Nate Burleson: Megatron vs. Moss, CBS Mornings swag, the Nate B. freestyle

I left.

a sense of wealth. Once had low cash down. My digits is up. But if you can't trust me, you can't trust us. We dead mice, Peanut and Roman.

give us the five star rating. Anywhere you pick up your podcast, whether it's Apple Podcast or iHeartRadio, please give us a look or listen, Tell a friend to tell a friend, to tell a friend. P Nutt, who's our guest today. An oldie, but a goodie. This is someone that we're trying to be like, you know, on the on the national level, he's at there. Doctor two thousand and three draft class stuff for this A third round

two thousand and three draft class. Played eleven years and since leaving the game, he has become a media mogul. He is one of the hope excuse me. He is one of the co hosts from the CBS Morning show. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome in Nate Borlson. What's up, y'all? What's up? I appreciate that. Thank y'all for having me in.

Before we get started, I was want to say, I've always admired what you guys did on the field, but what you guys have done and your second act has been incredible and it's a beautiful thing to see, man. So this is an honor. You know. When I got word that y'all wanted to have me on, I was pumped about it. And you even got the voice, don't he like? I feel like when I didn't really recognize your voice, but it's.

what he's looking for, scratch. I appreciate it. I like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, no worries, man, but yeah, man, you've been you've been killing on CBS Warning Show. I like it representing us, well, thank you, you're doing your thing. I like you straight hand, like you give athletes us a platform to say that. Yo, man, we not just athletes. Like I don't just have to I don't just have to talk about sports. I don't just have to be a coach or an analyst. Like I can come in, I can do radio, I can

do TV, I can do like legit news. I can interview the president. I can interview politicians, hip hop's artists, athletes like I can do it all, you know what I'm saying, And I'm just I'm proud of I really like what you've done. You started out a good morning football and your progression and the work ethic that you put in and like you, legit you, you like legit media like you you doing the damn thing. And I just say, man, I applause you. It's it's amazing to see. Yeah,

I sincerely received that, man. And like I said, you guys have also, you know, kind of recreated the blueprint. I feel like we all we all have this one big blueprint, and we're all making our marks on it, you know, individually. You know. Straight Hand of course, is one of the people that they look at and they say, all right, he going from a super Bowl champion, Hall of Famer into media, into news and now hosting everything from reality shows to game shows. Now there's this blueprint

out there. But what I love about this new landscape in the new NFL player is that we're all grabbing that same blueprint, making our marks, saying, here's an avenue for you as a player. You can go into podcasts, and you can go into law enforcement. You can go into coaching if you want, but you can also going in the fashion, media, music, finance. You can do whatever you want, you know. I think the greatest live sports has ever told us as athletes is all you need

to do is care about this. Yeah, And I don't know where we picked it up from. Maybe it was just indoctrinated as a young age at a young age, but like we got to the NFL, and if you would have talked to us our rookie year, our second year about what we would do for the team, I think about ninety nine percent of us say I run through brick wall and mean it, like I die for these colors, this logo on my helmet, this emblem and these team colors. This is everything that matters to me.

And for the most part, that helped us do our jobs at the level it did, but it also blinded us to the next chapter and what we were also going to have to face, which was figuring out who we are after we take the helmet off. And I think us and many others like us are just representations that being an athlete was just a small part of our lives. It wasn't necessarily who we were, and the sooner guys can figure that out, which is why I love this new generation of athletes. It's like, you'll be

better off once retirement comes. It actually makes a lot of the coaches and people that work with these players more uncomfortable because they're not used to it. They're used to just guys doing what you tell them. And now they're like, man, you know, they understand they have value.

They understand that they're not just football players, and you know, they they have their own face, they have their and they want to know what their you know, the media responsibilities and who they want to be off of the field is where their brand their brand, and so all these things are happening and I just think it's really cool. I heard you talking to this guy about on Cairo radio. Seems like yeah, it seems like you guys really hit it off, Like yeah, yeah, I can tell, I can tell.

Like you guys open up, shared a lot of stories and just you talking about your whole journey of like man, you know the confidence that came with as you got more and more of this and doing more and more of the TV that it allows you all of a sudden,

now you're relaxing and you're you're really getting into these things more. At what point in time did that really start to happen for you. I'm in this space right now that I work with it on the day. That's my normal job, and so I'm trying to do more personality TV. I want to be able to be able to make that switch and show like I have more just football knowledge and to have way more rain yep, like you guys are just holding me down from this right,

like I can talk way more about other things. I actually enjoyed that way more, of course, you know what I mean. I'm just football. I mean that's just a small chapter. That's right, That's right, so many more to do. How do you get to that? And at what point in time did you all of a sudden start to get way more comfortably Like, dude, I can totally expand and do this. Yeah, that's such a good question. The first time I was actually on TV was the year

I got drafted, which was two thousand and three. I went to the NFL network, and you know, I got a little bit of a buzz from it, and I got to be honest, it was more self serving. I'm a wide receiver, you know what. Divas. I like to hear myself talk, and I like to look at myself on TV. He's no surprise to you. I don't even need to glasses, you know what I.

little bit of a when you was still playing. Yeah, I was like year nine to ten, and they basically gave me a pat on the back, say, hey man, you're talented. You got you got some some foundational pieces that could allow you to be good at this if you choose to. But I remember struggling when we did the exercise of calling a game like it just it was so foreign to me to have somebody in there to kind of like tee me up. It was like the alley oup, and I just kept missing the dunk.

You know, it's like, all right, first and ten bend Roethlisberger drops back and the past is completed and need to wait for me to jump in. And I just didn't know how to do that dance. So once I left the broadcast boot camp, as much as I felt good about certain areas of being on TV, I just kept thinking about where I struggled. I guess that's the athlete in you know. We focused on on the details of something we're not doing well at and that made me feel like a rookie again. And that's what I

think that element encouraged me the most. When I retire, I'm gonna work on this craft. I gotta I gotta be good at it. And at that time, I had a partnership with a clothing line, Bangs and Baker. I had an Italian restaurant in Seattle. I had a couple other small things going on from a creative standpoint. So I had all these things that I didn't know. I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I had to pick something. It was either go into TV or

try my hand of all these other things. And I thought, if I go on to TV and I'm good at TV. It's gonna make these other things easier. So let's get into TV. And that's when I signed on to the NFL Network and from there I was the busiest guy like there was. There wasn't nothing that they couldn't call me for. It was live TV, tape, TV pregame, halftime, postgame, digital content, getting reps. So all it was was getting

as many reps as I could. And also, you know, I wanted to prove that I was just as good as some of these guys that were there. I didn't. I didn't have the gold jacket or the ring, so you know, I needed to work twice as hard. And I felt like, remember when we first got in the league and the OG's be like, hey, look slow down, man, shut up. Yeah, yeah, that's the Booker got me with that. What do you feel real bad? Like I'm practicing. I'm

just I'm doing I'm working. And that's how I felt the ogs at the NFL Network, where it was kind of like yo, rook, slow down, bro, like you're not getting paid anymore, so why are you doing stuff that that you're not getting paid to do? And I didn't have an answer. All I knew is if I got as much reps as I could at all of these different aspects of TV, eventually I'll start to find my rhythm. And and I'm still finding it, but you know, I

for like, at least I found my voice. Yeah, and so so look, I want this is gonna be the toughest question to ask, all right, And so Peanut got me so excited. I wanted to hit you with this first. Right, Who's the best receiver? Calvin? Better receiver? Calvin Johnson or Randy Moss? You played with both, all right, Randy was a different time in Minnesota when you remember Calvin you had young, you were older, and you got Calvin. So

which one was the best receiver you ever played against? You ever played with? I would have to go with Randy Moss. You know a couple of reasons. One longevity by his side, all right, even at an older age when people thought he was washed. He went to New England and he got killed. Busy killed twenty two touchdowns, todown something wild. He was the most naturally gifted athlete I've ever seen. I mean, he could play baseball. I think

he could have ran in the Olympics. He was a really good Hooper beast, and he would show up and not even really have to warm up in his prime, Like Randy didn't even warm up. I'm talking about not that practice a game. I remember, you know, warming up next to him, and I'm like, like Jim Carrey and Cable guy, I'm doing all kinds of stretch, you know what I'm saying. And Randy's over there just moving his feet up and down. And the coach was like, hey, Randy,

you gotta warm up. He's just sitting there like whatever, and he's like, Randy, come on, let's go. We've got a game in a little bit. And he just so casually looked at her. He's like, hey, you ever seen a cheetah stretch before a hunts? And it was like one of them like abnormally profound questions that we didn't have to answer for. And I'm like and we're all like, yeah, you're right. The cheetah nuvers, it just goes, it gets the food, and we all kind of looked looked at Randy,

looked at the coach. Coach turned around, walked away, and Randy had another big day on the field. So Randy was naturally gifted. I will say this though Calvin was a freak, but he also worked his ass off. Calvin was six four sixty five two thirty. Sometimes he gets it to a round two forty and he still was a four to three guy jumping a forty five inch vertical crazy, but he would show up every day and

work like he was a free agent. Like Calvin, when we could do conditioning, he wouldn't just like lead us by step or two. He would beat us by as much as his athleticism was supposed to beat us by. And I always like, I admired that about him, and I feel like if Calvin would have played as long as Randy, this would be a different conversation. But you know, you can't you can't knock Randy's numbers. And then on

top of that, just like his his intimidation factor. I remember being in the slot and there was a there was a dB in front of him, there was a safety behind the dB, and then the safety from the other side of the field was rolling over the top. So he basically had to beat three levels of defense in one play, and short Donta Colepepper dropped back with max protection and let that thing rip touch down back in the end zone like, and I just remember being there were moments where I was just in ah.

because he's ready to get out of there. And then Randy, the dB backs up right, so he's acting like he's gonna press him, and then he backs up to about eight yards and as soon as he snaps the ball, Randy's off the line SCREAMAG goes like this, Now, mind you, he had a hitch, so he could have ran the hitch right, but he's like this, DB's off at eight backpedaling, which means probably like at fifteen. Yeah, and Randy in his head is thinking, I'm still gonna run past you.

So he comes off the line of screamings and just hot hand, hot hands, and then boom, touchdown. So Randy was just a different type of beast man. And look, that's what all my former teammate Darren Sharp is like, Look like nobody would call Randy Moss one on one in his prime, like you had to have another safety or it was like you had no chance, and that was a whole defense that was out there, you understand. Yeah, I think for me though, I think I had successful Randon. You played both.

like you're length. Even if you knew you weren't trying to get your hands on him, you knew if you just did the street fighter like Dawson just like reached out, you knew that would just like it would cause a little bit of hesitation if you get Randy that has didn't line scrimmage, not saying you got to has to beat him, you got a chance to stay with him. But yeah, you know, I've always admired those battles, man.

You know, It's just it's hard though when you look at those two guys because they're just so different, Like Calvin was physical. I will say this though you stack up their highlights together, you're gonna see impressive catchers. You're gonna see them go up over the top of guys double coverage, even triple coverage. You're gonna see good route running. But I think the separation will be that Calvin was by far a better blocker. Like Calvin was a beast

in the run game. I remember me being in the slot and having a bubble route and Calvi's on the outside. I got it to the line scrimmage and in my head, I'm like, I'm already thinking about my damn I'm gonna do because Calvin's about to run this dude into the tunnel. And I knew it, and I knew I was about thirty yards away from the end zone. I wasn't even worried about Calvin's man. He got up on that dB, put them hands on them, drove them to the sideline.

I just ran right inside because I trusted Calvin that much. He never gave up on the play. What was it like when you because you use this acronym for her, Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, his everlasting Yeah. Football with football, after being involved with it for eleven years, having to walk away, you've had some tragedy things happen throughout your career. Yeah, move from a couple of places you had an ACL injury. Talk about so that journey when you finally said, all right,

it's time to move on. Yeah. I feel like we all fall in love with this sport at different places in our lives. You know. I started playing when I was a kid in Pop Warner football, and then in high school is like puppy love. And then it's like we got engaged in college and then the league was like, oh damn, I'm married to this job. Put a ring on it, you know. And there were some good times.

times in the NFL were like. But then there's the injuries there's the contract negotiations when they tell you you're not what you usual. Yeah, the devaluing and which it plays such a role on our mental health, but we don't know it at the time, because all of a sudden, you go from when we were young telling us what the greatest thing since sliced bread too, when we're older that you just ain't got it anymore and this is why we're going to pay you crumbs. And and I

think like all of that. The bad times, it's like sleeping in separate beds, or arguing with your boo or you know, just just not being on the same page. So when it was time to walk away from the game, I mean I knew it was I knew it was here, Like I remember seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It's brighter never. But I still didn't want to have that conversation with her. It was like, it's like football came to me and she was like, hey, Nate,

can we talk? And you know when you hear that as a man, this is a real We got to talk. Damn what did I do? And she basically said the NFL basically said I found someone else. He's younger, he's faster, he's more athletic, he's cheaper, and I'm happy with him, and I'm happy, And it was that's when it sank in where I had to look at the league and just say it was fun while it lasted, and it also had things that I could fall back on. So

there's also talking about the second act. When you have something that you can look forward to, it makes it easier to deal with, like a breakup like we all deal with when we play our last game. It's tough though, as a player when your career abruptly ends and you don't have a next chapter to go to. Yeah, so why was it important for you to start the media like right away?

and you were doing all these things. Yeah, and I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. So why do you think it was important for you to go and get all these reps during the off season. I just knew one if I was in the building, these execs and producers would get to know me. And when somebody knows you, you're much more than just a talent. When they bring on athletes, it's just like your football got talking football. But if they know me, it's you're

Nate Burlison, the football player talking football. And they want to help me out and they want to make it work. I mean, they're a little bit more honest with me. I remember I had a bad show. I was working for the NFL Network. In my head, I had a bad show. Stumbled through a few lines, and I just took the long way to answer some questions. I just

wasn't sharp. And afterwards, the producers came by as we were walking to the locker room at the NFL Network, and he was like, hey, good job, could job everybody, goodjob, good job. He pat me on a back, good job, and I was like, wait, wait, no, no, no, don't tell me it's a good job. I didn't do a good job. And he's like, no, you know, I'm just saying. I was like, yeah, but don't do that, like I'm used to coaching. You know, we come from the football field,

like just be just be honest. And it also like you don't want me to get into a place where I feel like mediocrity is acceptable, and so I can like bs my way through it or not prepare and just show up. And I think from there it shifted. So now they started like they started coaching up Nate Burlison, who's talking football versus always high five in the football player because he's in studio. And I've seen that before

with athletes. It's like, you know, you see him at one point in their media career and then five years later there isn't much growth, you know what I'm saying. And I feel like it's not necessarily an athlete. If you're telling me he's doing a good job for five years straight, he's never going to change our approach. It so hard to get honest feedback in this side of the business unless, like you're saying, you build those relationships, well, now they're going to be open and honest with you,

and then you can actually have real growth. Because the biggest thing is when in this space, for me, is that. I'm always trying to ask, like, all right, how is that? How is this? And I know I try to look at myself and that's another part of it. But when you don't honestly know because you don't even know what they're looking. I have no idea of no idea, and you don't know your voice no, like you have no idea. I got to the NFL network, and you know, you try to be like what you see on TV and

guys that are in the building. So you know, one day I come in and I'm just like, all right to be like like Dion and IRV, you know what I mean, because they were in the building. So I'm coming in. I'm all hype and I'm talking a little bit of passing like HERV. Dude, I'm just in friends like Dion and I'm like, yeah, but I'm not damn though,

Like so why am I trying to be? Then I'm like, okay, I see Marshall fall you know he's more of intellectual type, so let me just come in and you know, focus on the puntification and make sure that they you know, when I'm talking about these words that it's more elaborate and articulate, and I was like, that's not me, is

not it? So what is my voice? And then surely shortly after that, I started to realize who I am, which is a kid from the West Coast who loves sports, music, movies, pop culture, who loves art, who can write like, that's who you, That's who you are, that's your voice. And the more I displayed that, the more receptive the viewers viewers were. You can see it though, too, and I think it's I think it's authentic. So you are well not You're not a self proclaimed, but your wife calls you.

And from what I've learned about you is that you are creative. I am a creative. I'm married to a creative. So you know, you know all kind of all over the place, you kind of dil We got all these grand ideas. You're like, nearly I get it right accurate,

and I want you to really dive into this. This mantra you use about open your eyes and you you're torn your a cl After one of your best seasons, I think that was in a and you were down

in Birmingham, you went to doctor Andrews. You're doing some drinking and you realize, like man like it's a slippery slow that's a fact, and how fast it could easily just go away when you start to get in your own head and you're not using that energy and putting it into other things, and you're talking about opening your eyes.

And I want to get this quote right. You talked about how all the beautiful things around you, the support system, the people that you had that were actually there helping you, and how bright today really is. And so maybe you could share with us how you still use that mantra about opening your eyes and every day you so like, maybe where are you at with it now? Yeah? For sure. I remember going to Birmingham doctor Andrews, world renowned doctor and he did both of my knee surgery. He's a beast.

He's a bast. I remember I was sitting in there just depressed and he comes in. He had the little country He's like, hey, son, you gonna be all right, And I don't learn that moment. I was like, oh, yeah, I am gonna be all right. But I wasn't though, because it was my first major injury, and you know, when you have that type of injury, first you start thinking about if you're gonna be the same when you come back, run as fast, jump as as well being explosive, right,

and then you know, the actual procedure happens. And I'm in Alabama recovering. My family is still in Seattle. My kids are in school, so the wife is holding down the fort, and I remember listening to the game on the radio because it's Alabama, they don't play Seahawks games, and I just so desperately wanted them to say my name, like I don't know why, just like I want to miss you. Yeah, I wanted them to say, like, man, they could really use Nate bros. And ore, you know

thoughts with them. I just want them to like just focus on me. That that's that selfishness that I was used to. And I think he might have said something in the beginning, but it was quick and the Borrows is out, next guy up. That was it. The entire game, theydn't mentioned my name, And I don't know why that made me so sad, because I think it's set in. It's sank in that they're going to move on without you, like this is just an injury, but one day they

are going to move on without you. That's the name of the game. So you know. The first day I come back after being cleared from like using my medication, like, hey, let me get a vodka soda and drink my little vodka soda. Next day, I'm like, yo, make it a double, you know what I'm saying. A few days later, I'm like, hey, just fill up the cup all the way, no ice, man,

just slide them a little hunted. And then like a week later, I remember going to him like, hey, yo, here go hunt Can you just send the bottle up to my room? And he's like, yeah, sure, you got mixtures. I'm like, Noah, need them. And I remember sipping vodka on ice and drowning my emotions and alcohol. And I've never had an issue drinking, but in that moment, I

feel like I was close to the edge. I was either going to drink myself into a stoop or create some habits that will following me for the rest of my life. And I woke up fully dressed us. I'm a pajama guy, you know, hoop and T shorts, a T shirt and hoop shorts and T shirt. When I go to sleep, and I had all of my clothes on from the day before, in my shoes with my braces on like on top of the sheets, and I was sleeping still, and I remember waking up and I kind of like came to as if I was like

sitting up in a casket. I felt like, yeah, like the undertaking it was wild, Like my arms were like crossed, so he was yeah, I felt like I felt. I felt like I was in a casket. And then my mind starts thinking like a creative like is this Am I reading too much into this? Or do I need to read more into what just happened? I blacked out, woke up completely dressed like the day before, when my arms crossed over my chest, like I'm sitting in the casket?

What are you gonna do now? And I remember pouring the voc out, putting it in the trash, and I was like, bro, let's rehab lock in. Let's let's get busy, Like you got enough hurdles that you got to get over, got enough obstacles you got to get around. Let's not put alcohol in the mix, you know what I'm saying. And that's when I got focused and I came back from ACL in like six months. It was extremely fast.

So that was a turning point because I either had to sit in this state of depression and feel sorry for myself, or I can open my eyes and realize, like, not only do I have a great support system, but I got everything I need to get back healthier and even stronger. And that's what I decided to do. Now that you're in TV, and you were trying to say, you know, do I want to be like Dione?

every day, five days a week, CBS Morning Show.

I remember talking to straight Hand shortly after taking the job and he said, you know, go in there and try to find your voice right away. Also realize, like there's a lot of people that love that you're there, but there's a lot of people that don't want you there, right, and those people are also working for CBS, basically saying that there's individuals that they don't want another football player.

They don't want kirkland Brand straight hand taking a seat when there are experienced journalists that have been waiting for that seat to open for years, some decades. So there was a hyper awareness and a gonna be a good VET move to come out there and tell you that, yeah, yeah, no doubt, no doubt. It's like huge, yeah, and it gives me some sensitivity to people i'll work with. I'm coming in with my chest all out, you know, I

understand what it looks like. Now I have to earn your respect by what I do and the work that I put in. But I did have some struggles though, initially finding my voice because when I came in like all right, this is news, it is different, and everybody kept telling me like, yo, this is news. You can't dress like you typically dress, which I didn't really get cuz like that's who you are.

and I was doing the same thing. Hey, how you doing This is Nate Brolson and were here this morning. It's good to see you guys. We have a traffic accident on the freeway and it's like, that ain't shoes. That's not me. So one day I took all the suits I had in my office and I put them in a bag, took them home. I replaced all those suits with suits that I have in my closet at home and brought them to work. And I walked in with a brighter color suit. It was like a deep

red or something like that. I had my flat top with like curl brriage was like a cranberry. And immediately my voice was different. It was crazy like once I got comfortable in my own skin, my delivery was different. Even the way I set even my body language was different. So it took a few months for me to find

my voice. And I feel like, you know, I'm at a good place, and you know, shout out to Gil because I remember walking in with that type of suit and she kind of looked at him, was like, about time. This is where I'm at with it. But yeah, it takes time, man, I'm sure for sure. So now being in that position, now, has any other players like reached out who are in the in the media, say football, and they're trying to get over into like the new side of it. Have they reached out to you or

have you like mentor like, look here's what y'all should be doing. Of course you're gonna get my number. We got to tap in, listen, we have to be each other's biggest fans period. And you know, I'm not just here to get in this position and close the door behind me. I want to kick this damn door down so we can walk into the spaces that we want to walk into. But yeah, guys have reached out and I told them the same things that I learned early on was one reps, but to force your way into

these other spaces. Because when I was doing Good Morning Football, I was grinding away three hours of TV a day, live TV, which is crazy. Yeah, and then you know, yeah, yeah, no doubt about it. And then but if that's all you know this, yeah yeah, yeah, but it was great to have those rests on the run and on the fly and live TV. It's like a heightened sense of like being on point. But then I started to strategically put myself in different spaces, and that's why I joined

Extra to do entertainment. Now it's not necessarily hardcore news, but we do tackle hardcore topics, so they might be more celebrity driven, but it's the same type of concept. You know, we're talking about celebrity news, and sometimes the crossover between politics and death and tragedy happens, so people were able to see me in a completely different light. They're like, oh, wait, like Nate, he can do entertainment.

Oh he's tackling, you know, politics, because we're doing a story about Obama meeting the Super Bowl champions and he's he's speaking about it so eloquently like that. I think that right there got the attention of CBS and they were able to see that. You know. I remember going over to the digital side of the CBS building and they wanted to do a hit talking about the opening season schedule. And I remember something somebody told me a

long time ago. Microphones are always on, good and bad, so watch what you say, but also take advantage when they're on. And I was over there and we were talking about the season and what games I'm looking forward to and what game CBS had. But in between the takes, I was just sparking conversation about stuff that I knew

they didn't know about me. I knew they didn't They didn't know I owned a restaurant, or that my financial advisor and I help athletes invest money, or that I started a few clothing lines, or that I had interest in poetry. So I was just like throwing this stuff out there, starting conversation and by the time I left, I remember one of the producers was like, hey, Nick. You know I kind of looked back, like what's up.

He's like, hey, would you mind coming back at some point and talking about all that other stuff not just football? And I was like, yeah, yeah, of course, And I just kind of gave my self with fist pump because like that that was the point. It was strategically done. Sometimes, you know, we assume that people know more about us than they do, but in reality, all they care about is that we play ball, and that's fine. You know, we've been playing ball the whole lives. So we almost

have to force their hand and show them. So the strategy came with little moments like that where I was able to step outside that box. And that's the advice I give to these guys, Like, I don't know, the comfortable thing is talking about sports, but flex all your muscles, Like we all have all these interests and nobody knows so, and that's the best advice I can give to those guys. So the wealth management, the clothing line, the restaurant of poetry art, you have so much interest would you call

it earlier? You. You were crazy, no doubt, Like I

get it, so I can already see you and how you are and everything, But like, how do you focus on what to do? Because you got the TV. I'm sure you got to prepare and work on that because that's your full time nine priority. But yet you also but yet also you got all these other interests. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. And then you got kids

and you want to be a dad. You got to be a husband, you know, Like, so that's that's a lot of time to Okay, I got job, I got work, but my creative side and this, and then I have be a parent and sports and basketball games and like what am I doing? Like how do you manage all that? I'm doing a better job of managing it now. When I first moved out to New York about seven eight years ago, now, did a terrible job at managing it. I couldn't. I said yes to everything because I was like, god, man,

it's my opportunity to show how versatil I am. I'm saying yes to everything and I wasn't getting paid a ton to do it. But I knew if I got the reps and I got the exposure, eventually I get to a point where I can say no to things. But because I didn't know how to manage being a husband, of father, a coach, juggling multiple jobs. Like I remember one day waking up and like little patches were missing

in my beard. I'm like, damn, am I using the wrong like soapmotion or something, And then before you knew it, big patches were going. And then my entire beard was going, but bald, naked, and you know, black man with no mustange, no beard, I can't trust it. Attlemas got a little Thomas got a little Thomas. He got a little bit, a little bit, but Mommy's button egg it all the way around. Though. So I remember going to a dermatologist and it Yeah, it started as her just diagnosing me,

and then it turned into a therapy sessions. She's like, all right, you have alopeia due to stress. Body's reacting and this is its way of fighting. And now I'm like, okay. That's where she's like, do you have history Alopeacha's like nope, surrounding family, nope. And then she's like, well, what's different in your life? I'm like, oh, man, start a new job. You know I used to play used to play that breath because waiting somebody, I think I kicked my feet up on and I got a new job, a new job.

I'm waking up it for him. And she's just kind of listening, and I'm like, I used to have another job and I used to wake up, you know, seven or eight. And she didn't understand football. She's like, I don't know he follow football. I'm like, well, waking up at four him is one thing. Moving to the East Coast is another thing. But also this job, I just really want to be good at it, man. And she's like, oh, well, that's it. Like you you're stressed out because of your job.

You're you're worrying and you're not embracing you know how much this means to you. I was like, no, no, no, I'm not stressed. You know now my egos kicking at the defensive Yeah, I'm not stressed. Well, what are you talking about? And I'm like, no, my old job. I used to have these these linebackers and safeties. They used to try to like break me in half. Like that was stressful. And I'm like smiling as I'm telling her that part, and she's like like, look at the joy

when you talk about football. That didn't stress you out. It might have been difficult, but you loved it this new job. When you start talking about that, you weren't smiling. And she was like, you have to figure out how to balance your energy, and if you do a better job doing that, your beard will come back. And sure

enough I did. I start to focus and just be a little bit more strategic and not saying yes to everything, you know, because when we leave the game, it's like we feel like we have to say yes to everything to prove to everybody that I'm so much more than a football player. But then I figured out that that was detrimental and I had to be a little bit more selective. Man. I mean, you just gave us a lot and I love that too. Right is learn how

to balance your energy. Everybody uses it in different terms or found in your inner piece or whatever that may be. But balancing your energy because you naturally have a lot of things going on. Naturally, that's your type. But you know I will use that when I get home as well, you know, balance balance, Yeah, really, probably do a better job of balancing my energy. I think my kids are like Dad, You're always serious all the time, I was like,

but I'm not. But yeah, ever since hearing you say that, yeah, I think that's gonna be a that's gonna that's gonna be serious all the time. Yeah, because I'm always like the authoritative like but I know me and I'm like, I'm the jokes like, I'm always playing pranks and I'm always telling jokes like, but but you're an authoritative figure in the household.

she's awesome. Man, I'm really comfortable now. And it's and it's because of you know, how I see myself on air. I feel like I'm being next as well. Because like that's a good question, because that's always like what you think about what's next. Yeah. I think my comfort also came in the form of the team I'm working with. So at CBS Mornings, I didn't realize that you had your own team of people, your assistant producers. I didn't know.

Like I came from Good Morning Football, where yeah, we had people that worked on the show, but they weren't like our assistant. Yes signed to me. So I remember getting there yea, and they was like, hey, so, who you do you want your assistant to be. I'm like, I get an assistant. Yeah. So the producers are going to start putting in their names to work with you. I'm like, they're gonna work with me alone. They're like, yeah,

to tell your stories. So when I go to sit with Bill Russell or Frank O'Hare rest in peace to both of them, or you know Obama or Michael J. Fox or Parry Gordy, it's a team of people that put together these stories. So I can tell any story I want as long as I pitch it, and we can build out the characters as we call it in TV, and then we can execute it. And I just like,

for a long time. I didn't realize that I'm like, damn like, morning news is a completely different animal when it comes to storytelling, especially at CBS, it's the one thing they hang their hat on. So that that's why I'm extremely comfortable. And then as far as what's next, I have a production company. You know, it's called Watch, which is an acronym for we are the culture House. We have a few projects that we want to launch.

You know, I want to start doing work behind the camera as well as an executive producer of some projects. Going to start with a docuseries focus on sports and athletes, not just on the field, but also what they do off of it. And then just continue to flex my creative muscles, you know, continue to write. There's a few shows that I pitched that were based loosely based around my life. Got a couple of nibbles at it, but

nothing is landed. So I just want to want to do more, continue to expand and growing and uh and step outside this box. So speaking of shows, you know, I'm a I'm a fan of watching, So what's a what's a bigger thrill?

al Pacino on the red card, so bigger thrill. You did this voice over tool decent.

doing my thing, you know. I talked to narrow And and a few other people that are starting in it, and then I'm like, hey, hell, can I talk to you? Comes over and I'm like, you know, just humbly, Hey, how you doing. My name is, yeah, I know who you are. Nice to meet you. And I'm like, wait, you know who I am? Yeah? Yeah, you play receiver. Yeah, yeah, you do the Football show. And I'm like yeah yeah, and I'm immediately I'm sweating, like back of my knees

is sweating, and I'm like nervous. Yeah, I'm like, Yo, this is crazy. I have to like collect myself. I looked at that camera. Man, I'm like, just give me a second, Like, Mistercino, you for real. He's like, yeah, I'm a big football fan. And I'm like, Yo, this is wild right now. And then I got back into my mode as a professional and interviewed them and and so yeah, that that's pretty cool man. The people that you look at and you've seen all their movies recognize you.

That'll sweet. All right, this is something peanut. I would love to know who's got the most that all of us. You probably do. But how many pair of shoes you got? I saw Robinson? Yeah, yeah, you brought out some. He

got some heat. You got to meat, I would say. I was saying about, do you have a number count in your head? Yeah? I think I got like four hundred shoes. Four in the shoes, this tennis shoes or dress tennis shoes, dress shoes. All my dress shoes upstairs in my closet. My my tennis shoes and kicks are downstairs in my sneaker room. So yeah, I love kicks. I've always loved kicks. That's kind of like my thing, man, you know, I'm golet don't change sizes for a long Yeah. Yeah,

that's a fact. Nike deal. He was able to you know what I mean, That's what I did a lot of that before I returned. I spent like thousands of dollars on that night. Get count Like I loaded up everything and everybody I loaded up on it and they were young. I was like, you're getting the size six wis seven y eight wie. See that's smart. I didn't do that. I did all that from I should have got all these sizes knowing they was gonna come back.

on your personal mount rushmore, people that have had just influencing you, people that have mentors you helped you along the way, helped you along this journey, help you to get you where you are right now. I would say one of my mom and dad. They have been my biggest supporters on and off the field, and they've always they've always seen more in me than I've seen than myself. So I have to shot them out and it's just staying within the family circle for right now. My wife,

she former track star. She won indoor hurdles as a senior, so she's a champion, graduated then graduated with her masters. Beautiful woman really had the world in front of her and put everything on hold to follow me chase this dream of the NFL. So if she wasn't married to me, she'd probably be some woman running some fortune five hundred company. But you know, she put all of her dreams on the shelf. So without her support, I don't think I'd

be here. But as far as like men that have like men or women that have been there as a support system, Straighthand has always been there because there's these comparisons that happen and he has constantly told me you're different than me. Be different, you know, you don't have to try to be like me. And if you're different and you're better in the areas that you bring to the table that I can't bring to the table, this this business is going to open up his doors to you.

And I always thought that was dope because it wasn't like there's only room in this town for one of us, you know, it was the opposite. It was I'm gonna make room for you, which is why I want to make room for everybody else. Gail. Gail has been such an influence and she's just a dope woman because she's constantly trying to build people up and allow them to grow.

Like so she'll have assistance and producers, but as soon as she feels like they have kind of reached their peak where they are, She's like, leave the nest and I'll be the first one to stamp your approval anywhere. I'll be the one that, yeah, gives the recommendations. You know, instead of just like hogging all the talent, she puts the talent on and then allows tim allows them to leave and grow and then just like I think collectively, you know, and I said it at the beginning, I'll

say it again, it's the brotherhood of the NFL. Like you know when I said that, I've seen you guys

as athletes on the field, but that pales in comparison to what you guys have done that I truly mean that, and we don't say it enough. But I just love watching y'all work. And that goes for the rest of this fraternity. There's so many men doing great things across all spaces. Of course in football, back into the game on a low level like Pop Warner, all the way up until the league. There's guys that are coaches or assistants, are working for teams that are doing a fantastic job.

But from the men that have went into the medical field, law enforcement, the finance world, art, the creatives, I just think like there's no better motivation than knowing that the guys that bled like me, gave everything, they got everything they gave to the game like I did, are sailing in other spaces and that that gives me all the hope in the world to know that we can continue

to do whatever we want. Man, football is it's it's a beautiful sport, and I don't want to be dismissive of the careers we had because it is like being a rockstar with pads on, for sure. But if we can do that at a high level, man, we can accomplish anything in this world, no doubt, you know.

mean that you're not free of charge. You know that bangs and bakers, the brand this I got you down. Let me let me let me off straight handsome suits, straight hand suits. See, you ain't got to buy the first. I'mnna hook you up first. I'm just trying to see me and we do everything from traditional suits. We call this like the jump Man suit. We have joggers. It was built as a brand to allow guys to look

fresh while not overcharging them. You know what I'm saying, because you guys, remember we first came in and then people was with the Walkers, and but they was getting us. The price was killing us. And on top of that they had to they had the women in there like, oh, fill you up, get you right. So so one quick thing, because you're the real professional in this whole business, I want you to wrap the show for us. Man, give us a tell them let it be gone. Speaking to

the camera, let them know. Oh yeah, well listen, man, we out of here. iHeart radio. You know this is uh, this is the the main stage for guys like this to give individuals like me the stage to show that what we have done in the league, it is it is a small part of who we are and what we're doing now is is truly a representation of how gifted athletes really are. I'm peanut A's Room. That's Nate. NFL Player Segments podcast. Were We out