Byron Jones Joins Drive Time

with the Dolphins cornerback. Plus we'll hear from Brian Flores and some Dolphins players and Thursday selected media availability. All of that and more on this Thursday, December, the tenth edition of the Drivetime PODCASTI Dolphins Time is brought to home by Auto Nation. Hey Dolphins fans, the New year

starts now at Auto Nation. Let's skip the rest of and get two big New Year's savings on your favorite Auto Nation Chevy's, Fords, Toyotas, Hondas, and a whole lot more shops safely at the AutoNation store near you or AutoNation dot com and save. Now, let's go ahead and kick this podcast off with the news of Thursday that Byron Jones was selected as one of the thirty two Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees. He is the

Miami Dolphins representative in that category. He will wear a decal on his helmet the rest of the season, and he also will receive a forty dollar donation to the charity of his choice in his name from the NFL. We have the feature piece up on Miami Dolphins dot com. Go ahead and take a look at that. But now let's go ahead and roll my interview with Dolphins Cornerback Byron Jones and writing Shotgun now on the Drive Time podcast is Dolphins Cornerback Byron Jones. Byron, thank you for

joining me today. Thanks for having me. It's my pleasure. Let's not let's not mess around here and bury the lead at all. Byron, uh, you have been announced as the Dolphins nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. I just want to get your reaction first to that news, like, how did you feel when you first heard that news? It was an honor um, you know, because the community service is something that truthfully I haven't done a good enough job at, especially early

on in my career. I think a lot of football players are still focused on their career and they kind of overlook how important their platform is, but also um how how an influenier they are in their own community. And that's one thing that really shook me to my core. I look back and look at myself in a Marya was like, Okay, I really doing enough of my community and the answer was no. So I really changed things

around until twenty with the help of the Dolphins. They you know, they really kind of let the way for me and gave me the avenue to really help out and be a steward in my community. I'm curious Byron because that's a really commendable trait for someone to have the ability to look back and say, I can do more in this particular avenue. Have you always been that way? Is that something you've also learned along the way? Like,

where does that come from? Uh? You know, truthfully, I think it just comes from It really comes from football, you know, and football you really have to check yourself, you know, frequently and ask yourself for and I lifting enough weight? Am I watching enough film? Dragging enough water? And get enough sleep. It starts with simple things, and then you can expand it. Um you know, and I am I focusing enough on football, but also my focus

enough for my community, my family and my relationships. Um. I think it's a really good trait just to have, just in general, no matter what career you're in, it's just check yourself really really after are you doing enough? Are you doing enough in the avigues that are areas in your life that are most important? And oftentimes you know that and the answers no, and it's up to

you to really change that course. That's that's awesome. I always said that, you know, the way I raised my kids is going to be based off my own experience and that you know, I grew up playing sports as well, and all the life lessons I really learned came from sports and and you know the requirements of a team goal and the hard work required to be able to perform on the field. So it's cool to hear you say that to kind of have that common you know,

like minded mindset. And you know, I think I think Byron that most players can can point to a moment, you know, where they they knew maybe they thought that they might have a chance to make the league, as

a player. But I'm wondering with you given the description of the ward excellence on and off the field, and you certainly checked the merits box of the on the field excellence, But there was a was there a moment where you can look back and say that was when I made the decision that I was going to be more than a football player. It was definitely. You know, I've always had entered I've already had interest in other things off the field, UM. But my interest in in

community really started in the George Floor situation. UM. And truthfully, it really should have started a lot long before that. It shouldn't have gotten to that point to really waked

me up. UM. And when you start looking back and helping out, but definitely in the march of um that that was a time where it was a lot of frustration, especially in the black community and and really just across America just where things were at the moment, and you really have to ask yourself, Okay, is this the best that we can do? Is this the best that I could do? And and often times I said earlier that's

not that's no, we can do better. Uh. And for me, that's where I really uh, you know, I made a really personal promise to myself and really changed and changed me fundamentally. I don't, um, you know, life for me is no longer just about me and me and being selfish. You know that was for me early my early twenties. Now it's you know, I've been blessed with there with so many incredible opportunities and beautiful family that has supported me along the way, and now it's my turn to

give back to the community. UM. And it's given me so much, so it's just I took it on as my responsibility. I'm gonna hold myself accountable to it. You mentioned George Floyd there Byron, and you know, I think back to training camp, and I can't remember what day it was or exactly when it occurred, but the entire team kind of gathered around coach and you guys had several players stuff up and speaking. One of those people

was you that stepped up and spoke. I'm not asking for specifics about that conversation, because I'm sure that's something that you guys want to keep among the team, But what was that moment like for you to kind of see the unifying effect of of football and all these young men that you know, can can have this platform, Mike, you guys do have to step forward and kind of make their voices heard. Like was that unique for you in a football environment and what did that moment mean

to you? Um? You know, I think this overall everyone is very active or very eager to do something. Um, everyone's you know, obviously we have a voice, we have a platform, but a lot of us wanted to create action to create change. And that was really the impetus for our Social Impact committee. UM. We started at the Dolphins and we've done some incredible work in the civil

civic engagement and economic empowerment and education aspects. And that that was really uh something that that you know, the support staff at the Dolphins really spearheaded along with the players, and they gave us a form. They gave us a form to to really reach out to community leaders and superintendence, senators, um, to really get get the get the ball moving and really create some change in our community, in the soft

aware the community. So UM, you know, if anything, the conversation was like Okay, yes we all want to speak, we all want to speak out and support, but uh, what can we do on on an action side on the natural, real change side to to really change the tides in this country. And and so fittingly so you know, in the same week that you are nominated for this this really tremendous honor. You also participated in the Dolphins five thousand role Models program just a couple of days ago.

Can you tell us about that and how that experience went. You know, it was awesome. So it was a program of young young adults in the South Huota area that are you know, in a program, um just really really they're they're they're reaching out for advice and some mentorship and and you know, it's it's an honor to be

able to speak to those kids. For for many reasons, but just it reminds me when I was young, and you know, when you kind of think you kind of know it all, you think you're this type of person and um that you kind of have to figure it out. And I told you the kids essentially this um you know, expand your mind, expand your world view. You know, read books that you probably wouldn't otherwise, and watch movies that make your uncomfortable. UM, just really just continue to grow

and learn. Really embraced the stuck because a lot of kids were asking ab how do you stay discipline and you know, how do you focus during a class that you may not like. UM, just pretty much great perseverance and determination. That's no matter what you want to do in life, those three four traits will really take you far in life. So just just talking to the kids,

I think, uh, the words coming from an athlete. I'm sure their parents have said it many times, the mentors that they haven't a group, I said it many times, but I think coming from an athlete, so when they look up to UM, you can really resonate with those kids. Yeah, I remember back when I was like a kid, I had, you know, some athletes come to my school and I'll never forget. It's one of those moments that you know,

you always remember for the rest of your life. And I want to kind of go there's a bit of a carry over here from what you just said to a previous interview you did with Kimmy Chicks of NFL Network is part of the Inspired Change initiative, and you kind of, I guess, pulled back the curtain on on the way your brain works, the way you kind of are here and saying that you should never go to bed with the question in your head, and that really

resident with me personally, Byron. But I was just hopeful that maybe you could expand on that and talk about that interview and the Inspired Change initiative. Yeah, the UM, you know really uh, and I'm naturally very curious. I like to learn as much as I can and UM, but that didn't start out of nowhere for me. It really started looking up one thing at a time or

two things at a time. You know, you have to really spark your interest in something, and before you giving instance to something, you really have to just go and pursue it. Whether it's for me, it was cars, and I got into cars when I was younger, So I started to reach the cars and then expanse the airplanes or expanses something else, whatever your road map. Maybe the first step is really just finding interest in something and researching it and and getting those answers that you have answered.

We're getting those questions that you have answered. Um, there's videos on YouTube, financial education, whatever the subject matter is. UM. You know the materials out there. You know, we live in such a information age. It's unfortunately a lot of people don't go and actually read the information that's out there. For you. So that's that was my big encouragement to the young kids and any one who was watching that

podcast at that time. So not to put you on the spot here by, and but I gotta ask you because I'm kind of the same way and I find myself in these rabbit holes sometimes, you know, eleven o'clock and midnight, where I'm on my couch just looking at stupid stuff. What's what's the most like weird thing or the most interesting thing you've looked at recently that you wanted to get some more research on. Oh, it's interesting.

So I'm a cargo, I'm a classic Porsche, of guys, I'm looking at trying to understand the difference between a long up regulator and continuing injections. That was really like the pretty much the it's like the feel. I guess it's there's something involving the fuel of it's a little it's a little wonky nowadays, but that was forty years ago.

Forty years ago, I guess it was. It's engendering marvel, But nowadays it's kind of a kind of want to replace it with an electric fuel injection just them, So, yeah, I'd like to learn I mean it is little stuff and stuff like that. Um, but whatever, Like I said, I tried to find find my answers to my question. I don't wait around with nobody. Yeah, you're speaking another language there to me on the on the car stuff, I don't. I don't go and hear that stuff. Guys

who knows, just hit me up, man, teach me. There you go, there's there's the car therapy car guys. The portion guys especially get at byron On on social media. Now you mentioned you know this is kind of more of a thing for the youth and talking to children and trying to give back that way. But I am curious because there are so many young guys on this team in your defensive back room, Like, is there a guy that has really risen to that level of inquisitive

nature that you have? Like, which are the young bucks out there kind of following that same you know, trying to find out about Porsche's and and other different research projects he can go for. Well it's not a dB, but it's definitely I think Christian Wilkinson is Uh Wilkins. He's he's a guy who's he's on every call and I'm all, he's always listening in the background. I think he's waiting for us, trying to really rise up. But

he has a great spirit, great attitude. He's he's one of those bright minds and I think will definitely take this stuff. And I think he was, you know, nfl p a rep last year's rookie year, which is really impressive. So I think Christian is definitely the next one and nine. Yeah, he always he always has something interesting to say when does press and and all that fun stuff as well. But you know, Byron, it's it's an honor to have you on this podcast. Man, it's an honor to to

be here talking with you. And I want to go back to something that you and I spoke about on this exact podcast back in March. You were one of my first interviews Byron with the Dolphins, and that was when you signed with Miami because you said that you had saw what this team was building, you saw what Coach Flores was putting together for me culture standpoint, and you said that you wanted to be a catalyst for culture change. How would you say that's going and what

is the culture like? How would you define the culture of the Miami Dolphins all right now? I mean it's you know, everything's easy and uh in terms of when you're winning, things were each and no question. But you find out, you find you find out a lot about your team when you when you lose. And that's what we found out early on in the season. I think at one point we were one in three. Um, No, I wasn't playing. I had an injury at the time, so you know, you got to I had to check

myself as well, make sure my body was right. But we really rose to the occasion. We understood the challenge that we had ahead of us, and we understood that, um, in order to have a chance in December, that we needed to win a lot of games and a lot of games soon and I think in the five game winn the street after that. So, UM, we have a culture of young guys who understand how to play football, guys who the learning grow and all best ftball players

that as young men. UM, and that's the exciting party. And I'm a part of this up and coming group. Still a lot lots of go, a long way to go, but it's exciting to see to see some success early on. But um, the most important football happens in December and we're writing to think of it. So we're trying to keep our head down and trying to continue the culture that we have so far. I'm hurt. I'm sure you've

heard from g A several times. They remember December. Yeah, man, every December is just incredible time where teams, you know, teams who have a fighting chance either high as you fall. So this is our chance. And I'm sure you're enjoying the weather down here as well. I'm a Pacific Northwest guy, so this weather in December has been beautiful. Man. Hey, that reminds me. I wanted to ask you. You said something before the Niners trip, or maybe it was after

you guys landed. You were like, I didn't expect this long flight going from Miami to say in France. That a bit of a shock for it. Just I think I was talking to somebody about it. You mentioned like you played in Dallas with Dallas was always in the middle of everything, you know, whenever the West coast or East coast. You know, that makes a lot of sense. But no, Miami to San Francisco. I was on that plane for two days, like I watched a movie. I took a nap aid, you know, some push ups in

the back. I thought that should be done, but two hours later then we're finally landing. So uh yeah, I know it was a little wake up called sometimes the trips a little far into the West coast, But as long as you get to win, I'm happy. That's right. I actually quote tweeted you on that and said something to the effect of, like, I watched Tuesday, I know specials, I watched a movie, I watched an entire Netflix series, and I still have half the damn flight to go.

Let's get back on track here, and um you know one of the guys that coach Flora has always talks about not getting enough due, and he certainly gets his due on this podcast. And every time I interact with Josh Boyer, he is the nicest guy imaginable. He always has a smile on his face says what's up. So that's how I know him. But I'm wondering if you can give us something on Josh Boyer. What has Josh Boyer been like for you and your guys A short relation and ship so far? Um Man, he he love

about it. He's just straightforward. He's gonna tell you it like it is. If you're doing well, doing bad what you need to be better at. UM, And he's not. He's not a guy who's gonna yell and scream too too often. He'll come up to me during the games. You're gonna be better on this, okay, but you gotta be you gotta be better than that. UM. And I

appreciate that. UM. Like I said, he doesn't shy. Were from with the superstar on the defense with the young guys and come over with coach and get you right. UM kind of see. Yeah, he still has his hand and each position group. Although he is a decordinator U. He loves a game and he's just teaching it to us as best as you can. So now he's been a hell of a DC so far and a hell of the coach. So we're all excited to have from

coach Boyer. We talked about Coach g a a little bit, and you've also talked this season periodically about working on your ball skills and I want to I want to say you referenced Charles Burke's in particular on that. How would you say you've progressed in that area trying to attack the football and learning from X and and just being more cognizant of locating the football. I can tell you I'm doing a damn find you and practice is just not translated to the game yet, so we're still

working on that. But no, it's you know, just watching It's like I was just out there after practice on the jokes. But that's that's something I never I never usedul to do. But watching him on the jacks, I'm like, you know, then I'm gonna go ahead and try to try that with him. Um, but now it's also to be on the defense where turnovers are just coming in bunches. You see guys across the board just making plays from the line to linebackers, dbs, nickels and safety. So um,

hopefully it'll roll off soon. But you know, as long as I do my job, it will come to me. And I gotta make a play that comes that that comes to me. Is that is that all? It's gonna be, just more opportunity for you to get a chance to take that practice reps over to the game the game they field, Yeah, exactly at something. It will happen. It's just you know, being focused and not you know, getting too focus just on on one aspect of the game. The game focus so much bigger than just turn over

all that they are the best. Um, it's much bigger than just turnovers. So I continue to do my job at a high level. And when I get the ball to my side and Gon'll make a play on it, there it is a yeah. I got two more questions for you here buying a quick Another cool stat I mentioned. I'm big into the stats and and if if they

have proper context, like to apply proper context to the stats. Um. So, since your return in the Week five win over San Francisco, the leading receiver of your eight opponents is averaging six point oh four yards per target, whereas in there are other games they average eight yards per target. How have you guys been able to take away the offense is most productive player and make the offense play I guess left handed as it were. Uh, just play better defense

at our coverage that are tackling better pressure. UM. I think it's a combination of a lot of things. It's hard to say which which is which. But the matches that that coaches have put us in, you know, so pretty much enjority of the season has been really good. You know, they're they're putting on a match up they think you can win and that that's very importantly defense defensive coordinator understands, um, every every player is strong suited

but also their weaknesses. We play our defense towards there. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's fun to watch me. It's been a lot of fun for me to just sit back and watch this defense. Second rank scoring defense. It is the number one third down defense in the NFL, so plenty of production. There. Finally, one last question for you, Byron. You're not old by any means, but you're not. You're twenty one year old self. Again, I'm curious, would you still break that that world record

long jump right now? Well, I'll tell you this. I've only jumped jumped as far one time in my life and it was only combined, So okay, I can't give you any promises on that. But now the leg's still feel good. You know, I feel a little bit old this great here and there, but now they still feel good and they still got some juice left, so now you can get damn close. I love it, man, I had to ask you that question. Byron Jones, Dolphins cornerback and a big, big reason for all those defensive stats.

I just threw your guys a way, Byron. I appreciate your time, man, best of luck to rest the way, stay healthy and we'll talk to you soon. Man. Appreciate a man, Take care and there he goes. If you go to the Miami Dolphins social media pages a Twitter account, you can retweet a Dolphins tweet they sent out early on Thursday morning, and a retweet equals one vote for Byron Jones to win the award as the Dolphins nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year. What's I go?

Check out out check out the article on Miami Dolphins dot com. Let's go ahead and spend this thing forward to Brian Flores is Thursday morning media availability, and we start with this news that the Dolphins also tweeted out on Thursday morning. In partnership with Coach Flora's and Consul Ladu Florida, we purchased items from Publix and Cisco to send to Honduras for Hurricane Eta relief efforts. A big thank you to Spirit Airlines for flying the items to

Central America. Coach Flores was asked about that program and his partnership to to get these hurricane relief efforts out to Honduras. Here's coach Flora's on that program. Uh. You know, I think we talked about this a couple of weeks ago as far as you know, some hurricane relief for the people who are down there on Durash. So just worked with Jason Jenkins in our community relations and in touch with the Consulate from unders and uh, you know, put some uh you know, with help from publics, put

some packages together and do with Spirit airlines. Um. We flew full playing down there and just gave them some supports and things that they needed a variety of things. So uh, but they needed some support, and you know, we're happy to help. And I just think about my family to have down there, Uh aunts, uncles, Uh them might deal a bortual alito. Ah, you know all my

family down there. Um, So I just think about them and to them, you know, just tell them I love them, and I'm praying for him to get a mortual and and uh and we're just uh just try to keep supporting.

Let's go ahead and pick it back help Earth. Coach who was asked about Dolphins rookie receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. Who had his most productive day of the season on Sunday with four catches for forty one yards, also had that rush for eleven yards and going back and watching that game over man, he was looking elusive and and shifty in space on that Kerry. Here's coach Flora's talking about the growth of the Dolphins rookie receiver who was

acquired back in September. And you might recall that chan Gailey had spoke about getting him more and more comfortable in the offense, getting him more opportunities, and finding ways to get him touches, because it's difficult given how in August this team was installing basic stuff, and and from there you build upon the basic you know, day one installs, and you try to go and and encapsulate more of what each player does specifically well and create packages and

create ideas and concepts for those players. For Bodeen, Gailey had said previously he was just trying to get caught up on the basic install the stuff that he missed in August since he wasn't here until September. Here's Coach Florence about the growth of Boden, who again had his best game of his career on Sunday against the Bengals. But you know, I think he contributed, you know, quite a bit last week. I think you know, he had a run for for for a good chunk and a

few passes. So um. But he played well last week. You want to say, had four or five catches. Last week he had a run. Um, I made some blockchain and run the game. So I think he's really improving getting better. I really, you know, there's a progress. I would say over the last couple of couple three or four weeks has been very good and hopefully he continues

to uh to be productive and helpless. Let's go ahead and finish up here with Coach who was asked about the Kansas City defense, which we covered pretty extensively on the preview podcast. All the all the parts they have to send pressure on the quarterback and really really turn turn the screws up once they get that lead in the second half of football games and let that defense kind of kind of hunt the quarterback and played turnover bass football. Here's Coach Floors on the Chiefs defense and

the challenges they present to a young Dolphins offense. A rookie quarterback with three rookies on the offensive line to play last week. Yeah, I mean a lot. I know people talk, you know, extensively about the offense, but this defense and special teams is is uh there for real? Um, I don't think they get enough credit. Uh, this is a this is a you know, I would say top level defense. You know, from my from my standpoint, I thinks bags is a great job. I think these two

safeties are very good. Really three safeties include Thornhill corners are very good. Um, impressing man coverage obviously we know about you know Frank Frank Clark and Chris Jones and you know Hitchens makes a lot of tackles. And this is a good team. So this would be a tough and they bring pressure, and they bring pressure from a lot of areas like you mentioned Camin, I mean the

kind of go off on a tangent there. But um uh, I mean the corners blitz, the backers, blitz, ends, drop you know, I mean the guys coming from all over the place. They do a good job with disguising. Uh. Yeah, this is a good group. So you hear coach talk about Spags Steve Spagnola, who we should remember from years ago winning Super Bowls as a defensive coordinator, of the New York Giants. The guy has coach defense for a long time and very very well. It just goes in

line with this chiefs, this Chief's operation. The roster is good, the quarterback is transcendent. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelsey are the best one to punch in terms of production at the skill positions. Frank Clark and Chris Jones will put pressure on every quarterback they face. Tyron Matthew creates turnovers. They've got so many good players and so many good coaches like Spagnola, like Andy Reid, like Eric b Enemy. It's gonna be a tough test, like coach Floores mentioned.

Let's go ahead and finish up this podcast with player media availability from this Thursday, and let's go ahead and start with Dolphins safety Bobby McCain, who I asked about Byron Jones is impact on the team from the perspective of the community work and the head of the social

impact committee. Here's be talking about Byron, uh, you know, putting forth his best effort, just trying to you know, even take the even if it's not get the get the entire things done, and just take small steps and uh we we we appreciate that as a team mains a great teammate, great, he's smart, he's good player. We

all appreciate it, and he knows that. McCain also discussed the challenges of being the quarterback of the defense and communicating calls to the rest of the defense against the Chief's offense that has so many weapons, so many shifts, and so much window dressing they can do pre snap depending upon game plan. Um, just that that's just being

being being, uh my role in the defense. Having to get guys in the right place and understand what we're at and understand the things that beat us is something that comes with it. So you know, I'd love to tell you how many checks I have to make, but I'm not. But you definitely do a great job as a defense, as a secondary understanding that when things move, things can change. And we'll make it nice and short and sweet today and go ahead and finish up with

the offends. Rookie receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. Who I asked Lynn about the benefits of going from playing receiver initially to one year at quarterback and now back to receiver and how much that can benefit him from my perspective to see the game through different lenses. You know. It's like moving from quarterback and receiver and receiver quarterback. You get the best of both worlds because now now as a receiver, you're seeing how the quarterback look at it.

As a quarterback, you see how the receiver scene. And so I gotta have the best about world of being able to read coverages and seeing the different disguises and stuff like that. All right, that's gonna wrap up our player media availability nice and short and sweet on this Thursday again. Go ahead and check out the written story on Byron Jones up on Miami Dolphins dot com. And go ahead and make your vote for two a tong of by Low for PEPSI Rookie of the Week for

Week thirteen to win over the Bengals. He is leading the poll right now as I record this podcast. Let's go ahead and make sure and bring it home for our rookie quarterback. In the meantime, that's gonna be my time. You all, please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Leave us a rating, leave us a review, give me a follow On Twitter. It's at Wingfield, NFL. You can follow the team at Miami Dolphins. Check out The Audible with Bow and John Conjemmi, who joins me

every Sunday night to recap the Dolphins game. Check out the fish Tank Podcast with Seth and Juice. We're gonna have an extended version of the Flashback podcast tomorrow with o J talking about a game he played in and he is fired up to do that podcast. I can't wait to bring that to you guys. And of course everything up on Miami Dolphins dot com, including your chance right now to secure your place at one Miami Dolphins

member season tickets available for you right now. Go ahead and check out the website at Miami Dolphins dot com until next time until Friday, fins up