Austin Ekeler + Clinton Portis + And NFL Insider Adam Schefter | Next Man Up | Washington Commanders

welcome in commanders family this is the next ManUp podcast I'm Brian KOB Jr and we will have Austin Eckler coming and talk about his tandem with BR Rob we will have the legend Clinton poris talking about what he's doing these days and what is so different about the things going on here in Washington then we had to get you an NFL Insider with all the things happening Adam shefer joins the show all that and more starts right now on next man up 2 3 KCK it come on commanders family welcome into the next man up Podcast I am your host Brian cobber Jr and our next man up is our new running back been in the league for a minute but it's only getting better his shirt even says it 1% better every day welcoming in Austin eeka brother appreciate you having me man yeah appreciate you having me on yeah compounded interest that's what it's about a little bit every day and it starts adding up you know yes sir man and last time we sat here so it's funny cuz as you guys can see we are in a different room than the studio you know we're getting some new things changed but I'm imagine last time you were here you were signing your contract right I was sitting right over there yeah take it that picture put ink to ink to the to the paper yeah man and then right after that you came to the studio and me and you had our interview and we sat and talked and you had just getting your feet wet in the DMV man I mean you had just got here so how has it been adjusting since yeah when we first talked I don't I didn't have enough time to really appreciate the area or the culture uh but been around a little bit been to a community event um been around some of the fans as well at our home game now at the preseason so looking forward to to more of that during the season been down to DC a little bit as well feeling the love from the community taking a few pictures with fans so I'm starting to feel what people are talking about when they like a you're going to love it out here CU everyone that we've talked to my wife's in the room as well in the background for those you that can't see her they're like oh you're going to love the East Coast you're going to love DC it's really clean like a lot of history great food and it's definitely been that so it's growing on us this is definitely the best place to be on the East Coast now people will say it might be the South I I don't feel that way I feel like this is the East just like you do but this is definitely a great place to be man so we're happy you're getting acclimated and you know on on X-Men up we talk x's and those but we talk a lot about the player behind the helmet but before we do that you mentioned preseason yeah me and you cause a little trouble I don't know if you realize me you caus a little trouble Pras we won so and you are doing our sideline what me and you are doing our sideline um interview and I asked you about Jaden and how he was in the Huddle in the pocket and you revealed cuz nobody else knew this that Jaden checked out of a screenplay to make that pass to dami I gave away too much you gave away so good so okay I was going to ask did you get any heat for that but clearly you didn't hear about it no I didn't hear about that what they tell you I mean I didn't get no heat about it either I was just making sure we were good okay that's all me that's all me I think we're good yeah I mean don't worry we change the we change our plays we change our signals that's what it is we got to anyway you know yeah but I think that was a great moment and great Insight because it would allow Dan Quinn allow jayen to talk about that moment and not a lot of rookies are going to check out or something their first NFL Drive but Jaden did that and I think that encompasses what we've seen from Jaden you talk a little bit about what you've seen from not only that one presedent gam that was the last time we talked but but since yeah uh something that I appreciate you know about just any quarterback coming in is really the the communication I want to see the communication be alive and that tells me a few things actually but first of all it tells me okay you care enough to come and be on the same page with me and you you want to see that that connection happen um and you're going out of your way to make it happen and what also tells me because he's a rookie is that he wants to step into that leadership role as well because he doesn't have to do that he could easily behind hide behind the rookie oh I don't know like I'm just going to kind of you know let things come to me he's the one the one that actually out there making it happen right stepping up as a leader to go and communicate so I love that about him and then uh as far as just his mentality of of being on the field uh wants to continue to compete you know we got to get this guy to slide you know things like that you know he's learn he's learning how to be a pro um and so it's like yeah we love that fire in him you know and so he'll continue to learn like I mentioned how to be a pro and just continue to to progress down this path and the trajectory that he's going down is a is a pretty steep one right now so I'm I'm looking to see him continue to to grow exponentially and he recently was named the starter what was that first conversation like when you found out he was going to be your starting quarterback I'm sure you had an idea but when you got that official news you know how this league works man if you get drafted second overall Heisman you're you're expected to be in that role um man so it doesn't mean you're going to get that role like you still got to go out there and earn it like don't get me wrong like you don't just come in and walk in and get a spot you got to make sure that you check the boxes saying yep okay he did that he was a leader he made good decisions he did all the things he needed to do and that's exactly what he came in and has done and so he still has a long way to go just because quarterback you there's I've been around some of the greats been around Philip Rivers who had been there a year 17 and I've seen what a true veteran quarterback with that many years of experience looks like also been around J Jay herb you know out in LA and see him grow into you know for four years we played together and so I know Jaden's on the right track based off of what I've seen from those other guys and we know you're going to help too being here and like I said we'll talk football a little bit but I want to talk about The Man Behind the helmet cuz there's a lot of layers to you there's a lot of layers to me I had a coach tell me one time that I'm probably the most unique person in the in the NFL that's a great compliment to have that's a great there's a lot of personalities in there's a lot there's a lot there's a lot I mean dude you're you're an investor you're a gamer you're a businessman you're a husband you're all of these things and I want to focus on that cuz we got wife right now so of course we don't want to bury the lead right you just got married recently tell us about the wedding where did you get married and tell us about your wife yeah yeah um so we got married recently out in uh Las Vegas and so it was a beautiful wedding uh shout out to my wife for uh basically planning the whole thing she's all smiles right now by the way oh so yeah it was an amazing time got our families together and uh we're continuing to you know make this make this journey a beautiful thing and looking forward to spending some time together out here on the East Coast post it's the first time we've really been in the same place for a long amount of time now and uh it's been it's been great so far hey man congratulations on nothing better than that man that's beautiful man I can see how she loves you and supports you and so she's a dancer indeed she's a dancer a very talented dancer very very talented dancer tap dance ballet Jazz hip hop anything you you name it she got it what about you you cut a rug a little bit I cannot cut Aug I am very stiff you know you know I got a little rhythm sometimes but in spurts true not she says you she's a dancer so I'm going to take her word for it's in spurts though in spurts it's not maintained you know you know everyone's got like a move or something you know you're feeling got AEP got a little move yeah a little little hop little jab in there you know so with the wedding right like we know that there's that that first dance that first moment yeah marrying a actual legitimate dancer did you have to learn like a whole choreograph thing like what was that yeah absolutely so you know for us we choreographed something it was very B basic like there was some traditional dancing in there but then when the chorus would come we'd have like our little routine that we do just to put a little flare on it okay um and the flares continued to get a little bit bigger and bigger but it was uh it was just enough for me where it was able I was able to R grab my head around it and actually nail it um it wasn't too technical so man I wish hopefully I know you're not going to too but I would love for you to send me that video so I can watch it cuz I'm sure you did a great job and the way she's smil and supporting you man that is a beautiful thing so again congratulations on that at business now yeah cuz the husband you know that's the most important thing but now you have a businessman as well tell us about that man you do so many different things not just for yourself but you also work to inspire other athletes and other people to get into business tell us all about it man yeah for myself you know my journey to the NFL and I that conversation that I had with that coach where they told me I was really unique is because for me I wasn't really aspiring to be in the NFL like that wasn't like my North Star yeah um and that's because I came from a really really small town and um was grew up in the cowboy life you know have ridden Bulls in my life riding horses like that's me in the cowboy hat like that was me out there um in in the cowboy life and then got into some traditional sports but continued to progress through that and then uh you know found a love for football that was my best sport didn't have any division one offers or anything like that um it grew up around around entrepreneurs uh I grew up building barbwire fence in the Summers um and if you know anything about manual labor it's not fun uh you know especially out in the summer barbwire fence will definitely teach you how to work hard and so that's that was a blessing in disguise um you know hated every minute of it but definitely learned how to work and that mindset has stayed with me ever since uh even still to this day and so going into college as like I mentioned I didn't have any division one offers went to a small school so my anticipation for me in the future was okay I'm going to have to get some type of degree and use my mind to get my next opportunity and so I really focused on my education but then also really took football seriously because I did have a small scholarship and at a division 2 you don't get a full ride right and so to increase your scholarship you got to continue to get all conference all Americans so I'm I'm hyper locked in on football and my education and that was what it was for me growing up and that's kind of what has continued to progress me forward into different businesses and things like that because that's I've I've always had a passion for it and I mean you've seen so much success in NFL yes they maybe that wasn't your initial dream but you you made it you have this success so let's talk about that yeah because you know going into into college you know I start my first year um actually left the day I graduated like I threw my hat up in the air and I'm like I'm going to get acclimated to this team I'm going to go dedicate myself I'm going to get up there in the summer and I'm going to start going to work like I'm ready to work like let me get myself going let me get my opportunity let me get my life on on its feet and start pushing it forward and uh for me it was okay football's the first thing I can get into school doesn't start until the fall but it's summertime so I'm up there working out I got myself a summer job I was a raft guy taken down you know you want to go down the Gunnerson River I can take you down the river you real renaissance man that's what it was at the time man you have to get it how you live it you know so I had to pay rent somehow and I was up in the mountains and um so I'm doing that and I'm one of the strongest guys on the team already I already lived in the weight room before then like that was my passion that was my getaway and that was my therapy was getting in the weight room and my work ethic just because of the upbringing that I had was a lot different than the guys around me like for me this it wasn't just playing football like I'm not just playing football like this this is my life in my hands right here right like for me this is the opportunity that's going to bring me to the next one so I can't let this slide I can't just go about this casually it's not casual there's so much that rides on this for me to have some type of success because that's going to show and traj the magnitude of my next opportunity I didn't know if it was going to be in the NFL I thought it was going to be in the business route so I wanted to make sure I didn't have a ton of debt coming out so I want to continue to increase my scholarship so I'm locked in school finally starts I'm locked in making sure I'm getting um good grades all of that stuff as well and then um you know our my freshman year there's only three seniors on the team so leadership was terrible uh seniors had left or transferred out or quit and I remember um my freshman year our first away game uh we go on the on the road and everyone's messing around talking during meetings on their phone during meetings and our offensive coordinator gets up and he's like hey man does does anyone have anything to say and I I was I had came from a culture we never lost we didn't lose games you know and like I said this is more than just football than me and so I was like I got to say something you know I'm I wasn't really a leader at that time but I got up in front of him I was likey coach I got something I remember my voice just trembling cuz I'm so nervous but I cared so much I'm like you guys are treating this like a vacation this is some like we need to be locked in we're here on we're on a business trip you know and I it didn't come out as smooth as that you know cuz I'm trembling you know like nervous I'm start to get teared cuz I care so much you you know I'm 18 up there I got some 20 year olds in the room I'm the young guy um and ever since then I was a captain but then like I just my emotion played into it so much because that that was the intensity that I brought to the things that I'm involved in and it was no different for my business side as well as I continued to build um you know in the real estate that was my first Passion that was my first thing that I was learning about um I was going to get into oil and gas that's what I went to school for energy management and I was going to use capital from that to get into uh to get into real estate and start house hacking and start house flipping and get into a real estate portfolio so that was plan a that was plan a that was plan a that was plan a not a bad plan b or c being an NFL so here the thing that the you know the n wasn't Plan B it just wasn't necessarily in the plans at all right it was like okay yeah that would be great if that happened but I I'm no one from my school has ever gone to the NFL so you're trying to use logic to plan out your life as a young man is right I'm thinking of okay what's a what's a path that if I do well I can see the most success at the earliest age for myself and I had never been around atmosphere around NFL or professional sports at all and so after my junior year well I had had great year my freshman year you know freshman of the Year great sophomore year like there we were we were terrible we were terrible we won two games my uh freshman year four games four games and seven games my senior year but I I still average 200 yards a game and two touchdowns right and so I'm I'm now here dominating you know I'm dominating um and after my junior year my coach comes to me and he's like hey man like you have some NFL Scouts asking about you I'm like what the heck like NFL Scouts mind blown I'm like these are like mythical beans to me right like like you mean NFL Scouts like they're calling they're calling up to Western you know like I've never seen one on campus before and uh sure enough after my senior year they're on campus and they're watching me practice and then it became real for me like okay like this is a real opportunity for me um but you know through all throughout my my college career like I lived in the gym I do our morning weight room routine with the team and then there's like three of us that after weights and after study hall and after school and everything we be back in the gym and we're you know we're just being guys you know pushing each other you know you got to get your arms bigger you know like you can't do that you know you know just just testosterone boosed each other you know good yeah yeah exactly exactly U and so that was what we did and that's how I continued to get really strong and stay really fit and shape and and that was the mentality all year round and when you're around that type of energy of just push better it got to be better it got to be better then it just brings and with the mentality of myself that this is not just a game this is way more than that like you immerse yourself into it you know it's more survival Instinct it's not just I'm just doing this because it's fun and I want an opportunity it's like no this is my life that's on the line I got to get it done um and that continued to stay with me as I got into the to the league as well um so like I mentioned it wasn't that the NFL was Plan B it just wasn't in the plans until about my junior year I was like okay now that's plan a because that's the bigger opportunity now that's on the table and it's exactly how I treed it and so for me it was okay if this is the real thing I finished my senior year had another great year iage like 190 yards a game again it was like all right I'm I'm going to drop out and I'm just going to go for it I'm I'm going to go for it I'm not I'm going to take the semester off I'm just going to go train because if this is really something that's an opportunity for me I'm putting every ounce of my energy into it so that at the end of the day I can say that was everything that was everything you could have got from me and that's clearly your personality your work ethic is everything to you right you're going to put everything into the main task so with being nfo player you end up becoming one of the best to ever do it at your position how do you stay that locked in on the NFL but still do all of these other things that you're also locked into how do you how do you jugle that yeah so that's kind of the the blessing and the curse almost uh because I've been building myself the way I've been building myself it was business first I still have built up my capabilities to be able to pursue things in the business world as far as my understanding of real estate that was really where I first started and so after I played my my rookie year of of NFL had some capital I had already had plans to start getting into real estate through my business route but now I had an earlier Capital than I was expecting so now I started getting into some house hacking started buying multif family houses back in Colorado and built up a portfolio there and started to get build relationships if if you've heard anything about business you know relationships are huge in business and so I was already starting to accumulate these relationships even before I got into the NFL and so once I got into the NFL it just gave me more Capital right away so now I'm a able to deploy even more than I thought I was going to be able to and really started to build a portfolio of real estate in Colorado and that just continued to feed my my ability to to learn and my my capabilities to expand and so continued to do that then started my first real estate fund um and we bought a big portfolio out in Kansas City Missouri uh moved a few house hacking Crews or house flipping crews out there about four of them and we were flipping some houses 1031 and some um saving some as well and keeping them in the portfolio now we're looking at Alabama and so it's what the the theme of it is I've continued to expand the capabilities that I have by not only increasing my knowledge but also supplying supplementing myself with team members that I can trust and put in place to help me build these portfolios up and this is all while trying to make an N trying to build AER because again you went undrafted corre this isn't a first round guy that just has all the time in this world it's not somebody that just knows they're going to be a starterre they're doing all of this while still trying to make this dream come true and so that's why I say it's a it's a blessing and a curse um blessing because it allows me to have ex some type of experience in a lot of different in you know Industries and actually go and actually move and actually deploy in those Industries but also a curse because I am I'm so just locked in on building things because I'm obsessed with it like that is who I am like I see an opportunity I want to build around that because I know that it can it's going to be an opportunity for me to progress my life to find fulfillment with that and I want to continue to expand you know you see it on my shirt 1% better every day like how can we continue to compound interest um in different ways and so real estate was the first one then started getting into the NFL and started to build a community and so I started doing streams um I built a company called gdar and gaming group uh we did a bunch of we it was basically a bunch of athletes and entertainers I put together in a in a group and we would like do things around the Super Bowl and around the Indie 500 we have a driver in there we did stuff around uh we had Alicia Gray from you know W WNBA she went to the Olympics and so we had a we had a good crew in there did a bunch of stuff in the streaming World um learned some stuff from that then I got into Tech from that because I realized how hard it is for athletes to really set up their own Tech or do fan engagement so now I've started an app as well um and then I've done a I've done a few shows as well too big in the fantasy space so the moral of story behind me after putting a real estate aside is i' I've realized that there's so much power in community that I want to figure out and I've been continued to build around communities How can I build either build a community or help others build their Community or help others tap into their existing community and so that's where my my focus is off the field when it comes to my my Endeavors and you've done that you've not only done that for yourself but like you said you've helped others as well and I can s talk to you all day aome but I know you're a busy man but there's definitely something we got to hit on and it's experience we talked about an app you created tell us all about experience and how people can download how people can be a part of it tell us all about it yeah so I mentioned I started getting into the tech business and what I really realized in the especially in the NFL is that us as as players have such a short bandwidth when it comes to things outside of football that we're not really passionate about there's a few outliers that people are really passionate about something they'll do it all day um but one of the things that we all have is a community whether it's from the name on the front of our our Jersey right here Washington commanders or the name on the back we have some type of community some type of fan base there and there's so much value in that you see that from all the brand deals that get done and it's like that's great like make your money on brand deals but like okay are those people really interested in a 15% off you know coupon sure maybe they are but they're more interested in what you're doing and being in in involved in what you have going on and so I created experience to allow outside fan bases to be able to tap into athletes but knowing that athletes have a short bandwidth so I made it as easy as possible to do different types of engagements with people like myself so if you want to get your jersey signed or you want to get anything signed in the Sports World you can now go on to experience and you can go to fan mail and then you buy the fan mail offering and send in your stuff to get signed um so we have a few of our guys like Marcus mariota's on there Jonathan Allen myself Luke mcaffry so like right now you can go on there and get your stuff signed by our guys um or if you want to like a a personalized video right if you want to root us on for the game opener against Tampa um like you can go in there do that you can have a video chat with us so different types of engagements that are on there and we manage it for the athletes because we know their B like I said their bandwidth is short so it's an engagement platform so if you want to download it it's experience and it's spelled eks as my last name's eeka right experience you know eks PR uh and then the rest of experience so yeah definitely check it out if you want to get something signed we have have some guys and we have like we have like 90 guys uh in professional sports on there right now so uh we're continue to expand all right man I'm going to need my Eckler signature too I need that well you're here so get for the people on the west coast how they can get their stuff sign right exactly well now they got an app to do it now they can get a sign cuz can't come to training camp and be at the game right but they can download experience and it's and that's Apple anywhere right Apple Android both of them awesome man it's been such a pleasure talking to you man I can sit and talk to you all day I mean why even talk exen no when we got somebody like here right but I do have to ask all man I'll do it all let's do it but I do have to ask this my last question cuz we do have Tampa Bay coming up our first game of theity your first time wearing an NFL game wearing burgundy and gold what can fans expect hey man look we have a lot of new pieces in our in our offense not just offense the whole team from head coach to ownership to players um and what I was actually talking to Adam about this I was like man like it's it's really special to see what we've built here as far as guys who've been there done that veterans that have had success in this league right putting ourselves especially on offense around Jaden with guys that have have had like I've mentioned a lot of success in our veterans leaders as well and really can put Jaden in a great spot to lead us you know as as a rookie quarterback um even with Tyler up front at Center um and so I don't know what the outcome's going to be but I'll tell you this man I'm super excited for what we've been seeing at practice and what we've been putting together because we've been putting in the results we I mean putting in the details putting in the time to make sure that the results can hopefully be what we desire we can't control results but we control our inputs you know and that's what I'm all about it's it's about it's about getting better continue to stay on the rise and so I can give you that I can give you we're going to give everything we can to make sure that we're winning games out there and putting our best foot forward 1% better every day awesome that's all we can ask for man I appreciate you man it's been so cool it's nice meet wifey man you know you got moves to make go explore the city a little bit Austin thank you so much for your time brother thanks for having me on Sir appreciate it command his family our next man up is somebody extremely special nine years in the NFL over 11,000 allpurpose yards with 80 touchdowns two pro bowls went to the U played here in Washington now if you hear this brother's name you think of Washington when you hear Washington you think of this brother's name our next man up is no other the running back Clinton poris Clinton how you doing bro good man what's going on oh man happy to have you here man this these are exciting times and bro we we saw you on the sideline of our our last preseason game at the crib it was commanders field now it's Northwest Stadium how' it feel to be back on that field man I saw you got a lot of love man it's always good to be back in that Stadium man you know I think it bring back so many memories and then just um the the feeling you know the the smell of football The Fall season the fans everything that we do it for uh the stuff that you kind of miss when you retire you know um not even a competition it's just the the love that you get from the people so uh anytime I step on that field it's always special and I saw you had your kids with you man you brought the faman with you you know a lot of times when we're doing these things and we're in it and our kids are watching us do it it's normal to them they don't realize how special their parents are the things that we're doing do your kids realize how special their dad was and like really what it is when they step on that field with you man you know I think it's getting to that time now that they're involved in sports and they're having their moment you know um for to leave the field you know they're juniors being recruited uh to leave the field and bring them to NFL State uh Stadium I think the encouragement just to see like oh this is what it's like you know I think that was great for them so uh to be able to have them to bring them along you know when when they're kids you kind of want them shelter from it right but that they're getting into their own and at the point of this could be you you know and and the next year or two you know you stepping on College Fields and uh receiving a reception just trying to make sure you understand like all this goes with it it's not just on field you know you got to be the people's person you got to be for your fans you know like um to see that 26 Jersey throughout the stadium and is like like people don't even know you there but like hey man you know what nice Jersey let me sign that or see that or that 89 you know like it's just one of those like we 10 15 years removed from doing anything and you're still getting the love so uh just trying to teach them how to deal with people how uh to appreciate the fans how to make sure the fans know going above and beyond taking pictures signing some autographs like you know like just comes with it man that's great to hear and I'm glad you're getting the flowers you deserve because again man like if you ask me about Washington growing up I'm thinking about Clinton poris off the rip or Shawn Taylor right so like that's how heavy your name was and that's how much you did for this fan base let's talk about The Vibes and the energy of the actual like facilities and the players and the coaching staff you were around for a few coaching staffs you got to see a lot of things how is this time different because we've heard from all of the legends about the energy is just different the energy is just different how has it been different for you I think in talking to the players you know talking to Jonathan Allen um talking talking to Crowder uh the expectations you know understanding what's expected of you having it clear it's already laid out these are the standards you know uh you got a standard this is what we abide by this is what we do and getting it done so uh when you don't have that standard when you don't have that uh discipline when you don't have that that identity I think it's harder for players you know cuz everybody kind of in in chaos and creative and all of a sudden you got a voice in in coach Quinn you got a new ownership group with a different Vision um you got you got so many intricate pieces that want to see you win you know just the energy for the city to be back in position of like exciting you know um to have energy to want to be at the stadium uh with it being no distractions and just about football you know I think um it's been quiet for a couple years and now it's like switching over to it's about football at the end of the day wins and losses and you want to see a winning product and I think what helps with that excitement right is a rookie like Jaden Daniels having a rookie quarterback like that that could come out and just be dynamic what have you seen from Jaden in your own eyes and what have you heard from you know coaches former teammates about Jaden danels well I I think when you look at J Daniels just his past uh his path to the NFL you know um I I saw him at Arizona State then I see him at LSU you know to actually be a fan to see the progress to see the work you put in uh how your how your teammates started Vi at Arizona State um compared to the appreciation and love you got at LSU uh the elevation it took you know how you lifted the team uh and carried a carried a story franchise you know um then you go out and you win the highman and um all of a sudden you're second pick in the draft you know you come out in the draft with a lot of quarterbacks you kind of jump you know uh jump through the hurdles I thought he was the best quarterback uh in college football so to be able to land him and put weapons around him without the distraction I think his playmaking ability and all that uh speak for itself you know having an opportunity to speak with him on the sideline the the advice I gave him I said man this city would love you just go out and perform this city would love you um you don't have to get into a back and forth you don't have to listen to the naysayers go out and perform the city the city I love you and you know I think he was he was really receptive uh to that advice I mean when it comes to Rookies I don't know if any rookie came into the league and had an impact like what you did right running offensive rookie of the year when you came in talk about that advice you gave to Jaden what advice would you give to Rookies as a whole on being able to be successful and find success in that first year in the NFL man you know like for me coming in as rookie I was a second round draft pick and that created the biggest chip on my CH Pine you know a lot of these kids don't have a chip they don't have it's I made it you know I made it you haven't made a play for me going in second round was like a slap in the face seeing four guys going in front of me that I felt like you gotta be kidding you know uh and go out and put the body of work together you know it it was like one of those um animosity like okay every team I play I got to make sure they understand they should have drafted me I gotta make them wish um you know what we messed up we should have took this kid and you know that's what I set out to do it it was all just man I'm proving people wrong you know for two years I'm proving doubters wrong I'm proving haters wrong all the people who say oh this kid should have went in front of him or oh it was a second round pick that used to fuel me so I think for guys now you got to find something to fuel you you got to go out and compete a lot of these guys is just hey man I'm here I'm getting this paycheck you know I've arrived compared to playing for the name on the back of the jersey that used to mean something like you wanted foris to be a household name you know I think seant T wanted Taylor to be a household name Santana wanted MOS to be a household name it wasn't about the paycheck we were all get to paycheck like all right we got this check now what you know what I mean so I think you just be honest with self when it comes to uh playing football a lot of us just like oh man I you know I played today well I caught a pass the hell you play receiver they throw the ball that's the standard you know like I don't want to just be average I want to be above above you know I want to be household name and in order to become a household name especially that young right it's not just the chip on your shoulder it's also the people around you that are giving you that game giving you that advice helping show you like hey man listen stay focused on the main goal who were those people that helped inspire you that helped lead you and just gave you game while you were youngster oh man for me I had the uh I had the pleasure of being at the U and then going to the Broncos so at the U I think everybody big dog was was Edge you know then when you play with guys the Dan Morgans the the uh Santana the Reggie Wayne and Jeremy Shak and Andre Johnson like you kind of pick it up then when you get to the NFL I got Rod Smith I got Shannon sharp Terrell Davis like uh uh Al Wilson Ian Moy you know you had so many players Delta O'Neal like you had so many leaders that came off of a Super Bowl team so they were used to winning um they knew what the standards was they knew what to expect so it was easy for me to like fall in you know people always ask like what was the difference in in you and Denver and you and DC and I I'm like DC I had to grow up DC be the fa you know I was the face of the team I'm caring the organization it it's kind of like year three I get this opportunity and my expectations change like you're the face of an organization in Denver I'm like 15th on the totem pole you had so many guys there from you know veterans that were leaders that had been in this community that had won championships Brian greasy you know you fresh off of Elway TD still around like Eddie mcaffrey like you talking about class X you got all of these guys and then you come to a situation it's kind of like I got to take what I learned and bring it here but everybody forget like I'm 22 years old when I yeah and you talk about that Denver to Washington transition let's talk about that for a little bit because you got traded it was a big trade probably one of Denver's biggest trades when you ask the fans what goes through your mind when you hear that news you know two years you're killing it out in Denver then you get traded man what's the first thing you think about when you hear that news Denver biggest trade I think is still one of the the NFL's biggest trades you know yeah for sure me for Champ Bailey and and what turned out to be Tatum Bell I thought that was huge because I was a Champ Bailey fan you know growing up Champ Bailey uh Charles Woodson were really like the last two going both ways College time so everybody uh kind of had that that Vision like boy I want to be like champ I want to be like like wood like and then to get traded for him of course it's an honor you know um and then everybody look at the careers like oh well Denver W to trade or you know however it went man I I would never say that you know I think the impact on the game I think it worked out for both um for for what he took to Denver for what he did in in Denver uh to be able to go out was great but I think what I did in DC what I was asked to do in DC um the development I got to to how to honor of playing for Coach Gibbs like man I was to go from Shanahan to Gibbs you can't Shanahan is up here you know it's hard to find a better Coach and then you go to Coach Gibbs who uh probably one of the most humble winnest people in life of all time you know so uh I thought it was great and you hit the ground running literally you got here man I don't think anybody has had a debut for Washington like you had first Carry Ed it 64 yards to the crib take us back to that moment man because again you're you know you have these expectations put on you that you said right you're here to be the face of the team you're here to be this leader and then you go in house it like that man take us back to that moment man you know I just I I think when you look at the lus when you look at Chris uh Chris samels you look at Lavar you know just the team coming together that was a moment um like the momentum that carried over from that first play it was just hey man here go my debut to Stadium rocking like man think you know these people don't know who I am you know like these people think oh man we just lost a great what you did but you didn't you didn't get no no shabby player in return it was one of those like let's make make our stamp and everything open up you know the old line um that thing open up and it was just like oh here here it go you know you couldn't have uh drawn that up I don't think anybody uh in their right mind could have been like hey man this this is gonna happen you know and to uh take it to the house just to see the reaction like if you look at the camera view of that like it's Rocky you know what I mean um how often do you get that and that's gonna always be an iconic play you talk about an iconic moment like that but you had a lot here in Washington what is your favorite memory when you sit back and look about your time with Washington what is one of your favorite memories that you can share with us man that phone call on draft day to get shant T um I I think that tops anything that I've done on the field you know just that that steadiness hey shant T shant T we need shant um and in for to happen you know I think um for that to happen and then we go out in in the phone call to get Santana um just those moments the stuff that you don't see wasn't really on the field but once we start taking the field when we're coming out of the tunnel uh and you just got you know which we had more guys but just at the end of the day we knew hey man it's going to come down to how we play like we car this we this thing go um and it was just that Bond you know when you think back or when you see it or uh when when people talk about it or discuss it it's like you can't mention one without the other you know and and not that's not often um you look at teams that won Super Bowls you have that but for a team that you know won one playoff game you don't so I think to create that bum was was really special you know that's one of those when you think of Troy Aman you like Michael Irving EMT Smith uh when you think of the Buffalo Bills you like uh Jim Kelly Thurman Thomas Andre Reed you know San Fran Montana young rice Roger Craig you know it's like it go hand in hand with winning um but most of the time when you think of the Skins unless you're thinking about the Super Bowl teams uh which which Gary and uh art Monk and all those guys Joe and you know just uh darl green it's us you know it us and it's hard to um change that even 15 years later you know uh Shanti died in 07 so 17 years later that's still hey we go hand in hand and CP all the sacrifices all the hard work you put in paved the way for so many others Shan Taylor as well all these guys that you mentioned y'all paved the way for this new era that is the Washington commanders and we have some tough dogs in the backfield with BR Rob and Austin ecka from the OG himself man how excited are you to see those two paired up because you know back in the day man you had to just be the Workhorse all carrying all the Downs now you see a different NFL where it's two guys working at tandem what do you expect to see from them well you know like it it's crazy because I felt like back in the day as a Workforce um when I think of the BS and and rock cartright uh Mike for what we did as a unit you know uh the expectations amongst us I feel like we were we were a group like our relationship like everything we were a group and then to go to see the form of the NFL where they it's kind of forced like hey everything is a tandem like I think we understood like here go my moment lead dog when I come out here go your opportunity but to not be selfish because I think Liddell still did his thing amongst me having you know the yards that I had Liddell when he got his opportunity came in capitalize or Iraq came in and capitalize so now it's kind of like this running back by committee and you don't really get the you don't get to grind it out you don't get to feel the the effects of the running game like we used to this ground and pound where you going to get consecutive Carri and you moving the chain and you know you getting the crowd into it so now it's kind of like every down you running on and off the field so you don't really get in simple so uh to be able to see BR Rob and and Austin come together you know you got to make this thing work it's not like Austin is just a third down back like right this of making plays and he's here to make plays so uh to be able to see them and how they're going to one two or play off each other um it's going to be exciting and then I mean you forgot we got Terry you know you got you got Jaden so you got uh Zack her you know like these these people are made plays in the NFL so you got weapons around you to go out and get it done and CP it's so cool to see you in this light man as the as the father as the OG as as the veteran man it's it's so cool to see this and talk to you and like any human being right we all go through our trials and tribulations right we all have life things that happen but you have been somebody that has said I am leaving my past in the past and I want to move forward that is something that all of us want to do but it's so easier said and done how have you managed to move forward in your life and and be a father be this OG vet for these guys man what is advice you can give to people that are also trying to just get past trials and tribulations man that's life you know if you have trials and tribulations in life you doing something wrong you know I think uh the the definition of Icon you know you think of uh the people you know the story The overcoming the adversity like you want to overcome you know like you don't want anything easy although you know some of the things I experien um of course I would love to erase but at the same time I'm not ducking no smoke I'm not dodging you know like it's part of life man and you know things went bad or things went good you know people people celebrate people celebrate you different you know so um for me it's just kind of one of those grounded stay level head above water um making sure you know that the Next Generation the younger generation uh however I can help them avoid to do it you know um everything else is like man a lot of people look at it as hey man you know what he dealt with this I look at myself as like the standup in visual because the stuff I dealt with I shouldn't have been dealing with and I had nothing to do with but at the same time to be able to save face to be able to to look yourself in the mirror like I'm a standup individual you know what I mean I'm a strong individual I'm Laura Mississippi bred born and ra so I'mma walk through hell hey Dash gasoline on me man until that last breath I'mma keep doing it CP man I believe you in that man and thank you for being such a stand up guy and taking the time with us and of course on that note what do you got going on man what are you working on what what are things that people can follow and and support you man you know um myself L Fletcher Nate Clemens Antoine B uh Dr Marty Connor we got a youth uh a youth movement uh going on here in the Carolina Carolina Prospect um got about 25 to 27 kids that were trying to help get in college um I mean these kids are blowing up right in front of our eyes you know we we take these kids of college uh kind of hand deliver them to coaches and this ain't caught on fire in one year you know we went from uh zero offers and uh zero Stars so we got a couple couple four stars about 8090 offers um amongst the group in one year uh I think that's been outstanding and then you know out by Dallas airport we're gonna drop this Taco chinos should be open November so man we GNA do our thing man come out and support uh we gonna figure out how to get involved with the team maybe get one in the stadium so uh taco Sunday instead of Taco Tuesday so uh look forward to that man and just keep on vibing hey CP man I live right next to IAD so man I'm hoping I can get some some free tacos man definely can get some free tacos all right CP I appreciate you man thank you so much for your time again man we're so happy to have you back in the fold man don't be a stranger it's great to see you man and uh good luck with all your endeavors and yeah man talk to you soon hey all right man take care appreciate you commanders family our next man up is somebody extremely special that took the time out of his busy schedule to come kick it with us he's driving through the hills of Connecticut so don't judge him for his bad service but we got a very special NFL Insider as our next man up commanders family our next man up is no other than NFL Insider one of the best to ever do it Mr Adam shef Adam we appreciate your time sir thank you for having me I appreciate it thank you oh man this is great I mean we're getting you in one of the busiest times of year for you there's a lot of things moving on I can tell you got that phone buzzing right now so we appreciate your time but I had have to give you a little walk down memory lane real quick because we actually got to work together a few years back when I was at ESPN as a PA and you were always so kind and nice and so professional so I just wanted to start off by saying thank you and it's great to see you again BR thank you me I appreciate it and uh it's great to be with you today yes sir and you have been a busy man especially with the commanders it seems anytime we have something breaking Adam schfer is the one on the case what has it been like from you seeing this offseason unfold for the commanders well there's been a lot of change obviously when you change the coaching staff when you change the front office and then you change the quarterback those are the most important positions in an organization and the commanders you went three for three there in terms of making changes so they brought in some people that I think have a chance to be really good uh Dan Quinn is very well respected very well liked Adam Peters has got a great reputation as the general manager has the chance to do some great things for the commanders and and if Jaden Daniels is what they hope and think he is then rocket ship to the Moon because that's where it all starts you have to have the quarterback and if they've got the quarterback and that franchise is going to be said you know I imagine it would be a little bit like an G3 came in as a rookie before he got hurt everybody was really excited he played well went into the opening game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans and lit them up lit them up and led the commanders Redskins to an upset Victory and obviously you guys are hoping now that jayen Daniels can do the same and Adam like you said right I'm here and I see it but you you're on the national media you have gotten to see all of these different nval teams you're covering them every single day so in your perspective where are the commanders at right right now and what do you expect to see from them this season you know again I well I'm expecting Improvement and the question is how much improvement right and I think anything is possible in Washington this upcoming year I think there's G to be vast Improvement and look the roster has holes it's a new regime the new regime just took over it's G to take some time but it it it feels like with the three main pieces that they've assembled that we talked about that you're on the path to building what you want to build that's that's what it feels like to me and you've seen so many different rookie quarterbacks come in and come out with a lot of expectations what have you seen so far from jayen Daniels that makes you think you know what he might be the one I haven't seen enough of him to be honest with you you've seen more of him than I have I've seen him in a preseason game um so again I just know what other Personnel people were saying to me during the draft process I had a couple of people whose opinion I respect independent of each other both say to me that they felt like Jaden Daniels had a real chance to be Lamar Jackson 2.0 now that doesn't mean he will be but it means he's got a CH to be and sports is about memories and it's about Hope and there's hope that Jaden Daniels can be exactly what other people believe he can be which is Lamar Jackson twooter now if he is that if he is what can this team do and the answer would be anything anything if he's that good but we don't know that yet we're waiting to see and that's the uh exciting intriguing part of the upcoming season and we'll get a good taste of that in week one when we head over to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers what do you expect to see from that game and do you feel Tampa Bay is the proper test for a rookie or there will be still more questions because Tampa Bay isn't that you know Green Bay Packer team that's that Premier playoff team that that games in Tampa is it not yes sir any road game for a rookie quarterback is going to be tough to open with so Jaden Daniels is gonna have all but again and I don't know how it's gonna work if he is what they think he's gonna go out and ball and and what are we gonna see like that's one of the great exciting questions of week one right so uh we'll see how that works out and and we're going to let you go cuz we know you're busy we know there's a lot of breaking news coming up but you are Mr breaking news so if you had to just give us a guess on what moves you see the commanders making in the near future what would you say that would be well they just made a ton of them right today they signed Noah Brown the former Texans wide receiver who I been to like I think that guy can make plays he's going to join their active roster they needed some receiver help and they get it in Noah Brown um they traded John Ridgeway the defensive tackle to the Saints in a late round pick swap uh they traded Jan doson last like they've been busy and active like I you know you you can't make all these moves every single day so um they've made a lot of moves they're gonna continue to make more moves and they're GNA keep trying to build this the right way Adam thank you so much for your time we appreciate you giving us a national perspective from a true NFL Insider Adam I hope I talk to you soon good to see you again thank you PR me I appr should have a great season all right you too have a great one enjoy your rest of your day thank you my friend take care let me say he scratching so nice got to hear it twice [Music]