Full Transcript for Champ Bailey Talks Journey from South Georgia to the NFL and Beyond!

have? 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:27.439 Three. 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:27.920 Three. 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:34.720 So go into that because I think the Bailey family and how you say you followed your brother to UGA is a is a very key part of this story. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:38.560 Yeah, you know, I think more than anything, my parents were present, right? 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:39.519 They were present. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:46.959 I mean, I you gotta think growing up in that town, every adult there, if they're still there, they're not doing much. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:50.079 So we were right at the poverty line. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:54.959 But I had my grandma next door and my aunts and uncles all around town. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:05:01.360 So it was, we had a great support system and to really just keep us on the straight and narrow. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:07.120 But for my brothers, like my older brother Ron, he did everything I wanted to do. 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:09.279 So I just kind of emulated him. 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:11.279 And he was a good student. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:12.959 He went to Georgia, got a full ride. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:16.639 I knew I was gonna follow his footsteps because I was just a little bit a better student. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:18.319 I was a little bit a better athlete. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:21.600 And then I had my younger brother, boss, pushing me from behind. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:22.000 Right. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:24.959 And then my sister as well, you know, just kind of being the glue. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:26.240 And she's still that way. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:27.279 And you met my sister. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:28.000 So yeah. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:28.800 Yeah, so. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:33.920 I was gonna say, your sister, not only is she the most attractive than all of y'all typical. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:34.480 Don't say that. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:34.959 No, no. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:37.199 I gotta give her, you know, she's she's a pretty woman. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:41.759 But I actually think that's her personality from my brief time of meeting her. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.040 I think she had to be very strong to deal with three brothers now. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:45.519 She did. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:45.920 She did. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:47.759 And where is she in the Sigma line? 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:50.160 So She's the third, she's the second child. 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:52.480 I'm the third, and then my younger brother Boss. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:53.600 So we stuck in the middle. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:54.079 Okay. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.519 And her and my brother Ron used to battle a lot growing up. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.319 But me and Boss, we were kind of like twins. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:01.759 So we were 16 months apart. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:03.279 He was a little bigger than me. 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:05.439 So we grew up, people thinking we were twins. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:07.600 So we always stay glued at the hip. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:12.480 And then her and Ron would battle, you know, just brother-sister rivalry. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:17.360 But as we got older, and it, I don't think it ever was an issue of supporting each other. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:19.519 It was just, you know, close proximity. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:21.680 If you in a small house, you're gonna battle each other. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:23.199 So, Cheb, you're coming out of high school. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.680 I mean, you're balling, you're not, you're playing more than just football. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:26.720 You're running track. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:27.199 Oh, yeah. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.480 You're doing all the sports, right? 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:28.879 I mean, yeah. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:30.959 Basketball, track, and uh football. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:32.079 And football, right? 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:38.959 So you knew you were gonna go to UGA because you wanted to follow your brother, but what other colleges pursued you pretty aggressively? 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:40.000 Uh Auburn. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:47.600 Um I had a great visit there because Tequio Spikes was kind of my de facto host and you know, that's my guy to this day. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.079 Oh, yeah, all the time. 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:57.439 And uh uh South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia Tech. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:01.519 I canceled my visit to Florida, but uh Georgia Tech had a shot. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:04.879 Um, but I always knew I was a dog. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:07.920 And, you know, I'll go just to go back to Georgia Tech. 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:10.720 This you gotta think, this is the time, and you graduated then. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:13.120 The Olympics were coming to Atlanta. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.079 So everybody wanted to be in Atlanta, and so did I. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:16.800 I wanted to be in Atlanta. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.000 That's why I went to Clark Atlanta. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:18.319 Yeah, see. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:19.279 Because I wanted to be in Atlanta. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:21.040 To be in Atlanta. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:33.439 And, you know, fortunate enough for me, I had a brother at Georgia made it easy to make that decision to go there and follow his footsteps and you know, where I knew people wanted me and were gonna take care of me there. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:36.639 But I was close to, you know, going to Georgia Tech. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:37.759 At least I considered it. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:39.600 But how did they mess that up, Champ? 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:40.160 They didn't. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:43.600 It was it was going to be it was messed up from birth because I was born a dog. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:44.160 There you go. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:48.240 I was born a dog, it and, you know, I gotta give them credit. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:49.839 They they came

after me hard. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:53.519 They broke a few rules, but it was it wasn't enough. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:54.160 It wasn't enough. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:55.680 So why'd you cancel Florida? 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:58.639 I canceled because I hated the Gators. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:00.319 Oh, we all grew up hating the Gators. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:02.079 But I respected them, right? 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:03.920 Because they were dominating us at the time. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:04.319 Right? 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:06.160 They were killing us in the 90s. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:08.879 And Steve Spurrier came to the house. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:10.560 So I kept him on my radar. 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:16.639 Like, because you gotta think he's the most loved and hated figure in a border town like Folkestone. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:18.399 Like we were 50-50 Georgia, Florida. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:20.079 Yeah, because you're close to the Florida corner. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:20.720 Yeah, right there. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.000 So a lot of Gator fans. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:24.319 So, you know, I had a lot of respect for him. 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:26.000 I mean, you win a lot of games like that. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:26.959 You deserve it. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:33.120 So I gave him a shot, but I canceled because I committed to Georgia and I just didn't want to go that route. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:35.279 It was just, yeah, I knew I wasn't going there. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:47.120 So you come to Georgia, and what's so amazing about uh us being, you know, huge dog fans, even though I graduated from Clark Lane University, I always tell people, growing up in Athens, and you spent a lot of time there, I know you still go back. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.799 You know, there's two Athens, right? 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:53.279 There's the affluent Athens where the University of Georgia and all the folks, but then it's the poor Athens. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:53.600 Yep. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:59.440 And we did a segment earlier in Theron's take where a Toro and I we went back home and I showed them all of Athens. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:08.480 But growing up in Athens, I mean, the fact that I put on my polo, Georgia, I knew you were gonna wear your Georgia, and it's just the way we are as Georgia Bulldog fans. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:16.159 So now take our listeners and viewers, you get to the campus, you're freshman, and um, what was the team like? 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:18.399 You know, you already said we were losing to Florida. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:25.360 So take me through your freshman sophomore years kind of early on, and then I also want you to segue into being a two-way starter. 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.159 Um I mean, I was watching some of your highlights, man. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.120 I mean, it was amazing. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:31.200 You know, the shoulder pass was so big back then, man. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:36.000 I

don't know what the hell we were shoulder pass, thigh pass, everything was oversized. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:40.240 We thought that's what we needed back then, but that obviously wasn't the case. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:47.039 But I did, when I got to Georgia, well, before I got to Georgia, Coach Donin, Jim Donnen, who was he was gonna be a first-year coach. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.399 I was about to be a freshman. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:50.159 He promised I would do everything. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:51.440 And he didn't lie to me. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:56.159 You know, he brought me in, he let me run track, he played me on offense, defense. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.879 It didn't materialize right away, but I had to earn it. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:03.200 But once I started starting on defense, they started thinking about ways to use me on offense. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:04.559 And it didn't take long. 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.440 It didn't take long. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:10.960 Now, one thing I realized when I got there, like, because I'm a little reserved. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:15.600 I I walk into, you know, the locker room or on the team, and I just want to play my role. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:17.840 I'm gonna do whatever they asked me to do. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.559 It wasn't about maybe three or four practices. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:22.000 I'm like, yeah, I belong here. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:24.240 Like, I'm actually better than a lot of these guys. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:26.000 As a 18-year-old freshman. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.120 Like, so so I saw it. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:28.720 You should see my ability. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:31.519 But I never knew really how I stacked up against the rest. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.480 You know, I knew I got the accolades in high school, this and that. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:42.080 But I really didn't know until I got in that locker room with a big time program like Georgia and was able to measure myself against others. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:45.600 And I realized I fit in where I actually excelled. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:52.720 When did you know that, all right, and then you just said, hey, I know, all right, two or three games or two or three moments in here, all right, I'm feeling it. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:55.279 Um I I'm better than most guys in here. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:11:00.559 But when did you know at that moment in time where you say, all right, I'm about to go to the league? 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:01.279 Oh, man. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:04.960 And and and I it it's pretty much, you know, wherever I want to go. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:08.159 You know, it might have been my sophomore year. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:19.120 I think even going into it, I would say people had high expectations because I I finished the year, I ended up with two interceptions my freshman year, and they happened late in the year. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:22.639 And I just remember the hype around it and the expectations. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:27.200 I'm like, man, you know, they're mentioning me among all the other greats around the SEC. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:30.080 So I'm like, okay, I I belong, I belong. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:33.440 So then you start seeing it, but I'm always about the work. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.639 I loved football. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:42.399 And when you love football, you tend to love practice and all the things that go into putting the game plan together or getting ready for a game. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:42.960 Yeah, yeah. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.840 And if you don't love that process, you won't make it. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:47.600 It it's really that simple. 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:53.279 What was one of your uh most memorable plays and most memorable games as a college athlete? 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:02.320 You know, I'll say this because he's a a a good friend and obviously and a classmate, uh, Quincy Carter. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:05.919 So if people don't know, like Quincy Carter committed to Georgia Tech. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:11.840 Coming out of high school, he played two years of baseball, and then he was on the open market again. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.039 We recruited him hard, and he decided to come with us to Georgia. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:21.279 And I think it was just the connections to myself, Jonas Jennings, Patrick Pass, all the guys that were Atlanta guys. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:25.759 Like we we we put it hard on him, like, dog, we gotta get you. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:33.440 So he comes and he ends up winning the starting job as a true freshman, you know, two years later than you know he should have. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:37.120 But nevertheless, man, I caught his first touchdown pass. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:41.519 And it was memorable because it was like, okay, we got something here. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:44.000 And he turned out to be a great quarterback for us. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:49.519 What's one of your most um memorable uh sort of matchups that you can think about? 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:56.000 Like who was that one receiver that you you felt like, all right, I know I gotta break my A game when I go up against this dude? 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:01.440 Yeah, I I'm gonna go to uh Marcus Nash, Tennessee, Jaquez Green in Florida. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.159 Yeah, man, yeah. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:10.000 Um Nash because he had Peyton, and Jaquez Green because he he was dynamic, right? 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:17.679 They they had already had Riedell Anthony, Ike Hilliard, Chris Doring, all these special players, and they were moved on. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:25.919 So now it's Jaquez time, and we're both like, you know, about to go into the league or finishing our college career. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:29.039 And I had to go out there and shut him down. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:34.000 And I that year, we ended up beating them my sophomore year for the first time in like 12 years

or something. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:34.960 So you shut him down? 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.799 We shut, we shut, we shut him down. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:42.159 Now he would he would say something different because he had a few catches, but he caught us in zone a couple times. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.240 But he was he was dynamic in college. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:48.159 Well, did you like to play more man or do you could you excel in the zone? 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:51.919 I was telling you earlier, uh, another shout out to off the hook barbershop, right? 00:13:52.080 --> 00:14:00.240 Um are there corners that can really go man to man the way that you did in college and NFL anymore? 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:10.879 Or do you think that corners now excel because they can the coaches put together a scheme that can fit them, a cover three, a four, a four kind of cover four cloud, you know, cover three kind of thing? 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:14.159 Look, a lot of guys made their name, you know, playing zone. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:17.360 And, you know, regardless, you still gotta make the plays. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.360 So I give them credit regardless. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:34.240 But yeah, when you when you have an assignment to match up against one of the best on the field, one of the best in the league every week, and you gotta play man a lot of that a lot of that time, yeah, you gotta be a different individual. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:37.519 And not a lot of guys get that assignment. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:43.679 I would say today, right now, I mean, in today's game, you see Pat Sertan, he gets that responsibility a lot. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.519 And he excels in it. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:48.320 Uh the kid from New England, he's come on strong. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:52.159 Like he had a great year this year, locking everybody down and making plays. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:56.799 So those are two big corners that are doing it consistently. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.320 It's very hard. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:02.080 You won't see it a lot more because quarterbacks are a lot smarter these days. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:07.039 They do a lot more checking down, dink and dunk, they they run more. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:09.679 Like we didn't have a lot of running quarterbacks back in the day. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.960 So we were able to keep them in the pocket and make plays. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:15.360 Now these quarterbacks are all over the place. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:20.960 So I I give them a little credit for you know the versatility it takes to play corner. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:26.320 But again, there was nothing like when you had to line up every play against the best on the field. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.240 And you go in one of those, yeah. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:30.559 I'm gonna I'm gonna do the wide side of the field, short side of the field. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.840 You travel, basically. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.399

You went backfield. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:34.799 Slot, backfield, didn't matter. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:41.919 Like that, see, and and and I tell people it's not easy to do that because you have to be so versatile. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:45.679 Because if you want to really match up, you can't just go on his side. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.440 You know, he can motion to the other side. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:48.559 Right? 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.799 You could be locked up on somebody else. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:52.399 They can find a way to get. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.480 Now, are you gonna follow him the whole game? 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:57.679 Do you end up outside or inside by the time that ball snaps? 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:00.080 Now you gotta change your responsibilities. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.759 You just gotta know, man. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:04.399 And that's that it is extremely hard. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:07.840 Okay, so champ, UGA, you know, they honor you. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:09.039 I know you go back a lot. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:12.480 Now let's go to the transition into the draft. 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:12.720 Okay. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.759 So going into the draft, who scouted you? 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:18.159 Did you kind of know what teams were on your high list? 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.519 Like, take us through that experience. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:21.360 Bro, 1999 draft. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:24.480 So I knew the Redskins wanted me. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:31.120 And I knew because uh they just got rid of Chris Dishman, who was the other corner opposite Dell Green. 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:33.679 And I knew they were high on the corner. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:40.879 I remember working out for Mike Nolan and uh Tom Hayes, who was the DB coach and the coordinator Mike Nolan at the time. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.879 I remember personal workout, yada, yada. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.960 Oh yeah, they were sitting at number five. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.879 Well, here comes the draft. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.919 First three picks were quarterbacks. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.919 So we get to the fourth pick. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:52.960 I don't know if you remember. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:57.360 So it was Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, and Achilles Smith. 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:02.320 And then the fourth pick was surprisingly, uh, Indianapolis was on the clock. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.840 They they draft Edrin James. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:08.000 Everybody thought they were gonna go for um Ricky Williams. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:14.000 Back then, it was a little easier to kind of tell where team where teams were gonna go, right? 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:18.720 So once they did that, who's sitting at number five? 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.319 The Washington Redskins. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:25.200 And boy, New Orleans Saints Mike Ditka was the head coach at the time. 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:29.839 He traded all his draft picks to move down to number five to get Ricky Williams. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.480 To Rick Williams. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:31.519 I do remember that part. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.079 Wow. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.880 Right, right. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.240 So you so you win. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.160 You didn't go, did you go five or you went six? 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:36.640 No, you went. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.440 Let me finish. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:37.759 Okay. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:40.640 All right, so fifth pick goes. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:43.200 Washington traded back to number 12. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:46.079 So I'm like, damn, I'm gonna go 12 pick now. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:49.599 But sitting at the sixth pick was the St. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:52.160 Louis Rams, and Dick Vermil was the coach. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:57.279 I never forget Dick Dick Vermil was like, if you sitting there at six, I'm taking you. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:00.079 Nevertheless, he did not take me. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.359 How did that make you feel? 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.960 It was like he lied to me. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:03.519 Right, right. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.960 You know, no big deal. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:07.599 He ended up drafting the Hall of Famer anyway, and Tory Hope. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:13.359 So here we are at the seventh pick, and I think it's the Bears sitting at number seven right now. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:21.279 They so those picks Washington got from New Orleans, they traded some of those picks to move back to number seven to draft me. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:26.400 And Chicago moved back and drafted Kay McNown, who, you know, didn't pan out for them. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.799 So they probably should have drafted me. 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:31.920 But at this back then, they didn't need a corner. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:34.319 They didn't think they they really needed a quarterback. 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:48.079 So I understand their dilemma, but it was a wild ride because in the first round, there's a big difference in the first uh uh pick at five and seven about how much you get paid and all that. 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:54.240 Like I was a top five pick, now I'm a top seven pick, but I was the first defender taken off the board, so I can always say that. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.039 Got it. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:03.119 So I feel like you going to the Washington Redskins, now the Commanders was the right fit, man, because um you got a chance to play alongside Daryl. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:04.720 Oh my goodness, yeah. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.880 Um, real quick, you know where I'm going, right? 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:09.519 How was that experience with Daryl Green? 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:12.240 And uh segue into another question. 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:15.519 Which cornerback did you learn the most from being in the league? 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.319 Daryl Green. 00:19:16.480 -->

00:19:16.880 Daryl Green. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:23.920 Yeah, so you you bring up the right guy because he caught me at a time I was yearning for that information. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:28.559 I didn't really learn how to play corner until I got to Daryl Green. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:30.480 Like, I always say I got to him. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.720 Like, not to the Redskins, the commanders, not even to Georgia. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:40.720 Like, when I was at Georgia, I learned how to play a scheme, but I really didn't learn technique. 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:46.559 So Daryl Green, lucky for us, we had a coach that allowed him to just pour into me. 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:49.920 Like, just y'all go over there, teach him everything you know. 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:52.079 We two different types of corners. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:54.160 Like, he's a guy that don't want to touch anybody. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.920 I'm a guy I want to put my hands on everybody. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.839 Very physical. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:00.640 So he would just watch me and watch me. 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:07.039 And then he would just like, hey, I I he was trying to teach me little things he would do. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:13.039 And I realized it started benefiting me because I didn't have to be so aggressive at the line. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.880 And then he just kept talking about. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:17.680 He used to always have this saying, hands are great, feet are better. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.359 Hands are great, feet are better. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:22.160 I'm like, because I'm always at the line trying to punch. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:28.960 Like, so it sat in that I gotta work on my feet more than my hands because that's all he worked on. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.480 He never tried to touch people. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:33.599 But his feet were always in a great place. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.519 Very jittery feet. 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:38.079 I mean, quick dude, one of the fastest ever played a game. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.119 Probably the fastest. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.680 I mean, dude was amazing. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:49.759 And the way he taught me, it wasn't I I think the beauty in his teaching method was he didn't think it was one way to do it. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:57.440 So he took what I was good at and kind of applied little things that he good at, he was good at, things he knew, and it excelled my game. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.640 And I learned really quick. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:04.319 I mean, I ended up being a Pro Bowl alternate as a rookie, making a Pro Bowl my second year and beyond. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:07.200 I mean, so in my research, I want to make sure I got this right. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:11.279 In my research, is it true that you have gone to the most Pro Bowls? 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.000 As a corner. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.799 As a corner. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.279 Yeah.

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.559 I mean, that's amazing. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.119 12. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.599 12. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:19.519 So now you you go to the Redskins, Darryl Green becomes your mentor. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:19.759 Yeah. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:21.279 Uh, you ball out there. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.960 Now you go to the Broncos. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:31.440 And so I'm trying to make sure that our listeners and viewers know how tough of a decision was that for you, or was it tough for you to leave the Redskins and go to the Broncos? 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:35.119 It was easy because it really wasn't my decision. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.160 I didn't want to leave. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:42.480 I mean, I knew I was in the most popular division, the best division, and the NFC East was the best. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:47.440 When you think about popularity, you got the Cowboys, the Eagles, the Giants, and the Redskins. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.880 And they had some quarterbacks. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.200 Yeah. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.359 Until you know, and the Cardinals was in there for a minute. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.119 If you don't remember that. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:56.079 But yeah, so I never wanted to leave. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:59.759 And, you know, but people got to understand. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.960 Man, everything about business is about relationships. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:06.559 And Dan Snyder, who was the owner, he didn't draft me. 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:09.039 He bought the team after I got drafted. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:12.160 That summer I got drafted, Charlie Casserley drafted me. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.400 He was a GM, he ran the team. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:17.039 And then all of a sudden, we got a new owner. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.960 So he lets Charlie Casserley go. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:21.599 He changes management across the board. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:24.160 I got a head coach trying to hang on to his job. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.319 So he did everything the owner wanted. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:32.319 Four years later, you know, after four Pro Bowls, he still didn't value me. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:37.519 So it was only inevitable that I was going to get traded. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:44.960 So I actually had the power to deny the trade because I was I was a free agent and they franchised me. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:47.920 But the franchise tag don't kick in until you sign it. 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:50.720 So if I didn't like the trade, it wouldn't happen. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:55.519 But regardless, if I got traded, the other team had to agree to a contract that I wanted. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:58.559 And I told the Broncos what I wanted and they didn't blink. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.000 And I was like, here we go. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:02.000 So you got traded and you got a new contract. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:02.400 Yeah. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.359 That's what it was about. 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.160 It was about them. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.440 I was up for a new deal. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:08.079 I played my five years of my rookie contract. 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:12.400 And then all of a sudden I'm up and they don't want to re-sign me. 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.599 They kept lowballing me. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:17.200 And I'm like, they laughed at the deal I asked for, and the Broncos didn't. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.799 But champ, you got that bag, though. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.519 I got it. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.119 But that's why we played. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.079 That's why you played. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.799 You got that bag we did. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.720 I love the game, but man, got to get paid. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:26.319 Okay, so we go to the Broncos. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.000 Tell us about that experience. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:30.400 Now you've you've left the Redskins where you wanted to stay. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.839 You got that bag, got that check. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:35.119 Now you can really solidify legacy in your family. 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:37.359 Right now you've gotten out of your rookie contract. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.960 Well, it was about winning. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.200 Yeah. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:41.519 Like we were terrible in Washington. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.400 I wasn't gonna go there. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.440 We were not a good run football team. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:48.400 And it showed, it showed them wins and losses. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.920 We we made the playoffs my rookie year and never went back. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:58.559 Like, and and I almost feel like it was the owner's fault. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.680 So most people did. 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.279 So you spent a lot of time in Cancun. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.160 Oh my God. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:02.720 Early. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.200 Early. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.000 Early, bro. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:08.319 Or we go to Hawaii because I like I make the Pro Bowl, but I wouldn't make the damn playoffs. 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:08.799 There you go. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:13.680 So, you know, I get the uh Denver, and they had a reputation of having a great run game. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:18.000 They traded away Clinton Portis, which I didn't like because I'm such a running back guy. 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:24.160 And I hated that he had to be traded, you know, for me to be there, but it was what it was. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:26.079 That running game kept rolling. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.799 We ended up in the playoffs the next two or three years. 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:31.119 Mike Shanahan eventually got fired. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:36.160 And then, you know, we were back in the hunt again, you know, after a couple years of some down years. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:44.160 But that's what

I always loved about Denver is no matter what, after bad seasons, they find a way to bounce right back because of the culture. 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:47.599 I mean, the culture was great, winning culture, great owner. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:51.279 We actually went into the Hall of Fame together, me and Pat Bowling, who was the owner. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:56.319 And, you know, I mean, it's it's a surreal thing to think about how perfectly it worked out for me there. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:05.759 I watched your uh Hall of Fame speech and getting to know you again, like over these, you know, almost now 10 years, um, you're a very reserved guy. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.000 Yeah. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.799 You're private. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:10.319 But now you also, I get them early morning text messages from you. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:13.279 And, you know, you also ask your question, you're very candid. 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:16.079 But in your speech, man, you really just kind of let it go. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.480 Yeah. 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:24.000 Um, but becoming a Hall of Famer, I mean, I always tell people, I got Champ Bailey on my phone, I got a Hall of Famer. 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:26.079 But you always, it's a fair, stay humble. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:29.279 But at that moment, standing on that stage, putting that gold jacket on. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.000 Hey, man. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:32.160 I mean, was that was that was it all worth it? 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:37.680 Like all them all them the mornings where you're sore in the contract negotiations, losing. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:47.039 I mean, did it all just come together at that moment and say, hey man, yeah, starting where I came from to be here with my family and they put it on this gold jacket. 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:48.160 Like, what was that feeling like? 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:54.079 You know, it it it it really it takes me back to those inspirations, right? 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:57.039 Like, I needed inspirations for me to get there. 00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:59.599 Like, I needed my brother to show me I could go to college. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:02.480 I needed the other guy from my hometown, Henry McMillan. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:08.400 Although he got drafted seventh round, I just the fact that he got drafted, you know, a couple years before I did. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:15.359 So when I see that, I understand how powerful being an inspiration is. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:18.960 So I know I was that for a lot of kids that grew up like me. 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:21.200 That's what was most important. 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:37.200 But the feeling was when I did don that jacket, I look around and I see Darrell Green smiling, Bruce Smith, who was a teammate smiling, Deion Sanders, all of them, all these guys I played with and idolized, I'm now on their team forever. 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:39.440 So you can't take that away from me. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:51.519 And it and that's what made it so special because forget all the nights I was, you know, stand up late worrying about my competition the next day or tough practices and injuries. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:55.359 Yeah, that that's that just comes with the territory. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:27:00.079 But that feeling of being on a team with these special humans. 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:02.000 I mean, these dudes was special. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.319 Yeah. 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:06.319 And to be in a fraternity with them, I mean, it's priceless, bro. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:09.200 So now, champ, you uh retire from the league. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:12.079 Um, you obviously got to figure out what's next. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:21.920 One of the things that I know about you from talking to you is that you are a loving father, uh, a devoted husband, um, very close knit to your family. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:25.440 Um, we live in the same, you know, area of Atlanta. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.920 Um, and then you also do a lot of business. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:33.680 And you're an investor, uh, you're big on ph uh philanthropy, um, you get into cannabis business. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:45.440 So take our listeners and viewers through immediately after retiring from the league, um, what you were able to do by spending more time with your family, but also tell us a lot of the business ventures that you're involved in now. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:28:01.759 Okay, so when I retired, and I almost had to be, I wouldn't say forced to retire, but I had to people around me that knew me really had to talk to me to make sure I was ready to retire. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.160 Right? 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:07.039 It's kind of hard to explain because in hindsight, I knew I was ready. 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.480 I just didn't want to pull the trigger. 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:12.240 You gotta think 28 years of playing football, it's hard to hang it up. 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:15.039 It's hard to just move on and think about what's next. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:22.079 Now, I was under the mindset that I wouldn't do anything that was gonna demand too much of my time, my energy. 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:26.079 I was just gonna raise my kids and sit back and do whatever. 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:28.400 Well, that turned out not to be the case. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:30.480 I realized I'm just not built that way. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:37.519 And it was really a lot of self-exploration on who I was and what I really wanted to do. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:41.200 So the first thing we did, we moved back to Atlanta from Denver. 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:51.599 And then I realized the power in my network because I was in Denver, but when you're in something or town like that for so long, you're just a Broncos player. 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:55.359 People pat you on the back for those things, and that's great. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:29:00.160 But I realized how powerful my network was when I moved

back here. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:09.039 Because the people that watched me those 15, 20 years before when I was in college, they still remember, and it carries a lot of weight in this state. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:11.920 And we all know how the dogs are beloved here in Georgia. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:18.960 So understanding that, that kind of I I tried some TV stuff, didn't really like it early on. 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:22.160 Dabbled here and there, doing a little spot duty here. 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:25.200 Now I'm back in the TV now, full-fledged. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:37.279 But before I really got back into it, people just started reaching out, you know, because then comes COVID, and as everything sat still, you know, it opened my eyes more. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:39.599 Like it, you know, so I'm I'm transitioning. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:42.960 Like I'm it's a long, drawn-out transition. 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:46.559 But what I realized is there were companies that I could help. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:52.880 And one of the first calls I get on that level is this cannabis company, True Leave. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:55.680 You know, they reach out, they're trying to get a license in the state. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:57.519 I'm an advocate for it. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:59.119 I always have been. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:02.880 And for me, it was like, okay, how do I help? 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.319 What is my role here? 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:08.480 Then I I ended up becoming the chief diversity officer for True Leave. 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:11.759 Well, nevertheless, they ended up getting the license. 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:18.559 Fast forward a couple years later, we'll we're still at the Capitol fighting for uh bills to get passed, right? 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:24.960 So they got a bill on the table now, Senate Bill 220, I believe, is gonna expand the product line. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:28.000 Now, I've been involved with this since they got the license. 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:30.000 So this has been five, six years. 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:37.519 And since they got the license, we realize we don't really have a business because you can't sell anything. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:41.759 It's not like Florida, who's full-fledged medical marijuana. 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:47.039 Here in Georgia is full-fledged medical marijuana, but they don't have the products. 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.640 It's not the vertical integration. 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:53.200 Well, they have the vertical integration, they just don't have the products in the market. 00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:53.680 Yeah, yeah. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.079 Right? 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:56.000 Yeah, it's still set up the same way. 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:59.759 They gotta grow it, package it, sell it themselves. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:02.480 Like it's vertically integrated to the team. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.519 But you've been real vocal. 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:04.880 I mean, I read an article recently. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:07.200 You, I mean, you're out here, and I've seen you at the Capitol. 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.359 Yeah. 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.240 I'm always there. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:14.160 I want our people to understand, like, Champ Bailey is not just saying, Hey, I'm gonna help this company out, and I just want the bat the bill to pass. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:20.559 Champ, I've run into you at that Capitol three or four times, and you actually on the ropes talking to legislators, coming out of officers. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.200 Always, yeah. 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:21.599 Always. 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:28.319 But that's where those relationships and the network in Georgia helps me because when I walk in the room, it sort of changes the conversation. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:32.319 So, and it helps people listen a different way, right? 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:38.319 Because I performed at a high level, but here I am supporting something that they've been against all these years. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:44.319 And, you know, I think uh around the country, minds have changed around what cannabis can be for us. 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:46.880 But, you know, we still got work to do. 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:54.319 But while I'm at the Capitol, I I start seeing and understanding like there's other companies that need help. 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:59.519 Well, also in our research, we found out that you entertained the movie industry. 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.400 And the movie. 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.680 And so tell us about the movie. 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:11.200 So Glenn Owen, who's a former basketball player at Georgia, uh, he was um didn't play a lot, but he was he was on the team, SEC champ, and everything. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:18.880 But uh he reaches out through my network and he puts his script in front of me because it was signing day at the time. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:21.680 We ended up changing the name to signing Tony Raymond. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:27.359 And it's about this coach going to try to sign this highly touted DN in South Alabama. 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:33.519 So, of course, I got some unique insight growing up in the South and you know, dealing with recruiters coming to my house. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:36.000 So fast forward through that. 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:41.519 I mean, we're now, we just released it on the streaming networks, Apple TV, Amazon, they have it now. 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:49.200 We we released it early 2026 in theaters, and we quickly got it to streaming so everybody could see it where they sit. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.720 And we're off and running. 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.680 Well, let's see how it does. 00:32:51.759 --> 00:33:00.000 I mean, we're still kind of waiting for the data to come back and tell us how we're doing, but it's a great movie, great family movie, and I think every it'll resonate with people. 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:05.519 It's not just

about football, it's about life and what really matters to these kids transitioning from high school to college. 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:07.200 We're gonna have to definitely check that out. 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:07.680 Yeah. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:11.519 So another thing that you and I talk about a lot, man, is politics. 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:11.920 Yeah. 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:17.119 And so um now, let's let's just go ahead and you know, take it there. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:20.640 Right now in Georgia, a lot of things happen on the national level. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:25.279 You know, members of Congress resigning, you know, Trump spending a lot of time here. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:31.359 We got, you know, the city of Atlanta, all these different cities having these races, but we got a big governance race coming up. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:31.519 Yeah. 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:38.480 Um, and I know that um, you know, you're very um vocal about your political stance. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:45.519 As a matter of fact, the the one reel you and I did together was just a conversation sitting on your porch, and I've gotten the most views on my Instagram page. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:50.160 And I think that's that's because you got more Instagram followers way more than I do, and I think you just reposted it. 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:55.839 But I wanted to just, you know, what are some of the things right now on your mind um when it comes to politics? 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:03.519 And then two, you know, um, you know, I was gonna ask you is that you and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones uh went to Georgia together, played. 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:05.599 I think he played one year with you. 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:12.239 Um but he is definitely milking that relationship to tell everybody he knows he knows Shaq Bailey. 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:19.599 But so so talk about uh, you know, what do you think going on politically that's um you're concerned about and also your relationship with Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones? 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:23.280 Well, yeah, like you say, we played together, we stayed in touch all these years. 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:28.800 And, you know, when he became a state senator, I I didn't really see him doing anything beyond that. 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:31.360 I I mean I'm just dealing with it at the time. 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:34.559 We didn't really talk in depth about his ambitions. 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:39.920 But when he became Lieutenant Governor, then I saw it became a little more clear. 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:43.840 And then, you know, he decides to put me on this committee. 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:46.079 It's a workforce development committee. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:35:00.719 I did it for six months with uh some form some other state senators, and we ran around asking, you know, different groups about what were their challenges, you know, because one thing we pride ourselves on is being the state, the best state to do business, right? 00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:01.039 Right. 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:04.079 They really pumped that up, you know, politically. 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:11.599 And I think it's rang true because a lot of businesses have come here and they make it very, you know, a business-friendly environment. 00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:12.960 So I get it. 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.800 And I can buy into that. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:21.760 And, you know, my role turned out to be, and you know, this takes me to another company I work with, Positive Athlete. 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:33.039 You know, the state has got behind them because we recognize student athletes in the high school level, which in turn become potential workers, which is what we want to cater to and what we want to kind of bring up. 00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:35.039 We gotta feed into these young people. 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:37.679 That's the only way we're gonna get the workforce that we got. 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:42.719 Because, you know, with all these businesses coming, we realize there's a deficiency in talent. 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:45.440 And, you know, I heard Trump say that too. 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:49.039 And he wasn't lying, because there's a lot out there. 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:53.039 Like there's there's a lot of opportunity out there, and we're just not built for it. 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:53.599 Why? 00:35:53.840 --> 00:35:56.800 Because we don't invest in our trade schools like we should. 00:35:57.039 --> 00:36:13.280 We don't, we don't, we kind of put four-year colleges on this pedestal when that's not what it takes to get a good hard paying, uh, good, hard uh earning, uh, good earning job or something sustainable career doing some kind of trade, right? 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:15.599 It just hasn't been promoted properly. 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:17.840 So I'm a big advocate for that. 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:21.920 So going back to Bert, like I I love him as a person. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:30.159 Now, I I told him to his face, like, I don't feel like he needs to bring Donald Trump into this state because to win this race. 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:42.639 And the reason I tell him that is because I I feel like he he creates this false narrative about what's happened in the 2020 election, right? 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:47.119 Like, I don't think what he says has happened really happened. 00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:49.519 Like, he thinks he he should have won. 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:51.199 Like, dude, you're the president now. 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:52.559 What what difference does it make? 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:54.320 Like, why are we talking about that? 00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:59.119 And I feel like there's some other thing going on that we don't know about or don't know yet about. 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:03.199 And for me, it just it just doesn't rub me the right way. 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:06.000 And I just hope it doesn't backfire on him. 00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:12.800 You know, I want him to win

or lose this race fair and square, not because of some alliance that doesn't benefit him, right? 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:16.239 Like, I want him to stand on the politics and the things he believes in. 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:18.480 And I don't, we don't agree on everything. 00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:20.800 And he knows where I stand on things, right? 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:28.800 He's invited me to come shake hands with the president, and I just turn it down because I don't stand for what he stands for. 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:32.480 So for me, it's kind of hard to draw that line, but he's still my friend. 00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:40.800 Like he's still somebody I've known for years, and somebody I'll call up when I need something, and he can knows he can call me, and I'll never not answer the phone. 00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:42.559 So just one of those relationships. 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:47.199 I'm, you know, I'm I'm conscious of what it means, but he's my guy. 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:51.920 So well, I I remember vividly you were at the Capitol, and you said, man, Bert wanted me to come over here. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.440 He wants me to stand up in the chamber. 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:53.679 Yeah. 00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:55.840 And at that moment, I and I will co-sign. 00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:58.960 Yeah, you said, Hey, Burt, man, I ain't I'm not really on that today. 00:37:59.199 --> 00:38:02.559 And I'm only calling Bert, no, he's Lieutenant Governor while we're in session, but he's Burt. 00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:05.280 Um, but he also did put you out there on the girl's dad video. 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:07.039 I thought that was pretty strategic. 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:08.239 Yeah, and I and it very. 00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:10.559 Because I'm very aware. 00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:13.199 Like I'm very aware, right? 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:15.440 Like, I know that both sides of this thing. 00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:21.280 I know it, I know those things and how this could rub certain communities the wrong way because of how you set it up. 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:24.400 But I made sure that whatever I said was clear. 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:27.039 Like, I think we all want to protect our girls, right? 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:29.119 So, did you get any backlash on that? 00:38:29.199 --> 00:38:29.440 Anyone? 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:31.599 And I didn't call you about it. 00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:33.599 Matter of fact, the first time I brought it up, would you not say it? 00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:36.239 Well, it's funny you when you text me, I was like, uh, you know. 00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:46.400 You know, it's it's because I knew it was a slippery slope because of how it looks politically, but I just stood on the substance of what I said. 00:38:46.960 --> 00:39:00.159 And, you know, if you want to elaborate and get into a deeper conversation, then we could talk about how this rubs certain communities the wrong way and how it can be taken the wrong way, you know, because you

don't want to be pro-girls and be anti-anything else. 00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:00.800 Right. 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:09.199 So I want to make it clear that I I'm not about, you know, there's a lot of marginalized groups out there, and I'm I'm always gonna fight for them. 00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:17.840 So when it boils down to it, look, I'm not gonna jeopardize what I really stand for just to support a cause that I don't believe in. 00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:27.840 Uh, Champ, I'm just gonna ask you, how do you think NIL would have impacted your college career had it been in place in the in the late 90s? 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:30.159 And then what do you think about it now and where and where it's going? 00:39:30.239 --> 00:39:34.079 And how did how does it affect the the whole student athlete experience? 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:36.559 Well, to be honest, it would have been a distraction. 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:38.320 And that's sort of what it is now. 00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:40.960 It's a distraction on what really matters. 00:39:41.199 --> 00:39:43.840 You know, do I think these athletes should be paid? 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.719 Absolutely. 00:39:45.199 --> 00:39:46.239 Everything they're gonna do. 00:39:46.400 --> 00:40:05.440 Everything the problem, the problem is for me, is yes, we can say they're pros, but we have some of the most intelligent, competitive, you know, human beings at this stage in their life when they need the most support. 00:40:06.239 --> 00:40:07.519 We can't ignore that. 00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:12.880 So for me, it's it's really about giving them the opportunity to become whatever they want to be. 00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:19.679 Most of the people in college will not set a foot on a pro field or court or anything at the next level. 00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:23.199 Whatever that next level means to them, it's not gonna happen. 00:40:23.280 --> 00:40:27.519 So, how do we help them invest in their future with whatever we give them? 00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:38.639 Now, I saw the round table with all these different individuals, and I thought that was a waste of time because there was not a player rep at the table. 00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:41.920 Nobody representing the players on any level. 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:46.239 We've already had a system where the players didn't have representation. 00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:49.280 That's what the NCAA is right now. 00:40:49.519 --> 00:40:52.880 And now we're gonna have another conversation without them in the room. 00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:54.559 What does that look like? 00:40:54.880 --> 00:41:03.519 So we gotta find a way to put a system in place where we don't talk about the money, but they're making the money and we're investing in their future. 00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:04.719 What does that look like? 00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:05.440 I don't know. 00:41:05.760 --> 00:41:07.280 Everybody should have a base salary. 00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:14.800 Everybody should have because if you're a five-star athlete and I'm a three-star athlete, you're gonna make more money if you go to Bama than I would. 00:41:15.119 --> 00:41:19.280 If we both went there, or Georgia or Tennessee, doesn't matter. 00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:20.719 You're gonna make more money. 00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:22.719 But what if I play and you don't? 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:26.880 What if I what if I step on the field as a true freshman and I start playing? 00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:29.840 You making a million dollars, I'm making 200,000. 00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:31.440 How does that make any sense? 00:41:31.760 --> 00:41:32.239 That's a good point. 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:35.199 So you so you deserve to get the money that that that I'm making. 00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:42.239 So so my point is these recruiters are going around recruiting these kids, they get commitments. 00:41:42.719 --> 00:41:44.639 They even promise them what they're gonna get. 00:41:44.800 --> 00:41:46.079 I'm gonna give you 200,000. 00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:48.639 Okay, Bama say they're gonna give you 300,000. 00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:51.199 And then Tennessee say they're gonna give you 400,000. 00:41:51.280 --> 00:41:52.480 Who you probably gonna go to? 00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:54.239 Who mama gonna tell you to go to? 00:41:54.400 --> 00:41:56.400 Well, them dolls gonna come on the top and give you 400,000. 00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:58.719 You from Oklahoma, who you think you gonna go to? 00:41:59.280 --> 00:41:59.519 That's true. 00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:00.079 That's a good point. 00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:00.960 Who you going to? 00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:02.400 You're going to the most money, right? 00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:03.280 Right, right. 00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:10.400 Well, let's say somebody come in at the at the 11th hour and say, Oh, we're gonna give you a million. 00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:11.840 What you gonna do? 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:13.360 You don't know who the coach is. 00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:14.880 You don't know, you don't know nothing. 00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:17.360 Probably probably not a good spot for you. 00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:17.760 Yeah, yeah. 00:42:17.840 --> 00:42:18.400 But you're gonna take the money. 00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:23.280 So my point is take it out of the recruiting process and just recruit the talent. 00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:28.800 Recruit the talent, promise them what you could do for them as a man, as a student, as a player. 00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:30.320 Like, but get the money. 00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:31.440 The money's gonna be there. 00:42:31.599 --> 00:42:37.760 And then if you play 100%, 50%, 60% of the snaps, you get paid accordingly. 00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:39.360 And that's where you earn your money. 00:42:39.519 --> 00:42:44.800 It's all about what you do from a performance standpoint and not just showing up on campus. 00:42:45.039 --> 00:42:55.119 Because a lot of these families, I see it, they're negotiating deals out before the kids even set foot on campus, and they don't even know if it's the

best place for them. 00:42:55.280 --> 00:42:58.000 And a lot of these kids are getting scholarship snatched from them. 00:42:58.400 --> 00:43:04.320 When they get a scholarship, oh no, well, yeah, well, we got this crop of kids coming in, you got to go in and jump in the portal. 00:43:04.480 --> 00:43:07.760 And they think kids are just jumping in the portal because they want to half the time. 00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:10.000 No, it's because it's who's kicking them out. 00:43:10.159 --> 00:43:11.760 Like, everybody's trying to get better. 00:43:12.800 --> 00:43:22.960 So if you don't have contracts or something that binds these schools to these kids and make them, you know, loyal in some way, or just hold them accountable for their development. 00:43:23.199 --> 00:43:26.239 How are we ever gonna raise the right people? 00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:29.840 Like, athletes are the most prepared people for life. 00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:30.880 Period. 00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:32.159 Like, you're prepared. 00:43:32.239 --> 00:43:38.880 Like, you know how to be a teammate, you know how to be a role player, you know how to, you know, go after one mission with a group of people. 00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:41.440 Like, those things matter in the real world. 00:43:41.519 --> 00:43:45.599 And if we don't lean on that, we're failing these people. 00:43:45.679 --> 00:43:47.440 We're failing these young people. 00:43:47.599 --> 00:43:52.559 And I got a 16 year old that's coming up, got a lot of offers, getting more. 00:43:52.880 --> 00:43:54.719 Balling, by the way, in the playoffs. 00:43:54.800 --> 00:43:54.960 Yeah. 00:43:55.360 --> 00:43:58.239 And to me, it's like, well, we're not gonna fall for this. 00:43:58.320 --> 00:43:59.599 Like, we're gonna go where. 00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:01.360 I think he's gonna succeed. 00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:02.800 And it's plain and simple. 00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:04.800 I don't want all the noise. 00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:10.480 And I I'm I'm just glad I'm in a position where I can help quiet the noise because that's a lot of it. 00:44:10.719 --> 00:44:17.519 Well, you as a black father being in for your son, um, being able to help him guide through it, man, is it's so remarkable. 00:44:17.599 --> 00:44:20.320 And also thank you for keeping it real um with the NIL. 00:44:20.559 --> 00:44:23.760 Okay, so now we're gonna go into the segment where we call the final take. 00:44:23.840 --> 00:44:26.159 So I'm gonna ask you some questions and I just want you to respond. 00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:26.559 Okay. 00:44:26.719 --> 00:44:28.480 All right, number one, who was that dog? 00:44:28.559 --> 00:44:32.480 Who was that toughest wide receiver you ever uh defended in the NFL? 00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:33.440 Toughest. 00:44:33.599 --> 00:44:35.440 Uh I mean that dog champ. 00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:38.960 You know, you knew when that when that dude came out of the huddle. 00:44:39.199 --> 00:44:43.440 You know, I'm gonna go back to my early days, uh, Jimmy Smith. 00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:50.880 And see, you know, I think I never say he's one of the best, but he's one of those you forget about that was just a dog. 00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:54.320 Like he he helped baptize me in the league. 00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:55.599 Like he was a tough one. 00:44:56.400 --> 00:44:59.920 He was he was so tough, and but one of the nicest dudes. 00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:01.599 I mean, love him as a man. 00:45:01.679 --> 00:45:04.239 He just he's just a dog on the field. 00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:06.480 Best cornerback in the NFL right now. 00:45:06.719 --> 00:45:07.679 Pat Sertan. 00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:08.719 Hands down. 00:45:09.039 --> 00:45:12.239 Well, champ, man, thank you so much for coming on Theron's take. 00:45:12.400 --> 00:45:19.039 And again, personally, man, as a friend, as somebody who's, you know, we graduated high school the same year, looked up to you, man, followed your career. 00:45:19.119 --> 00:45:22.880 The fact that I can call you a friend, a neighbor, uh, and actually a mentor. 00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:27.760 Uh, and the fact that you took time out of your busy schedule to come on this podcast, man, it means the world to me. 00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:28.639 So I really appreciate it, man. 00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:29.360 My pleasure, man. 00:45:29.440 --> 00:45:30.880 I appreciate you teaching me a lot, man. 00:45:31.119 --> 00:45:31.920 People don't know, man. 00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:34.800 You teach me a lot just by what you do and what you tell me. 00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:38.880 Like anytime I call you, you answer, you give me the best feedback. 00:45:39.280 --> 00:45:40.960 And I'm and I'm honest with you. 00:45:41.039 --> 00:45:43.599 And usually we've been pretty right on these things lately. 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:44.880 Except Prize Picks. 00:45:45.599 --> 00:45:46.559 We miss Prize Picks. 00:45:46.639 --> 00:45:47.679 I give them a lot of credit, man. 00:45:47.760 --> 00:45:50.000 They they they pulled it out, and I'm happy for them. 00:45:50.159 --> 00:45:51.039 Well, thank you, Champ, man. 00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:54.159 And um, God bless you and your family, man, and everything that you're doing. 00:45:54.239 --> 00:45:55.280 We appreciate it. 00:45:55.599 --> 00:45:58.960 Thank you for watching and listening to Therrence Take. 00:45:59.119 --> 00:46:03.360 Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. 00:46:03.519 --> 00:46:07.119 And wherever you get your podcast, please download Therrence Take. 00:46:07.199 --> 00:46:09.360 Share it with a friend and drop a rating.