← The Bobby Bones Show
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- [00:00]
Bobby Bones
Lowe's knows that taking on more projects should be rewarding. That's why loyalty members get more every day with rewards for every home or business purchase. Plus shop weekly member deals and get access to free standard shipping. So what are you waiting for? Join for free today Lowe's we help you save loyalty program subject to terms and conditions. Details@lowe's.com Terms subject to change.
- [00:26]
Matt Castle
Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24,7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments. And shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
- [00:56]
Bobby Bones
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 we're glad you're here.
- [01:12]
Wes Welker
And we hope you stay Cause we.
- [01:14]
Bobby Bones
Got lots to say yeah, we got lots to say now here's Bobby and Matt. What's up, buddy?
- [01:25]
Wes Welker
Buddy. It's so good see you this week.
- [01:28]
Bobby Bones
You too. We'll talk to Wes Walker. You guys were cool. You're good friends back in the day.
- [01:33]
Wes Welker
Best friends. Really Best friends. Yeah. One of those guys that just was my dog. Right. We did everything together. It was kind of our group was Welker, Larry, myself. And we would go to opening day, right. We were at Game 6 between the Lakers and the Celtics when the Celtics won the championship. We actually used to do dinners during the season that we went undefeated like 180 before we got to the super bowl and lost to the Giants. And every week we call them, it was like four in Izzo, dinner five and Izzo. We just, we would go out to different places every single week, get after it. And that was our routine. But he's, he's awesome. So much fun on and off the field, but was legendary on the field. Just, I guess the best compliment you could pay pay to any teammate is he played the game the way it was supposed to be played. And he was a true football player. He was fearless. He'd go stick his nose in there. He was undersized but got the most out of his skill set.
- [02:33]
Bobby Bones
What do you think it was between him and Brady that made it work?
- [02:38]
Wes Welker
I think Brady immediately recognized that this kid's going to Put in the work. And he's one of those guys that would take the information that you'd give him and go out and apply it on the field. Sometimes you'd have certain players that were highly skilled but couldn't always go out there and execute to the level that you needed. And so it would take one or two conversations and that he would be able to go out and grasp what we were trying to get accomplished. And in addition to that, nobody could cover this guy within that 10 yard radius. He was, he was so elusive, he could set people up and he was so quick twitched that when he'd come out of his break, he'd always create that separation. So he was a security blanket. And I, I got to see it firsthand when I got, when I was playing that he was a guy that you could constantly rely on to be open in those moments.
- [03:28]
Bobby Bones
I want to talk about the Browns quarterback room for a second. And there are five quarterbacks they're listing as in the quarterback room. I just think that Deshaun Watson will never.
- [03:39]
Wes Welker
Yeah, you can eliminate. You can eliminate.
- [03:40]
Bobby Bones
He'll never play another.
- [03:41]
Wes Welker
Everybody says, oh well, there's five. There's really four.
- [03:44]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, Deshaun Watson will never play for the Brown. He'll never play in the league again.
- [03:48]
Wes Welker
Right. And the injury, you just don't know. He not only did he have the surgery for the Achilles injury, then he re injured the same Achilles injury. He's not, he's not even in the discussion this year, let alone probably moving forward.
- [04:00]
Bobby Bones
I think if his Achilles magically healed in three months, no team would have him on like the Browns can't cut him. Hopefully they'll be able to do some insurance stuff to save a little bit of money. But let's do the four quarterbacks, Flacco and Kenny Pickett, who we knew before the draft were going to be there. And to me, I'm thinking they'll start Kenny Pickett if they want to have a worse shot to win games to what the NBA teams do tank. NFL teams don't really tank because there are too many guys on film that want to keep their jobs. Right. So.
- [04:29]
Wes Welker
Right. But also coaches like Kevin. This is going to be a huge year for Kevin Stefanski and that front office there. So he's not. He's trying to put the best player out there. So if I'm a betting man, Kenny Pickett, who has had high potential coming out, he's been on.
- [04:46]
Bobby Bones
He's a first round pick.
- [04:47]
Wes Welker
Right. He's been on three teams in three years, and now you've got Joe Flacco, who's obviously at the tail end of his career, but gives them probably the best opportunity to go win right now. So I'd say, if anything, you're going to start Joe Flacco to start this season. See if you can ride him and go as far as you can go with him.
- [05:05]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, I think Flacco starts if they want to win. I think Stefanski winning coach of the year, though, a couple years ago, kind of gives them a couple more years there, regardless. So with them trading for Kenny Pickett, I'm thinking, all right, if they start Pickett, it's because they want to put a product out there that's going to make sure they get a good draft pick the next year. I think Flacco does give them the best shot to win now. And I talked to Flacco last week for a little bit, and he's healthy and he's feeling good with the Jets. Surprisingly, he was good with the Browns. He won comeback player of the year. He beat a dead guy.
- [05:38]
Wes Welker
Right.
- [05:39]
Bobby Bones
He beat a guy who came back to life, come back player of the year. Indianapolis. He didn't have a lot to work with, let's be honest. So I think if they want to win games, it's Flacco. But then in that quarterback room now, you have Dylan Gabriel, third round, and you have Shador, fifth round. It's got to be an awkward quarterback room for three of the four. The three would be Pickett and the two rookies.
- [06:00]
Wes Welker
There's no doubt about it, because where Dylan Gabriel and where Shador Sanders was picked, they're guys that are going to have to fight for that job. They're not keeping four quarterbacks, or they might try to put one of them on practice squad, but that allows other teams to come in and swoop them up immediately. So every one of these guys are going to go in with a stiff competition to fight for not only their position on the team, but just a roster spot overall. And when you look at just the outlook of what's going on here, you don't know if anybody has really an edge, so to speak, can he pick it again? He's got to prove himself to this staff and this new team as well. And then Dylan Gabriel, while everybody's questioning him going in the third round, I watched this guy play up close and personal this year, and he played big in big games. He's got a strong arm. People talk about, well, he's undersized. He is a little bit undersized. But he's got a strong lower half. He's got, he's mobile. He can get it done in the run game and in the pass game. And so I think he's a high quality prospect. And then you have Chador, which again, it's just a wild discussion because everything in the draft this year for the, the time from when the draft started to finally when he got picked was all about Shador and the drama taking place here and his fall from glory and dropping out of the first round, then the second, the third, the fourth, it was wild. Shador is a high quality prospect as well. And there's so many questions that everybody has around, why did he drop? And from what you hear now and more stuff is coming out, could it have been just the draft, overall draft process? Right. When you go to the combine and you meet with these teams behind closed doors, how impressive are you, are, are you in those meetings? In addition to that, how do you come across? And if they don't view you as a first or second round talent, which there's 32 teams that pass on him for four rounds, it might say something about the individual himself rather than just oh well he should have been. And they're just, you know, blackballing them for some reason.
- [08:05]
Bobby Bones
Was there ever an awkward dynamic in any of your quarterback rooms and maybe not even with you, but maybe for second and third or who's getting reps?
- [08:15]
Wes Welker
Yeah, you know, you feel a little bit of tension I think always until you meet the human after a draft process. Because when Teddy Bridgewater got drafted, he was drafted in the first round. When I was in Minnesota, they just re signed me to a two year deal to come back and I knew I was going to be a bridge guy, but I didn't anticipate them taking a first round quarterback. So there's this anticipation of, you know, what's it going to feel like in the room? How's the competition going to go, go about. But then when you meet Teddy Bridgewater and the type of person and the character that he has, it was easy to get along with him. And then it was just all about support and all that stuff. I'd say probably there was a competition when I went to Buffalo between myself and Tyrod Taylor where you could feel more tension because every day mattered. They wouldn't give an inch. Any given day, reps would be dispersed. E.J. manuel was there as well, who was a first round draft pick under that same GM. So when you look at that dynamic that was a little bit not so much between us. But every day on the field, you knew that you had to go out and put your best foot forward and play really well because that could impact your reps the next day.
- [09:26]
Bobby Bones
Bizarre. And it wasn't. I remember watching RG3 get drafted in the first round and then Kirk Cousins get drafting the fourth round going, well, that's weird. And I think there were a hundred picks different. But then to have Dylan Gabriel go three and Shur go five, it was the closest two quarterbacks ever been drafted. It was like 50 picks.
- [09:44]
Wes Welker
Right?
- [09:46]
Bobby Bones
That is an anxiety filled situation. If you're Dylan Gabriel and you're like, I just got drafted in third round for sure I'm going to be the backup at least next year. I'll go in as three this year because again they have Flacco and Pickett. Go on at three. I'll learn. Wait, what? They just drafted Shur in the fifth round. And I know it's business, so you try not to take things personal in business, but I'd have been upset.
- [10:09]
Wes Welker
I would be too. Because when you get drafted in the third round, you're like, somebody believes in me. They trust that I can come in and be a player that can make an impact for this team. And when you look at the quarterback room right there, you're saying, hey, I like my chances. But then all of a sudden to turn around 50 picks and the very next pick you take Shador Sanders, who is arguably one, a quarterback that could have gone in the first, first two rounds for many of these organizations, but nobody pulled the trigger. And you're saying, whoa, okay, that changes my mindset. Now. This is a full blown competition. I'm fighting for my life and my livelihood on this team, let alone just in the league.
- [10:46]
Bobby Bones
I have a list I made. I do a list every week. These are my top five fifth round NFL draft picks.
- [10:50]
Wes Welker
Nice.
- [10:50]
Bobby Bones
So not funny.
- [10:51]
Wes Welker
But yeah.
- [10:52]
Bobby Bones
I just wanted to see who else was picked in round five specifically because shitter was picked in round five. Stefan Diggs in 2015, outstanding, was picked at 146 by Minnesota. I think at times I forget the Minnesota Miracle. Oh, yeah, that was like one of.
- [11:11]
Wes Welker
Who was that against? Was that against the Saints?
- [11:13]
Bobby Bones
It was.
- [11:13]
Wes Welker
Yes, it was. That was a. I remember watching it and it was a play to try to get out of bounds, catches it, comes down, safety falls down, and he takes it to the house.
- [11:22]
Bobby Bones
So cool.
- [11:23]
Wes Welker
So cool. And that place was rocking. Rodney Harrison at 4, teammate of mine, incredible player, would come and smash your.
- [11:31]
Bobby Bones
Face in in 1994.
- [11:33]
Wes Welker
Pick 145 to the 1994. No idea.
- [11:40]
Bobby Bones
San Diego Chargers.
- [11:41]
Wes Welker
Oh, I thought we were doing somebody else here. I was like, oh, yeah, I knew he went to San Diego.
- [11:46]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, yeah, we're still Rodney Harris. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [11:48]
Wes Welker
Who are you going now?
- [11:49]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, yeah, no, Rodney Harrison. 1994. Pick 145 to the Chargers. What was he like as a guy?
- [11:56]
Wes Welker
He was the ultimate leader. He led by example, but he also was vocal. He wasn't vocal just to be vocal. He spoke with purpose. And he's one of those guys that you've ever been around. The presence of a leader like that, where when he speaks, everybody shuts up. And I loved him. And every day when you walk in the facility, he was there and he'd say, hey, I already got my workout in. Rook, would you. What? What do you got? And he just talk smack like that. But it was just little things because it was a form of leadership. Like, this is what you have to do to be successful in this league. You have to be accountable. You have to put in the work.
- [12:34]
Bobby Bones
In 2017, pick 146 to the San Francisco 49ers. Round number five, George Kittle.
- [12:40]
Wes Welker
George Kittle was a fifth rounder, a.
- [12:42]
Bobby Bones
Multiple Pro Bowler, obviously first team all Pro. And he's the guy that I think of when it's all around blocking and catching, because you have guys that basically are wide receivers, they can block a little bit like a Travis Kelce.
- [12:56]
Wes Welker
Right.
- [12:56]
Bobby Bones
But Kittle can actually grind it out on the line and he seems like.
- [13:01]
Wes Welker
He likes it too. There's a lot of guys that, that you'll see at the end of the line of scrimmage that goes, okay, I've got a block out of necessity because this is part of the job requirement. But they really want to go run the seam route and go break down on a linebacker and get open. But he is the complete definition of what a tight end stands for. Very similar to what Tyler Warren brings to the table when he got drafted this year.
- [13:21]
Bobby Bones
Sometimes I'll get KD's mail. Well, twice, really. He lives right around here and I got his mail once. And the UPS guy, I guess they don't have like Hippa.
- [13:31]
Wes Welker
No. Oh, UPS guys. Every now and then they'll just drop, oh, yeah, I was at so and so's or so I was like, please don't tell anybody where I live.
- [13:39]
Bobby Bones
Exactly. And there was some kiddo. I told KD us when we were at New Orleans for Super bowl. And I saw him because I gave him an award on, on television. And I said, dude, I got your mail. And he was like, where do you live? I told him. And I was like, if he's that driver, you should tell him not to tell people where you live. Like, luckily, like, I'm cool. But if you ever say you're cool, you're not cool. But I was like, don't worry, man.
- [13:58]
Wes Welker
I'm cool, I'm cool, I'm cool. I did open your mail just to see what was in the box.
- [14:02]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, it was great. I kept it. Number two, Terrell Davis.
- [14:05]
Wes Welker
Wow.
- [14:06]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. Terrell Davis, 1995 pick 196 to the Broncos. Last time we saw him, he was in a Hall of Fame jacket. Right, boys?
- [14:11]
Kevin Reed
Yes, sir.
- [14:12]
Bobby Bones
That was. That's crazy to see the gold hall of Fame jacket. It's weird about Taylor Davis is that he was hurt. Like he got hurt. His career was shortened because of injury. Not that that's completely out of nowhere with a running back, but for as great as he was, he had a 2000 yard rushing season.
- [14:29]
Wes Welker
I didn't even realize he did. And that's when the Broncos were running the football, that it's that stretch, outside zone, inside zone. And he was phenomenal.
- [14:40]
Bobby Bones
Two time Super bowl champion, one with Elway, was the MVP in 98 and the hall of Fame, obviously. And in number one, 2011 pick 154 to the Seattle Seahawks, Richard Sherman, Legion.
- [14:54]
Wes Welker
Of boom out of Stanford. He was a tough guy to go up against. He was long, he was rangy, always in good position. And it really helped because that defensive front that they had would get after you. And because he was such a smart, savvy guy on the outside, he would jump routes all the time.
- [15:11]
Bobby Bones
He was he jumping routes because he had studied so much and he was watching for indicators and to jump routes. Or is he a guesser?
- [15:20]
Wes Welker
No, he wasn't a guesser. There are guys that you go up against that are guessers that will just continue to give up the five yard hitch or the under and let you throw the ball in there and then all of a sudden jump you because they'll lull you to sleep. He was one of those guys that studied, understood alignments because a lot of times when you're a receiver, you'll line up outside edge, inside edge of the number and that's a tall tale sign of what direction you're going to go. So he understood that. And then conceptually, if number two goes out, well, this guy's probably going to go in based on the split. So he'd sit in position to jump that and he'd play really physical at the top of his route. I think he got a lot away with a lot, don't get me wrong. But it was because he was such a smart football player at the cornerback position.
- [16:11]
Matt Castle
Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24,7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch. You'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
- [16:48]
Bobby Bones
Were there guys that you would know they were so good if they especially not like linebackers, but anybody playing a cornerback, a safety that you would just keep eyes on a little more than you would others because again, their traits and you knew how dangerous they were?
- [17:05]
Wes Welker
Oh, 100% you, you'd have to take into consideration who you're going up against. And always you've heard me say before, the NFL is a matchup driven league. And even if everything tells you to go out there, if you have Brevis out there and he's going to be one on one with maybe your number two ride receiver because you put your number one on the opposite side, you've got to be careful because everything tells you, look, the reed's going to take me this way, but you better be on time with that route. You better throw it in rhythm, you better not be late or under throw a ball. Because those are the type of guys that have all the traits and have tremendous ball skills, have quickness out of the break, can, can recover on the deep ball. So you, you would take that into account. At the same time, you can't be so scared where it paralyzes you and you don't take those chances because sometimes that's the only option you have is to go after those guys.
- [17:56]
Bobby Bones
Was there a corner you just wouldn't throw at? Is Reavis one of them or would you just pick your shots with him?
- [18:01]
Wes Welker
No, I threw at him, he picked me off, I threw at Champ Bailey. He might have picked me off once or twice, but I did. There was one game up in Denver when I was with the Kansas City Chiefs and they're playing, we're playing Champ Ailey and I've got the utmost respect for him. I always loved him as a Player. But I was like, we got down by like 21 pretty quick. They went down, scored, boom, boom, boom. So we went into two minute mode, and I didn't have a choice. Dwayne Bo was out there. He was having a great season. I was like, screw it. I'm gonna go to my dude and just started throwing at Champ. And it was the only time I can remember where I had a high level of success against Champ. Dwayne played really well round, ran good routes and did all the things that he needed to do to be successful. But that was the only time that I was like, well, screw it, we're down by 21. What's the worst that can happen? So maybe that's a good thing. That when you just play free and you don't worry so much about the optics and who you're going up against and just try to go out and execute, it works out well.
- [18:59]
Bobby Bones
I met Richard Sherman, I guess last year at the ACM Awards. He was there. He works for Amazon NFL. And so the ACMs are on Amazon, and Reba was the host. And I would do all the backstage stuff. So it was just us two on camera all the time. And I saw Richard Sherman walk by and I was like, hey, Richard Sherman. Just wanna say hi. He didn't know who I was, and so I was like, yeah, big fan. And I saw Richard Sherman see Jelly Roll. And I was like, I know Jelly Roll. And I was like, hey, Jelly. He was like, what's up? So I said, hey, meet Richard Sherman. And so they met. We have a picture of all three of us standing together. But what still hurts a little bit is they started talking and then I. I didn't exist anymore. I was gone.
- [19:39]
Wes Welker
They didn't bring you into the conversation. Like, Bobby, thank you so much for the introduction.
- [19:43]
Bobby Bones
Way we went, they started talking, and all of a sudden I. Oh, hey, guy. Oh, all right. Guess I'm not needed here anymore.
- [19:49]
Wes Welker
Kind of like at the commissioner Center.
- [19:51]
Bobby Bones
I wasn't going to say it. I'm leaving.
- [19:53]
Wes Welker
I'm leaving.
- [19:53]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, I just kind of slipped out, you know, I guess. Kind of awkward for me. I think I live in an awkward body, so. But Richard Sherman was super nice, but loud. Was he loud on the field?
- [20:02]
Wes Welker
Yes, loud. Love to talk smack, dude. He was one of those guys that let you have it and always chirping at the wide receivers. And there was a confidence slash arrogance that came along with playing him because he knew he was one of the top cornerbacks in the league. He knew that they had A really good defense, and so you would constantly hear him chirping. But after the game, he was always a gentleman. He'd come up and shake hands and be professional about it. And so I had no problem with it because usually most of that, that position in particular, you've got to have a little to you, right? You can't go out there and be timid whatsoever. And when you're playing it with the utmost of confidence, it shows not only in your play, but usually in your mouth as well.
- [20:46]
Bobby Bones
I was watching Mason Graham pick a number, and so I took him to an office, and they're like, all right, pick your number. He's like, I want to be whatever number, like 55 or something, right? And they're like, ah, this is so. And so he has it. You could try to reach out to him and see if you could buy it from him. And so, like, pick a second number in case you can't get the number. And so Myles Garrett's 94 or 95. Miles Garrett's 95. So he's. He's like, I'll be 94 as my second number. And they're like, great. So they saved that for him. But he's like, I'm gonna try to get this number. In the 50s, was number buying as prevalent when you played? And was your number open when you went to the team? Did you get your first choice of number?
- [21:25]
Wes Welker
Oh, no. When I walked into the Patriots, they said, there's your number, there's your locker. No choice whatsoever. Not even like, hey, these are available. No, hey, you're 16. I was like, okay, thanks for coming. And I pretty much wore that for most of my career. When I went to the Chiefs, Obviously I wanted 16. Lynn Dawson. The number was retired. They're like, you can't have that one. So we picked seven. I think I've told this story before. One plus six equals seven. That's how they presented it to me. I was like, that makes sense. But there were guys that would come in that wanted a particular number, and guys occasionally would just. They would say an outrageous price. And these are. Some of these guys are just dudes on the team that maybe were drafted but hadn't really proven themselves yet. Where a veteran comes in and wants a particular number and they're being cool about it, but then they'll say some just outrageous number. And these guys are like, are you serious? And a lot of them wouldn't do it. And then other guys would just say, fine, name. Name your price and I'll pay. I'LL pay you for it. And they were cool about it. Some guys are really attached to numbers, other guys aren't.
- [22:32]
Bobby Bones
There's the famous Jimmy Clauss and Cam Newton story where Cam Newton wanted number one. Right. And Jimmy Clausen had it and want to charge a million bucks for it.
- [22:39]
Wes Welker
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So a million dollars for a number. It was like, wait, are you the starter right now? Yeah.
- [22:44]
Bobby Bones
That's not crazy.
- [22:45]
Wes Welker
Well, it's probably one of those things too. You're a little bit angry. He just drafted. He's definitely going to come in and take your job. I don't want him to take my number too. But did you see Warren Moon came in and allowed Cam Ward to take wear number one, which was retired for the Tennessee Titans.
- [23:00]
Bobby Bones
I did not see that.
- [23:02]
Wes Welker
Yes.
- [23:02]
Bobby Bones
That's cool.
- [23:03]
Wes Welker
He showed up on the day when they were making the presentation and presenting Cam Ward to the media and everything. On this first day after being drafted, he showed up and said that he was going to allow Cam Ward to be the next in line and allowed him to wear his number.
- [23:16]
Bobby Bones
Did you see where Abdel Carter wanted to wear number 56 and Lawrence Taylor said no.
- [23:20]
Wes Welker
That was kind of what I expected. Lawrence said, like, no, you gotta go prove it.
- [23:24]
Bobby Bones
He was like, be zero. Like be a number that you haven't been able to be or nobody's been able to be, make that famous. And I'm cool with that because the numbers are tired for a reason. And I don't think I would have given it to a rookie either, if ever if my numbers were tired. But I think there's something to possibly, if he's awesome, that out of respect, Lawrence Taylor goes, you can all in like three years. You can also wear the number.
- [23:47]
Wes Welker
But I'm also one of those guys that I understand the, the sweat and the sacrifice that these guys made to make that number what it is. And there's some pride that goes along with seeing your name and your number being retired. There's not a lot of them for every organization. So in Lawrence Taylor is one of the most legendary players in the NFL. There's nobody quite like him coming off the edge, especially in his era. So I can understand why you're saying, hey, you haven't proven anything yet. You haven't taken one snap.
- [24:20]
Bobby Bones
What if you wanted to pay him, though? What if he's like, I'll give you a million bucks.
- [24:22]
Wes Welker
I guarantee Lawrence would think about that.
- [24:24]
Bobby Bones
I do too. I think. I think there'd be a lot of thought about that one. Yeah, I think As a general rule, if it's retired, it just should never be taken off. Right. And I think it's cool that Warren Moon. I think it's cool that sometimes basketball players will allow their numbers to be worn or if somebody's son is playing and it was his number. But I think we should just have retired numbers be retired because then they're just semi retired at all points.
- [24:47]
Wes Welker
Right. Because you're going to get to a point here as we continue to play football over the next however many decades, that there's going to be great players that come through your organization and they're just going to start swallowing up jersey after jersey where you're like, we really don't have many numbers left, guys. You're just going to have to wear license plates.
- [25:06]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. You're going to have to have like letters on the back.
- [25:08]
Wes Welker
Number 101 with the tackle.
- [25:10]
Bobby Bones
What'd you feel about the 18 game schedule? We're talking about it a lot now. What do you think about it?
- [25:16]
Wes Welker
You know, it's. It's always one of those things that when you look at it as a player, when they were going from 16 to 17, you worry about the length of a season and also how long can you extend your career. If now you're going from 16 games and 17 and then you play three years, that's three extra games a year. Then all of a sudden you go to 18, and now it's two extra games a year. And those numbers and those games add up on the body for a lot of these players, particularly running backs, interior offensive linemen. And I know at the same time, the reason they do this is because the television contracts are going to get bigger, the money's going to be better, the guaranteed contracts. So there's. There's a catch 22. Right. Because you worry about the safety of a player. But at the end of the day, the NFL is trying to put product out there that they can sell, and it's all about the bottom line and the dollar and how much money you can make. And so you can capitalize on that as a player. But at the same time, there's got to be a point where they quit trying to add games because already you see all these games in Europe, in London, they're going to Germany, they're going all over, which that's hard enough, I think, on a lot of these players, of the travel that it takes place throughout the entire season. But add on multiple games at the end of the year and then most of these teams or a lot of These teams go to playoffs, you can have another four games, three games at the end of the year. Again, look at the Chiefs.
- [26:42]
Bobby Bones
They, those guys have played like four extra seasons in just playoff games. Like their bodies have been knocked around. Basically. It's like LeBron playing playoff ball. He's played more games in the playoffs than some of these guys that played in the league for five years. That the games they play in regular season.
- [26:55]
Wes Welker
Right. And the product on the field. Because what you're going to see is there's going to be more injuries and you're going to have to probably extend the number of players that you can have on a roster. And they already did that with the practice squad. But that's just because you're going to see injuries. That's just what the price you have to pay when you play in the NFL is.99% or 100% injury rate for every player, is what they tell us. And so is the product on the field gonna start to suffer with these extra games? Because so many guys are getting injured and now you're seeing a lot more backups than everybody else playing what if?
- [27:30]
Bobby Bones
Because again, this is gonna be a union situation. 100% to add games to protect players, but also to allow the players to make more money as well. I think how I would position it is if we're gonna have an 18 game schedule, first of all, there will be two bye weeks. That's not even.
- [27:46]
Wes Welker
That's absolutely not even a question. Right.
- [27:48]
Bobby Bones
So we're gonna do that. We're probably going to have one less preseason game, which they've already talked about as well. But I think I would put in some sort of. The starting quarterback can only start 16 games a season, meaning there's got to be one game during the season that you start your backup quarterback.
- [28:08]
Wes Welker
That's an interesting concept.
- [28:09]
Bobby Bones
I would even say all positions, you can only max out 16 starts a season. We're going to play an extra game, but that the last or an extra two. So it'd be 17 now, but 18 games, everybody can only start 16 or 17 games. So there's another game. But you've got to strategically decide when you're gonna set your quarterback.
- [28:31]
Wes Welker
But what about the Lions that had like 14 guys on IR where they just.
- [28:35]
Bobby Bones
Well, they have to worry about it. They're not gonna play that many games.
- [28:37]
Wes Welker
Dropping like flies and you're like, sorry Goff, you're gonna have to sit down.
- [28:42]
Bobby Bones
This game, I think it makes the backup quarterback way more valuable. I think it makes the third string quarterback Way more valuable because that's actually the backup quarterback in at least a game or two. So it then raises, since they're more valuable, raises the amount of money that they can make and they can demand because they're obviously lifting the cap. The salary caps going up already 100. So I think if you were to add the game because of all the physical, the, the, the attrition that just happens and the body parts, you basically lose because you're just getting hit all the time. I think you make that up by going, yeah, we got extra game. But there's another element of strategy. We said 18 games and your quarterback can, every player can only start 17 games and you get to pick which game the, the one doesn't play. So it's like a third bye week off week for a player.
- [29:30]
Wes Welker
I guarantee the owners won't sign off on it because you know, the fan bases, they won't want to see that. They'll be like, wait, you're telling me Jared Goff's not going to start? Or whoever might be Jaden Daniels or somebody like that.
- [29:44]
Bobby Bones
One game a year, One game.
- [29:46]
Wes Welker
I, I, I, I.
- [29:47]
Bobby Bones
Do you want the extra game? Do you want it? Because we're not going to get it if we don't do it.
- [29:50]
Wes Welker
I'm just telling you there's no way the owners will go for it.
- [29:53]
Bobby Bones
I think it's a pretty stupid idea too, but I like it too. No, I do like, yeah, I think.
- [29:55]
Wes Welker
I think it add a lot.
- [29:57]
Bobby Bones
It's a. And again, it's the strategy. It's a wrinkle because then all of a sudden, you know, we're playing the Panthers this week, we're not going to start Jaden Daniels. Turns out Panthers play their freaking face off and win the game and you're like, God dang, who do got to strategize that.
- [30:10]
Wes Welker
Strategize, bro. You should have known.
- [30:12]
Bobby Bones
Did you hate playing in. I guess that's not D.C. but did you hate playing. Did you play the Redskins?
- [30:18]
Wes Welker
Oh, yes.
- [30:18]
Bobby Bones
Did you hate that stadium?
- [30:20]
Wes Welker
You know, once you were on the actual field, it wasn't that bad. Now the Redskins were pretty bad when we played them. So the fan base, it wasn't an electric atmosphere by any means, but when that was when I was with the Chiefs. But then we came back and played them, I believe on a Monday night with Dallas and that place was rocking and plus the rivalry. But the, the facilities there were dog.
- [30:46]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, yeah.
- [30:47]
Wes Welker
And the locker rooms were terrible and it was archaic. Not as bad though at as Oakland Raiders stadium, when they used to play at the baseball field, where half the field for part of the year was the baseball facility, they didn't play in.
- [31:01]
Bobby Bones
Like Candlestick, did they?
- [31:03]
Wes Welker
San Francisco used to play in Candlestick.
- [31:05]
Bobby Bones
It was baseball. That's what I think.
- [31:07]
Wes Welker
And then the Oakland Raiders played at.
- [31:09]
Bobby Bones
At the A's. Where the A's.
- [31:11]
Wes Welker
Exactly. But that was a true baseball locker room. You go in, they literally had two stalls, like two shower heads. They had the exposed, exposed piping up that would drip out like just not enough lockers for everybody. You'd have the share locker room. The training room where everybody's got to go in and get taped, was so small. It was brutal. And I was just like, this is an NFL dude.
- [31:33]
Bobby Bones
That would be the worst to go play pro football in the NFL. And that's where you have to. That's your home base. That's your home base garbage can. That's what it feels like. With what the commanders had to deal with. Now they're moving back to D.C. they're going to spend 4 billion bucks and build a new stadium. 20, 30, it's going to be rolling. And I. My assumption is it's a lot easier to past that and to get that money whenever you're winning.
- [31:56]
Wes Welker
Yeah, it's a good idea to go after that. After last year and with the young quarterback they have and now just. Just the potential of them continue to build on that. I think it's a lot easier to get that passed and say, yeah, we're going to give you some funding for.
- [32:09]
Bobby Bones
This and they're going to put a roof on it and they're going to use it for things other than just football. Right. So if you can prove you're going to make money in other ways, it's a lot easier to get money in because you can prove you're going to make money out.
- [32:21]
Wes Welker
Right. You're going to bring commerce to the city.
- [32:23]
Bobby Bones
So Oklahoma is the worst, huh?
- [32:25]
Wes Welker
Yeah, that was by far the worst.
- [32:26]
Bobby Bones
Whenever they do.
- [32:27]
Wes Welker
Actually, Buffalo is. Buffalo is. Had a really bad visiting locker room as well.
- [32:31]
Bobby Bones
Like guts of it. Not the. Because Buffalo, they're one of the only stadiums that I say don't put a roof on it because that's your advantage. The weather, although it sucks, I hate cold. But that's part of their culture.
- [32:41]
Wes Welker
It is part of their culture and they're a tough team. Gritty. And it's always an advantage to Buffalo. When you go up there and it is cold, it's damp, the wind's blowing.
- [32:50]
Bobby Bones
It'S snowing and then it's old and crappy. Oh, no.
- [32:54]
Wes Welker
Now, it was always a fun stadium to play it just because the fans were so outrageous and the stuff that would come out of their mouths. You're just like, this is absurd. They throw beer bottles at your car, at the bus as you're coming in, just crush you. And they're pretty high quality talkers too, right? They'd say some stuff on the sideline that you're like, that was pretty good. That was actually pretty good.
- [33:15]
Bobby Bones
Was there ever a visiting locker room that sucked? But actually, in reality, the home locker room was awesome.
- [33:23]
Wes Welker
I bet you most of the places are like that. Because if you can make the visiting locker room uncomfortable and you definitely, you have those guys on the team that are going to bitch and complain about everything, let alone the locker room, right? So you're going to have some disgruntled employees when you're coming in the visiting locker room, but then you walk across and it's like the Taj Mahal and you're sitting there going, oh, really? So you guys could have absolutely just even put a little lipstick on the pig and you decide not to just to make us uncomfortable before we go out and play.
- [33:52]
Bobby Bones
You little space heater.
- [33:53]
Wes Welker
Yeah, anything.
- [33:54]
Bobby Bones
Little space heater. Warm up the sausage. Okay, so Wes Walker coming up.
- [34:07]
Matt Castle
Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24,7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
- [34:44]
Bobby Bones
We're going to talk with Wes Welker. I mean, to me, I just think about him scurrying across the middle, catching everything thrown at him and just being like, that dude. That's why I think about it. A guy who watched him on tv.
- [34:56]
Wes Welker
He was that dude. And he was one of those guys that would always put his bodies and body in harm way. I remember I was throwing him like a short slant. We're playing the Steelers and Ryan Clark came up and absolutely decapitated him. And I felt so bad. I mean, literally, I thought he was dead. And I walked up, I'm like, bro, I'm sorry. He's like, what the hell, Castle? I was like, I. I really Thought I was going to fit it in there. I thought it was a good throw. But he is the ultimate competitor, man. And he is one of those guys that was undrafted and just worked his way up by grinding and grinding and finally got his opportunity. When he came to the Patriots and they believed in him and he took full advantage of it. So you'd love to see guys like that as well that come from little in terms of just the politics of the NFL and then are able to go out and become a household name.
- [35:52]
Bobby Bones
Some of the stuff I did not know and I'm always curious about high school stats. He did it all. So he was all state player of the year, Oklahoma State player of the year. He had. Now listen to this. Three touchdowns, over 200 all purpose yards and a 47 yard field goal and an interception in the state championship game. In high school. That's one game in the state championship. He rushed for over 3,000 yards and 53 touchdowns. He had 22 interceptions, three pick sixes, 581 tackles and nine fumble recoveries. Yeah, I got to ask him about this.
- [36:21]
Wes Welker
That's absolutely ridiculous. I remember that he was with Miami Dolphins. Their kicker gets hurt during their game. Place kicker. He goes in and kicks field goals for him the rest of the game.
- [36:30]
Bobby Bones
I didn't know that.
- [36:31]
Wes Welker
Yeah. True statement in a real football game. Wes Welker, versatile as well.
- [36:35]
Bobby Bones
3 time NFL receptions leader. If I can say this. And I did this to you as well and I. I don't feel guilty about you anymore. I think it's funny but at the time I felt kind of stupid. I didn't realize he didn't have a ring.
- [36:47]
Wes Welker
I thought you might ask that.
- [36:49]
Bobby Bones
I didn't realize he didn't have a ring. He lost all three.
- [36:51]
Wes Welker
I know. Is that crazy?
- [36:53]
Bobby Bones
I would have lost money.
- [36:55]
Wes Welker
I. Everybody that thinks of the Patriots because he was.
- [36:58]
Bobby Bones
He was so great.
- [36:59]
Wes Welker
He was so. He was one of the greats.
- [37:02]
Bobby Bones
Wow.
- [37:02]
Wes Welker
And have the stats that he compiled while he was there and he was one of the unlucky ones where they weren't able to get it done in the Super Bowl.
- [37:10]
Bobby Bones
Former NFL wide receiver and current personnel analyst for the Washington Commanders. Here is Wes Welker.
- [37:18]
Wes Welker
Welcome to the show. One of my good friends. All time great slot receivers in the NFL. Played 12 years, five time Pro Bowler, two time All Pro, two time second team All Pro. What are you. Tied for the record with the longest reception of NFL history at 99 yards. Incredible player, but also an incredible coach. Right now he's with the Washington Commanders. As an analyst. Welcome to the show. Wes Welker.
- [37:48]
Bobby Bones
Clap, clap hands. Clap hands. Clap hands.
- [37:51]
Kevin Reed
Well done.
- [37:52]
Wes Welker
Well done. How are you doing out there, bud? You look great. Your hair's done. Thanks for dulling yourself up for the show.
- [37:59]
Kevin Reed
Hey, just for you.
- [38:00]
Wes Welker
Just for me. Well, right now, obviously, the draft just ended. And let's go back to when you were going through this period, because I think it's one of the great stories in the NFL. You went obviously undrafted, but you can speak to the perspective of going through just the process itself, wanting to be drafted, not actually getting drafted, but getting that opportunity. And just the mental anguish that kind of goes forth going through that process, but at the same time, getting your foot in the door. And what was your mentality when you did that? And what would you say to some of these guys now that are coming out maybe as undrafted? Didn't get. Didn't get to where they expected to in the draft, but they've got an opportunity?
- [38:42]
Kevin Reed
Yeah. You know, I think going into it, I thought I was probably going to be a free agent, maybe a seventh round pick or something like that. I mean, at the end of the day, I just want an opportunity. You know, I think there was a couple teams out there that won me as undrafted free agent, but the San Diego Chargers just kind of a good fit for me being out there. James Lofton was my coach at the time. Hall of Famer wide receiver Tim Dwight was out there. Eric Parker. There were. There were just some good guys to learn from. I mean, I couldn't have picked a better spot really, just as far as first coming out and just guys to learn from. I think as you come into the league as a rookie, you need that older vet in there just to kind of show you what it looks like. Because I think coming out of college, you think you work hard, you think you do this, you think you do it. And there's just so much. There's just another level, and there's probably more levels after that. Stuff that you just pick up as you're in the league for however many years. You just kind of pick up habits as you go and, you know, having those guys in there and. And having James Lofton there, it was. It was a cool experience for me. Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach at the time, who was awesome, old school type of coach. I was pretty much a special teams player. You know, is why they liked me. You know, just having that opportunity, you know, was just kind of really the key thing. And then just having the people I kind of lucked out on. On the people that were there and. And being able to learn from.
- [40:10]
Bobby Bones
If you're talking with the coaches prior to the draft and they're saying, hey, we. We'd like to have you come in. If you don't get drafted, are you also thinking, then why don't you draft me?
- [40:21]
Kevin Reed
Yeah, I mean, there's so many players. I mean, being on the coaching side now, there's so much more to it, you know, as you kind of go through the process, you know, there's. It's not just your position. It's, you know, it's the D linemen, it's defensive backs. It's. And there's a lot of things that. That kind of happen in the draft. There may be a guy who's getting offered, like, a ton of money to be a free agent somewhere else. And so, you know, if you're sitting there, well, shoot, you know, we really like this guy, but he's getting paid all this money, you know, you. You may go ahead and pull the trigger as far as drafting him or whatever the scenario kind of happens to be. But, yeah, I mean, that's part of the almost recruiting process. It's almost like, man, I'm really pulling to get you drafted here, but really, you have no say, you know, or you're just kind of like sitting there just, you know, hoping the kid does go undrafted so you can get them in your room.
- [41:19]
Wes Welker
Then you go to. From San Diego, you go to Miami, and you start to make your footprint a little bit. Right? It was special teams at first, but then they started to utilize you in the slot, and they started to realize we've got something going. And I remember there was the off season after you're with Miami that we're sitting in a room with Coach Belichick and Coach Brady brought in tape on you, and he starts watching the tape with, really, Tom. I was just a fly on the wall sitting there going, thanks for letting me join the meeting. But they're asking about how Tom felt that you fit into the offense in New England. And Tom's like, dude, we've got to get this guy. So from. From Miami, we make the trade, you come in. What was your expectation coming to the Patriots? Was it just excitement? Was it just the feeling that you get to play with Tom because that's really where your career took off.
- [42:04]
Kevin Reed
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think definitely being with Tom, I think seeing what they did with Troy Brown as well, who's like the ultimate Patriot and guy that kind of really Set the tone for. For the slot position, especially there in New England and everything. So seeing what had the way they used him, they were like one of the first teams that would use 11 personnel and first and second down. And so, you know, in Miami and in pretty much every other offense, you know, slot receivers were. Weren't necessarily a thing unless you were. Unless it was third down, so. Or two minute or, you know, whatever the case may be. But, you know, being able to be in that opportunity where, you know, you're kind of like a starting receiver, but you're kind of like the third receiver really, but able to kind of take advantage of, you know, base personnel, being out there, being a linebacker is pretty much going to be matched up on me or, you know, they're going to be in zone or whatever it is. So early on, it was a lot easier, you know, especially with the fact that a lot of times they're playing with the linebacker out there. But as I have more success, they start matching up personnel and then eventually they started drafting nickel corners in the first round. And the game has changed quite a bit, you know, through that transition period.
- [43:23]
Bobby Bones
How quickly did you realize you needed to learn every. Every play in the playbook so you could be on the same page with Tom? Because they were moving you everywhere all the time. You had to be super studious, right?
- [43:34]
Kevin Reed
Yeah, I think so. I think it was more just the reps, so every single route. And I think it takes time. It's not something that happens overnight. It takes years of work together, you know, But I remember we'd go through a 10 to 12 play period. I'd run my routes or whatever, and whatever the leverage was, whatever the coverage was, Tom and I would come back and talk about it. Hey, next time I get that look, I may do this, he's like, hey, you know, next time maybe you do this. So there was just constant communication on, on every single route that kind of came up against every different look to the point where there was just a plan in place over time, where he knew what I was going to do and, and I knew what. What he wanted me to do. So I think the, the culmination of us just kind of be on the same page and really kind of talking through things over and over and over again. Even when we ran routes on air, it wasn't just, you know, run to 10 yards and break out. It was like, okay, what's the leverage? What's the coverage? You know, so that way we have an idea of, you know, even though we're Running on air of what I'm going to do in those certain scenarios.
- [44:43]
Wes Welker
In today's game, you see so much of the 11 personnel. Right. And I think that you're one of those guys that really brought to light the value of the slot position. Do you take a lot of credit and pride in the fact that your success has kind of molded the way for some of these other guys to come in and how valuable that position is for any offensive unit?
- [45:03]
Kevin Reed
I mean, I don't necessarily take a ton of. I mean, yeah, obviously I'm happy to be at the forefront of a lot of that stuff, but I think there were, there were plenty of guys. I think Troy Brown, I thought he did a fantastic job. Wayne Crabbet, I mean there, you know, Tim Dwight, there was, you know, there was playing. Andre Reed, you know, there was plenty of guys that were doing the same type of stuff. I think those guys could also play outside A lot of times. You know, I was kind of, you know, a slot specialist. I pretty much a limited route tree on the outside. So I had to really kind of perfect my craft as far as being the slot and, and understand it's just a different game in this slot and there's a lot more variables. But once you figure out the variables of all the things that can happen, you, you can kind of manipulate the defense how you want to and move people and, and try and create space in there. But, but now, I mean, I think there's plenty of guys, you know, before me that were, they were doing it just as well.
- [46:12]
Matt Castle
Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24,7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch. You'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
- [46:49]
Bobby Bones
Wes, I was looking at some of your high school stats and instead of getting in numbers, mostly it's. I would see rushing, I would see receiving, I would see field goals, I would see interceptions, tackles, fumble recoveries. How many positions did you play?
- [47:04]
Kevin Reed
Yeah, I did. I really didn't come off the field in high school. I mean there's so many games back in high school where basically I was puking by the second quarter. You know, it was just a puking rally type mentality and I just love playing ball. I really enjoy defense quite a bit. We play, basically play quarters every single play. I might as well have been lined up next to the linebackers though. You know, I was, I was up there pretty close to the line of scrimmage and, and trying to make plays. If you ever play action me like I could usually recover, but if you did a good nice job of it and you're running the ball well, you know, you could usually get me out of place pretty quick.
- [47:41]
Wes Welker
Now I know I was your favorite quarterback you've ever played with, but you also played with two of the greatest quarterbacks over play our game. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning. Talk to us about some of the comparisons, maybe some of the differences that you saw between the two of this game's greats at the QB position.
- [47:59]
Kevin Reed
I think the accountability that they brought to the table was always a huge thing, you know, as far as protections, as far as route running, making sure that everybody was on the same page of how they wanted it done. There was no ifs, ands or buts about it. You know, if you didn't do it that way you weren't getting the ball and, and sometimes they would just kick you off, yelling at coaches, different things like that. But they wanted to be their best. That took the whole team and everybody doing their job the way they should. And just like you did cast dog, you know, you got in there just sitting there getting the troops together, you.
- [48:38]
Wes Welker
Know, don't kid yourself. I just looked for you in between that 5 and 10 yard radius and said he'll get open somehow, some way.
- [48:45]
Bobby Bones
Talk about the 99 yard reception. You're on the list with a few other guys. That's the longest it possibly can be. So you do have the record there. What do you remember about it? And did you think you were going to get caught at any point?
- [48:58]
Kevin Reed
No, because I could see it on the Jumbotron and the safety pretty low pre snap and once I, once I caught it and I stiff armed the defender and he went to the ground, I, I knew, I mean trust me, I was still running as fast as I could just in case but, but the Jumbotron was right there and I could see I was, I was pretty cleared out of there I'd say. The funny part about that story is like that whole training camp and almost like off season everything, Belichick was all over me about seam routes like you can't run and it was a seam route that I caught and he's like, you can't run a seam route yeah, this is terrible. We can't even put you on them. Why are you even on. Jeez. And then, and then I go 99 on it. And you know, I, looking back, I probably had more words about it afterwards and I probably should have.
- [49:50]
Wes Welker
So you play for 12 years and then you decide to go into coaching. And one thing that we both know we've experienced is that great, great players don't always make great coaches. But what was the toughest transition for you going from the playing field to now being a coach in the National Football League?
- [50:08]
Kevin Reed
Well, really, I probably should have been a coach all along. You know, if you're looking at me. But you know, I think the biggest transition really is, is, is kind of understanding like you, you think you know, but you don't really know. I remember when I was first breaking down coverages, I was like, oh, this is this coverage, this is that coverage. And, and then they correct me on it and I'd look at it and I'd be like, oh, wait, no, they're right. So, you know, I, I think it was a humbling process and, and seeing a lot of that, I, I think the techniques and stuff I had down pretty well, but also the rules of the defense, understand their leverages and why they are where they are and, and all those different things, I, I think that's kind of one of the biggest eye opening deals. And also understand, you know, there's, there's a sense of, you know, dealing with different personalities and understand the personality that you're dealing with and finding a way to motivate or bring a player along or whatever it is, but just finding a way based on the personality of the player too, and just kind of find the best way to reach them.
- [51:21]
Bobby Bones
So you're now with the commanders. You took the job pretty recently. What is your position now? Because it looks like it involves a lot of different things. And how involved were you with the draft?
- [51:32]
Kevin Reed
Yeah, no, I'm basically a personnel analyst. Yeah, I mean, I'm, I'm helping out with the draft. I mean, I came on kind of late in the process, so, you know, really helped with a lot of the back end type guys in the draft and you know, just writing reports and getting everything together and, and then really here, just, just trying to help however I can. You know, whatever the coaching staff needs, any projects or anything else going on. Just trying to add value the best I can.
- [52:04]
Wes Welker
What are some of the traits and qualities you look for when you're looking at a guy on tape coming out of college as Somebody that's evaluating this guy. What do you value as an evaluator of talent?
- [52:15]
Kevin Reed
I think the obvious ones are speed, hands, quickness, you know, all those different things. Size, different, stuff like that. To me, that's as pretty standard around the league. But also look for toughness. You know, I look for things that I want the guy to speak to me with, the way he plays. You know, I think the. The attitude they bring, how they block third, fourth downs, do they come up big different things that you kind of see and you're like, you know, and sometimes there's that one or two clips where you're just like, oh, okay, now this dude's a real dude. I think the character that they show and. And everything else is. Is also a big part of the evaluation process.
- [53:01]
Bobby Bones
In the evaluation, we heard a lot from different people that work for different teams talking about how they're now judging players on if they love football because now they have more resources before they get to the NFL. Is that something that you were paying attention to as well, especially in the interviews? Like, do they really love football or they just like football and, like, what comes along with it?
- [53:19]
Kevin Reed
Yeah, I think that speaks to the character part of it. And really, to me, with the whole nil deal, it's making it more obvious. The guys that are really about the right stuff and the guys that aren't. So to me, it's kind of. It's pretty black and white as far as, you know, being able to pick those guys out. They got some money, all right. How are they doing with that money? And they're still young, so it doesn't mean it's like they're, you know, they don't love football. You know, sometimes they're just young and trying to figure out life. But to me, it's. It's actually kind of helped the process, in my opinion.
- [53:57]
Wes Welker
There's got to be some buzz around that building, too, right? The success that they had last year. Jaden Daniels coming into his second year, you make the trade for Jeremy Tunel and also Debo Samuel, who obviously you're familiar with because you coached him and with the San Francisco 49ers. So what is the feel of the organization right now after. Now the draft, bringing in some more talent there. What. What are you guys looking to do this year? Obviously, hopefully win the Super Bowl, I'm guessing.
- [54:23]
Kevin Reed
I think this year we're not going to sneak up on anybody. And I can't speak too much because I'm. I'm obviously new here, but in the Past of, you know, teams that have done well, and then the next year, you kind of have a target on your back. So just understand that and understand that, you know, whatever work they did, you know, this past year, that we have to move the needle even more and everybody working together and understanding that we have great opportunity in front of us, and let's go out there and give it everything we got to put a great product on the field.
- [55:00]
Bobby Bones
We got three final questions for you. I'll go first. You played with Cliff in college. Was he a part of getting you over to the commanders?
- [55:07]
Kevin Reed
I don't necessarily think so. I mean, I have lots of relationships here. You know, DQ is actually the D line coach. When I played in Miami, Adam Peters was a gm, and I was with him in New England, Denver, and San Fran. Larry Izzo played with him and in New England and coached with him in Houston. So there's a lot of ties with people. You know, I mean, Cliff and I am really been together since college. So it's awesome having him around and seeing him here, and we're enjoying ourselves and having fun, you know, coaching football.
- [55:40]
Wes Welker
I've got to ask you, what's your favorite Coach Belichick story from your time in New England? Because everybody's got a great Bill Belichick story, but you've got to. You got to give us a little something here, buddy.
- [55:52]
Kevin Reed
See here, I think the time whenever they snapped it over your head. And remember when you get to go chase. I was like, one before one of your first starts, I think, or maybe it's like your second or third. And then you kept on kicking the ball, like you went to go pick it up, and you kept kicking it out.
- [56:14]
Wes Welker
I was literally trying to kick the ball out of the end zone, take the safety rather than the sack for a touchdown.
- [56:20]
Kevin Reed
It was really weird how you're doing it because you kept on trying to pick it up and you did it. But. But I think Belichick just showing that and. And just being like, what the hell is this? I mean, are you kidding me? This is terrible. Like, he's done to all of us.
- [56:38]
Bobby Bones
You guys all do good impressions of him. Like, between you and Light and Wes, like, you guys all kind of.
- [56:44]
Wes Welker
It's not very difficult.
- [56:45]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, you kind of all nail it.
- [56:47]
Wes Welker
You know, you talk in that little, little voice.
- [56:50]
Bobby Bones
Well, final question. What you played with, as Matt mentioned earlier, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, but also, you know, toward the end of your career, you were wildly famous. So what was the autograph rule? Either for you to go to like Peyton or Tom or for somebody to come to you and get you to sign something if they were from another.
- [57:08]
Kevin Reed
Team, I didn't mind it. I hate getting stuff signed for other people. So, like, people come to me, hey, you want to sign? Cool, I'll sign. But they're like, hey, can you have Tom sign this or Peyton sign it? Like, not doing that.
- [57:26]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, I felt that. Wes, we really appreciate the time and congratulations on the new job and congratulations on getting a move to DC actually. I mean, like, play in DC actually. You know, you guys are gonna get a new stadium. Get out of that old. Well, we'll just leave it there. We'll just call it old. Get out of that old. Yeah, it's really cool, like watching you play for the Patriots. And obviously Castle loves you. So we appreciate the time.
- [57:47]
Kevin Reed
Appreciate it, guys. Thanks for having me on.
- [57:48]
Bobby Bones
Thanks.
- [57:59]
Matt Castle
Time is precious, and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
- [58:35]
Bobby Bones
All right, that's it for this week. Thanks to Wes Welker. So I'm still on the search of finding my new favorite NFL team. I guess my favorite first favorite NFL team because I didn't grow up with a team. So I'm like, who. Who shall I like? I got a. A little call from somebody. The Panthers.
- [58:48]
Wes Welker
Did you?
- [58:49]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. So we've been reached out. The Colts, their mascot, reached out.
- [58:54]
Wes Welker
Oh, I remember we had this conversation.
- [58:56]
Bobby Bones
And then someone from the Panthers staff reached out.
- [59:01]
Wes Welker
Looking at the landscape of the NFL in terms of the teams right now, are you kind of pulling that? Pulling for one team that, hey, it might be cool to be if they'd reach out.
- [59:11]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, I don't mind that. I would like a team that's regionally somewhat close.
- [59:17]
Wes Welker
Ish.
- [59:17]
Bobby Bones
I don't. It doesn't have to be, but so I could actually go like, I think the Colts would be cool, but they're just not very good right now. I don't need them to be great. Like, a team like Denver is interesting because they might end up being really good.
- [59:30]
Wes Welker
Right?
- [59:30]
Bobby Bones
They were good. They were pretty good last year.
- [59:32]
Wes Welker
Oh, yeah.
- [59:32]
Bobby Bones
The rookie quarterback. Pretty Good.
- [59:33]
Wes Welker
Next. Great.
- [59:34]
Bobby Bones
And so I think any of the California teams probably a no no for you. I think probably the New York teams are a no, no Buffalo.
- [59:42]
Wes Welker
You wouldn't want to be part of that Bill's mafia. Go jump on tables and just.
- [59:45]
Bobby Bones
They're already winning. They are already winning.
- [59:48]
Wes Welker
What about Kevin O'Connell? Minnesota.
- [59:50]
Bobby Bones
Minnesota is interesting.
- [59:51]
Wes Welker
He's your buddy. He came on.
- [59:52]
Bobby Bones
That would be it. As your buddy. You did.
- [59:55]
Wes Welker
He's our buddy.
- [59:56]
Bobby Bones
Well, he's. Yeah, but you know I get any love or anything. Minnesota would be. That's the kind of team I think I'd like to like. One if I go to games, it's indoors.
- [60:05]
Wes Welker
Yes. True statement.
- [60:06]
Bobby Bones
And also their chant, skull clap. Whatever they do. It's kind of like woo, pig suey. Because nobody does anything like Skull.
- [60:15]
Wes Welker
No, it's rad too. And then the. Like I said, the motorcycle coming out with the Viking on it. Oh, let's go.
- [60:21]
Bobby Bones
And a lot of promise. But again they gotta. He's not a rookie now. Although will he be a rookie since he never played. Who jj yeah, he never played last year.
- [60:33]
Wes Welker
He's still in his technically in his second year.
- [60:35]
Bobby Bones
But Chad Holgren, when he got hurt, didn't play the whole year. He finished second in rookie of the year voting. Yeah, that's how the NBA is. Same with Blake Griffin.
- [60:44]
Wes Welker
That's a good point because in order to be you have to be. No, you have to be on a roster to get accredited season. So he wasn't even on though because.
- [60:52]
Bobby Bones
He got hurt in preseason.
- [60:54]
Wes Welker
That's a great question. We're going to have to look into.
- [60:56]
Bobby Bones
That because if he's a rookie quarterback, I think I might decide to be a Vikings fan. If they hook it up, he might.
- [61:00]
Wes Welker
Be the best rookie quarterback of the class.
- [61:02]
Bobby Bones
See, now we have it. I was. I was shocked when yours didn't go to round seven though.
- [61:07]
Wes Welker
That was wild.
- [61:08]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. Not that I'm a big coin yours guy and I hate Texas because I'm from Arkansas. But I started to feel bad for Quinn yours because round seven to the Dolphins like sevens almost. You'd rather not get drafted and go save it.
- [61:20]
Wes Welker
I wanted to get drafted like crazy. Are you kidding me? But maybe I didn't have the same stats that he had leaving college. I was pretty shocked by that as well because.
- [61:31]
Bobby Bones
And he was hurt all year.
- [61:32]
Wes Welker
He had a lot of injuries. But at the same time he played at Texas, played at a really high level when he played and people were predicting him to be a first round pick at the start of last season.
- [61:45]
Bobby Bones
Well, he was the number one recruit too out of high school when he went to Ohio State and then goes to Texas. But I thought the injury thing would work for him, meaning everybody knew he was hurt and he still played pretty well.
- [61:54]
Wes Welker
Right. And played tough.
- [61:56]
Bobby Bones
The fact that he didn't go to round seven, color me shocked.
- [61:59]
Wes Welker
It just was a weird year for the quarterback in general. I I think one because of the talent from what we saw last year to this year. But then also you had a lot of guys that played a lot of football this year coming out that there weren't as many quarterback needy teams and they're like we'll just get them later. And Quinn Ewers is a great example of that.
- [62:18]
Bobby Bones
Such a lack. I thought I was getting drafted. I was waiting. I was waiting for the call.
- [62:22]
Wes Welker
Holler at me.
- [62:22]
Bobby Bones
Yes. Thank you guys for listening. Please go follow subscribe Lots to say. Hit that little subscribe button. It would help us a ton. Matt Castle for kickoff. Kevin It's Reed's last day on the show.
- [62:34]
Kevin Reed
We're gonna miss you brother.
- [62:36]
Bobby Bones
And yeah, until you leave today. And we're like, what was the name?
- [62:38]
Kevin Reed
Rod.
- [62:39]
Bobby Bones
Rod Yardberry. We're gonna miss you, Reed. Thank you guys for listening. We've had lots to say. Bye everybody.
- [62:44]
Matt Castle
Foreign.
- [62:49]
Bobby Bones
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.
- [63:01]
Matt Castle
Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch. You'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.