Draft Stories

draft day and the expectations that went along with it. First, we have Orlando Pace from the Ohio State University, who was just this a little scrappy draft pick, barely made it through the first round. That's right, the first number one overall draft pick. That's right, my former teammate. Uh started the greatest show on turf and I later joined

him in St. Louis. And then we have this guy named John Randall that I must say talked the whole game, who went undrafted out of the University of Texas, that's right, not not Austin, Texas at Kingsville in but still made it to Caton, Ohio. Welcome guys, so glad to have you. Thank you for sitting down talking to us. About the draft. All right, so give our players and alleges and idea of the difference. Take us through each each of your draft days. What was it like, John, come on with it. Uh,

draft day was you know back then? Back then it was like what three days, three or four days? Was sitting around, you know, waiting for the phone ring. So I was sitting there waiting cell phone. No just check, no, no, no, you're at the house. Phone bick your phone, sitting there waiting. Nobody called. First day. Okay, but who's in the house. We gotta set the tone man. Nobody just me by yourself, myself? No interested? Yeah, because this this journey, basically it was

my journey. There's something where for me, I was saying that I wanted to try to play in the National Football League. I didn't really set out to do that, but I said, my brother played, you know what, I want to give a try. I remember when I ran my forty I ran my forty grass party was about I felt like and like three ft high because you couldn't even see his shoe. Said again, so so guys like I wouldn't call her name Orlando Pace, who has

never experienced high grass. But you're gonna ask this a scout here here at the combine, We'll run into him. We'll asked him about he was there. He goes man, you even running that company at that forty? I go yeah, he goes man, that grass so tall we couldn't see shoot. Go what did I ring it? I think he ran like a eight something like that, like okay that you know. No, it was back in the day. It was long and slow process. But its process that I went through on

my own. They sit around the old day watching TV, you know, turn the TV on. Watch Uh, I'm talking about it. Nobody called every once. Somebody checked the phone? Makes your phone working? Where's everybody? Nobody? Nobody really, I mean nobody really thought that I was gonna make it, you know really. Yeah, That's why I said this process. But I always kind of was on my own something to join you. I went down because and I'm coming out of vision to school. I'm undersize. I'm only six too.

I'm two forty. You know, I'm not the typical uh deepen linemen. Back then, everybody wanted you to be six five six six. You had real g was six six five, and then he had liked you. Clyde Simmons. Man, you had these guys that were just just huge. Wait or they were like to seventy five on one up and I'm coming in at two forty six two leading two is cool. And they were like, you know you underside, nobody really thinks that you're going to be the guy

that it'sbody gonna take a chance on. So I sit around for three days, man, wait somebody to call me. Then soon the draft was over, I got a call from Restking was like, hey, think about making a linebacker And I was like, no, I'm not a linebacker. I'm a defe line When they was kind of laughed at the end of the phone call, you know, doing a phone call. But so nobody's draft you. Now they're talking about put you in lineback and defensive tackle. Yeah, and

just pounds and so to them all makes sense. This too small. So from that standpoint, it wasn't gonna happen. So my brother was playing at Tampa. I went down, had your brother been drafted? My brother got drafted. My brother got drafted in the third round for Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So this is like the late eighties. So I go down of Tampa and they were trying to make me a linebacker. You had Roderick Thomas down there, and you had another uh linebacker who's from Alabama, and they were like, yeah,

you could be mic linebacker. We could put you on like like a little practice squad. And I'm like, no, I'm not lined back and defense lama. So then they put me in the medium room, trying to show me that what I was playing against guys to name two d pounds, they were six to one, got six three. I'm like, man, I'm still a defeens a lama, And and all of a sudden they were showing me the front which they had their three man front and they

were basically running to me. Their defense up front was you know, had Alex and Alex on the left of the left hand and in for the right end. And they go, yeah, it's taking like two days and figures out. I'm like, man, left hand is Lex right in and land? Okay, what else we need? And so all of a sudden, if you want to leand that's the inside guy going first, Lex, I mean outside guys going first, and it's Lex, then

you're gonna land. That's inside guy Rex outside in going first and ran inside guy going first like Okay, I got this and maybe like nah, it's just not gonna work out. So I leave there and uh go down to the land. So you still have signed. These are teams you're visiting, yep, visiting. So so hold that thought. I want to go through the teams that you're going through this process, because you you you're talking about the free agent experience, which is very unique to Orlando's experience.

You know, Atlanto sitting there, he's hearing around Will talk about high grass. I went to the Southern University and here Orlando first pick in the draft. First question I want to know is where you're in New York. I was in New York. Uh. My story is a little different than John's. Obviously y'all can't see my hands right now. I mean it's like from how far from the south right? Y? Yeah? Absolutely,

So Actually give me this real quick. What goes through your mind as you hear John, Like, man, that's you know, even to hear that story, like, man, I didn't realize, you know, I know, guys that waited a couple of days. But just going through the process of visiting teams and being a free agent and kind of that whole experiences is different. It's really respect to him to be a Hall of Famer, to start off that his journey that way by in the in the house, by itself, and

then end up being a Hall of Famer. Man, that's that's incredible. Man. So so who I was in New York with you, So for me, my draft day kind of you know, you know, obviously I was projected to go number one pick. So I flew my entire family out there, so mom, dad, you know, since their uncles. So we're out there having a good time. I think I I started I started off in the league in the hole, just just based off that experience. But the funny thing about it, when I think about draft day,

it really started off in panic for me. And the reason I say that is obviously you got Taylor's making suits for you and all these different things. And I'm a big guy. This happening in New York and New York draft day morning, so you got a whirlwind. I got a whirlwind, and you know, I'm worried about getting drafted. So my my tailor shipped my suit to me, but he didn't have a shirt, something like, I can't walk out. I don't have a shirt, and I'm a big guy

in New York. So I'm like, somebody needs to I need to go find me out at the next a football player who has to have helmet, shoulder pass jersey pans. Your tailor makes your suit and does not send the shirt, does not send the shirt. So you were in New York, the first player drafted, and you were thinking about a shirt,

a shirt. You know, obviously I'm sitting there because you know, obviously everybody want to kind of bean walking state like I've been visiting this whole thing my entire career, like the first and I'm like, I'm running around New York for like somebody had a guy running around New York for like two hours trying to find a shirt that fits me. So that it was a little bit of panic. They're a little disarray, but uh, you know, we end

up working it out. It worked out, and so so sitting in the green room there in New York, you know, obviously being the first pick, and you kind of hear rumblings. And a week before that, I talked to coach Dick for Mill. He said, hey, we're gonna take you with the number one pick. But that was the last time I heard from him. So you're sitting in the green room and they used the entire clock. So in my head, I'm sitting there thinking, no, I don't know. So don't

get me wrong. Fifteen minutes compared to your two days is a little different. But you're still I'm like, hold up, I ain't gonna aren't gonna make a trade. They're gonna do something different. And then uh. And then obviously they made that pick with the number one pick, and it was a great It was a goal of mine, and everybody kind of rushed the stage and it was really a dream come true for me. Did you cry? You

know what? The funny thing I think I cried. I had an opportunity that night before and me and my mom was in the hotel room. We had a chance to reflect a little bit, and she just couldn't believe it. Obviously your parents are emotional, and she couldn't believe it, and it was just kind of it was an emotional time for us all because we knew where we came from and now all of a sudden, to be the first pick in the draft was it was a special time for us. So from that standpoint, sharing that moment

with family was awesome for me. Wow. Yeah. So you hear your name called, you go up to the podium the commissioner was it absolutely so as you walk on that platform right with Paul with that number one jersey on, what are you thinking on the stage? Wow? And I'm looking out and you see all these flashing cameras and York. It was in New York, So you see all these these cameras and you're like, you're a little bit and all.

You're like, man, this is really happening. And you're shaking his hand and we didn't do the hugs like they do now at the draft day, but you know, obviously he's like, oh, you're lifting up your caps, so give me a cap. Yea. They gave me a cat that was a little worried. I'm like, dude, this this cat fit. I know when I wanted to drift. I see their job. I like, is this cap? Because what I'm saying, like, y'all know, I get drafted to make sure y'all makes

of adjustment. But John is hoping to get a call this man thinking about yeah, yeah, so so that's my draft. Obviously, after you after you meet the commissioner, for me, it was a whirldwind from that point on because then you know, you do your interviews and then and then they put you on and obviously St. Louis wanted to see me, you know, as soon as they could. So we get on a flight and head to St. Louis and you know, they roll out the red carpet, leave you that part.

They put you on the flight, see that. See I know they do private jets. Now I was on a commercial fla like, hey, we got a four o'clock flight, you can make it. So but it was first class and I was like perfect, this works. But you know, obviously I get off the plane, didn't have to go through the airport, you know, they had a limo waiting there for me, and then you know, go to facility and yeah, so yeah, so it was it was a

pretty cool experience. So yeah, yeah, you know, John, getting back to you, you started saying us already, it's so much our rookie experience, how we treated the stems from you know, teams and how they invest in us. So you start off telling us about your visits were they were even trying to figure out what position you're gonna play. Tell us real quick. How you ended up in Minnesota? Okay? So I worked out. I went and worked out of Tampa and then so like journey continued on to Atlanta.

Foul because with Jerry Glanville, it's one of the assistant coaches. It's like lett m'clock in the morning in Atlanta, and he's got me out there running around doing all kinds of stuff. He's got me running the mall. Then he got me backpaling, He's got me going up the hill, down the hill, and all of a sudden, he just goes, he gets done. I might be stopped. He goes, and I'm I've been working out every day, seven days a week, and he goes, you know, out of shape. I'm like,

what I mean? I just mad you got me back down. I'm like, if this was the maing football all about, Yeah, maybe I'm not the right guy for this. I'm sitting there and I'm all sudden, I just go, you know what, huh, I'm going home. So I go to the airport and I'm sitting there. I'm waiting for my flight to go back to Texas, and you know that some time to kill. So I grabbed one of those football magazine and I'm thinking looking at the magazine, gonna, man, I guess it's

where my dream ins there. You know this is where it's done. I'm just yeah, can you track teams? Bring team? Only going you? Nobody else? Some say, look at the magazine and I'm going through it. I'm looking at different defensive lineman. I'm going, man, I belong in the National Football League. I know it. So there's a higher power telling me that. So I'm looking at the defensive lineman and I go to Minnesota. Minnesota had the smallest defensive line.

They had Henry Thomas, Chris Dolman. Doan was like to sixty five. Henry Thomes was two sixty. Al Noga was like two. And I'm two forty. And I'm like, I can make this team. I can make this team. I called my agent and I go, hey, it's Minnesota. Interested go yeah, Minnesota wanted team. I go, man, I want to go to Minnesota. I changed my ticket. I go to Minnesota. I get there that night and like eight o'clock at night, I'm leaving Atlanta. It's hot and I

just look. When I left school, uh, Kingsville, it was like palm trees, beautiful day at land in Minnesota's nighttime and snowing. I'm in the hotel room looking at the window, going, oh my god, is this the right decision? And like then then I go, yeah, it is. This is part of my journey Atlanta. Yours different coming from a big school first pick. Different pressure. John is trying to select the right team and obviously got to make a team. But yours tell us about the different pressure that comes

from the expectations. Wow. So being an offensive line and being selected number one pick, normally fan bases are looking forward, you know, you know, quarterbacks to change that helped change their franchise around. So the pressure of going number one, uh, like, hey, can an offensive lineman really change our fortune? Like the Rams have probably won the average of two or three games a year prior to the second worst team of

the decade of the night. Absolutely So obviously a couple of years prior to the the team had just moved from l A to St. Louis, and obviously they were looking for a winner. Coach from mill had just got there. They had drafted Lawrence Phillips the year before, and they're like, dude, why are they getting this offensive line? But Tony Banks had been getting beat up at the time, So you know that was a gamble for dicker Mill to draft me number one from that standpoint, because everybody wants that

big name quarterback to come into place. But you know, obviously I was. I was one of those key pieces that kinda that they brought in and they drafted well during free agency, bringing Marshall Falk and all these different guys in. But but that that the expectations to be you know, for me to be the number one pick was big because everybody's looking, you know, I've done. I had a great college career, so everybody's looking for those same results and that so the microscopes on you how

good is this kid? Is he gonna be what he was in college? But you know that was not put a lot of pressure on myself at the time too. But it was very different from winning you know, ten games a year to that first year, I think we won three games and you started looking like, man, hold on,

is this the league? Like I would like we would lose a game in college and it's almost like the world and it and I hear, guy, you probably experienced this when you first walking the league, that national people are like they lose a game, they get beat by thirty guys in the locker room. Trouble. Hey, where we're hanging out to night. I'm like, dude, hanging out, I'm devastate.

I'm devastated off these glosses, you know what I mean. So, but you know, obviously that was a big difference, but uh, you know, uh, you know, it was a great time for you know, we developed that some chemistry over the next couple of years and ended up winning the championship. And maybe I'm not remembering as Orlando the big elephant in the room. Did you sign right away? Oh? Here,

we got it. That's a big He didn't bring this up as a rule, bringing this up just for the legends that listened to this, got a big elephant in the role to bring it up. Well, I knew. I knew Orlando through the Post Brothers more at his agent exactly, so very quick, and I'm glad you brought that up in there, so as as I'm twenty one at the time, and you learn so much about business, right because you

think you're just gonna you get drafted. You walk into a situation and then all of a sudden you're like, hey, I'm the number one pick. Let's, you know, let's get this deal done. You think it's gonna be a very simple process. Hey, you guys wanted me. You're drafted me number one. Hey, let's open up the you know, let's let's back in the brinks truck a little bit and

let's get this thing done. And and that's when business kind of hit you in the face, like, hold on, there's some things we gotta work out here and iron out here. And being a young kid, you kind of obviously you want to get the most you can get. And then my agents were all about that. The Posting brothers and the Rams weren't so much about that, you know, because the negotiations, so we're going back and forth. It's probably held out three weeks. So I didn't come out

to deal with that. Now man first, Piggy ready to get rolling. We had to dream mom and I crying, absolutely, I'm gonna get my money, and all of a sudden, like three weeks. Yeah. So so it's funny because the more you I'm last guy to sign in the first round, right. So I've seen all my buddies getting these contracts and getting these deals, and I remember calling my agents saying, just get the deal done. I'm tired of it. Just get it done. I'm tired of holding I want to

play football. And he was like, no, hold on, hold on, we're really close, We're really close. Three weeks later, I don't get the camp. So it was one of those things where it's like, man, the pressure, because I was going through, all right, I want to, I want to, I want to get this big contract. Then all of a sudden, it was all right, I just want to play football because the pressure is like, okay, where's the

Orlando page. He's just and then all of a sudden, that deal didn't get done and there so so I walked into St. Louis and it was kind of bitter sweet. I think some people were happy to see me, but there was a lot of fans and the organizations like, dude, like, you just wasted almost wasted your rookie year based on the fact you missed the entire training camp. So you

know you're going you're going into that situation. So I didn't know if people liked me, if they didn't like me, or what happened, because you know, just the psychology we're talking about earlier, all of a sudden you didn't want to psychologist where most people think. Then you're first pick in the draft. Yeah, and then on your mind. Now you introduced to the business. Then you got fans who

bitter sweep who's this dude? Or the locker room. So you walk into the locker room and you see all these vets and they're like, dude, what is this dude about? Can he play? Can he not play? Wi? Is he holding out? And then you start making more money than other guys. You gotta and then you gotta come in and really show your worth or prove your worth because guys are and I probably done that to look man, is he really that good? How is it? Can you play?

But you gotta earn your respect when you walk in that locker room because guys are looking at you like you're making big money. Now let's see if you can fly. You know. One of the things that that Orlando told me the prior conversation was his coach Jim Haniffon and why don't you share with the legends with Jim told you, Yeah, it was a couple of things. So when I that's the great thing and I owe a lot to coach Hadding and what he's done for which is your de

line coach? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So so what happened is uh so, first of all, when I came in, it was he was probably the most uh well, he helped me out the most for the simple fact he said, hey, I know you've you've done great things in college. I'm not gonna put you on the on the field until you're absolutely ready. So I didn't start into my seventh game in the International Football League because he's like, hey,

you know, the first overall picks. So it was a little you have to be patient because it was almost like learning how to ride the bike again. Like in college, you physically stronger than everybody, but then in the league you gotta have some technique. You have to learn techniques. So he said, hey, you know, I don't care what the news media says. We're gonna put you out there

when you're absolutely ready. Once we got into that process, he said, hey, if you're not in the Hall of Fame by the time your career is over, then you know, it's nobody's fault. But you're all that's that's really good because you know, some coach you could have just fet you to the wolf. Yeah, absolutely, so you probably can see how sometimes even high picks, yeah end up short career is because someone not knowing how to manage it early. So yeah, so that's exactly what he said. Coach. They

were all on board. They were like, hey, we're gonna get this guy ready. You know, we're not just gonna throw them out there week one and see what he can do. So, you know, ironically, here's the joking place. So I'm drafted third round. So I'm in New Orleans. I'm waiting. I could have gone from first to five. So I'm sitting. The family all around, were in New Orleans seventeen with a Holly Grove baby. We're having fun.

So don't get my name called. Don't hear it until the second day, which was the second the third round started. Third round, and and remember the Cardinals and the Cardinals ironically it was the only team that said they probably wouldn't draft there one of their scouts and end up drafting never heard of Phoenix. Like, man, I'm being drafted. I didn't care, just to get the opportunity. And what made me bring my story up is you hold you held out three weeks. I'm a third round draft pick.

I held out. I didn't know that I had out for two weeks, man, I held out for two weeks coming out of Southern coming out of the Southern universities. You know, I didn't see that that I was watching this story. You I didn't hear that about two weeks man. And then uh, I end up starting from day one when I got there. Yeah, it was crazy. The funny the one to ask you, guys, is there anything um, guys earlier in their careers you can recommend that to

help alleviate the unnecessary pressure. It's already gonna be to performing and play. But is there anything you can say two guys that early in their careers that could possibly alleviate what I call the unnecessary pressure? I would say for a young guy to um, just when you when you are a player, it's just focus on being a player, not focus on I mean they try to tell you about you know, the media and this and all that.

If you just go out and do your part of playing football, everything else would take care of yourself and you know, and just that part of it. Because I think when a young guy comes in there, he's trying to pay attention to so much stuff that he gets caught up and all that, and he loses focus on what the agenda. And your main agenda is to play football and be the best football player you can be. Not trying to focus on Twitter or all this other stuff. Just focus on being a player you first year and

do that. Don't try to hang out with the veteran guys. Just you as a young guy, go to work, put in all the time you need to do to do your job. And the closer with your hand. Want to think about the shirt in New York, the hat holding out, the posters everybody. How did you finally get to get to doing what you needed to do as a player to be successful. Wow, I think it's to piggyback a little bit. What John said is just be be a pro.

You know, learn understand this isn't college anymore, this is this is actually your job, this is your dream, This is what you really want to focus on in life. And and I always always tried to gravitate when I walked into a locker room, Try to gravitate to somebody, a mentor somebody who's doing it right. And for me, Isaac Bruce was one of those guys where you looked the way he worked and he very quiet and you know that. But the way he worked, like dude, that

he's a true professional. And you gotta you gotta try to figure out during the course of that locker room atmosphere, you know who's that guy? Can you get behind? And then you got you gotta earn those You gotta be earned that respect in the locker room. You don't come in and try to be disruptive. You try to come in and be a key piece of that and just do your job by by how hard you work. I think that's the that's the kid. Well, you guys have

heard man, thank you for this incredible podcast. We've learned some more about each other. So glad and a matter of fact, any legends want to read up on the posting Brothers and day saka contract. You guys had these contacts. I probably had like they gave me a contact. He was just like, hey, this up. You know, I've learned some valuable information today about it and this is gonna be trouble about holding out for you. I had no idea. No, man,

what's your degree in? Like account? Yeah? Count let me close out this podcast. Anybody, y'all were having so much fun we're trying to go over time. Man, this five que, this your boy, and yes Williams. Has been great. Thank you John, thank your land though. Hey, thank you guys for listening to this podcast. This has been the NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request the topic for discussion, email us at NFL Legends at nfl dot com.