Super Bowl 56 - the Stars Shine in L.A.

friend and colleague here at NFL Media. Bridget Condon is with us in bridget Um and literally was everywhere through Super Bowl Week. If you did not know Los Angeles until you know you got here um and and you had not fully experienced all that Los Angeles had to offer, Bridget you know have be you know, been one of our newest colleagues in here for just a few months. I felt like you got just about everything in the span of a week. Does that sound about right? That

sounds about right. I think I was like wondering when I was going to get immersed into the world, and it was last week and when we were at Venice Beach, Warner Brothers, Bengals Hotel, Rams Hotel, so By just got it all done in one week. But yeah, what an event l A too, right. I mean like you were literally everywhere um so, which I thought was pretty cool. And you did a fantastic job all week long with like the sites, the sounds, like everything that you wanted

to experience during super Bowl Week. I felt like you got a chance to do it, which was super cool. Um and then you get to go to the game, right, was this your first super Bowl? This is my first super Bowl anything. I had never been in the city that the super Bowl was in, or covered or attended anything. So I'm still on like cloud nine right now because I'm just changing myself. It was such an incredible experience. Nothing's cool like l A cool. And the super Bowl

scene inside so far so I got. I went inside for the first quarter before I had to head back and do some halftime and postgame stuff, and just being in their pregame and just like seeing all that Sofi stadium like has to offer. But on that stage, Bridget like that was insane. There's nothing like it, That's what I was gonna say. It felt like anyone you've ever heard about on TV or anyone that's famous was in there right, Like every single person. They kept showing the

pictures on the jumpo tron of who was there. They kept going and going. Right in the game, it's like two or three celebrities, I mean everyone, Kanye was there. Yeah, it's an event when Kanye is there with his head covered. Yeah, that was one of the weirdest scenes I think I've

ever seen. Um. But then like after the game, so look, we're gonna get to all the things, all game things, Cooper Cup, Aaron Donald, futures of all these guys as well, but like there were some real life moments like after this game, like you saw it, tell us about it. The craziest thing. I was like, okay, I sat on that tweet for probably five minutes because I was like, if this isn't her, I'm not trying to stir anything

up pregnancy labor, Like that's a pretty curious deal. I was watching and I was like, should I tweet this out? And then I'm got some confirmation that it was her, and I was like, Okay, I'm pretty sure because it looked like her. It was a pregnant woman on a stretcher. I knew she was so crazy. I don't know if it was the excitement of fifty cents surprising everyone at half time. That just sent her into labor. Yeah, that's

that must have been what it was, clearly. But you know what's kind of interesting is we've been talking in a week about how Odell Beckham is expecting his first child at at any moment, right, and he's always been on standby. And then it's his buddy in the in the room, Van Jefferson, that's his kid. Uh wow, like a right story to tell us, are you kidding? Yeah?

And then you know, like this, so the Rams are a super Bowl ring, right, they get a super Bowl ring and they'll physically get it in a few weeks or months, but Taylor Wrap then decides to give a ring. Right. I feel like that was like we forgot about that because everything else is going on. I saw that video this morning and I was like wait what. There was so much going on, sensory overload, so I can't even

imagine just being a regular guy on the team. It's like, Okay, I want a super Bowl, but I didn't have a baby. I didn't get um. Yeah, so that it's that was It was pretty special, Like it just like a special day inside so fa stadium for so many people, obviously more so on the ram side of things, but man, that was that was unreal. And then of course you had the halftime show, right, which was like this um

culmination of culture. I feel like, especially since this game is in Inglewood and we got you know, I felt like we got kind of inductrinated into all of it all week long. Um, you know, by hearing the interviews and in the super Bowl halftime show, you know, news conference in understanding what it means, um, you know, to be someone from this area and to create and to be an artist in this area and to come together

on the world's biggest stage. So like, all right, Bridget, let's let's be honest here, because our producer Thomas Warren wrote literally wrote this line in our preparation for this podcast, Let's get bridgets thoughts on um what you know? Ch As a millennial thinks of the halftime show that was geared more for like the generation Wye crowd with the Dr Dre's and stoops to the world, I thought it was incredible. I mean, yes, I'm younger, but everyone knows

who Dr Drey is. Everyone knows who stoopid emam. You know, those songs. Oh my goodness. I thought it was one of the best halftime performances that we've seen in years past. My boyfriend, actually his uncle is one of the producers for the halftime show, so oh my god. Really, yeah, he got to be on the field for it, and his videos are insane. He was right in front where I was sitting. My back or the back of the

houses was facing us. Yeah. Yeah, so we could see it on the JumboTron, but the inside of the house we couldn't see. But he was on the side of the inside of the house and taking videos. It looked insane. I just loved the setup of the little houses. I agree that dropping down from the ceiling so cool. It gave me chills when I saw him and m out there too with his dancers. It's just they all flowed

so well together. It was so well like so perfectly choreographed, and like going in and out of the different little houses of the rooms and like and then all ending up on the top with Dr dre Hold it down to the very end. It just man, it felt so l a like, it felt so Los Angeles and I am not a Los Angeles native, but like it was like, all right, that's what this is. And it felt like when we heard there was what six performers, it's you're wondering,

how are they? Yeah, how who's what? Are I gonna say? One word? Eat? They found a way to flow it really well. Like you said, it was perfect, definite l A. Yeah, and um. So the stars showed up at halftime and for the Rams, though bridget the stars showed up all

game long, more specifically Matthew Stafford, Cooper Cup and Aaron Donald. Um. Let's start with the Matthew Stafford Cooper Cup connection, because you know, you were in and around the Rams, you know, all week, and you've been you've been covering you know, the Rams since you've really arrived, and you've been, you know,

part of our coverage. They're here in l A with those guys, and what what do you feel like you've learned about Matthew Stafford and Cooper Cup um in the time that you've got to spend around them and around their teammates. So one of the first RAMS practices I went to, Cooper Cup was there waiting for Matthew to finish availability. He was talking to us the media, and he had an iPad and he was waiting for him because he wanted him to explain something to him. And

I think that's such inside their relationship, right. They understand each other on the field, off the field, they have such a big chemistry. Stafford and I've spent a ton of time together. Um. I think it was actually adding up in the car on the way here. The just the extra time outside of the obligatory time was you know north this season and yesterday when the Bengals shut down the Rams defense when their their run game, Odell goes out, there's a shock, gun snap, poor man rush

right tackle, black brow yone dry belt. I dropped by O b J. Who holds time towards me as he hits the turf and I'm not too It was almost a non contact Do you look like he was cutting? And then we used writhing in pain on the field at the forty five on a route which was a shallow cross. Cooper wasn't getting a lot Eli Apple was

holding him pretty much in the first half. He did have that one touchdown, And I think we forget that they have won games, the two of them together, and Matthew Stafford knew, Sean McVey knew if we're gonna win this game. We gotta get Cooper going. And that's what we saw there in the first fourth quarter. And it's also the success of Matthew Stafford. Everybody counts him out always, right, and we forget no he can. Like I think he's over that hump that he was in in Detroit because

of the lack of players he had there. He's made some clutch plays and yeah, he does Matthew Stafford things that you know, through through a few interceptions, but at the end of the day, he's able to find him up and they make magic. And so look, Odell Beckham was on his way to a monster game. You know. I had the first score of the game on a phenomenal catch and throw from Stafford, and then had some chunk plays you know after that, and then goes down

with the injury. And I think everyone at that point knew, like, okay, like if the Rams are going to figure this out, Cooper cup is going to have to have the second half of his life here, because you know, he had been he had had you know, he had a couple of catches in the first half, but he came alive on at final drive and isn't that what being a star is all about. When everyone knows you're the guy that's going to get the ball, and still you figure out how to win your route, win the catch at

the catchpoint, contested catch. And I mean I think like even more so on the fact that, like the route that Cooper Cup caught on, ran on that touchdown to eventually win the game. Stafford cum utters center steps back, throws the faith fact soldier Cooper Cups got its, Cooper Cup brings it in touchdown, touchdown, touchdown l A. With one twenty five remaining, the Rams are back on the

high side. That would have been an Odell Beckham route, but because O b J wasn't there, Cooper Cup steps up and wins, and that's why he's the m v P. Yeah. And I think that one play where Cooper threw the past to Matthew and it was a bad throw, I think that was designed for open Oh sure, Yeah, I think your heart just breaks for a guy like Odell

when he goes through something like that. You see him crying on the sidelines, But them winning makes it a little more sweeter, right, and you kind of forget, Okay, we'll figure out what's going on. With him. But it's easier to do so when you have a superhole in yep, no doubt, uh, no doubt about it. And look, I to go back to your story about the Stafford Cup connection.

You know, I was out at training camp the day we had the back together Saturday thing, um, you know, which was one of our one of our big days in early August. And so I was out there at U C Irvine and just walking around, and you know, Cooper Cup is one of the first out of the field, Matthew Stafford is too, and you know, before practice, you know, you've got the centers often working with the quarterbacks, will center quarterback exchange as part of what they do, you know,

kind of their pre practice stuff. But Cooper Cup is standing there in front of you know, Matthew. So like every time Matthew you know, has gets a stab, even fires at the Cup and like it it seems like something so minimal, but there they were just around each other. It was like they were each other's shadows throughout the entire practice. Like normally, when you know, let's say the quarterbacks are off kind of doing their own thing as

a different part of practices going on. But Cooper's there too. Yeah, it just it seems so simple. But I think you you know, seeing how this this game transpired and how that final drive went down, it's like, okay, yeah, I mean they put the work in and so that chemistry was next level for a reason. Yeah, And I think he's he's a player that's so easy to root for because he's so humble and he puts in so much work. He's so smart when he talks about the way that

Sean McVeigh designs offenses. This is a guy again who had none or one college offer in high school. He had to work really hard in college, and now he's earned it. He's a Super Bowl m v P and his teammates love him, and it makes it so easy to for Matthew and him to just connect because of that attitude, Sean put us in some good spots, and also Matthew Stafford probably through the best no looker of his life. We've went in there a little bit. I

saw the lane I I was running in there. I saw him leaning a little bit like, Oh, he's he's doing this to me, isn't he? He was looking he was looking up into the third level of the right, right Cylon, but he put one in there and then you'll just put a space the ball in play, allowing his guys makes some plays for him. And by the way, he broke some Jerry Rice records at Eastern Washington, some

FCS records, the old one double A in college. And he's now like, along with Jerry Rice, they're like the only guys that have won an Offensive Player of the Year award, a Super Bowl m v P, and have been a triple crown winner in terms of leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in the season. Now, Jerry didn't do that all in one season. He didn't receivers hope to do in a career, literally in one year.

And it's nuts. And did you hear I don't know if you heard the story real quick when they lost the Super Bowl. He said this story last night. He was walking off the field when the Patriots beat the Rams, and he said he had some vision and he was thinking he's gonna be back in the Super Bowl and he's gonna win m v P. And he was like, I can't tell anyone this, but he told his wife and then it happened last night I'm like, how cool is that? Right on this level? And he spent some

time and hope for some goodness in my life. Yeah, no kidding. Um, just kind of want to be around Cooper uh and his family. They're they're absolutely phenomenal, and I'm happy for him because he's earned it. Uh. And so some of the Rams literally in every facet. You know that we talked about pressure, um, that they put on themselves by some of the moves that they made to go out and get big name players like Matthew Stafford and to give up big time assets to do it.

Same with von Miller and signing oh b J and Jalen Ramsey obviously a big part of that too. But it all worked out, how it all worked out, how they dealt with the pressure, how the Angles regroup after succumbing at the end of this game to the Rams. Will we will get into right after this quick breath. All right back here on NFL Inside Report, bridget Condon is with us and bridget um. Look, talk of Super Bowl week was all right, you know, if the Rams

don't win, is the Stafford trade to fail? You know, how are they going to deal with all this? You know, this is they went all in. Nothing short of a Super Bowl championship is is you know, the measure of success for Los Angeles and for less Snee, the general manager and architect of this Rams team, And they rose

to the occasion every time. And in Bridget, I'm just curious from you being around the Rams, like, did you get the sense that you know, as they said, all of that talk about pressure really was external and not necessarily something internal happening inside their building. I do think so. I think if it was any internal pressure, it was maybe management in front office people. But I think the players really believed in themselves and got along so well,

both the Bengals and the Rams. I think really, when you get to this level, a lot of it does actually have to do with chemistry, of course talent, but I think they were just confident. You know, you get a guy like Odell, you have Vaughan, you have Aarond. Some of the things that they needed in that Super Bowl fifty three they found those public puzzle pieces, and

so I think they didn't feel the pressure. Yeah. And then for Joe Burrow, you know, like pressure, it's like what no, his his his his edge, his confidence, his cool calum and collected nature in the face of perceived pressure, I think is what makes him so great, what makes him so likable. Um, you know, as a quarterback, and he had him going right, He had the Bengals in position, you know, at one point obviously with the te Higgins touchdown to start the second half, play actually funding room

going good. But if caught by Higgins, he goes in for the score. Jaylen Ramsey fell down and just like that, in twelve seconds, a seventy five yard touchdown, which is something we've never seen in a Super Bowl of play, a touchdown score in the first play from scrimmage in either half in the bathroom. When that, most people like, whoa what? And then the next drive they come out and they pick off Matthew Stafford. You're like, oh my god, play action fired over the middle, pecked off at the

thirty one yard line. Scarron I couldn't handle it, and the Cincinnati Bengals in twenty two seconds have a touchdown and a takeaway. The Bengals are gonna flipping wind, looked Patrick. He was sitting next to Patrick Clayband, and I was like, are the Bengals about to win the Super Bowl? Yeah?

And then it just you know, it fizzled out. Like offensively, they ran into a rut where they had you know, they had the fuel goal off that reception, the second interception for Matthew Stafford, and then they had you know, four straight punts after that and just could not find their rhythm. Partly bridget because they could not deal with Aaron Donald. And he came alive in the second half. Under pressure, they get him at the twenty yard line.

He was on it. Donald is right there. He didn't do much in the first half, and I think we were all waiting. Okay, Aaron Donald, you talked about how mad you were after Super Bowl fifty three and you want this. We know you want. This is the last thing on your bucket list, right You won multiple Defensive Player of the Years, even named to a Pro Bowl. We don't have a Super Bowl. So where where were was? Where was Aaron Donald in the first half? But he

came alive in that second half. He had those two sacks, and of course that last play of the game where Joe Burrows trying to get the ball out, he brushes him and Joe Burrow throws in completion, Burrow trying to keep it going get spunned out. That's what the wife then and complete it looked like what about a shot to make the grab? But the Rams down running down to celebrate was a defensive play. And guess who I mean, you don't even have to think about it. I think

he was the difference. And what a story book ending for this guy who is loving football. He told me he took three days off after the last Super Bowl and that is it and has been in the gym working since and finally the work base off. Yeah, and you know, look, von Miller a big part of the two. He has two sacks in the second half. I mean they have six second half sacks, which was you know, insanity. Um, And look, that's kind of what we thought might happen

throughout the game. It just turns out the Bengals were able to deal with it in the first half and then the Rams made some adjustments defensively in the second half to get Aaron Donald one on one of those those guards in the interior, and he is he's no match for anybody one on one. You don't think he's actually going to retire, now, do you? I don't know, he's young, right, This is a Pier it's not. Yeah, but this is what else is there left to do? I don't know if he wants to be a dad baby.

It's like, what am I going to stick around and be Tom Brady and just keep winning? Well, he's still at the time, he is at the very top of his game, and so I think that's you know, there's only been six players to win multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards and a Super Bowl. Every other one of those players is a Hall of Famer. He will be a Hall of Famer. Even if he does retire, He's a Hall of Famer, you know, first ballot Hall

of Famer in my book. Um, you know, as soon as he's eligible, even you know, knowing that he's got he's got more years left to give in this league, hoping there's maybe a contract extension that might help fuel his desire to get back into the game here a little bit, because this game needs him. This game needs a dominant player like that that we're all just in awe, right, I mean, like that's what makes this game so great.

He seems like he's in too good a shape to walk away to to I don't think he's done working out and continuing to old himself. So I think we'll see him back next year. The same with Sean McVeigh, Like we had all those kind of weird yeah, like I even know that was a question that he would think about leaving and doing what. Yeah, Well, first of all, he's the youngest head coach to ever win a Super Bowl, And I think it's also kind of a cool um.

It's just kind of a cool piece because we we saw it kind of happen on our Game day final set on NFL Network last night. We had the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl stop by and talk about his future, which he basically said, no, I'm not retiring. There were reports out there that John McVeigh, if you wins Super Bowl fifty six, could walk away at age thirty six from coaching. Is that happening. No, No, I'm I'm so happy for this team right now, so

happy to be associated with it. Enjoy to night. Yeah, well you should, by the way, amazing don't remember any of its celebrate, but I do want to like sit back and enjoy the you know, the things you enjoy life, enjoy, you know, build a family and all that. So McVeigh the youngest to win a Super Bowl is left tackle is the oldest player of also you know, four year old left tackle, which we haven't seen before in the league,

and it's the oldest player to win his first Super Bowl. Um, and so I'm like, you can't if you're if you're Sean McVeigh, you can't retire before Andrew Whitworth, right, Like being younger than Andrew Whitworth, right, I mean, like, so,

I don't think that's going to happen. I was just saying, it's an interesting thing to like to think about though, that it takes so much of these these coaches and these players each year, and you have to sacrifice so much to be in this kind of position that some of that does creep in your head, like all right, I need to make sure that i'm you know, I'm I'm there for my family too, you know, and when you've done what you want to achieve, makes it easier to be like, maybe I do want to walk away.

I thought it was only last night with Andrew Whitworth and Sean McVeigh and Whitworth talking about how much he's taught Sean mcfay and it's player teaching, but it's true he's four years older than him. Yeah. Yeah. And then you know, for the Bengals, now we're looking at this like, Okay,

they're going to be back because they're a young team. Absolutely, and let's hope the knee injury for Burrow is again something or you know whatever was ailing him, you know late in that game where he was like, yeah, I wasn't coming out, and clearly he wasn't. But I let's hope that that's that's nothing that's gonna impair his you know, his off season this year. How do you look at this Bengles team in terms of what they accomplished this year, bridget and you know what they can do to get

back to it. They have so much talent on this team that is so young. Joe Burrow this really was his first season. Of course it was his second, but he got injured in that first season. To March. This was his first season. He sent records in his first season. The two of them are only going to continue to build. And Zach Taylor this is only his third season as

a coach. I think we're gonna be talking about the Bengals for years to come, and it's gonna be Patrick Mahomes and and Joe Burrow in the a f C title game for years one or Yeah. I just think this is the beginning of something. And while you know, when you cover these players you want them all to win, right when you get to know them and you tell their story and it's like you feel so bad for

a guy like Joe Burrow. But if anyone's time, it was last night, it was that Andrew Wittworth's Aaron Donalds who might potentially never get back to another Super Bowl because probably retire. Joe Burrow he'll be back in a super Bowl. He said at this wonder what whether it's

Sunday or later, He's gonna win a Super Bowl. And I thought it was kind of cool that Burrow mentioned post game, you know that he watched the Kurt Warner Football Life in the week leading up to the Super Bowl, and he was like, yeah, I kind of notice what Kurt was saying is how they come almost you know, punished themselves too much for losing a Super Bowl instead of, you know, understanding that it took a lot to get to that point and to celebrate some of what it

took to get to that point. I watched the football Life of Kurt Warner. You know last week when we had little, uh, a little break and you know, I kind of thought about this in the locker room and they lost one, and you know later in within the documentary they said or he said that, you know, they let it sting too much. They didn't they didn't celebrate what they accomplished. So you know, we're gonna obviously it stings, but you know, we had a great year, didn't come

off this last game the way we wanted to. But I think and we still have something sober. I think that's what we need to keep in perspective here with the Bengals is nobody expected them to be And they can talk all they want about you know, they expected it of themselves and that's fine, but nobody expects a worst to first, you know, you know, like last place in the division to super Bowl champion. It's just you know,

we we don't. It's just not something that you're like, oh, yeah, clearly, this is that's what this team is going to do this year. So I think that they're going to figure out a way to be even better next year. They're gonna fill some holes, you know, particularly along the offensive line and I fully expect, Yeah Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, you know, to become essentially the faces of the a f C if they aren't already, right, Um,

and it's gonna be. I mean, that is going to be fun to watch those three guys, you know, try to get back to this point here for the next ten fifteen years, right. Yeah. Like Joe Burrow was stacked what nineteen times in the postseason? Can you imagine if he had an offense like yeah, just half of that and they're in a better spot, right, Um, and they still managed He got sacked was it twelve times in Tennessee?

And nine times or something times? Still was able to win, went into arrow Head Stadium and one, I think they're gonna be okay, And it is like you said, they should be celebrating. It hurts, of course to not get that ring, but they did something that this Bengals organization hasn't done in decades. Yeah, and Bridget you should be celebrating too, because your first season at NFL Network essentially

has come to a close here. Uh And you know, I think, Um, here's the thing that that I just I want to mention, um, is that you know, opportunities are one thing, but taking advantage of opportunities or another thing. And uh, you know, like the Bengals and Rams, you took advantage of some opportunities this year and this week in particular, and so you should feel really good about it. And I just want to get your thoughts though on what this season has kind of been like for you.

And it was the biggest season ever, literally and you got to be a part of it. How cool was it? It was so awesome. I remember last year sitting in my apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina, watching NFL Networks coverage of the Super Bowl week, thinking to myself, they're having so much fun. This is like so cool. How do

I get to be one of these people? I hadn't even applied for the job or like had any interviews, And to be here a year later and not only be going to the game but a part of the coverage. It's just the entire week. I'm so tired because I've been having ballsime at who am so excited because of the opportunity and getting to getting to go to NFL Honors even on Thursday the carpet. So many incredible people that you've watched on TV for years. It's it's like

a pinching moment. I'm waiting for someone to be like, this is a dream, You're dead, this isn't your real life. So I got here in October, so I didn't even have a full season. I didn't get to do training camp, which I know NFL network And yeah, so I'm excited to finally get my footing for a whole season and see what I can do with that, because, like you said, the small little opportunities I did get I was so excited for. But I think being in more of a

routine next season is going to be even better. Yeah, and um, let me be the first to tell you there's no off season. The super Bowl may be over, but the Combine is starting in less than two weeks. Free agency begins a month from today, and the Draft will be here before we know. It's so uh see you guys. You know in July for about ten days before training camp starts. That's that's really the only off season here. So bridget thanks for being with us here

an NFL inside report. I hate that it took essentially all season in our last episode of the two season to get you on, but we've enjoyed watching you and I hope we have you on a bunch more here as we as we move into Yeah, thank you so much for having me. It's so fun to talk with you guys, and that's gonna do it for our final episode of NFL Inside Report following an NFL game this season. We thank you so much for being with us here

on this this journey care an NFL Inside Report. But as we were talking about with Bridget there in our last segment, the season, if you will, is not even close to over, because we're getting into the Draft and we're getting into the Combine and we're gonna be coming to you live from the Combine in Indianapolis here on an NFL Inside Report shortly, So look forward for those episodes and we'll be back next week as well, looking at free agency and the Draft and all the storylines

that you're gonna want and need uh here over the course of the next few weeks. So thanks for being with us on this journey here. Reminder to download, rate, review our show on I Heart Radio, on Apple Podcast, wherever you get your podcast. We greatly appreciate it, and we've got some fun things in store for you. Here over the next few weeks. And we think, of course our intrepid producer tandem of Thomas Warren and Tim Paratica for getting it done for us all season long. They

are Super Bowl Champions in my book. And uh, of course appreciate all of you for being with us along the ride as well. I'm your host, Rret Lewis. We'll catch you next time. NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL and partnership with I Heart Radio. For more official podcasts from the NFL, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.