April 26, 2025 • 32 mins
The Saturday Edition of the Good Morning Football Podcast begins with Former Green Bay Packers WR Donald Driver recalling his early memories of Aaron Rodgers. Can Jordan Love win a Super Bowl? Plus, Donald delivers a message to WR’s who expected to be drafted this week.
Tom Pelissero highlights an article he wrote about NFL Prospects, with most of the attention being drawn to criticism around Shedeur Sanders. How did the quote of one anonymous coach affect the Draft?
Alabama Head Coach Kalen DeBoers talks about his Crimson Tide program and how many players are headed to the NFL!
The Good Morning Football Podcast is part of the NFL Podcast Network
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good Morning Football is the production of the NFL in
partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good Morning Football, Welcome back to GMFP. You have to
imagine if there were physical pillars, many of which held
up Lambeau, this following name and our guest on this
show would be one of the group that holds that
building up. And the history that the Packers have is
not said without Donald Driver. He is a four time
pro bowler, a Super Bowl forty five champion, and he's
(00:43):
our friend of the show at GMFP.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
What's going on?
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Donald?
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Oh goodness, see you all.
Speaker 6 (00:49):
Great to see you.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
As I just mentioned, fourteen seasons in the NFL, perhaps
most importantly for Packers fans, all of which were spent
wearing a Green Bay jersey. But besides your playing career,
you have, your heart is in Green Bay. How amazing
is it that the NFL Draft is there this week?
Speaker 5 (01:06):
No, it's truly amazing.
Speaker 7 (01:08):
I think that's what everybody wanted to see, and now
we have it firsthand. And no one really knows the
area as well as we do as players. But it's
an iconic, historic place to be and so I was
blessed to play fourteen years there and some people don't
get that opportunity, but it's a place that's going to
be exciting to see the draft come there. It just
funny because I said, you know, I wish my son
(01:29):
would have been getting drafted this year because it'd have
been pretty cool to go back home where he was
born and raised. But he still has two years left,
so we'll see what happens.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Oh man, we got him on the big board. He's
got all the mock drafts are going to have driver.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
I love this.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
I love the ear on the show.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
So many years watching you, including Donald way back five
six seven, we look at the Aaron Rodgers that everybody
watches and talks about now. And you were there for
the origin story when he got drafted controversially to Green Bay.
What are your early memories, your first memories of Rogers
joining the Packers That.
Speaker 8 (02:02):
He was the elete.
Speaker 7 (02:03):
I think that was approved fact. He proved that, you know,
weekend and week out. I think his first rookie year,
he kind of just torched our defense in practice and
we kind of and you know, normally second team goal
against our first team defense, and he kind of lit
it up. And then I think we really saw when
he played we played Dallas, Brett gets injured. We're playing
Dallas in Dallas, and he almost back to win that game.
And I think at that point we knew that this
(02:24):
guy's career was going to be bright.
Speaker 9 (02:26):
Transitions from Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks are never easy.
Donald Luckily, the Packers only do it like once every
couple of decades here, from far to Rogers.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
You lived through that back in seven and eight.
Speaker 9 (02:38):
Then a number of years later it's from Rogers to
Jordan Love. Do you believe Jordan Love can do the
same thing those other guys did, win a Super Bowl,
win MVPs, become that caliber of Hall of Fame type quarterback.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Yeah, I think I think he can.
Speaker 7 (02:52):
I think that it was approved fact to be able
to say the Packers in the last whatever twenty years.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Have only had three quarterbacks.
Speaker 7 (02:58):
It's truly amazing, right, I mean to go from you know,
Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers and now.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
To Doing Love, doing up proved it.
Speaker 7 (03:05):
I mean, first year as a starring quarterback, take him
to the NFC Championship game, he loses that, then get
to get into the postseason again next year.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
I mean, sky's a limit.
Speaker 7 (03:13):
The guy are still young, still have a young group
of receivers, the team is young. I think it's just
an opportunity to take it to the next level and
they're just missing a small piece and you know, we
got to figure out what that is. And I think
you know Matt's going to do that in this draft
as well.
Speaker 10 (03:27):
Don you were a seventh round pick out of Alcorn State.
You turn that into a fourteen year NFL career, all
with the Green Bay Packers, might I add, which is
very impressive of you, their all time leading receiver. What's
your message to some of these young NFL hopefuls that
might go on that seventh round, or go on drafted,
or go a little bit later than they had anticipated.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Opportunities. I think that's the fun part.
Speaker 7 (03:46):
I mean me coming from HBCU, I think a lot
of people felt like we didn't play against the talent.
But when you look at some of the greatest players
that have played at HBCUs and now playing and play
in the NFL, they all Hall of famers, right, And
so this is a proven fact that you know, if
you get the opportunity, you know you have to make
the best of it. And for me, that was it.
You know, I felt like I should have been to
high in that year in ninety nine draft, but unfortunately
(04:08):
I didn't.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
And so you know, there's only one guy that.
Speaker 7 (04:10):
Has more stats tan yards than me and his name
is Torjope, And so that tails you right there, that
you know backwards, you've got to move forward on opportunities,
and this was my opportunity.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
And you nailed it.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Of course, it's a crazy thing with the Packers. They
have not drafted a wide receiver in the first round
since two It's been twenty three years. Why is that
and do you think that could change this year?
Speaker 7 (04:33):
I think it's always been we built in house, right.
I think you look at the Chalel level, guys come
in and have this opportunity and guys play well.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
Right for myself was one of those guys.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
You got Robert Ferguson, you get drafted, you got jvaon Walker,
you got Terry Lee, I mean everybody.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
It just happens.
Speaker 7 (04:47):
And so the Packers just feel like we've always built
it in house, and this has always been their tradition.
I don't know if that changes this year or not,
but we will see. I think we have a bunch
of young receivers that can step up and.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
Feel those boards.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
But you know, to this point, I think a lot
of people still question have they done that? Who's the
number one receiver? And we're hoping that we can get
that in that locker room. If not, then you got
to go in the draft and get it.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Donald, Can you help settle something for me? I am
born and raised in Minnesota, a native Vikings fan. Memories
of you coming to the building, We know the history.
I think the NFC North has the best rivalry across
all four teams. What were the rivalries like for you
when you were playing in Green Bay? And can you
compare it to now because the Lions are having a
(05:32):
moment now when we're constantly trying to make an argument.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
For the Bears.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Take us back maybe to your experience Packers team hate
that they have for other teams, and then what are
you seeing now within the division?
Speaker 7 (05:44):
No, I think you know, we've always called it the
Black and Blue Division for a reason.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Right, it doesn't matter what the record is. Every time
we play each other, it's a straight battle.
Speaker 7 (05:52):
And so we've proven that, you know, year in, a
year out, and so the practice have always been at
the top and you see Detroit last year proven that
they're stepping up to that plate. I think it's going
to be Chicago is always going to fall short every
single year, and then Minnesota.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
You got to give them credit stepped up.
Speaker 7 (06:10):
But you know, I think it's you know, you got
to keep the pieces together to make the run.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
And so we hope that we can get back on top.
Speaker 7 (06:17):
And win the Central and then at that point, you
guys can just sign and take them backseat to what
we do.
Speaker 6 (06:22):
That was perfect.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
Perfect.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So the next thing I want to ask you was
more about your family. So I too have daughters. We
are girl family. This is something that you and I
have in common. You are an advocate for youth sports
and empowerment, especially knowing that you have daughters within your family.
You have been named chief Motivation Officer for BSN Sports
Surge program.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
What is this about?
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Tell it?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Could you tell us about the future that you have
with this group?
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Yeah, this is an amazing program sur just going on
to that first year anniversary and with that, they made
me the chief motivation officer really to empower women to
play sports. As you know, me having two daughters and
then also having a son, you know, I can talk
to my son any kind wait and he understands it
and he moves on. Sometimes you have to talk to
your daughters in a different way and you have to
really sit down and educate them. I think sometimes as men,
(07:13):
we think we have the resources that we need, but
sometimes we don't.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
And so Surge is actually having this the resources now.
Speaker 7 (07:20):
Right, we want to empower girls to stand sports a
lead a healthy life. But and then the back end
of this, it's a free tool, right that we can
help you educate and develop coaches that they can understand
how to coach women in sports so that young women
don't get pushed out of sports at a very young age.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
I mean everyone that we know when girls.
Speaker 7 (07:36):
Get to pushed out of sports because of the coach,
and it's not because they don't have a love for
the game anymore. Seventy two percent males are coaches and
coaching women's sports, and so have to find a way
to be able to move forward with that and teach
these coaches how to have these herds to heart conversation
with these young women so that they don't get pushed
out of sports at a very young age.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
It's a great cause and you're a great spokes before
it's surge by BSN Sports. I love that Donald. Before
you go, we have one last question about ball and
specifically pickleball.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Dude, you love it, You're playing it.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It's all over.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Your social What is it about Donald Driver and pickleball?
This love affair that's going on.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
That I can I can still go professional in the sport.
Speaker 7 (08:18):
You know, I think so many people playing this game now,
you know, I think the football thing is over for me.
I think I am not trying to go back and
play it off any of that. I love challenging my son,
but I think the fun part about this is that
I get to play this game and doesn't matter.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
What age group you are.
Speaker 7 (08:32):
You can be the youngest, are the oldest and play
this game. For a very long time, I realized that
it really brings families together. And this has really had
brought out family together. My wife doesn't play golf as
much as I do, but this is what one game
she does love to play.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Excellence bringing marriages together, and you're continuing to bring the
heat within.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
The NFC North.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Donald Driver, everybody, thank you so much for coming on
and setting the stage before lambast the NFL draft.
Speaker 8 (08:59):
Thank you all so much for.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Donald Driver.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Look at them go good mom football.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Tom PALLISERA, let's have a conversation, shall we? He you
released an article on NFL dot com was it last night?
And I was just catching up with you about how
you do this approach every year. Set the stage for
the basis for this article one through thirty two in
the conversations that you had around the NFL, and then
we will tee you up on perhaps the juiciest part
of it.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Well, let's start with this. I'm not a scout or
a coach.
Speaker 9 (09:37):
I don't watch a lick tape because ultimately I don't
know what I'm looking at. So my process is every year,
because the quarterback is the most important position in the league,
if I talk to as many coaches, scouts, executives from
as many teams as possible and just try to get
a feel for how they view these guys, for how
they have them grouped together, for where they think they
might go, for their strengths, for their weaknesses, the positives
(09:58):
and the negatives, and there's usually.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Somewhere in there. There's going to be a complicated one.
This year, it certainly should or.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Complicated is a very excellent word to use. So let's
get right into Shador Sanders. Because everyone's opinion about Shador varies,
and especially when it remains anonymous, perhaps you are allowed
to share what you actually feel about the young man.
So you had a wide range of opinions. Can you
walk us through at least to start maybe the positive first?
Speaker 9 (10:24):
Well, yeah, let's start out with the fact that Shador Sanders,
he's the Big Twelve Conference Player of the Year, he's
the second team All American. When you talk to people,
what they see on tape is, as this executive said,
if you at just the wow throws, he's got probably
the best collection of those over the whole entire crop
when you look at it. We show his highlights all
the time here on NFL Network on GMFB. What you
(10:44):
see is Chador making plays and he's creating. But part
of the issue and some of the drawback here, and
you see it in this quote too, it's the play
within structure, it's the plane on time, it's just distributing
the football because ultimately he's not an elite.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Caliber athletic profile.
Speaker 9 (11:00):
He does not have an elite arm and so what
you see on tape is him, you know, running around
making plays. It's a lot harder to do that in
the NFL. So can you hone that in? Can you
get him to play on time? Can you get him
to play within structure of the offense that's going to
allow him to be successful in the NFL. That's one
of the big questions surrounding Shador Sanders.
Speaker 6 (11:19):
What else did you hear surrounding shaduor Sanders?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Because now these teams GM's coaches, they've had a lot
of exposure to him.
Speaker 6 (11:26):
What are some other opinions that you got.
Speaker 9 (11:28):
One of the things with Shadoor Sanders is he's got
a very unique background. Obviously, there's not many guys in
any NFL draft who grew up as the son of
one of the greatest.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Athletes literally in history.
Speaker 9 (11:37):
There's certainly not a lot of the guys who played
for their father all the way up through high school
and college. And so part of the concern with Shador
is just how is he going to do when he
gets outside of that environment. And to the extent that
teams wanted to find out some of those answers in interviews,
it didn't go great and I had numerous people tell
me things like he made you feel small in the interview.
(11:58):
He wants to dictate everything is one NFL assistant coach
is the guy who's been in the league for a
long time.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
That's the worst formal interview that he's ever been in.
Speaker 9 (12:05):
And then talked about some of the other things he
does hold onto the football, he does take the sacks.
There's body language things and concerns like that, and so
this is not to you know, rag on Shador Sanders.
It's just the reality that people wanted to get some
answers to those things. Yeah, the people I talked to
who met with Shador Sanders, and again it's not unanimous,
you know, but as one GM told me, it's gonna
(12:25):
be hard to get a consensus in every building. You
just gotta like the guy, and certainly you know there
were people within this process. It's not necessarily about the personality.
It's just about what are you getting. What are you
getting from somebody who has never played for anybody besides
their dad. As you can imagine, there's an accountability factor
that's a little bit different. You're not gonna bench your
kid if he changes a play and gets into the
(12:46):
wrong play. He's not gonna get ripped the same way
that another player would. And so there's some guys who
are going to thrive. You go back, and I think
of it this all right. I was on the Green
Bay Prescozet beat in two thousand and eight when they
took a guy named Brian Brohm, who had been projected
as potential number one pick. He slid all the way
down to the late second round. He had played for
his dad all growing up in through high school. He
played for his brother in college. The Packers made a gamble, Hey,
(13:09):
we think he's gonna spread his wings and fly when
he gets outside of the environment, and instead he completely crumbled.
He get beat up by a seventh thrownd pick Matt Flynn.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
They cut him. He started two games and he was
out of the NFL.
Speaker 9 (13:19):
Okay, that's the unknown when it comes to a guy
who just simply has never played in the type of
environment's going to be in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yes, it is a test for everybody, Kyle Brandt as
they hit the league in the NFL and they get drafted.
Speaker 6 (13:31):
Whether or not Shudur Sanders thrives remains to be seen.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Kyle, what do you think about all this that Tom
p put out last night.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
I think the piece is incredible.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
I actually read it this morning. I learned a lot
of things this morning that I haven't known in the
last six weeks. I'm talking about this draft and the
Brian Brohm part of it was just one fun little detail.
I'm in my feelings about this right now. Maybe it's
because the draft is tomorrow. Bring up the quote, bring
it up. The worst formul than they've ever been in
my life. He's so entireled horrible. Boy, he's not that
shut up anonymous coach. I'm so triggered as shut up.
(14:00):
This is not only anonymous. I think it's tasteless. I
think the timing is ridiculous. The worst formal interview I've
ever is it really?
Speaker 11 (14:10):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Or are you just going for a headline or maybe
have you not been in that many interviews in your
career this is the worst one ever. Or maybe maybe
the vibe that you set in the room was critical
and Shador picked up on that, and maybe he was right,
because the first second you could you betrayed the sanctity
of that room and went anonymously and started spouting off
(14:32):
about this player.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
He's so entitled.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
I see entitlement in a grown professional who was going
around anonymously destroying young athletes with very personal quotes, anonymously
as they're about to realize their dream and become professionals.
Do not listen to that quote. That quote is bukrap,
it's news, it's worthy.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
I hate that quote. Listen to Shador's.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Teammates who kept picking him up over and over as
he got the crap kicked out of him last year,
who don't have negative things to say about him, who
know him, who have been in rooms.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
With him, don't listen to this.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
He says he's not that good.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Well, maybe neither are you, anonymous coach, and maybe that's
why you're an assistant coach and not a head coach,
and you have been for a long time. I am
so triggered by this. I think it's nonsense. I love
the piece. It's getting us talking, it's part of the
Shader experience. But that anonymous, that personal, and that critical
of this timing is garbage.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
Oh we Kyle, I like it man.
Speaker 12 (15:28):
First of all, great piece, Tommy p Man, great job
man breaking stuff down, man, expert piece by you man.
Speaker 8 (15:34):
Seriously, but to your point.
Speaker 12 (15:36):
I don't necessarily agree with anonymous coaches, like put your
name on it. If you truly think that this was
a terrible interview, put your name on the number one.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
Number two.
Speaker 12 (15:45):
I've had some I've had a chance to be around
Shador at the Super Bowl. I was taping to Get
God podcast that I do with Beast Mode, and I
got a chance to be around Shador in his element,
around his people, and you know, kind of in a
relaxed environment. And what I can say is, the dude
is a leader. Like the dude is a force multiplier.
Like I always tell people, if Tom Brady was in it,
(16:05):
and I'm not compared to do it to Tom Brady,
but if Tom Brady was in his draft, he would
probably still go in the sixth round, right, because the
draft is all about, you know, explosive traits and things
and things like that. Honestly, if I'm a team picking
at the top of the draft, I want a quarterback.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
That's going to be a force multiplier.
Speaker 12 (16:23):
When I ranked the quarterback, Shador is my number one
quarterback number Why because the guy completes seventy percent of
his passes. The number one thing of a quarterback is
to complete the passes and Tommy Pete to your point,
I do not think all of the running around would
be good in the National Football League, but I think
the kid can play on time. Did you see his
offensive line in college?
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Like, did you see it? I mean it was terrible,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 12 (16:47):
And the kid made lemonade out of lemons. So at
the end of the day, I want to see Chador
do well.
Speaker 8 (16:53):
I don't care where he goes.
Speaker 12 (16:55):
I think he's a kid that can step in the
locker room and he's going to make everybody around him better.
And again, I think it's a lot of adults that's
evaluating he's athletes right now. It's just jealous of his dad.
And so we just got to call a spadea s.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Base, all right, So we are able to understand that
this is tom You're trying to be representative of the
entire conversation.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
You're right, Let's make.
Speaker 9 (17:17):
Clear it's the potit of the negative on every quarterback
in the draft. We're showing a couple of quotes here.
There's twenty two hundred words on Shador Sanders alone. But listen,
you're very rarely going to get a completely unanimous opinion
about anybody in the draft. Cam Ward is the clear
consensus number one. But even with cam Ward, if you
make enough calls, if you talk to enough people, you'll
(17:38):
hear concerns about how is he going to play, because again,
there's a lot of backyard in his game, and some
people compare it to Caleb Williams last year without Caleb
Williams elite arm. Now he's the one guy who projects
as a starter. But whether you're talking about Shador Sanders
or you're talking about Jalen Milroe, you're talking about Jackson Dark,
Tyler Shuck, there's positive and negatives on all those guys.
And that's where there's real variance in this draft in
(18:00):
terms of yes, cam Ward presumptive number one pick to
the Tennessee type. But that next group of four guys,
any of those guys, including Shur, could go in the first.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Any of them could slide entirely out of the first.
Speaker 9 (18:12):
The interview process, the background is so unique on Shadeur
that it just lends a different element to the conversation.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Understood, Kyle, tom tappan your experience and listen, it's a
day before the draft. I got the flamethrower out this morning,
because We've been talking about this for weeks and I'm
kind of sensitive about different things, but I'm passionate about
this stuff, like a lot of fans are watching, and
I think the reason I'm so riled up about the
anonymous quote about Shador Sanders is it's an easy target.
And I wonder if that same quote would go to
Shaduur Smith if his last name was not Sanders, Tom,
(18:43):
what do you get You've been doing this for years
and this year, you've been doing it for weeks and months.
What is your sense about a bias against Schadeur Sanders,
not the athletes.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
Not anything.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
It's just about like, ugh, all of that it that
comes with it, and Dion in primetime and diamond necklaces
and rap tracks and like, what is the sense of
that in the league or is it just no, he's
a really good player and we don't care about that
other stuff.
Speaker 9 (19:06):
I think that when it comes to Shador Sanders, and
based on my conversations, the sense I get is you're sorry.
Now let's talk about the player for a second here. Yes,
he was highly productive in college, but he plays a
style that's probably not going to work with his skill
set in the NFL because he's not the biggest guy,
he doesn't have the biggest harm. He is really tough,
he is really accurate. That is absolutely true, But you
(19:28):
have some of these other concerns about exactly how he's
going to play. And also there's things like, you know,
he plays for a former NFL head coach in Pat
Srber last year, and there are times again talking to
people within the league where he's changing place and things
are going wrong and he's not being held accountable the same.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Way other people would.
Speaker 9 (19:43):
I don't think it's a bias against Dion. There is
a reality too, and I mentioned this in the in
the story as well, the fact that you know, Dion
already has come out and anytime there's been anything remotely
negative said about Shador and this may happen again today,
Dion has weighed in and basically has put everybody on blast. Yeah,
there's a real concern with teams and listen, maybe they
(20:03):
should be more comfort in their jobs, maybe they should
be more confident, and that shouldn't bother them. But the
fact that you could have d On coming out there
and saying things if she door is not the starter
and making comments whether he's back channeling to try to
get the job. Those are real things. And again, this
is a this is a one of one type of
a situation. The greatest athlete we've ever seen and his
kid is a quarterback who, for whatever reason.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Is not the greatest athlete of all time.
Speaker 9 (20:26):
And that's one of the things that people are concerned
about in terms of translating his praises placed out of
the NFL.
Speaker 12 (20:31):
Right, what you got, Yeah, but it just seems like,
you know, if being an athlete was the prerequisite to
playing in the National Football League, that would be as
some guys just not playing. So you know, I understand
that should do it. Maybe doesn't have the genetic code
that his dad Prime had, but again, you just got
to look at the numbers, the proofers in the pudding.
Everywhere this kid has went, I mean, instant offenses followed,
(20:53):
you know, explosive plays have followed, seventy percent over seventy percent,
completion percentage has followed. What I will say is this, though,
I would be concerned bringing him in if he starts
off as in a backup role, because again, he's going
to have the locker room the minute he walks into
the locker room. There's gonna be guys in that locker
(21:14):
room that's gonna be attracted to Chadeur. That's gonna be
one to be around Shador and he's he's always been
in a leadership role, so I just if you bring
him in, he's gonna have to play pretty fast.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Inherently, this is why Tom does articles like this because
every position is important, but the quarterback is the headline
worthy one. There's eighteen prospects that you focused on in
your article. NFL dot Com go check it out.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Oh about Montana States Tommy Malotte.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Do it good football, Good money football.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
We're back on GMSB and time for the roundup, presented
by Roundup for Lines. It's the twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
It's here and some times it's most important to also
pay attention to guys and people and coaches that got
these players to the point where they are walking across
that stage behind us in Green Bay. This weekend, we're
looking right at Alabama. You hear about all these players
(22:18):
come out of Tuscaloosa every year, and in his first
year as a head coach, Kaylin Debor was awesome with
Alabama and he's on the show now GMFB coach high
guitar all time.
Speaker 8 (22:30):
Thanks for having me on. Good Morning.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Oh there's so many coaches, that's all right, more coaches
than us.
Speaker 6 (22:37):
That's how we like it. Coach, you got it. We
just mentioned him in the last segment.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
You've got three players here that are going to experience
this weekend together and Jalen Milroe, Johad Campbell and Tyler
Booker the awesome personalities.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Great guys. Can you just speak on.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
What those three did for your first year as a
head coach at Alabama and your organization you're building.
Speaker 11 (22:57):
Yeah, without a doubt. You know, it's a broken record.
Whenever people ask me about each of them individually, and
I go from one to the other and I say,
this guy is special as a person, it's the.
Speaker 8 (23:08):
Same thing for all three of them.
Speaker 11 (23:09):
They all have three you know, outgoing personalities that they
carry a smile on their face. But they're tenacious on
the football field and so very similar that way. But
obviously it's super excited about what they're going to bring
to the future, you know, not just for themselves, but
also continue to highlight what Alabama Football's done for them.
But they were instrumental in helping just be the glue
(23:32):
through a through a transition last year, and you know,
I'm excited for them, you know, one of their biggest fans,
that's for sure.
Speaker 8 (23:41):
You're always good at talking about your players.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
I'm just gonna ask you to talk about yourself a
bit for people watching at home. You had the task
of replacing Nick Saban, a man who had the championships,
man who has a statue, who is an icon. It's
such an overwhelming task to step into that role. How
did you go about it and how did you find success?
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Well?
Speaker 11 (23:59):
I think you just you understand what you're coming into
and it's a program that has just decades and decades
of success and there's instrumental people that have that have
taken it to greater heights. And Coach Saban obviously took
it to an unbelievable place. And you know, his his
mark is all over this building, all over this program
forever will be. And so just you know, you understand
(24:21):
that there's gonna be people before you, the understanding there's
always gonna be people after you, and I'm just privileged
to come in and try to continue to build and
you know, build on what the foundation is this program,
And obviously coach Saban was amazing during his seventeen years here.
Speaker 9 (24:38):
Cale and all my conversations with NFL coaches, scouts executive
leading up to this draft, one of the things that
jumped out at me was how highly people rate Jalen
Milroe as a runner, putting him in the same conversation
as guys like Lamar Jackson. Now, Lamar also improved a
ton of a passer after getting into the NFL. What
do you think about the comparisons in terms of the
running ability to some of the best we've seen, and
doesn't have that same developmental upside with his arm.
Speaker 11 (25:01):
Yeah, I mean as a runner, you know, I didn't
I didn't get a chance is to coach those guys.
Speaker 8 (25:05):
Obviously, but you watch the you watch you know, football,
and you see what they're capable of.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
I just know, speaking on me half of Jalen, he
was many times the greatest athlete on the football field,
and you know what he could do with the football
in his hands. We just had to make sure we
were giving him enough opportunities to go do that, you know,
making people miss. He could put his shoulder down and
he needed to and get those yards, but inside, outside,
(25:33):
it really didn't matter. You know, he's he could take
it the distance.
Speaker 8 (25:37):
I think.
Speaker 11 (25:38):
You know, as a defensive coordinator, you know if I
was in those shoes, you know you're kind of worried
every single play when the ball is snapped to make
sure that he doesn't get lose, not just move.
Speaker 8 (25:50):
The chains, but taking the distance.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Coach, We've had many many prospects on the show over
the last several weeks, and personally, I've not been impressed
with any of them more than I was with Jalen Milroll.
An incredible, incredibly sharp, eager, interesting guy. We absolutely fell
in love with him immediately. To that point, I want
you to bring us run and bring you into our
opening segment of our show.
Speaker 8 (26:10):
We just did.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
He's here, and he's here at the draft.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
He's attending the draft, and we, as football fans and
admirers of his, have some nerves about whether he may
be drafted or not. There's a lot of prognosticators who
do this for a living who say that Jalen Milbroll
will not be taken in the first round. It raised
some eyebrows when he chose to attend the draft despite
that how did it make you feel.
Speaker 8 (26:30):
About the decision.
Speaker 11 (26:31):
Yeah, I mean, I just know what Jalen's all about,
and you know, he appreciates every opportunity he gets, whether
it's on the football field, being around people who are
fans of his, supports of his He's going to give
everything he has.
Speaker 8 (26:44):
To those people.
Speaker 11 (26:45):
And I think, you know, just living life in general,
he got invited. This is an opportunity. And yes, you
don't know exactly. I mean, just like any other player,
you don't know exactly where you're going to go. But
these experiences are what you work to your entire life
for and I understand it can go different directions, but
you know, he's an enjoy this experience. And I think
there's also a piece where there isn't just one other teammate.
(27:07):
There's two other teammates that are there with him, and
he's also they're not just for himself, but he's also
to support them and enjoy this experience together with all.
Speaker 8 (27:14):
Three of them.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I believe it, and you mentioned it. Those two other guys,
and Johad Campbell and Tyler Barker. We've also had them
on GMFB and they were at IMG Academy together, These
two know each other so well, to the point where
John Campbell called Tyler Booker an absolute dog on our show.
My favorite thing about Tyler Booker is the zero sacks
giving up on three hundred and seventy one pass attempts
for Jalen Milroe this season. An absolute stud. What's it
(27:40):
about him that allows him to protect the quarterback? And
why is he their new best friend in the NFL?
Speaker 8 (27:45):
Well, you know, and I'll.
Speaker 11 (27:47):
Talk about the past drink, but he also is a
finisher on the on the run blocking side.
Speaker 8 (27:51):
I think that's what makes him elite, and so he
can do it both.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
But you know, he's just an anchor inside and you
know he's going to be firm inside in the middle
interior there. I would put it as far as him
being a guy that at some point, as he continues.
Speaker 8 (28:05):
To grow and develop, couldn't even move to the outside.
Speaker 11 (28:07):
We had him met tackle for a game there and
he made that transition seamless against you know, a good opponent.
Speaker 8 (28:16):
And you know, I just I think he's.
Speaker 11 (28:18):
So versatile and his best football just I think all
these guys is still ahead of him.
Speaker 8 (28:22):
But he understands the game.
Speaker 11 (28:25):
He's tenacious, not just a run blocker, but he's going
to make sure that he protects that quarterback behind him.
Speaker 9 (28:32):
I met Tyler Booker last night, and he's here with
ty Simpson, who's been one of your backup quarterbacks at Alabama.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
He's been there for a few years now.
Speaker 9 (28:40):
Not often that the offensive lineman, like the star guard
first round pick his best friends with the backup quarterback.
Can you just tell me about that relationship between the
two of those guys.
Speaker 11 (28:48):
You know, I didn't know that until earlier in the
season this past year. And Book's one of the best
leaders I've ever been around, And you know, I just
could tell with just their relationship and the way he
hold guys accountable to different things.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
He was elite that way. And I heard a conversation
he had with Tie that made me really.
Speaker 11 (29:10):
Understand that, you know, these guys have a special connection that.
Speaker 8 (29:14):
Goes beyond just you know, hanging out on teammates.
Speaker 11 (29:17):
And so it didn't surprise me when, you know, he
asked Hie to come to the draft, and I'm super
excited that Ti gets to be there and experience it
not just with Book but also with Jalen and jahat.
Speaker 7 (29:29):
Well.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
That might not have surprised you, but something that surprised
every human being on earth. Last year at the draft,
Michael Pennix, junior at your quarterback at Washington gets drafted.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
By Atlanta and all of us fell off our chairs.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
No one saw it coming. What did you think about
that moment and what have you thought observing from Afar
about his first year in the league.
Speaker 11 (29:49):
Yeah, I was super excited at that time. The more
and more as time went on the last week or so,
I felt like there was going to be it was
gonna be for sure a thing where he would be drafted,
probably in the top fifteen. Didn't know what team, but
I knew there was a lot of interest. And then
just I think it's just worked out really well for him,
getting a chance to sit back for a little bit
(30:09):
of time half perspective. You know, Mike's taking it all
in sort sort uh, you know, just be able to
sort through and see things from from a little bit
of a step back, and then you know, getting the
opportunity and.
Speaker 8 (30:22):
Make the most of it, just like he's always done.
Speaker 11 (30:24):
And so just you know, love the way and the
direction things continue to go for him. That the trend is,
you know, heading the right direction and looking forward to
great year next year.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Coach in all your years coaching before Alabama, but now
specifically at Alabama, you guys have so many players in
the NFL.
Speaker 6 (30:42):
I mean the SEC in.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Alabama specifically riddled on NFL rosters. How do you go
about keeping in touch with players that you have these
relationships with but you're also trying to coach up your
own program? What's this like for you to launch these
guys into the NFL but you're there near and dear
to your heart, well, you know, and I'm.
Speaker 11 (31:00):
Still working on that, especially the ones that have been
away from here for a while maybe don't get back
as often. So it's been you know, this group right
now that's that's heading out, obviously super tight with them
and we have a connection even.
Speaker 8 (31:12):
A little bit of last year's group. It's been fun
kind of.
Speaker 11 (31:16):
Following them and they come back a little bit more
because they're still closer to the program and they know
they're always invited. But yeah, to continue to branch out
to those guys that maybe have been away from Alabama
for multiple years, you know, that's still a work in progress.
But I think across the board, wherever you've been You're
just excited about the journey that these guys are on.
(31:38):
You know, the past schools, whether it's Washington and Fresno State,
guys all over the league. They're just living out their dream,
you know, doing what they do best. And you know,
whenever they need something, they know, they know they're just
a phone call away.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Well, we appreciate you bringing us into the journey. That's
an absolute factory right there at Alabama. A ton of
guys coming out this weekend. Kalen Devor, the head coach,
thanks so much for coming on gimt B.
Speaker 6 (32:02):
We appreciate you so much, too bad.
Speaker 8 (32:04):
Thank you for real tiding.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Good morning football,
Good Morning Football is the production of the NFL in
partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good Morning Football, Welcome back to GMFP. You have to
imagine if there were physical pillars, many of which held
up Lambeau, this following name and our guest on this
show would be one of the group that holds that
building up. And the history that the Packers have is
not said without Donald Driver. He is a four time
pro bowler, a Super Bowl forty five champion, and he's
(00:43):
our friend of the show at GMFP.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
What's going on?
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Donald?
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Oh goodness, see you all.
Speaker 6 (00:49):
Great to see you.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
As I just mentioned, fourteen seasons in the NFL, perhaps
most importantly for Packers fans, all of which were spent
wearing a Green Bay jersey. But besides your playing career,
you have, your heart is in Green Bay. How amazing
is it that the NFL Draft is there this week?
Speaker 5 (01:06):
No, it's truly amazing.
Speaker 7 (01:08):
I think that's what everybody wanted to see, and now
we have it firsthand. And no one really knows the
area as well as we do as players. But it's
an iconic, historic place to be and so I was
blessed to play fourteen years there and some people don't
get that opportunity, but it's a place that's going to
be exciting to see the draft come there. It just
funny because I said, you know, I wish my son
(01:29):
would have been getting drafted this year because it'd have
been pretty cool to go back home where he was
born and raised. But he still has two years left,
so we'll see what happens.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Oh man, we got him on the big board. He's
got all the mock drafts are going to have driver.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
I love this.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
I love the ear on the show.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
So many years watching you, including Donald way back five
six seven, we look at the Aaron Rodgers that everybody
watches and talks about now. And you were there for
the origin story when he got drafted controversially to Green Bay.
What are your early memories, your first memories of Rogers
joining the Packers That.
Speaker 8 (02:02):
He was the elete.
Speaker 7 (02:03):
I think that was approved fact. He proved that, you know,
weekend and week out. I think his first rookie year,
he kind of just torched our defense in practice and
we kind of and you know, normally second team goal
against our first team defense, and he kind of lit
it up. And then I think we really saw when
he played we played Dallas, Brett gets injured. We're playing
Dallas in Dallas, and he almost back to win that game.
And I think at that point we knew that this
(02:24):
guy's career was going to be bright.
Speaker 9 (02:26):
Transitions from Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks are never easy.
Donald Luckily, the Packers only do it like once every
couple of decades here, from far to Rogers.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
You lived through that back in seven and eight.
Speaker 9 (02:38):
Then a number of years later it's from Rogers to
Jordan Love. Do you believe Jordan Love can do the
same thing those other guys did, win a Super Bowl,
win MVPs, become that caliber of Hall of Fame type quarterback.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Yeah, I think I think he can.
Speaker 7 (02:52):
I think that it was approved fact to be able
to say the Packers in the last whatever twenty years.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Have only had three quarterbacks.
Speaker 7 (02:58):
It's truly amazing, right, I mean to go from you know,
Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers and now.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
To Doing Love, doing up proved it.
Speaker 7 (03:05):
I mean, first year as a starring quarterback, take him
to the NFC Championship game, he loses that, then get
to get into the postseason again next year.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
I mean, sky's a limit.
Speaker 7 (03:13):
The guy are still young, still have a young group
of receivers, the team is young. I think it's just
an opportunity to take it to the next level and
they're just missing a small piece and you know, we
got to figure out what that is. And I think
you know Matt's going to do that in this draft
as well.
Speaker 10 (03:27):
Don you were a seventh round pick out of Alcorn State.
You turn that into a fourteen year NFL career, all
with the Green Bay Packers, might I add, which is
very impressive of you, their all time leading receiver. What's
your message to some of these young NFL hopefuls that
might go on that seventh round, or go on drafted,
or go a little bit later than they had anticipated.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Opportunities. I think that's the fun part.
Speaker 7 (03:46):
I mean me coming from HBCU, I think a lot
of people felt like we didn't play against the talent.
But when you look at some of the greatest players
that have played at HBCUs and now playing and play
in the NFL, they all Hall of famers, right, And
so this is a proven fact that you know, if
you get the opportunity, you know you have to make
the best of it. And for me, that was it.
You know, I felt like I should have been to
high in that year in ninety nine draft, but unfortunately
(04:08):
I didn't.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
And so you know, there's only one guy that.
Speaker 7 (04:10):
Has more stats tan yards than me and his name
is Torjope, And so that tails you right there, that
you know backwards, you've got to move forward on opportunities,
and this was my opportunity.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
And you nailed it.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Of course, it's a crazy thing with the Packers. They
have not drafted a wide receiver in the first round
since two It's been twenty three years. Why is that
and do you think that could change this year?
Speaker 7 (04:33):
I think it's always been we built in house, right.
I think you look at the Chalel level, guys come
in and have this opportunity and guys play well.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
Right for myself was one of those guys.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
You got Robert Ferguson, you get drafted, you got jvaon Walker,
you got Terry Lee, I mean everybody.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
It just happens.
Speaker 7 (04:47):
And so the Packers just feel like we've always built
it in house, and this has always been their tradition.
I don't know if that changes this year or not,
but we will see. I think we have a bunch
of young receivers that can step up and.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
Feel those boards.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
But you know, to this point, I think a lot
of people still question have they done that? Who's the
number one receiver? And we're hoping that we can get
that in that locker room. If not, then you got
to go in the draft and get it.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Donald, Can you help settle something for me? I am
born and raised in Minnesota, a native Vikings fan. Memories
of you coming to the building, We know the history.
I think the NFC North has the best rivalry across
all four teams. What were the rivalries like for you
when you were playing in Green Bay? And can you
compare it to now because the Lions are having a
(05:32):
moment now when we're constantly trying to make an argument.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
For the Bears.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Take us back maybe to your experience Packers team hate
that they have for other teams, and then what are
you seeing now within the division?
Speaker 7 (05:44):
No, I think you know, we've always called it the
Black and Blue Division for a reason.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Right, it doesn't matter what the record is. Every time
we play each other, it's a straight battle.
Speaker 7 (05:52):
And so we've proven that, you know, year in, a
year out, and so the practice have always been at
the top and you see Detroit last year proven that
they're stepping up to that plate. I think it's going
to be Chicago is always going to fall short every
single year, and then Minnesota.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
You got to give them credit stepped up.
Speaker 7 (06:10):
But you know, I think it's you know, you got
to keep the pieces together to make the run.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
And so we hope that we can get back on top.
Speaker 7 (06:17):
And win the Central and then at that point, you
guys can just sign and take them backseat to what
we do.
Speaker 6 (06:22):
That was perfect.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
Perfect.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So the next thing I want to ask you was
more about your family. So I too have daughters. We
are girl family. This is something that you and I
have in common. You are an advocate for youth sports
and empowerment, especially knowing that you have daughters within your family.
You have been named chief Motivation Officer for BSN Sports
Surge program.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
What is this about?
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Tell it?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Could you tell us about the future that you have
with this group?
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Yeah, this is an amazing program sur just going on
to that first year anniversary and with that, they made
me the chief motivation officer really to empower women to
play sports. As you know, me having two daughters and
then also having a son, you know, I can talk
to my son any kind wait and he understands it
and he moves on. Sometimes you have to talk to
your daughters in a different way and you have to
really sit down and educate them. I think sometimes as men,
(07:13):
we think we have the resources that we need, but
sometimes we don't.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
And so Surge is actually having this the resources now.
Speaker 7 (07:20):
Right, we want to empower girls to stand sports a
lead a healthy life. But and then the back end
of this, it's a free tool, right that we can
help you educate and develop coaches that they can understand
how to coach women in sports so that young women
don't get pushed out of sports at a very young age.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
I mean everyone that we know when girls.
Speaker 7 (07:36):
Get to pushed out of sports because of the coach,
and it's not because they don't have a love for
the game anymore. Seventy two percent males are coaches and
coaching women's sports, and so have to find a way
to be able to move forward with that and teach
these coaches how to have these herds to heart conversation
with these young women so that they don't get pushed
out of sports at a very young age.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
It's a great cause and you're a great spokes before
it's surge by BSN Sports. I love that Donald. Before
you go, we have one last question about ball and
specifically pickleball.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Dude, you love it, You're playing it.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It's all over.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Your social What is it about Donald Driver and pickleball?
This love affair that's going on.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
That I can I can still go professional in the sport.
Speaker 7 (08:18):
You know, I think so many people playing this game now,
you know, I think the football thing is over for me.
I think I am not trying to go back and
play it off any of that. I love challenging my son,
but I think the fun part about this is that
I get to play this game and doesn't matter.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
What age group you are.
Speaker 7 (08:32):
You can be the youngest, are the oldest and play
this game. For a very long time, I realized that
it really brings families together. And this has really had
brought out family together. My wife doesn't play golf as
much as I do, but this is what one game
she does love to play.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Excellence bringing marriages together, and you're continuing to bring the
heat within.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
The NFC North.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Donald Driver, everybody, thank you so much for coming on
and setting the stage before lambast the NFL draft.
Speaker 8 (08:59):
Thank you all so much for.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Donald Driver.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Look at them go good mom football.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Tom PALLISERA, let's have a conversation, shall we? He you
released an article on NFL dot com was it last night?
And I was just catching up with you about how
you do this approach every year. Set the stage for
the basis for this article one through thirty two in
the conversations that you had around the NFL, and then
we will tee you up on perhaps the juiciest part
of it.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Well, let's start with this. I'm not a scout or
a coach.
Speaker 9 (09:37):
I don't watch a lick tape because ultimately I don't
know what I'm looking at. So my process is every year,
because the quarterback is the most important position in the league,
if I talk to as many coaches, scouts, executives from
as many teams as possible and just try to get
a feel for how they view these guys, for how
they have them grouped together, for where they think they
might go, for their strengths, for their weaknesses, the positives
(09:58):
and the negatives, and there's usually.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Somewhere in there. There's going to be a complicated one.
This year, it certainly should or.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Complicated is a very excellent word to use. So let's
get right into Shador Sanders. Because everyone's opinion about Shador varies,
and especially when it remains anonymous, perhaps you are allowed
to share what you actually feel about the young man.
So you had a wide range of opinions. Can you
walk us through at least to start maybe the positive first?
Speaker 9 (10:24):
Well, yeah, let's start out with the fact that Shador Sanders,
he's the Big Twelve Conference Player of the Year, he's
the second team All American. When you talk to people,
what they see on tape is, as this executive said,
if you at just the wow throws, he's got probably
the best collection of those over the whole entire crop
when you look at it. We show his highlights all
the time here on NFL Network on GMFB. What you
(10:44):
see is Chador making plays and he's creating. But part
of the issue and some of the drawback here, and
you see it in this quote too, it's the play
within structure, it's the plane on time, it's just distributing
the football because ultimately he's not an elite.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Caliber athletic profile.
Speaker 9 (11:00):
He does not have an elite arm and so what
you see on tape is him, you know, running around
making plays. It's a lot harder to do that in
the NFL. So can you hone that in? Can you
get him to play on time? Can you get him
to play within structure of the offense that's going to
allow him to be successful in the NFL. That's one
of the big questions surrounding Shador Sanders.
Speaker 6 (11:19):
What else did you hear surrounding shaduor Sanders?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Because now these teams GM's coaches, they've had a lot
of exposure to him.
Speaker 6 (11:26):
What are some other opinions that you got.
Speaker 9 (11:28):
One of the things with Shadoor Sanders is he's got
a very unique background. Obviously, there's not many guys in
any NFL draft who grew up as the son of
one of the greatest.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Athletes literally in history.
Speaker 9 (11:37):
There's certainly not a lot of the guys who played
for their father all the way up through high school
and college. And so part of the concern with Shador
is just how is he going to do when he
gets outside of that environment. And to the extent that
teams wanted to find out some of those answers in interviews,
it didn't go great and I had numerous people tell
me things like he made you feel small in the interview.
(11:58):
He wants to dictate everything is one NFL assistant coach
is the guy who's been in the league for a
long time.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
That's the worst formal interview that he's ever been in.
Speaker 9 (12:05):
And then talked about some of the other things he
does hold onto the football, he does take the sacks.
There's body language things and concerns like that, and so
this is not to you know, rag on Shador Sanders.
It's just the reality that people wanted to get some
answers to those things. Yeah, the people I talked to
who met with Shador Sanders, and again it's not unanimous,
you know, but as one GM told me, it's gonna
(12:25):
be hard to get a consensus in every building. You
just gotta like the guy, and certainly you know there
were people within this process. It's not necessarily about the personality.
It's just about what are you getting. What are you
getting from somebody who has never played for anybody besides
their dad. As you can imagine, there's an accountability factor
that's a little bit different. You're not gonna bench your
kid if he changes a play and gets into the
(12:46):
wrong play. He's not gonna get ripped the same way
that another player would. And so there's some guys who
are going to thrive. You go back, and I think
of it this all right. I was on the Green
Bay Prescozet beat in two thousand and eight when they
took a guy named Brian Brohm, who had been projected
as potential number one pick. He slid all the way
down to the late second round. He had played for
his dad all growing up in through high school. He
played for his brother in college. The Packers made a gamble, Hey,
(13:09):
we think he's gonna spread his wings and fly when
he gets outside of the environment, and instead he completely crumbled.
He get beat up by a seventh thrownd pick Matt Flynn.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
They cut him. He started two games and he was
out of the NFL.
Speaker 9 (13:19):
Okay, that's the unknown when it comes to a guy
who just simply has never played in the type of
environment's going to be in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yes, it is a test for everybody, Kyle Brandt as
they hit the league in the NFL and they get drafted.
Speaker 6 (13:31):
Whether or not Shudur Sanders thrives remains to be seen.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Kyle, what do you think about all this that Tom
p put out last night.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
I think the piece is incredible.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
I actually read it this morning. I learned a lot
of things this morning that I haven't known in the
last six weeks. I'm talking about this draft and the
Brian Brohm part of it was just one fun little detail.
I'm in my feelings about this right now. Maybe it's
because the draft is tomorrow. Bring up the quote, bring
it up. The worst formul than they've ever been in
my life. He's so entireled horrible. Boy, he's not that
shut up anonymous coach. I'm so triggered as shut up.
(14:00):
This is not only anonymous. I think it's tasteless. I
think the timing is ridiculous. The worst formal interview I've
ever is it really?
Speaker 11 (14:10):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Or are you just going for a headline or maybe
have you not been in that many interviews in your
career this is the worst one ever. Or maybe maybe
the vibe that you set in the room was critical
and Shador picked up on that, and maybe he was right,
because the first second you could you betrayed the sanctity
of that room and went anonymously and started spouting off
(14:32):
about this player.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
He's so entitled.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
I see entitlement in a grown professional who was going
around anonymously destroying young athletes with very personal quotes, anonymously
as they're about to realize their dream and become professionals.
Do not listen to that quote. That quote is bukrap,
it's news, it's worthy.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
I hate that quote. Listen to Shador's.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Teammates who kept picking him up over and over as
he got the crap kicked out of him last year,
who don't have negative things to say about him, who
know him, who have been in rooms.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
With him, don't listen to this.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
He says he's not that good.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Well, maybe neither are you, anonymous coach, and maybe that's
why you're an assistant coach and not a head coach,
and you have been for a long time. I am
so triggered by this. I think it's nonsense. I love
the piece. It's getting us talking, it's part of the
Shader experience. But that anonymous, that personal, and that critical
of this timing is garbage.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
Oh we Kyle, I like it man.
Speaker 12 (15:28):
First of all, great piece, Tommy p Man, great job
man breaking stuff down, man, expert piece by you man.
Speaker 8 (15:34):
Seriously, but to your point.
Speaker 12 (15:36):
I don't necessarily agree with anonymous coaches, like put your
name on it. If you truly think that this was
a terrible interview, put your name on the number one.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
Number two.
Speaker 12 (15:45):
I've had some I've had a chance to be around
Shador at the Super Bowl. I was taping to Get
God podcast that I do with Beast Mode, and I
got a chance to be around Shador in his element,
around his people, and you know, kind of in a
relaxed environment. And what I can say is, the dude
is a leader. Like the dude is a force multiplier.
Like I always tell people, if Tom Brady was in it,
(16:05):
and I'm not compared to do it to Tom Brady,
but if Tom Brady was in his draft, he would
probably still go in the sixth round, right, because the
draft is all about, you know, explosive traits and things
and things like that. Honestly, if I'm a team picking
at the top of the draft, I want a quarterback.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
That's going to be a force multiplier.
Speaker 12 (16:23):
When I ranked the quarterback, Shador is my number one
quarterback number Why because the guy completes seventy percent of
his passes. The number one thing of a quarterback is
to complete the passes and Tommy Pete to your point,
I do not think all of the running around would
be good in the National Football League, but I think
the kid can play on time. Did you see his
offensive line in college?
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Like, did you see it? I mean it was terrible,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 12 (16:47):
And the kid made lemonade out of lemons. So at
the end of the day, I want to see Chador
do well.
Speaker 8 (16:53):
I don't care where he goes.
Speaker 12 (16:55):
I think he's a kid that can step in the
locker room and he's going to make everybody around him better.
And again, I think it's a lot of adults that's
evaluating he's athletes right now. It's just jealous of his dad.
And so we just got to call a spadea s.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Base, all right, So we are able to understand that
this is tom You're trying to be representative of the
entire conversation.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
You're right, Let's make.
Speaker 9 (17:17):
Clear it's the potit of the negative on every quarterback
in the draft. We're showing a couple of quotes here.
There's twenty two hundred words on Shador Sanders alone. But listen,
you're very rarely going to get a completely unanimous opinion
about anybody in the draft. Cam Ward is the clear
consensus number one. But even with cam Ward, if you
make enough calls, if you talk to enough people, you'll
(17:38):
hear concerns about how is he going to play, because again,
there's a lot of backyard in his game, and some
people compare it to Caleb Williams last year without Caleb
Williams elite arm. Now he's the one guy who projects
as a starter. But whether you're talking about Shador Sanders
or you're talking about Jalen Milroe, you're talking about Jackson Dark,
Tyler Shuck, there's positive and negatives on all those guys.
And that's where there's real variance in this draft in
(18:00):
terms of yes, cam Ward presumptive number one pick to
the Tennessee type. But that next group of four guys,
any of those guys, including Shur, could go in the first.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Any of them could slide entirely out of the first.
Speaker 9 (18:12):
The interview process, the background is so unique on Shadeur
that it just lends a different element to the conversation.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Understood, Kyle, tom tappan your experience and listen, it's a
day before the draft. I got the flamethrower out this morning,
because We've been talking about this for weeks and I'm
kind of sensitive about different things, but I'm passionate about
this stuff, like a lot of fans are watching, and
I think the reason I'm so riled up about the
anonymous quote about Shador Sanders is it's an easy target.
And I wonder if that same quote would go to
Shaduur Smith if his last name was not Sanders, Tom,
(18:43):
what do you get You've been doing this for years
and this year, you've been doing it for weeks and months.
What is your sense about a bias against Schadeur Sanders,
not the athletes.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
Not anything.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
It's just about like, ugh, all of that it that
comes with it, and Dion in primetime and diamond necklaces
and rap tracks and like, what is the sense of
that in the league or is it just no, he's
a really good player and we don't care about that
other stuff.
Speaker 9 (19:06):
I think that when it comes to Shador Sanders, and
based on my conversations, the sense I get is you're sorry.
Now let's talk about the player for a second here. Yes,
he was highly productive in college, but he plays a
style that's probably not going to work with his skill
set in the NFL because he's not the biggest guy,
he doesn't have the biggest harm. He is really tough,
he is really accurate. That is absolutely true, But you
(19:28):
have some of these other concerns about exactly how he's
going to play. And also there's things like, you know,
he plays for a former NFL head coach in Pat
Srber last year, and there are times again talking to
people within the league where he's changing place and things
are going wrong and he's not being held accountable the same.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Way other people would.
Speaker 9 (19:43):
I don't think it's a bias against Dion. There is
a reality too, and I mentioned this in the in
the story as well, the fact that you know, Dion
already has come out and anytime there's been anything remotely
negative said about Shador and this may happen again today,
Dion has weighed in and basically has put everybody on blast. Yeah,
there's a real concern with teams and listen, maybe they
(20:03):
should be more comfort in their jobs, maybe they should
be more confident, and that shouldn't bother them. But the
fact that you could have d On coming out there
and saying things if she door is not the starter
and making comments whether he's back channeling to try to
get the job. Those are real things. And again, this
is a this is a one of one type of
a situation. The greatest athlete we've ever seen and his
kid is a quarterback who, for whatever reason.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Is not the greatest athlete of all time.
Speaker 9 (20:26):
And that's one of the things that people are concerned
about in terms of translating his praises placed out of
the NFL.
Speaker 12 (20:31):
Right, what you got, Yeah, but it just seems like,
you know, if being an athlete was the prerequisite to
playing in the National Football League, that would be as
some guys just not playing. So you know, I understand
that should do it. Maybe doesn't have the genetic code
that his dad Prime had, but again, you just got
to look at the numbers, the proofers in the pudding.
Everywhere this kid has went, I mean, instant offenses followed,
(20:53):
you know, explosive plays have followed, seventy percent over seventy percent,
completion percentage has followed. What I will say is this, though,
I would be concerned bringing him in if he starts
off as in a backup role, because again, he's going
to have the locker room the minute he walks into
the locker room. There's gonna be guys in that locker
(21:14):
room that's gonna be attracted to Chadeur. That's gonna be
one to be around Shador and he's he's always been
in a leadership role, so I just if you bring
him in, he's gonna have to play pretty fast.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Inherently, this is why Tom does articles like this because
every position is important, but the quarterback is the headline
worthy one. There's eighteen prospects that you focused on in
your article. NFL dot Com go check it out.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Oh about Montana States Tommy Malotte.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Do it good football, Good money football.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
We're back on GMSB and time for the roundup, presented
by Roundup for Lines. It's the twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
It's here and some times it's most important to also
pay attention to guys and people and coaches that got
these players to the point where they are walking across
that stage behind us in Green Bay. This weekend, we're
looking right at Alabama. You hear about all these players
(22:18):
come out of Tuscaloosa every year, and in his first
year as a head coach, Kaylin Debor was awesome with
Alabama and he's on the show now GMFB coach high
guitar all time.
Speaker 8 (22:30):
Thanks for having me on. Good Morning.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Oh there's so many coaches, that's all right, more coaches
than us.
Speaker 6 (22:37):
That's how we like it. Coach, you got it. We
just mentioned him in the last segment.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
You've got three players here that are going to experience
this weekend together and Jalen Milroe, Johad Campbell and Tyler
Booker the awesome personalities.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Great guys. Can you just speak on.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
What those three did for your first year as a
head coach at Alabama and your organization you're building.
Speaker 11 (22:57):
Yeah, without a doubt. You know, it's a broken record.
Whenever people ask me about each of them individually, and
I go from one to the other and I say,
this guy is special as a person, it's the.
Speaker 8 (23:08):
Same thing for all three of them.
Speaker 11 (23:09):
They all have three you know, outgoing personalities that they
carry a smile on their face. But they're tenacious on
the football field and so very similar that way. But
obviously it's super excited about what they're going to bring
to the future, you know, not just for themselves, but
also continue to highlight what Alabama Football's done for them.
But they were instrumental in helping just be the glue
(23:32):
through a through a transition last year, and you know,
I'm excited for them, you know, one of their biggest fans,
that's for sure.
Speaker 8 (23:41):
You're always good at talking about your players.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
I'm just gonna ask you to talk about yourself a
bit for people watching at home. You had the task
of replacing Nick Saban, a man who had the championships,
man who has a statue, who is an icon. It's
such an overwhelming task to step into that role. How
did you go about it and how did you find success?
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Well?
Speaker 11 (23:59):
I think you just you understand what you're coming into
and it's a program that has just decades and decades
of success and there's instrumental people that have that have
taken it to greater heights. And Coach Saban obviously took
it to an unbelievable place. And you know, his his
mark is all over this building, all over this program
forever will be. And so just you know, you understand
(24:21):
that there's gonna be people before you, the understanding there's
always gonna be people after you, and I'm just privileged
to come in and try to continue to build and
you know, build on what the foundation is this program,
And obviously coach Saban was amazing during his seventeen years here.
Speaker 9 (24:38):
Cale and all my conversations with NFL coaches, scouts executive
leading up to this draft, one of the things that
jumped out at me was how highly people rate Jalen
Milroe as a runner, putting him in the same conversation
as guys like Lamar Jackson. Now, Lamar also improved a
ton of a passer after getting into the NFL. What
do you think about the comparisons in terms of the
running ability to some of the best we've seen, and
doesn't have that same developmental upside with his arm.
Speaker 11 (25:01):
Yeah, I mean as a runner, you know, I didn't
I didn't get a chance is to coach those guys.
Speaker 8 (25:05):
Obviously, but you watch the you watch you know, football,
and you see what they're capable of.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
I just know, speaking on me half of Jalen, he
was many times the greatest athlete on the football field,
and you know what he could do with the football
in his hands. We just had to make sure we
were giving him enough opportunities to go do that, you know,
making people miss. He could put his shoulder down and
he needed to and get those yards, but inside, outside,
(25:33):
it really didn't matter. You know, he's he could take
it the distance.
Speaker 8 (25:37):
I think.
Speaker 11 (25:38):
You know, as a defensive coordinator, you know if I
was in those shoes, you know you're kind of worried
every single play when the ball is snapped to make
sure that he doesn't get lose, not just move.
Speaker 8 (25:50):
The chains, but taking the distance.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Coach, We've had many many prospects on the show over
the last several weeks, and personally, I've not been impressed
with any of them more than I was with Jalen Milroll.
An incredible, incredibly sharp, eager, interesting guy. We absolutely fell
in love with him immediately. To that point, I want
you to bring us run and bring you into our
opening segment of our show.
Speaker 8 (26:10):
We just did.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
He's here, and he's here at the draft.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
He's attending the draft, and we, as football fans and
admirers of his, have some nerves about whether he may
be drafted or not. There's a lot of prognosticators who
do this for a living who say that Jalen Milbroll
will not be taken in the first round. It raised
some eyebrows when he chose to attend the draft despite
that how did it make you feel.
Speaker 8 (26:30):
About the decision.
Speaker 11 (26:31):
Yeah, I mean, I just know what Jalen's all about,
and you know, he appreciates every opportunity he gets, whether
it's on the football field, being around people who are
fans of his, supports of his He's going to give
everything he has.
Speaker 8 (26:44):
To those people.
Speaker 11 (26:45):
And I think, you know, just living life in general,
he got invited. This is an opportunity. And yes, you
don't know exactly. I mean, just like any other player,
you don't know exactly where you're going to go. But
these experiences are what you work to your entire life
for and I understand it can go different directions, but
you know, he's an enjoy this experience. And I think
there's also a piece where there isn't just one other teammate.
(27:07):
There's two other teammates that are there with him, and
he's also they're not just for himself, but he's also
to support them and enjoy this experience together with all.
Speaker 8 (27:14):
Three of them.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I believe it, and you mentioned it. Those two other guys,
and Johad Campbell and Tyler Barker. We've also had them
on GMFB and they were at IMG Academy together, These
two know each other so well, to the point where
John Campbell called Tyler Booker an absolute dog on our show.
My favorite thing about Tyler Booker is the zero sacks
giving up on three hundred and seventy one pass attempts
for Jalen Milroe this season. An absolute stud. What's it
(27:40):
about him that allows him to protect the quarterback? And
why is he their new best friend in the NFL?
Speaker 8 (27:45):
Well, you know, and I'll.
Speaker 11 (27:47):
Talk about the past drink, but he also is a
finisher on the on the run blocking side.
Speaker 8 (27:51):
I think that's what makes him elite, and so he
can do it both.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
But you know, he's just an anchor inside and you
know he's going to be firm inside in the middle
interior there. I would put it as far as him
being a guy that at some point, as he continues.
Speaker 8 (28:05):
To grow and develop, couldn't even move to the outside.
Speaker 11 (28:07):
We had him met tackle for a game there and
he made that transition seamless against you know, a good opponent.
Speaker 8 (28:16):
And you know, I just I think he's.
Speaker 11 (28:18):
So versatile and his best football just I think all
these guys is still ahead of him.
Speaker 8 (28:22):
But he understands the game.
Speaker 11 (28:25):
He's tenacious, not just a run blocker, but he's going
to make sure that he protects that quarterback behind him.
Speaker 9 (28:32):
I met Tyler Booker last night, and he's here with
ty Simpson, who's been one of your backup quarterbacks at Alabama.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
He's been there for a few years now.
Speaker 9 (28:40):
Not often that the offensive lineman, like the star guard
first round pick his best friends with the backup quarterback.
Can you just tell me about that relationship between the
two of those guys.
Speaker 11 (28:48):
You know, I didn't know that until earlier in the
season this past year. And Book's one of the best
leaders I've ever been around, And you know, I just
could tell with just their relationship and the way he
hold guys accountable to different things.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
He was elite that way. And I heard a conversation
he had with Tie that made me really.
Speaker 11 (29:10):
Understand that, you know, these guys have a special connection that.
Speaker 8 (29:14):
Goes beyond just you know, hanging out on teammates.
Speaker 11 (29:17):
And so it didn't surprise me when, you know, he
asked Hie to come to the draft, and I'm super
excited that Ti gets to be there and experience it
not just with Book but also with Jalen and jahat.
Speaker 7 (29:29):
Well.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
That might not have surprised you, but something that surprised
every human being on earth. Last year at the draft,
Michael Pennix, junior at your quarterback at Washington gets drafted.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
By Atlanta and all of us fell off our chairs.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
No one saw it coming. What did you think about
that moment and what have you thought observing from Afar
about his first year in the league.
Speaker 11 (29:49):
Yeah, I was super excited at that time. The more
and more as time went on the last week or so,
I felt like there was going to be it was
gonna be for sure a thing where he would be drafted,
probably in the top fifteen. Didn't know what team, but
I knew there was a lot of interest. And then
just I think it's just worked out really well for him,
getting a chance to sit back for a little bit
(30:09):
of time half perspective. You know, Mike's taking it all
in sort sort uh, you know, just be able to
sort through and see things from from a little bit
of a step back, and then you know, getting the
opportunity and.
Speaker 8 (30:22):
Make the most of it, just like he's always done.
Speaker 11 (30:24):
And so just you know, love the way and the
direction things continue to go for him. That the trend is,
you know, heading the right direction and looking forward to
great year next year.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Coach in all your years coaching before Alabama, but now
specifically at Alabama, you guys have so many players in
the NFL.
Speaker 6 (30:42):
I mean the SEC in.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Alabama specifically riddled on NFL rosters. How do you go
about keeping in touch with players that you have these
relationships with but you're also trying to coach up your
own program? What's this like for you to launch these
guys into the NFL but you're there near and dear
to your heart, well, you know, and I'm.
Speaker 11 (31:00):
Still working on that, especially the ones that have been
away from here for a while maybe don't get back
as often. So it's been you know, this group right
now that's that's heading out, obviously super tight with them
and we have a connection even.
Speaker 8 (31:12):
A little bit of last year's group. It's been fun
kind of.
Speaker 11 (31:16):
Following them and they come back a little bit more
because they're still closer to the program and they know
they're always invited. But yeah, to continue to branch out
to those guys that maybe have been away from Alabama
for multiple years, you know, that's still a work in progress.
But I think across the board, wherever you've been You're
just excited about the journey that these guys are on.
(31:38):
You know, the past schools, whether it's Washington and Fresno State,
guys all over the league. They're just living out their dream,
you know, doing what they do best. And you know,
whenever they need something, they know, they know they're just
a phone call away.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Well, we appreciate you bringing us into the journey. That's
an absolute factory right there at Alabama. A ton of
guys coming out this weekend. Kalen Devor, the head coach,
thanks so much for coming on gimt B.
Speaker 6 (32:02):
We appreciate you so much, too bad.
Speaker 8 (32:04):
Thank you for real tiding.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Good morning football,
Hosts And Creators
Jamie Erdahl
Jason McCourty
Kyle Brandt
Peter Schrager
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.