Hour 2: Overreaction Tuesday with Guest Host Tom Pelissero, plus Ex-Pro Bowl DT Malik Jackson

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23:43Tom Pelissero:To the Rich Eisen show, Tom Pellicero in for Rich on Disney Plus, the ESPN app and ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance. We got a guest here who stands out for a couple of reasons. One, because it brings the grand total of Super Bowl rings in this room to one. And number two, because he's the rare guy who's been retired from the NFL for a few years and still fits, it appears, into the same clothes that he wore while he was in the NFL. Malik Jackson is with us, everybody. Let's go. I take that as a compliment. I appreciate that. I'm telling you, there's a lot of guys. They walk in, they've lost 100 pounds, or they have gained 100 pounds.

24:21Tom Pelissero:I'm like, yeah, that could be the same Malik I used to see back in the locker room. I got cheekbones now. And don't ask me to get back out there because I tried to do some running the other day, and my calves are killing me. Well, you're older now. We all age. Let me see that ring, by the way. Look at that. Oh, yeah. It's all right. Super Bowl 50. You know, it's the 10-year reunion of the Super Bowl 50 team, and we have an event this weekend going back to Denver. And also, it's pretty fitting that the two bowls in San Fran. So it's kind of cool, just full circle. What do you remember most from that season and that run and beating the Panthers?

24:52Really just a few things. The camaraderie, right? The way we were as a team, the way guys got together, ate together, the fights we had, but the brotherhood we had, too, to get over it. And really, for me, that was my contract year, right? So I was really fighting to be one of the best and put myself in position, which is what I did. um and so yeah it was just just fun man you know you walk around the house now or just walk take walks with my dogs and think about those days and giggle and um truly appreciate them you talk about

25:19Tom Pelissero:the fights yeah you had i was i was around that team some you had some characters in that locker room you had obviously vaughn's on that team talib is on that team chris harris who's not quite as out of his mind but also still a big presence in the room what's what's one that stands out what's one thing where you guys had to work through that season? It's kind of what you spoke on, right? Just all those characters, all those identities, right? All those emotions going around. Because it's funny, when Keeb came in, you know, you see Chris Harris kind of get a little more boisterous right back there.

25:52You know, Dee Stu's back there, TJ Ward. So really, Roby. So really just saw those guys really get more boisterous. And I think that was it, right? Everybody had an opinion. Everybody was right. But then, you know, when Coach came in and Coach Wade came in and gave us the game plan, and everybody was on the same page.

26:06Tom Pelissero:One of my favorite stories from that Super Bowl, which, I mean, you guys dominated defensively. It was a terrific defensive performance. So that was also known for after the game, Cam Newton walking off the podium in the middle of his media session. So the way that this was set up, and you might have been in that room as well, there was just a sheet. It wasn't a wall. So everybody, both teams are in one room, and there's just a sheet separating the podiums. so i'm on one side of the sheet talking to chris harris unbeknownst to me cam is sitting on the other side of the sheet i asked chris like it looked like you guys basically just were trying to take away the run he's go that's what we want to do is make you throw the ball can you throw the ball i then see the video cam walking off and i hear myself ask the question chris's answer and that's why he walks off the podium okay but i was remember that but that was the plan in that game was basically like we are not going to let cam newton and that run game run on us we're going to make you put it up in the air yeah because you know back then they were doing a lot of play action right get them out the pocket max protection and so we took that as a challenge you're going to keep in what five to seven guys um we're going to add to it and let our dbs do their thing so um you know i think he had cam had three hours to really show himself and get out there and prove us wrong and um luckily that day we had the best game plan and the best team peyton manning in in 2013 through 55 touchdown passes was, was unbelievable.

27:29Tom Pelissero:2015, he was not the same guy. He missed, you know, missed time. He had the foot injury. Osweiler plays for a while. Peyton eventually comes back in. Like he didn't, he couldn't throw the same way. Like it was kind of like a, it was like a t-shirt cannon where it's like, it would pop and they would just kind of float to the receiver there. What's your favorite Peyton Manning story from those years? My favorite, it's funny, right? Cause I was, I would consider a brokey, right? So being able to look at Demaryius Thomas, Von Miller, D Ware over there with Peyton having a good time, I'm just like, oh, that'd be a cool table to sit at.

27:59But, you know, for me, I think just want to shine a light on two guys that really meant a lot to me, which is Demaryius Thomas and Ronnie Hillman, right? Two guys that aren't here with us right now, but really put a lot towards the team, gave a lot of character, gave a lot of insight, man. And so really just, it's really just a laugh with everybody, you know? It's like you can't pick one moment, but it's really just having the laughs, having the team, the teammate and just understanding who everybody was, but also being able to learn. Because as you know, in the NFL, you know, guys have full-blown families, right?

28:27And so we actually get a chance to get together, eat, talk, learn, right? Everybody was cool with sharing. I remember Robert Ayers came into locker room. And as a rookie, when you come in, you know, everybody's like, oh, this guy's going to take your spot, or you got to be careful, tell him the wrong play. But he just took me under his wing, which made me a lot more of a benevolent leader. So when I got older, I would just tell guys what the play was, help them out as much as I can and, you know, push myself to say, well, they can't take my spot. Right. And so it was just a great team.

28:52Tom Pelissero:You also played in Philly for the Eagles. There's still some guys there that, you know, from what you've seen, from what you know about the people involved, what's going on right now with the Eagles? I just think it's just, it's any given Sunday, you know, it's been tough because they lost two tough games, right? One was a blocked field goal. The other was a drive at the end by the Broncos. And so, yeah, it's just been two tough losses. But I think, you know, as a lot of people like analysts and we know as players but everybody else has to realize you know you truly win or lose a game by the mistakes so if they can just cut down the mistakes the little mistakes they'll be fine.

29:25Tom Pelissero:Did you ever see Jalen Hurts come out of his shell when you were there? Not really man you know he was just a quiet young kid rookie when I came there when he was when he came in just quiet doing his thing waiting for his turn so he's very even killed very you know I want to rile him up but he's just he's just chilled just as cool as the other side of the pillow. What's it been like watching Carson Wentz through these past years? The first guy ever to start for what, five different teams or six? Whatever the number is in consecutive seasons. I mean, it's been an interesting year for me watching these quarterbacks get second chances, right?

29:55The Sam Donners of the world. The Mac Jones of the world, right? These guys get drafted high and then next thing you know they're on the couch or preferably backing somebody up, right? And you know they want more. So to see Carson really get a second opportunity and actually take the bull by the horns and do good, man and uh it's cool to see because i know he wants that how how difficult is that obviously

30:14Tom Pelissero:he didn't play quarterback but there's pressure on everybody coming into the league right and there's some guys who especially if they're high draft picks yeah and then their first whatever game season couple of seasons they're not making impact performances there's this constant deluge of social media reaction and fans and people sending them messages but you suck and you're a bust. I'm sure you weren't in that category, thankfully. But I'm sure you were around guys. How do you deal with that in the locker room? I mean, it's tough, right? Because I'll tell you my personal story. So I came from Denver, went to Jacksonville.

30:49I was still the guy. You go to Philadelphia next, you become a guy. Why? They have Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, right? They have their draft picks. So now you're seeing myself like, okay, this is interesting when you're a backup, right? Then you have Javon come in. Hargrave. Hargrave come in, right? And so now Now coach is like, hey, tell him he's starting. And I'm like, what the hell? So it's one of those things that, you know, it takes a lot out of you, but you just learn to be a team player. You know, you understand your role. You understand what you have to do. And you make the best out of your opportunities when you get out there.

31:20So, and then I go to Cleveland and I'm still the guy, but the body was breaking down and the play wasn't where it was meant to be. So that's when I was like, you know what, I'm done.

31:28Tom Pelissero:You mentioned Jacksonville in there. And I was thinking about this this morning because you were there when there was chaos. I think it was in 2016. right? They fired Nathaniel Hackett as the offensive coordinator pretty early in the season. Gus Bradley gets fired late in the season. Yesterday, we had the first head coach firing in the NFL this season with the Titans firing Brian Callahan six games in. Does it make a difference in the, in the locker room? What is the, just like the ripple effects you hear that news and is anything changeable once the train has left the station in the season? No, really.

32:00That's why I don't understand like the whole mid season firings, right? They treat like soccer where you just get rid of these guys, bring a new manager in. But it really doesn't change anything in the locker room because at the end of the day, we still have to do what we have to do. And the position coaches are the same. The scheme is going to stay the same. So you just got to go out there and really just try to play for the new coach, right? I mean, and do your job because at the end of the day was Titans. Did they win a game yet? They're 0-5 right now?

32:22Tom Pelissero:They're 1-5. They won the game where the Cardinals had a 21-3 lead and then Amari DeMarcado dropped the ball on the goal line and turned it into a Titans win. So, yes, they would be 0-6 if not for that. But I think you have to understand, too, you've got a rookie quarterback, right, who needs development. You know, we came from the days when an Aaron Rodgers was sitting behind a Brett Favre for a few years, right? And so, gone are those days where quarterbacks had to watch, sit, and understand what the speed of the game looks like and learn from somebody that's a Hall of Famer. So, you know, I think they should have gave Coach Callahan some more time.

32:53But it's NFL, man, and some heads roll. You know, s***. Oh, sorry. Never mind.

32:58Tom Pelissero:We're a busy plus. It's okay. we'll scrub that in the uh we'll scrub that in the post-production um when you look at the the current state of line play in the nfl like are there defensive linemen who every time you see a highlight you're like that that's it like that's that's the dude man it's funny enough uh calais campbell right uh great friend ex-teammate um i'm just still amazed by how he's out there walking away he walks how big it looks like he's take every step he takes hurts but to see him i watching the game got a sack arm over i was like man this guy said exactly who he is right so for me i'll tell him like hey man retirement's fun you know come come hang out you know but um he's still playing at a high level so i don't know if he's gonna try to get another three years and we'll see he's unbelievable because he's the biggest human you're ever gonna meet just he's so tall i mean he's listed six seven or something he seems taller than that yeah but just like this naturally massive dude with the really voice like he's just he's one of those guys that you feel like if he wants to play all 45 he might be able to do it but it's also it's a very rare thing you get to Cleveland you know your body's breaking now like there's not many guys if it's genetic or whatever it is you can go that long.

34:01Nah it's funny enough when he first got there we got together in Jacksonville and I'm watching doing stuff and I tried to do an arm over like he does and got punched in the chest I was like whew I can't do that you know what I mean so it's just funny to watch guys and see what they do and try to make it your own right but I mean I love Calais man I'm hoping the best for him you know um hope he stays healthy and can keep going as long as he wants to you know now granted this isn't Elysium where you can lay on a table and everything's fixed you know what I mean I'm sure he's gonna be dealing with some stuff but man he knows how to handle himself, take care of his body, and perform at a high level.

34:29Tom Pelissero:Malik Jackson is with us in studio here. There was an incident at the end of the Sunday night game with the Chiefs and the Lions, if you saw it, Brian Branch. Well, wasn't thrilled with being pushed in the back earlier in the game by Juju Smith-Schuster and decided to blow off the quarterback, go and punch Juju in the head. Were you ever inclined or did you ever have to, let's say, finish the job post-game? There were a few times. I know two, to remember two times where one was like Taylor LeJuan right there when Jacksonville were playing them on a Thursday night. He's just chirping, chirping, chirping.

35:04You know, they're running zone schemes and everything that we just got beat fairly well. And, you know, at the end of the game, I told him, meet me on the 50. And, you know, we got there, but he was, he was a lot nicer then. So I couldn't just attack him. Right. And then there was, you know, the tight end for the Arizona Cardinals, Grisham, back in the day. We were getting after it. And luckily back then, cameras weren't everywhere, especially after the game, everything cut. Right. And so you kind of, you know, have a little few words and then get out of there. So, you know, I think what Branch did was he stood on business.

35:32And it's one of those things, you know, everybody understand. Not everybody's, you know, push aroundable. So let's keep it within the lines. Let's play the game. But, you know, you saw the bloody nose he had.

35:43Tom Pelissero:So when you say somebody was nicer to you once you met at the 50. Yeah. Is it full apology mode? What did you hear? Nah, he was all smiles. That made you not have to. He was all smiles. He was like, hey. And I was like, nah, I'm not with that. Let's go. And he was like, ah, you know, they won. He's like nothing to fight about, right? It was just his character and how he gets in the game and moves, you know, from his Michigan days or whatever. So there was no apologies. It was just like, oh, what's up, man? All smiles. And so I had to kind of calm it down a little bit. So, yeah. There's some guys who probably are a lot better turning that off instantly than other guys.

36:14Yeah. You know, but me, I was just so turnt up. I was like, nah, I'm not hearing that. You know what I mean? So, yeah.

36:20Tom Pelissero:So right now, we brought this up earlier in the show. If you go back and you look at the betting favorites going into the 2020 NFL season, end of August, who are the people that people are putting money on? It was the Ravens. It was the Eagles. It was the Bills. Yeah. Who all have some level of issues right now. The Ravens are one in five. Obviously, the Bills and Eagles, both four and two, but not perfect teams right now. Is there a favorite in your mind? You're picking one team you wouldn't want to be seeing in January and February. Might be a wild card, but I'm really hoping the Jaguars can get it going.

36:51I think that Shai Khan and the family want to see them get a ring, right? We got close, but NFL's rigged. Sorry, I don't know if I said that. But, you know, I just think that...

37:01Tom Pelissero:Brockman's a Patriots fan. He might have a few things to say about that AFC championship game, which you guys were leading in the third quarter. We had it. We had some... Miles Jack was down. Miles Jack wasn't down. You know what I mean? But, you know, when you're making rules for guys in the middle of a game, you know, anyway, I'm hoping the Jaguars can get it done. Brockman, your response to that? I'm sure you remember that game. You were throwing things at the TV and probably until that play. Hold on. Let me take the rings out of my ears. Hold on a second. I didn't know he was on a team. No, no.

37:30Tom Pelissero:He's on team buffet during the game. That's where Brockman is. They hate us because they ain't us. I mean, what do you want me to say to that? He's way bigger than me. I'm not going to talk any smack. The week before that though, it is still the wildest NFL game I've ever covered in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. and this was Blake Bortles as the quarterback. You guys had a talented team. Fournette was on that team. Jalen Ramsey was on that team. Obviously, you guys up front were really good defensively. But everyone forgets that game in part because immediately after it, the Minneapolis Miracle Game was on, which now is still played everywhere.

38:10Tom Pelissero:And Stephon Diggs making the play. I was, even though I live in Minneapolis, I was in Pittsburgh going, I mean, this is the wild. It was 45-42, a score that Calais, when I interviewed him a few days before, just threw out there. It was like, hey, I don't care if we win 60-0 or 45-42, a score that had never happened, and then they won 45-42. Calais sees me in the locker room after. He's like, hey, you're going to find that tape. I said 45-42. And I had our people go and find the tape. He called the score. But there was no reason to think this Jaguars team was going to go into Pittsburgh and win.

38:44Tom Pelissero:But there was something about that group, especially the way that you guys were on defense like you made it hard on everybody everybody every single week yeah we were just a rough ragtag group you know um you thought pit you thought denver had a um you know loud boisterous you know imagine a bunch of a keep to leaves out there right in the back end and then guys with um you know something to prove on their shoulders in the front end and the d-line the linebackers right to tell the smith play as ab jones so uh right i mean there was there's a lot of dudes it was a lot of good dudes there so um you know we were just you know the ski mask versions we were out there didn't care we're out here pushing people around and you know saying and doing things you can't say on disney plus but you know it was um

39:28Tom Pelissero:tell me real quick before let you go what else what else you up to now um yeah so for me you know once i uh retired i just realized that a lot of everybody gives their all to their business their family uh their mission right but there's no care giving back to them in the same level and So what I did was went out there and created the Care League. We're a concierge lifestyle and wellness company, really looking to give access connections back to whether you're an athlete in retirement, executive running the company, or a parent just trying to figure it out. Just let you guys know that we have your back and everything, whether it be health and wellness connections or lifestyle needs.

40:02So that's what I'm working on now. I understand truly the access and the support that we get from the NFL. When you're in the NFL and when that's taken away, you're lost, right? You're a novice. So I realized that I can give this type of service to everybody and keep athletes thriving in retirement.

40:17Tom Pelissero:Great seeing you again, man. Thanks for being here. Likewise. I appreciate you guys. Let's watch that read one more time. I've been on your way out. Believe me, man. Everybody, Super Bowl champ with us in studio right now. Ton more to come here on this edition of the Rich Eisenless show. Tom Pellicero in for Rich.

40:36The Rich Eisen show, the podcast.

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41:23Rich Eisen:It's already here. Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA.

41:32Tom Pelissero:Welcome back to the Rich Eisen Show on Disney +, the ESPN app and ESPN radio presented by progressive. Let me talk to you now about Sonos, the speakers that bring every game to life at my own house with studio quality sound. Sonos makes you feel like you're right there in the stadium, whether you're cheering on your team, binging your favorite show or listening to the hottest songs. Sonos fills every room with incredible sound set up as easy. Just plug in, open the Sonos app and you're ready to go. Want stadium qualities, sound at home like me, Explore soundbar speakers and more at Sonos.com. Sonos, they look as good as they sound.

42:11We're talking about that 2017, January of 2018, AFC Divisional Game. Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, okay? 87 points in this game. 38 in the fourth quarter. You have no recollection of this, right? I had forgotten it. From the collective unconscious. This game is insane. Ben Roethlisberger threw it 58 times, 469 yards. Nice. Five touchdowns. Okay. Antonio Brown. We've all forgotten how amazing Antonio Brown was. Seven catches for 132 yards. Okay. Vance McDonald had 10 catches for 112 yards. Leonard Fournette had three touchdowns. Some of the names of the guys that scored in this game. TJ Yeldon, Martavis Bryant.

43:03Tommy Bohannon, Le 'Veon Bell, Juju Smith-Schuster caught a touchdown for Ben Roethlisberger.

43:10Tom Pelissero:And nobody remembers that game because the moment it ended was the Minneapolis miracle beginning. So I live in Minneapolis. All right. Not a Vikings fan. Everyone I know is a Vikings fan. But so I'm in the locker room talking to Calais Campbell, who had somehow predicted the exact score of that Jaguars victory. Doing my, you know, on the field stuff. Get to the airport. I'm on the plane. watching the Minneapolis miracle on the plane. So, you know, at some point the TV cuts off. Now that doesn't happen as often. I think they've got like a better system for, but at some point, like you're, you're getting below a certain, you know, the flight deck, right?

43:49Tom Pelissero:Whatever the top gun line is hard deck, hard deck. See, I love that movie. Watched it on a plane. And so like my internet cuts out with like 30 seconds to go. We get down onto the ground. and my phone pops back on and it's just a bazillion messages. Every tweet, every text, I'm like, what happened? The game was over and then you see the play. I almost forgot about the Steelers-Jaguars game and the main reason I remember was Calais-Gamble, a scorigami prediction, never in NFL history and days before it said, okay, we'll win 45-42. The exact score of the game. I mean, Minneapolis miracle, also insane.

44:3017-7 going into the fourth quarter, 29 fourth quarter points. Obviously, the Stephon Diggs walk off.

44:37Tom Pelissero:Joe Buck's epic call. Marcus Williams, who missed the tackle on that play. He had a great rookie season, I believe it was, for the Saints. And I remember talking with him the following year, just being down in New Orleans. He was so mature about the whole thing. There's a lot of people who would be like, I believe you, I don't want to talk about that ever again. There'd be other people who just crushes their soul. Marcus Williams developed in a really good player and then went to the Ravens and got a big free agent contract too. But you think back at who else has evolved in that play. It's Case Keenum.

45:08Tom Pelissero:Throw it at the Stefan Diggs. Why Case Keenum? Because Sam Bradford had hurt his knee early in the season. Why Sam Bradford? Because Teddy Bridgewater's knee had exploded the year before on the last day of training camp. There is so much weirdness. Sam Bradford was on the Eagles to start that year. He was on the Eagles throughout training camp. Bridgewater gets injured, I want to say, on like August 30th. And then on cut down day, the Vikings trade a first round pick and more to get Sam Bradford, who played pretty good his first year. And then the second year, that's when knee gets hurt in week one.

45:42Tom Pelissero:Can't go week two. Keenum takes over. He's hot. Bradford goes out and tries to play at one point. Can't move anymore. Keenum comes back in and they go on one of the great runs of all time. Every great Viking season is somehow marked by something bizarre happening to a quarterback. 1998, it's Brad Johnson gets hurt right out of the gate, and Randall Cunningham leads the run. And is unbelievable that year. 0-9 is the acquisition of Brett Favre, who is not even there until the end of August. 17 was the run with Case Keenum. And now, who knows, the Vikings make a run this year will be the story of Carson Wentz, J.J.

46:19Tom Pelissero:McCarthy, God knows what else. You'd hope just those two. the next man up is Max Brosmer. That would be the next guy, the undrafted rookie out of Minnesota. ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance, supporting you every step of the way, progressive.com. We've still got a lot more to come on this episode of the Rich Eisen Show. We are going to have Chase Daniel on in the last hour, One of the best guys you're going to find anywhere breaking down quarterback play within the NFL. I'm curious to ask Chase what impact, if any, the fire to Brian Callahan could make on Tam Ward as that thing moves forward with a highly drafted player in Tennessee.

47:08The Ridge Eisen Show podcast.

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