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00:00:00
Speaker 1: You know Terri just Terriors just came back, so we got all the energy from Terry. I hear the Terry chance, I'm like, all right, we about to be rocket and then okay, boom, I getting theirs on. I hear proud going de Bo. I'm like, yo, like nah, this is lit. This was turned up.
00:00:15
Speaker 2: But the Next Man of podcast is presented by Lansdown Resort. From kick off to check hand, score, a game change and get away in the heart of Louder. Lansdown Resort, proud partner of the Washington Commanders, Commander's family for our next man Up. He's been in the studio once, but it's time a little different. He was putting pens and paper before. Now he's our leading receiver, leading in catches, leading in targets, tied for leads and touchdowns. The man that does it all, Deebo Samuel Senior.
00:00:42
Speaker 3: How you doing, brother?
00:00:43
Speaker 4: Doing good? Brother?
00:00:43
Speaker 1: How you're doing?
00:00:44
Speaker 3: I appreciate you, man.
00:00:45
Speaker 2: I know this is a very busy season, man, and what a season has been for you.
00:00:48
Speaker 3: Last time we spoke, you had just signed.
00:00:51
Speaker 2: What has it been like we threw four weeks now, what's it been like being part of the Bergnygo.
00:00:55
Speaker 1: It's been a blessing for sure, kind of like related to what we talking about the first time. I'm about you know, coming in here and just you know, I'm doing the best I can at my job and whatever the coach's asked me to do. And I think, you know what I'm saying, consistently doing that at a pretty high level, you know what I'm saying. So I'm you know, I'm pretty good here and I love it here.
00:01:11
Speaker 3: For sure, And man, you're doing your thing.
00:01:13
Speaker 2: But it's crazy because it's always like growing pains with any type of change, with anything new.
00:01:17
Speaker 3: But it seems this if you've been here forever, it seems as if.
00:01:20
Speaker 2: The chemistry that you've been able to get with multiple quarterbacks at this point it's just been natural.
00:01:25
Speaker 1: Man, Have you felt that way? What has worked here? You know, I've been, I've been, you know, in college, I played with probably ten quarterbacks, you know, in the league, you know, I play with Brock, Jimmy Trey. So I mean just coming over here and just playing with an amazing quarterback five and then you got markets as well that come in and play well as well. It's just no, it's those are like things I can't control. The only thing I can control is how I go by my way of you know what I'm saying, making sure I'm present, like being being where my feet are and like being wherever my assignment is telling me to be, like just being there and just doing it at a high level.
00:02:00
Speaker 2: And it's not every day you get traded to a place that has the Rookie of the Year office, the Rookie of the Year guy like Jaden Daniels. What about Jaden Daniels makes him special? Man makes them different than any of the quarterback you ever played with.
00:02:12
Speaker 1: Man, it's crazy, and this makes it sound kind of you know, I don't know. Yeah, the man really like have fun playing the game, like you don't see too many people, like laughing and smiling, like in the middle of plays, even calling the play. It's just like he just he just he's just been hippopore. This is second Jayden, if you get what I'm saying, they had been through it all. So it's just like the man really be having a ball. I remember the first game I played with him to get I mean not the preseason, but we played New York. Like I went up to him, I said, bro you're really out here having a ball. He's like, Bro, this is just me Like and it's just man. The man loved the game for sure, you know what's going on?
00:02:52
Speaker 2: How does that affect you as a receiver? Right because he said, you've been around the block. You don't play with a few quarterbacks. How to seeing somebody just enjoying it even though they have all the pressure in the world. How does that affect you?
00:03:02
Speaker 1: It really don't. It kind of like makes the game a little fun for me knowing my quarterback out they're just having a balls. I'm like, you know, I mean, he the leader of the team, so how you can't go out there with a little with a little swag, you know That's how I am anyway, like higher energy guy. Once I see the quarterback, like, I'm like, all we got something going?
00:03:18
Speaker 3: Are you having fun?
00:03:18
Speaker 1: Oh? For sure?
00:03:20
Speaker 2: What has been the most fun about this season so far? We love winning, we love all the things putting that work in. Man, but you're still a human being at the end of the day. Man, this is new for you. What's been fun?
00:03:32
Speaker 1: I don't want this to sound kind of awful a little bit, but like it was a stress relief, Like I feel like myself, I feel like happy, I'm enjoying the vibe, I'm enjoying the energy, the new scenery. It's just things like that could just all that together just you know, at the end of the day, like I'm just overall happy to be here.
00:03:51
Speaker 2: What does that feeling come from where you're just like you feel released and free. Is it really just doing something new or is there things that's happened in this building or on that field that have made you be like, yeah, n this is spotful.
00:04:02
Speaker 1: Things in the building, the people that's around the building. You know, I'm really cool with Bobby Receiver coach man from me from the crib, so that's kind of like baring from there as well. But it's you know what I'm saying at the end of the day, Like you know, I was, I was in San fran for six years and so like I think it was time for a new scenery and the like, once I got here, I'm just like, Okay, let me walk on my way in and see how it's going to go. And that's a gatting closer and closer we in camp. Now we four weeks in. Bro It's just like probably happens I've been playing the game.
00:04:28
Speaker 4:
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Bro.
00:04:28
Speaker 1: We love that. Man.
00:04:29
Speaker 2: We happy to see you because dog, you've been out there cooking. Man, let's go to that first game New York Giants. This one's at the crib in front of the fans. Man, I always call him the best fans in the NFL. I'm sure you feel the same thing out you've played. That first touchdown wasn't receiving, but you still gott in that end zone. Man, what was that like doing that in front of your new fan base?
00:04:47
Speaker 1: Man, it was crazy because after the first touchdown, like you know, this week one like mind you like you know Terry just Terry just came back. So we got all the energy with Terry. I hit a Terry chance. I'm like, all right, we about to be rocking. Then okay, boom, I getting theirs on. I hear crowd going deveo. I'm like, yo, like nah, this is lick. This was turned up. But yeah, man, it's just things like that.
00:05:10
Speaker 4: Man.
00:05:11
Speaker 1: The fans are outrages out here, for sure. I'm definitely vibing with it.
00:05:14
Speaker 3: And it seems like you don't join the fans. It seems like you enjoy your teammates.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: But another thing that I think we have that a lot of places don't. Got a lot of alumni in this building, a lot of guys that have done it at a high level before too. I see you and Tanner kind of growing the ball, and I see you taking the time to show love to him.
00:05:28
Speaker 3: How flies that to have somebody in.
00:05:30
Speaker 2: The building that you know, put up crazy career numbers, somebody that you respect, but somebody that takes the time to wrap with you and kind of help you along the way out. For sure, Man, it's always good to have a mentor guys along those lines.
00:05:42
Speaker 1: You know, I play, I mean west weilcal was my coach to kind of talk to him a good being. And Dan Santana whenever I get the chance to see him, like after the game, going in the huddle, I'm going in the tunnel, you know, I ran into him and were just going back and forth about the game. It's just little things that little things like that that I appreciate more.
00:05:58
Speaker 2: Than anything, And you seem to be getting to do that for a lot of these young guys here too. Yes, you're still getting game from the old gis, but now you get to give game to these young guys.
00:06:06
Speaker 3: Guys like Luke, guys like Jalen Lane.
00:06:07
Speaker 2: Man, how dope is it to be able to not only do what you can on the field, but be leaned on as a leader because it seems like you're very highly respected as a leader in.
00:06:15
Speaker 1: This locker room. You know, I kind of related. This is like when we were in camp, Like the young guys that we have was a way ahead of the curve, so it wasn't really much that you can kind of teach them besides the game of the league rather than the game that they came from in college. You know, Luke was already here last year, so he kind of already got to you know what I'm saying, got to upside just two weeks,
two touchdowns in a row for him. You know, kudos Luke, you know. And then just Jay Lane, like the plays that he's continued to make is just like I just say, like the ahead of the curve, they how fast they process things. It's just been amazing to me. But you know, I always tell those guys, bro, like whatever it is like you can always hit me and be like, yo, what this is? What do you see? Like how it looked to you this? That? And the third but as of right now, man, I think they've been doing a really good job.
00:07:00
Speaker 2: It's funny every time I talk to these young cats, I ask them of the things that they are learning from you, getting from you, and the majority of them talk about the things off the field, recovery, getting your mind right, and our partners that lands down resort. They like to know that you're getting done on the field, but you get it done off the field as well. So when the young is come and ask you, hey, man, how do you relax?
00:07:16
Speaker 3: How do you take care of you?
00:07:17
Speaker 4: So?
00:07:17
Speaker 3: How do you deal downtown with your tow them like?
00:07:19
Speaker 1: For It's like downtown Downtown is when I'm like, you know what I'm saying, I done took care of my body here in the building, this, that and the third. Like, but when I'm at when I'm at the crib, done watching film, this, that and the third, I play a little two K and just kick back on the game with the guys for a little bit.
00:07:32
Speaker 3: You pretty good at two K. I'm pretty you on the new two K twenty six.
00:07:35
Speaker 1: I'm nice.
00:07:36
Speaker 3: You nice like that? So we can play after this and you will be me what team use?
00:07:40
Speaker 1: I don't I don't play quick player I play. I played my player, like, oh, my player? So what kind of player you build?
00:07:46
Speaker 3: Whatever?
00:07:46
Speaker 2: It don't matter like that, whatever you need. Do you hoop in real life too? I used to, Oh, but now I used some of that, right. It seems like everybody I talked to last season, everybody was all hooping, Bobby wagging to Jade and Daniels Man.
00:07:57
Speaker 3: But you, while you used to, you done now because you're well, I'm done now.
00:08:00
Speaker 1: I ain't got no reason to be going in there trying to get right, but you know I get some shots up here there and be playing around.
00:08:06
Speaker 2: Well, glad you ate Hooper, bro, I'm glad you're saving your energy for on that field, man, because you've been going crazy. Then you get your receiving touchdown, right that first game, you got that rough touchdown.
00:08:15
Speaker 3: Then you get a receiving touchdown.
00:08:17
Speaker 2: When me and you spoke last time, we talked about those things, those those expectations you have for yourself. We talked about those doubters that are outside, that have a ton of things to say. How do you feel four weeks in, man? Do you feel like you silenced those doubters in those questions?
00:08:31
Speaker 1: But like I told you,
and this aspect, I don't too much do it for the people that's outside. I don't go out there and try to make plays for the people outside. I do it for me internally because I know, at the end of the day, well I want my legacy to be and how I want to be, you know, pursuing this game over with and like, like what matters to me is like when this game all said and done with, Like I got a son now that's coming up, and I get to you know what I'm saying, showing what what daddy used to do? This, that and the third and get to get the chance to coach him up and whatever whatever you want to do in life.
00:09:00
Speaker 2: How has that fatherhood aspect of Dejo Samuel change? Because like you a senior now right, you didn't come into the league as a senior. There's something special about being able to share your name and have a namesake. Man, How has that helped the man that's on the field even be even more productive?
00:09:14
Speaker 1: Man? I eat sleep. Everything I do is related to my kid. Like, whenever I think about doing something, I was like, all right, how my son to feel about this? You get what I'm saying. So most of the things that I do for It's like work and how I carry myself. Like off the field, I just think about like my kids so everything and like I just you know, I just try to have a good time. How old is your kid here before in December?
00:09:36
Speaker 3: Four years old?
00:09:37
Speaker 2: Has he gotten to the age where he realizes how dope his dad is? Like on the bigger picture of things, you think he really is understand what you're doing on that field?
00:09:45
Speaker 1: What's so crazy? He definitely understand football. Daddy running fast, Daddy scored a touchdown, Daddy need to get in the game, Daddy's hired. It's like little things like that. What's so crazy? When like, you know, when I was playing in saying frae. You know how the people be chatting like dee bo, he don't say dad when they be doing the change, Like so he be in tune with what's.
00:10:06
Speaker 2: Going on around the vicinity. He's so in tune with the game for sure. That is crazy, man. And it seems as if you've been in tune on this game on another level. You mentioned it right, Yeah, you play with Ja and Tuper. Now you're playing with Marcus Mariota. How are you able as a leader to help the other receivers. The other times, everybody in a room understand that, Hey, sometimes we're going to be playing with different guys, but it's still football.
00:10:26
Speaker 3: At the end of the day.
00:10:27
Speaker 2: Have you been able to help the guys kind of learn through that because this is the first time for some of these guys.
00:10:31
Speaker 1: The thing is with that, like, at the end of the day, we have a job to do and the quarterbacks have the job to do. Our job is to make the quarterback job easier. And whether it's Jaden or Wather's Marcus, our job shouldn't change. So how we go out there and practice with Jay shouldn't change how we go out there and practice with Marcus. It's just because we should be as consistent they can be.
00:10:50
Speaker 2: There's a job to do, and g before I let you go, we headed to the Rams back to back road games.
00:10:54
Speaker 3: That's not always easy.
00:10:56
Speaker 2: What can we expect from Deebo, Samuel and these commanders now we are recording this on Mondays.
00:11:00
Speaker 3: We do not know about the quarterbacks.
00:11:02
Speaker 1: We don't got to talk about that at all.
00:11:03
Speaker 2: But what can we expect to see from this team as we go and take on the charges.
00:11:07
Speaker 1: I think you know, as you see we lost the game to the Packers. How how well our defense came out and played at the home game, and how well the offense came out and played at the home game. I think you're going to get a good sense of that as well, because you know, nobody likes losing. I'm probably one of the biggest losers, but I like carry on my shoulders. But at the end of the day, it's like a part of the game, not going to win them all. But I think you're gonna see a real physical team ready to go out here and start past and get shit rolling.
00:11:31
Speaker 2: Hey, g Bo Man, I appreciate you setting the tone for us.
00:11:34
Speaker 3: Man, it's been dope seeing you here.
00:11:35
Speaker 1: Man, we love having you in the building.
00:11:37
Speaker 2: Commander's Family, our Next Man Up leads in a ton of statistical categories and I don't got no doubt that that ain't changing no time soon.
00:11:44
Speaker 3: My got deego. Sam appreciate you, but I appreciate you.
00:11:46
Speaker 1: Broman's Family. We hope you are enjoying Next Man Up.
00:11:50
Speaker 2: Now, before we get to a very special legend, you gotta pay some bills.
00:11:54
Speaker 1: So Commanders fans, this is for you.
00:11:56
Speaker 2: Level up with the brand new Triple A Commanders MVP membership will receive all the benefits of Triple A Touch as twenty four to seven roll side assistance, plus chances to win game tickets, access to exclusive team events and experiences, along with fifteen percent off commandage gear at the online pro shop. Already a Triple A member, add the Commander's MVP membership for free.
00:12:16
Speaker 1: That's right, for free, hit a Triple A dot com.
00:12:19
Speaker 2: Say's command is to upgrade or join the squad and put your fandom and drive now back to the show. Commander is family for our next man up. We having a very special legend, possibly one of the best offensive linemen to ever do it, not just in the Burgundy and Gold, but in the NFL NFL Hall of Famer, a three time that's right, three time.
00:12:41
Speaker 3: Super Bowl champion.
00:12:42
Speaker 2: Welcoming in our Washington legend, Russ Grim Russ, how you doing today, sir?
00:12:46
Speaker 4: Thank you? Well, I'm going to find thanks in Chili up here in the mountains. I'm good.
00:12:50
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's crazy.
00:12:50
Speaker 2: We were just talking about how fall got here pretty quickly.
00:12:53
Speaker 1: I miss summer.
00:12:54
Speaker 2: But Russ, we appreciate you taking the time to jump on being able to talk to legends like yourself that have just accomplished so much. It's such a joy for me, and the fans love hearing from you. I don't remember the last time the fans got to hear from you, So this is great. So I want to start in the beginning because we could talk football all day, but I like talking about the person, the things that truly matter when going through this football life. So let's start at the beginning. You're drafted in the third round by the Washington Redskins. When you were picked up back then, do you remember the feelings you had, the things you were going through when you knew your NFL dreams had come true?
00:13:27
Speaker 4: Oh, I was excited about it. I mean, obviously the draft was nowhere near televised, is the way it is now. So I mean I actually was fishing on the morning of the draft because it wasn't on TV, and I came home and they said I needed to call Washington. I got drafted, so I called them up. Next day. I was on a plane headed the minicamp.
00:13:46
Speaker 2: And then you come out here and I believe you got drafted as a center, but for their rookie year, they immediately move you to guard, which is something we've kind of seen from our young offensive line as well, guys playing at different positions.
00:13:58
Speaker 1: Was that a tough transition back then?
00:14:00
Speaker 4: No, it was actually easier because you didn't have to snap the ball first. It made it a little lot easier. You can come off the ball a little bit quicker. Now.
00:14:09
Speaker 2: I read something that said you were like the second string punter in college.
00:14:14
Speaker 1: Is that true?
00:14:15
Speaker 4: Yes?
00:14:15
Speaker 1: How does that happen? Right?
00:14:17
Speaker 2: Because you're this massive force, this massive being, I don't think you really correlate that to punny.
00:14:23
Speaker 4: I wasn't always that big. I got recruited to pit I was a quarterback linebacker in high school. So I played quarterback with a full cage on and the neck role and basically ran the ball out of shotgun and then defense middle linebacker. So I got drafted to Pittsburgh as a linebacker. And after my sophomore year I was playing a little bit on special teams. Jackie Cheryl called me in and he said, hey, Russ. He said, we had like four to five guys on offensive line group where seniors they graduated. He said, I think you can move over and play offensive line, And I looked at him dead square in the face. I said, I've never hd my hand in it. Third, I said, I think I'll just stay at linebacker. He looked up and he says, I'm not asking. I went into the offensive line coach Joe Moore, who was a famous old line coach in college back in the day, and he said, there's no greater feeling than moving a man from point A to point B against this will. He said, I think you can do it. So I said, I tried it. I liked it. That was the best summer
I had.
00:15:23
Speaker 1: So was he right?
00:15:24
Speaker 2: Is there any better thing than moving a person from point A to point B?
00:15:28
Speaker 4: No? It feels great every play. I mean, sometimes you don't do it. You say, hey, I'll be back in thirty seconds.
00:15:36
Speaker 2: So it's wild to think that a converted quarterback that wore a neck role. Thinking of a quarterback wearing a neck roll is wild. I'm sure that was very, very intimidating. But an next quarterback, a backup on it, somebody that has all this athleticism, being able to do so many different things on that football field, being able to experience so many different positions, How did that help you be the best guard you could be, especially as a rookie well.
00:15:59
Speaker 4: It understand you understood all the positions. You knew what everybody had to do, so it was I mean, at the center position, you have to make the calls and stuff like that. And one of the best things we did was we had Joe Bugle and it was always you knew exactly who you had when you broke the hudd. You didn't have to sit there and wait for a call at the line of scrimmage. You know, Boss made bostick Man made some calls, but most of them they were for the right side. Joe and I knew what we were doing on the left side.
00:16:28
Speaker 2: As you mentioned, Joe and you on that left side, possibly the most dominant combo we have ever seen. What was that relationship like between you two, because on the field, that chemistry seemed like you guys played as one. What was your guys's relationship like and what was it like playing alongside them?
00:16:45
Speaker 4: Well, actually, Joe was my roommate, so we shared a townhouse together, so a two bedroom townhouse. He was my roommate, and we actually roomed together on the road, so I mean we had you know, and then we ended up getting married and stuff like that. But we used calls like kids' names and stuff like that, so we knew exactly what the other person was thinking one and wanted to two.
00:17:07
Speaker 1: Why was that important?
00:17:09
Speaker 2: Like, was that something that just kind of happened where you guys end up being roommates on the road, end up being roommates together, or is that something that said, Okay, listen, we understand how important our chemistry is being on the side together.
00:17:20
Speaker 3: We need to spend as much time together as possible.
00:17:23
Speaker 4: Uh. I mean you didn't have to spend a lot of time together, but it just you had a good feel for exactly when if like they were stunting or if they were slanting and stuff like that, you'd make a little call if you picked up a tip or something, and kind of knew each other so knew when to come off and things like that. And yet it was always consistent. It's never like, Okay, he threw him into me this time, or next time he carried him too far. I mean, you just had a feel for it. And I mean we played a long time together. It was actually we had a good bunch. The whole bunch was good. The best thing about playing offensive line was when you have built that camaraderie you don't want to be the guy to let anybody else done. So I mean, I'm protecting thisman, Doug Williams, Mark Rippian, and hey, you know those guys are counting on me to get the job done, John Riggins, Timmy Smith, George Rogers, Ernest Biner. They're counting on you to get the job done so they don't get hit or take a blind shot.
00:18:20
Speaker 2: So you mentioned you were with a good bunch. I think we could say it was better than a good bunch. I think it was a great bunch. Honestly, possibly the best office of line we've ever seen. In the Bergniar Cold, they called you guys the Hogs in that time when you guys were playing. Did you guys understand and realize how special it was what you guys had or was it after the fact, after you guys all retire and see how revered you are by the fan base that you realize, Oh man, this Hogs thing was legendary.
00:18:46
Speaker 4: We kind of knew it was getting that way. But I mean there's pluses and minuses to that. Like when we first got the name, you know, everybody thought it was nice and cool. The fans all went out and bought shirts and noses and stuff like that, and then we realized that, hey, you get a name like that, it ticks off a lot of the defensive lines you're playing against. So I mean you had to step it up a little bit so you wouldn't be embarrassed.
00:19:10
Speaker 2: When you think of those times, because that's what I think about, right, Like everybody knew what the Hogs were. Everybody knew that they had to earn their money when they came and played you all. Does any memories stand out to you when you think about those other defensive line, those other teams that just were so angry at the fact that you guys were getting so much love.
00:19:26
Speaker 1: Do you have any stories like.
00:19:28
Speaker 2: That where you're like, oh, yeah, this defensive line, they really came out here with someone to prove.
00:19:32
Speaker 4: Oh, we knew some defensive lines were going to come in, like Dallas. We always had a thing issue with Dallas. It's you know, you wanted to beat them up as much as you could, no matter what the score was. And you always played some guys that they had one or two cheap shot guys that would always take cheap shots on the back and like you put like little bounties on them just your own. Back then it was so called illegal, but we had a little slush fund just between the guys, your team or anything. But it's just a little fush slush run that said, we'll pick up the tab if so and so take so and so out.
00:20:07
Speaker 2: And it sounds like you guys took pride in being that force and being so dominant, but also being scary, being intimidated to those other teams. When you saw God's line up and you saw them giving you your best, what did that do for the group of you guys? What did that do for your guys's confidence and belief in yourself knowing like, hey, we don't just believe in
ourselves the rest of the least.
00:20:27
Speaker 1: He's what we're doing too, right.
00:20:29
Speaker 4: Well, I mean every week you have to step up and prove it, you know. And it's the thing that you know, when you play offensive line, you're not going to win every battle, but I mean you got to win the majority of them. So hey, you just hope that you know, offensive line. If everybody doesn't do their job, I mean, Joe and I could take our guys five yards off the ball. If George Stark missed the cutoff on the backside, we don't make any yards. So it takes everybody. It's not just one person.
00:20:55
Speaker 2: And when you talk about those championship teams, everybody says the same thing, no matter what position you talked to.
00:21:01
Speaker 1: What's cool about next seven? It was we get to talk to a lot of the legends.
00:21:04
Speaker 2: And when you win three Super Bowls, it might be like your babies, right, it might be hard to pick ones.
00:21:10
Speaker 1: Which one is your favorite?
00:21:11
Speaker 4: Right?
00:21:11
Speaker 2: Which kid you like a little more? Do you have a favorite super Bowl out of the three?
00:21:16
Speaker 4: Yeah, the favorite was Miami against Miami when John ran for all the yards. So, and that was the first Super Bowl. So, I mean, I've had a lot of favorites. One of my one of my actual favorites is when I was coaching at Pittsburgh when I was done playing. I was coaching at Pittsburgh when we won the Super Bowl, and it was Coward's first Super Bowl, Hines Wartz first Super Bowl, Jerome Bettison's first Super Bowl. I just enjoyed coming out, you know, after the game and standing there and watching those guys enjoyed. So, I mean, then obviously the worst feeling is when we lost to the Raiders, because that was probably one of the better teams I played on.
00:21:52
Speaker 2: Everybody mentions that and about how y'all just felt like y'all could not lose that game, Like when losing that super Bowl almost seems as if it was heavier than the three that you guys were able to win. Do you feel that way? And when you look back at that Super Bowl? How hard is that to swallow?
00:22:10
Speaker 1: Even years later, it's still hard to swallow.
00:22:13
Speaker 4: I mean, even though you win three and actually one another one as a coach, it's still like a dull spot that you got. And that's the worst feeling in the world. Nobody remembers a loser. Everybody always remembers a winner, unless you're the loser. If you're a loser, you're gonna remember it. I mean, I don't know how I tell people all the time. One of the best teams we played was Buffalo and they lost four in a row. And they never get the credit for being one of the great teams of all time, and they had a lot of great players and they lost four. I couldn't I couldn't even manage that losing one. I have a hard time dealing with that.
00:22:47
Speaker 2: You along four said like a true competitor, And you mentioned coaching.
00:22:52
Speaker 1: You make your transition into coaching.
00:22:54
Speaker 2: Right after winning a Super Bowl, you decide to say, you know what, this is my time to retire before we talk about your transition to the coaching Was it even hard making that decision to retire because a lot of guys don't get to retire at the pinnacle, at the peak. Why was it important for you to say, you know what, it's time for me to wrap it up.
00:23:12
Speaker 4: Well, I knew that season going in. In fact, at the beginning of the year, I had told the coaching staff that this will be my last year. I mean I started as a rookie, had a lot of wear and tear on my body, and it was getting hard to make it week to week. I mean, like when I first came in the league. I asked, an older guy, says, because I used to play on Sunday and just go golfing on Monday, feeling good. Then it started getting being a tub Monday and Tuesday, and then it started being almost till Friday, and I'm like, going see and they said, you'll know, they said, when it goes from week to week where you're still sore. He said, it's time to get out, and I didn't want to just hang on. If I couldn't play the way I was used to playing, then it was time.
00:23:54
Speaker 1: And your body.
00:23:55
Speaker 2: I hear this from a lot of the legends, right that your body is going to tell you before your mind tells you. So as your body's going through this and you're feeling like, okay, things are changing, how long did it take for the mind to catch up, though? Because it's one thing to be able to feel that you're done, but to be able to mentally say, yo, I've put my whole life to this. Like you said, I've been starting since a rookie. I've gotten all of these accolades and accomplishments. Was it harder for you to get your mind wrapped around, hey.
00:24:22
Speaker 1: This is over?
00:24:23
Speaker 4: No? I just I knew when I was going into my last season, and I said, hey, I wanted to make this the best we could. And I mean when Super Bowl or not. I knew it was going to be my last year because I mean yet, no, my mind was already convinced that my body was done.
00:24:40
Speaker 2: And I'm sure it's much easier to make that final decision when you do win a Super Bowl What a way to end your career. And then again you decide to be a coach. What goes is that decision making? And when did you know, Okay, after football, I'm going to stick with this game and try to help the future of this league get better and improve.
00:24:58
Speaker 4: I didn't actually know I wanted to be a coach. I retired, and about three or four weeks later, Joe Gibbs called me and asked me how things are going, and asked me if I got a job yet, and I said no, I said I'm not really looking for one. He said, would you like to come back and coach at tight ends? And I said, well, what about Rennie Simmons who was coaching Oh, we moved him over to wide receivers. We moved another coach over. We would like you to coach at tight ends. Well, back then, the one back offense was
basically I mean, that guy's a glorified guard. So I hit Donnie Warren, James Jenkins, Ron Middleton, and I mean they It was a plus for me for coaching, because now I started to read secondaries and stuff like that. So I went back and was coaching guys that I had just finished playing.
00:25:44
Speaker 2: With and you mentioned being able to be a coach and be on the sideline during a Super Bowl. Yes, you got to play in them, but it seems as if coaching gave you a different type of feeling, like it was a little more special. Is that true When you're on the sideline as a coach and not as a player, did that affect you a little more because you are helping mold young men in the future of the game.
00:26:08
Speaker 4: Yeah, I enjoyed it. I mean that that was the best feeling in the world because I mean, now, like when I was playing, I was responsible for myself, so I knew if I was prepared, if I knew what to do, stuff like that. When you're coaching, especially offensive line, you're in charge for most of the guys on the offense, five six seven guys, your backup stuff like that, so you got to make sure everybody's ready, everybody can switch around, everybody can play a different position. And yeah, it's a little bit stressful. I mean you got to keep your mind on yourself, and then you always get those one or two guys that don't want to put it in the time and you got to sit down and tell them, look, hey, you either start putting in the time, or you're going to be your ne's gonna be saying paper plastic at the grocery.
00:26:50
Speaker 2: Line, said like a true coach and as somebody that's seen the game from different levels, right as a player played his whole life, and then also as a coach and found success there. When we look at our team today, the Commanders, now we have some people in the building to call them the wild Bores, right because the dominance, the brotherhood, the camaraderie of our offensive line currently feels a lot like what we saw back in the good old days with the Hawgs.
00:27:15
Speaker 1: When you see this new ownership and this.
00:27:18
Speaker 2: Coaching staff make an investment into the offensive line, get a guy like Larry mi Tunsel, drafted guy like Josh Connley Junior in the first round. That got to make you smile a little bit as an offensive line guy. How important is it to be able to invest in your offensive line when you have a quarterback like Jayden James.
00:27:34
Speaker 4: It does. I mean, that's what I think they've been missing for a while is you got to build it up front. And they started building a defensive line a couple of years ago, and now they probably put some thought and interest in the offensive line, because I mean, you can have great quarterbacks and wide receivers and stuff like that, but they ain't going to run anywhere, and let's save got time and they got holes to go through.
00:27:56
Speaker 3: It.
00:27:56
Speaker 2: Wins in the trenches. Games are won in the trenches. Or like Fresmoo says, the guys that smell like bacon. You talk about the quarterback Jayden Daniels, You got to play with some great ones in your time. When you look at what Jayden Daniels has been able to do with just a year, what he's been able to do for this fan base, for this organization, how do you feel about the year two quarterback.
00:28:17
Speaker 4: I think he's a big I think he's going to be a great one. I really do. I think he's sharp. I like his attitude. He says the right thing. He's got good work habits, and I mean he just has to stay healthy, which I think he will because they put some money in the offensive line now and you're gonna get some little knicks and stuff like that. But you know, Marcus could back it up. I had Marcus when I was coaching in Tennessee, so I mean, I know what he's capable of and he's a reliable backup. But yeah, James an a plus quarterback in the league.
00:28:47
Speaker 3: And Russell is so great to talk to you.
00:28:49
Speaker 2: And I love the fact that our Washington legends, even though you guys may have played for other teams, been in other places. For some reason, it seems like this Burgundy and Gold is truly home now. Of course, when you win Super Bowls, that's gonna make any place like home. But for you, why has Washington been a place where the name Russ Grimm is synonymous with that Burgundy and gold? Why do you think that is? And why do you have so much love for not only this team but this fan base.
00:29:17
Speaker 4: Well, the big thing back then was we didn't have any free agency. So, I mean when your contract came up, you know, one year I was the highest paid, Next year, Jakobe was the highest paid. Next year, Bostick may have been the highest paid. And it kind of rolled that way. I mean they just kept it at that. And you know, we thought it was a lot of money back then. But now you've got some man, these college kids making more money than that.
00:29:43
Speaker 2: Let me tell you, it's still a lot of money to some of us. Russ, we appreciate your time so much before we.
00:29:49
Speaker 1: Let you go.
00:29:50
Speaker 2: When you look back at everything you were able to accomplish on that field, not as as a player, but as a coach as well, and the things you're doing now, what do you want Russ grimm legacy to be?
00:30:00
Speaker 1: What do you want Russ Grim to be remembered for?
00:30:03
Speaker 2: When we're talking to our grandkids, their kids about the Hogs, about Russ Grim and what he's able to accomplish on that field.
00:30:12
Speaker 4: Uh, I would just say, when it came down to it, crunch time, run the ball behind sixty eight and sixty six, so we'll get it done.
00:30:25
Speaker 2: And you guys did get it done. Command Family, one of the best to ever do it. Taking his time to pull up on the Next Man Up Podcast, our guy, Russ Grim Rush, thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much for everything you've done for the Burgundy and gold Man. We appreciate you so much.
00:30:43
Speaker 4: And good luck a season. I'll get down a few games.
00:30:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, sir, you let us know when you get down and we'll make sure we have you around and have you pull up on the show.
00:30:50
Speaker 1: Russ. We appreciate you, all right, Take care bron Commanded family.
00:30:54
Speaker 2: We hope you enjoyed this episode of Next Mann Remember you can stream all of the Next Man Up episode right now are the Commander's YouTube page or the audio wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you so much for supporting the Next Man Up podcasts. You allowed us to be nominated for not one, but two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best Male Hosted and Best Black Male Hosted Podcast. And that's all because of the best fans in the NFL. I appreciate y'all so much for supporting us. It's crazy to think we're already in season three of Next Man Up and we have a lot more to go. So make sure to subscribe to The Commander's YouTube page so you don't miss any of our content.
00:31:28
Speaker 3: I'm Brian Coowa JUNR and this is Next Man