Mm-hmm

... straight up mindset, want to.

Um, like, there's, there's so much that goes into this game, and you hear about the mental part sometimes, um, that pops up.

And the mental part of the game is so impactful that if you are locked in in the mi- and h- let me give you perspective of how I, I treated it.

For me, this wasn't just an opportunity to go and play football at the next level.

I treated it like my life depended on it.

I was the most stressed I've ever been in my life going through my OTAs and my, uh, training camp as a rookie, because this was it.

And, uh, yeah.

Yeah, I'm more of the business of sports, too, when it comes to the end.

Well, transition into that, I think going back to your original thought of, you know, seeing that outcome or, you know, living through that outcome, I really take life as kind of a chapter.

And each kind of segment of my life is the chapter.

And I see this chapter as kind of like an open book, because when I first got into the NFL, you know, six screen on the depth chart, undrafted, really didn't know what to expect.

and had an opportunity to play, had been taking advantage of it, and so that book is still being written.

Now it's nine years later, so I know that end chapter's coming here soon, but again, that's a chapter in my whole book of my life that will continue to come to a close, and I'll appreciate it for what it was.

I'm sure I'll want it to be longer whenever it ends, like you were saying.

Austin, I'm sure after your first contract and your first team, your relationship to money changed.

let me tell you yeah

please well first of all quick story about me being an every down back with chargers um so i was actually splitting carries with Melvin Gordon and Melvin Gordon was looking for a new contract.

They didn't end up giving it to him.

So they turned to me and they're like, Hey Austin, we want you to come in and kind of be the split carry role.

Like you've been doing, you've been doing well for us.

You're efficient, but we're going to find you another back to come in.

So I negotiated my whole contract on that premise.

But, you know, I don't know if you have any favorite moments or memories where you sat there with, with them and say, damn, okay, that's, that's rare.

community

moment oh okay so it's the same one for the Exactly.

So yeah, coincidence there.

Um, but no, that was 100% because I'd been third string the prior few weeks before then.

So I'm on special teams.

I was doing well on special teams.

My favorite stat to this day, side note, I led the NFL and tackles on punt my rookie year, never played pump before, but I was just so determined to make this team and make it work.

not invited to the

the pump that's the fumble that's

the fun that's that's my coming to the fantasy football community moment oh okay so it's the same one for the exactly so yeah coincidence there um but no that was 100 because i'd been third string the prior few weeks before then so i'm on special teams i was doing well on special teams my favorite stat to this day side note i led the nfl and tackles on punt my rookie year never played pump before but i was just so determined to make this team and make it work like that was this was what i was doing my life depended on and that's how i ran that's how i covered kicks and um finally get an opportunity to play some offense another side story my first ever My first ever handoff in a regular season game was a 34 yard touchdown versus the Eagles.

And so I think that was a long time ago.

You guys guys who bowl, you guys got nothing.

You guys have done great.

So back to the Jaguars game, I finally get an opportunity as like the number two.

And, um, Melvin Gordon, who I was splitting with, who was the number one at the time had like some type of injury.

not, not invited the combine.

the pump that's the fumble that's

the fun that's that's my coming to the fantasy football community moment oh okay so it's the same one for the exactly so yeah coincidence there um but no that was 100 because i'd been third string the prior few weeks before then so i'm on special teams i was doing well on special teams my favorite stat to this day side note i led the nfl and tackles on punt my rookie year never played pump before but i was just so determined to make this team and make it work like that was this was what i was doing my life depended on and that's how i ran that's how i covered kicks and um finally get an opportunity to play some offense another side story my first ever My first ever handoff in a regular season game was a 34 yard touchdown versus the Eagles.

And so I think that was a long time ago.

You guys guys who bowl, you guys got nothing.

You guys have done great.

So back to the Jaguars game, I finally get an opportunity as like the number two.

And, um, Melvin Gordon, who I was splitting with, who was the number one at the time had like some type of injury.

not, not invited the combine.

run, she's yelling, run, you know.

So it's a small, tiny little town.

So for me, I'm thinking business.

That's where I'm going.

I'm going that direction.

So my junior year of college, my coach comes to me.

He's like, Austin, I think you can play in the NFL.

so what's the process? Hey, will you come work out for us? Or how's your Achilles? They trust you? What's

you

know so it's a small tiny little town so for me I'm thinking business that's where I'm going I'm going that direction so my junior year of college my coach comes to me he's like Austin I think you can play in the NFL you got scouts that are interested in you I'm like scouts like I've never seen a pro day.

I've never seen any scouts on campus or anything like that.

So sure enough, my senior year, there's scouts every practice.

I had a scout there to talk to me, things like that.

So fast forward to working out for trying to go get on a team.

So I don't think I'm going to get drafted.

so what's the process? Hey, will you come work out for us, or how's your Achilles? They trust you? What's

the one-game suspension is way more important than the fine.

Well, that's if you're a repeat offender.

Then you get suspended.

Don't be a knucklehead.

Come on.

But going back to the controlling of it, it's definitely hard.

It's harder on defenders, too, because they're They have to get you on the ground, and sometimes it's by any means.

What's your confidence in Jaden having a monster bounce back?

the one-game suspension is way more important than the fine.

Well, that's if you're a repeat offender, then you get suspended.

Yeah.

Don't be a knucklehead.

Come on.

But going back to the controlling of it, it's definitely hard.

It's harder on defenders, too, because they're They have to get you on the ground.

What's your confidence in Jaden having a monster bounce back?

like, right now, guys on the Cardinals, the Jets, they legitimately think they can make the

playoffs.

Yes.

Internally, yes.

To everyone else, it might seem delirious, but who's going to believe in us if we don't? So that's the mentality.

And it might not be like we all believe we're going to make it all the way, but let's go out there and give it everything we have and see what happens.

We're not going to count ourselves out.

What's your confidence in Jaden having a monster bounce back?

that's a fantasy guy right there you know all right so let's talk let's talk shop then i wanted to talk some running back so you know obviously uh given your background yeah and with some of the young ones so uh when jeremiah love made his preseason debut for the cardinals a lot of adrian peterson comps started getting thrown out there the way that he's running do you agree with that the thing is when we

speculate on players on young players we we see, hey, this is maybe the cap that they can get to.

Here's the thing, as a young player coming into the league, you have so much on your shoulders.

But learning the game, being able to physically play at the level and the speed that you need to takes a little bit of time.

So love to see some flashes from him early on.

But we'll see how it translates.

Obviously, he has a high ankle sprain, which is not anything to not take seriously.

What do you remember of your rookie season that week and getting closer to cut down day?

Is Christian McCaffrey for you, is the best running back of the league right now?

I, I get so much hate for this, but here's the thing.

I look at potential in your offense, and Christian McCaffrey is used like no other running back in any other offense.

They depend on him in the pass game, they depend on him in the run game.

And there's, yes, great running backs out there.

You got Jahmyr Gibbs, you have Bijan Robinson.

I get it.

[laughs]

[laughs]

Yeah, we're good.

So we protected a little bit.

Jayden is extremely athletic, so I mean, it's not gonna be...

With a four-man rush, three-man rush, you're not gonna get there.

So but we're just getting in the way of everyone.

We're running to the, run to one side of the field.

Wow.

this point our cornerback tyreek stevenson was celebrating not yet not yet so

We protect it a little bit.

Jaden is extremely athletic.

So, I mean, it's not going to be – with a four-man rush, three-man rush, you're not going to get there.

But we're just getting in the way of everyone.

We're running to one side of the field.

Then he starts running back the other way.

I still might hear my mom's whistle, run, run.

this point our cornerback tyreek stevenson was celebrating not yet not yet so

We protect it a little bit.

Jaden is extremely athletic.

So, I mean, it's not going to be – with a four-man rush, three-man rush, you're not going to get there.

But we're just getting in the way of everyone.

We're running to one side of the field.

Then he starts running back the other way.

been beautiful though.

Hell yeah.

I like the David Montgomery opportunity.

He's, he's broken up with Jahmyr Gibbs, obviously, up over in the Lions.

Um, going into a team that, you know, had a early playoff exit last year.

They're looking to bounce back, uh, with the Texans.

I think he's gonna have the opportunity to have the volume to get the 15 to 20 touches a game over there with the Texans.

Again, I just told you a little bit ago, I like guys on new teams with new contracts.

What are you guys doing this season? 'Cause it is awesome.

Hell yeah.

I like the David Montgomery opportunity.

He's, he's broken up with Jahmyr Gibbs, obviously, for opening the Lions.

Um, going into a team that, you know, had a early playoff exit last year.

They're looking to bounce back, uh, with the Texans.

I think he's gonna have the opportunity to have the volume, to get the 15 to 20 touches a game over there with the Texans.

Again, I just told you a little bit ago, I like guys on new teams with new contracts.

What are you guys doing this season? 'Cause it is awesome.

I need to know what's going on with number 30.

It's the mystery that's hovering over my head that everyone's wondering about.

And, uh, you know, for me, I gotta look for the right, the right situation.

Uh, for me, I'm coming off an Achilles tear.

Uh, I'm fully healthy, back in the weight room pushing a ton of weight like usual.

That's, that's like my safe place, so I knew that wasn't gonna be a problem.

It was just a matter of time for me to get back on my feet.

Yeah.

But what were you thinking as the whole thing transpired?

Yeah.

So it was just a routine play for me.

I'm just running to the flat, flat control.

And I think the ball went the other way on the field.

And so I turned to go run towards the ball, right? You can trail the ball just in case something crazy happens.

Um, and I go to step back and all of a sudden I felt like someone kicked me in my heel.

Is that something you've thought of doing?

But what were you thinking as the whole thing transpired?

Yeah, so it was just a routine play for me.

I'm just running to the flat, flat control.

And I think the ball went the other way on the field, and so I turned to go run towards the ball, right? You trail the ball just in case something crazy happens.

And I go to step back, and all of a sudden, I felt like someone kicked me in my heel.

And so I turned around, and I started falling down because I can't plant on my right foot, and there's no one around me.

And then immediately, I knew that I had ruptured my Achilles.

Is that something you've thought of doing?

How challenging has it been? And how have you processed the entire season, Austin?

Yeah.

Um, wow, it's a lot actually.

Um, I think, you know, starting with one of those, just my injury.

Um, you know, when you have a season-ending injury, it really takes you to a place where your mind is now on a different path.

'Cause before you were thinking about winning games, championships, things like that.

And now you're on a path of, "Okay, I gotta get my body healthy so that I can have a chance to compete again in the future." Um, and so that's my personal, um, journey that I'm on.

Austin, really quickly before we talk about Netflix and the work you're gonna do with them, as you look around the league right now, are there a couple of backs that you really respect that you would actually pay money to watch yourself?

Good news. Glad to hear it. Austin Ekeler joining us. You mentioned DQ, I want to ask you about this. So the NFLPA released its annual report card of teams based on its survey of membership, right? Dan Quinn got a grade of A plus, A plus. Like, this is a tremendous dude. You spend any time at all with this guy and you know he's a great dude. But that grade, obviously he has separated himself from his peers. You've been around all sorts of coaches. What makes this dude, this dude? Like why is he so special?

Yeah. I think there's, there's a few reasons. The ones that really stand out to me, um, is he coaches brotherhood. Um, you know, we see a couple other coaches across the league coaching that, and he is like all about it. We have people come speak to us about it. He's got little sayings about it. Um, and so I love that. Like we're absolutely a football team, but being together, chemistry, camaraderie is such a big morale boost when you walk in the building every single day for, you know, seven months or whatever, how long we're in there. Um, and it help-... It makes it a better place to be, and a place that you want to be around and guys that you want to be around when we're all tied into this kind of brotherhood concept that we have, and the way that we go about kind of doing these little things together. Um, you know, for example, like the first time, like, like the first time we get together, it's a minute of dapping everybody up. You go around, you're dapping as many people up asking, "Hey, what's up?" Like there's little things like that that add up over time. It's, it's not big massive things that we're doing, but it's the little, it's the fine details that add up. Another thing is, um, he, he, he's gonna hold us all accountable. We have a Tell the Truth Monday, um, after games, and we're... He calling people out. Not because he wants to, you know, belittle you, but because we need the best from all of our guys. And that's what we want. And so we want to have that coachable moment and not taking it personal. And so even he's, he stopped practice, started it over, and he's not a big rah-rah guy. But if he sees something, he knows it's his job to put us in the right position, and he'll start it over, he'll get our leaders going, "Hey, I need more from you guys." Defense, offense, it doesn't matter, special teams. Um, and the guy loves to compete, man. He loves to compete. We got competition Wednesdays. Um, so those three things are what I would say. And the little, the ways he, the way he does it is so unique to a, it's, it's a well-polished, well-oiled machine, where it continues to feel like I'm excited for what comes today. And that's, that's pretty rare in the NFL, in my opinion.

Hey, Austin, speaking of things that are negotiated or not negotiated, I know you've been a record with this but not everybody has seen it. If I can get you to kind of get into this for one second before I talk about some of the work you're doing. You're working on a new platform I want to ask you about, too. But this notion of an 18th game, you were not happy when you first heard this. You said, quote, "18 games makes me cringe." You called it, quote,, "really outrageous." Can you break down why that is such an unreasonable ask by the owners?

You know, it's- it's already hard enough for us as players to get through 17. You know, even 16 was hard. You know, now we're adding six- now, there's a talk of- of 18 and, um, you know, as- as far as health and safety, it kind of seems like it's, you know, prioritized in other ways. "Look, we're making your equipment better," but when it comes to actually expanding on what actually is damaging, which is playing more games, um, then that's where it seems like it's a little bit backwards. Um, and so if we're looking to i- increase revenue, I mean, we're doing that in other aspects, right? The sports betting, the international stuff. Like, we are expanding the game. Um, and so I think we can still do that, if that's the goal, without putting our bodies as athletes in jeopardy and allowing us to have a more complete season where guys have the better odds to be at the end, playing in the playoff games, not because, "Hey, we add- keep adding games and so now all of our guys are beat up here and there because we have so many dang games." Like, let's keep ourselves in a position where, I mean, even I think 17's still, uh, too many in my opinion. I would still like to go back to 16. Um, but let's put ourselves in a position where we still have the best chance to put the best product on the field, you know, going out into the- into the playoff run. So, that's where I stand on that, um, and for me, anyway, I- especially, you know, at our position, all positions to be honest. I mean, you look at, I- I'd be curious to see the numbers on how many people actually make it all the way through, you know, not missing, you know, any time for, um, any time for injury, and it- there's gonna be a significant number that don't make every single game. And a lot of the players are the key players, because that's who's on the field. Um, so we want to see those key players on the field more. Um, and that means, okay, let's consolidate our season so that we can get to the post-season, um, with hopefully as many healthy guys as we can.