The Audible Ep. 11 | Jerome Baker

that we'll drop on Thursday, we can talk about. We'll have something to see, will be on the field, be able to stop watching these guys get around and everything. But uh, it's gonna be a pretty you know, it's funny, Joe. Everywhere I go now everyone go sees football seasons right around the corner. Sure, I mean, you know, once you get once that draft comes and everyone's mine, it's football season.

And it's great because you get teased by having NHL every other night, in the NBA every other night, and then once they started getting down to the final four teams, they stretch it out and your Jane and for something to watch on TV. You not for nothing, Joe, But it looks like your warriors gonna grab this thing again. Yeah, yeah, we're going back town. I will tell you this to part of it here, especially here in South Florida. I've

noticed on the radio. Uh, well that that's a given yet, know that they're definitely like hoping this Boston a lot of there's a lot of Celtic fans in town right now. But with the Marlin struggling with everything else to heat out of it, it's like, I just feel like coming how the rookie class. Hey, what do you think? Hey? You know Daniels coming back there all of a sudden, people realize New Year. You know how much can we flip it around? You guys know more than anybody when

the Dolphins are good. This town is so good, it's it's unbelievable. Hey, join us now. Look walked into Jerome Banker, a third round draft pick out Ohio State, just showed up. I love that about guys. They don't care to be serious. Drum Uh, you're you're in town. You guys came in last week, got together with the rookies. Now you're going through some orientation conditioning and stuff and and this next week you guys will get out and hit the field

with the veterans. Are you looking forward to that? And how has the experience been for this last you know, weaker sociance you've been around. Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to. Uh. You always, you know, hear guys always say you're the rook You're the rook you know you don't. I feel you pretty much your player. So I'm looking forward to get out there and so what I can do. And um, that's what I'm excited about. I liked it, by the way.

I love the new system and what they're doing. Both you've been part of it and I was involved last week on this thing. Is I like life skills, social media eating right. I Mean some of the stuff makes be stuff you don't really want to hear about, but they're throwing it out their investment stuffiold, Yeah, I think it's great. Don't you Don't you like that they're doing. I'm sure you they're probably parts of it. You roll your eyes, But a lot of it's good stuff. Yeah.

I was just talking when I came in, Uh, just walking in here. Um, you know, there's so much information that you can't take it in on one day. I do a great job was taking notes and looking back on it. Um and I try to share with my family, um, sharing different people around you. Uh, this is one time you talk to a teammate and he had looked back from Oh I forgot all about that. So it's just that constant communication is just learning so much information. It's

hard soaking in. But you just trying to do as much as you can. And uh, you know, the long run is definitely gonna pay uf. Now, I know you haven't been on the field yet with the team out of practice that an O t A. But what's it been, Like, what's the biggest difference for you time wise when you hit the building in the morning compared to when you're in college, Because I don't think people really understand the time that that's involved. And you haven't even gotten to

the regular season yet. So just take us through maybe the biggest differences between you going to Ohio State to a practice and getting ready for something on a daily basis and coming into Davy. Yeah, so so how the state is Uh, you only get like an hour or two to do you know, football really outside of meetings and stuff. Like that. Um. Here now it's it's all up to you. You. You can have six hours just to lay around. You can have two hours to you know left in your day just to go to bed. Um.

So he really is up to you. And I love the free time of I'm not gonna sit here all day and just watch football and I don't have to wear about I got a class at three o'clock or something like that. So um, that's what makes it kind of you know fun. It's you really can just do football all day and if you really love football, this is this is the life. So uh oh yeah you

got you got some. You don't come here as a stranger. Um. Ray Kwon McMillan coming back from his injury last year, played with him two years ago to ohiuse state, Uh, is there is there something between the two of you that the familiarity of playing with Ray Kwan and those types of things that you feel like you can carry forward. And if you talk to him much since since you

got drafted, Yeah, I pretty much talk to Kuan every day. Um. And it is one thing of you know, we familiar each other, but I'm also familiar with his little you know, taxes is a little saying. So um, as far as like, on the any chance you get, I can people Tom just only because he already been here. Um, he actually never played yet, so we just kind of compete and to see we both technically our rookies, we never really played,

so uh, you know it's a chance to see. I know him personally, So I'm gonna compete anyway I can to get him better, and he's definitely gonna do. Is that the needle you used right off the bat? Hey man, you haven't played yet. I used any Joe I can. Uh you know, he always have his little ways anywhere I can push him his little needle. Anything I can do, I use it because uh, you know, he always always act is that bigger brother. I'm that knowing a little brother.

I'm definitely gonna get him to the skin. So did you did you talk to him after he got hurt? Uh? And he's going because that's a tough look. The same thing happened to me in my rookie I blew my knee out and missed the whole season, very similar to him, and that's a lonely situation. Um, did you have conversations with him after that? Guy? Yeah, So I talked to him right after that. I talked him right after that, UM,

talking him a little bit. I think about Kando, he's he's not no you know, down soaker and get in his feelings. When he came to that, he was like, I'm ready to get back to work. Um. So he took it full little head of steaming. You know, I really want to work on his knee. So Uh, if you know Kuan, you know that nothing's gonna stop him. That was just a little obstacle. He got over and he's ready to show he got we We didn't know this about him, but his leadership this offseason. Uh, I

mean since the end of the season. We came over here and he's taking this thing kind of over with guys. For a guy that hasn't played, you're surprised by his leadership or was he that guy Ohio State? Not at all? That's that's been him. Uh. You know Coach Bush always said he's been a middle lineback his whole life, and that's really him. It's no faking, it's nothing. Every day he walks in, he's the leader. Uh. When we see a guy like that, it kind of expires you in

a way. Of you know, I wanna lead to I wanna in a turn of it creates a nice competitive relationship. So that's that's how me and Kuana is. Is he walking as a leader, But you know I'm gonna up my game to get to his level, that's for sure. What's your goal come in as a rookie. What do you want to do? You know, your high draft choice. A lot of things have been said about what you can do on the football field. What in your mind, what do you want to get done in your rookie season.

I just want to get on that field and just show it I can do. Um I don't like limiting myself of being a starter or being a special teams guy. I just want to go in there and show my my talents. Um Me, I can do anything up in my mindset, and my mind is to get on that field and just show my you know, my play making ability to every every snap, every game. So that's all my goal is. I'm not worried about nothing else. Everything else is gonna come. Just go out there, make plays

and have fun and the rest of handle itself. Well, when you look at yourself, if you do a little self scouting about the type of player that you are. What what do you what do you feel like your strengths are, and what do you feel like you've got to work on to be the type of player that ultimately you want to be. Um my strengths. I can run, athletic, I can cover, I can do all those things. Uh, my weakness is what I really focused on. Um, the little things to me sometimes I can be going the

right way, but I don't take the right steps. Um using my hand effectively. It's a lot of different things I look on if Yeah, on TV, you don't notice it, but lineman, they can take advantage of you. So the little things, of the little detail things what I really trying to focus on. And just soaking up the playbook. That's my weekends. No, I don't know this playbook. How state I can tell you everybody positioning and their technique and everything. So that's our main focus knowledge is learn

the playbooks. And you learn the playbook, you know you're you're playing speeds up and that's what can you cover? Tight ends? I can carry anybody. Check that off. Well, there's a guy the reason both said that there's a guy named Gronkowski. Uh in New England, that you're you're aware of, You've seen him play. It's gonna happen. At some point, You're gonna be on them. You're gonna be covering.

You thought about that at all. I mean one of the reasons I think your hair is because grounds up in New England and they need some mind backers can run with with that big sign of a gun. Uh. One thing about him, I'm excited to it, you know, get the chance to play against them, But I'm not really focused on that right now. I'm worrying about this game better every day. Uh. I'm definitely gonna be excited when that time come. And I you know, definitely learn

from different guys are different people. Uh. You know, I have the chance to work with Peper Johnson this summer, so you told me a little inside Scooper different things, So I'm excited to do that. Right now, I'm just worrying about, you know, learning what jet is and the different defensively have now. So that chance is gonna come.

But right now You're come in from Ohio State. Um, and I think when we look at this draft, and one of the things I really like about the draft Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame Arizona State, big programs, big games, big pressure that you guys have played in those types of games. How does all that prepare you to come into this league and be the best you can be? Um, it brings something different. I think a lot of people

who don't realize being all under that pressure. You kind of get used to it so you really don't even focus on it. Uh Now, I know how it feels to have a hundred the people playing cheering you on, So I don't really focus on that. You know how to have a hundred thousand people when you and I don't even focus on it. It's kind of comes to territory. It's definitely a blessing put our state. That definitely prepared me.

But I already get that part. I'm not going to be nervous to go out and this is a lot of people because you know how I State have great fans, So it just kind of prepared you for a little bit about that aspect of it. So you know what, You've got thick skin too, because I can already tell guy being from Ohio State, from Cleveland having to northern California, Guys talking about Golden State and and take taking down your Cleveland Cavaliers. What do you think about the Calves? Man?

I know it has to be this is this is what people don't realize. This is Lebron James, the greatest player that ever this earth. If I forgot the year when it was down three one to the Warriors, the best team ever was at seventy three and nine. Yeah, if I really hit that shot, You're right, people forget It's not about the series, but this whole season we've been we had Lebron. So if you're going against Lebron, I feel bad for you because he used to hey drown.

The other thing is to um, you know, you're you're kind of coming into kind of a Michigan family. You know, Stephen Ross, you you probably heard, you know, the relationship a lot of a lot of Michigan people in the organization. You guys own them. What's that like? I mean, hardball still hasn't beating you guys. I was just telling Mike, um, I have no problem with the team of North. I never lost you guys, So what's the problem I don't have I don't have any memories of me being down

after the game. After every win, I was happy to celebrate with my family and my friends and our team. So I have no problem. You know what. That's when you start saying, well, you know, quite frankly, we wish we could scared you guys twice a year. How do you guys do it in September? Oh yeah, you got you. You've kind of gotten into the playbook. You've been going through this whole um, you know, going through all the different aspects of this team and being a rookie and

this and that. But when it comes down to playing football and getting ready to playbook? Um, how how soon do you think it's gonna take you to where you feel like you're up to speed and it's gonna be And what are you expecting when you step in on the field with it with the veteran guys, and then you know, there's there's been conversation that I know you've been involved where hey, look, these guys are all rookies coming in a lot of you veteran guys. They don't

don't care, they don't give a damn about you. You know, thinks my job, If you want my job, you're gonna have to work your ass off and then it's not gonna nothing gonna be given to you out there, and I respect that. I respect that totally. I remember being an older guy and young guy come in. I respect that. But uh, you know you understand the concepts. That's that's what you catch up one but one thing by football, it's not setting stone, Um, what happens when that motion

go across? What are you gonna do with? Are you're different checks? That's what I'm really focusing on the concepts of cover three. You can't understand that pretty easily, but when things happen on the football field, that's when you start, you know, panicking. So that's what I'm really focused on now. To just watching old film is just all right, emotional, all right, check, what's check? What's so? Check? Um. So that's the things I'm going through now. And you really

can't see how fast it goes until you're on the field. Uh, College it was fast, but you know NFL is definitely a different speed at different um level. So that's what I'm really I got something really quick for you. You know, you spent the last couple of weeks with NFL coaches. You've got Frank Bush as your linebacker coach. You've got Matt Burke as your defensive coordinator. But you're coming from a place where you had a former NFL head coach

be your defensive coordinator and Greg Ciano. You've got a former position coach and coordinator defensive coordinator as your linebacker coach and Billy Davis. Do you feel like that's an advantage for you coming from coaching like that at a high level, being able to step into an NFL walker room and maybe make it be a little bit seamless for Yeah, it definitely helped. I remember coming in you know,

coach David. She came in around the springtime, uh, and he asked me like, what do you have on this? I can tell him every single thing that I had, And he was like, okay, we'll do one favorite him. Get on the board and just tell him what everybody has. I couldn't do it. It was one thing of he taught me. If of course you're gonna know what you have, but what do you know the guy behind you have? What is his his things that he has to you know, struggle on. So if you don't wall this to receiver

that she was gonna be on it. Yeah, so you gotta understand of that of you know, I gotta do my technique because the guy behind me is, you know, depending on me. So uh that aspect of having NFL coaches, they kind of, you know, prepared me for this level already. So it's definitely been to help Coach Davis. I appreciate everything he did for me. Um, you know, Coachano did the same. Coach Marie, he's one of those coaches. He's, uh, once in a lifetime coach. You're never gonna get a

guy that much experience. I'm a successed, So I really appreciate the whole program of House said, Hey, I want to ask you about the guy you're familiar with, the guy drafted it had to be on this team. What can you tell us about Mike A schicky? You can say whatever you want about Mike. He can't block, he can't do this, he can't do that. He can do it. Um, that's simple, is that he can do it. The one thing about him just being his locker is like right next to mine, and he just goes to work. That's

all he does. That's all he really do. Every year, it was, Yeah, they have this receiver. He you know, his stance is funny, don't whatever. Every year he came out and bought so uh, you know, you can say was one of about Mike, but he's a playmaker, and yeah, it's definitely going. I'm glad he's on my team. Um, it's gonna definitely gonna be excited. All right, let me let me throw this your way because the guy we all know a couple of guys we all know, we all know his dad, Um Joey Boza or Nick Bosa.

Which one is better? The Boa? Yeah, yeah, the Bosa. I'm taking the Bosa. I'm not. I'm not gonna fall from that because I want to thing about Nick can Joe. They are monsters, walk around like monsters, they play like monsters. I remember fifth grade. You know their dad, their dad, John, who was the first round draft pick of the Miamid offense own the gym. I think those kids grew up.

I think that I think when they were I think when they were about a year and a half years old was the first time they did a bench press. Those guys been in the gym their whole and they're both just I mean, you're talking about splitting hairs with two really really good players that Ohio State eight years of the Boss are six years. However long it's gonna be. Been pretty good. It's been pretty good time for the

for the buck eyes up there. Definitely, when Nick walked in as a freshman, he did not look like a freshman at at all. And uh, one thing about him you could tell he's been around football the whole life. And you start to learn different things about football that she never really realized. Um. And you know, definitely take care of your body. They both did a great job of it in college. They played so many snaps. You know, remember the Penn State game with Joey. It was some

people blocking him. He's still managed to get out of it. Um. So as far as that, you know, they are all around just they're blessed. So when people ask which one pull, is pretty good. But I tell you what, those kids they worked hard, man, Those guys that at the high school level, I mean they were they they did their work. Man. They did nothing. Look, they've they've got good bloodlines, but uh, they're not gonna do anything if you didn't put in

the work. And those guys certainly put in the world. Definitely, Nick came in working. Joey as soon as I walked in the door, he was working. No matter how much praise they get, no matter what they's gonna be in the in the way room, working out. Everybody's gone, He's still there. Um. So you know they came from a great program. Even they was done at St. Thomas Aquinas. I actually looked up Nick and you know see how good he was. And it don't matter how many things

um accolades he gets. He just goes to working and I love him for that. Sounds definitely good. Hey, Uh, you know the one thing that the Dolphins organization really since since back when we were here and even before, I've been real big about community outreach, going out and you got involved with some of that. You went to the United Way, y did some stuff out there or those are things you like to do or those things you want to do more of it while while you're

here with this organization. Yeah, that's one thing I really prided myself on. People. I wish if you get um. When I was at elementary school, Uh, in high school, I started own or organization. I was a part of it. Well man, it was all about domestic violence. You know, got to our state time difference A little bit is off chrack, but um, just to see you know, coming as a rookie and the organization is probably the sself

on that. You know, it really helps me. And you have all the playbook and you have all the different things thrown at you. Just to see those kids faces kind of you know, bring you back the earth. Yeah, this is a great game. But at the end of the day, you're making a lot of people happy and just you being on that fields, you know, blessing. You remember I was one sitting there right and it was crazy because I was looking out and it was the kids. You can just tell they were like, oh, we're tired

of this. But it it's like that one message you hear, that one thing like oh I remember that when you grow up. You're gonna remember that one little thing and you never know that might change the life. Good stuff. That's great getting involved in the community and Dolphins have a lot of stuff which allow the guys to do it. And uh, you'll be in a lot of different charity events. There is no question a lot of stuff going on.

Hey you uh, you've you've been with the the rookies for a long time, for for quite a while now, uh, and you've got to know the guys that are were their draft picks and the free agents everybody out here and really right now where you're all in the same footing, everyone's got the same opportunity as is everyone else, whether you're in the first round draft pick or or the last free agent sign. But I know, Joe, I'm I'm sure it's for you. Johns do the same thing and myself.

You know, you always seem to have that your your rookie class, whether they make the team or not, that they're kind of you. You kind of bonded together because you're going through the whole thing. Are you starting to bond with a lot of the other A lot of the other rookies are in the building. That's gonna sound crazy, But the one guy really bonded with is from the

you know, the team up North, Michael Cray. He's honestly, every chance, I'm like, I'm getting filmed, I'm coming in with you, all right, Michael, gonna me mean the you know the ice, I'm coming Just give me a second. So he's kind of basically been my friend of you know, going through it together. It's kind of funny that he was a team in North and I came a little

tease but he don't really cares if it's funny. I mean, look, I was drafted in nineteen seventy six and they're still guys that came in my rookie class and I'm still friends with, still talk to it guys. You'll have that bond, same group Dwight, Don McNeill, Sam. It was like yesterday and we all came in at twenty one years old and and hanging out. Those guys had their act together, a little more together and something a little I'm a

little more mature, but not not like those. Hey, you've been around coach gaze what you are your thoughts about the about the head coach. He's down earth. He's really down to earth, and he just speaks through with you. A little different than Urban Meyer, a lot different. He put his hat on, he's gonna say whatever. It's a lot different, but you can just tell he's a great guy. Good. Hey, Jerome, I really appreciate taking some time out. I know it's kind of been a whirlwin for you, uh since the

draft and everything and everything has gone on. But uh, I think there's a lot of you got a lot of good things coming your way, and uh, we're looking forward to watching you playing fun something out there. And you know, just just when you play new win and give a little little elbow to the chin of the ground, can get him out of the game early, and we'll be a lot better off. We'll all be a lot better off for that. Thank you, Thank you. I'm glad to be here. Gotta talk a little of us. Appreciate

good stuff. This wasn't a bad group, right, this one, this one right? Thank you? All right, Hey, guys, good stuff. You know. I'm looking forward to seeing I'm looking forward to seeing a good draft class. I'm looking forward to seeing the draft class. Man. I tell you, I really am looking forward to seeing all these guys out here and seeing what they're new. Goodsicky. We talked about him, and I want to see him. I want to see Durham smite the kid for the the other. I want

to see the blocking tight end fitz Patrick. Fitzpatrick. This guy's all business and I want to see him. And I don't know that i've been. I don't know that i've I don't know that I've been. Is eager to watch O t A s as I think I am with with this group coming in. Not only that but you've got ray Kwan coming back, You've got Ryan coming back. You know. Ray Kuan to me is like another draft choice, like bringing another draft choice in here, and a guy's

gonna be a starter. I believe this kid is gonna be the starter on the is that other outside linebacker and and you you put you put Minka in there, you put him in there, and you put Gasecki. You have you may have three starters in that uh, coming right out of the first three guys. The first three

guys drafted. A lot of this improvement of this team and the unknown for everybody, and everybody's trying to figure out what their predictions nationally and locally is this group of guys you just talked about bo I mean the veteran guys are I call him nice band aids And they're important. But the big growth comes from your draft class, your rookie free agents. Boa John, We're gonna be talking about two or three rookie free agents gonna make this team and have an impact by the end of the year.

It happens every year, you know, there there's always It's funny because there's always that free agent and and maybe if you're lucky there's two of them, but there's always that one free agent, right that you're watching them, and no one pays attention. First week, you know, always just slow, you know, guys too slow, the guy this or that, And and then then you go to then you're in a O tannual. Geez, I think I made a nice play there, you know, Yeah, then who's number twenty six? Yeah?

And then the next record, think I made another playoff? And then you go to training camp and guy's making plays all over and then you get that last cut, right, you get the last cut, and you're going, man, I hope they keep that guy. That guy got got very little chance of making the team. And then and then you know, in the meeting room when it comes down to cutdowns, those coups going, hey, you can't get rid

of that guy. And you know what, all the veterans are going, hey, we can't get rid of that guy. Think makes plays every time he's in there. And who was it a couple of years ago? It might have been three four years ago now, and we had the three linebackers that were all two years ago. Yea, yeah, Neville Hewitt and thezact vigil of maybe that year the year before, like it was all these guys and we're looking that guy is a pretty good play? Was that the same guy? That was a different guy, that was

forty six? The other guy, and you kept going down the list, And you hope you do that this year because that means you're getting stronger at the bottom and it's starting to get into the middle of the team and the side. We've seen some pretty some pretty decent draft choice and you're watched him for ten minutes ago. I can't play. I can't play. And we will have that too, that that that will pop up. But but I do agree. Hey, how about the fourth preseason games.

I was just thinking back to Minnesota last year. We're sitting there and we had a linebacker make the team, had a monster game and ends up starting because of suspension. He plays the first game of the regular season and did a nice job. How about the guy finds out, chase out and finds out that the morning that he's not only playing, he's starting because you lost your outside linebacker.

He's starting. First way crashes down makes a tap for the losses very first play in the National Football League a week rookie free agent that so you know, you look at all the draft choices and look there, that's like the uh, you know, the draft choices are like the you know, the presidents, you want to open them with Christmas. The free agents are like those candy canes that are hanging out that no one wants to know when you're you're bored. You gotta because it's Christmas, but

no one wants to eat those things. You know, I'm gonna go out of him in bed. That bow has done that a couple of times. Yeah, yeah, there's no questions. He's popped a little piece off there, put it back into Uh. Hey, you know what we've we've we've had guests for the last couple of weeks, so we've kind of been avoiding or not. We've we've kind of left the uh, the fans of side. He's out of time

out right. Everybody's yeah, everybody's looking now. I'm not saying that someone might not be go back into time out after this one. I haven't looked at any of these questions, but we'll go ahead and go through and get some of these questions. Acebook Jeff Myers, what do you guys, what was what was your guys, rookie experience, like Joe right down to the wire man for me seventh round pick twelve rounds. Uh had a good, really good rookie preseason. Uh.

I did, made a lot of catches. I remember that. But found out from Don Strock when everybody's messing with me, telling hey, kid man, what are you gonna do when you go back to California. You get cut because that's how it was back then. And then Don Strock said, hey, nobody's told you yet, but you're gonna make the freging team. So that was you were part of that. We were in one of those rookie groups where you had like

three people in your locker. Oh yeah, you always knew where you stood when you came in that first day of training camp and saw how many people you were sharing a locker room. Some guys at the far you remember that far end down there, that was like, no, you didn't want to be anywhere deer down there, and there was like eight guys and everybody down there, you know. We all we had was wood frame two by four's

with chicken wire on him. And they put three guys in that locker, three guys in each one, and you're looking and You're coming off the field after like a hot training camp day and you look at those guys. Go man, those Porsona bitches and you spreading. I got plenty of your room. So I was just to get back. I was paranoid the whole time, went right down to the wire about making a team. I felt like I played well in the preseason, but back then, they're only

forty five guys on the team. They're a whole bunch of guys. And back then, outside of being a first round pick, maybe a second round pick, you weren't real safe back then like today, now, we had a kid I remember a kid, uh that that she was drafting third round. Remember Lyman Smith? Were you here for Lyman So? Lyman Smith? He was an offensive guard or offensive tack on him. They drafted him in the third round. She was cut him in the first week. He didn't even

last the first week. And got rid of the guy. I mean he was. He wasn't a little bit of no nonsense back and you know, you know, now you imagine invest in the third round and you get rid of him in the third week of the first week. Look at Jeroan Baker, He's the third round pick. You got his job secure. You got to be real bad and a real jerk off. If you're a third round or fourth round, even fifth round the team, now you got to be really how about this guy? So in Canada,

anything goes right. So my rookie year, I get into my first meeting and actually, a former coach with the Dolphins for the past three years, Danny Barrett was in the quarterback room with me. So Danny Barrett's with me. He's from Lake Worth High School, kind of know him a little bit, and uh, and there's all these other guys and you're thinking you're the guy that they brought in.

You're gonna be okay. Well, there's six quarterbacks in this room, right, So you're walking around, you're kind of getting the lay of the land. You go off for a few practices. You kind of go like, I got that guy. I got this guy pretty good. You know, my competition is probably Danny and I are gonna be battling the start.

So this other guy comes up to me and says, hey, listen, brook, I just want to let you know, if you're fortunate enough to be my backup this year, I just want to let you know that I'll take care of you. You know, I'll show you the ropes, show you where to live. We're not to do, what to do, and I'm going and I don't want to say anything something being a nice guy, so you had no problem. I appreciate it. I go to Danny. I go Danny. This guy just told me if I'm lucky enough to be

his backup. When when I came a week later, this guy is packing it. Go in early in the morning for practice. We had like two days and then a walkthrough. So it's like seven o'clock in the morning. We're going through our stuff and he's packing his stuff. I'm like, hey, John, where are you going. Well, then we had a disagreement. I'm going I said, no, I wish you good luck. But disagreement was he thought he could play in the team,

thought he could disagree. He disagreement. There wasn't That was hilarious. That was an eye opening experience though, going into that

rookie So so my rookie year I played in. I was very fortunate enough to play in the very last college All Star Game, which I guarantee you of the people listening to this podcast, I have no idea what it is but they used to take the he was the first two players in each position drafted, and and that made up the College All Star Game, and you went up to Chicago and you played against the defending

Super Bowl champions. So we played against the seventy six, the seventies six, uh Pittsburgh Steelers with all you know that when they were when they were there, and everybody you know, the lamp they're all there, Franco uh, Terry brad Shaw, that whole offense like character. I don't I don't think we we played in that game. I don't think we got past the forty yard our fourty yards. So anyway, So I but by doing that, I missed

the first two weeks of training camp. The league had to deal with the Tribute company who owned the game, that if you if you, if you got picked and you signed your contract, you had to go. You had no choice. And so I missed the first two weeks. So I literally play the game at night, jump on a jump on a flight, get here like at six o'clock in the morning, rush over to training camp, throw my ship on, get right around the field. I'm ready

to play linebacker. I've never played linebacker in my life. So I come running out in the field. Guys in middle practice right and uh and rnc's me company goes go, hey, you are you ready to get in? And I'm like, you know, trying to get my helmet straight and stuff. And I'm looking around, you know, the first time ever walking into a training can to training can, I said. I said, yeah, Coach goes, I get in there. He says, well,

he goes. All you need to do is you know, if run shows, play your run support and if past shows just dropping that short outside zone. That's all you gotta do. And I'm running in, going, what the hell is run support? Like? I got your coach, So I get in the huddle first play and I love. I

line up. I'm playing outside linebacker. I line up. I look in there, Bob Greasy Hall of Famers playing quarterback, Jim Langer hall of Famer, is playing center, Larry Little, Hall of Famer is playing UH is playing guard, Mercury Morris is in the backfield and UM, and so I'm going, okay, you know they're getting Bob. You know, Bob starts a back pedal. I dropped into my zone right kind of settle back in my little ten yard zone, a little

double zone. All of a sudden, I look and here comes here comes um Bob coachen Bergen screen him and Larry Little, and I see mirk drifting out. Here we go, and so Greece throws a little lost a little past the murk right and I step up and here comes the three offensive life coach. Coach hits me with his helmet right under my chin. I mean, came right up my chin. Knocked me right, the first thing hit first thing. I hit the ground with my back of my head.

I get the ship knocked out of me, and I think, I think Langer stepped on my chest and and then Murk comes running by, and I'm laying down the ground like this, and all of a sudden, all I see in my face is Bill larns Barger, like six inches from my face. I damn its son. In this league, you gotta keep your head on the swing. That was That was my introduction and what the hell did I get myself into? But yeah, so that those are experiences.

It's always fun to think back on them. But you know, really, for for these kids, for us back in the time, when you go into that's a that's a that's a stressful time, man, forget new people. You don't know if you fit this and that, and you go from the big horse on campus and you come down here and you gotta learn a new system, and you got new teammates, and you don't know how the veterans feel about you. Some guys, every every veterans different, even like today. Some

will go, hey, I want to help you. You know, you're not a threat. Some dudes are insecure and want nothing to do with you. I have the whole game, but I have you. Guys say I'll help you out. And then the guys that Cam drews they drafted you in the first round, you know. And then the other one was because at the time that's ever been the three Super Bowls they had won, two went undefeated, and there's still a lot of guys left in that team.

My rookie salary it was thirty six thousand dollars. There were guys in that locker room still making eighteen thousand dollars at the time, and I'm walking through and the go, you son of a bitch played down. I haven't played a damn down there paying you double as much as I'm making right now. So you had a bunch of their pisst at you everybody's wherever. But I did learn right off the bat every but he knows about everybody's bass salary and signing there are all right, let's go

uh el Choppo Facebook, you know what. One of these days, maybe we'll get it from right, you know, from the real el Chapo. Maybe you'll maybe you'll dig out of a hole and pop out of question for us. The national media is critical of Jerome Baker's size. What do you guys thinks? Can he be a three down guy? A three down linebacker? Well, look, I've been impressed with the guy and pressed away the way he carries himself. We had a chance to talk to him just a

few minutes ago. I like what you're thinking about not the biggest guy out there, speed guy, but but you heard him. We talked about can you cover a linebacker? I can cover anybody. His his his attitude, so um, you know, I think there's questions there. But but I think the day all these guys playing first, second, and third down, I think everybody's gonna be in different packages coming in and out. We're talking yesterday about this what

is it now? Nickel package seven in the package, yeah, crazy, everybody, and and and down in distance. Maybe this guy's in for third and twelve, but this guy's in for a third and six. But you're still maybe in a multi you know, in a in a Nickel package or whatever. It's just I would say that the game league has been specialized for such a long time, but it's getting micromanaged. But this guy did pretty good at a high level

at Ohio State. Let's let it play out a little bit and see what he can and what he can't do. Let him prove that. And you know that the thing I keep thinking about with him and ray Kawon McMillan, two guys that played together, that know each other, to know how each other plays, that have played you know, off each other, you know, during their career in Ohio State. I just think it's gonna be an interesting It's gonna be an interesting walks during training camp. Let's put it

that way. Uh Duke Dennis from Twitter, Hey, fellas, you know you gotta stick with the periscope crew for good questions. Do you think we should be trying to lock up Bobby and you can now before we lose him to free agency? Like we have so many other homegrown picks. Uh. Yeah, Duke Dennis comes in from a Twitter, So yeah, you can get Twitter periscope and come in that way and you're on your questions. Uh Bobby McCain, Um what you guy?

I don't know. If I don't know what, he's got to be getting real close into his contract and if you can tie him up. He got his improvement was he improved about as much as anybody on the team. Obviously Exavien, how are there? There were a few guys, but I thought Bobby McCain was right for the way he played in at his nickel outside exactly. Well, that's just to your point show somebody goes down. Bobby McCain

can move and he can play multiple positions. You know you have Mica Fitzpatrick now be able to do that. The more guys you can get, more hat you can wear in the NFL, no matter where you're drafted, you're gonna be depended on to play in a pinch. I think he gives you a lot of variation attitude. He

got a little chip on his shoulder. He walks, he's good, he's good like and he's good and he's a good guy for the team kind of keeps things loose, keeps things out there, but when it comes time to business for business, the guy takes care of business. I looked, I wouldn't have a problem if they if they, if they upped him, you know, extended him a little bit. Uh, but for he gets the free agency. Another Facebook from

tomb I'm assuming that's Tom, but maybe it's Tomb. If it's Tomb, right, if it's mel Toemay, Melt Tourmay whatever, it's something bates Tommy, Tom Tom Tomay whatever. Cam Wake doesn't seem to be slowing down yet, one of the most consistent guys in the team. What do you I I agree with that. I don't think this guy slow him down. I tried to bait him the other day when the lunch room after a show and I saw Cam and the I said, Camp, there's some brownies over here.

He goes, will you ate him? Yeah? Hey, the team has to to make sure they're okay. Though he's still thirty six, but it is. If there's such thing asn't young thirty six, it's him and nobody's you just mentioned takes care of their body like he does. No, No, he is and look, he takes care of himself. And look, the other thing is, you know he's out of football

for three or four years. You know, so he maybe thirty six, but from a from a tread standpoint, he's he's a you know, he's a thirty two year old guy. Like you said, Joe, he takes care of his body boat. You see him in there. He eats a certain thing every day at a certain time. You look at him, and we've all been around this team for a lot

of years. That guy hasn't changed much. Hasn't changed in his appearance, hasn't changed in his offseason approaching what he does, has bounced back from his achilles, hasn't changed in his effort, hasn't reduce exactly. Yeah, we haven't had a guy disappear in the offseason like this guy. He's the all time guy. We never hear about him. I don't know where he lives, what he does. It's umble you talk about teaching young guys how to disappear and never be seen or heard

and have the private life. Cam's a president back and look, I think at this point, certainly he's a guy that you look at from a maintenance standpoint during practices, you maybe do a little a little play count on him. You know, hey, we're kind of keep you in this situation. And you know, maybe you know, you've got all these defensive ends and the rotation is gonna gonna help him out with that too. So I don't see him slowing down.

I I would I wouldn't be surprised to see Cam for this year, next year, and then then and then after that maybe you start going well maybe I don't know, but look, there's leaving this game. Broke Facebook Tommy Cloggs. You know, I was a little a little stanch when I see Tommy Clogg's in here. Tommy, I heard Tommy has a problem, is a serious problem. He has at

elimination problem. He's always busy eliminating when he should be working. John, John, I've been saving your one on ones with the draft picks. What was your impression on the rookies and did anyone really surprise or stand out to you have talked to just they talked to all the draft picks. You know, it's pretty cool. I think you can go down the list. All good guys, all stand up guys. Uh were really

well spoken. I thought the excitement level you could tell these guys are excited about being here and just not They're ready to go to work. They're ready to contribute, they want to contribute, and I think when you take a look, I was surprised at Gazicky and Smite because those guys are drafted in the fans minds for different reasons. But I think you're gonna get instant resolve in in their own different ways at those positions, at that position a tight end. I The guy that struck me. The

guy that stood out the most though, was Blaged. He's big, he shook your hand, almost went down to one knee. The guy is a strong dude, and he's ready to go to work. This guy is he's been productive. He was one of those sleeper type of picks because not a lot of people will following Arizona statement. Be quite honest with you, you know, nobody really mentioned him in the national media that that could be a steel for future. And he's not real happy that he got drafted so late.

He's he he wants to prove something to people like that, something like that. But whatever number he was, you don't like that number. You don't like that number at all. So I like that. But you know you touched on something to John uh when when and had a chance to speak to all the rookies uh and and and get to to know some of them here in the last few days. And they're they're all cut from the same cloth. Man. They're all about business. You're talking about

South and I don't want to hear about that. I want to be the best player I can be. I want to get in my book. I'm taking notes on everything, I'm doing everything, and from top to bottom. They've all got that attitude, and it permeates. I think it's permeated that room where all these rookies are getting to gotten together in all their meetings to understand that this is no it's no bullshit. It's not coming down there when we came out here, you know, okay, yeah, practice of work.

We go get a beer, you know, when we need we need to spend more time in the in the tape room. And this and that good one good thing I found from this draft class, and maybe a couple of others. When you go down the list, it's Alabama, it's penn State of tile State, it's Notre Dame, it's Arizona State. Those guys are ready to go to work. They're ready to go. It's not it's not North Texas state where you gotta well, maybe in two years this guy,

you know, he'll learn the process. There's no more learning curve. Now for the Miami Dolphins, there's six and ten last year. These guys don't produce. It's the guys that picked them. It's their name on you know, signing that off. These guys have to produce. All these kids, all these young men have been in positions where the pressure is the greatest and they produced it. And look at like Jeron Baker said, hey, look you know he was in Ohio

State every week I played in front of a hundred thousand. Yeah, you think I'm going to one of these stadiums with your seventy thousand, eighty thousand. You think I'm gonna be you gonna be a shrinking violet. I don't think that's gonna I just I like that aspect to about about this draft class. Twitter at uh carry at carry zero zero carry double o one. I never know how to do those number double number doubles or this or that. You're good. Yeah, it sucked. I stumbled over like a

like a drunken fool stepping over a curve. Speaking of Bears, Ohio State fan here, Jerome Baker is a beast. The stats don't give enough credit. I thought he should have stayed a year and to beef up his stats he had done. If he had he done that, he would have gone in the first round next year. Got a real steal for the Dolphins. I feel real good about

the kid. And you know what, It's funny with a guy like Jerome Baker, you know all the other guy from Ohio State that the jump out to you, and you know you sometimes you get a guy like that, it gets buried because there's so many big time stars on that team. This guy's are a very good player himself. But you know, maybe not that guy that everyone's everyone's

talking about, uh, but still very very good play. Today's guys like it used to be, if you were for if you if you were a first round pick, he came out early. Nowadays, Bow, these guys know they go in the first few rounds. We've seen guys to the fifth round. They're coming out now. They just go, hey, I'll take my chances more draft picks than ever making teams. You gotta keep him around. It's a great opportunity with the salary cap. So we're seeing with the salary cap.

I think it's getting unusual now with seven rounds um if a team gets ready to one of those draft picks, right, that's right, they're keeping them around there there because because it it does, it helps her. You know, their their price range certainly softens that salary. And he's probably a practice squad if you're a week on practice squad more less. Yeah, no doubt, uh facebook uh ram Dak Blunt. I like what the Dolphins did in the draft overall, even though

I'm not crazy about them getting Mica Fitzpatrick. Even though I get taking I get taking one of the highest rated players on the board. I hope he's a quick study and not a liability to only get eaten up by New England because they love going after rookie cornerbacks. You know what, It's funny because I thought it was a great pick. It kind of came out of the blue for me. He wasn't the guy I was thought.

I thought they were gonna go after, But when I got when they got him, I thought, hell, that's a great pick and fits in, gives him depth, gives him a lot of versatility in the secondary. I'm surprising how many people I've heard going, why did they take that kid? Well, listen, we got going on Virginia Tech. I was sitting there a little brainwash it. We're looking at Ferrell's on the outside, at outside linebacker. I will tell you though, Mr Ken Jimmy hit that called it out. They said that guy

is the guy? Well, you know it was. That was kind of the everybody circled after the linebackers left, and it was also Edmonds. We we were all kind of hot on him. I figured out he was that linebacker. But I was so surprised that you were able to get those linemen to go ahead and all of a sudden all the quarterbacks. We all talked about that if the quarterbacks were gonna go, that was gonna give exposed Miami Dolphins to a lot more options than just at

linebacker or a defense from that. Yeah, it was really I look, for all the people that aren't aren't happy with that pick, uh, you can take some of my happiness with it and spread it around and make a little more palerable. Just go back and look at his production Alabama. Look, people asked me the draft. I still look, I thought the draft was great. I always throw the caveat but these guys gotta come out here and play that they got, you know, and I don't. It's make

Fitzpatrick or the last free agent. Yeah, draft pick that that came to this that signed with this football team. Look, they're all even right now, they all go out of the team. I'll have a chance to go out there and get the job done and and make the team. And I've seen plenty of guys first second round draft out picks that that barely ever saw the field. And I've seen Look, I was with Larry Lily, Yes, a free agent that end up going to the Hall of Fame.

I asked Larry Larry, how many how many free agents are there in the Hall of how many Hall of Famers are in the free agent and that are there in the Hall of Fame that that came to the league as undrafted free agent. She said, it's probably eight to ten, eight to ten Hall of Famer. So you know, it's it's it's not uh, it's anybody's ball game out there. Uh. Facebook, Bill McMaster games prefers running back by committee, just like the two tight end sets. He's still building his team.

I agree with that. And I think you talked about Blas. I think he has a nice different uh you know with with Gore in there with him and there, um, I think you're in your You got a pretty good situation and become pretty good competition there at the running back spot. And I think too a tight end Joe, I mean you're gonna have two three tight end sets. He spent out do some stuff in there to action two or three tight ends. He loves two and three.

He listen, are tight end numbers in the past receiving game. I've got to get picked up. We we do run a lot of too tight end. We like to use our full back as a as a tight end guy. We we gotta get more, a lot more. But you know we had talked about this earlier with with Kaseki. Is that Look, there are a lot of Adam put Adam put those tight ends in a lot of mismatches, put them in a lot of situations where they could

have made plays. They just didn't make the plays. Either the ball wasn't there, or they didn't catch the ball or you know, the stuff to catch the ball. Why you always go there Joe, you were leading me into it. You put up that sign and said stiff, like leaving the horse to water. I watch them flex out and I'm going, how come I'm not excited about this match up? Then he runs a shitty route but still gets open balls right there, just didn't catch the actually ran come

out drop. Uh. John McGary Facebook. Uh, Kellen Blage. We were saying that during the season too, so it's not like we're just taking shots at the guy while he's gone. Uh. Kellen Blige is a beast. He's gonna be tough to bring down. You can't wait to see our backs? See our backs? What are what our backs can do this year? I'm interested to see um because I really haven't seen him. I probably saw him and didn't know who he was. And he's got it. He got a great personality. He

he is really good. But let's just say this, because I know we're we're talking rookies right now, I'm expecting Kenyan Drake, if he stays oh to have monster season, breakout season. I mean, Kenyan Drake is now in prime years of his career and he had just enough success to get real hungry this year. Hey, guys, correct me if I'm wrong. Though, the last five or six weeks, whenever Kenyan took over and was the starter and played the whole time, he had the most yards of anybody

in the National Football League. I think past receiver against Patriots, he got match up one on one on their linebackers and chew them up. And look and there there's another guy that, uh, when you see him, he's working his ass off. Man, he's not, he's not. You know, Yeah, I know what I'm doing now, uh Facebook, Jory Valdez. This fan base wants instant gratification. Takes time to build a team, and that's exactly what they're doing. I agree with that, and I just you know, I don't know

what's gonna happen this year with this football team. I don't know what how many games are gonna win. And again, like when coach Gay was here, we trying to look. These games come down to the last drive, you stop them, or they kick a field goal or score touchdown, and that that decides the game. So it's very tight. But

I like the direction they're going in. They may not be a great team this year, but I think he's building a really nice foundation of what this team is going to be And I wouldn't be shocked at all if this team doesn't surprise us and and the rest of the country with what they do this year, because I just think the type of guys, the players, they've they've plugged a lot of holes with players. Now, if

they produce, and then who knows where they go. Take the teams out of the equation with a premier, elite quarterback, and you can you can make a guess preseason on where they're gonna be. You just don't know. We didn't know two years ago that our team was gonna win so many points to side games decided by four points or three points or less. He end up getting it ten wins. Last year. We didn't think Ryan was gonna go down and it was gonna be abysmal in terms

of being able to get stability at that position. You don't know. You don't know until the team lines up and plays, but you can guarantee one thing. You said it best bow games are gonna come down to either stopping somebody in the last possession, kicking a field goal to win, kicking a field goal to tie, or getting a first down or a score to win in a high percentage of those games. Well, he's got the guys he likes more than ever before. And it starts out

here with this group right now. And uh, listen, both they're talking playoffs. I mean they're not just with hey, let's try to get better so our fan base feels better.

May they're talking about playoffs in that room. I think what I like about what they're doing is they're not I don't think they're building I'd say Gays and and and Greer and tannem baumb I don't think they're building a football team to get in the playoffs every now and then you know, I can try to put that football team that's gonna that's gonna be there every year and challenge and be one of those upper echelon teams.

And I just hope the fan base. If it's not this year, but it's next up the fan base because you know how it is, they start beating the drums after after three years with a coach, I'll get these guys, this guy can't coach, get him out of here. And then and then you do, you get out of there and you take three steps back. And so at some point this franchise has to look at their coach and go, this is our guy. We're gonna let him get this

team where he wants. If it takes him two years, three years, five years, whatever, we're gonna give him the opportunity. There are certain numbers you want to want to score, and I want to be entertained. I don't no different. None of you guys don't want to get entertained. It together, Yeah, I don't want to struggle. Bottom line is winning. You want to win. You want to you want to have the expectation of going in every Sunday or Monday night

or Thursday night. You want to be able to know that, hey, I've got a chance to win this game, no matter who they're planning. Right, Yeah, walk on the I mean that's you know, that's a great thing in the NFL to be a team when you walk into a stadium, you know, you don't what we're gonna win. We're gonna we're gonna gonna and when you're then when you lose, you're like shock, well, yea, how that happened? You know, And that's where they need to get to. Thomas died.

Facebook Defense didn't sign any impact players this year, just a few average, average ones mostly two. In terms of Pro bowlers, Uh, there were more on the team last year. Dolphins aren't getting the playoffs. We will probably finish just under five hundred. Again, nice to have you with us, Thomas, appreciate, appreciate the other. I think they've done some pretty good things. I think they they've They've brought in a lot of depth.

I think the secondary's got depth, certainly, the defensive front has depth. Offensive line. I think you gotta feel is is you know, is an improvement? A lot of questions, I don't you know, they think they got to impact defensive rookies first and second round. They feel nobody wants to come out and say they think is sick. He didn't catch a lot of I don't. I don't doubt that. He didn't come in here to look real pretty and we're pin State T shirts. No, he came in here

to catch the rock, no doubt. So I look, you you can, you can? You know, we'll see you have those in the radio every now and nail do I live with him but Facebook, Michael Budwick, I think my I think Minka is the next Ed Reid. Uh. He and Rashaw Jones instantly form is one of the best safety duos in the NFL. You can't forget t J McMillan or t J mont donald McDon McDonald back there. Pick was an absolute steal, and him, McMillan, and Jerome Baker should all be Day one starters and leaders for

the next five to ten years. I agree with the I agree with that. I agree with that, and I agree with the fact that you would you put Gasecki in there. He could be your tied in front. He will take four years, take three or four years to turn this. You know what's funny now, because out you gotta start looking at these guys and you can't years. No, you can't best more. I don't know why everybody says that. You know, the draft guys always say that too, like

you're lining him up at tackle. You got him. He's your guy for ten years. And he may be a guy for ten years. He may still be paying for him. He may still be paying for him in an injury, or he got too good and you can't afford to keep me. I don't know about keeping him for ten years. Let's take a year by year and maybe three years or four years at the most. That's good speaking of We're gonna wind us up with David Johnson from Facebook. I think my favorite pick in the draft was Gasecky

out of Penn State. Glad we finally got a big body, pass catching tight end. I couldn't be more agreeable with that. When when I heard that uh I was out in an event, when I heard they they drafted Goosecki, I went behind the wall and started jumping up and down. I was so happy. I said, finally, finally that guy we talking about him umping down about we need to get a guy like that, and I was afraid. I was so afraid that Dolphin is gonna try to grab one in the third round if you got your guy.

And Chris Career heard, he said, hey, you want Adam, you want your tight end. Let's chump up and get him right now. You love Gasicki, he's there. There was three elite past catching tight ends, and we got one of them, okay, in the in this traff and we needed to get one of them. And we backed him up with a guy that I think is underrated, that can do a lot more than what he was asked

to do. It Notre Dame in smite. It's funny because if you talk to those two guys, and I talked to both of them, and Gasecki has says, you know, everyone tells me I can't block, I can block. I can block, you know, And then you talked to to to smythe ever says I can't cat, so I can can I can catch cat, I can run. They said, no, wait, I can do everything I can do. Listen, you know who I trust the most, Jerome Baker because he played against probably both, no doubt about it. All right, that's

gonna do it for the program today. I want to thank everyone that's that's been listening to the programs. Uh, you can catch Them's a lot of good places to catch these things. But I'm starting to kind of run out of gas on these things. I forget it. Where I figere where you can get them, Joe, you gotta tell me where we can find it working. I like Apple Music, but I'm not afraid to go to Dolphins dot com. I'm gonna I'm gonna call BS on you

because you don't have an iPhone. Bro, you got no, no, no, but somebody in the family has one daughters, somebody, But it just because you don't have an iPhone doesn't mean you can't with somewhere else or somewhere else, you know, old school goals. Dolphins mobile app is a good one. Dolphins dot com, Dolphins dot com. It's always the same. That's where I go. You know, sometimes I just go

to tune in radio. In radio, just tune in because a lot of a lot there's a lot of different You can catch a lot of your own podcast on tune in radio. But I don't give a shit about the other ones. I just listened to ours. Joe, what time you playing tennis today? That's the case. That's the case because I didn't know what I mean. We're blasi. You can go before you had to go warm up or something. You bust jumping up there. Man, those fussy balls, those green balls. Oh yeah, get out and play it

for Tommy Clarks. Who are you going out against today. I'm not gonna say. I don't want to take any shots. I know he's playing, you know, Joe's stepping his game up. He's playing Barry Jackson the s. That's gonna do it for a programmer to catch you next week.