Awards, HOF Recap + Denzel Ward, Kyle Hamilton and Dalton Schultz Join the Show!

13:40Jourdan Rodrigue:That said, I would have had him. In fact, we did it on the show, but now I can't remember. I think I had him third or maybe CMC was in that mix as well. But Josh Allen comes in third. CMC came in fourth, I believe, for MVP. Herbert actually was not in the top five, even though he got that one first place vote. But just to explain, too, for the listeners, some people were like, I can't believe this guy got voted last because he was a finalist. And like Monson wrote him in. That's not how it works. Every single vote is a write-in vote, but they just tell you who the top five vote-getters were. And so Trevor Lawrence, who came in fifth, didn't have any first-place votes, but he did come in fifth.

14:19Jourdan Rodrigue:He was technically a finalist. Anyways, he's coming back. Great news, obviously, for Stafford. Let's fly through some of the other awards. Miles Garrett, only the second unanimous defensive player of the year in history. Can you guess who the other one was? J.J. Watt. Yeah, 2014. Best defensive. that was when I realized defensive players will never win MVP.

14:37Nick Shook:Yeah.

14:38Jourdan Rodrigue:Because I was like, if he can't win MVP that year, it'll never happen. He is one of only a handful of players to have won the award twice. Here it is. J.J. Watt, Aaron Donald, Lawrence Taylor. They're the only ones who've gotten it three times. And then Mean Joe Green, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie White. That is a hell of a list for Miles Garrett to be joining. something to be proud of as a Browns fan.

15:06Nick Shook:I mean, as soon as he set the sack record, I felt like it was a slam dunk. And the only question that remained was, was it unanimous? So I was happy to hear that it was unanimous, that we could all get along and agree that in a season in which there wasn't really a strong second candidate, the guy who reset the sack record rightfully is voted unanimously.

15:23Jourdan Rodrigue:Like, Willie Anderson was a distant, distant second there. And then Michael Parsons actually came in third, which shows how good he was, despite missing those keys. I don't know if I agree with that. I think it was just not a great year for Canada to be honest. Offensive Player of the Year was really split up. JSN wins it, Jackson Smith and Jigba. He comes in first. Christian McCaffrey, I'm a little surprised, got 12 first-place votes, just behind in second. Pukin Okua with the best third-place Offensive Player of the Year candidacy you ever wanted to see. Came in third, eight first-place votes.

15:54Jourdan Rodrigue:And Bajon Robinson actually got six first-place votes. So that was really spread out. Even the first place winner, JSN, only got 14 of the 50. And so a really great group of guys. CMC also did win the comeback player of the year vote. And so I don't know if you feel bad for your guy, Puka, Jordan. But I think this was the right choice.

16:15Gregg Rosenthal:I don't.

16:16Jourdan Rodrigue:I'm not saying it should be like a win. It's a team stat. But ultimately, Jackson Smith and Jigba was that excellent. You give them a little bump. I do feel like if the Falcons were better,

16:28Nick Shook:Bijan would have gotten more attention with all of them.

16:30Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah. I mean, if the Falcons were what their roster looked like, they could be. Yes. Then, yeah. Because he lives up to that. I think that Bijan would have gotten more first place.

16:38Jourdan Rodrigue:Eric's laughing at me over here for saying, asking if you feel bad. What? I guess.

16:42Gregg Rosenthal:You should be asking your son. I have no affiliation. No. Your son is the one who was the fan.

16:49Jourdan Rodrigue:My daughter. And, no, I think they lost him on the whole, you know.

16:55Gregg Rosenthal:stream. A lot of people, yeah.

16:57Jourdan Rodrigue:Offensive Rookie of the Year, Ted Rowe McMillan. The only surprise is that it wasn't close. Tyler Shuck does come in second. He wins the Diet Pepsi Award, which is more of like a fan thing. Travion Henderson got a first place vote. I don't like that. I don't love that one, but it was a weird group. It was a very weird group. Jackson Dart comes in fourth. Emeka Abuka comes in fifth. Talk about somebody who was going to run away with it.

17:22Gregg Rosenthal:I know. His stats

17:23Jourdan Rodrigue:and T-Max were so similar and it just comes down to in those final two games they played against each other that everyone's watching like t-mac was bigger factor the panthers win once abuka got hurt he

17:33Gregg Rosenthal:was never quite the same but like yeah in the end was he he was cruising for six weeks it was

17:40Jourdan Rodrigue:supposed to be a great offensive rookie class i think it turned into a good one yeah it was deep and if you actually went through like all the voting you would see like six through ten were good players too. And yet the Associated Press, for some reason, they're not letting us look at all the votes. I want to see on pro football reference that a certain quarterback or whatever came in eighth. OPOY-9. Right. Stuff like that. Because it gives you just a larger context. Information's there. So I'm going to write a strongly worded letter. I'm not even joking. Let's get to... I'll co-sign it.

18:14Gregg Rosenthal:I do believe that he will do that. We at NFL Daily believe.

18:16Jourdan Rodrigue:It's going to be an email. Defensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesterniger. No surprise there.

18:21Gregg Rosenthal:Another excellent Browns defensive player. How about that?

18:25Nick Shook:Yes, who had a great deer in Jim Schwartz's defense, and now we'll have to figure out a new defensive scheme. Yes, he was fantastic. A pick at 33rd overall that shocked everybody at the time. I remember DJ's initial analysis was, this is them choosing the best remaining linebacker because it falls off a cliff after this. I don't think anybody expected him to come in and have the Defensive Rookie of the Year season he had, but if you watch the tape, you can't argue with it.

18:44Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah, I know two teams that had a late first-round grade on him, too. So I think there were a lot of people that were trying to keep how good they thought he could be very, very quietly.

18:53Jourdan Rodrigue:You mentioned Schwartz going. Even though the Hall of Fame news is bigger, I want to give that some time. Just since it's topical, we just talked about the Browns and their defensive players. Schwartz resigns. Weirdly worded. It took like a week. Some people thinking maybe they're going to just back up the truck and convince Schwartz to stay. But then Todd Munkin in his opening press conference, which we didn't have a chance because it was this week to really dive into, pointed out, hey, it wasn't Jim Schwartz all those defenders were chipping. It was Miles Garrett. And I was like, oh, this is what Todd Munkin.

19:33Jourdan Rodrigue:Ew. I get what he meant. Like, we need to keep Miles Garrett. But that told me, yeah, Jim Schwartz probably isn't going to stay. there aren't many open jobs right now for Jim Schwartz. So it's kind of a ballsy move to be like, no, I will pass on your millions of dollars because he's not going to make that money unless he gets another job. But then they have to maybe figure out trade compensation because they're going to hold on to his rights. It's gnarly.

20:00Nick Shook:Yeah, but this is what pride does sometimes. And when you miss out as one of the finalists on a head coaching job and you kind of erupt emotionally in the building and tell everybody you're out of here, you're not coming back. I understand why you would decide to resign and move on from a team that you probably feel like, well, I'm a second banana even if I come back because they didn't want me as the head coach, so why should I stick around? Pride drives it, but I understand the argument. And now it's up to Todd Munkin to figure out who he's going to replace him with and prove that it is, in fact, the players.

20:26Jourdan Rodrigue:Wait, Shorts knows he's going to make money plenty. He's made plenty of money. He'll make money. He might get it from the Raiders, who have an open job right now. But then the Browns could negotiate for trade compensation. So we'll see. Let's get to those Hall of Fame picks. Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri getting in on his first year, all in as first ballot Hall of Famers. I kind of don't like that we make such a big deal out of first ballot. Like, they put that up. First ballot. First kicker to be first ballot.

20:58Nick Shook:Timely take, Greg. I don't like that.

21:01Jourdan Rodrigue:Luke Keekly. It's kind of because, like, it diminishes Luke Keekly, who should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer, but he is going in. And then Roger Craig, the first player from a seniors committee to get in since they changed this format. But one of three candidates and only one got in. So neither Kraft gets in nor Belichick, who are the contributors with this new format, and only one of the senior candidates. So we have a class of five. I'm going to start with Keekly with you, Jordan. And, like, you covered him. Just your thoughts on him, like, getting immortalized and only second year eligible as an all-time great.

21:41Gregg Rosenthal:Well, I think everyone expected it, like you said, to be last year. And people, I think, quickly forget how good some of these guys were when they were playing. And I think he's a classic example of that. Unbelievable. One of the best you'll ever see and has ever been to play the position and could do anything. Could cover Julio Jones. Could, you know, direct the defense. Directed different multiple versions of this defense.

22:09Nick Shook:Could call out the opposing offense's plays.

22:10Gregg Rosenthal:Could call out the opposing offense's plays. Back-to-back interceptions after telling you he knows exactly what you're going to do and then you do a different thing and then he still makes the play twice back-to-back. I mean, he was special. And what I so loved, and it pulled at my soft, soft heartstrings was Julius Peppers being the one to be standing, you know, in his room with a bunch of his friends, our friend of the show, J.J. Jansen as well. And Steve Weiss, who's always there. What a gig. Which, incredible to see him there too. And congrats to Steve Weiss on the HBCU Hall of Fame as well.

22:45Gregg Rosenthal:Really well deserved. Such an honor. And for Pep to be standing there and really clearly emotional by the moment. And then Luke, who has never been emotional or showed any emotion at all and has just been so all ball all the time to sort of almost ask him, like, hey, Pep, you know, what are you doing? And it was so pure of a moment. It was very cool. I love to see it.

23:11Jourdan Rodrigue:I love that show. It's one of the best things NFL Network does, NFL films. There's a full 30-minute edition. It's Steve Weiss's time to shine, too, with these players, letting them know. And Keekly was one of the least emotional people ever when told, but that's very much.

23:27Gregg Rosenthal:And he was just like, oh, hey, this is cool.

23:29Jourdan Rodrigue:And usually they break down and it's all crazy. And it was more just like, this is awesome. My friends are here. I'm almost uncomfortable with it. But Luke Hickley, 14th on the top 25 players of the last 25 years when we did that. It's offseason. I was thinking when I saw Garrett, unanimous defensive player of the year, too. I was like, oh, if I did 26 and 26, like Garrett's already moving up another four spots. There's not many people that have done that. but Keekly really makes me think of Wes. We've talked about Wes this week on the feed and everything. And, you know, we were watching Keekly from the NFL Network newsroom and immediately, like rookie year, Wes was just like, that's one of the best linebackers I've ever seen.

24:15Jourdan Rodrigue:Like, this guy is like the ultimate, like, truth in terms of, like, his reaction time and his speed combination. It's like people like to talk about instincts. It's like, no, he was like he had the instincts, but the instincts plus the insane athleticism combo in in West. He made him his guy as much as just about anyone I would say in the entire NFL within his first two years in the league. And so on this week where, you know, we remember West five years after his passing. Very cool to see Keekly get in five years after, you know, he finished his career.

24:47Nick Shook:Yeah, and I'm really happy that it happened now because, like you said, I feel like we tend to forget how good players can be. And we forget about guys like him because his career was cut short. You know, he did not last as long as, you know, some of the greats of the past in the interest of his health. Right. And I felt like he kind of faded into not anonymity, but just into the past and people move on. They start to identify the new linebackers and they forget about those greats. and it first kind of hit me when he was doing ESPN's like alternative broadcast of the Colts game the Monday night game and he's on the breakdown and he's doing exactly what he used to do on the field and explaining everything and he called the pick six that Rivers threw that was great and and you're just like oh my god there's that great football mind and he had a little bit of like a virality moment in the following week on social media but for him to get here it's like now you know that they people will not forget him so I like always rewarding

25:42Jourdan Rodrigue:peak players. I think Roger Craig was a good example of that. He had two years over 2 ,000 yards. He had, in terms of yards from scrimmage, he had seasons where he goes 1 ,000. He had a season where he went 1 ,000-1 ,000, which never been done before. Just absolutely outrageous. So he gets in at the senior committee. We'll give these guys more time when they do get inducted, but obviously Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald were just no doubters and great to see how emotional they were. The famous story, how Larry Fitzgerald used to be the ball boy for Randy Moss, and Randy Moss is the one that lets him know, and you can see how much it meant to Breeze, who is just means more to that team and that franchise just about than almost any player to any team and franchise.

26:30Jourdan Rodrigue:So it's going to be a really great Saints celebration. The Saints fans are going to show up in Canton. That'll be really cool. Obviously great to see Vinatieri get in. And a great class. It's five players. I find it interesting because they let you know how the voting went. So that's who got in. Last year only four players got in. This year five players get in. Only one, like I said, from those senior contributor bucket, which is less than it's been in the past. So it's harder. Deion Sanders was like, I'm sick of this Hall of Very Good. Make it harder to get in. They kind of listened to him. And it's worked.

27:05Jourdan Rodrigue:I don't know how I feel about that, but we're having smaller classes. But the next three that were left off, the three that got the closest, the only one that I thought should have gotten in was Marshall Yonda. I think he will get in the Ravens guard. Willie Anderson from the Bengals, who's been on the list forever, was very close to getting in. And Terrell Suggs. Next three after that was Frank Gore, Darren Woodson, and Jason Witten. I was surprised. Witten and Gore, in their first year of eligibility, already getting to that final, what is it, 10, I guess, there, or nine, like, you know, they were the next six out and four got in from the modern guys.

27:42Jourdan Rodrigue:That's a good sign for them long term, and it's a bad sign for Torrey Holt and Reggie Wayne and Eli Manning, but Eli Manning's pretty early in this process.

27:52Gregg Rosenthal:You just walked back by us, by the way, behind us. And Kevin Williams.

27:56Jourdan Rodrigue:But I don't think anyone's really covering the, like, the cuts because they have to have these different parts of the voting. So I just kind of wanted to point out who is getting closer. It was a great sign for one of my favorite players, the inconvenient truth, Frank Gore, that he probably will get in. And that Eli Manning is not like a total lock. It's hard.

28:14Nick Shook:I mean, it kind of, we had this debate with Eli and Phillip Rivers. They were both in the same kind of bucket where we were just like, are they Hall of Famers?

28:23Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, here's the thing. The next few classes are loaded. Yeah. So when Ollie Connolly came back at me, when I said I would have put Holt as my fifth on my list because I kind of wanted him to finally get in. And he was like, oh, so you saw him as a top two? And I was like, no, he was always like, he was three to five for so long. And he's like, but is that the type of guys you want in the Hall of Fame? And it's like, I think it's a good point. And then I sort of flipped it on as I was talking to Marshall Yanda, who was pretty obviously the best guard in the game for a long time. Those guys might never get in.

28:58Jourdan Rodrigue:It's kind of the larger point that I'm making, or at least might make it to the senior committee. I know I'm honking a lot. Finally, Cliff Kingsbury is part of the Rams. How weird is that?

29:07Gregg Rosenthal:It is very weird. It is very weird. It's just like the epicenter of the bro universe, Los Angeles.

29:13Jourdan Rodrigue:Probably not going to be the offensive coordinator was your take because they didn't say his position, so it's probably going to be some sort of offensive. Senior offensive advisor assistant. And it's kind of a reminder, Cliff Kingsbury, despite having a lot of friends in the media saying how highly thought of he was for a lot of these jobs. Didn't get a job, ultimately. And now he's going to go through the Sean McVay reputation car wash. Yeah, we were talking earlier.

29:36Gregg Rosenthal:We compared it a little bit to the Kyle Shanahan quarterback car wash.

29:39Jourdan Rodrigue:How dare you say that about my new best friend, Mac Jones. All right, let's take a break, and we're going to come back on the other side with Denzel Ward. Keep this Browns conversation going. We also have Kyle Hamilton, one of the best players in the entire NFL and Dalton Schultz coming up in just a few.

30:04Gregg Rosenthal:Hey, it's Carissa Thompson. Everything these days is fighting for your attention, work, family, social media, and it makes it tough to figure out what should really come first. But here's something that absolutely deserves to be at the top of your list, your breast health. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, and the rates are still rising. More women under 50 are being diagnosed too. But here's a stat that really hits home. One in two women who qualify for annual breast screenings aren't getting them. That's half.

30:37Gregg Rosenthal:And yet, when breast cancer is caught early, the survival rate is over 99%, nearly 100 % for stage one before it spreads. If you're 40 or older, you should be getting screened every year. And if you're under 40, it is never too early to understand your risk. So come on now. Pay the girls some attention. Head to yourattentionplease.com to learn your breast cancer risk and what screenings you might need. Trust me, your future self will thank you. Brought to you by Novartis.

31:07Denzel Ward:Lowe's knows Sundays are for football. So tackle your home improvement projects by Saturday and earn your Sunday with great deals on LG and Bosch appliances. select Bounty and Swiffer cleaning products, and more. Then once your to-do list is done, get ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy the game. Shop in-store or online now and earn your Sunday with help from Lowe's, official partner of the NFL.

31:37Jourdan Rodrigue:Get almost anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well-groomed lawn delivered, but you can get a chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake, that's a no. A Philly cheesesteak, that's a yes. An afternoon stroll, sorry, no. A burrito bowl, happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. A box of fine wines, yes, that is happening. Delivery is on its way. Okay, how about some clear skies? No, well then. How about some french fries? Yep, a little escape, no. A delicious bowl of grapes, yes, yes, that. How about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there, but barbecued prawns.

32:13Jourdan Rodrigue:order it and it's on its way. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol and select markets product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now.

32:32Kyle Hamilton:For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters. Trimphia offers self-injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphaya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self-inject Tremphaya, proper training is required. Tremphaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections and liver problems may occur.

33:11Kyle Hamilton:Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, or if you need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Tremphaya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit TremphayaRadio.com.

33:32Jourdan Rodrigue:This message is brought to you by Apple Card. It's a great time to apply for an Apple Card. You'll love earning unlimited daily cash on every purchase. That includes 3 % daily cash when you buy the latest iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch at Apple. Through this special referral offer, when you get a new Apple Card, you can earn bonus daily cash. To qualify, you must apply at apple.co slash getdailycash. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch. Offer may not be available elsewhere. Terms and limitations apply. Excited to welcome in five-time Pro Bowler. Yes, sir. How's he been in the league that long?

34:14Jourdan Rodrigue:Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns. But I feel like I'm just getting in the way here because it's a reunion between Denzel and Nick Schuch, who know each other. Wait, how do you guys know each other?

34:26Nick Shook:I first started talking to Denzel when he was coming into the league. We were doing phone interviews. And then when I went for the Browns, he was only in the second year. And he was just starting to ascend to the elite status that he has occupied for so long now.

34:37Jourdan Rodrigue:Appreciate it, man. Appreciate it. I mean, were you like a little annoyed, Denzel, like that this website writer was like bigger than half the guys on the team? No, not half the guys.

34:46Denzel Ward:We have some pretty good guys, big guys, but no, he is big.

34:51Jourdan Rodrigue:Denzel, coming off, obviously a great year for your defense. And you just saw your guy, Miles, we're taping this on Friday. get rewarded for it, unanimous defensive player of the year. First of all, what's it like seeing that every day as a teammate? It's been a while. But also being on a defense that's so dominant, even when the team's not getting it done and keeping that sort of focus.

35:17Denzel Ward:Yeah, I mean, that's the mindset. Like, regardless what offense is doing or what the team is doing, like, we got to hold ourselves to an elite standard, a high standard. And the defense still got to hold its own and try to put our offense and special teams in the best position as possible. So, yeah, that's the mindset going out on the field every time is to give our guys the best chance to win the game.

35:37Jourdan Rodrigue:With seeing Miles, like in practice or maybe when you're watching on film, is there just like a moment that stands out to you or stuff that he does?

35:45Denzel Ward:I think really every time he lines up, like for how big he is and explosive he is, he's able to get off the ball in.2 seconds and then just like a blur getting around the tackle. So, I mean, Miles is a Hall of Fame player. You guys know that. And just what he's able to do, we see it every day, practice in the game.

36:03Nick Shook:Yeah, you get used to it, right? I mean, you've seen it since you arrived because he started a year before you did. But how about that moment when he finally breaks the sack record in Cincinnati? Because, I mean, it happens in the second half. You can kind of probably feel the tension, like, oh, man, he's going to get it done. And then the celebration, what was that like?

36:16Denzel Ward:No, that was real cool, man. I mean, it's well deserved. Miles is an incredible player. I know just reaching for goals and you're right there at that goal. I know he wanted it bad. We wanted it for him. And for him to capitalize on it and make history, that's a great story to tell.

36:30Nick Shook:What's cool, too, is I think you go back two, three years, you go into the season, and they would be like, well, Miles, what's your goal? And he would always say Defensive Player of the Year. Yeah. Well, he's done it twice now. Right. So, like, okay, keep stacking them up. But then it makes me think, what is your goal every year when you go into the season?

36:42Denzel Ward:Yeah, for me, it's to be the best on the field, be the best player on the field. I know we got a Miles Garrett on the field. It's kind of hard. I'm right there with him. You know, I'm as dominant as he is out there at the cornerback position. But just being that guy, being that guy that can shut down the side of the field and not allow no catches and make plays. Let's go through.

36:59Jourdan Rodrigue:I don't know if this would be like a speed round, but I'd be curious to just throw a couple of the great receivers that you go up against. And what you bring to the table when you go up against those guys, what you're looking for. Obviously, you know, you play the Bengals twice a year. When you face Jamar Chase, what are you looking to do?

37:17Denzel Ward:Yeah, I'm looking to dominate, you know, looking to dominate every time. I enjoy those matches. Like you said, Jamar Chase, T. Higgins, they're prolific receivers in this league. And you know Joe Burr, they're going to throw the ball going into that game. So you're going to get your action and you're going to get your plays. So just really going in to make plays and stop those guys as best as you can. You see weeks before they had gone for 125 yards or something crazy. And it's like, you know, we can't let that happen this week. You got to stop them and put our guys in the best chance.

37:46Jourdan Rodrigue:Is there something you do? Let's use those two as an example. different technique-wise against a player like Jamar Chase versus, let's say, a Tee Higgins?

37:54Denzel Ward:Yeah, I think it just goes into film. So I can't give all my little tips. But yeah, just watching film on those guys, they may do different things and some similar things. I see how I can attack it in different ways. And I feel my plan on how I like to play falls right into covering guys like that. But it's definitely competitive out there. It'll be a good matchup every single time. And yeah.

38:17Jourdan Rodrigue:How about DK? Like, would you rather go against a big, like, monster? Or, like, does that give you more problems? Or maybe a smaller, shifty guy? Like, which is tougher from your vantage point?

38:29Denzel Ward:I wouldn't say either is just tougher for me. I feel I could cover different body types, like, whether a smaller guy, a faster guy like Tyreek Hill, or a bigger guy like a DK Metcalf. I think really what gives you problems is if that player is able to use their abilities and, like, if they're a big guy, are they able to get big with you and really take you off-top or fast guy? Are they able to run by you? And so I feel like I can kind of play both playing styles. But, yeah.

38:57Nick Shook:What about, I think about the whole Jamar Chase and T. Higgins thing, right? Obviously division opponent, and you've had success against the Bengals. But then it made me think, like, I've watched Denzel make a lot of plays against some pretty good receivers and some pretty good quarterbacks. Who is your favorite quarterback to pick off?

39:12Denzel Ward:My favorite quarterback? I'm going to have to go Joe Burrow. So I had the 99-yard pick six against him. The one that came to mind. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So Joe Burrow is definitely a guy I look forward to playing against. And, you know, I'm looking forward to getting that next interception against him as well. So I had to go Joe.

39:27Jourdan Rodrigue:Because there's so much continuity with your defense, and you've been there a while, and they've been there. Like, is there like a – are you talking more with them because you know them so well, haven't gone against them twice a year for so long?

39:40Denzel Ward:Yeah, I mean, we talk a little bit, but I'll be out there trying to save my breath, save my energy, you know, focus on the game you know it's a lot of energy out there but um no yeah we talk during the game and uh just competitive talk you know a little trash talk here and there but we more so focus

39:54Jourdan Rodrigue:on just playing the game so where were you when you learned jim schwartz will not be coming back he officially resigned as the as the coordinator on friday morning yeah i was in bed so i just

40:06Denzel Ward:i woke up and my mom had texted me that uh coach schwartz resigned and won't be with the team anymore I was like oh man that hurt because I got a lot of respect for coach Schwartz and definitely wanted him to stay with the team and I know he's going to do great things wherever he goes next so I mean he's he's primed for a head coaching position and he's an amazing coach.

40:27Nick Shook:It's a tough way to wake up of course you know losing your D coordinator that has guided you guys to so much success but if you think about it let's go back to last night. Miles wins defensive player of the year unanimously. Carson Schlesinger wins defensive rookie of the year. You obviously in the defensive backfield. You guys have talent. We could continue to go down the list. I think back to, you know, at the end of your press conference when they pointed to Malik Collins being one of the reasons that, you know, the ownership kept Andrew Barry. You guys have talent. So if you had to advertise this unit to an incoming coordinator, what would you say to them?

40:57Denzel Ward:I don't think we need much advertising. I feel like the play talks for itself. Like you see what we're capable of doing. And like you said, the guys we got, we got a defensive player of the year. We got a rookie defensive player of the year. We got just a lot of guys across the board that make plays and go out there and do their things. I don't think we need to advertise that stuff much, but we just got to go out there and play. Whoever coordinator, whoever we get, you know, we got to learn who that is and go from there.

41:21Nick Shook:I am curious. You guys had an in-season trade. Greg Newsom goes to Jacksonville. Tyson Campbell comes in. He ends up playing really well. What was it like learning a new guy on the other side of the field from you and getting him acclimated to the Browns?

41:31Denzel Ward:Yeah, it was tough at first because Greg Newsom, that's my brother. So I was hurt when we traded him, but, I mean, that's the NFL. Guys are going to be shipped out, shipped in. But I do think it was a good trade, though. I like Tyson. Tyson came in and felt the organization, and it's been a good piece added to it. He's been playing well, locking down the other side of the field. So it's been good having him in the locker room.

41:53Jourdan Rodrigue:I saw you overseas playing in that game, and I remember Carson. I want to check this, but I'm pretty sure he had the green dot in that game, and he comes in as a rookie. He's really doing a lot of next-level stuff as a rookie. When did you get the feel that might be different than your average rookie linebacker?

42:11Denzel Ward:I mean, I think as soon as he came in, I mean, he was making plays the first day he stepped out on the practice field. And so, I mean, that was like during camp. So I was like, OK, I think we got a player. But we got to wait to see once we get into real live ball and going against the guys in the regular game. And I love his change. I mean, his play just took off and continued to get better and better each week. And yeah, I mean, you see what he's able to do. And he's a great player.

42:34Nick Shook:He's one of those guys that Browns fans, I think, have already gravitated toward. Why do you think that he's been such an easy guy for them to root for?

42:40Denzel Ward:I think he's just a good guy, and, I mean, he's a great player. You're making plays out there and doing what you're supposed to do.

42:45Jourdan Rodrigue:Cleveland, everybody's going to love you. One thing I find interesting about you is you've been asked this so many times because you've just been with the Browns, and obviously there hasn't been a lot of winning lately, last few years, and saying, like, I don't want to go anywhere. Stop fake trading me because people without me. Like people without really knowing, just like they're trying to come up with possible trades. We do that sort of stuff on this show, but we try to ground it in some sort of reality. And there's never really been any particular reason to think that that was going to happen.

43:14Jourdan Rodrigue:But people like, oh, maybe maybe the Browns would give up Denzel Ward. But you've been pretty vocal being like, no, I this is this is where I want to be. Like, why is that important to you? Why is that always?

43:25Denzel Ward:Yeah, I'll say it's definitely where I want to be. But also, like wherever I'm met, like I'm content in being so say I were to get traded, you know, You know, I'm a believer in wherever I'm at, that's where I'm supposed to be. So I'm going to still be myself. I'm still going to go and make plays and be a shutdown corner. But like I said, Cleveland is definitely where I want to be. This is a team that believed in me when I was coming out of college at Ohio State and continued to believe in me, giving me a contract. And, you know, so I just try to go out there and make plays for the city and be that guy that they drafted.

43:57Nick Shook:That's the proper answer, of course. But it's also home. I mean, you're from not very far away. Let's not forget that.

44:02Denzel Ward:My family's there. I live 30 minutes from home. So, yeah, it's not too bad of a place to be. Yeah.

44:09Jourdan Rodrigue:When I saw a five-time Pro Bowler, because I'm into this Hall of Fame stuff. I know you don't want to even think about that. Five times? You're 28 years old, right? Yes, sir. Does that pop in your head at all? And I guess what I would say, because I think the average fan, Browns aren't in prime time quite as much as some other teams. I want them to learn from you, what makes Denzel Ward Denzel Ward? Why do you think you're getting those honors in excelling and making you unique to other cornerbacks that either aren't getting there or are, but what makes Denzel Ward Denzel Ward?

44:42Denzel Ward:Yeah, that's a great question. For me, I would say one being consistency. I feel like I've been very consistent since I stepped into the league. Just my level of play has increased or gotten better since I've been in the league. and just my playing style. I feel like I could cover smaller guys. I could cover bigger guys. I could play inside. I could play outside. And I just feel like I'm a prime playmaker. I'm able to go out there and make plays and shut down my side of the field and be a dominant. It's the hardest position to find,

45:13Jourdan Rodrigue:which is why I think that's why they pay you, and that's why it's just so hard to find guys like that. Also, sometimes hard to find great Madden players. You're here representing EA Sports. Oh, yeah. I got the Madden jacket on right now. That's nice.

45:29Nick Shook:Embroidered.

45:29Jourdan Rodrigue:I heard you were just playing Saquon in the booth. Yeah. So who won?

45:36Denzel Ward:We actually didn't get to finish the game, but I was going to win the game. I was going to win the game. I was going to put up about 21 points. I'm going to say everything that I was going to do, but we didn't get a chance to finish the game, though. Okay. How are you as a player? Your style? I'm good. Oh, yeah. I'm nice. I'm nice on Madden.

45:51Nick Shook:I feel like that's something that you tend to do in the offseason. I think maybe back in COVID you did a little bit of streaming, too. Yeah, yeah.

45:57Denzel Ward:That's literally all I do is play the video game, play Madden. So, yeah, definitely might pick up streaming some more and start streaming Madden.

46:04Jourdan Rodrigue:You got to ask Shook for advice. He does the Twitch. He does the streaming.

46:08Denzel Ward:A little bit. A little bit, yeah. We might be able to, you know, work together and do something.

46:11Nick Shook:Yeah, I think we might have to collaborate. We talked to Justin Jefferson about it, and he was on board with it. So, you know, we got to get both sides of the ball going. Yeah, let's do it.

46:18Jourdan Rodrigue:I love it. Just a couple of streamers hooking up. And, yeah, used to work together back with the Cleveland Browns back in the day before. we got our big acquisition.

46:28Nick Shook:Nick Shook. Still trying to live up to Denzel's.

46:31Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah. You're good. Thank you, Denzel.

46:33Denzel Ward:Appreciate you. Thank you, guys. Appreciate you guys having me.

46:37Jourdan Rodrigue:Welcoming in Kyle Hamilton. Two AP first teams. Has a second team, too, in his short four-year career. One of the best players really in the game. Love having you on, Kyle. You're here talking about Visa, but it's a big offseason transition here for your Ravens. We'll start there. Like, what was your reaction seeing Jesse Minner become your new head coach?

47:08Dalton Schultz:Well, first off, thank you for having me. Thank you for the illustrious introduction. I've met just like sparingly with Jesse and a couple of guys from the staff. Some people that I know I've known from before, some that I haven't. I think it'll be good for us. It's a fresh start for a team, an organization that hasn't had one in a while. So I think everybody's kind of looking at it with the right perspective and just excited to get to work. Yeah, we see, you know, you obviously play an X-factor role in this defense. Have you discussed with him at all how that might change with his scheme? Not too much, honestly.

47:43Dalton Schultz:Actually, not at all. He's told me that he's had a plan for me and stuff like that, but I'll just leave that for OTAs. Right now it's the offseason, and I'll figure out the way I'm playing defense.

47:53Jourdan Rodrigue:What is a player like you? Obviously, you take your job very seriously. You got to the NFL and kind of hit the ground running. But when you get to the end of one of these seasons, what is the exhale the next month, which you're still, I guess, kind of in the middle of, like for you?

48:12Dalton Schultz:Yeah, I mean, I think, one, if you do finish healthy, you're just grateful that you get out healthy. that's a big plus obviously the season didn't add the way we wanted it to and then it's kind of an abrupt end but I think you kind of just transition into you just assimilate back to society a little bit it's like you just black out for seven months and then you wake up a normal

48:34Jourdan Rodrigue:human so I feel that just covering the league I can't imagine what it's like for you so you don't even feel you don't feel like you're a member of a society while you're in the NFL yeah no you're

48:43Dalton Schultz:kind of just in this little bubble doing your job. My mom always says I have a seasonal job. So I'm currently out of work. What's the first part in that process of the offseason that you

48:54Nick Shook:get into or you enjoy the most?

48:56Dalton Schultz:Golfing. Okay. Really? Okay. Because I'm a big golfer. I am hopefully going to join a club in Atlanta where I'm from, where I live in the offseason this offseason. So get to work on my game a lot, but don't play at all during the season. and don't really have the time or energy to go out there for four hours and whack a club around. But yeah, just golf a lot, play some tennis, play some pickleball, all that stuff. I'm going to ask you the standard question that everybody asks when you say you're a golfer. What's your handicap? When I – the season started, I was a five. So I'm kind of a trending golfer in the offseason, and then it just plummets off the hill after that when football starts.

49:37Dalton Schultz:But I'm probably playing around an eight right now, but hopefully I can get that down. Okay.

49:40Jourdan Rodrigue:Oh, he's going to be at that Tahoe Pro-Am pretty soon. Oh, yeah. I hope so at some point.

49:44Dalton Schultz:I got to fix my short game before that.

49:48Jourdan Rodrigue:Look, I was going to say for the end, we're going to get back to defense and all the supposedly important stuff, but you're mentioning that you're a tennis guy. I mean, you're a Twitter guy right now. I saw your top five list of athletes in other sports, and I love that you put Alcarez and Sinner two and three. You had Shohei one, Alcarez, Sinner two and three, then Mbappe, and then Shea, Gildress Alexander. So the respect that you got for Sinner to put him ahead of every single player in the NBA. Like, what's your tennis game like? What's your tennis fandom like? I'm into this.

50:19Dalton Schultz:Yeah, it kind of, I've always been somewhat a touch and go fan. Like, I was a big Roger guy growing up. But I kind of really only knew the big three and I would only watch some Grand Slam tournaments. But I think last year, me and my fiance, Reese, we literally sat down and watched the whole French Open final. Wow. All five and a half hours. It's like watching the Godfather. Right, yeah. I know, exactly. And the Titanic, all in one. But no, we watched that, and then we went to London and saw Wimbledon in person, so I got to see Carlos play. So I'm, like, literally watching, like, ATP 250 tournaments.

50:53Dalton Schultz:Let's go. You're deep in it now. Like, midnight. And so I'm kind of definitely deep into tennis right now. Not good at playing it yet, but hopefully I will be. But I think I put Carlos and Yannick two and three just because, like, they're so dominant right now. And I think dominance is a big thing when I made that top five list like Shohei won He had ten strikeouts and three home runs. I was at the game or was that the NLCS? That was the NLCS clincher. Yeah, with my boy.

51:22Nick Shook:It's great. All right So where are we putting Kyle Hamilton among this list? Where do you end up at your peak?

51:27Dalton Schultz:I'm a couple pages down that list I mean, hopefully I'll crack the top like current or like talk about your peak.

51:34Nick Shook:Let's be aspirational here

51:36Dalton Schultz:Okay. I mean, hopefully I break top 50 at some point. That's low. I mean, football is an American down. I'm thinking on like a global scale.

51:45Jourdan Rodrigue:I like it. And like an American that's not like confined to America. I forgot one person on America. Who'd you forget?

51:51Dalton Schultz:Katie Ledecky. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Good school.

51:54Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah. See, when she's like, you don't even see the other swimmer on the screen. That's fair. Look, if you keep racking up these honors, I'm into tracking greatness, tracking different great players, how great careers go. Like you're starting to stack and I know it's early. You don't want to get ahead of yourself, but you're stacking what great players do. There aren't many players that come into the league that stack these sort of honors like yourself. It's awesome. And I can't think of another player. And I wonder what you think of this, that in back-to-back seasons, and maybe you tell me if the media is over simplifying it.

52:29Jourdan Rodrigue:Back-to-back seasons, there's kind of been points of the Ravens seasons where it's like, hey we got to go fix something let's have Kyle operate a little differently let let's let's move Kyle to a different part of the field let's change Kyle's assignment a little bit and that'll fix the defense and then it kind of does help improve the defense are we are we getting that and what does

52:51Dalton Schultz:that mean to have that sort of responsibility yeah I think um I think it's a little I mean I'm not on Twitter during the year so I kind of just get my news sports news hearsay just from our media team and all that stuff whatever I'm saying um but I mean I think it's there's a little truth to it I think that's why the Ravens drafted me just to be able to kind of be a guy a Swiss Army knife gets thrown around a lot um to be able to you know move around and you know kind of be the flex seal of some sorts um but it's it's it sounds cliche but it's really a team solution and a defensive solution and that comes with guys just gelling together and you know um we try to trend upwards throughout the season and uh rookies start getting more comfortable and stuff like that so i mean there's a lot to do with the turns turnarounds that happen now i'm just sitting here thinking

53:38Nick Shook:whether you're like the flex steel tape or you're like the the caulk that they use whatever you have all those different commercials the other the big narrative last year too regarding you was how the acquisition of aloe gilman allowed them to really free you up and do whatever they wanted to do with you. Now we already kind of talked about how we don't really know yet what it's gonna look like but how does that make you feel knowing that you can have that much of an impact on a defense that when everybody looks at the Ravens defense they key on you they're like Hamilton whatever he's doing we have to stop him first.

54:07Dalton Schultz:Yeah no it's pretty cool and I'm blessed just with the ability to do what I'm able to do and to your point Lo He was a senior when I was a freshman Notre Dame so it was really cool to be able to play with him again he's like a big brother type to me um you know talking me off the ledge my freshman year camp and I'm like dude I'll go through it yeah I'm like I don't know if this is for me and uh he's like exactly what you said we've all been through it but um yeah I mean just being able to do all that stuff is is really rewarding and you know the coaching staff has had a lot of trust in me to be out out there doing multiple things because it's a lot to know and a lot to apply from practice to game day and you to kind of have these folders like boxes in your mind that you kind of turn off and turn on from play to play.

54:52Dalton Schultz:So I appreciate them for just entrusting me with that amount of trust in the defense.

54:57Jourdan Rodrigue:I like how Nick is like, oh, yeah, we've all been through it. Like we all haven't been through it. But Nick can say that just imagine showing up. I just looks at you and you're at the next level and you're just like, oh,

55:10Nick Shook:I'm ready for this. And you show up. You're like, oh, my God, this is not what I expected.

55:13Jourdan Rodrigue:Am I cut out for that? That's what I thought when I showed up for the Tulane tennis team and then I wasn't cut out for it. See, we all go through it. I was right. Look, Jesse Minner has talked about you specifically. Maybe he hasn't gotten in depth of what your role is going to be face-to-face with you. And this isn't in depth, but in his press conference, he classified you as a weapon. And he said the closer we can have him to the point of attack, the better, essentially. That's what we want. That's what we can use him as a weapon. When you hear that, what does that make you think?

55:50Dalton Schultz:Yeah, no, it's awesome to have people. It kind of comes with time and, you know, obviously playing well. But just people around the league who think highly of you, I think that's like the greatest achievement you can have. Players, one, coaches, two, like just opinions of people in your business, in your industry that respect you for what you do and your product that you put out there. But I think it's good to know that he has a plan. And I've seen what he's done with Derwin. And, you know, people say we're similar players and stuff like that. And, yeah, I think it's kind of the way the direction the game's going.

56:21Dalton Schultz:I think people like Nick Emanwar, who's come in the league and made an impact from, you know, the first game he's played, about to have a big impact on Sunday. And I think it's kind of a cool direction that the league's going. Like you have these jack-of-all-trade players, offense and defense, you know, guys lined up in the backfield that are usually just that X receiver. It's a different game. I'm sure at some point, you know, like everything else it will revert back to what it used to be but right now I think that's kind of the niche factor.

56:50Jourdan Rodrigue:Have you watched Demian Worry at all?

56:52Dalton Schultz:I have, yeah.

56:52Jourdan Rodrigue:Any thoughts about what he does?

56:55Dalton Schultz:Yeah, no, dude's a freak. He's, uh, I know Mike Mack, who was with us in Baltimore and kind of deploys him similarly to the way that Mike was dealing with me, but he's faster than me. You know, he's definitely more energetic out there than me. Like he's as a rookie to be out there, like banging his helmet and like talking trash, all this stuff. I was kind of just like, I didn't make sure I'm doing the right thing. But it's pretty cool to see a player like that. And just young safeties, young DBs in the league, like Xavier Watts with Notre Dame with me, making plays early in the league. So it's cool to see these guys.

57:31Dalton Schultz:Yeah, that's another guy's a dog, Xavier Watts.

57:33Nick Shook:I thought he was on the board way too long in the draft. Yeah, happy to see him find success. When you watch even more in the Seahawks defense, do you kind of feel like you're looking in the mirror a little bit?

57:41Dalton Schultz:Yeah, yeah. I mean, it does remind me a little bit of our 23 defense, just obviously because Mike was calling that defense. But at the end of the day, it's Jimmy's and Joe's, not X's and O's. So, you know, you could have the perfect defense if you don't got the right guys out there, then it's not going to work. So credit to that Seattle defense. They fly around. It seems like they jolt really well together at all three levels. They got a lot of talent. But I think it's going to be a good game on Sunday. You guys didn't ask me my opinion of the game, but that's kind of how I feel.

58:10Jourdan Rodrigue:You can just go with it. You're on a podcast. Let's get some hot takes.

58:14Dalton Schultz:Yeah, I mean, I don't have a, I honestly don't know who's going to win the game. I mean, we play the Patriots. They're a good team. Drake's good. And, you know, that defense, again, their defense plays really well together. And I feel like every playoff game they've played so far, the whole story has been about the other team's defense. And then they come out there and they dominate. So I feel like they kind of have that chip on their shoulder.

58:34Jourdan Rodrigue:What did you key on in that late season game against the Patriots? in your week of prep and then on the field when you're going against Drake May?

58:43Dalton Schultz:Yeah, I think, one, Vray Bull and just McDaniels, you got to stop the run first. They have a great running back tandem, and they play off each other really well. Drake is going to make plays throughout the game. I think for us, going into the game, we were just trying to limit explosives because they're a very explosive pass game. And run game, you give Travion Henderson a screen, he can go 80. So limit explosives and kind of just try to make them drive down the field, but that's easier said than that.

59:11Jourdan Rodrigue:We comped them. Tell me if you think this is great. A little bit to your Ravens offense, which is like, we like to say they get buckets. They're not like a move the ball down the field slowly. Not the Spurs offense. No, two offense, but obviously an athletic quarterback. There's differences, but there's some similarities, I thought, to what your offense did. Yeah, for sure.

59:31Dalton Schultz:I can see that.

59:33Jourdan Rodrigue:Kyle Hamilton, he's representing Visa here. he's a big tennis fan he's a tennis player the handicap's going down he's working on it he's a Novak guy too it sounds like I respect Novak

59:46Dalton Schultz:I'm a Roger guy

59:49Jourdan Rodrigue:good I appreciate that appreciate Kyle Hamilton joining us thank you and good luck next season

59:56Dalton Schultz:thank you guys for having me welcoming in

1:00:00Jourdan Rodrigue:8 year NFL veteran three years with the Houston Texans coming off a big time season where you got over 100 targets, a very popular man in CJ Stroud's eyes, Dalton Schultz with the Texans. Welcome to the show. Yeah, thanks for having me.

1:00:16Gregg Rosenthal:We're so excited. I mean, we can see the cast of workaholics in the background. We are learning that you're a big fan. Are you a little starstruck right now? I mean, I know Greg is kind of a big deal, but yeah.

1:00:29Kyle Hamilton:It's cool to see him. It took me a second. and I was like, wait, one, two, I had to count them out. It's all three. I was like, oh, my God, they're all here.

1:00:34Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah, and the mustache stays the same, apparently. Like, is it Anders, Anders, Durs? It's impressive. He's still, I mean, all these years later, still got it going.

1:00:42Jourdan Rodrigue:Was there anyone walking in, too, or that you've seen this week? I don't know how long you've been in town. You went to college in the Bay Area, but anyone kind of walking in? Because the concentration of star power this year in this radio row, for whatever reason, seems to me, like, overwhelming more than any other. any of you.

1:00:59Kyle Hamilton:Yeah, dude, so I've literally walked in maybe 10, 15 minutes ago, so everybody that I've seen is like just old teammates, sorry GM, like I don't know, there's so many people that are just mingling and then it's like you run into somebody and it's like, oh, hey, I didn't know you were here.

1:01:15Gregg Rosenthal:Yes, I've seen Nick Casario just walking around, just enjoying life. Boots on the ground. He's scouting.

1:01:21Kyle Hamilton:He's got the same outfit on that he's had every day. Yeah, the

1:01:24Gregg Rosenthal:shoes, the joggers. The tight shirt and the vest.

1:01:28Kyle Hamilton:Yeah, it's like he's ready to step on a Versa Climber.

1:01:30Gregg Rosenthal:How many vests does he have, actually, do you think? Vests? Like, is it the same vest? It's the same one.

1:01:34Kyle Hamilton:He's probably got, like, five of them. Oh. So when one gets sweaty, he just throws it out, and he puts the next one on. It looks exactly the same.

1:01:40Gregg Rosenthal:That's amazing.

1:01:42Kyle Hamilton:He's got to have a brand deal or something.

1:01:43Gregg Rosenthal:Capsule wardrobe right there, yeah.

1:01:45Jourdan Rodrigue:How was this season for you? You got, like, I kind of mentioned it off the top, like, a lot of production, a lot of attention, a lot of targets, a lot of catches, There's a lot of Dalton Saltz on the field this year as a receiver. I guess maybe what was different for you? What will you remember about this 25 season for yourself and the team compared to other ones? I don't know.

1:02:09Kyle Hamilton:Still not over how it ended, honestly. We're ballplayers. We're competitive. Obviously, every year is going to end at some point, whether you're the one team on top or you're not. But it's hard to, like, look at a year and be like, oh, wow, that was so great. When, like, I don't know, I felt like we underachieved. Like, we had such a good team. And it sucks that that team will never be, you know, together again. So, yeah, you asked that question, and, like, my mind first immediately went to, like, God, I'm not over it yet.

1:02:46Jourdan Rodrigue:My son's not either. I'm surprised it took me this long to say it. He's a Texans fan, so he's very excited.

1:02:53Kyle Hamilton:I share his sentiments.

1:02:54Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, that you're on the show. He does not want to watch the Super Bowl. He does not ever want to root for the Patriots again in the game. He hates them forever. But he is a big fan of you, of CJ. Have you seen the CJ new haircut that's going around? Yeah, dude, I need to text him. It's a big change. Yeah, it's a huge change. That might be a change. He looks young. That might be a sign he's not over the playoff loss. He looks like rookie CJ all over him.

1:03:19Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah, that's like, you know, and just let me explain hair to you guys right now. But like when girls get bangs, you're like, are you okay? It's like, in this case, right?

1:03:30Kyle Hamilton:My wife over there got bangs last year. She's like, yeah, I just did it on a whim. I said the same thing. I was like, are you good? All right.

1:03:37Gregg Rosenthal:See, there's some psychology here. Yeah, no.

1:03:40Kyle Hamilton:Well, we started dating when she had like kind of like shoulder length hair and it was orange. She had orange hair.

1:03:46Gregg Rosenthal:Good for her.

1:03:47Kyle Hamilton:Well, it was like a die that got messed up. I know, good for her.

1:03:50Gregg Rosenthal:Very few people can...

1:03:51Kyle Hamilton:And she's like, yeah, I just kept it, rocked with it. But it was because she was going through a breakup or something. So as she had another hair change, I was like, what's going on? We're good. We're good, right?

1:04:03Gregg Rosenthal:See, but that, first of all, love her confidence, by the way, on that one. But second of all, I got to spend a little time with Houston because I covered that Chargers game. You guys dominated the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. And like when I was in that locker room, I just felt is there so much joy in there? And yes, winning is fun. But like everyone felt so connected. And it wasn't necessarily a, you know, record breaking day on the offensive side. But there was no finger pointing. Everyone felt so just like full of life for the mission at hand and for each other. And I guess like that must be where some of this is coming from because it's like, shoot, you know, like that.

1:04:42Gregg Rosenthal:That's what that energy was. That's championship caliber energy within a locker room.

1:04:47Kyle Hamilton:And that just felt like a missed shot. You don't get those ops all the time. We had the roster for it. It's nobody's fault but ours. We fell short. It was a very selfless team. We had a lot of really good leaders on that team.

1:05:07Gregg Rosenthal:Can you expand on that? Because it seems like every pocket of anywhere you turn on that roster, There's somebody who is of that caliber.

1:05:15Kyle Hamilton:Yeah, I mean, it was well put together. I mean, we were talking about Nick earlier, but, like, dude, he assembled, you know, an amazing team that was kind of forged through D 'Amico's leadership at the forefront. But just, like, how training camp went, how the offseason was, like, it was never – like, it was always about the end goal, but it was never about the end goal in front. Like, it was always, how do we get through today? How do we have the best? Like, it was always very process-driven, even though that we started with that in mind, but it was almost never touched on again until, like, we got into the playoffs of, like, all right, like, this is what it's been about.

1:05:57Jourdan Rodrigue:It's hard to do. You came in with D 'Amico, right? Yeah. Three years ago. So is that part of it? Like, it's like you've been building to this. I do wonder, and this is more of a fan thing, if the way the AFC felt this year has anything to do with it. Because I agree with you. Like, a lot of people, Jordan included, she picked you guys to make the Super Bowl, I think thought the Texans are that Super Bowl team. But plenty of smart people thought, oh, the Jaguars could have been that team. And others thought maybe it's the Patriots. Is there a feeling among the players that, man, that there's this opportunity, especially this year?

1:06:35Kyle Hamilton:Yeah.

1:06:35Jourdan Rodrigue:Oh, yeah. like very much so

1:06:38Nick Shook:I think that was just the sentiment around the league

1:06:41Kyle Hamilton:once the Chiefs are out everybody is like alright go anything can happen now

1:06:48Jourdan Rodrigue:so that's like a media fan thing

1:06:50Kyle Hamilton:nobody wants to play Pat Mahomes in the playoffs you know what I mean the dude's pedigree speaks for itself they're hard to beat they've got the roster and staff they can always beat anybody anytime you know what I mean So, yeah, I think just not having that hurdle, I think, for a lot of teams was like, all right, here we go. You know what I mean? Like, it's sure. It's like not having to play the Patriots with Tom Brady in, you know, the 2000s. Yeah. Right. All right. We got a champ. You know what I mean? Like, it's the same sort of thing.

1:07:24Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah, I mean, you're right. And I think what helps and probably something you guys have thought about is, like, you're going to have continuity. They're still making changes. I mean, they've changed out offensive coordinator, Pat's coming off injury, all these things. You can't rely on hope, right? But you guys have continuity. Matt Burks coming back. The defense is going to still be kind of what it is. Nick Kaley, continuing to possibly evolve that offense and maybe what that will look like. And then D 'Amico at the top. And you guys in the quarterback and another year of growth for the offensive line.

1:07:59Gregg Rosenthal:And all of these things that I'm saying, it's just a broken record, I'm sure, at this point.

1:08:02Kyle Hamilton:Yeah, I mean, nothing's given, though. Yeah. And everybody kind of, like, you know, rests on that. Like, oh, everybody's coming back. Well, yeah, but next year is going to be a totally different beast than this year. It's like you can't. I learned that early in my career. We made the playoffs, got to the divisional my rookie year. And then the next year, like, you know, it's like, all right, we got everybody coming back. We added this piece and this piece. And we missed the playoffs in Dallas. And it was like, well, dude, it'll humble you real quick if you're just like, oh, well, we got everybody.

1:08:32Kyle Hamilton:let's run it back you know what i mean like that just is never it's never that easy i bet nick if

1:08:37Jourdan Rodrigue:nick acero was listening right now he would be loving this attitude this is the most patriot

1:08:42Kyle Hamilton:stuff i've ever heard like it's true you gotta like you know people want to call it a meritocracy

1:08:47Gregg Rosenthal:whatever like you earn everything you get yeah like so whether whether you rest on the previous

1:08:55Kyle Hamilton:year or not like you still got to go out and earn it again you know what i mean like it's all I love that

1:09:00Gregg Rosenthal:it's a

1:09:00Kyle Hamilton:truly like Christian is one of my favorite teammates that I've had McAvery and I heard something from him the other day where it's like every like the season is 17 week long seasons like literally it's such a week to week business and a week to week thing like truly every single week is like you pour everything in to a single week and then you get up on Monday and you go do it again

1:09:28Jourdan Rodrigue:I think it explains partly why the NFL is so popular. I think that it comes out to the fans that way in a way that just because of scarcity, but also just because of the nature of football, like it is not the case in other sports.

1:09:42Kyle Hamilton:There's so much leading up to it.

1:09:43Jourdan Rodrigue:Right. And just so much involved in one big thing. It's like it's why the Super Bowl is what the Super Bowl is. I do want to ask specifically before we let you go about some of these defenders you're going up against in practice every day. I'm going to. Pain in the ass. All of them. I almost want to put you on the spot. Not like maybe which is the hardest, but like Petrie or it's Lasseter or Stingley or even Bullock. I mean, all these guys are insane. The linebackers. Of all those guys, like which one has one thing that gives you the most problems? Or is like, man, like that is a, I know they all have different strengths, but something that really stands out among maybe each of them that like makes it so tough to get go against them.

1:10:34Kyle Hamilton:Uh, I mean, dude, Will Anderson, like we do, you know, we have practice in the morning training camp to just kind of get out there before the sun hits. It helps. But then in the afternoon, you come back and you do these walkthroughs and you walk through basically the next day. Like you put it, you install everything in the afternoon. you come back, you walk through it, and then you wake up in the morning, you practice, you do that. These walkthroughs are hats and shoes and no pads, just light jerseys. Supposed to be kind of a walkthrough, jogthrough tempo. Will Anderson is trying to take your head off and sack CJ every single time, and it's a walkthrough.

1:11:14Kyle Hamilton:He has that same mindset regardless of what he's doing, where it is, who he's going against. it's like not only are you in like the hardest technique for a tight end to like try to tee off on like if you have to block him he's wide he's angled and his only job is to run straight through you and then having that in a walkthrough setting is also like a pain yeah I'm like dude I've got my sandals on stop hitting CJ yeah like please do not hurt CJ please um but it's like that is probably the biggest pain is because I mean I line up next to him every play yeah you know it's like you might you might only see sting once or twice in practice but like you're gonna see will every single time you know so I'll put I'll put him up there but like seriously there's no there's no weak spot in terms of like how do you attack like the guys on our defense so yeah I mean every no matter where you are it's a pain, but yeah, well, they're wrapping us here

1:12:19Jourdan Rodrigue:You got to get to somewhere else, but so I'm gonna put you I'm gonna make it this a speed round You majored in science technology and society you are interested in developing video games quickly your Mount Rushmore the best video games ever I got a Minecraft tattoo.

1:12:32Kyle Hamilton:Wow

1:12:32Gregg Rosenthal:I gotta lead with Minecraft.

1:12:37Kyle Hamilton:Okay, that's like that's what kind of inspired that whole track. Okay, um The next stat would probably be Halo. Okay. So, like, I got to go Halo. Like, Halo 2, Halo 3. Halo 3 is, like, Mount Rushmore, favorite game of all time. I freaking love that game. I'll throw a racing game in there, Need for Speed, Most Wanted. Yeah.

1:12:55Gregg Rosenthal:Okay, good pull.

1:12:57Kyle Hamilton:Blacklist. I never beat the Blacklist until, like, I got to the league, actually, because I played it young, and I was like, dude, I need to go back and beat that game. Bought a 360, bought Need for Speed. Awesome. I'll leave it at those three. I know Mount Rushmore is four, but we'll stop there before I... Your eyes lit up there.

1:13:15Gregg Rosenthal:He said, I know Mount Rushmore is four.

1:13:18Kyle Hamilton:Yeah. So I'll give you three. That's perfect. You guys can fill in the last one. Mario Kart. I don't know. We sports.

1:13:26Jourdan Rodrigue:You helped make our day here coming on the show. And most importantly, made my son's day. He's going to be thrilled to hear this. And check out the picture we take in just a second. Thank you, Dalton. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it.

1:13:44Gregg Rosenthal:Hey, it's Carissa Thompson. Everything these days is fighting for your attention, work, family, social media, and it makes it tough to figure out what should really come first. But here's something that absolutely deserves to be at the top of your list, your breast health. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. And the rates are still rising. More women under 50 are being diagnosed too. But here's a stat that really hits home. One in two women who qualify for annual breast screenings aren't getting them. That's half.

1:14:17Gregg Rosenthal:And yet, when breast cancer is caught early, the survival rate is over 99%, nearly 100 % for stage one before it spreads. If you're 40 or older, you should be getting screened every year. And if you're under 40, it is never too early to understand your risk. So come on now. Pay the girls some attention. head to yourattentionplease.com to learn your breast cancer risk and what screenings you might need. Trust me, your future self will thank you. Brought to you by Novartis.

1:14:47Denzel Ward:Lowe's knows Sundays are for football. So tackle your home improvement projects by Saturday and earn your Sunday with great deals on LG and Bosch appliances, select Bounty and Swiffer cleaning products, and more. Then once your to-do list is done, get ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy the game. Shop in-store or online now and earn your Sunday with help from Lowe's, official partner of the NFL.

1:15:17Jourdan Rodrigue:Get almost anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well-groomed lawn delivered, but you can get a chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake, that's a no. A Philly cheesesteak, that's a yes. An afternoon stroll? Sorry, no. A burrito bowl? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. A box of fine wines? Yes, that is happening. Delivery is on its way. Okay, how about some clear skies? No. Well, then, how about some french fries? Yep. A little escape? No. A delicious bowl of grapes? Yes. Yes, that. How about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there, but barbecued prawns.

1:15:54Jourdan Rodrigue:Order it, and it's on its way. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol and select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now.

1:16:12Kyle Hamilton:For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters. Tremphaya offers self-injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphaya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self-inject Tremphaya, proper training is required. Tremphaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections and liver problems may occur.

1:16:51Kyle Hamilton:Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, or if you need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Tremphaya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit TremphayaRadio.com.

1:17:12Jourdan Rodrigue:You know how it's never really about where you're going? It's about who you're going with. Like, the destination could be totally average, but if the right people are there, it becomes a great memory. Toyota really gets that. Toyota designs vehicles around real life and real people, the ones who bring everyone together and somehow make the drive part of the fun. There's room for all the stuff that comes with togetherness, luggage, golf clubs, camping gear, plus comfortable seating, smart layouts, and space that lets everyone relax. And Toyota's lineup makes it easy to find your match. The RAV4 is perfect for everyday adventures.

1:17:47Jourdan Rodrigue:The Grand Highlander brings serious space for up to eight with generous legroom and expansive cargo space. The Highlander also has space for up to eight. It's ready for big moments and spontaneous ones, balancing style and flexibility. And the Sienna is built for everyday life. Carpools, road trips, snacks, spills. And it even has a built-in vacuum for when things get a little too messy. Because when people are the destination, your ride is important. Learn more at Toyota.com and find the vehicle that fits your people. All right, we've made it. Thank you again to Dalton Schultz, Kyle Hamilton, Denzel Ward.

1:18:30Jourdan Rodrigue:It's not the end of the interviews, though. So we're saying we're wrapping up, and we are wrapping up. But we've had so many great conversations this week, and it's like we could hold them. But we want you guys to hear them. And we thought we were going to have a nice themed show that will come out in the feed before the Super Bowl over the weekend. It's wide receiver time on NFL Daily. So Michael Pittman, that was a great conversation talking about the Colt season. His free agency could be coming up in a year. Christian Watson, of course, big time playmaker with the Packers. And then Adam Thielen, who just walked into retirement.

1:19:09Jourdan Rodrigue:We're going to put a show up of those interviews over the weekend, too. But we are kind of saying goodbye to this set for now. And the next time the three of us will be together with a microphone will be after the Patriots win the Super Bowl. Oh, call your shot.

1:19:26Gregg Rosenthal:Why don't you? OK, you know what, Nick? I do remember we were in a production meeting in Englewood. And Greg, this was months, months before we even booked the trip or whatever. and Greg did throw out there at that time, well, when Drake May is Super Bowl MVP, we need to make sure we get him on the field and all of us in the meeting go, oh my God, oh. And look at us eating crow now.

1:19:51Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, it hasn't happened, but we're dangerously close. You are really earning your paycheck now remembering that because, yes, that was in a conference room in the middle of December, early December. Oh, that's not that far away. I mean, maybe even earlier. They were on their road, and we'll see. It's been a treat here. I don't know. We've said enough, don't you think? Yes, we have. Yeah, yeah. I love that award. This was what was on my mind. They had an award at honors. By the way, all of our friends who dress up for honors and just look amazing. I applaud them. I applaud them. And like Rachel Bonetta, old friend we saw here, and Colleen Wolfe and Cynthia was there.

1:20:41Jourdan Rodrigue:It seemed like an awesome night. But they had an award, which I really love. Maybe more than the rest of the awards. Moment of the year. And that was the Caleb to DJ Moore throw. And I was thinking, that was already our throw of the year. I think they're just watching NFL Daily and cribbing our content.

1:20:57Nick Shook:I mean, if they're going to find a good source to figure out where they want to give this award, this is the show to do it. This is the show that chronicles the NFL better than any other.

1:21:06Gregg Rosenthal:Just ask Mac Jones' parents.

1:21:08Jourdan Rodrigue:That's right. I mean, because that's what it's all about is moments. And that was a moment in time. And DJ Moore was there to accept the award. Very cool. We've had a lot of great moments here at the Moscone Center. We're going to get out of here. We just wanted to thank everyone who has helped us execute this entire week. I was talking with Eric Roberts as we were walking home last night that I don't take it for granted how seamless this is and has been. It is a very difficult production with a lot of moving parts. Our iHeart partners have been really helpful setting up everything technologically and then combining with our NFL crew, including Drake.

1:21:46Jourdan Rodrigue:And I wish I had every, like there's so many people contributing. Obviously, our crack booking team, including David Singer, who's right by the stage here, and Jason Kleinman, Jason English. And we got Eric Roberts, Chris Babona back, you know, sending us crack notes for us to get ideas off of. Hey, he got me that Kyle Hamilton was a big time tennis fan. That got into the show. And Kyle and I had a connection. Oh, yeah. All because of Chris Babona. A little WTA 250 there. So we really thank everyone who's helped us. We're not done, obviously. We'll be here after the Super Bowl. Let's hit that music.

1:22:22Jourdan Rodrigue:I've been waiting for it. No, I really do. Like, it is crazy how many people.

1:22:33Jourdan Rodrigue:We love doing it. And like I said, you're going to have some more interviews in the feed over the weekend. But we will be talking to you next as a trio after Super Bowl 60. We will see you then.

1:22:49Jourdan Rodrigue:Get almost anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well-groomed lawn delivered, but you can get a chicken parm delivered. A little escape? No. A delicious bowl of grapes? Yes. Yes, that. An afternoon stroll? Sorry, no. A burrito bowl? Happily? Yes. A day of sunshine? No. A box of fine wines? Yes. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now.

1:23:29Denzel Ward:Hey, what's up? It's Wanda Sykes. I'm here to remind you about something super important, getting your breast screened. Because trust me, your breast health should be a priority. Early detection for breast cancer can change the game, which is why you should visit yourattentionplease.com to learn more. And do me a favor. If you've already had a breast cancer screening, remind your friends and family to visit yourattentionplease.com too. We gotta look out for our girls.

1:23:56Jourdan Rodrigue:You know how it's never really about where you're going, it's about who you're going with? The right people can turn any drive into a great memory. That's something Toyota really believes. They design vehicles around real life and real people, the ones who make plans happen and bring everyone together. Inside, everything's built with passengers in mind. Comfortable seating, smart layouts, and space that actually works so everyone can relax and enjoy the ride. There's room for the people, room for the stuff, and room for the moments that happen along the way. Because when people are the destination, your ride is important.

1:24:32Jourdan Rodrigue:Learn more at toyota.com and find the vehicle that fits your people.

1:24:37Denzel Ward:Lowe's knows Sundays are for football. So tackle your home improvement projects by Saturday and earn your Sunday with great deals on LG and Bosch appliances, select Bounty and Swiffer cleaning products, and more. Then once your to-do list is done, get ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy the game. Shop in-store or online now and earn your Sunday with help from Lowe's, official partner of the NFL.

1:25:08Gregg Rosenthal:This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.