Martavis Bryant talks about how weed affected his NFL career, second chances, his support system

Intro I'm marav Bry I'm chopping it up [Music] with got all right we got chopping it up with buck this week I have Martavis bran Martavis played at Clemson I remember covering you man when you were there you had you had guys like Sammy Watkins DeAndre Hopkins y'all have some guys going now I also think Taj Boyd wasn't he the quarterback for you for a little bit he was yeah yeah welcome man it's good to have you on this week thank you fa yeah so Martavis talk talk to me a little bit I mean you went to Hannah High School which is in Anderson everybody think knows that's the home of radio we've had a great program there a lot of good players tell us about your experience growing up in South Carolina and playing at Hannah High School um it it was I started playing ball when I was six years old you know and and the reason that I had to actually go to T is because my high school like closed down when I was sophomore in high school so I had to transfer to Tana okay which high school was that uh C Falls School it had closed down my sophomore year so my coach who was Kenyan Fouch actually got me to go up to T and start playing that and I played my last two years there before I went to college so you went to hardgrave Military Academy and then you transition over to tson tell us a little bit about hardgrave and how that recruiting process went once you got there oh it was it was a struggle at first you know that's my first time being away from my mom you know being in a single parent home being raised by her you know I used to be around every day and that was the first actual time I really got to Bea from and it was a tough adjustment at first you know you're not allowed to have cell phones and it's it just strict rules right like military yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah correct well I've heard they they do a really good job them and Fork Union but it is strict and you have to follow that so when you were going to Clemson or getting recruited with there other schools that were recruiting you besides uh Clemson I committed to Clemson when I was a freshman in high school and I think a lot after I committed as so early as a freshman that's when I really started getting a lot of offers and Al scho picked up more offers from um Ben hard okay okay good so tell me about your time at at Clemson His time at Clemson I mean you know you had three years there I can remember when you were coming in as I was calling games they you everybody was talking about this kid Martavis Bryant you know big physical guy can go up and get the ball what was it like for you walking on that campus and seeing some other guys that were future nflers like you wanted to be it was a eye opener knowing to that I wasn't the only guy good at what he does you know he had some Alpha he had other alha right so you have to work like those guys does but it was a great competition and know everybody supported each other I had a great time playing with those guys who took you under their wing to His mentors at Clemson kind of show you the ropes because each program I went to you laa and I had the same thing happen to me who was the guy or guys that kind of took you under their wing and said hey we G we're gonna show you how to do this it was Andre branch and Geron Brown okay those two guys did did a good job of bringing me along you know because you know that first day of college it's something serious you know it's a lot going on you gota learn how to manage school and football tell me about that what was First day at Clemson that first experience like walking out on the Clemson field practice field you've been the you've been the guy I mean you you committed as a freshman you got all these offers I always ask people that that first day or that first week what was it like I had a lot of jitters to be honest with you you know you confident in yourself but you stepping on to college you know it's a whole different thing from high school so I was nervous but you know after the first couple weeks we got going you know everything seem to pick up along yeah and that's the interesting thing you just said it it's nervous when I was never nervous when I played I would worry and I didn't happen a lot but I'd get worried because I'm thinking I got to have something right to get that juice correct you got to be a little wory a little nervous so you s freshman Sophomore vs junior year sophomore year you had some pretty good success but your junior year was your breakout year what was the difference between your sophomore season and your Junior season what made you just kind of catapult yourself and really become that next level guy it was really the opportunities that we was getting you know um playing with Sammy and playing with DeAndre so many opportunities You Gonna Get You know Sammy was a a freshman allamerican so you know just taking advantage of opportunities to be honest with you and um I think I had I was struggling at first in school like my first first year so you know coach s used to bounce on like saying if you do good in the classroom it'll transfer over to the field at first I ain't really buying good what he was saying but when I started doing it then everything started going good for me you know was the position coach when you Jeff Scott first got there or during your time there who who coached you Jeff Scott okay y so Jeff Scott end up going off becoming a head coach Tony Elliot was on that staff as well right yeah you guys had and that's been the thing with Clemson I tell people after watching them for so many years here in the Carolinas you've had consistency in coaches and the players you guys bring in all kind of buy into the program that they have there tell us a little bit about Jeff and what he was able to do for you as a as a receiver um he brought us he taught me how to read defenses he taught us how to work in practice you know with kween being a receivers coach and he been our head coach so he used to be big on us you know and U yeah he was a great coach to be honest with you you know yeah well the other thing that that Sammy Watkins that strikes me too is when you talk about that Sammy Watkins I can remember as a freshman watching him his ability to run routes and when he got to the top of the stem break down I mean he would fool so many guys even at the next level what were some of the things you learned from him jiren Brown and DeAndre while you were there just to help help you at the next level well Samuel was one of those guys our freshman year he came in already knowing that Playbook already that's what he did he spent a lot of time into studying you know and we never we always roommates so we ever never knew what he would be doing in the room but he was sitting there studying the whole time and it showed on the field you know as he started playing you know things just started happening fast for him Jon was just that the savy veteran just to be around he he knows the whole game you know coaches trust him and DeAndre was just unbelievable I know I played against him in high school oh DeAndre Hopkins DeAndre so special I mean everybody knows he can catch the rock he runs routs he's a dog he'll fight you that's that's the one thing I liked about all of y'all coming through I could just tell you know hey you gonna compete if you're gonna be at Clemson as a receiver during that time you had to compete right what was it about DeAndre that made him what you saw every single day in practice ball skills and he wasn't the fastest guy in the world but he knew how to create space and get open and and anytime the ball was in hend he catching the ball yeah yeah well good man so that takes us to the Steelers you get drafted in the fourth round you're you're going in your rookie year you had a nice year three starts played in a few games tell us what the experience is from college to then the pros I feel like it was I feel like it wasn't an interrogation it was just more of an interview just like for any other job that you do but I had to meet with all 32 teams so I had a lot of interviews wow yeah so when you met with all 32 it wasn't back then because I know for us there was no time limit they didn't give you it was no 10 minute thing you could be there 20 minutes you could be there an hour right who kept you the who kept you the longest uh I would I would say Detroit wow anything that out out of the ordinary that they ask you I mean I know some people have had some of the craziest things what was the craziest comine question for you uh they just asked me about certain stuff that happened in college that I they know anything about I'm like wow how you know that that's crazy it wasn't nothing bad though but yeah they be figuring out everything they come with questions that you would never thought they knew nothing about I told people I didn't know I was NFL Experience hurt until I went through the medical and they found things on my body I was like I forgot I heard that and they oh when you got to the Steelers well honestly my welcome to the NFL store where to the NFL not story to the NFL was was kind of smooth it wasn't a hard transition for me because I had already been in Clemson you know they was teaching us the business and when I got to the NFL I really learned how to treat it as a business early early you know and not way too late to do it and you know my first six weeks I didn't even play as a rookie you know um I was on practice squad you know I my shoulder and I had Todd Haley who was a tough offensive coordinator you know so I had yeah hey to getting your stuff won he yes so he he he really taught me how to develop some tough skin when it comes to like buying into football coaching and everything yeah you know what I like Tyrod Taylor about tyd though I've been around him a long time and I know you know I've known him at a distance it was never malicious you know some coaches you know when when their dog cussing you and you're like that ain't coming from a good place I always thought that he just because he cared and he could see it in you trying to get it out did you feel that too it was the same thing he just trying to bring it out of you but he got different ways of doing it but once you buy into what he's saying you know he becomes your best friend he's a cool guy man to this day I got mad left but you it's Suspension interesting that's where you said it was an easy transition but you were suspended in 15 for four games what was it that put you through that what what made you go down that path because you you you you're on the right path things are going well what happened well honestly I got got popped you know when I was a rookie you know I passed the um the combine test I didn't know when you get drafted you know it's another test right there you know so that set me back ahead right there and me not really feel understanding the drug program are taking it serious at such a young age are really like detrimental to what I had going on in my career that's NFL drug policy interesting now Martavis because you you bounced and you played at different places you're trying to get back in the league and I understand that but the policy has changed and I know you were reinstated you had a chance to come back and play what is it now when you got reinstated because it's totally different now I mean they don't test for certain things in particular marijuana because cannabis is a part of heal I mean they're trying to use it in different ways for guys that have pain and other things have has the league reached out to you about that because they know you know it seems like they do that with guys that are trying to come back or have you had any specific conversations with them about that I mean only conversation I used to have was was with um couple of the executives that work through the drug program you know I had a couple STS that even though the rules have changed I still had to follow to get back in and I still have to follow to stay in you know what I'm saying it's just because they change they can't suspend you no more for to get rid of you but it still like find and certain things that they does so you still have I still have a protocol that I have to go by what would you do if you What would he do if he got a second chance get the chance to get back what is it that you want to I mean because this is your story and I know um hell of a player you may plays but now it's on the other side it's always harder what do you want to tell people about Martavis Bryant that's different than it was when all that was going on you know I had to go through some dark times you know the four five years out of the league was it all smooth and glammer like people think it was he took four years off he came back no those was some tough times that I had to get to you know and but all I want is the opportunity to prove myself again you know I did it at such a young age now yes I'm 32 but I don't have a lot of wear inter Care on my body and I still know how to play the game of football at the highest level all I need is opportunity I'm going to take advantage of everything and do what I supposed to do what did you do to get What did he do to get himself mentally into it yourself mentally into it because I I made that transition and I tell people it's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life and I you know I kind of when I decided to walk away you still think man that I make the right decision you have all those things for you what was it that that Darkness to get you to the light man like not having a secure home yes I got my mom home to go to but you know I haven't been staying at home since I 18 years old so for me it was like going from couch to couch not having a sustainable place to stay every day not knowing how I'm gonna feed myself even though I made money you know what I'm saying the money come the money goes you know especially you don't do the right things with it at a young age so it was a really eye opening for me to like you know this is not how I supposed to be living this is not how it's supposed to be doing so it really was a overnight type thing for me you know one night just woke up and was like you know what I'm Chase I'm chased back after it again you know yeah yeah and you mentioned His mom your mom a couple of times what what role and part of this A Mother's Love is you can't compare it I'm I'm an only child so I can understand that but what is it that your mom has meant to you throughout this battle to get back into the league just as supporters everything to be honest with you you know um being raised by a single parent and seeing her go to work every day even when her bones and body hurt it really know ain't no excuse for me you know what I'm saying and now at this age you know she got a little bit of health problem so she really needs me you know and plus I have three kids so I got all three all four of them depending on me you know and I have I like the pressure so it really just a big motivational fact for me you know what I'm saying yeah and and from a His support system support standpoint do you need tough love supportive love I mean like who has been a sounding board for you that has is one of your one of your boys that's still playing somebody that's been close to your coach who's been there to kind of keep you going cuz it ain't easy as you know who who actually got me to come back into football was DeAndre Hawkins he called me up one night you know he text me he was like you know I might have this opportunity for you you know that's when um the head coach of the Titans last year was there you know he was like come out to Arizona come train with me you know couple weeks or whatever get yourself together and uh I might have opportunity for you you know so I end up doing that and I stuck with it and you know I'm sign to the Cowboy yeah now what are the prospects right Prospects now I know Camp is going on and and and you and I both know one or two guys goes down people are looking for you so who who are some prospects and what are you doing to stay ready to for that opportunity man honestly I don't really care where I go you know I would love to play in Carolina be close to home you know play for the home team you know have my family come up and watch me but opportunity is opportunity man especially with the NFL you know any opportunity you can take you just got to take advantage of it and you know just been running working out every day stand Focus you know I talk to TD sometimes you know who really close to me it been helping me out sometimes I get frustrated with the process but I know it's a weight game so I just gotta keep myself mentally focused and focused on what I needed to get done and make sure I'm ready to go when I get the opportunity so I can see the moment you know how are you paying those favors Paying it forward forward like I know wherever you're working out you may have some young kids is that you're trying to tell Hey listen to me cuz I've been there and I want you not to have to F walk through the shoes that I've had to are there any any you don't have to name names but are there some young kids you've been trying to ment coach and develop yeah some young kids you know when I was um in Vegas a week ago um I had to go out and talk to some kids you know who just not starting to get into football at such a young age and I'm telling them to start now you know because you you gonna pay for it later so put in now so you so you can reap all your Awards later and just to take everything serious your training serious you know kids at they young age they don't quite get like the techniques and everything but that's big you know because the techniques that they use at that age we still use them today and it still works you know people don't seem to realize like everything that works back it's still works to this day so the game hav't changed it all is't that funny when you I love the AHA moments or the light bulb moments for the kids when you're telling them something and when they finally figure it out it's like this is what he was saying right yeah yeah well I mean you know when you think about it also too what role you mentioned climpson and being a part of that program what role has Dabo and his staff or any of those guys have they played any any role in trying to help you get back to where you're going um coach SW has been very supportive of me to be honest with you um to this day he still send us uh letters every day in every year in the mail about our degree and everything you know and I told him that I was going back into football he said man it's awesome anything you need I'm here for you so coach always been in our corner he always been very supportive of what we do yeah who who else has played a role besides your mom any has it been any coach any anybody in your family that has also been in your corner cuz I remember I was out of football for a year and man it's tough tough while you're trying to get back in there really just just been those people I named to be honest with you and myself myself is is the big part me talking to myself and a lot of deep conversations with myself you know to get it together so that's that's what it's been man and it's been a rocky road but it's it's it's a journey and I'm happy to be on a journey compared to how it was four or five years ago when I took this time off you know watching guys yeah you bring up Enjoying the journey a good point enjoying the journey I think a lot of people think they want to get to a certain place but there's no such thing as a platform of the journey is where you have to go tell me about that now how you are able to embrace it versus when this first started this some tough basically right right um just analyzing everything in my head you know some things you can't control and realizing that everything in my control but with things that I can't control to make sure I do the best possible thing that I can and put myself in the best situation regarding no matter what the circumstance is so that's been the biggest thing for me to be honest with you yeah have you written yourself or if Advice you could tell yourself advice for five years ago what would you tell yourself five years ago that you know now to reach out and not try to do it by your own do it by yourself yeah isn't that The hardest thing the hardest thing though that's the hardest thing in all this because for so long you've been a guy that could just go out there and do it athletically I can do it I I know I can do this but to make that admission is a really big step for you and I think that's really key who who are some of the guys that you look at now in the league when you watch I mean 64 210 25 whatever you are now but there's some big receivers who are the guys that just say hey he's doing it the right way or I I kind of can see that in myself you know I know I was there at one point right DK DK metov he's doing what he supposed to do he's doing he's doing his thing lot of similarities big physical guy able to go Explosive speed up and and high point and can run because you you got you fast when you playing yeah yeah four five 5 44 I mean I can't remember it was 4344 yeah yeah yeah see I knew you had explosive speed but I also say this too when you're a bigger guy that's more impressive because you know how hard it is to get get that moving right right yeah last last year for the Cowboys I was 230 wow so I Slamm back up to like I was my uh first four or five years playing in the league now back to 215 214 you know yeah I want to be that big man I just feel like I was a little bit sluggish you know so I finally cut back down on my weight again so I'm very happy about that what did you do to lose Losing weight that weight eating better or just what was it that you changed eating better fasting someday like a week I had did a week of fasting you know and um just eating better and just not eating after a certain time like I used to do you know just yeah start had to get on it really bad staying away from McDonald's Fasting and all the other stuff you know like all the time maybe every now and then right you cheat that yeah and and I don't it's funny how people say that it they think it's easier to drop 15 pounds you know it's not it feels good especially the older you get the harder it is to do so well you you speaking to the choir one thing John Lucas I did want to ask you when you went when you were out of the league you went down to Houston you spent some time with John Lucas I'm from Houston originally okay yeah Lucas has done a really really good job with guys what was his impact on you and have you kept in touch with with Luke at all I haven't talked to him in a minute but when I was there we had some deep conversations you know I used still be with him every day you know every place I had to get to he was taking me you know he really taught me a different way of that's when I really started to learn how to think differently about certain situations I was going through instead of blaming myself I would always blame other people and that's when I started taking accountability for myself been around him you know yeah yeah I mean he he he was a great influence and a great name in the Houston area for for that and also his ability to come back from the things that he did as well well we're going to take a short break we're going to come back we'll be right back on chopping it up with B join us each week and the new celebrity guest on chopping it up with buck brought to you by Thin energy thin energy.com mavus where are you working out right now to stay in shape and and get ready for your next opportunity I'm down in Miami right now um getting used to being humidity get used to being humidity again you know some nice sweating so it's good it's been hot down here it's been some good training uh I got recruited by the canes and I know a lot of them cats I'm from Houston but Miami is a different kind of humidity yeah it is it is you working out with a a a good group of guys got a good like a couple um people I used to train with when I was coming out for the combine you know I started training out here when I came out of college to go to Pro so you know a lot of familiar faces G around so many the people even so of the people who ain't in the league you know just hanging around some of the guys just been around football guys again you know yeah good stuff and you you said you don't care what team