Hangin' with the 'Boys: Omar Epps Stops By

They're wondering because we are joined by a very special guest special and so we decided to do a very special show. Mister Derrick Eagleton has joined today. Just kidding, just kidding, many shows. You know. I try to do what I can do when I can do it. We've been trying to get this guy to come on our

show to help us out for about two years. Yes, he gives us the hisman every time we have a special guest, Omar Epps on the show and not only invites himself on the show, he says, I'm coming on the show and he's the boss, so we had to let him on the show. Sometimes you pull rain, Yeah, welcome to the show. Man, welcome to camp. To be here and to expand on that. I'm out there doing some work. I'm charging some plays and work looking at some things, and he wants to do this. Man, he said,

we gotta we got somebody come to the show. I said who, I said, you got Old Marster. That's great, he'sa nah, somebody else coming? I said, who is this? I'm trying to guess Broadest Sneaky Spack, Nola, mister Jones, Na, Derek Eagle. Thank you. I told Shannon when he told me you were coming, I was like, dude, like, is like major to me? Like going back to Juice and yeah, a whole night into Deep man, I love that movie. Maybe score them a little bit on the on the

pool table scene, but yeah, yeah. I was like when when I heard you were coming on, I was like, I gotta be on, man, Yeah, I gotta be on. So tell us how did you become a Cowboy fan? How long you've been a Cowboy fan? And give us some background. Been a Cowboy fan my whole life. So I'm born and raised Brooklyn, New York. Um. But when I was a kid, Tony Dorsett was my favorite player, right, Um, So that's what it is. You know, I was, I was riding with or set and so I've been you know,

I've been Cowboys fan ever since. Was that tough growing up in Brooklyn and being a Cowboy fan? No, I mean a little bit, um because all New York teams sucked back then. Anyway, Yes, that's like but um, you know when we after after the glory days of the nineties, you know, it was a little tough. Yeah, it's been a little tough. But I wrapped face fully, right, I'm out there social media Cowboys Nation, right, But tell us this right here before we get into you man, what

were did you play football? Was you athletic coming up through high school, middle school, elementary? Tell us about that. Yeah, I used to actually play for Pop Warner team called the Brooklyn Skyhawks. Um, you know, I thought I would one day be on the field. And then I was about sixteen, I got hit real hard. I was like, maybe I can act like a football And then Malik Jefferson was born. Yeah, how'd you get into acting? I got into acting. I always kind of been into the arts.

My grandmother was an artist, my grandfather was a jazz musician, and I've been writing for as long as I can remember, and write poetry, short stories, raps, stuff like that. So it just kind of became an extension of that. Um just performing in like my acting hero at Sydney Portier, you know, grew up watching him, so I'll just was influenced by his gifts. And then I ended up going to high school performing arts in New York, which is the you know, the Fame School and all that, and

that was it. Man. It's just such an incredible environment to foster artistry and and I mean, and then I was just blessed with opportunity. Right out of high school. I booked my first film. And having looked back as a kid born in the seventies, obviously going through the nineties and hip ho hop and Tupac? How was it working with Tupac? Like, I mean, you obviously worked with him in Juice. Talked to us a little bit about that interaction and what kind of man was he? Man?

That was a magical experience, man, and Pop was just a he was everything that you think he would be like, you know, and I'm not talking about famous people, you know, there's just certain personalities of people who were just larger than life. And they have a different aura. He was one of those people, and you know, it was just it was just people with kids. Man, I was I was seventeen. I think he might have been nineteen or

something like that. So we were just kind of living a dream and just I'm just fortunate and thankful to have been a part of that. You know, I'm gonna keep going back, be a little more detail in your in your childhood. Was you brought up in a good home, soil at home, one family, explaining that because I want kids to know that no matter where you come from, how you do it, it's a story behind everybody. Yeah. Absolutely, Well, you know I grew up, uh, you know, blue collar.

My mother was was an educator and board of education, single parent, household, I grew up. I didn't know my father growing up, and uh, and it was rough. But you know, my mom's is my superhero and my super woman to this day. And if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here. The thing because I just actually wrote a book called From Fatherless to Fatherhood. That chronicle was my story growing up without a father and then

becoming a father. So it's interesting that you asked that question, But you know, my mother instilled a sense of self worth in me at a very young age. I always felt that I was valued, you know, in our household, and that that's kind of what got me here because you know, when the peer pressure would come and things of that that happened in those type of environments. I always knew I was looking at life as a marathon. Wasn't about a quick fix or a quick thing. And

I never wanted to put negative into the world. I didn't want to be successful by negativity, you know what I mean. So, yeah, man, that's my story. I've been grinding, you know, just focus. I've been dreaming about what I do for a living since I was twelve years old, right, you know, And I tell kids that all the time. You got to you gotta see it, and then you structure your life around that. You know, everything has a science to it, and everything is a craft, and you

gotta respect it and learn it. And then you just keep grinding and you keep grounding. When opportunity knocks, you better be ready to kick that door open. You talk about fatherhood, I know that when I became a father, I was there were so many lessons you learned because you start going through and you're teaching this this person

how to become an adult. Right, give me one thing, just if you had to boil it down to one thing that you've learned in the process of being a father that's kind of helped you in your life as a man, one thing that you think kind of is has stood out as that one big lesson. That's that's hard to pick one thing out of I know, but I would say I think the main thing is that time is the most valuable thing on earth. This is

the most invaluable thing that exists. Time. And so you know, just as a parent, a mother or father, that's your most precious thing that you can give your kids, your time. You have to be present, you gotta be active because you know when when when kids grow up, the things that they remember was that time, you know, dad came to my baseball game, or that time you know mom did such and such and such that I had nothing to do with buying me a pair of sneakers or

a video game. So if I had to boil it down, I would pick this to go. It's so true. I played, you know, I was fortunate to get on every level of football. But I can remember every game because my dad was just a worker man, and so every game that he showed up, they're like, hey man, your mom want to visit a thousand game? But dad came to this right right, you know, right when I got my dad to come to the Hawaii to the Pro Bowl, I was in heaven. Man, Hey, I opened the checkbook.

I was are afterward. But what do you want? You know, brothers, time be that form man, that's be there, man, what you got yours legit? So walk us through being a being a cowboy fan? What's it? What's a game? Obviously you're super busy right now, career, you know all that stuff. But are you able to watch games? If you are, like are you glued? Are you screaming? Or you like, how do you watch? What's your Sundays? Like my Sunday is, um, I'm coming downstairs and living room. Everybody know to leave

me alone. My mother in law is a Giants fan, right, and she's very vociferous fan, all right, and she lives right behind us. So we you know, if we if we playing like we don't even she like we don't speak until after the game, right right right, and if if if we take the l I don't want to talk. If we beat them, I'm gonna go van lies of backyard right. But that's it, you know, typical Sunday is you know, uh whatever, I'm gonna eat sitting right there and I'm waiting for the game. You know, I'll be

watching all the games. But when we come on and I'm very uh, I think I'm I think I'm the coach. I'm one of those guys. I'm streaming at the guys. I'm screaming at everybody and kids are like, all right, dad, so give me your state of the union right now? What do you what do you think whether whether team is heading into twenty and eighteen. I'm actually excited, man. Look when we got all of the Dad's man, thank you for you know, all of the gay to the team,

you know, salute to future Hall of Fame and winning. Um. I didn't at first, you know, when the whole desk thing happened, I was like, all right, well, what's the you know, do we have something set up for that? And from what I see now, I'm kind of I'm excited. It's it's it's basically like, okay, it's we're going young and um we still got some great people. I think I'm I think Zeke's gonna have a monster year. I

just have some feeling about that. I think I d is gonna be better than a lot of people think, because I was surprised at our d last season. Um, and it's to me, it's all about that if that can take his experience from last season but inject back that fun and sort of he wasn't thinking in his first season. You know, last season you can tell he was in his head. But so if he can combine those two, man, I like our chances, their experienced with

an enthusiasts, that's the word. And you know we gotta Um, it's gonna be a good year because we gotta knock off the beast man. They in our division, no doubt. You know, they got the chips. So we're playing them twice, so we're gonna You know, when you saw that the Eagles, who ain't never won nothinging, When you saw that, what

was your feelings? Man? Watching the Super Bowl? Did you rep did you say, hey, I'm father them because then the East or did you say, man, I ain't going with Eagles regardless, No, I'm still with you know, with our squad but right I was, I know, you know, you know what, I knew they were gonna win. It was one particular play. Remember they tried to pass. Uh, they tried to pass play to Tom Brady and they

and it didn't work. Yeah, when the Eagles came back and do the same play the Nick Foles and it worked. I literally said that my boy. I said, oh, they're about to win this game, you know what I mean, because they just I mean, they just played a hell of a game, you know, And um, I can't I don't know. I think Belichick got out coached. That was the first time I saw that. You know, they kind of their offensive modulation was was impeccable. So it pains me to say this, but the Eagles deserved to win.

They took that game from New England. They one of the few teams that didn't sit back and go, let's play it safe. We got they kept on the gas. Yeah, they deserved. And you still answer that question, Oh mind, what did you cheer for the Eagle left? I was happy for them, right like my co star on the show, Ryan Phillippi's He's from phillip So I was happy for him. I was happy, like for all my friends that are Eagles fans. But you know, I'm I'm riding down cowboy man,

just like, yeah, we're gonna see you next season. Talk about the show a little bit, you're own shooter, right, yeah, shoot, what season are y'all in? Where? We just finished season three? So knock on wood we'll be doing a season four.

Huh Yeah. Man, We're having an absolute blast, a wonderful time working with Ryan and John Lavin who created the show, and it's just been a hell of a ride man, because we're like, you know, we do all our stunts, a lot of you know, tactical stuff, fighting, weapons, training, and um. So we're just kind of like two big kids just and playing in the sandbox, you know, and um and people love the show. So again, knock on

Wood season four. What is it doing your stunts? Obviously doing that a little bit, I've seen assume a lot challenging, But how is that doing your own stats? It's fun. You just gotta train, like you gotta really, you know, but I stunt cowboy train. No, Well, just you have to be physics lead in shape, right, you know what I mean? Because what do you go through? That's what I'm saying. Put it out there. Oh I'm trained, like

you know, physical training. We also do, um we call it a pilgrimage the Utah where we uh we do a lot of weapons training at this time private ranch, which is which you know all X Marines and you know X law enforcement and just so that our characters can we can deliver those subtleties and nuances that only people from those world will really pick up, right, um, because we want them to feel like, all right, they're

doing it for real life. There was UM, I remember seeing something online where um, I did something with a weapon that had was called a side site, so you're turning it that way. Somebody was like, where is he turning it supposed to be? It's like because it has a side side you know what I mean. Like X Marines were like, dude, that's exactly what supposed to do. Oh my god. Yeah, you know, we gotta hit the gym and um trains, I do cross fit and stuff

like that. A box. Yeah, it's gotta be ready. You hear that coach, I mean what you're trying to say. I mean he he's he's these both of these guys like the train I following him. I scouted him jogging yourself. Hey, I got it here. I get to the red light about about three quarters of a mile from here, and I'm waiting on the light to change, and I think that this homeless person's riding about on the bike and they start doing circles around me. I look up. Nature's grinned, like, hey,

what's up. Yeah, they liked the jog, right, It is more than life to jog. You gotta do a little tactical training, bro, Yeah, I do a little bit of everything. You ain't seen these hands they I get these hands on you. I see your hands ball, But I've seen your hands in some sixteen houses. So what's what's your favorite project? You had a pretty long career, you know what's your favorite project that was just like, man, that was a cool thing. I'm glad I was a part

of it, all of them, all of them. Man. I feel like, you know, um, every every project in my mind, it's like the old pieces of a big mosaic at the end of at the end of my career. Um, you know, it'll be one big picture because I can't because each journey has its own thing, It has its own unique place in my heart or experience or something

that you know happened. But there's nothing like the first I will say that, you know what I mean, Like this, this, you know, my very first project, Juice will always hold a special place in my heart because that was like the first one. You know. It's just kind of like amazing, you know, taking a train and set and um, and we felt like we felt like we were doing something special, you know, we could. It's just that that in that time, what the film was about, how it is being captured.

Shout out to Ernest Dickinson, who wrote and directed the film. Um, it was just an incredible experience. Yeah, so flip that. What's an opportunity that you didn't take that you look back now, like, man, I should have taken out when that was a bad decision. I haven't had that yet, have Yeah, I haven't had I haven't. I haven't turned down anything this has been Um. Like I wanted to do Dead Presidents but I didn't get it. Yeah, So I was pissed when I saw the movie because I

was like, this is hot. You could have killed but yeah, I actually didn't get that one. But now I haven't. Um, I haven't swung and missed in that way. Okay, you know, and then you know, people are always asked me, like, is there anything that you want to do? You know, I mean outside of like a biopic of like, you know, I've always wanted to play like Frederick Douglas, you know, tell about his life. But outside of that, creatively, my process is different. I'm kind of open, you know. I

definitely want to get into comedy. I want to get into action, you know, and just keep working. You know. What's what's funny about that is we're looking for an action slash comedian on the Dallas Cowboys dot com staff. There's an opening, so we we might be able to hook you up with that. All right, We'll have our people talk. Okay, all right. I think he might be a little bit out of our price range, but I

don't know. We're talking about it. You know, we buy a few guys, and you know, I'm a cow biologist because because the dead waits speaking of new guys, are there any any neither rookies or second or third guys that you're looking forward to see what they could do out on the field. Yeah, I think I want to see, uh, what's his name that came over from the Jaguars the other dude, what's his name from the Rams. It's a couple of those. Guy. I want to see. I want

to see what's going on. We got the what's the big boy from Alabama running back? Wait till you see how big he is in person. I've heard he's he's huge man. Yeah, but does he run mean? Yes? He does. We don't. I don't want the Brandon Jacobs big it is what it is, A big tiptoe. Yeah, I don't want big tiptoe. I want a big, mean, angry problem. He gonna bring thunder if they if he can find a way. I don't know if they're gonna make him play special teams or asking to play special team to

get on the active day roster. But me, they would have got Clemson the second time if he would have been if he had to stay healthy, right, that's been his issue. He he runs so violent, he hurts himself. So I hope you can keep that on this. You picked a great day to come out because today is the first day they were in pad yesterday for the first time. Today will be the first first day that they go one on one drills for a length of the practice. They did a little bit offensive defense yesterday,

but only a couple of plays. But today you'll get to see him go wide receiver DBS in the pads, so maybe maybe you get to see him knocks some heads out there today. So I'm excited. I mean, you guys are here, you know on the daily basis, what's the what's the consensus, what's the feeling. Well, it's so early, man, it's so hard to tell right now, I will say this.

I will say this though. Yesterday I was looking at the at the dB group and I'm really interested in seeing what Byron Jones can do, just because he didn't really do a whole lot of safety and now moving him to corner the defensive coordinator where I shouldn't say defensive plinning secondary coach who may at some point be coordinating part of the defense. I think he believes a lot in him. And obviously he's got the skins on the wall coming from Seattle and the guys that he

kind of brought up there. So I'm actually interested to see. And then Byron Jones get a really nice pick us today. I don't know if you saw that name, but he got really nice he got and to me, that was all about being able to track the ball, get at a high point, make the play right. Because you see all the times where quarterbacks make bad throws, but quarterback don't always come down with it. He may. He came down with it, So I'm really interested in watching him

a lot more. We got we got seven offensive linement now that are interchange. But when we went out and got the kid from from New England, Fleming, and we got another kid, Maurice Marcus Mark whatever. He didn't have a good day, number sixty. He can't go on the well but up. But everybody else. Connor Williams, who we drafted, he fitting right in. Oh, he looked good. We went out first through the first row of one on one pass rush. We thumped him that first time to the

second time. It is a little angler, so they got with us a little bit. But we got a front six I know that can play man. Okay. Yeah, And that was the problem last year was that we've been starting and you started losing guys. When you lost Tyren specifically, it was tough stuff going. So yeah, they better get after, better get after. I want to see what Lawrence is gonna do too. Yeah. Followed that up yesterday on pass rush. Yeah, that's nice, but he did. Yeah, I mean, my boy

finished so strong. Collins the right tackle finished so strong. I was anticipated this is gonna be the best match up. Don't match up at all. Man and Collins is much improved. That kid is improve That kid mean, I like he plays, he plays me, he plays. I mean, but he's once he gets that from nest down. Yeah, it's gonna be a problem. So Tony, So, Tony Dorset, is your is your favorite all time player? Right cowboy player? That was my Well yeah, I guess you could say because he

brought me into the fold. Who's your who's your favorite current day Cowboy player? Anybody on this team that you really gravitate towards. That is a toss up between Dak and Zeke personally, Um, Zeke, bro don't don't don't, don't get it, don't get a twist. It's a toss up, yo. That guy he got he got Biza, he got potential, and I think he's a winner. He has that energy. I think he's a winn. He's still young. W you know there's only two seasons in. You know, Zeke is

just something special, Zake special man. He tucked that when he dropped them shoulders. He reminds me it's so crazy. He really does remind me an Emmett, where he doesn't look as fast as he can be, doesn't look as strong as he can be, doesn't look like he has the move, but it's like it's like by inches. Yeah, could juke you. You won't catch him if he get past you, and he will run you over. That's my

favorite parts shot. He usually doesn't go down off the first hit, you know, when I'm meeting him last hit, seeing how big his head and neck off, I understand his hands twice as big this year because his hair is like and that's the best kept secret. You know. We don't never when we said zeke man, and the first thing we noticed is that that jug about to keep that quiet, you know. All right man, Well we we're gonna get out of here. We're not gonna take

up too much more your time. We're gonna watch the practice. But we really appreciate explain Eric. Man, he's sitting there that you're smiling. That's like a good dude. Yeah that's my boy from back home, you know, life friend and he's right here, man, Yeah, this my cowboy brother. Yeah, as well as my real brother. But you know, so this, this is how real it is. See, he's from Jersey, right, so training camp. So he flew all the way out from Jersey out here specifically to come here, you know

what I mean. So I'm like, Yo, I'm I'm I'm gonna hit Shandon. We're gonna hook it up and yeah, you know what I mean, just so he could. Yeah, Yo, so you gotta bring him to the game. A game this year? Oh yeah, absolutely, we gotta come. Try to get into a game last year. Couldn't make it. He said he's gonna make it. He got at least the one year. No, we're gonna make it. This shit. You know, when you come, you're gonna be just a host of shows.

So when you came, we need more than a day. Okay, okay, we need to be like rolling down on maybe a Friday or Thursday. We want to overexpose you. If that's all right, I'm with it. We're gonna all right, man, we'll get out here and watch some practice. We're gonna get out of here. Derek, thanks for joining us. Thank you, Thanks, appreciate you. Come, appreciate you coming on. See you later on Hang you with the superstarde. Derky got me, Oh

my god. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.