senior at the time, so Wayne has it. I look at it, we read through it, whatever, laughing, whatever.

[Cribs]

Yeah.

[James Harrison]

He goes somewhere else with it. He shows a bunch of other people. It gets back that I have the book, or we had the book, whatever. I'm like, listen, I ain't got the book, bro. And I don't know who got it because I, you know, I ain't no snitch. I don't know.

[Cribs]

Yeah, don't press me.

[James Harrison]

Don't press.

[Joe Thomas]

Go ahead.

[James Harrison]

Right? So he goes away. He comes back like, three days later, and he presses me right before homeroom. Everybody's out there, bro. Everybody's out there. I know you got the book. They already told me. Da, da, da, da, da, da. All this. I'm like, dude, I told you I ain't got the book. So go ahead and get out my face. He says something, and I. I go to swing on him, and dude grabs me. My dude grabbed me. I'm like, all right, cool. I'm like, I ain't gonna hit him. Blah, blah, blah. Let me go. Bell rings. We about to go to homeroom, right? So as I go to walk, he done pulled me back.

[Cribs]

Oh.

[James Harrison]

I'm like, yo, I got. I gotta walk, like, towards him. And he's like, no, no, no. I'm like, I gotta go that way. My home room is that way, bro. I gotta go that way. And, bruh, as I'm walking, I get like two feet from this dude, maybe four, and he goes, yeah, that's what I thought. And I just let loose. Fly, bang. He fall into the classroom, dude. I jump up over top of him to get some more.

[Sean Duffy]

I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The sound of a seatbelt. It's one of the most important sounds in our car. It means everyone is ready and everyone is safe. The more our kids see us put on our seatbelts, the more natural it is for them to put theirs on, too. Make it a priority. Buckle up every time. Hear the sound. Make it a habit. Paid for by NHTSA

[Amazon Health AI]

Amazon Health AI

[Amazon Health AI Voice]

presents Painful Thoughts I. I can't stop scratching my downtown.

[Joe Thomas]

Mm.

[Amazon Health AI Voice]

Yeah, but I'm not itching to go downtown and tell a receptionist I'm here to talk about my downtown. Some things you'd rather type than say out loud.

[Amazon Health AI]

There's no question. Too embarrassing. For Amazon Health. AI chat your symptoms and get virtual care 24. 7 Healthcare just got less painful,

[Cribs]

so

[IBM Representative]

there's a lot of noise about AI. But time's too tight for more promises, so let's talk about results. At IBM, we work with our employees to integrate technology right into the systems they need. Now a global workforce of 300,000 can use AI to fill their HR questions, resolving 94% of common questions, not noise Proof of how we can help companies get smarter by putting AI where it actually pays off, deep in the work that moves the business. Let's create smarter business IBM the next

[Insurance Advertiser]

30 seconds could save you hundreds on your car insurance at the Hartford, we're passionate about your protection. If you're 50 or over, AARP auto insurance from the Hartford gives you benefits that really matter, and you could save $597 when you switch. How's that for a little peace of mind? Visit trusthartford.com today the Hartford your protection is our passion. The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. Pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers.

[Podcast Announcer]

Savings vary My hydradenitis suprativa symptoms made me pull back from my plans, my work, my friends.

[Amazon Health AI Voice]

I wanted to pull life closer, not push it away.

[Podcast Announcer]

I talked with my doctor about Cosentyx and found real relief.

[Cosentyx Advertiser]

Cosentyx Secukinumab is prescribed for adults and children 12 years of age and older with moderate to severe hidradenitis suprativa. Don't use if allergic to Cosentyx. Get checked for TB before starting. Increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur like TB or other serious bacterial, fungal or viral infections. Some are fatal. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough. Had a vaccine or planned to or if IBD symptoms develop or worsen, serious allergic reactions and severe eczema like skin reactions may occur. Learn more at 1-844-COSENTIX or cosentix.com Ask a dermatologist about Cosentyx.

[Cribs]

Give him some more.

[James Harrison]

Don't grab me again. He already out he sleep. I knocked out his molar bro.

[Cribs]

I hit him so hard and it

[Joe Thomas]

was I hear it was a church right next door. The chapel was right next door. So the priest come out and it was the ladies and they had to

[James Harrison]

take him to the hospital and everything bro. I tried bro. I tried, I tried. I tried to give him everything I had bro. I don't know what? He thought. He thought. He thought it was something sweet because I was a freshman, bro. That wasn't even happening, bro.

[Joe Thomas]

A different breed, Joe. A different breed.

[James Harrison]

Listen, don't lie on me, bro.

[Joe Thomas]

I said I'm just.

[Cribs]

The one thing he's not doing is lying on it.

[Joe Thomas]

Maybe I don't take it to the level at which he's taking it for sure. I'm trying to tell a story that can be. That kids can learn a lesson.

[James Harrison]

Maybe you learned the lesson, man. Hey, I'm gonna crib.

[Cribs]

This is the lesson I learned. You got to understand where not to take the recruits. Yeah, I'm like, you already know. Don't go over the debo crib.

[James Harrison]

That wasn't even it, dude.

[Joe Thomas]

That.

[James Harrison]

It had nothing to do with the recruit. He's saying that right now. Just happened to be there.

[Cribs]

Okay, yeah.

[James Harrison]

When you saw that. Go on.

[Joe Thomas]

Maybe we just happened to be that. You know what? That's what it was. Y' all had y' all own thing already going on.

[James Harrison]

Yes.

[Cribs]

And y' all just.

[Joe Thomas]

We came over upperclassmen, you know. Yeah. You know, I'm the qb. I go to my. My. The linebacker, you know?

[James Harrison]

Yeah.

[Cribs]

I go to my man's job.

[Joe Thomas]

I'm thinking it's ought to be all cool.

[James Harrison]

Yeah, it was cool until he started asking me for a drink. And I'm like, dude, I need all

[Joe Thomas]

this a life or death situation. And, dude, I'm in his life or death, Joe. It's life or death for all of us. We all felt like, hey, bro, you gotta do that right now.

[Cribs]

I go over there for a pre game, I leave fighting for my life. I don't know.

[Joe Thomas]

Yes, bro.

[James Harrison]

I swear, man. Y' all some work around here, man.

[Joe Thomas]

Hey, look, when he did that, I was like, what's the number to campus security again? In my head, like, man,

[James Harrison]

hold up. What's the number to 91 1?

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah, bro, I lost my bro. I couldn't think of nothing. The thoughts just left my mind. I'm like, what do we do in case of emergency?

[James Harrison]

I wouldn't go kill him, but I knew that was gonna get him to drink it.

[Joe Thomas]

You know what I'm saying? Oh, you had all of us straight.

[Cribs]

Oh, my God. Had y' all boy scared straight in there.

[James Harrison]

Yeah, bro, listen, I knew we shouldn't have had him. I knew I was thinking in my head. I wonder how much he actually remembered asleep.

[Cribs]

So he's.

[James Harrison]

You know what I'm saying?

[Cribs]

That memory.

[James Harrison]

That man, memory.

[Cribs]

Memory is on point.

[James Harrison]

It's spotty. Though it's spotty. Though. I had to clean it up.

[Joe Thomas]

It's spotty just a little. I just told. I told. You told Peter and Paul story. I'm telling. Telling Luke, you know, like, like, like it's Jesus from the. You know, in the Bible. We telling different accounts of our different experiences of the same event.

[James Harrison]

Okay, okay.

[Joe Thomas]

Same event.

[James Harrison]

Okay.

[Cribs]

Same event. Okay.

[Joe Thomas]

Same event. Okay.

[Cribs]

It's his perspective. Your perspective in the. In the. In the true perspective.

[James Harrison]

Yeah. Hey, man, how many times did y' all beat us, man?

[Joe Thomas]

Oh, there he goes. So why you gotta try to flip it like that?

[James Harrison]

No, I'm asking the question because I wanna. I wanna get to how that felt. Cause I know the one game y' all did beat us, man.

[Cribs]

Yeah, we was getting.

[James Harrison]

Remember the real game, y' all beat us, we would get geeked.

[Joe Thomas]

Oh, why you trying to say, like, it's. That's what you said, like we had an advantage. The real, real cold. No, no, no. They not two hours south of.

[James Harrison]

I'm just saying we both was on the same field. I'm talking about that game was.

[Joe Thomas]

I'm not gonna lie, cold, bro.

[James Harrison]

Them boys was over there celebrating like they had won the Super Bowl. What was that, 2008 or something like that? 2009. Hey, look, it was our super bowl running over us.

[Joe Thomas]

We cannot guess it was our super bowl, cuz. Look, any. Anytime we had a winning season, we had to go through. And I'mma school you because you was in a winning organization for a long time. So I'm going to school you about the total scope of the AFC North. The AFC north consisted of teams that even when a team went 10, six, they still couldn't go to the playoffs because Baltimore was 11 and 5 and y' all was 12 and 4. So we still couldn't even make the playoffs at 10 and 6. You guys, if you look at your team, you arguably had hall of Famers on offense and defense. Facts, I mean, that's just facts off. I mean, offense and defense, you guys had Hines Ward, you had Palamalu on defense, you had yourself, y' all had Port. I mean, if you look at your. Your offense, you. You know Ben, he's a Hall of Famer.

[Cribs]

Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

Y' all always had a star running back, that quarterback. You look at y' all squad, Baltimore squad, and this was when Flacco was in his. His heyday. And then we. We brought up the rear with, you know, Cincinnati, the Battle of Ohio. So the AFC north in that time was so stacked, everything ran through the AFC north, whoever was on the top of the AFC north, they're going to the playoffs and have the best chance to win the Super Bowl. So when you say. I have to put it in perspective for your fans who already know not to just say, oh, the Browns were some trash. Nah, we went 10, six, and we still couldn't get in the playoffs. That's crazy. And then that's the year y' all went to the super bowl against the Cardinals. Who was like 9 and who made it? They was like 8 and 8 or 9 and 6 or something like that. 9 and 10, and they made it, and they weren't supposed to be there. And you got Super Bowl MVP running that kickback. Running that.

[James Harrison]

I should have got it. What's the name? Got it. Tone. Got it.

[Joe Thomas]

You ain't get that?

[James Harrison]

No, that's a. That's a whole nother story. I should have got it. They wanted to give it to me. Go ahead.

[Joe Thomas]

I was biased. I was biased. But, yeah, I remember he did get that. That catch in the back of the end zone. Yeah, yeah, that was the catch in the end zone. But that. You stopped them from scoring and you ran it back. Full test. I thought that was more impactful.

[James Harrison]

It was an argument about it. Let's just say that when I got to the podium, they hadn't picked it yet. They thought it was gonna be me. But sources say that somebody put a hold on and said if I get it, they wouldn't go be doing nothing else with the NFL because I had dogged the punt returner. I mean, on the punt return, I had. I had mushed the dude that tried to cut me. What's his name?

[Cribs]

Yeah.

[Joe Thomas]

So you. Basically, they was like, he not gonna represent the Shield. Well, we can't give it.

[James Harrison]

I got a flash.

[Joe Thomas]

Can't give it to him. They looked at your history.

[James Harrison]

No. Well, that play right there, they were like, oh, no, he shouldn't get it because of that. It was just one person, though. No longer with us, though.

[Joe Thomas]

Oh. Oh.

[James Harrison]

Just go back to the game, think about who's no longer with us. I ain't gonna.

[Joe Thomas]

Wow.

[James Harrison]

Very, very popular person, though.

[Joe Thomas]

Hey, I thought you should have got it, though, like, because we wasn't there. I was rooting for. And look, you know, I got hate for rooting for you. And I was trying to tell people to separate that because I'm like, look like I can root for a guy. I'm not rooting for his team. Like, when he made it, you know, as far as he made on the Biggest stage, Like, we out of it, man. We at home watching. I'm like, I'm rooting for that guy to do well. And when he, you know, made it today, he was like, man, that's. He's a Steeler. I'm like, yeah, man. He had golden flash first, so people couldn't understand that. Even though he. I feel like, honestly, I'm gonna just say that I feel like he have all his screws. Like, I was like, you gonna hit the quarterback like that? I'm like, man, hey, man,

[James Harrison]

he's.

[Joe Thomas]

He's a little challenged on the rules of football.

[James Harrison]

I am not challenged on the rules of football.

[Joe Thomas]

He sees red, and then after he

[Cribs]

sees red, he gonna steal his.

[James Harrison]

Gotta wait till the whistle blow.

[Joe Thomas]

Gotta wait till he come out of.

[James Harrison]

He came to the Browns in what, 2005, right?

[Joe Thomas]

Say that again.

[James Harrison]

You came to the Browns 2005, right? Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

And you was already in and then

[James Harrison]

Joe came in 2010.

[Joe Thomas]

Yes.

[James Harrison]

Right. What was Joe like as a rookie? Did he come in there with all that money, throwing it in y' all face, talking crazy?

[Cribs]

No, sir.

[Joe Thomas]

The opposite.

[James Harrison]

The hell no. You better say something reckless about.

[Joe Thomas]

Joe came in, let him know Chris. And we was torching Joe. Ah, you remember that, Joe? We. The whole receiving core was like, we gonna make

[James Harrison]

the train, get all this money, go routes.

[Joe Thomas]

We basically had to put the test on him.

[James Harrison]

Hey, just go. Just go.

[Joe Thomas]

Go route, everybody. And look, he was like, man, what's. What's going on? Like, we ain't give him nothing but straight go routes and was catching everything. It was like, huh? He just couldn't believe, like, it wasn't gonna be a dig, a slant, straight

[Cribs]

go routes every time.

[Joe Thomas]

Every single time.

[James Harrison]

And then you gotta come back for the next play.

[Joe Thomas]

I'm gonna tell you this. He came back for training camp. Locking everybody down. Come on. Locking everybody. We had to give it to him. Locking everybody down. In training camp, it was as if he watched film on all the receivers on his. All of them.

[James Harrison]

Man, I'm about to get into training camp. I'm a whack.

[Joe Thomas]

Exactly.

[James Harrison]

Now, like, he came.

[Joe Thomas]

He came ready out here looking like,

[James Harrison]

I ain't a first round pick, but

[Joe Thomas]

that's what we wanted from him when he. He came to camp to minicamp. Ota, we like, man, we about to. We about to let him know what the league is going to be if you can't stop them. Simple to go route. You. You gonna get tossed in this league. He came in training camp ready, ball to the wall. Ready, ready thank you.

[James Harrison]

Did that have anything to do with that slow 40 time you ran, man, shut up.

[Cribs]

That was my back. Hey, look, go back to cribs when I got there, bro. This one, I'm gonna say, you were so deep into the city of Cleveland, bro. Like, doing everything. Everybody. Like, the biggest fan favorite. What was that for you? Like, what, when you got to Cleveland, made you want to be so involved into the city? Cause that's what I did also, bruh. And I really kind of got it from you, like, moving, grooving, getting around.

[Joe Thomas]

I think it was more so, you know, how I got there, you know, not being drafted, you know, from the bottom up. It was only two spots that they was, you know, letting on the team. And it was either, you know, practice squad or, you know, special teams. And it was just two spots. It was 30 guys, just two spots. So just looking at how I made the team, you know, blue collar, like, ground up, you know, getting in from the back door, you know, making it from the ground up, it was like, that's what I identified as. And then, remember, I came in with Braylon Edwards, who was 18, 5. That's how I remember. And I'll tell a story about him in a second. But, you know, seeing all the money y' all got coming in, I'm like, you know, I have to represent the guys who. The free agent guys who make their way to the top. So how did. And I'm always thinking long term, like, man, the fans pay a lot of money. Let me treat them right. Yeah. You know, life after football type stuff, having that mentality, man. Treat the guys, they rooting for us. Even. Like J. Bo said, man, you know, we beat them. We beat the Steelers one time, and our fans treated us like royalty.

[Cribs]

Yeah.

[Joe Thomas]

We was at the Cavs game on

[Cribs]

the front row floors all the time.

[Joe Thomas]

They put us on a Jumbotron. Yeah. Like, and show highlights of the game. And was showing me ball out. I was like, oh, my gosh, I can get used to this. You mean all we gotta do is beat the Steelers? We weren't nothing but, like six and.

[James Harrison]

Oh, that's a tall feet.

[Joe Thomas]

But it was. Y' all was super bowl playoff contenders every single year. So we beat that team, but y' all didn't make it that team. So we played spoiler. We played spoiler to them.

[James Harrison]

Joe. Joe.

[Cribs]

Yes.

[James Harrison]

It was so cold that game. We did not give a damn about losing. We wanted to get back inside, and

[Joe Thomas]

it kicked us out of the players. It's an excuse.

[James Harrison]

It's not an excuse.

[Joe Thomas]

They gave their own question about.

[James Harrison]

But I'm trying to tell you they

[Joe Thomas]

played their hearts out.

[Cribs]

I know they play their hearts out, man.

[James Harrison]

They play, bruh.

[Joe Thomas]

You think Tomlin would have had the playoffs?

[Cribs]

They not going out like that. Exactly.

[Joe Thomas]

Exactly.

[James Harrison]

I'm trying to tell you, bro. I'm just trying to tell you.

[Cribs]

Debo. You saying now, Debo, that's how I know you.

[James Harrison]

I'm telling you. I'm not lying to you, Joe.

[Joe Thomas]

Excuse me.

[Cribs]

Telling me you was too cold to play the game. You love you.

[James Harrison]

Was you a lot. They won. Y' all won. No question about it, bro. I don't. That. That. That's. That's what happened. But I'm just telling you that it kicked us out of the playoffs. And I was so cold after we lost, bro, I didn't care. I just wanted to get off that field.

[Joe Thomas]

But you know what? It was cold. I remember hitting the ground and it felt like concrete, bruh. The ground felt like concrete when it's cold.

[James Harrison]

Listen, bruh, I'm trying to. That's the coldest game I ever played in. In my life. I'm. I'm sitting it. I never go out to warm up, bro. I never, never go out to warm up. Everybody coming in talking about, oh, man, it's so cold. It's this and that. I'm like, man, shut up, man. It ain't cold outside, man. I'm from ohi. I know what it's like, man. Right? So we had a thing that if you put on sleeves as a linebacker, that's a fine, Joe.

[Cribs]

Yeah.

[James Harrison]

When I stepped out that tunnel and the cross breeze came, it was raining, but it already turned to sleep. And it was needles. It hit my arms, Joe. I got three steps out and I did like this and started to turn around to put sleeves on, and I said, if I do it, they're going to kill me. That was the coldest game I ever played in my life, bruh.

[Joe Thomas]

That's funny. My coldest game was in Pittsburgh. And one. It wasn't snowing or nothing. It was. It was.

[James Harrison]

Oh, you talking about zero.

[Joe Thomas]

It was so cold. I. I was catching a cramp, shivering. And I remember getting hit and blocking and doing all.

[James Harrison]

I was losing. That's why.

[Joe Thomas]

That's what I was going to tell you. You only felt the cold. That's why I was losing.

[Cribs]

You only felt the cold that time y' all lost. That's why this game, after all, it's

[James Harrison]

a lot colder ever. Ever, bruh. Ever in my life, bro. Like, I would have. I would have took a. I. I would have took a fine just to be warm, bro. That's the only game where at least half of the team, bro, was running to the heater every time out.

[Cribs]

Facts.

[James Harrison]

If not the whole team, bro, if

[Cribs]

not the whole defense, I'd be stuck by the heater. Question, though, Chris.

[Joe Thomas]

Look, I got a question for you. Lake Erie.

[James Harrison]

That off the lake, Wind blowing, all that? Yeah. That is not pretty.

[Cribs]

Go ahead.

[Joe Thomas]

So you know how. You know how they change the rules, right? Far as, like, hitting the quarterback.

[Cribs]

Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

Did that make for James? Did that make you feel like. Because I know you were still hitting the quarterback the same way, and you was getting fine the same way, and you and Goodell kind of had that back and forth for a long time. Did you get the. This is for me not being in y' all locker room. Did you get an okay from. From Tomlin? Like, go, do you. I always wanted to know that. Did you get the okay from your squad?

[James Harrison]

I. I never. I never got a okay. I changed how I was hitting guys, to be honest with you. I tried to try to change. I tried to lower my strike area, but when you lower and they lower, you end up hitting at the same place.

[Joe Thomas]

Right?

[James Harrison]

Like. Yeah, listen, I went into the. When I went into meet with Roger Goodell, right? And I'm giving them the most impossible scenario. I said, if I go to tackle a guy, and I said, at the last second, I'm going to tackle his ankles. I said, I'm going to tackle his ankles. I'm talking to Merton Hanks, and I tackle his ankles. And I said, the last second, he bent his whole body in half and put his head down there, and I hit his helmet. That's on me. Yeah. I said, well, we ain't got nothing else to talk about.

[Cribs]

Mm.

[James Harrison]

We ain't got nothing else to talk about.

[Joe Thomas]

So you was like, I'm gonna just go play. Cause I know I'm gonna get fined either way.

[James Harrison]

Either way, you're fine. If for anything.

[Cribs]

If my helmet touches his helmet.

[James Harrison]

Yeah, it don't matter that it's my fault or him lowering his head into the position. Like, I tell you the worst possible could ever happen, that he literally sees me diving at his ankles and he dropped his head to his ankle and I hit him helmet to helmet. That's on me.

[Joe Thomas]

I'm gonna do that. In today's game, would you not be as effective?

[James Harrison]

No, I would be way more effective, to be honest with you, because I started lowering my target area you remember, I almost tore some ACLs.

[Joe Thomas]

But that's the thing. You can't hit QBs, though, and used to hit, bro.

[James Harrison]

A running quarterback, you can hit however you want to. I never, like, really had issues with tackling the quarterback. I got, like, fined twice on the tackle from a quarterback, and that was because of. It was Fitz Fitzpatrick. And I hit him in the chest, I guess, and that was a form tackle, bro. Face up. And they were like, oh, it was too hard of a tackle. But I never really got fined for, like, just outright like, oh, you hit the quarterback elite. It was. It was play. It was on receivers and running backs and stuff like that.

[Cribs]

Hey, Crips.

[Joe Thomas]

Yes, sir.

[Cribs]

Think, man. What you think? We've been having big conversations about our Browns quarterback decision. We got Shador, we got desean Watson.

[James Harrison]

What do you think?

[Cribs]

What do you think? Cribs, my fellow Brown quarterback.

[Joe Thomas]

What do you mean? I'm gonna be honest. This is. You be honest. I'mma be honest. I'm going to tell you what I want. Yes. I want your door. I think. When, When. And I only say that because our fan base is divided on desean. Because we just want to win.

[Cribs]

Yeah.

[Joe Thomas]

So I'm in a camp of, hey, I just want to win. I don't care who the qb. I just want somebody there that's going to help us win, Right?

[Cribs]

Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

And for me, you can't judge the type of quarterback Shador is from practice. It's when the light's cut on. Just like Baker Mayfield, when the lights cut on, then he's able and capable of doing something special, especially with an off season.

[Cribs]

Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

However, it's business. How much? How much Desean getting? 45 million. 46.

[Cribs]

46.

[Joe Thomas]

Regardless if he sit the bench or not.

[Cribs]

Yes.

[Joe Thomas]

And if it's our team and I'm spending that money, I'm like, man, look, man, come on. Cause the money's gonna be spent regardless.

[James Harrison]

Yes. So, I mean, it's been spent the last couple years, and you ain't got a chance to use him. What's the difference in giving him his last year and saying, hey, go ahead and get the rest? Because the hit, you see what my young boy could do?

[Joe Thomas]

The hit has to quantify the talent. If he didn't have it no more and you saw it, that's one thing. But if you see him, he looks.

[James Harrison]

But my thing is this. How much better does he have to be for you to say, I'm gonna put you in here and risk having to pay him another 40 and not give Shador the chance to develop.

[Joe Thomas]

He's gonna get the 40 regardless.

[James Harrison]

I understand that. But if he goes in there and say he plays not extremely well, but he plays well enough that you win, you get into the playoffs. You win a playoff game. Now you go. You go. Let him go for sure.

[Joe Thomas]

If we get in the playoff game, we winning.

[James Harrison]

I understand that, but his contract is

[Joe Thomas]

up after this year.

[James Harrison]

You go give him another 40.

[Cribs]

No.

[Joe Thomas]

No.

[James Harrison]

So let me say this put him in a position.

[Joe Thomas]

Then let me say this is the ideal situation for me.

[Sean Duffy]

I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The sound of a Seatbelt it's one of the most important sounds in our car. It means everyone is ready and everyone is safe. The more our kids see us put on our seatbelts, the more natural it is for them to put theirs on too. Make it a priority. Buckle up every time. Hear the sound. Make it a habit. Paid for by NHTSA

[Amazon Health AI]

Amazon Health AI presents Painful thoughts Find it.

[Podcast Host]

I searched the Internet for answers to my cold sore problem. Now I'm stuck down a rabbit hole filled with images of alarmingly graphic source in various stages of ooze. I can clear my search history, but I can never unsee that.

[Amazon Health AI]

Don't go down the rabbit hole. Amazon Health AI gets you the right care fast. Healthcare just got less painful.

[IBM Representative]

The thing about AI for business, it may not automatically fit the way your business works. At IBM, we've seen this firsthand. But by embedding AI across hr, IT and procurement processes, we've reduced costs by millions, slash repetitive tasks, and freed thousands of hours for strategic work. Now we're helping companies get smarter by putting AI where it actually pays off, deep in the work that moves the business. Let's create smarter business.

[Insurance Advertiser]

IBM the next 30 seconds could save you hundreds on your car insurance. At the Hartford, we're passionate about your protection. If you're 50 or over, AARP Auto Insurance from the Hartford gives you benefits that really matter and you could save $597 when you switch. How's that for a little peace of mind? Visit trustheartford.com today the Hartford your protection is our passion. The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. Pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. Savings vary.

[Podcast Announcer]

My Hydradinitis suprativa symptoms made me pull back from my plans, my work, my friends.

[Amazon Health AI Voice]

I wanted to pull life closer, not push it away.

[Podcast Announcer]

I talked with my doctor about Cosentyx and found real relief.

[Cosentyx Advertiser]

Cosentix Secukinumab is prescribed for adults and children 12 years of age and older with moderate to severe hidradenitis suprativa. Don't use if allergic to Cosentyx. Get checked for TB before starting. Increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur like TB or other serious bacterial, fungal or viral infections. Some are fatal. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough, had a vaccine or planned to, or if IBD symptoms develop or worsen. Serious allergic reactions and severe eczema like skin reactions may occur. Learn more at 1-844-cosentix or cosentyx.com Ask a dermatologist about Cosentyx and yes, I

[Joe Thomas]

want your door to play. I just, I mean our fans want to see it and I want to see if he can win with a full off season. But the scenario would be for him to start to be the guy once the new stadium is built. So we're building a new stadium. You know that Joe. Yeah, it's supposed to be super bowl worthy of our fan base and it's going to be fire. How good would it be to feature Shador as the new starting quarterback then once the and I don't want to say DeShawn fiasco or but once we see that through, then in come a new era. Yeah, I still want you. That still doesn't. That's where I kind of like, I'm kind of like iffy about because I'm still on his side because I want to see a change. I want our fan base to be united right now. It's not because Deshaun is getting the first reps. He's just getting the first reps in practice. And he looks good. If I'm a quarterback coach, if I'm a head coach, he looks like the protege, the prototype for qb. That's what d' Sean looks like. Todd Monkin he came from the Ravens where his last game, Deshaun Watson's last game, he led a comeback against him in great fashion before he went out with the injury and had to, you know, to had all that happen the game he came back, he was leading a victory. He was leading the Browns into score before the Achilles. Every time he got he's gotten injured, he was on his way back to do something special. He was propelling the team. You saw it, it was like, oh, can they find something from him? And yes, the fan base and the media around here, they're kind of done with him. But if you look at the reps that he's taken, if I'm a betting man, I'm thinking it's going to be desean because of the reps. And we heard what Todd Monken said. Todd Monken said, you know, I want to give, you know, my starter, whoever going to be the first, you know, the leading quarterback, QB1. Most of the reps. Well, Desean has been getting most of the reps. That's not me wanting him to be the starter. That's just what is being seen. Yeah, that's just what was seen. Again, I've been around Shador and you know, Joe. We played in the, the, the, the celebrity softball games. We had fun and we got to be around the team and alumni weekend.

[James Harrison]

Going back to that. Listen, going back to. Going back to Monkin and you saying he's giving the guy, you know, all the reps. Don't say, no, no, no, no. Don't forget. He did say, he said, now this can change. And then he added that, you know, it can change even if someone is getting 2/3 of the reps or someone is getting one third of the reps because he said you still have to play the preseason and you still got to see what you got. So you want your guys to get the reps. But just because he's getting 2/3 of the reps, he said, that doesn't mean he's going to be the starter.

[Joe Thomas]

They don't play in the preseason. Like when have you. If, if, if I think they're going to know who the quarterback is before the first preseason game. Because you don't. The Browns have. And that's unstoppancy. I didn't like that because I felt like now the first few games they're going to be rusty. I like how we used to do it, how they give, you know, especially the last preseason game, they give the starter a whole series and a half, you know, to get acclimated before that first game. However, that first, you'll see how the reps go. They don't. Teams don't really play their starter well. The Browns haven't really been playing well.

[James Harrison]

You got a new coach, you got a new coach. It may be different. He also said that once we get back on the field for those four weeks at the end of spring, that he would have a better idea. So, yeah, I believe he'll know who his starter is before the actual first he will game. But he's also, he probably already knows could change. And even though you're getting more reps doesn't mean you're necessarily going to be the starter.

[Joe Thomas]

Right? So I want to. I want to be real for a second, right. You the head coach. It's just incumbent upon you to kind of keep things, you know, keep the media quiet a little bit. Hey, everybody start off as an A and you earn your grade from there. That's kind of like blah, blah talk right there. That's like, you know, finagle. Yeah, I think they understand who the starter is. I believe they talk as an organization who they want the starter to be. And they're going to get that guy prepared behind the scenes. And then we, as we in the media or fan base, we kind of surmise we make our opinion, you know, based off of not just who we want, but who, who we see who's looking like is going to be the favorite. Right? Now we know the favorite for the fan base and, you know, national fan base. They want to see Shador, you know, and we, we heard Mary Kay make her opinion on what she sees out there.

[James Harrison]

Right.

[Joe Thomas]

And, and I remember Shiloh, like Shadow's family, he don't like. They didn't like what she said. But she out there, she's seeing the same thing that we, you know, I see it on online, I'm like, dang, desean taking all.

[James Harrison]

You gotta realize she's credible too. I mean, when it comes down to it, it's an opinion and she's stating facts of what she's seen.

[Joe Thomas]

Right.

[James Harrison]

So you can't get upset with that because facts in an opinion. Right.

[Cribs]

That's the same way when you talking about it, you're saying at the very beginning you stated, I would like it to be Shador.

[Joe Thomas]

Right.

[Cribs]

But then knowing at the end of the day that it is a business and seeing that if Deshaun Watson is healthy, he's out here playing well, the. That could be a reason. I'm more where you were at first. I like Shador.

[James Harrison]

We got weapons.

[Cribs]

We gonna get a line around him. We got a coach that can show him and teach him. Last year, he wasn't getting no reps. He wasn't getting no vibes. He doesn't know exactly. No, no love. So I think a coach that can help him grow, I think that'd be great. So with desean, I understand when you bring it to the money part, that's 46 mil. And we know even if he does ball out this year and wins the playoff game, he's not. We're not re signing him to any more money. But I'M with you to the point where I'd rather go Shador first and if Shador doesn't perform then we can let. Then we can put desean back in and see what happens. Or Jalen Green, the third string quarterback but having Deshaun Watson start off first and him potentially being able to go out there and ball, he's not our long term future.

[Joe Thomas]

See that's the fan in me. I have your opinion as the fan in me, as the football fan I want just that. But as a coach, the only reason I would say Deshaun is because now he's built value even though Shedor is the future. Now I can trade. It's going to be some trades. Quarterbacks will go down. Deshaun will have some value. Maybe not at that high level but enough so we can eat, so another team can eat the cost and offset the cost.

[James Harrison]

He's done off, he's done that to this year.

[Joe Thomas]

But that's what I'm saying. But he could be traded even in the beginning of the year if he shows that value.

[James Harrison]

Taking that 42, 46. Right. Nobody taking that 46.

[Joe Thomas]

They don't have to. They don't have to. They can, it can be an offset. They don't have to. They don't have to take the whole

[James Harrison]

thing and, and look teams will get 45, 41. I mean 451 teams will get desperate

[Joe Thomas]

when they need a QB1. When you need a QB1 for your season, teams will get desperate. But regardless I think you're toggling the one and the two from the Shador or Deshawn, it's a, it's a battle of them two right now. That's all I see and it's really in the, in the fan. Cause I think that the coaches made their minds up. They just keeping it tight lipped.

[James Harrison]

Well yeah, this is something else too. A lot of, A lot of hell coaches, players don't, don't realize they can ask you a question you ain't got to answer. You just got to be available for it.

[Joe Thomas]

Exactly.

[James Harrison]

You can say whatever the hell you want to say to the question. You can say hey James, do you feel about, you know Joe going out there and doing da da da. I like peanut butter and jelly.

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah, exactly.

[James Harrison]

I mean you ain't got to go that far with it. But I'm just saying, you know, look here man, we go jump into these super chats but bro, I want to tell you man, you should be in the hall of Fame, man.

[Cribs]

Thousand percent.

[James Harrison]

I had to Go and, and look at your comparison, man. I, I, you know, it's a good comparison, but it's a bad comparison for a guy that, you know, has played his career as has been as great as you have at the position of returner, man. You look at Barry Sanders, you look at Dan Marino, guys that haven't won a chip, you are that as a returner in this game. I, I, I really hope you make it to the hall, man, and, you know, I wish you all the best. We go jump into these super chats, though.

[Joe Thomas]

Appreciate y', all, man. Love it.

[James Harrison]

Oh, yes, sir, man, we got. Oh, you mads $5. He said, what do you think of Drew Aller? I'm not sure if he's, I'm not sure if you've given an assessment, but I would like to hear what you think of him. What do you think of Drew Allen?

[Joe Thomas]

I think y' all trying to find a qb. Y' all drafted the same. Y' all trying to find y' all next. Ben Roethlisberger by drafting these big quarterbacks. Y' all did it last year with Will Howard from O State, and this year, Drew and you should have saw, and you probably seen it, Joe, he had a hard time putting on that Browns hat. He's a die. I mean, that, that still is hat.

[Cribs]

That still is hat.

[James Harrison]

He'll die hard.

[Joe Thomas]

He's a die hard Browns fan. 30 years. His family has had season tickets. He'll do well for you guys. Reluctantly. He'll reluctantly play well.

[James Harrison]

Listen, listen, I'm gonna tell you this, I'm gonna tell you this right now. All that fan nepotism and all that stuff, that, that, that, that, that go out the window when you see who's signing your check. And I know that. I've been to Cincinnati. I've been, I've been, I've been, I've been in New England. You are still it. You got brown is on your check.

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah.

[James Harrison]

No, no, you got craft on your check. You a patriot now. Yeah, you can say that all you want to. That boy know where his bread is butter right now.

[Cribs]

That's a fact.

[James Harrison]

That's a fact. You understand? Look here, covenant. We got $50. Covenant life coming to life is our biggest fan, bro. Yes.

[Covenant Life]

100.

[James Harrison]

It ain't nobody that's bigger than her. She said, hello, my Joe.

[Cribs]

Yo.

[James Harrison]

She said, I am just trying to accept the things that I cannot control. And that is that. The jersey you have on. Josh, how important is special teams really to building championship teams? That obviously isn't a Browns question.

[Cribs]

Ringless ring. She tried to say ringless. See? Coveted. Life cribs.

[James Harrison]

Covenant life. Covenant life. Wolves.

[Cribs]

I like coveted. She a big Steelers fan, but she sometimes just shoots shots. Sometimes just a shot shooter.

[James Harrison]

So how important is special teams to building the championship team?

[Joe Thomas]

Well, the best teams had some of the greatest special teams units. You can look at the dynasty that Tom Brady, Bill Belichick had. They're special teams. And y' all know this, the special teams, it was top tier, you know, and you know, a lot of the better teams at the collegiate and the NFL level, special teams is like a no brainer, Joe. You know, it's been sometimes where our defense and special teams was the only thing to keep us in the game.

[Cribs]

Thousand percent.

[Joe Thomas]

That was the only thing that we had. Like, why is the returner and the kicker heralded in. In Cleveland? Because there was a time where that. That's all we had. And it changed. And special teams can change a game. When you have a good offense, a good defense, all you need is the superior special teams and they could change the play in one game.

[James Harrison]

Yep.

[Cribs]

Facts.

[James Harrison]

Okay, Facts, facts. Look here we got two. We got. We got $2 from telling Heckle Santi or something like that. It says JH92. True Blue Brothers keeper. That's true. True blue brothers keeper. What is that, Josh?

[Joe Thomas]

True blue. Maybe Kent State,

[James Harrison]

I guess. So it gotta be.

[Joe Thomas]

Or the blue collar, you know, special teams.

[James Harrison]

What is true blue?

[Joe Thomas]

I don't know. And you know, James. Hey, Joe, you know, James is going to speculate.

[James Harrison]

You have to explain that. Yes, yes.

[Cribs]

That was his initial.

[Joe Thomas]

He went up against me a couple times when I was in the box, too.

[Cribs]

Yeah, you had a. Like, what you mean kick off a turn?

[Joe Thomas]

Nah, punt. I had to block him.

[James Harrison]

Oh, no.

[Joe Thomas]

Yeah, he had just freestyle rush on me, bro. Like, just not even trying to block a punt, bro. He just gonna come and just tee off on me. I'm like, oh, bro, hey, like, come on.

[James Harrison]

I ain't about to let him run down there. I ain't about to be chasing him down that damn field, bro.

[Joe Thomas]

I'm like, bro, come on, man.

[James Harrison]

Nah, I'm fine. I'm firing off on him, man.

[Joe Thomas]

Hey, we had to punt so many times. Look, I cut him the first few times, but ain't but so many times you can cut him. We punting seven times. I'm like,

[James Harrison]

he hip.

[Joe Thomas]

I done gave him all my moves. I'm like, dang, we got punt again. Hey, bro, I went over to the other side. He followed me to the other side.

[Cribs]

You switch aside.

[James Harrison]

Yeah, they, they, they. They was like, yo, he go make the tackle. I'm like, nah, man, listen, y', all, I'm gonna do it. But listen, I'm not. I'm not trying. I'm not trying to block. I'm gonna try and maul him right here on this line.

[Joe Thomas]

Yes. And that was crazy. He wasn't even trying to get the block. I was like, man, go Brock the punt. He like, nah, man, I'm getting you.

[James Harrison]

Yes. Oh, man. Coming to Life. Back again. $50, she said. Please don't. Please don't say anything smart, because I know you'll be drilling me. Get out of my way. I had a vision of you, of you signing books. And the title was From Cut Days to Sundays. It was a best seller in 30 minutes. Built from rejection.

[Joe Thomas]

That's a hard title.

[James Harrison]

That's. That.

[Cribs]

That's a nice name right there.

[Joe Thomas]

That's a hard title. Go ahead.

[Cribs]

Coveted.

[James Harrison]

Oh, no. Covenant. Might be over there drinking again. She might be on that wine.

[Joe Thomas]

Hey, that's when the best ideas come up.

[James Harrison]

Right there.

[Bobcat Advertiser]

Yeah.

[James Harrison]

Hey, listen. Some of the best ideas, you know.

[Joe Thomas]

You know.

[Cribs]

Hey, hey,

[James Harrison]

Joe know facts.

[Cribs]

Come on, man. DJ I want to say $2.

[James Harrison]

He said, it means you realize. Means you realize.

[Cribs]

True blue.

[Joe Thomas]

True blue.

[James Harrison]

Oh, true blue.

[Joe Thomas]

Blue.

[James Harrison]

Real true blue through and through. True blue. Brother's keeper.

[Cribs]

Yes, sir.

[James Harrison]

True blue brothers keep it for show.

[Joe Thomas]

I might have to use that show,

[James Harrison]

I mean, on the field, not really, but I got to do my job. But on, off the field, like, yo, I told you, that's my guy right there. I bucks with him for show. 100. You know what I'm saying? Tell wifey.

[Joe Thomas]

Yay.

[James Harrison]

Tell wifey I still.

[Cribs]

Yes.

[James Harrison]

Tell wifey. Even got to go ahead and, you know, I ain't got to do nothing. We just. Could I go to the game, Matter of fact, win the homecoming game up there at Kent?

[Joe Thomas]

I, I. I'll let you know. I send it to you, man. Okay.

[James Harrison]

We.

[Joe Thomas]

We open up with South Carolina. We got Old State. You know, we got our work cut out.

[James Harrison]

They got to make that money. Shut up. Hey, hey. I'm telling you, Joe.

[Joe Thomas]

Hey, we gonna get them up.

[James Harrison]

You right.

[Cribs]

You ain't lying.

[Joe Thomas]

Special teams gonna be on point. I tell you that.

[James Harrison]

Nothing else.

[Joe Thomas]

Yes, sir.

[Cribs]

Chris, man, shout out, man. DMV legend, bro. I love you, bro. Thank you.

[Joe Thomas]

Love y', all, brother.

[James Harrison]

Thank you, man, for coming on. We appreciate you, man. Look here. Hey, tomorrow we have Omar Khan.

[Joe Thomas]

Okay?

[James Harrison]

Okay. So we want to thank you guys for joining us on this episode of Debo and Joe. Please make sure you like subscribe and download where you get your show. Joe. Yo.

[Cribs]

Catch us tomorrow with Omar Khan. Same time, same place.

[James Harrison]

Let's get it and we out.

[Sean Duffy]

I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. We all seem to be in a rush these days, from work to driving our kids around. But when you're behind the wheel, please do not speed. A few minutes saved by going faster is never worth the risk. So follow the speed limit, enjoy the drive, maybe bring some snacks for the kids. And know that along the way, you're getting quality time with your family, paid for by nhtsa.

[Podcast Announcer]

At cvs, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night. And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit [e-mail] or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.

[Joe Thomas]

If you're chasing data down instead of seeing it in one place, you need

[James Harrison]

the Intuit ERP

[Cosentyx Advertiser]

Intuit Enterprise Suite.

[James Harrison]

All your data in one place with

[Cosentyx Advertiser]

built in AI for real time insights.

[Bobcat Advertiser]

Learn [e-mail] ERP this episode is brought to you by Bobcat. They started the compact equipment industry through grit, determination and a whole lot of think. We can't do that.

[Sean Duffy]

Watch us.

[Bobcat Advertiser]

They set standards, broke records, empowered people to build bigger and higher, to dig deeper, to make the impossible possible. We've all been there with doubters telling us what we can't do. Who cares what they think? We don't need their permission or forgiveness. We just get things done. So go ahead and doubt me, judge me, challenge me. But when the time comes, watch me. Bobcat,

[Covenant Life]

you ever wonder how far an EV can take you on one charge? Well, most people drive about 40 miles a day, which means you can do all daily stuff no problem. Go to work, grab the kids at school, get the groceries and still have enough charge to visit your in laws in the next county. But they don't need to know that. And the best part, you won't have to buy gas at all. The way forward is electric. Explore EVs that fit your life at electricforall.org

[Podcast Announcer]

this is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human.