He has alignment there because whatever that deal looks like, that 10%, that 20% is going directly toward making sure that other 80, 90% is worth, you know, two, three, four or five times as much and making sure above all else that it's protected first and foremost.

Mm hmm.

No, that's that's real.

Because, you know, I think he did a great because when you put somebody in position to go out there, educate themself and make themself better, then they're going to come back to you with a heart full of love because now you put them in position.

Now they want to help you.

And now you guys can help each other grow.

And, you know, there's no ill will as that brotherhood is there.

Yeah.

What was that moment like for you? You know, and how quickly did it hit that, you know, this is now a business and not just a game for you?

Yeah, so that was awesome.

I went up to Victorville to my grandma's house at the time and she lived there.

First day we watched I knew I wasn't going that day, just being realistic.

Second day I was like, "I'm going." And then you see names being called you're like, "This is BS." And then the third day got that call from John Elway and John Fox and it was just a super cool moment, and with Jack Del Rio.

And so then, you know, driving home from, from, um, my grandmother's house I was like, "Okay, this is real." And then I think to your question if it was real when you land in Denver and you get in on a bus and you see all the other draft picks, right? And then you take that 30-minute ride to, to the facilities and you, and you realize like these are grown men here like this.

You real- And they tell you like there is noThere's nothing higher than this, like right? Like there, either you make it here or you're done.

You know, me and you and I have had offline conversations about this where, you know, meals, training, medical, your entire schedule, you know, is kinda taken care of for you, right? So what was the biggest shock once all of that suddenly went away?

... get into their head, and, uh, and he's still in the NFL.

Yeah, no, I don't think people really understand the hard, like the way, the, the type of pressure we put on ourselves.

And it's not only us, right? Imagine your family's depending on you to go out there and make the money, do the, do the thing, bring it back home, take care of everybody.

And, you know, as a lot of people see on Sundays, you know, some guys just don't translate, or they just don't get the opportunities, or their body just breaks down.

It's, it's very, those are really the three options that really happen, or you succeed and you, you thrive.

Um, but a lot of guys, it, it goes to a point where, like you put so much pressure on yourself, and you put so much value in football to where you can't see the end of the tunnel.

You can't put yourself to say, "I'm more than a football player." Now granted, um, for me-I just believed I was a football player when I played.

What do you think is the catalyst for some of this stuff?

Uh, when you look at him, does he strike you as a guy who's got the skillset and the mindset to be a franchise quarterback for that team?

I mean, yeah, I think he has all the qualities.

I think he's sitting there.

I mean, hell, what are they? 2-2, 3-2 right now? Um, I think that he has the qualities of winning.

He know...

Looks like he knows how to command that team.

Um, last year, I think could've been all the skepticism.

What is CarreLeague?

Mm-hmm.

But really put a lot towards the team, gave a lot of character, gave a lot of insight, man.

And so really just, it's really just the laughs with everybody, you know? It's like you can't pick one moment, um, but it's really just having the laughs, having a team, the teammate, uh, uh, and just understanding who everybody was, but also being able to learn.

'Cause as you know, in the NFL, you know, guys have full-blown flam- families, right? And so we actually get a chance to get together, eat, talk, learn, right? Everybody was cool with sharing.

I remember, uh, Robert Ayers came into the locker room.

And as a rookie, when you come in, you know, everybody's like, "Oh, this guy's gonna take your spot," or, "You gotta be careful, tell him the wrong play." But he just took me under his wing, which made me a lot more of a benevolent, um, leader.

So when I got older, I would just tell guys what the play was, help them out as much as I can, and uh, you know, push myself to say, "Well, they can't take my spot," right? And so, um, it was just a great team.

(laughs) Uh, t- tell me real quick before I let you go, what else, what else are you up to now?