Lots to Say: EXCLUSIVE Titans QB Cam Ward Interview!

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Bobby Bones Show – "Lots to Say: EXCLUSIVE Titans QB Cam Ward Interview!"

Episode Information:

• Title: Lots to Say: EXCLUSIVE Titans QB Cam Ward Interview!
• Host: Bobby Bones
• Production: Premiere Networks / NFL and iHeart Podcasts
• Release Date: July 30, 2025

---

Introduction

In this episode of "The Bobby Bones Show," host Bobby Bones engages in an exclusive and in-depth conversation with Tennessee Titans' quarterback, Cam Ward. The episode also features insightful discussions with special teams coordinator Coach John Fossil and contributions from NFL insiders like Ian Rapoport and players such as Tony Pollard and Jared Allen. The episode offers fans a comprehensive look into the Titans' strategies, player development, and the evolving dynamics within the team.

---

Exclusive Interview with Cam Ward

Timestamp: [15:29]–[23:13]

Bobby Bones kicks off the primary segment with an exclusive interview featuring Cam Ward, the Titans' number one overall draft pick quarterback. Cam delves into his preparation for the upcoming NFL season, highlighting his rigorous training regimen and the physical and mental aspects of adapting to professional play.

Key Discussions:

• Training and Preparation: Cam emphasizes the importance of recovery post-season, detailing his approach to physical therapy and conditioning. He shares his preference for "old school" methods like contrast baths and prehab exercises to maintain peak physical condition without relying heavily on modern amenities.

  “I'm an old school type of guy. I love cold hot tub. I love doing contrast, you know, getting in there, and treatment.” – Cam Ward [17:27]

• Offensive Strategy: Transitioning to the new offensive coordinator Nick Holtz, Cam discusses the continuity in the team's offensive scheme, emphasizing play-action passing and utilizing his dynamic skill set to maximize offensive effectiveness.

  “Honestly, it hasn't changed much. Just some certain ways that we want to just do what we're good at.” – Cam Ward [17:33]

• Leadership and Team Dynamics: Cam reflects on his role as a leader within the team, stressing the significance of understanding teammates' backgrounds and fostering a collaborative environment aimed at collective success.

  “I just think, I don't separate from what the outside world sees, the quarterback position as to what our position is on the team.” – Cam Ward [40:04]

• Transition from College to NFL: Sharing his journey from playing receiver in college to becoming a running back and now a quarterback in the NFL, Cam highlights the adaptability and versatility that have been pivotal in his professional development.

  “It wasn't tough at all. I grew up my whole life playing running back, you know, so running back is pretty much second nature to me.” – Cam Ward [19:28]

---

Special Teams Insights with Coach John Fossil

Timestamp: [21:04]–[30:40]

The episode features an enlightening discussion with Coach John Fossil, the Titans' esteemed special teams coordinator. Coach Fossil outlines his strategic focus areas for the season, emphasizing fundamentals, penalty-free play, and fostering a competitive environment to enhance team performance on special teams units.

Key Topics:

• Fundamental Emphasis: Coach Fossil underscores the importance of mastering the basics—blocking, protection, and avoiding penalties—to ensure the special teams' effectiveness.

  “The base fundamentals, pump protection, block destruction, blocking, penalty free, trying to create a super competitive environment where the goal is just make sure fellows were winning our one on ones.” – Coach Fossil [22:10]

• Adaptation to Rule Changes: Addressing recent rule modifications, especially regarding kickoffs, Coach Fossil expresses enthusiasm about the new kickoff format introduced to enhance safety and maintain game flow.

  “I love it for multiple reasons. I think it's a better play and it's definitely a safer play.” – Coach Fossil [23:55]

• Player Selection and Mindset: Discussing the attributes sought in special teams players, Coach Fossil highlights the value of relentlessness and technique over physical attributes, drawing inspiration from legendary special teams players.

  “The best guys, they're not the fastest, they're not the biggest, they're not the strongest, they're just absolutely relentless.” – Coach Fossil [26:41]

• Relationship with Kickers: Coach Fossil emphasizes the importance of building trust with kickers, recognizing the mental challenges they face, and tailoring his approach to support their performance under pressure.

  “It's built off of trust, for sure... There is a balance of the mental part for a kicker.” – Coach Fossil [29:21]

---

Player Perspectives and Team Strategies

Timestamp: [05:00]–[21:04]

The episode includes valuable input from players like Tony Pollard and Jared Allen, offering firsthand perspectives on team dynamics, special teams roles, and quarterback development.

Highlights:

• Tony Pollard on Holding Duties: Pollard shares his experiences transitioning into the holder role during critical moments in the playoffs, discussing the pressures and responsibilities that come with it.

  “When it's storming, you know, you just got to do what you got to do.” – Tony Pollard [05:00]

• Jared Allen on Special Teams Evolution: Allen provides an in-depth look at the changes in special teams play, particularly kickoffs, and outlines his coaching philosophy focused on fundamental excellence and player competitiveness.

  “We just have to make sure fellows were winning our one on ones and here's the tools to do that.” – Jared Allen [22:10]

• Team Leadership and Development: Both Pollard and Allen emphasize the importance of leadership, continuous improvement, and adapting to new roles within the team structure to achieve collective success.

  “He teaches me little things even when they don’t think they teach me something.” – Matt Castle [40:36]

---

Hall of Fame Discussion

Timestamp: [49:00]–[63:35]

In a lively segment, Bobby Bones and Ian Rapoport engage in a discussion about the upcoming Hall of Fame inductees, highlighting deserving players and debating their qualifications based on career achievements and impact.

Notable Points:

• Consensus on Inductees: They agree on the inclusion of legendary figures such as Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, and Jason Witten, acknowledging their exceptional careers and contributions to the game.

  “Absolutely, yes. Put him down. Hall of Famer.” – Bobby Bones [54:35]

• Debate Over Additional Candidates: The conversation navigates through potential candidates like Frank Gore and Stephen Gostkowski, weighing their longevity, performance, and influence on the sport.

  “I think Frank Gore is going in.” – Ian Rapoport [60:16]

• Criteria for Selection: They discuss the importance of career longevity, statistical achievements, and the player's role within their teams as key factors for Hall of Fame consideration.

  “It's very hard to stay healthy. There's as much upkeep and work at staying healthy as there is.” – Bobby Bones [56:10]

---

Humorous Exchanges and Personal Insights

Timestamp: [31:09]–[63:35]

The episode is peppered with lighthearted interactions, showcasing the camaraderie between the hosts and guests. Humorous anecdotes about bath desks, injuries, and playful banter add a personal touch to the conversation, making the episode engaging and relatable.

Examples:

• Bath Desk Banter: Bobby Bones introduces the concept of a "bath desk," a unique setup allowing multitasking during baths, sparking amusing exchanges about productivity and relaxation.

  “Anybody out there? I don't know, dudes, if you don't have a bath desk, you ain't living.” – Bobby Bones [48:41]

• Injury Stories: Sharing personal injury experiences, Bobby Bones and Ian Rapoport discuss the challenges of managing physical ailments while maintaining a tough exterior.

  “Any injury that I get at this point, in my life. I just live with it.” – Bobby Bones [47:07]

• Honorary Doctor Joke: Bobby Bones humorously references his honorary doctorate, blending jest with self-deprecation.

  “I'm an honorary doctor. Except I could like Bill Cosby. I hate to reference him, but he's.” – Bobby Bones [62:25]

---

Conclusion

The episode of "The Bobby Bones Show" offers a rich blend of exclusive interviews, expert insights, player anecdotes, and engaging banter. Through detailed discussions with Cam Ward and Coach Fossil, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the Tennessee Titans' strategies and player development. Additionally, the lively Hall of Fame debate and humorous exchanges provide an entertaining and comprehensive listening experience for NFL fans.

Notable Quotes:

• “It's built off of trust, for sure.” – Jared Allen [29:21]
• “I feel like I'm in my prime and I'm ready to keep.” – Cam Ward [20:31]
• “They have Calvin Ridley. They needed somebody opposite of him.” – Tony Pollard [35:29]

For NFL enthusiasts seeking insider perspectives and engaging discussions, this episode of "The Bobby Bones Show" is a must-listen.

Transcript

[Bobby Bones]

This is an iHeart podcast. Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcasts. We got lots to say. We got lots to say.

[Matt Castle]

We'Re glad you're here and we hope you stay.

[Bobby Bones]

Cause we got lots to say. Yeah, we got lots to say. Now here's Bobby and. Hey, welcome. You know, sometimes you just go too hard. And our guy here just went too hard. I didn't.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah. I think Vegas caught up to me from last week.

[Bobby Bones]

Vegas always catches up with everybody.

[Ian Rapoport]

It does.

[Bobby Bones]

And it's. It's a mix because you get out there in that heat and those sand allergies, what I call them, so dry, it just kills you.

[Ian Rapoport]

And my lips were so chapped and it's almost embarrassing cuz you guys sit down and talk to people and you're going like this. You're like, don't lick your lips again. Don't like.

[Bobby Bones]

And it also feels weird to put on chapstick. Like, I don't claim to be the most masculine guy ever. I'm not. However, putting on chapstick feels like I'm putting on lipstick.

[Ian Rapoport]

It does.

[Bobby Bones]

And if I do it, I try to do it when no one's looking at me. And so. Yeah, well, you know what?

[Ian Rapoport]

I.

[Bobby Bones]

You look good.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, I feel fine. No, I don't. I feel awful.

[Bobby Bones]

No, I heard you now. Yeah, I feel awful.

[Ian Rapoport]

I've been up coughing all night, trying to get the demons out, as I like to say. But at the same time, you know. You know what's better than chapstick? And I tried this just because it was my. The only thing that I found in my wife's thing. Lip balm. They've got like that glossy lip balm.

[Bobby Bones]

Thought you're gonna say tampons.

[Ian Rapoport]

Well, never tried one of those, but that would have been interesting. I've had a claw bloody nose.

[Bobby Bones]

Yes. Many times.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And the kind that works, though, are the. Because you have to, like, break the stick.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

You got to get the foam out.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Right. Foam up there. Yeah, I've done that a few times. Okay, look, we're here.

[Tony Pollard]

We sure are.

[Bobby Bones]

Not only that you came back from Vegas, went right to training camp.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yep.

[Bobby Bones]

So we're outside sweating our face off there.

[Ian Rapoport]

Man, it was hot out there. Was.

[Bobby Bones]

It was. It was brutal. And so we're going to actually go back and play some of the cool stuff we did at training camp. First, we'll do us sitting with Ian Rapaport of the Rap Sheet of NFL Network. Really? One of My favorite insiders. And so let's start with us. I would say backstage, but I guess it's not really a stage.

[Ian Rapoport]

That was not a stage. That was a mini, like, janitor's closet.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Yeah. We're, like, underneath the stadium because it was so loud in the stadium. This is us with Ian Rappaport. I feel like if I were to watch Picasso paint, that'd be pretty cool. I'm watching Ian Rapport tweet right now.

[Tony Pollard]

I know. It is a moment for me, too.

[Bobby Bones]

Yes. Finish your tweet. Because, you know, we see it from the other side.

[Tony Pollard]

We see it from the other side, and we're always ripping.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm not tweeting yet.

[John Fossil]

I'm just. I'm just getting ready to. Because, you know, you get the go sign and you gotta be ready to hit the send. So I'm getting ready. You guys can talk and I'll keep.

[Tony Pollard]

Typing, being a professor at work.

[Bobby Bones]

We are at Titans camp today, so if you're watching this one in the bowels of the stadium, we thought we'd be on the football field, but they wouldn't turn the music off, which I guess a little. A little much for us to ask to turn the music down.

[Tony Pollard]

Yeah. But it also was family day, so everybody's out there. You got kids running around. It's a little bit chaotic. So, yeah, we're back here.

[Bobby Bones]

I would like for you to tell the story because we were out and I'd asked you if you'd ever held before. Meaning.

[Tony Pollard]

On special team.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. And you had. You have a history of holding. Did you ever do it in high school, though?

[Tony Pollard]

No, I actually kicked pats in high school.

[Bobby Bones]

No way.

[Tony Pollard]

And I punted, believe it or not. And you played quarterback and safety.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you ever play deep or. You did.

[Tony Pollard]

I was, you know, I was versatile.

[Bobby Bones]

It never came off the field.

[Tony Pollard]

Versatile. Versatile.

[Bobby Bones]

In college, did you ever hold college?

[Tony Pollard]

I was always the backup holder. I didn't have to. But I actually didn't have to hold because I actually was on a special teams unit. I played on kickoff and kickoff return my junior year. So myself and line Art battled it out. Long story short, midway through that season, line art's doing pretty well, you know, heading up the Heisman Trophy race and all that stuff. And so we had some injuries. They switched me to tight end. Well, they. When you switch to tight end, you don't just play tight end. You are on all the special teams units. So I'm on special teams kickoff. I'm in the wedge on the return team and just getting started.

[John Fossil]

Listeners are like, what's the wedge?

[Tony Pollard]

The wedge is like, when you. You're the last line of defense before you actually get to the returner. So that means everybody that from that kickoff line coming at you, gets the full head of steam because nobody touches them by the time they reach you and you just get blown up.

[Bobby Bones]

You're a sacrificial wedge buster is your enemy. Yep.

[Tony Pollard]

Yeah, it was brutal. But in terms of holding, it was my second year in New England. Josh Miller goes down. He's our punter, who's also our primary holder. He gets his shoulder hurt. I'm thrown into holding. Well, this is during, like, now our playoff run. Our first game right before playoffs was in Jacksonville. It's downpour. I just put the ball down, laces toward the kicker. Stephen Goskowski kicks it in.

[Bobby Bones]

You put laces in.

[Tony Pollard]

No laces out, right? Oh, no laces in. So, like, amateur hour.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Tony Pollard]

It was 100.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Tony Pollard]

And I've worked it. But look, when it's storming, you know, you just got to do what you got to do. Well, I ended up holding throughout the playoffs, go all the way through the AFC championship against the Colts. And that year was the year that Romo mess and fubbed up, that won and lost the playoff game. So that's in the back of my mind the entire time during playoffs. Just more. More stressful than even playing quarterback.

[John Fossil]

Well, here's. Here's what's interesting to me. So, like, holder is a great job because you really don't have to do anything. Like, you do it enough, it's probably pretty easy. You get to have, like, the celebratory handshake or headbutt with a kicker.

[Ian Rapoport]

Oh, yeah.

[John Fossil]

Maybe they jump into your arms. Like, there's some great moments, but on the off chance you, you know, Romo it, like, that's bad. So, like, I feel like risk, reward, that's worth it to do it. But not a slam dunk.

[Tony Pollard]

It is. Luckily it was a opener, and I actually. They started the year off the next year with me as the holder. First one, exactly what you're saying. Came in hot. Lonnie Paxton had threw a heavy ball, and I fumbled it. I yell so you yell, fire, Right. It was a release. So I'm trying to run outside the pocket. I get absolutely lambasted. Like, coach is like, what happened? I was like, I think it was a little low. They watched the film. It's like, hitting me right there. He's like, you're out.

[Bobby Bones]

I was like, Y. I have a buddy who was a deep snapper and two years ago the Cowboys picked him up last minute. And so he goes in like three days notice. And so we're excited because he's the guy and first snap, right over the head of the holder. First snap. The risk was much heavier than the reward on that. No, he stayed next. We had a good season.

[Tony Pollard]

Oh, good for him.

[Bobby Bones]

They had to have a deep snapper.

[Tony Pollard]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

So I guess, you know, you kind of don't go to three or four after that.

[Tony Pollard]

I mean, but that is a tough position, man, because you only get notices if you mess up. If you just do your job the normal way, nobody's ever going to say anything to you. It's. You're not going to get any of the limelight unless you kick the game winning field goal. But the long snapper is not for the, the sequencing before that.

[Bobby Bones]

Right.

[Tony Pollard]

It's just the kicker that's going to get the glory.

[Bobby Bones]

Ian, thanks for coming by. How many of these do you do.

[John Fossil]

You guys, I'm sorry, I thought you were saying goodbye.

[Bobby Bones]

You know, Ian, it's been fun. Thank you for the time. How many of these camps do you do?

[John Fossil]

I think It'll be like 16.

[Bobby Bones]

And do you stay on the road?

[John Fossil]

Yeah, it's like an artist.

[Bobby Bones]

You're like a rock artist, not even like a country artist. Or if like I'm touring, if I'm doing standup, I come home during the week and I do Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

[John Fossil]

No, I got my suitcase over there. I got like six changes of clothes. I got some washer sheets if you gotta wash something in the sink. But you try to find like a wash and fold where you can go. Like stop by before practice, wash all your stuff, pick them up after practice, go right. I go from here, I'm going right to the airport. Like that's what it's like.

[Bobby Bones]

You're like green day in 95 touring.

[John Fossil]

Just without the talent. Just the talent.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, let's talk about a couple of things here, Camward. I had mentioned earlier the expectation last couple of years has changed with rookie quarterbacks because we saw C.J. stroud do it, we saw Jaden Daniels do it, but again, they had pretty good supporting casts. What is the ceiling for Cam Ord this year?

[John Fossil]

You know, I look at this place and I look at the Commanders last year and I think the Commanders probably were a little more stable and had a little more talent than this team. But like not, not significant, you know, like in the ballpark. And maybe you have some Players who play a little better than are being expected. So maybe the talent is somewhat similar. Like if Jaden Daniels can come in and lead that team to the playoffs, then considering the expectations of Cam Ward, considering what I've heard today, talking to coaches, players, people who are around him all the time, executives, like, you know, the expectations are really high and they have been more than pleased with what they've seen. Like, you know, this team will have a chance to win some games.

[Bobby Bones]

Will it?

[John Fossil]

I don't know. Commanders needed a bunch of help too. Needed a hail Mary and a lot of stuff. But like, I don't, like, I'd be surprised if this team is at least not a lot better than last year.

[Tony Pollard]

As a number one pick in the draft. When you think about Cam Ward, is he the least talked about number one draft pick that can you.

[John Fossil]

He's boring.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Tony Pollard]

In recent history, like there's not, not any excitement around him. Maybe in the city there is, but everybody. Nobody talks about Cam Ward.

[John Fossil]

I get it. I covered him extensively in the draft. I had a lot of conversations about Cam Ward and when it came time to really report on him, there wasn't a ton to say. He's a great kid. He was raised right. I just met his dad out here on the field. He works incredibly hard. He's a great student, he's really smart. He's kind of cold blooded on the field. Teammates love him. He wakes up early, he stays late, he organizes his own meetings. Like there's not like a lot of discussion to be had. Like, what's to talk about?

[Tony Pollard]

Yeah, we need him to do something bad.

[Bobby Bones]

The only thing that made the news was him being on a live stream talking about how Ridley was like his favorite receiver of all time. Like he was even saying the things right while he was on a live stream.

[John Fossil]

And like knowing that now, like that makes sense. Like nothing is by accident. Everything is calculated. He has seems to have incredible awareness on the field. You know, you can see it today. There's a couple plays, you're like, oh boy. And then off the field obviously too. So like that's some good awareness. That's like, that's real stuff.

[Bobby Bones]

Let's do five questions with Ian. We'll just rotate. I'll go first. Aaron Rodgers, I watched him throw today just on Twitter. What's the ceiling for Pittsburgh this year?

[John Fossil]

I mean, if Rodgers is the same Aaron Rodgers he was at the end of last year for the jets, they could be really good now. Like, you know, older quarterbacks, you get lower leg injuries. Like Those things don't go away. So like if he tweaks an ankle or hurts a hamstring or a calf, like, you know, he's old. He's like us, he's old. So, you know, those things take a while to heal. But if he's healthy, they could be as good as they could be good. I mean, because that defense is good. They got some weapons.

[Tony Pollard]

Like, they could be good expectations for Ben Johnson his first year with Chicago and Caleb Williams going into his second season.

[John Fossil]

I mean, for Caleb Williams, it is going to be a challenge. Like he is going to be coached very hard. I think he wants it, which a lot of people can say, but you know, you don't. You've been coached hard. Like it's not the most fun thing of all time.

[Tony Pollard]

You don't sometimes want to hear it.

[John Fossil]

Right. So that's what it's going to be like. I think they'll be better, you know, could they be a playoff team? I think they could, but it's going to be a challenge.

[Bobby Bones]

Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones does his thing mostly preseason. He's talking a lot. It's not just after games. He's talking pretty much every day. He says he thought about for a second not being the general manager. There's no chance of that happening while he's alive, right? No.

[Ian Rapoport]

Nope.

[John Fossil]

I mean, he bought the team to be the gm. Now, it's funny you say that though because like, they're an incredibly well run football team. They really are. Like Stephen Jones and Will McClay have done an incredible job of drafting, developing, setting infrastructure, having a place where players can come in and contribute immediately. I know last year was bad coaching wise. Last year was not good. They're a very well run organization. So like, do they take extra time to do contracts? Like, yeah, they do, but otherwise, like, I think they're, I think Jerry being the GM or not, they've actually done.

[Tony Pollard]

A pretty nice job for the Patriots. Mike Vrabel, is this a team that could potentially push to get a wild card spot or push into the playoffs this year?

[John Fossil]

Yeah, I would think so. Because like the best thing Vrabel's going to do is he's going to make sure like the bottom 30 guys are better. They're all going to get a little bit better, they're going to work a little harder, they're going to know what they're doing, they're all going to get a little bit better. And like, that's how you, that's how you have good special teams. That's how you have good depth. So, like, in November, when the fifth linebacker's playing, like, he's going to know what he's doing, you know, so, like, I think they'll be a little bit better, and the quarterback could be really good. Like, really good. So that's, you know, they should be, like, competing for a playoff spot, and then when it comes down to it, we'll see if they get it or not.

[Bobby Bones]

Last question. Most years, as a team that doesn't make the playoffs, that ends up doing really well, who's that team this year that's probably going to jump?

[John Fossil]

You know, the Raiders, I think, have a chance. They got a quarterback now who's. Who's good is more than good. And I think Pete Carroll, you know, based on the way he'll help the culture there and, you know, the way he'll kind of just get him going in the right direction with a little bit of optimism and excitement. Yeah, I mean, I think they have a chance to be much better than last year.

[Bobby Bones]

Ian, appreciate the time.

[Tony Pollard]

Thank you, brother.

[Bobby Bones]

Get another flight together.

[John Fossil]

Thanks, guys.

[Bobby Bones]

Another shirt to washing the sink. Yes, sir. Big fans. Thank you.

[John Fossil]

Thank you, guys.

[Ian Rapoport]

All right.

[Bobby Bones]

After we finished with Ian, we were lucky enough that Tony Pollard came by and Tony Pollard had his first year with the Titans last year. Before that was the Dallas Cowboys split some time with Zeke. You know, not that big of a dude.

[Ian Rapoport]

He wasn't that big a deal dude. But what a cool story, right? Because the. The. The story about him going. Being recruited to college as a wide receiver, then making that transition to running back his junior year in college, and then going to the Dallas Cowboys, backing up Ezekiel Elliot, getting some time and just working his way into being the number one guy, and then finally coming to the Tennessee Titans. Really cool story, and really good player.

[Bobby Bones]

Gives hope to a guy like me. I can still make it.

[Ian Rapoport]

You can still make it.

[Bobby Bones]

Like, when I say not big, mostly I just mean, like, not. He's not super tall, but he's definitely. You would see him and think that's an athlete in something, but I don't know. Running backs now have to take so much abuse that I expected, I guess, another 40 pounds on just any generic NFL running back.

[Ian Rapoport]

Right. But I think that part of his game, too, is he's making people miss.

[Bobby Bones]

And why I can do it.

[Ian Rapoport]

I think he's making people miss. He's got value in the past game because he obviously can be a guy that comes out of the backfield, catches the ball and gets you yardage there, but he's also one of those guys the last two seasons had over a thousand yards, so he's proven that he can run inside the tackle as well.

[Bobby Bones]

Here he is. Actually loved hanging out with him. Here is Tony Pollard. What happens out there today? A day like today, because you guys didn't have pads on, but it looked like you were making a little bit of contact. Like, what's the stop rule?

[Cam Ward]

I mean, today is pretty much how we've been doing it at the facility, practicing. You know, we're not in pads yet, so it just. It's pretty much like a light tap off. You know, we had the spiders on that were kind of padded. So, yeah, just. Just running. Try to get yourself positioned and then tag off on the hip if you can, and then just let the guy run by.

[Tony Pollard]

When you go through these practice, like you said, you're in shells and doing all this stuff, when do you really finally start to feel that contact? Is it not until week one or, you know, preseason? Obviously you get a little bit of that, but it's a different scenario when somebody's actually trying to tackle you.

[Cam Ward]

I would say camp, you know, camp, once we get into pads, that's when, you know, we really playing football like today, it's really hard to, you know, just to run the ball on a day like today, without pass, everybody's slippery, sweaty. But once we get in camp, you know, once we get to traveling, you know, playing other teams, scrimmaging other teams like that, that's when we're really getting into playing football, getting ready for the year.

[Bobby Bones]

When do you start training hard and then do you taper off before you get started again? Like, what is preparation like before the year starts?

[Cam Ward]

I mean, after the season, it's probably best to take a few weeks off. Probably take like a month off. You know, just let your body recover from whatever injuries you were dealing with. And once you're feeling healthy, to get back to it, get back to working out. Then you got OTAs, you got mini camp. Then after that, you get a month. So I would say, like, during that month, you probably take like a week off, week and a half, and then you're back to it, getting to the grind. So when you come in for camp, you know, you want to hit the ground rolling.

[Bobby Bones]

Are you running? Are you sprinting? Like, what are you doing for your body? Red light. You doing cryo? Like, what is it? Because that's what I want to do. I'm actually just trying to steal your stuff.

[Cam Ward]

I'm actually. I'm an old School type of guy. Like, I love cold hot tub. You know, I love doing contrast, you know, getting in there, and treatment. You know, I've been doing a lot of prehab. You know, not waiting until I get an injury, you know, just working things before, you know, doing ankle mobility, things like that. You know, just working little things. You know, I'm big on the cold hot tub. I feel like that's the biggest thing for me.

[Tony Pollard]

You've got new offense coordinator Nick Holtz. How much does this offensive scheme change from what you guys were doing last year?

[Cam Ward]

Honestly, it hasn't changed much. Just. Just certain ways that, you know, we want to just do what we're good at. You know, we're going to run a lot of play action, you know, with the quarterback that we have, you know, Cam Ward, a guy that's able to, you know, get the ball all around the field, make all type of plays that, you know, aren't called in the playbook. So, you know, just trying to not do too much different, but just stick to what we're good at and master it.

[Bobby Bones]

You have Cartoon Network tattoo on your knee. Is that what that is?

[Cam Ward]

I do. It's pretty much like a leg sleeve of every thing I used to watch growing up.

[Bobby Bones]

What else do you have? I see Cartoon Network.

[Cam Ward]

I got Dragon Ball Z. I got Tom and Jerry.

[Tony Pollard]

Don't go up.

[Cam Ward]

Johnny Bravo.

[Bobby Bones]

Is that Ninja Turtles?

[Cam Ward]

Ninja Turtles.

[Bobby Bones]

This is amazing. That's awesome. Dude.

[Cam Ward]

I got the Rugrats Scooby Doo on the back.

[Bobby Bones]

What was the first one? Like, what started that?

[Cam Ward]

Actually, I got it when I was in Dallas, and that was, like. It was a big thing going around where guys were getting, you know, the big tattoos and, you know, getting put down so they can just get it all done at once. So that was kind of how I did it.

[Bobby Bones]

Wait, did you go to. They put you down, like, sleep?

[Tony Pollard]

They put you to sleep? I was gonna ask you what was the most painful one or area?

[Bobby Bones]

Cause I don't even know.

[Cam Ward]

I woke up.

[Bobby Bones]

They did all that in one. Wow. How long were you asleep?

[Tony Pollard]

18 hours?

[Cam Ward]

Yeah, something like that. About. About 12.

[Ian Rapoport]

Wow.

[Cam Ward]

12, 14 hours.

[Bobby Bones]

And then could you take a shower for like, a week after that, or was it wrapped in cellophane? Cause I. I have some. But mine, I showered.

[Cam Ward]

It just was like a dab, dab, dab, dab, dab.

[Tony Pollard]

Yeah, dab, dab, dab, dab.

[Cam Ward]

Just let the water run on it. Dab it.

[Tony Pollard]

Tony, I love watching you play because I think you're one of these dynamic Backs that not just can do it as a runner, but you take a lot of pride in the pass game. And I, I saw that you grew up and you actually went to college as a receiver. Right. And you made that transition to running back your junior year. Yeah. Talk to me about that. And was that a tough transition or is that just something because of your experience in the return game and carrying the ball, that that was an easy transition for you?

[Cam Ward]

It wasn't tough at all. I grew up my whole life playing running back, you know, so running back is pretty much. It's second nature to me, you know, it's natural for me. It was my 12th grade year in high school. That's when I went to receiver, my first time playing receiver. Then when I got to college, when I came to college, I was, I was playing receiver. My first coach was Justin Fuente, my red search year. And then he left. And then. And then that next year, coach Mike Norvell came in and he moved me back to running back. And then I would meet with the running backs, you know, in the meeting rooms and things like that. But once we got to practice and we did like one on ones, I would go down with the receivers and do all the one on ones with the receivers. And like depending on the weeks I switch, sometimes I go do the box drills, you know, do the inside run down there with the running back, O line, D line. Sometimes I go do the one on ones with the receivers and DBs.

[Bobby Bones]

Last question. You had 3,000 yard seasons in a row. When you look at goals, is it yardage, game based? Yardage season based, like what are goals for you?

[Cam Ward]

I want to get better every year. No numbers wise, you know, just trying to up the numbers every year, you know, I don't feel like I'm on a decline. You know, honestly, I feel like I came in like I didn't. I wasn't the normal back that, you know, get the normal wear and tear to get their body beat up my first few years. So I had a chance to, you know, sit behind a great back but also get a good amount of experience and, you know, get a feel for the game without just getting my body too beat up. So now I'm at the point to where, you know, I feel like I'm in my prime and I'm ready to keep.

[Bobby Bones]

Tony, we appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you for the time.

[Cam Ward]

I appreciate you, man.

[Bobby Bones]

Thank you. Next up we talk with special teams coordinator coach Fossil, AKA Bones, as they call him, which makes sense because a fossil is bone.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yes, it does make sense. And he does look like a lot of skin and bones.

[Bobby Bones]

He does, but he's very tall.

[Ian Rapoport]

He is tall, isn't he?

[Bobby Bones]

And his dad is who?

[Ian Rapoport]

Jim Fossil?

[Bobby Bones]

That's right, yeah. Did you know that, Kevin? I did. Just because the research I did. Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

I'm glad that you do your research.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. His dad is Coach Jim Fossil. So here he is, the special teams coordinator for the Titans. Coach Fossil.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah.

[Tony Pollard]

So regarded by many as one of the best special teams, if not the best special team coach in the entire NFL. Coach John Fossil, thank you for being with us today on the Bobby Bones Show.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

How was it out there?

[Tony Pollard]

Bobby Bones, Matt Castle, lots to say, let's go.

[Jared Allen]

Hey, anything for Bones.

[Bobby Bones]

One Bones, another Bones.

[Tony Pollard]

Yeah, yeah, talk to me about. So you got here and obviously special teams was an issue for this team last year and you probably went and evaluated what's some of the main things that you're focused on this year with your units.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, great call, Matt. I mean, you know, so I got hired in January and I was the new guy. So in OTAs, you know, I'm introducing and acclimate, acclimating myself to the guys that were already here and I watched a little tape and you know, last year I knew some things that happened, the good and the not so good. But what I've tried to just really work hard on so far in OTAs and training camp is just honestly the base fundamentals, pump protection, block destruction, blocking, penalty free, trying to create a super competitive environment where the goal is just make sure fellows were winning our one on ones and here's the tools to do that. And if we all do that, then we're have good plays, but that's what it is.

[Bobby Bones]

Are you ever in the head coach's ear when he's debating on whether going for that 64 yard field goal, you're like, I know we got this coach, I know. Like, are you a part of that?

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, yeah. So the last couple years in Dallas, you know, we had a couple strong lady kickers, especially the last two years and you know, we always come out pregame and say, hey, our yard line is the 40 or the 41, 42, we gotta get to that yard line for the field goal. And then you know, it's fourth down around the 44 yard line and I'm like, let's kick a field goal.

[Bobby Bones]

And they're like, that's not the line.

[Jared Allen]

We agreed to, you know, and then we kick it, we make it. I'm like, yeah, so it's talked about before, but in game there's always a little bit of adjustment and I always like to keep the field goals for points, you know, knowing the cost of a miss, but still try not to worry about that. Just look at three points on the board and big plays and, you know, big field goals are great. Momentum burst when the sideline sees your kicker knock it in from 63, like play.

[Tony Pollard]

You've been coaching for a really long time. Obviously there's been a lot of rule changes that have taken place over your time coaching. Probably the most significant recently is the kickoff. Have you been in favor of that? Is that something that you like or is it just something that you think that the game has evolved?

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, I love it.

[Bobby Bones]

You do?

[Jared Allen]

And yeah, before it went in, about a year or two before it went in, when the XFL started running it and we were kind of like, you know, put the fair catch in on kick return, we didn't like that. So there was a kind of a small committee of special teams coaches that were kind of talking with the NFL about, well, what can we do to make the play safer and better? And so we thought we had a good model with the XFL use and we kind of tweaked it to make it our own. But I love it for multiple reasons. I think it's a better play and it's definitely a safer play and it's a lot better play to practice because you don't have the length of running, the high speed of running and the collisions are a little bit lower because it's just immediate five yard combat. So it just gets right to the action a lot faster. I think the players love it and as a coach I'm a huge fan of it because it's going to put the ball in play a little bit more and it's just action right now. So it's going to be really healthy for the league as I think everybody kind of grows on it.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you look for different players now, different types of players to actually be on, let's say the kickoff unit? Because earlier Matt was talking about being in the wedge in college he had to be in the wedge.

[Tony Pollard]

There was a wedge buster put me in the wedge.

[Bobby Bones]

But there's no wedge now. Right. Like are you looking for.

[Jared Allen]

You would not be a wedge guy, but thank you. Maybe a wedge bus.

[Tony Pollard]

Coach Carroll put me in the wedge and I was on kickoff at like number three my junior year and I was like, what coach are you evaluating? Evaluating me? Wrong. I don't, I don't understand.

[Jared Allen]

Maybe Just practice, I'm sure.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you need the same kind of maniacs running down or are you looking for a different type of player now?

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, that's a great question. And we thought that putting this new kickoff in you would need a little different body type. Whether it's the bigger, longer pass rusher type body that might be kind of does away with maybe the smaller, faster penetrator. But as we found out over this past year, it still applies for everybody. And so you're still at the mercy of the 48 guys you dress on game day. But the same body types that were in the old kickoff and kickoff return, you still use them equally the same because there's still strength and weaknesses, there's still room for the penetrators and there's definitely still room for the big guys that don't have to run maybe like they used to. So it's been a really cool evolution over one year to kind of think of what we thought was going to be good. And then after a year's worth of doing it, like what? It's not exactly what we thought. This is a little bit better, a little bit of a change. So long answer to a simple question is it's built for every body type and every player, if they got the mindset and kind of a little bit of that reckless attitude, but with a little bit of technique involved.

[Tony Pollard]

Can you talk about the mindset of these guys on special teams? Because I played with some great ones. Matthew Slater, Larry is some of these guys that were lifetime special teams, that's how they made their money and. But it takes a particular mindset and human to run down a field full blast, put their body in harm's way every single time. Can you talk about how you teach that or do you have to find that in those guys? And how do you go to the head coach and say, we got to keep the this guy.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah.

[Tony Pollard]

Because the value that he adds will be on special teams. But that's going to be very valuable going down the road.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah, it's awesome. So of course I coach special teams. I'm super biased, but I just love and have such a respect for guys that come in and really embrace the role of being on special teams. Mostly young guys, undrafted guys, you know, middle to late round picks. And just how can I carve out a role on the football team and of course the avenues through special teams. But we watched a lot of tape on the best players. You know, we watched Sherrick McManus, which a lot of guys don't know About Matt Slater, Cody Davis, Jalen Reeves, Mabel. A lot of guys that are still active or former. And when you watch the best guys, they're not the fastest, they're not the biggest, they're not the strongest, they're just absolutely relentless. Like Matt Slater, he was fast, he was agile, he was strong, but probably not elite in any of those things. But his motor and his relentlessness was so different. Like, how do you stop that? And so sometimes that just comes to you, and sometimes that can be developed, you know, through some tools and some confidence. So love the guys that love the game, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

[Bobby Bones]

Final question. Who are the more interesting kickers you've worked with?

[Jared Allen]

Interesting in what way?

[Bobby Bones]

Like, you know, I'm only in my head.

[Tony Pollard]

This is easy with me.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, who's. Because I feel like even the ones I've got to know, even in college, like, at times they're set, they separate themselves because they need to be separated. Who are the more interesting kickers you've worked with?

[Jared Allen]

I'm glad you asked that. I've been really lucky to be with some great kickers. Probably the most interesting in all great ways was Sebastian Janikowski. I was with him for four years, and when I got there, it might have been like his eighth year. So he was already established, but he wasn't probably even halfway through his career. And I learned a ton from him. He was super passionate. He was a very big guy, but loved the weight room and the fitness. He didn't overthink anything. And that was really. I came from Baltimore. I was Matt Stover for a couple years, but Sebastian really taught me a lot, to be honest with you. And then when, you know, I went to the Rams, it was Greg Zurliner, then, you know, Brandon Aubrey and some great kickers, and now Joey Sly. But Sebastian, maybe just because it was one of the first ones I was really around and I was a coordinator for, was just a very interesting man in a lot of great ways and a great football player and one of the best teammates I've been around. So shout out to Seabass, man. He's an all timer.

[Tony Pollard]

Can I just follow up with that? You know, when you're dealing with your place kicker and you're a kicker that's going to win you ball games, how delicate is that situation? Like, do you have to learn that personality of when to push? And also because it's such a mental game with those, it's like, you know, somebody that's golf, stand over putt, they get the Yips or whatever, and all of a sudden it goes downhill.

[Jared Allen]

Yeah.

[Tony Pollard]

How do you. How do you go about navigating that relationship with some of those guys?

[Jared Allen]

No, that's cool. I think it's built off of trust, for sure. And that's a great question and a hard answer, because if it's a younger guy, I think they need some reassurance and some confidence building. Hey, come on, man. You know, pick it back up. Some of the veteran guys, they don't need to be talked to too much, and sometimes the more you say, the worse it would be, you know, because they know what they did wrong and they don't need to hear about it and overanalyze what happened. But there is. There is a balance of the mental part for a kicker. Like when we had Brandon Aubrey, first year in Dallas two years ago, his very first kick of his career, he shanks a pat. I'm like, oh, geez. You know, so he said, hey, man, you know, it was a little bit wet. You know, just keep yourself locked in. Make sure you swing at the next one. And that's kind of the simple message without overdoing it. And he goes off and rattles off like, I don't know, 20 something kicks in a row. So there is a balance. And the relationship developed kind of lets me know kind of how to approach the tough situations for sure with the guys, but you got to get to know them before. Before you handle that. So that's part of the coaching job is such a mental game. You know, there's tools and there's competitiveness and one on ones, but then there's the. The mindset game that's so delicate that you just. I think as a coach, you just got to get to know the guy.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, Coach, we appreciate the time. I hope you like Nashville.

[Jared Allen]

Been great so far, but I'm still new and I'm looking forward to, you know, moving in and making it my community.

[Bobby Bones]

Stay away from Broadway. Other than that, we got nothing else for you.

[Tony Pollard]

Get an experience.

[Jared Allen]

I'm going everywhere.

[Bobby Bones]

Coach Boston, thanks for the time. Really appreciate it.

[Jared Allen]

Thank you very much.

[Bobby Bones]

Something else I want to get to here is me, you and Sarah Walsh. We were on NFL Network. I'm going to play this clip, and it's like five minutes long. And at the beginning, you know, she's tossing the softballs, right. But the thing is, I can't really hear her.

[Ian Rapoport]

I couldn't hear anything.

[Bobby Bones]

And we. We had earpieces, but they did not work.

[Ian Rapoport]

They were fake.

[Bobby Bones]

That makes sense.

[Ian Rapoport]

I think they were fake. I was hearing, like, radio in my ear.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I. I was hearing Paul Harvey. That's the rest of the story. While we were doing our deal, and the music was up very loud in the stadium, and they were doing play by play of practice, so it was nonstop talk. So it was so much to take in. And I couldn't hear her because the seating arrangement was Sarah far right, Matt in the middle, me on the left. So I'm having to, like, look across and watch her lips. And all I know is that she says something about quarterbacks in Nashville and goes to me. So, okay, I can go off that cam word. And we talk about cam. Or I compare it to other rookie quarterbacks, which you'll hear at the end of this clip. She says to me, no idea what she.

[Ian Rapoport]

I was right next to her, and I could hardly hear. I was like, there's no way, no way without this year's piece working that Bobby's getting any of this.

[Bobby Bones]

Heard none of it. So having screwed up a bunch and done a bunch of live television, what you do is you just go. If you can't hear, the worst thing you can do is be like, what? You just go whatever direction that you can go with a purpose. So I'm like, I don't know what you just said, but here's what I'm seeing. And the problem is, what I was seeing was. And he had a really great practice. Was Traylon Burks.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

Except, like, five minutes after this segment, he breaks his collarbone. Out for the year, then waved, then waved, then waved.

[Ian Rapoport]

It was like the curse of Bobby Bones. Like, the guy. The guy is going to have a big year. He's going to come out, he's going to ball out.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

And then done. Done for the year. Felt bad for that young guy.

[Bobby Bones]

I know he's been injured every year.

[Ian Rapoport]

It's like when you play golf. Keep your mouth off my ball.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't. I don't. I've never said that.

[Ian Rapoport]

You've never. Like when somebody's like, oh, good putt. And then you just miss it, and.

[Bobby Bones]

You'Re like, I've never heard that said like that. I like that.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, you can use it.

[Bobby Bones]

Thank you. Thank you. Here we are. This is me, Sarah Walsh and Matt.

[H]

Hey, Rhett. We're so happy to be here. The Titans are hosting their first and only practice at Nissan Stadium, and then they'll go back over to the practice facility. Brian Callahan told us just a little while ago, just being in this building or being in this Stadium. It ups the intensity, obviously breaks up the monotony. And as two guys that live in Nashville and Bobby, I'm going to start with you here. This is a franchise that has long been looking for a long term solution here at quarterback. They get Cam Ward number one overall. Just talk to us as someone who's lived in Nashville now for a while, what this guy means, what this opportunity means for this city.

[Bobby Bones]

I think anytime you get the number one pick, that's exciting for a franchise. It sucks how you got the number one pick, but now that you have it, like that's cool. It gives us here a reason to be excited. And I think there's been precedent set too in the last couple of years with CJ Stroud with the Texans, even Jaden Daniels last year that a rookie quarterback doesn't have to come in and just kind of suck year one. They can actually do big things if they're trusted upon and I think in Callahan's offense and with Cam Ward being so great at Miami, like he's dynamic. It's not just that he put up numbers, he's dynamic. Highlight clips and I think that's what the fans here need like a reason to see something dynamic and have hope that next year is going to be a change.

[H]

Matt, there could be a quarterback competition. There is. I mean they can say that there is. But Will Levis now is not going to be available this season. So he was the number two here. We've gotten the sense from the second that took this guy that he was going to be starting week one. Let's just start with mentally what does this do? This guy walks out here. He's obviously young, it's his rookie season, but he has known from the moment that he has stepped on the field that this is his team.

[Tony Pollard]

Yeah, he knows that this is his team and that's why they drafted and he came here and Brian Callahan talked about it all offseason. He's just been so impressed with his leadership. He understands what is being asked of him. And I think that they've also done a good job with this young quarterback of understanding they got to surround him with talent. They've got to go out Calvin Ridley, right? They have Calvin Ridley. They needed somebody opposite of him. They went out and got Tyler Lockett, they brought in Van Jefferson and then they need to sh up that offensive line. They're able to do that. So Cam Ward is in a better position to succeed than probably most people believe that he did originally coming to the Tennessee Titans.

[H]

We're taking A look at him at practice and we've watched him here. What is going on in his head right now? I mean, you're trying to absorb so much information. Callahan told us today they're going to be working a lot on third down sits. Maybe the most important thing they're going to do in terms of him being able to see different things, get him prepared for the season which kicks off with the Broncos. And you and I have talked about it, this is not an easy start for this Tennessee Titans team. He's going to open with the Broncos. He's going to get the Los Angeles Rams. If you're him in this progression of what this career, where is he at right now?

[Tony Pollard]

Well, sometimes your head's spinning. As a rookie quarterback, I don't care who you are or how much time you've had in college with different systems, when you come to the professional, professional in the NFL, what eventually ends up happening is you hit that little rut in the road, right? And it's that mental capacity, it's the processing because you're learning and trying to absorb so much. And so every day is important. But what I would do, if I'm the coach and I'm the defensive coordinator, I'm going to challenge them each and every day, particularly in what we call blitz drill. Blitz drill is where you show a lot of different looks. You're going to bring it from all different angles, because protection for young quarterbacks, quarterbacks is going to be key. Knowing how to protect yourself, get yourself out of trouble and get the ball out of your hands.

[H]

Their team president, Chad Brinker said that young guys are going to have to carry this team. And you hear that. And I think, guys, what is realistic for the Tennessee Titans this year?

[Bobby Bones]

Bobby? Yeah, it's so loud, I can hear nothing except I'm watching Calvin Ridley on the screen make freaking plays. We're in the middle of global warming here in Nashville and it's extremely loud. But on the screen here, it's cool to see Calvin Ridley. It's also cool to see Traylon Burks healthy again, because Traylon Burks is a dog. There's a reason they traded for him in the first round. Last couple of years have been injury prone. He's been hurt. But I think the offense in Tennessee will have a lot of YouTube highlights and that's what the fans need, first of all, because we haven't had a winner here in a long time. So I'm sure your question was nothing like that, but I can hear nothing. They're so Loud.

[H]

Look, he didn't answer my question at all, but that's because the podcast is called Lots to say. He had other things to say. And also to that point of it being being loud in here. Brian Callahan said today they're going to work on the silent count. So apparently the stadium.

[Bobby Bones]

I just jumped. I just jumped offside.

[H]

It doesn't matter.

[Tony Pollard]

Silent count day. Crank up the music. Crank up the sound. Make sure everybody's operating mentally focused while we were offsides on that.

[Bobby Bones]

They're doing practice play by play, over our head, too, which I've never quite heard before. But, yeah, super exciting here in Nashville.

[H]

Lots to say. They got more to say. You can listen to it on the podcast, Brad.

[Bobby Bones]

And now we're going to go over to. And I missed this, but you got to talk with Cam Ord. We did, and so we'll play this and then I have some questions about Cam once this is over.

[Tony Pollard]

All right.

[Bobby Bones]

Excited to be here, Cam.

[Tony Pollard]

It's fun to watch practice today.

[Bobby Bones]

I want to start first of all, the big throw.

[Tony Pollard]

We'll get to all the other topics.

[Jared Allen]

But walk me through the big throw down the field. Big touchdowns. It's a Ridley today.

[Matt Castle]

That's a little scrambled drill. I don't know if it's a real play. Might have been a sack. I can see it on film, but that's just me getting quality, working my guys, them letting them, let them know how I think in scramble drill. So it's good that we was able to get one of those plays.

[Tony Pollard]

Cam, from an install standpoint, I know that every day there's probably an emphasis. Talk to us about your processing ability and learning this offense, and every day some new reality comes up that you're trying to learn.

[Matt Castle]

Just getting used to, to the terminology. It's not different from college. You understand of routes and concepts. Everything's all the same. Just getting used to the NFL terminology, the formations, and then also just saying the long play call, the third down play calls, the cans, the checks I have to make. But, I mean, it's been fun. I've been getting better every day. I'm learning something new every day. I got a good group of guys around me, the offensive line, wide receiver, corner running back. So, you know, I'm excited to see what we can do.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, I talked to a bunch of.

[Tony Pollard]

Coaches and a bunch of personnel guys, and the one thing they said that stood out to me was they can't beat you into the office.

[Bobby Bones]

What. What time are you getting in the facility every day?

[Jared Allen]

And who have you been bringing with you.

[Matt Castle]

I get there, I get there by 5:30. Just the process what I need to do to try to get, you know, be able to play my best ball in the upcoming weeks and then just also get my receivers up there. Really. He's always up there. Ellie can chim. He's always up there. With Shepherds up there, we got so really all the young guys, we really stay up there because you know, we're behind the eight ball. We're playing against seven year, 10 year vets and we gotta be ready to play from day one. So I'm excited though. That's why we have an emphasis on getting there, learning everything and you know, just trying to get better every day.

[Tony Pollard]

Cam, where's that leadership quality come from? Because you know, you come in, you're going to be the face of this franchise for a long period of time. But it's got to be something that you grew up as a born leader, right? But at the same time, to come into a new group of grown men in the professional setting, where does that leadership come from in your eyes?

[Matt Castle]

I just think just understanding your teammates, learning more about them, where they from their background, how they get to this point. Because I had a different journey to get into, you know, where I am now. And I just think, I don't, I don't separate from what the outside world sees, the quarterback position as to what our position is on the team. That's really being a good teammate, leading guys where you meet these two, then also not being a selfish player. We have a locker room full of unselfish players who all they want to do is win. I'm excited that I'm a part of the team.

[Jared Allen]

How excited are you to have a veteran offensive line? You go out and get a guy like Kevin Zeitler, you go out and get Dan Moore, have guys who've been.

[Tony Pollard]

In this league for quite a while.

[Matt Castle]

I'm really excited and they hold me to a high standard. And I'm holding them to a high standard as well. But I mean, guys like Kevin and Dan, they teach me little things even when they don't think they teach me something. They play football for a longer period than I am and I just got, I gotta learn stuff on the fly. I gotta learn stuff as fast as they did when they first got into the league. But I'm excited that, you know, the GM, Mr. Mike and you know, Mr. Chad and his day surrounding me around guys like that to help me with my journey.

[Tony Pollard]

And talk to us about your wide receiver room. Obviously Calvin Ridley, who's coming back as your number one. But you go out, you get Tyler Lockett, you bring in a guy like Van Jefferson, who's played a lot of quality football over his time, and Tyron Burks is coming back, and he's a guy that you're hoping for big things, but that room looks a lot different than what it did in the past.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, we, we got an unbelievable receiver core. I think the biggest thing we have from when watching them last year to this year, is that we just have a lot of speed, especially young guys with every continuum we drafted. But Calvin, Reed and Lock, I just think those three, the best receivers in the league. They help me just understanding when they need the ball, why they need the ball, and, and just when and how they get in, how to break it breaks. I think the biggest thing that I'm learning from them was able to get some good work in this summer. Kind of like today, Lockett knowing it was covered to sitting up for me, me hitting him in that window. So we learning each other on the fly. But I can for sure say we get better every day. Have you thought about some type of.

[Tony Pollard]

A present for Jeffrey Simmons and kind.

[Jared Allen]

Of calm him down a little bit.

[Tony Pollard]

On the defensive line?

[Bobby Bones]

Let me just slow him down just a little bit.

[Matt Castle]

That's. That's a big man right there, man like dad. We sliding his way every time we playing him. I'm putting, I'm putting the running back in the, in the A gap and I'm chipping him every time I can. So, I mean, Jeff, he's a, he's a, he's the ultimate competitor. He's somebody that, you know, I wake up and I'm ready to get to work, to get to work and go again, so. But it's fun. I never played with a defensive lineman that big who can move like him, but I mean, he's the reason why our defense is going to be so good. He can pressure the quarterback. He's a great team player. He's a great locker room guy. So I'm excited to, you know, have him by myself.

[Tony Pollard]

I think one of the most important relationships for any quarterback is a relationship with their offensive coordinator. You've got a new offensive coordinator with Nick Holtz. Talk to me about that process and learning to get to know each other and the collaboration that really takes place to get to know you as a player.

[Matt Castle]

Just good. I think the first time me finally meeting Coach Holtz just throughout the whole pre draft process until now, is that he really understands me. He understands, you know, wildlife, certain plays. I'm not used to doing a five step from gun, but I'm starting to love it now, especially getting the ball out on time, getting it early. And I think just Coach Holtz, you know, Coach Callahan and Coach Bow, the quarterback. Coach, they're going to really dial it up for us this year.

[Tony Pollard]

Last one as we wrap it up.

[Bobby Bones]

Look at the two of us, me.

[Tony Pollard]

And Matt, sweating like crazy.

[Jared Allen]

You don't have a bead of sweat on.

[Tony Pollard]

How is that humanly possible?

[Matt Castle]

I mean, I'm from Texas. It's a little bit like Texas hot out here. But, you know, I'm from the south, so I'm glad I was able to stay in the south and be in Tennessee camp.

[Bobby Bones]

Ward's prepared. He's prepared for the weather. He's prepared for what's going on out.

[Jared Allen]

There on the field. Thanks, buddy.

[Matt Castle]

Yes, sir. Appreciate you.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, you got to sit with Cam Moore there. I don't know what were your takeaways after meeting him.

[Ian Rapoport]

I mean, he's very mature. He's got a great grasp of who he is. He's confident. You could tell that right away. He talked about his leadership, he talked about this transition into the pros and. And you could tell, like there's something about him. He's got some moxie to him. He's a natural leader. And I'm excited for the young man. I think he knows that this season is going to be one of those that they're still rebuilding, but it's. He's got the keys to the car, right?

[Bobby Bones]

He.

[Ian Rapoport]

He knows that he's the franchise. He knows that he's the face of this franchise and that it's going to be an uphill battle. But at the same time, I think he embraces that, understands it, and you look at the history of what he went through in his college career, going to jc, going to Washington State, having to prove himself every step along the way, and then to get that shot at Miami, become the number one draft pick. He understand what it's going to take, and I don't think he's phased by any of it.

[Bobby Bones]

We're going to come back, we're going to talk about. I have questions about Caleb Williams and Bears camp. We'll do that. We'll talk about the hall of Fame. And I bought something that came in the mail today and I'm curious if you have one of these. We'll do all that on the other side of this. I got a package from Amazon today and it was very Long. It looked like golf clubs. It was that long of a box.

[Ian Rapoport]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Just so you can picture it. And I'm like, what did I order that's long like that? Because I knew I didn't order a single golf club. I knew I didn't order golf club clubs.

[Ian Rapoport]

You go order golf clubs off Amazon?

[Bobby Bones]

No. Well, it looked like that type of box. Okay.

[Ian Rapoport]

I was just asking.

[Bobby Bones]

I have ordered like a. One of those weighted ones. Okay. Like the ball.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

You swing to get loose. Yeah. So no. But no, because I've been lucky enough to have like, sponsorship deals. I'm not even that good of a golfer.

[Ian Rapoport]

Can you. Can I. Can I get some of that?

[Bobby Bones]

I think I will sponsor you. I will sponsor you. So I open it up and I forgot that I had bought this also. I didn't know it'd come this long, but I bought one of those big, long wooden things you put over your bathtub when you take a bath so you can work while you take a bath.

[Ian Rapoport]

Are you a big bath guy?

[Bobby Bones]

Big bath guy.

[Ian Rapoport]

Big bath guy.

[Bobby Bones]

The biggest bath guy.

[Ian Rapoport]

Epsom salt?

[Bobby Bones]

Depending on what are you really? Yeah. Because if something's wrong with me. Epsom salts for sure. If nothing's wrong with me. Because Epsom salts sometimes in the bath bomb or the bubbles don't mix well.

[Ian Rapoport]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

The chemistry doesn't work. Big bath guy.

[Ian Rapoport]

Big bath guy.

[Bobby Bones]

And so I bought me a new. It holds like my computer. I can stay in the longer. I can like watch some tiktoks.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Your bath guy at all.

[Ian Rapoport]

You know what? This is the God's honest truth. Because I wasn't feeling great this last week. I took my first. First bath in about five years just because I had like the shivers. Wasn't feeling good. I was like. It was relaxing.

[Bobby Bones]

You enjoy.

[Ian Rapoport]

It was relieving.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

But I couldn't say that. I'm a bath guy. I don't have time for.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, man. I don't either. But you make time for things you love. You know what I love about you?

[Ian Rapoport]

Love a good bath. And I could just like my seven year old daughter.

[Bobby Bones]

Absolutely. We probably are like many ways.

[Ian Rapoport]

Do you have like little Barbies and duckies in there too?

[Bobby Bones]

It depends. Am I bath bombing it or am I Epsom salting it? Barbies is bath bomb.

[Ian Rapoport]

Got it.

[Bobby Bones]

Epsom salts. Like sore muscles.

[Ian Rapoport]

I've been working hard.

[Bobby Bones]

Here's the thing, though, about having. Because I'm hurt right now. I have a muscle or I physical therapist coming over.

[Ian Rapoport]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Any injury that I get at this point, in my life. I just live with it. I just assume it's going to be there the rest of his life.

[Ian Rapoport]

Man, that's a bad way to go through life.

[Bobby Bones]

Sucks. Like, I hurt my ankle. I'll tore some cartilage my ankle like a year ago. Yeah. Doctor's like, it's never going to heal. You can just.

[Ian Rapoport]

It'll never heal.

[Bobby Bones]

The cartilage is gone.

[Ian Rapoport]

I mean, what a bad doctor.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, no hope.

[Ian Rapoport]

No hope. I messed up some bedside manner to you, for God's sakes.

[Bobby Bones]

Messed up my shoulder pain.

[Ian Rapoport]

Never going to use it. Can't swing a pickle ball.

[Bobby Bones]

Tweaked my back in a pickle ball tournament. It hurts so bad. Yes. And now I just assume my back is always going to be hurting the rest of my life.

[Ian Rapoport]

Did you like, are you one of those guys that have to go like, get the emri, maybe a CAT scan, Figure it out right away?

[Bobby Bones]

I'm the guy that puts it off. As a matter of fact, I was playing in this tournament and I hurt. I felt it and I fell on my knee and I cut my knee up. But this dude was talking so much garbage and he was cheating. And so I was like, screw this. I was down a point or so and I knew I needed to stop playing or I was going to get worse. But I, I could not quit until I won that and beat that guy. It wasn't about the match. It's about beating that dude 100. So I did. I beat him. And then I had to retire from the tournament after that. But I think I heard it worse by continuing to play. But I would do it again. That dude was cheating his face off.

[Ian Rapoport]

So when you say cheating, are you calling your own points?

[Bobby Bones]

Yes. And that's what he was doing.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And I looked at him and I think I, I told the story. I said, are you doing a bit? But I have a physical therapist coming over today to work on my back. And then I plan to get back in the bath with my brand new.

[Ian Rapoport]

Back in the bath.

[Bobby Bones]

My. My bath desk.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, your bath desk.

[Bobby Bones]

Anybody out there? I don't know, dudes, if you don't have a bath desk, you ain't living.

[Ian Rapoport]

You ain't living. And it's. And it's specifically for taking baths and.

[Bobby Bones]

To do desk work on.

[Ian Rapoport]

And desk work.

[Bobby Bones]

That's right. And if you.

[Ian Rapoport]

Or so you, you do more desk work on there, you're actually watching Netflix or what?

[Bobby Bones]

I don't watch Netflix there, but I do. I'll do some tick tocking.

[Ian Rapoport]

You'll do some tick tocking.

[Bobby Bones]

I do some tick tocking and I will work a little bit. But it's how I manage my time to get in the same place. Love it. If you decide you want to be more of a bath guy, I have the perfect bath desk and I will, I will get you one.

[Ian Rapoport]

I appreciate that.

[Bobby Bones]

You just let me know.

[Ian Rapoport]

I just don't know if I'm gonna go down that path yet.

[Bobby Bones]

You may not.

[Ian Rapoport]

But if you're gonna have to tweak.

[Bobby Bones]

A few things, I am the expert you call. You are the When I have questions about quarterbacks, I ask you.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

If you have questions about baths, I'm.

[Ian Rapoport]

Gonna hit you up.

[Bobby Bones]

Yes. Now, speaking of quarterbacks, I've been watching, I just threw clips and reading about it, especially from the local beat writers about the Bears camp and Caleb Williams and obviously Ben Johnson is there now as the head coach who is the offensive coordinator in Detroit and apparently Caleb Williams is struggling. They even gave Caleb Williams I said they Ben Johnson, the offensive staff gave him a bunch of homework before camp because he struggled at OTAs a bit. How common is that for a quarterback with a entire new philosophy to struggle at this part of the year? Is it much ado about nothing?

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, I mean there is obviously a process to this whole deal and it's probably even when you listen to Ben Johnson's comments and some of the pressers, he's like, this is brand new terminology. We're putting more on his plate and right now they're going to continue to push him and see how far he can elevate, how much he can take in, how much he can process now because then you can always pull back. But until you expose him to the entirety of that playbook, then you'll never know what he's capable of. Now you can take the the baby step approach where it's a we're going to start really slow and just kind of introduce common concepts. But if Ben Johnson knows that, that that offense is going to operate at its best, it's going to have the motions, the pre step shifts, it's going to have the elaborate, sophisticated layers to it that they want Caleb William to be able to retain and understand why they're doing it. So I understand why there's going to be struggles because even when I got to New England and I was a rookie quarterback coming in, learning a new terminology that I thought was sophisticated, but there was a lot of check with me, there's a lot of two plays in the huddle getting to the Right. But you're also shifting during those. You're using double cadence, and that's probably more than he's ever done in his entire career. So it's a learning curve and it's a steep learning curve. But I think what Ben Johnson's really doing is pushing him to try to see how much he can take in, because they can always pull back.

[Bobby Bones]

He may need a bath desk.

[Ian Rapoport]

He may need a bath desk and the computer so he can go through.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. So while he's in the bath, he can still see. You guys are like, oh, you take baths. Yeah. But you're doing two things at once. He's a little sore. Little Epsom salt. Little bath desk.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Watch the plays.

[Ian Rapoport]

Watch the plays. Rehearse the plays. I mean, every time I went to a new offense, it's the funniest thing, because I used to have my wife literally go down the play sheet and give me the calls so that I would rehearse saying them out loud. Because there's something to be said about knowing the terminology but then visualizing it. And when some. When you're in a new system and even you hear the play call coming to your helmet, you don't always process that. You're just regurgitating what you're hearing. So you have to practice those. As small as that sounds, it makes all the difference in the world to go into a huddle and have confidence and be able to visualize that play and say it confidently.

[Bobby Bones]

Hall of Fame, we got four members going in. Antonio Gates. First thing that comes to mind, Antonio Gates. Oh, I'm gonna go basketball player. Because that's all they used to say. Now, that's been done a couple times. Like Jimmy. Jimmy Graham was a basketball player. Those guys have happened before. But for me, Antonio Gates, basketball player that turned into a tight end. He was extremely dominant, but he was just so much taller than everybody, too.

[Ian Rapoport]

He, I mean, he was dominant and he never looked like he was running extremely fast, but nobody could cover this guy within that 5 to 10 yard range. And then he would explode out and just get open down the field. He had a great feel. Obviously hall of Famer, and we've played against him a bunch. When I was with the Chiefs and I used to just throw fits on the sideline. Anytime it was clutch time, third down, Philip Rivers would just find him over. You could try to double them, do it.

[Bobby Bones]

You knew they were going.

[Ian Rapoport]

Oh, you knew they were going to him. He had sure hands. Catch everything. Just a freak of nature.

[Bobby Bones]

Jared Allen, your boy.

[Ian Rapoport]

I'M going. Actually, I'm going up this weekend.

[Bobby Bones]

My new friend. Really?

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, he. I got invited to Jared Allen's having something after and so obviously we played together with Minnesota. Good friend of mine. I'm going to go up and celebrate him this week and so it'll be fun.

[Bobby Bones]

That's super cool.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, I'm excited.

[Bobby Bones]

Eric Allen. You ever play against Eric Allen?

[Ian Rapoport]

No, I did not. Yes, I did play against Eric Allen. Great player as well.

[Bobby Bones]

You play with them at all?

[Ian Rapoport]

No.

[Bobby Bones]

54 career interceptions. That's a lot of.

[Ian Rapoport]

A lot of interceptions.

[Bobby Bones]

That's a lot of interceptions. And then Sterling Sharp way before you.

[Ian Rapoport]

Way before me.

[Bobby Bones]

And I remember Sterling Sharp as a young kid because that was Farve's dude in. Oh, first generation Farve that I remember. Sterling Sharp was a dude.

[Ian Rapoport]

Sterling Sharp was the dude. Did you? Yeah. Good player?

[Bobby Bones]

No, no, fine. Fine player.

[Ian Rapoport]

Fine player.

[Bobby Bones]

Talked a lot, smoked a lot of cigars.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

But Sterling Sharp gets in 600 catches. Different time, though.

[Ian Rapoport]

Different time.

[Bobby Bones]

Five time Pro Bowler, NFL all decade team of the 90s. Now, those are the four going in. Have you seen the list of the folks that are eligible? Because I want to read you some of these and you tell me. Well, let's pick who we think should go in.

[Ian Rapoport]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Now, I think the rule is minimal. Four, maximum eight, Right.

[Ian Rapoport]

I think that they went four, too, because they had the year after Covid, right, where they had a bunch go in like full eight.

[Bobby Bones]

You mean this year four?

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. So why don't we do six? Let's just do it in the middle. It's going to be tough because I'll read you someone and you can say absolutely, yes or we'll come back to them.

[Ian Rapoport]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Drew Brees.

[Ian Rapoport]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Absolutely, yes. Put him down. Hall of Famer. Absolutely, yes. Larry Fitzgerald.

[Ian Rapoport]

100.

[Bobby Bones]

Absolutely. Yes.

[Ian Rapoport]

Absolutely, yes.

[Bobby Bones]

100 agree. Jason Whitten.

[Ian Rapoport]

Absolutely, yes.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, I'm going to come back to Jason Whitten. I think it's yes too. But I purposefully didn't go through the whole list because I wanted to play with you as I read them. Yeah, I'm going to come back to Jason Whitten.

[Ian Rapoport]

I played with. I played with wit.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Ian Rapoport]

Gotta love. I mean, I love that guy.

[Bobby Bones]

Really? Why?

[Ian Rapoport]

Just a unbelievable professional, but a guy that had played with grit, great leader, played hurt. I mean, he tells a story where he had his jaw like full on, had to get realigned and had to go see the special doctor and came out, still made it out for opening day. He played with me with cracked ribs and he had fluid in his lungs. And we're at the end of the season. Game didn't matter. Should have protected himself. No. Was out there on Thursday practice. Got his lung drained like just a guy that could get open in a phone booth. Understood how to play the position. Could block at the end of the line of scrimmage. Just an absolute stud.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. Yes. I've now switched. I'm now a yes. After that. He just gave me the win one for the Gipper speech. You're a sponsor now. Is Whitten. Does he live here?

[Ian Rapoport]

He's in Texas.

[Bobby Bones]

Got it.

[Ian Rapoport]

There were rumors that he was going to come.

[Bobby Bones]

Yes. That's what I wondered if he. Okay. Frank Gore.

[Ian Rapoport]

He's a yes for me, too.

[Bobby Bones]

So I'm gonna come back. Frank Gore, extremely dominant, but played a long, long, long time. And I would.

[Ian Rapoport]

He played 18 seasons.

[Bobby Bones]

And sometimes people will devalue the length of someone's career. But do you know how hard it is that you do? But I'm saying it is very hard to stay healthy.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

Like, there's as much, Much upkeep and work at staying healthy as there is.

[Ian Rapoport]

Being great, especially at running back.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Edelman?

[Ian Rapoport]

Not yet.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. Olson, do you think his career has been helped by what he's been able to do at a high level after the game? Because I think he's probably not there in this class, but I think.

[Ian Rapoport]

How many were you taking in this class?

[Bobby Bones]

6. I think we have three so far. And I think. But his profile. And that does. It shouldn't, but it does count.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah. His. But also his stats speak for themselves. Like, guy was dominant.

[Bobby Bones]

He also played at times for a team that was not good.

[Ian Rapoport]

Right. With the Panthers, which sometimes makes you overlook how great he was.

[Bobby Bones]

The same thing has happened with Keakley.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And he is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play football. But I think people at times don't have the full understanding of how great he was. Because at times. He played with the Panthers.

[Ian Rapoport]

He played with the Panther. Panthers. And the other thing is his career was shortened because of injury.

[Bobby Bones]

LaShawn McCoy.

[Ian Rapoport]

He's on the cusp for me, too.

[Bobby Bones]

Dez Bryant.

[Ian Rapoport]

No.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. I'm, I'm with you still. Three for Sures. Unless you put Gore in there. For sure. You can come back to Gore. Marquis Pouncy.

[Ian Rapoport]

Gosh, how many years did he play?

[Bobby Bones]

Years? I don't know. But I, I, I think I would put him in. Really, I do.

[Ian Rapoport]

And I mean, all these guys have. You can make an argument for all these guys. I think the thing. The hard part for offensive linemen is they're not as visible.

[Bobby Bones]

That's the. Yes. The fact that we know who he is.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah. That you know who Marquis Ponce is. How many. Another thing is how many Super Bowls sacks given up, whatever it might be. That kind of comes into play when you're talking about offensive line.

[Bobby Bones]

11 years.

[Ian Rapoport]

11 years.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, I'm gonna. I'll come back. Philip Rivers.

[Ian Rapoport]

Oh, he's another guy.

[Bobby Bones]

I only have two more. Well, one more and then we can go and insert three others. Stephen Gaskowski. Who? Gowski, who didn't get in this this year. Right. But I thought he would have got in this year, but he's. He's also on the list. Did you play with.

[Ian Rapoport]

I did. Stephen was with me for three years in New England.

[Bobby Bones]

So we have to pick three from Gore, Lean, McCoy, Pouncy, Rivers, Gowski.

[Ian Rapoport]

All right, I'm gonna go with Gore. Gowski played a long time. He had what, how many super bowl championships did he have?

[Bobby Bones]

Four. That's a. That's a Kevin question.

[Ian Rapoport]

No, he was. He was post the first three, so he's at least has three.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm gonna go Pouncy for sure. So that'd be my fourth. You know what? You can convince me on Gore. That'd be my five.

[Ian Rapoport]

This is a tough list, man.

[Bobby Bones]

And Guskowski, I'm gonna go. Him too. I think he should have got in last year. He's got three. Three Super Bowls.

[Ian Rapoport]

Is Venatori already in the.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, he went in this year or this last year? Last year, yes. Sorry.

[Ian Rapoport]

That's right.

[Bobby Bones]

This year I went to the NFL honors and he was there being honored for getting in it.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

He's all Jack now, right? Oh.

[Ian Rapoport]

Oh, yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, I don't know.

[Ian Rapoport]

Oh, yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

He's like a big weightlifting guy.

[Ian Rapoport]

Peptides for sure.

[Bobby Bones]

Maybe you don't. Maybe you don't put six in.

[Ian Rapoport]

I'll go Stephen for sure. I know Stephen and dude, the guy is rock solid. Kicked as efficiently and effectively for as good as anybody for his duration of his career.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, then who do you think? Without your personal opinion or bias, who do you think for sure gets in?

[Ian Rapoport]

I think the top three that we said so.

[Bobby Bones]

Breeze for sure. Fitzgerald for sure.

[Ian Rapoport]

And I don't think that if. I don't think they'd take another quarterback.

[Bobby Bones]

I think Whitten, to me, is about an 85 percenter. I think he gets in.

[Ian Rapoport]

I think Whitten's another one. Whitten, to Me is going in.

[Bobby Bones]

So Breeze, Fitzgerald and Whitten, where universally those guys are in and then I.

[Ian Rapoport]

Think Frank Gore is going in.

[Bobby Bones]

Man, you almost have to put them in for being that active for that long at a high level for that long.

[Tony Pollard]

Sixteen years.

[Bobby Bones]

And the high level thing is important. You can't just be that active for that long and get in.

[Ian Rapoport]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

Or it'd be the hall of being.

[Ian Rapoport]

Well, I'm sure he's got the. A million different stats, how many thousand yard seasons, everything else that go along with it.

[Bobby Bones]

It's a good class.

[Ian Rapoport]

Good class.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, I think it's a good class.

[Ian Rapoport]

Really good class.

[Bobby Bones]

What are you going to do to fix yourself? Just go lay, take a bath.

[Ian Rapoport]

I'm probably going to take multiple.

[Bobby Bones]

Go to Jared Allen party.

[Ian Rapoport]

Go to Jared Allen's party.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, you got to get. I'll be great. Get back at it.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, yeah, it'll. Yeah, just get back on the horse, dude.

[Jared Allen]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

You got to, you got to get.

[Tony Pollard]

Just ride that horse.

[Bobby Bones]

Get well so you can get well.

[Ian Rapoport]

You might get bucked off, but you know what?

[Bobby Bones]

Little hair of the dog.

[Ian Rapoport]

Hey now, I was going to see.

[Bobby Bones]

If you're going to play golf on Thursday, but I think you just need to heal up.

[Ian Rapoport]

It's my wife's birthday on Thursday, baby.

[Bobby Bones]

You know, I've asked him to play golf, I don't know, anywhere from two to 70 times. I'm not sure. So who's a family, huh? And it's. Well, when you have five kids and a wife, it's always something.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yes, but it was my. It is my wife's birthday. It'd be kind of hard. Hey, Ben, I love you so much.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, I just want to say get your mouth off my balls. So. All right. All right. That's it. Hope you feel better.

[Ian Rapoport]

Oh, thank you. I'm already feeling better just seeing you and knowing that a bath is my way to healing.

[Bobby Bones]

That's it. No, it literally is.

[Ian Rapoport]

It is.

[Bobby Bones]

You think I'm kidding?

[Ian Rapoport]

No, I'm not.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, I can see. I'm going to give you listen as someone who speaks for a living every day for at times, for seven or eight hours a day. Right. This is my. This is my instrument.

[Ian Rapoport]

That's your instrument.

[Bobby Bones]

So if you do some like. I guess they don't really do BenGay anymore. Did you have been gay back in your day? Oh, yeah. Okay, now what is it? It's like icy Hot. If you do any of the icy Hot stuff in the bath. Yeah, it's like times three, man.

[Ian Rapoport]

I Remember this stuff called atomic bomb?

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, no. Like balm bomb.

[Ian Rapoport]

Oh, dude, they used to rub it on. It was like fire.

[Bobby Bones]

But can you, like, can you get it, though now?

[Ian Rapoport]

I'm sure you can. They have it in every training room.

[Bobby Bones]

But if you take a bath, that stuff on your chest.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

It's like it lifts the. The devil out of you.

[Ian Rapoport]

I didn't know that you were pre med when you went to college.

[Bobby Bones]

I am not. However, I am a doctor.

[Ian Rapoport]

I am a doctor.

[Bobby Bones]

I am a doctor. I have a doctor of letters.

[Tony Pollard]

Do you?

[Bobby Bones]

University of Arkansas.

[Ian Rapoport]

Did they give that to you?

[Bobby Bones]

They did on a doctorate. It's. I'm still doc. If I wanted to call myself doctor.

[Ian Rapoport]

I'm gonna call you the good doctor. I legally could the good doctor. Mr. Bones.

[Bobby Bones]

When I'm on campus, they have to refer to me as doctor. It's hilarious. Come on. Yes.

[Ian Rapoport]

That's amazing.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm an honorary doctor. Except I could like Bill Cosby. I hate to reference him, but he's. He was a doctor. He was always Dr. William Cosby, and he put that in his actual name, but he was just an honorary doctor.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, I don't know if you're an honorary. You can go around floating the doctor term.

[Bobby Bones]

I have a diploma.

[Ian Rapoport]

Yeah, but guys went to. I mean, people.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm not.

[Tony Pollard]

I'm not school for, like, 20 years.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm not saying I'm a medical doctor, but my deeds and my service to my state have allowed them to honorarily give me a doctor. I will not. I can't prescribe anything, but I do prescribe. You do Some icy hot in your chest.

[Ian Rapoport]

I see hot.

[Bobby Bones]

Take a bath. Absent sauce. A plus. You're black.

[Ian Rapoport]

I'm good. I'm ready.

[Bobby Bones]

You're good. Thank you guys for being here. Thanks to the Titans for having us out. Hope you have a good trip this weekend.

[Ian Rapoport]

Thank you.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. That's awesome.

[Ian Rapoport]

Let's go. Jared.

[Bobby Bones]

That is Matt Castle. That's kickoff. Kevin, That's Brandon Ray. I'm Bobby Bones. We've had lots to say. Goodbye, everybody. Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcasts. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Are you fumbling when it comes to getting a confident clean to your end zone, make the right play, call an audible, and switch from dry toilet paper to wet extra large dude wipes. Why? It's simple. Wetter just cleans better. Dude, wipes are wet and extra large, so they clear. Never smear your rear, so when you.

[Jared Allen]

Go for two, be sure to bring.

[Ian Rapoport]

The number one product in CleanTudeWipes, the.

[Bobby Bones]

Goat of cleaning your keister. Available on Amazon and at major retailers nationwide. Dude Wipes Best clean Pants down. This is an iHeart podcast.