Does a Brit hold the key to the Super Bowl?

10:53Gabby:past episodes on YouTube Global Player or wherever you get your podcast when you're watching or listening make sure you subscribe or follow and leave a review next up it's more on the superbowl with superbowl winner himself jason bell the sports agents the sports agents with gabby logan

11:11Aden Durde:and mark chapman

11:15Gabby:jason welcome again to the sports agents i love being here i know especially in superbowl week Yes, absolutely. And a Super Bowl that has taken everybody by surprise. This is what's great about the NFL is we sell a dream every season. Right. As a Bears fan, you understand. Right. It's like we got hope. And that's exactly what you see. What I love about this Super Bowl and these two teams, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, is they are complete teams. We usually look at the quarterbacks each season and say, hey, these are the teams because they got this guy. Well, these are the teams because they got a bunch of guys and the entire roster has had to contribute.

11:58And you know me, I'm always going to talk about defense. And I love the fact that they are both playing well, superior on defense. And that's how you get to this point.

12:07Gabby:The storyline that has got us to these two teams is astonishing, really, in that they began the season, both of them. as 60 to 1 outsiders to get here. And that, therefore, proves the dream of competitive parity that the NFL always wants after a period of, well, fair dominance from the Kansas City Chiefs. We like the dynasties. It's fun to talk about. And I'll be honest, I love the fact a few years ago that Patrick Mahomes might be able to three-peat. That was really cool. But outside that narrative, you're absolutely right. I mean, nobody would have thought this was going to happen, especially with the quarterbacks that are involved.

12:54But this is why every year as a player we talked about, this is a family this year, Mark, this year. And team building, and we have to focus on being our best this year because it's never going to be the same after that.

13:06Gabby:Let's start. We'll look at both teams. Then I've got a surprise little message for you as well as a nice way to finish it. So we'll start with the Patriots. because there may be people who dip in and out of the NFL and go, well, the Patriots are meant to be the best team and have been, and Brady and Belichick and so on and so forth. This is a very different New England Patriots coming out of two or three years of real struggle. Yeah, I think they won four games last year, fired that whole coaching staff, got Mike Vrabel back, former player, coach. He was at the Tennessee Titans, got him in there.

13:39and you think about Robert Kraft, the owner, and having to pay that entire coaching staff. He moved on from there because he knew this was the time, this was the moment. So you got him in there, and then they draft Drake May, right? I think there's a lot of parity in players. There's not a lot of parity in coaching staff, Mark.

13:58Gabby:Well, you and Osi always used to say to me when we did the NFL show together that salary cap is there. And that means that your squad always has to churn because if you pay somebody big, you're going to have to let somebody else go. That's the way the salary cap works. But coaching staff don't fall into the salary cap. So that's where the magic can happen. Yes. And Josh McDaniels, who is the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, former head coach, he might not be a great head coach, but he is a brilliant play caller. All those years in Tom Brady were with him. a lot of them, the latter years, and what he was able to do.

14:36So you got a young quarterback in Drake May who you're teaching the game, and you're saying, hey, this is how Tom did it. I mean, he's going to follow in line, and he's playing at an MVP level. He's probably number two for the MVP, but this defense is outstanding, and they have the attitude and intensity of their head coach, Mike Vrabel.

14:54Gabby:So there are two things there, because I know you will always want to be defensive-minded, but we always focus on the head coach and the quarterback. So the head coach is in his first year with this team. He's coached elsewhere, head coach of the Tennessee Titans. First year with this team, with a quarterback who's only in his second year. That is rare, isn't it? That is very rare, and that's why I think he went and got his friend, coordinator Josh McDaniels, to help with that. But it's extremely rare. Tom Brady's done this, though. The way you're able to get here is if you have a complete team.

15:28You don't put it all on him. You win with defense. You're able to run the game. You're diverse in the way you approach how you go out there and win games. One thing I love about the Patriots, and this game is all about schemes, matchups, things like that. It seems like they tailor their game plan just to win that game. Right. Literally, like other player teams, I look at like this is their formula. Man, I don't know what's going to happen with the Patriots because it's hey, this is what we need to do on this day. And I really appreciate that as a fan.

15:57Gabby:We always get told when we talk coaching in any sport, they need time. They need time. How has he done that in one year? Turn a team who had four wins only last year into a Super Bowl team? Because that goes completely against what every coach in any sport and leadership say. Oh, man, you know, true. I think the experience as a head coach, as he's been and a player allows him to look at it differently. He knows what kind of players he needs to fit. And he went and got those kind of players. So you got your core team. OK, I need these kind of guys. Not only is it skill set, Mark, like I need a guy who can do this.

16:36It's attitude. I need a guy who's going to practice like this. I need a guy who's going to work out like this, you know, who just goes completely.

16:44Gabby:And he is hard as nails, isn't he, Mike? What? The Patriots head coach. Man, he's out there with the blocking pad, you know, like the rugby guy's got, getting punched in the mouth, you know, hugs every guy after the game. He's a true leader. You know, the linebackers are like the quarterbacks of the defense. So this is a guy who just understands leadership at its core. And he's gotten those guys and he's built a team around his identity. And he's done it with specific personalities. Let me flip to the Seahawks side of things. I'll come on to their quarterback shortly. But as we were talking about Vrabel, let's talk about the Seattle Seahawks head coach, Mike McDonald.

17:17Gabby:In his second year as a head coach, if he walked into any bar in America outside of Seattle, and maybe even inside of Seattle two months ago, I don't think anybody would know who he is, would they? I think you're right, and I think he loves it like that. I think that's his personality. Vrabel falls under this category also, but Mike McDonald's a brilliant teacher. He understands that. That's what he is. He's young, isn't he? He's young. At his core, he's like, how can I teach these guys to be at their best? And from everything I've read, he spent a lot of time in how he packages these ideas. Right.

17:56How do you teach these concepts in a way where from a simplicity standpoint in a game, I can say, hey, let's do these three things and you can piece them together because I've taught it to you in a way that's digestible in the battle. And I think that's one of his strengths. Not only has he learned from some great coaches, but the way he goes about articulating the purpose to the players is key. And my guy, Adderde, is over there who's from out here. What's going on? Tell us about Adderde. Man, Adderde, man, you know, he's played for the London Warriors, played in NFL Europe, just a great guy.

18:30British. British, North London, and started the IPP program with that, you know, puts international players on NFL teams. with Osi and F.A. Obata, who's one of the first guys, they got him there. So he's the defensive coordinator. Now, Mike McDonald calls the plays. But during the week, when you're a head coach, you understand his interviews. It's what is the offense doing? You're in a managerial position. You're an executive. You're the CEO. You need somebody to help you now design a game plan. What are you seeing? You might look at the sheet that day and say, OK, we're going to call this play.

19:07But a lot of other people got you there. And that's what Adnan is doing. You know, he's they're coming together as a collective formulating a game plan. So this is why he's up for head coaching opportunities. And you wouldn't you look at this and now you can say as a coach, as a player, whatever. It doesn't matter where you're from. Just get in there, get an opportunity.

19:28Gabby:And that seems to be what the Seahawks are. Is he, this is Tessio knowledge of the league here, is he the first non-American coordinator? I think so. Right. There might be. There might be someone who's born somewhere else but then raised in America type of thing. And he was here. He was here. You know, I mean, he got on. He's an intern. Everything he's done has proved himself. And knowing him personally, this is why it works. It's not about him. He is a teacher. He wants you to be better. The ego is erased. And I think that is, at its core, the most important thing for a coach is it's not about me.

20:10It's about them.

20:11Gabby:You and Osi know him well. And, you know, he was at a couple of Super Bowls with us as well, wasn't he, when we were doing the Super Bowl? Do you know how much skepticism and obstacles he found in his way? Because if that was reversed and it was an American working their way up through the football system here, I think there would be a lot of obstacles. Slightly different in America because at times you're nowhere near as cynical as we are. So I love being here. I really do. Keep me here, please. This is what makes him so special. Has he been encouraged is what I would say. He wouldn't. He's never said that to me.

20:59Gabby:Right. He's so focused on what he can control. He's not into the noise. I would totally be impacted by. I'd be telling you I've overcame all that. He's not that dude. He's a leader. I've been around guys like him, linebackers. He played linebacker, inside linebacker. So at his default, he's a leader. Everything we've ever talked about is him being in a situation, given an opportunity, learning and focused on the players. That's all he's ever said. I will say there's one advantage he has. When you're a player and you're around, right? I'll tell a story about you in a second. I'll tell a story. It just made me think something, Mark.

21:42When he talks to coaches with that, players with that accent, what do they do? They go, you know, it stands out. What are you saying? which is a strength. Just like early on, we were in, oh, it was a Thursday night game? Yeah, I know exactly what.

21:58Gabby:I think we were in Atlanta. We were in Atlanta. For Atlanta against New Orleans in a regular season game. Ladies and gentlemen, hear me out. Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, the man on TV, I mean pure energy. And he hears you talk and he goes up to you and says, give me that accent. He almost choked you out, Mark. Put his hand around my neck. Put his hand around my neck and try to pull my voice box out. That's what he did. I thought we were going to have to tackle him for you. And it's because we're talking, but as soon as you open your mouth, it's like, oh, my goodness. And I think that helps him also with the players.

22:32But ultimately, he has made everybody around him better. There's a guy named Demarcus Lawrence who's a good player for them. He brought over from Dallas who is having an outstanding year. And it's because, I believe, Adnan is coaching him.

22:45Gabby:As I say, there are so many amazing storylines here. and Adon is one of them for us and our audience but also what we talked about with the Patriots and Mike McDonald as well. But then the other one is, if you love, if you believe in redemption and somebody proving everybody wrong, no matter how rough a start you have in your career or your life, then the Seattle Seahawks have that in their quarterback in Sam Darnold. I'm so happy for him. And I like the way you just position that because that's exactly how I look at it, which is when you look at his trajectory, first round picked, you know, he was young coming out of college.

23:27He goes to the Jets. Loads of noise on him.

23:29Gabby:Loads. Got picked in that draft ahead of Josh Allen and ahead of Lamar Jackson. Yep. Which he's the first one now that makes the Super Bowl. But goes to the Jets. Not a good situation as far as who's teaching him, who's coaching him. viral moments of him failing. One time they caught him saying, I'm seeing ghosts, which means I am seeing people bringing pressure that aren't there. That's what we want to do as a defense, make you feel pressure that isn't there. That's what seeing ghosts is. It's a term well used and well known, but doesn't look good on camera. And it followed him. But the one thing he did, and you're right, is you hear Tom Brady talk about this.

24:11You don't know when your moment's going to come, when your opportunity. And I think all you need to be aware of whatever's happened in your life is you just stay ready for it because you don't know. You do not know when it's going to happen. But if you are ready, you can make the most of that opportunity. And that's what he did when he went to the San Francisco 49ers. He went under Kyle Shanahan, who's known to get a quarterback right, you know, and he feels like he went to quarterback school. Then when he went to Minnesota, it wasn't guaranteed. Then he had a good coach. He got his opportunity.

24:39He played well. Everything changed. but we still look at him and think when he's going to fail next when he's going to fail next well he's failed all the way to the super bowl yeah he's failed all the way to super bowl and

24:49Gabby:he doesn't care about anybody's narrative isn't it amazing though because it does when we get around to draft and we always talk about the draft your future and this is where much as we much i love the draft your future is in the lap of the gods and if you end up in to put it bluntly if you end up in a shit show, your career is all over the place. And he is kind of proof of that. Without a doubt. And that's why, you know, I get excited when we talk about good coaches that are good teachers. I've had coaches that are amazing teachers. And I've had coaches that they just cared about their defense or their offense.

25:24And that's what happens to these guys. You're going to do it because I think it works this way. Well, that doesn't really work for me. Can we? And if you're young, you don't have credibility to say that. and if you fall under those circumstances your career, who knows what can happen and that is exactly what occurred with Sam Dardell and everything's shifted because he got some good coaches

25:44Gabby:So just to end then, the Super Bowl week and doing the Super Bowl with you and Osi was the highlight of my sport year There are two things that I love doing more than well three things because obviously I love doing the sports agents but there are two other things that I love doing more than anything else Ryder Cup on the radio and the Super Bowl on the television they are the best best things to present by a country mile and we did seven maybe together and I missed them, I still miss them to this day and so the production team Osi hasn't been very well recently as people may or may not have seen and we haven't worked as a three for a long time but the producers got Osi to send us a message Oh, well, well, well, what do we have here?

26:31Jason Bell:The three Musketeers back together again. I know everybody's been calling for us to get back together. And here we finally are. Unfortunately, I can't be there with you guys, but I wish I could. Chappers, you know, I love you. J-Bell, you know, I love you. You guys are the best. We're going to do some amazing things together here in the near future. I absolutely believe that. As you guys know, I'm going through some stuff and I couldn't be there, but I wish I could. You guys hold it down for your boy. Much love, much respect. Can't wait to see you guys talk soon. Oh, yeah. My favorite Super Bowl memory.

27:06Jason Bell:Winning the Super Bowl. That's the favorite thing about playing the Super Bowl, about being in the Super Bowl. Winning the Super Bowl is my favorite thing. Much love, much respect. Chappers, J-Bell, see y 'all soon.

27:18Gabby:Now, the only thing that surprised me about that was, Jason, he didn't say he'd won it twice. Oh, my God. That's how much he cares about us. He didn't rub it in. Do you know the really relevant story here as well? This Super Bowl is in Santa Clara. Right? Yeah. And that was the first one. That was the beginning for us. That was the first one that we did together 10 years ago, Super Bowl 50, which Denver beat Carolina. But do you know what I remember about that? Do you know what I remember about that is because it was Super Bowl 50, the security was crazy was crazy yeah was absolutely i mean you needed pass upon pass upon pass there were there were tanks the army everything and the person who didn't have a pass was oc but because he'd won two superbowls there you go let him in you want to go on the field go on the field it's fine um can i go with him no you haven't you haven't got your seven passes that you need fair enough then fair enough oh man i'm so glad to see his face yeah he's doing well He's doing well.

28:15You know, I remember that first Super Bowl. You taught me a lot. And you and O.C. really did a lot for me early on. Didn't have a lot of confidence, didn't know what I was doing. But I understood I was with two pros and two really talented people. And you guys just made me. You guys took care of me. And I remember the first Super Bowl, you said, hey, I don't know what you got. You got planned, J-Bell, but you should probably go to sleep tonight. It's going to be a long day. And every Super Bowl, every game, it's like you're in my head. Go to sleep. Get your rest. And those moments and what we built together is so special.

28:55And watching you've had a lot of challenges in your life, watching O.C. go through that, it's very emotional this year. And just, you know, you lose some. You almost it was so it was really difficult. You know, I just that's like he's my brother. And it was really tough year. But, you know, the things that matter in life matter, the people that matter, matter. And, you know, the the people that are important to me and my friends. And, you know, I just I'm just so happy that I've had the opportunity to be so blessed to have guys like you around.

29:41Gabby:uh well take it for granted you do you do and there are gonna be more opportunities I don't know what I don't know you can't be throwing no mark you know me too well I'm weak our old producer in the NFL Rob I said in that video yesterday I said don't tell Jason that the OSI's done this message he said I won't because I know that he's gonna cry I was told you to tell the truth in broadcasting and I would come and give you a hug but I'm clipped into the yeah so I can't you he He obviously thinks we're going to do stuff together in the future. So who knows? I hope we do. I hope we do. You're a very busy man, but, you know, free agency is expensive.

30:18And we're going to find some money. We're going to find some money, Mark. We're going to get you.

30:22Gabby:Need to find some money. I know who's got it. The man who won two Super Bowls. He does. Enjoy the Super Bowl. Thank you, man. Love you. See you soon. The Sports Agents.

30:36Gabby:The Sports Agents.

30:37Aden Durde:with Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman. Mark, you made him cry.

30:43Gabby:We have such a bond without sort of getting emotional myself that, yeah, that even though we don't work together anymore, but as you could hear there, would still like to in the future maybe, we still check in with each other as the three and talk to each other. And it was a very special time was doing that show. And I absolutely loved working with them. And they're both very typical of a lot of American sports people. Although I think this is the case more and more with British sports people as well. They want to learn. They want to learn. So when they stop playing and go into broadcasting, they want to learn.

31:24Gabby:They're not just going to take it for granted. They want to understand how it works and how they can improve. Maybe.

31:30Jason Bell:Just an idea as to how you two can get back together. I'm just thinking of a novelty idea that every few weeks on Match of the Day, we just fly in a pundit from a completely different sport, right? And they have a third seat and they just ask questions that, you know, pique their interest. So we could get him in on a Sunday or maybe even bring in a Sam Warburton or an Ellie Kill Dunn.

31:53Gabby:I just wondered whether this was another way of you trying to get Andy Murray onto one of our shows. Or Andy Murray.

32:00Jason Bell:on Saturday Andy Murray would so do Saturday night match of the day he definitely would would he yeah they're big football fans the Murray boys he definitely would I'm sure and we get him in on match of the day and then we take him down a little corridor and we get him into the sports agent's studio voila we've got two done for the price of one all up here for thinking Mark down there for dancing very yes right thank you for listening if you've got any thoughts on today's show then get in touch with us via email thesportsagentsatglobal.com or message us on social media or via the link in the show notes.

32:31Gabby:Remember, our past episodes available on YouTube, Global Player, or wherever you get your podcasts. And please make sure you subscribe or follow and leave a review.

32:38Jason Bell:Thank you for listening.

32:39Gabby:The Sports Agents.

32:40Aden Durde:With Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman.

32:47Gabby:This has been a Global Player original production.