What would be kind of your keys if you're in that locker room to getting everybody locked in, ready to go and take care of business on the road? I

mean, to be honest, man, I've spent a lot of time, you know, with those guys over the summer.

And, you know, obviously I was there last weekend.

You know, I think the combination of Lane Kiffin and the players that they've added, you know, at the end of the day, you got to enjoy going to work.

You got to enjoy going through good times and bad times with, you know, your teammates and coaches and the people involved.

And so I think those boys, I think they have it all, man.

I think they have the right ingredients.

What do you think about the defense this year?

Is it the wrinkles that make it different or is it more of the personnel he has or do you already know what they're going to run even if they throw in the wrinkles or what makes it hard for y'all?

Yeah, I think for me, man, I'll use Sean McVay, you know, for example, right? And, you know, a lot of the guys that sort of come off his tree, right? They're like head coaches now, they're OCs now.

And, you know, with McVay, like he – Man, he has a great understanding of leverage and sort of how to counter, right, like what the defense is doing.

And so a lot of times you'll watch tape, right, and you'll see certain formations, you'll see certain splits, and you'll get certain routes.

But then by the time they play you, it's almost as if they flipped it, right? And for me, I always enjoyed the passing game, because I feel like that's why I made a lot of my money.

I was never really the biggest guy in the world, but I always enjoyed the passing game.

And it's actually harder to defend passing when you would think it's easier.

Did that fit what you wanted to be known as? And is that still something that people call you to this day?

But talk to me about that season and just the mindset that you had and then all the accolades that came with that.

Yeah, man, I, I just really, man, r- remember being really, really motivated.

You know, I had a really good freshman campaign and, um, you know, I was able to kinda win some awards and, you know, obviously was the first defensive player to, to win the Cotton Bowl MVP as a freshman.

And so, uh, you know, I had some hot steam, you know, behind me, you know, going into my sophomore year.

And I'd probably say one of the things that, that, that really kinda catapulted, uh, that season for me was, um, you know, like I said, I had a really good freshman campaign, but the following season they wanted to try something new at cornerback.

And, uh, I- it just didn't quite sit well with me.

And so, you know, for me, man, like I just remember working so hard, like, like that off season.

Was it a full circle moment for you to come back and end your career with the New Orleans Saints when you got to come home and basically be in front of your people?

What do you remember most about those early years in the league?

Man, I, I, I mean, it was a blessing.

You know, obviously you, you just mentioned Patrick Peterson and, um, you know, he's always been a big inspiration and a big brother to me, and, uh, he was always that guy that, uh, I didn't hesitate to follow 'cause I knew he was going to lead me in the right direction.

And so I think that was great for me to kind of, uh, you know, be back with Pat and, and kind of, you know, be a sponge to him and, uh, learn how to be a pro.

But I'd probably say from a competitor standpoint, Jim, um, the thing that really helped me out the most was playing against Larry Fitzgerald every day at practice.

And, uh, like, like that, that, that made me a grown man, you know, pretty quickly.

And, uh, so I always talk about Fitz and, and how he inspired me off the field, but man, going to work with him each and every day, uh, on the field, man, he was really, really the reason why I felt like I was one of the best, uh, you know, defensive backs, uh, then.

What's your why now? Have you processed that part of it?

Are there any young guys that you either played with last year or coming out of college that are maybe flying under the radar that everyone thinks they're good but are actually great, or that you think they have the ability to be great?

Yeah, I mean, um, you know, I, I, I think Budda Baker, I think he gets a little love.

Not, not as much love as, you know, I would, uh, you know, like for him to get, uh, because he's, he was so talented.

You know, I remember when we drafted him as a rookie in Arizona, man, and, uh, you know, the kind of plays he makes that, the instincts, the edge, the attitude that he played with, um, I, I, I think, you know, guys like that, man, they just make the team, you know, so much better, you know, man.

You know, obviously, I, I think Chris Jones, thing about Chris Jones too, you know, um, like he, he was one of the, the most elite defensive linemen, and I played with J.J. Watt too, and I just thought Chris was just so dominant.

Like he's one of those guys too that can take over the game-

Mm-hmm.

But, um, I, I think everything that, that Dennis, he, really what he preach as, as a defensive coach, um, like I think, I think Chicago fans and, and people that love football, they gonna, they gonna be happy with the way those guys play defense.

You're welcome.

I mean, that, that, that, that really, that really means a lot to me.

Um, you know, honestly, man, the, the thing that I can really, um, reflect back on or, or really point to is that, you know, it was the coaches.

It was, it was the teammates I had, man.

Like, I was so blessed.

I was so fortunate.

And I tell dudes all the time, it's like, you know, when I came into the league, man, at, at 20 years old, right, um, with, with, with everything that I had kind of been through, you know, uh, Arizona was just such a great place for me to get drafted, you know.

Uh, before I let you go, why, why did you dec- decide to, uh, retire? What went through that?