Happy Half Hour Episode 8: Teddy Time

Will Miles, let me start with you. How smug do we feel now that we have an officially sponsored podcast? I feel gently smug, gently smug, gently badly gently, Yes, that Will wants to work for Morris Jenkins. You're just gonna, You're gonna. I'm not sure about that. I know the least amount of ac repair things there are to know,

so I don't know. Well, I can challenge you on that. Man. Guys, don't don't let Morris Jenkins in on this, Okay, although I guess maybe it's good that we don't know anything because we'll be calling them. But let's play it cool. Let's play it cool with Morris Jenckens. You know, we want to impress them. That's a writer right there. I would never pick up on the fact that I did that um unintentional corny joke there. But but thank you, Miles. Oh,

you're welcome. So yeah, it's been an exciting week for us now that our podcast is sponsored. It's been a really exciting week for our team, the Panthers, because a lot has happened. So much has happened since the last time that the three of us talked. So, Miles, I think we're gonna throw it back to the first episode of this podcast where we put you on a timer. I think it would be fun if you have to try to describe everything that's happened, because literally a million

things have happened in the past week. As football is now back, We're gonna put you on the timer for sixty seconds and see if you can get through it all. What do you think? Okay, let's let's try it. I will set my own uh stop watch here in my own little podcast studio that is just the desk at my apartment, and let's see what we can do. All right, tell the people what they need to know and three

to one. Well, first, I think it's important to note that the Panthers cut down to eight players, which is important because that means that they don't have to use split squad procedures. So if they had stayed at ninety players, has met well first indicated that they probably would, then they would have to do that, but they didn't do that, and now they only have eighty players, which is good because that means that they can all kind of work

out together. So two players actually opted out, Christian Miller and then Jordan Matt Christian Miller is an edge rusher, Jordan mac an undrafted rookie linebacker. We wish those guys the best, and obviously we never you're opting out. That's something that's pretty serious, especially considering how serious COVID is. But if you look at it now, then the veterans all, they basically all passed their COVID test, which is good because it meant that nobody had to go on that

reserve list. So walkthroughs have now commenced, and that's really important because obviously, look, the Panthers don't really know their scheme yet, they have a new coaching step, they have a lot of new players, so that is very important too. And now we've actually started to hear from players on pretty much an everyday basis on press virtual press conferences, including quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. That was perfect time. Wow, well, I I think we got to give them, you know,

a lot of props on that. I mean, the first time we timed. I think I've me like three minutes. I probably did. Producer Matt please edit in some audience applause, right, waitboar it, wait for it, Yes, yes, yes, let it breathe, Let it breathe. And giving you at my house. That was awesome. That was very well said. You are absolutely right on everything. I could not have done that in sixty seconds. Um. But it's exciting. It's exciting. Football is

is back. It's training camp. Even though it looks so different, things are happening. The team is altogether and it feels great. Um. So, in the spirit of that, Miles, I thought you and I should kind of tell everyone who's listening how we plan to cover the team for training camp, because obviously it's going to be a lot different, and I don't think that we've kind of gotten into the brass tacks of of where you and I will be, um and what we'll be doing, and how we'll be giving fans

what they need to know about the team. Yeah, It's true, it's gonna be odd. I think from a lot of different standpoints just from Look, when we all think of training camp, we all think of pads, we think of hitting, we think of getting Yes, that too, Yeah, that's you know, from just even that standpoint, Right, it's at a different location. It's at the it's at the stadiums, that where they usually practice every day during the season. So it's gonna

be weird, it's gonna be different. I don't even know if we know how much of practice will even be able to see, right, because when we get into regular season mode, then that is usually when coaches start to close things down. You get the twenty minutes, you can take attendance, you can watch stretching in the individual periods, and then that's about it. I don't I don't know if you know, Kristen or Will, but we don't necessarily know exactly how that's gonna work once the players really

start getting on the field. So look, we're gonna do everything we can write, like I'll be filing observations articles from everything that we can see. Will still continue to update you on um their virtual pressers because I don't anticipate we're gonna be talking to players in person for a long long time. Um. And beyond that, it's gonna kind of be fined by the seat of our pants a little bit. But I think it'll still be fun. You know, we we know how to cover football around here, right,

speak for yourself. No, I'm just kidding, Yes, yes, we do. Uh, yeah, it's gonna be different. Um. I think you hit the nail on the head. In terms of the big things is that we can watch practice. The three of us will be able to watch practice from a very safe distance. But we are in the group of people. I don't know how much everyone listening has followed kind of all of the intricacies of the fact that the team and kind of the core staff really can't be around uh

most of the rest of us. So we're gonna find new and creative ways to to cover the team, to talk to the team, Miles. As you said, there's been a ton of virtual zoom pressors this week, which have been great, and so it's going to be interesting. I'm actually excited. I've had a few meetings over the past couple of weeks of trying to find fun, creative, different ways of communicating with the players, interviewing the players, bringing people what they want. So I'm actually excited about it.

Um but yeah, that's pretty much what we know right now, and I'm sure it will change because everything is happening on the fly. And kudos to the NFL for for figuring this all out, and and our team, you know, headed by Eddie Levin's for figuring all of these different changes out every single day in such a changing environment. Um but but I'm excited even though it's it's going to be a lot different. Will You are the only one of us though that has done the regular training

camp and and for quite a few years. How weird is it going to be for you? Oh? Yeah? I mean I'm used to being down there, you know, with my bucket hat down on the field in Spartanburg. I love the bucket hats. There's nothing better than a training camp bucket hat. It's the only time I wear it, you know, I need to like three bucket hats, but I'm only gonna ever wear it for this three week period in this one place. Can't do it anywhere else. Do you ever dip it in water and then put

it on your head? No? Just me. I've people at the beach. I've done at the beach. I don't know, ye don't know how hot you got down there? You know, oh yeah. Um. But what one of the cool things that we usually do every year at training camp is are like Can't Confidential video series, you know, kind of a long form, weekly behind the scenes UM video thing that you know, fans really look forward to every year. So one of the things that this year is it

usually it tells the story of training camp. Well, what's really the story right now? The story isn't so much that the guys are, you know, doing lifting for sixty minutes or doing walkthroughs for sixty minutes. The story is how does this work? You know, how did how did this get to this point? Um? From May and June when all these restrictions were put in place. UM. So hopefully that's going to be falling um the next couple of days. So we look be on the lookout for

all of our stuff. But uh, you know, the social YouTube Panthers dot com. But it really is it's a fascinating look behind the scenes with you know, you already mentioned Eddie Evans, who's the chief security officer, UM. But all of the things they've done in the suites, UM,

with players in the suites, with the meeting rooms. UM. For those that have been in the stadium and have been up there, you know, it's gonna look really different seeing the way that they've kind of remodeled those areas four players, you know, the way that they move lockers around, so lockers are now um you know, it's one extra

locker between, so they have more space between guys. And one thing I thought that was interesting is that typically in the locker room they have all of the position groups together, like all the quarterbacks and offensive linemen and

wide receivers. You know, they're all right next to each other. Well, now they have it kind of randomized offense, defense and completely different types of position groups, so that if a certain person or a certain area gets you know, symptoms, then it's not all of the all ten wide receivers don't all get it because it's all they're all right next to each other. UM. So you know, you don't wipe out an entire position group. You know, obviously the

fingers crossed that none of that happens. But I thought it was an interesting change that they made to just, you know, some of the smallest things you never imagined. Yeah, but you know, that's something I've heard about two with other teams, how they're doing that and sort of randomizing it. And I think the other part of it is that it kind of helped with when you go into the

locker room. It helps you be a little bit more staggered, right because in theory um position, groups are going to be going into the locker room at sort of the same times, and so that can also I think help in terms of, hey, you know, how are we being spread out, how are we physically distancing because obviously, look in the locker room, as much as you want to be able to, it can be sometimes a little bit difficult to physically distance and have a little bit more

of that space. So I think the more randomized it is, that probably is a little bit better, just based on what the situation is. And it's all these things I think are temporary, but you know, as as we all want to see football, we all want to have football, they are the necessary ups to try to keep everybody

as safe as possible. So yeah, so that that series should be coming out here in the next couple of days, so be on the lookout for it and hopefully we'll get you know, and you know these continuing down the road to kind of really get behind the scenes and you know, what are the virtual meetings, Like, what are these guys talking about on zooms? You know, it's different than the camera in the meeting room. You know, literally

the meeting rooms are computer cameras. You know, it's completely different now, So, um, we'll be a really interesting kind of behind the scenes. Look, yeah, I completely agree. I'm excited for everyone to to see it. Um. And and the cool thing is, well, like you said, it is a lot of the behind the scenes which is fascinating, um to see just how many changes have happened in such a short time. But as you also mentioned, I

mean there is there is football in it. You get to see some virtual meetings kind of behind the scenes there. You get to see, um, the rookies going through their process of coming in, some of the vets getting tested. So I love that it has both. I mean, it really is a great look at what everyone in the organization has been doing over the last few weeks. Um, So I'm pumped. I can't wait for everyone to get a chance to see it. And yeah, and obviously as

we continue to move forward. You know, as practices evolved, so will the show and so our coverage, you know, as as more football as we get closer to UH to week one in September. So I gotta thing for you guys. We've already had, you know, almost two guys a day. Today was was just Brian Burns. But we've had all these press conferences, all these interviews, all crammed together here since Sunday. What are your top five takeaways so far? Cool? Yeah, Miles, you go first? All right?

So should I do three? Yeah? Give us? Give us? How about you go five? I'll go four, you go three? How about that? Okay? Number five? Um, I would say that I think, you know, Brian Burns, he's somebody who has I think when you look at what he had last year, you know, and the the injury deal, And like I went back today after he was talking about it, and I looked at that film of when he heard him he heard his risk against Houston, and he's just

like slamming his fist down on the ground. And I don't think anybody in that situation would have thought, Man, I'm gonna have a risk injury that's gonna mess up the rest of my rookie year, right, Like, I think you're just reacting to doing something good but not quite as good as you thought it could be. So listening to him today and you know how he has recovered from that and how he thinks about that and how he's trying to move on from that, that was interesting.

But I thought maybe one of the more interesting things of that virtual presser was how he was talking about going to a home improvement store and having to buy like buckets and then other materials so that he could continue working out in his garage Jim after his trainer went out of town during this quarantine period that we've all been having in the off season, because the trainer had all the free weights. That is a good one. Um,

I am gonna go. I'm gonna go with my number four talking about KK Short, But speaking of before I get to my point, I do want to say that I got to talk to KK Short a couple of months ago, and one of the weird things he was doing was like he was just like lifting tables up at his house to continue m his training. Like that's what he was doing for a while until he could get into a good routine where he had the weight

and stuff. He was like, yeah, I just started balancing, like balancing tables at my house, and then I put stuff on it. Then I try to balance it. So everyone got super creative. Um without access to our regular gym or even freeweights. But for number four, I'm gonna go with KK Shorts, Quarantine TV shows. These are the shows he recommends, money Heist, Impostors, and Shameless. So our guy KK is uh likes the drama. He likes a little bit of mystery, likes you know there's no comedies

on there. Those are all pretty I mean money heist is in a different language. So um for some money saying less Shameless is good stuff. I like Shameless a lot. I recommend it. Okay, but not it's not a drama. I thought for sure I had that. Really it's more of a comedy shows you what I know? Alright, Um, alright, how about number three? Number three? I will go to Derek Brown, who I think it is just so even keel. It's like almost a little bit weird for a defensive tackle.

And I don't mean that in a bad way. And I think weird can be one of these words that comes off like it's bad but he is so even keel and I remember yes, and I remember thank you. So I remember talking to his position coach at Auburn right after the draft, and that was basically the same thing. He said, This is a very mature young man. He knows exactly what he needs to do to get better. And I think it goes even to his decision to stay at Auburn rather than go into the draft after

his junior year. He stayed. He was good at Auburn and and as senior, and then he decided UM two, and then he entered the draft as he graduates. So I think when you look at him and this being a tough situation for any rookie, because look, these guys don't really know the playbook, they don't know the veterans, they don't have the benefit of all the things that they should have had were we not in a pandemic.

I think that if anybody is well equipped to handle that as a first round pick, it's him, well said, I completely agree. I mean I talked to him on draft night and he was like calm, cool and collected. It's it's really it's really very very impressive. Um alright, number two. This feels like Teddy's team, Right, That's something that I've like, I mean, I knew it in theory and that's what we expected. But Miles backed me up

on this. On all of these press conferences, We've heard not just from from Teddy himself, although he said right off the bat, you know, I do feel like this is my team. I feel very confident in that. We've heard from everyone saying d J. Moore saying, guys gravitate to him. We've heard from um Matt ruland Joe Brady of course in the past about how quickly he's kind of taken over and take an ownership of this team.

But I just felt like on almost every press conference one of the players had something to say about about how Teddy has has really come in, come in and take an ownership of this team so quickly. Yeah, I agree, And it's really interesting the way I thought it was

really interesting the way he addressed replacing Cam Newton. H And I guess this could be my number one thing, because he really, I thought was respectful, Um, because look, this is a tough situation when you're coming in and replacing somebody who was as important as Cam Newton was to this franchise. He won an MVP with this franchise. He was instrumental in helping that team reach the super

Bowl in season. So when Teddy comes in and he talks about how it's an honor to take over for Cam Newton, like that's that's a lot of respect, And I think that just shows you part of why people gravitate toward him so heavily. He is the kind of person that not only takes command, but he understands exactly

how his actions are going to be perceived. He also talked about that too, you know how he wants to be a good example and he doesn't want to, you know, be somebody's stepping out and doing something because somebody might see him do it and either on you, especially when you're a quarterback. So talking about Teddy Bridgewater, I just I find him to be really impressive. And I think that we all have heard stories because when Teddy went down with that devastating knee injury before what was that

the sixteen season, everybody and universally was so sad. And it's not it wasn't just like your stand um injury season ending injury where everybody is obviously upset, but it was something that I thought was unique, and when Teddy was able to get back on the field, it seemed

like it was unique to in the praise, right. So he's still been sort of my profile backup quarterback over the last couple of years their New Orleans, and everybody seems to know about him, and you follow him, and you look at what he did last year winning all those games Um and Drew Brees instead, and everybody was

very genuinely happy for this man. And when you start to hear him and you start to get to know him a little bit, and you hear what his teammates think about him firsthand, it makes a lot of sense. So I'm really interested to see exactly what this is going to look like once the Panthers are on the field. I'm interested to see what he looks like at practice, because I have to think that it's going to be a positive outcome at least at this Are you talking

to Um and I'm is it Teddy Time? Producer, Matt, Will you please clip that off so that we can just have Will singing It's Teddy Time, just and play it whenever we want to. That's amazing, Peanut Butter, Teddy Time peanut butter, Teddy time, peanut butter, Teddy time, peanut that Teddy down, but peanut butter with what now what was that last part? It's peanut butter with a baseball bat. But I don't know, I know, I know what it's supposed to be. You were really going there for a while.

That was awesome. It is indeed, Teddy um um Okay, So those were the five things that we've learned with I think the biggest takeaway we all really like Teddy Bridgewater and would like to be friends with him one day. Speaking of things we've learned, though, I gotta ask you too about something because I learned something about each of you. Um during our Monday morning content calls. So we do this call every Monday morning. Yeah, I gotta, I gotta bring it to the public. Okay, we do this call

every Monday morning. UM. We all get together, thirty people on it, and well, look we've been doing this podcast. I don't know a hundred people that no, I don't know a good amount of people on it. Um. You know, we go over kind of what to expect for the week, what everyone has going on, and look, we've all been doing this podcast for about two months now, maybe not quite like I know you guys pretty well. We hung

out you know, a safe uh way. Um, but I found out two things about just so I'm gonna start with the first thing. We found out about Will. And this all happened in the span of two minutes. Will had quite the foot injury this weekend and a lot of people on the call knew about it, and we're kind of, you know, they were kind of giving you crap. Will, what happened? So my ankle is really really bad. I have Steph Curry ankles, is what I like to think, you know, except that I don't have the money or

for like you know, reconstructive surgery every six months. But skill. But I wasn't. I know, I have the best, just the ankles. It's the ankles that are the problem. Um No, So yeah, I sprained it in college. I was not playing Steph Curry, but I was playing basketball at Davidson Um.

And then ever since then, like every two or three years, something will happen where my right ankle just gives way, either like running or walking or just like I missed a step, so I missed it, literally missed a step on the stairs on Saturday and it just went right under just no chance. So I was have been hobbling around all weekend, all week um, and some people heard about it, and they're just like, God, that's the most

will thing up because it actually happened. My first year, we were playing pickup basketball with some coaches who were no longer here. And during that pickup basketball game, there were two achilles that were torn um and I raped spray like rolled my ankle with been like a five minute stretch. So are the trainer of the Carolina Panthers told everyone that we're no longer allowed to play pick

up because we're all old. And I feel bad for laughing because it does sound very painful, but it was just funny that everyone knew about it on the call, and everyone it seemed like it was a thing that had happened before. They're like, oh, well with the angle, You're like, I'm on I R guys, I'm on ir Yep, it was me Steph Curry ankles. Uh. So then immediately after that, so someone it was someone's birthday, and so it was it was our our friend and incredible videographer,

incredible editor. Um, it was his birthday and so we got onto the topic very quickly of birthdays and um. Melissa, one of our photographers, asked the newer people like Miles and myself when, um, when our birthdays were. I jumped in for February eight, and there's like this long silence. She's like, Miles, when's your birthday? And all I hear will back me up on if I've got the sound right is U? And that was it. That was it, Miles, what was going on? I'm like, oh, I've heard that before.

I've heard that sound. Miles, still four days later, has refused to answer when his birthday is, which we're going to find it out, Like, well, you and I will figure it out. But that was that was the response. And then there was just no kind of explanation or offering of the birthday. Miles, what's up? No, there was not. I'm glad that that's all you guys heard, because I

think you guys heard me curse. So like that's where I thought the story was going, because I definitely said a bad word because I couldn't figure out how to unmute myself. But yeah, like that's something you gotta get control of. Were doing a lot of zoom pressers like, we gotta get that mute button under control. Usually it's fine, but on this particular morning, I was panicking in my laptop,

was messing up. And yeah, I literally I thought that everybody was like, what was that because they heard me say a really bad word that I should not have said in a formal setting. But now I know that that's not what happened, so I kind of feel better about it. The sound you made was strange. I'm not gonna lie, I make a lot of strange. It was like it was like you didn't know when your birthday was.

It's what it sounded like. We are going to find out when it is and report back, Okay, I promise, Um, We'll get to the bottom of it. We will, It will happen. Um. So yeah, now I know, you know, I thought I knew a lot about you guys, But now I know that Will has bad ankles and Miles doesn't have a birthday. So all right, it is time to wrap this up with our weird question of the week.

And I kind of thought, you know, an honor of getting to see Teddy and the other new guys in their uniforms for the first time this week at such a great photo shoot production day. You get to see everyone in their fresh ge r. I kind of thought, I think this is something we've all thought about. What would your football number be if you played in the NFL. And again, let's let's all admit it. We all know right off the top of our how what our number

would be. So will what would your number be? Well, it's the number that I wore, which is number eight. Like it was a great number. It was the number I got in like j V because it was a small jersey and it was the only thing that would like fit over my little pads. So yeah, j V football. I wasn't sure what sport we're saying, Sorry, j J football, my little pads. Yeah, I was. I was eight. I've always been number eight. And back in those days, like

that was when eight was cool. You know, you had like I had a Steve Young Troy eightman jersey growing up. You know, like there was some you know, Cal Ripkin was number eight, you know obviously Kobe, So like eight was just this like great number in the nineties, early two thousand's and then you know it's never really kind of been that for the Panthers though, So but yeah, I would definitely be number eight. Yeah, I mean, the

path is clear for you to make that impact. Bring eight back, right, I mean, David Carr, Andy Lee, Brad Nortman, and Reese Lloyd aren't going to do too much to uh to stand in the way of my eight greatness in Panthers history. I love town unbelievable. Alright, Miles, what would your number be? My number would also be a number that I wore seventy four. With apologies to Greg Little, not just trying to take your number, sir, but that is the number that I wore in high school when

I played offensive lines. So that is the number that I would still continue to where I like that number. It is still weird to me that you played on he sat that on we were doing them. We did the series with the coaches and we were talking to Pat Meyer, um and do you started off You're like, yeah, I I played a little old line myself, and you talked about schemes and concepts with them. I just was surprised because you're you're not a big guy. I mean

not so yeah. I know everybody gets on an offensive line type guy, I know, but that's how I always like ingratiate myself with offensive line coaches. I was like, oh, well, you know when we were running power and then they're like, oh, were you. I was like, I was the poller and they're like, oh, I can, I can confirm that exact conversation happened, and I do think kasch Meyer was impressed. I like it, all right, I'm gonna go. My number if I were in the NFL would be eleven. Uh,

same thing. It's just always been kind of my lucky number. Same thing. I also wore that. Guys, I'm gonna tell you something Church basketball. I was number eleven for five years, career high four points in all of five years, four points. So needless to say, it's a lucky number that's really brought out my talent. I think it would be great in the NFL. Those who can't play become broadcasters. Are you Are you a fan of the most famous number eleven?

He of sunshine? Of course? Yeah, number eleven. Of course, great hair. I mean, who's not. I'm a it of any number eleven, but of course better than you're here. Oh yeah, absolutely, no question about it, no question. Um yes, uh, number eleven. I wouldn't be a Breton person, but that would be. That would be my number. Um, it's about It didn't bring me any athletic prowess, but maybe that'll

change one day. Doubtful. Um all right, I think with my embarrassing church basketball stories, that's a good place to leave it for this episode of the Happy Half Hour podcast. Guys, thanks for doing this everyone, thanks for listening, and we'll see you next week.