Saints GM Mickey Loomis meets with the media to talk about the state of the team in his end of season press conference.
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00:00 [ Background Sounds ]
00:03 >> Hello.
00:04 >> Hi.
00:04 >> I don't have any opening statement, just fire away.
00:08 >> Can you get into what went on with the decision
00:14 to let go of the e-commerce?
00:17 >> Yeah, I'm not going to go into a lot of detail.
00:22 It's just, you know, DA and we just, as an organization,
00:28 decided that we needed to change.
00:30 And Pete's a fantastic coach.
00:32 Been with us for, you know, 17, 18 years,
00:35 done a lot of really, really good things,
00:36 but just felt like we needed to change.
00:39 >> What about the offense?
00:40 You feel like they take that change?
00:43 >> Yeah, I just, you know, again,
00:45 just felt like we can perform better and, yeah,
00:48 we needed a change in that area.
00:52 >> Maybe along the same lines
00:54 that [inaudible] you thought there should have been
00:57 more development?
00:58 >> Yeah, again, I think, you know, I'm not going
01:02 to get into anything specific because I think all three
01:06 of those guys are good coaches, did a lot of good things,
01:10 but I think in the assessment we needed, you know,
01:13 felt like we needed something a little different.
01:15 >> What was your overall take on this season?
01:18 >> Yeah, it looks, you know, I think that,
01:22 I think our expectations were higher collectively.
01:27 You know, we had some games that stepped away from us
01:32 and a couple we didn't perform in well and just, you know,
01:35 it's a variety of reasons, that's all.
01:37 So when you look at a season, you look at how you perform,
01:42 there's so many variables and, you know,
01:46 it just wasn't good enough ultimately.
01:47 We didn't achieve what our expectations.
01:50 >> This is three straight years now of missing the playoffs
01:54 and there was a, I think a study posted yesterday
01:56 that you guys had the oldest roster in the entire NFL based
01:59 on snaps played this year.
02:00 Is there a feeling of, you guys were going for a certain window
02:04 with a lot of core players and the state of the NFC South
02:08 and maybe that needs to be rethought now?
02:10 >> No, I, listen, I see some of those stats sometimes
02:14 and I think, look, you got to look beyond just whatever the
02:19 raw number is and look at, you know, the core of your team
02:23 and look, a couple guys can skew that so I don't look at that
02:29 like we're an old team, I really don't.
02:31 >> As far as the development with Trevor Penning.
02:34 >> Yeah.
02:35 >> Do you think it could be maybe take the same course
02:38 as Andrews' feet where I don't know if he's going to work
02:41 on a tackle but you think he can be a starting offensive lineman
02:44 and might have to play guard.
02:45 I go back, the other day, like Jim Dombrowski,
02:47 first round draft pick from Virginia,
02:49 had never really worked on a tackle, was an outstanding guard
02:53 and so that, could that happen with Trevor?
02:55 >> Yeah, look, I think with any offensive lineman, you know,
02:58 and there's some other positions where this is applicable too,
03:03 you know, you make an assessment and a vision
03:06 of where you have them and if that doesn't work out, you know,
03:08 you look at their strengths and weaknesses
03:09 and say maybe we can place them there.
03:11 I think with Trevor, look, we didn't do him any favors.
03:14 He comes in as a rookie, he gets hurt, you know,
03:18 he misses 10 games, we play him the back half of that season,
03:22 primarily in a jumbo role and he did some good things
03:26 and then he gets hurt and he has no off season and then we throw
03:29 him in there as the starter, you know, week one.
03:32 Listen, I think a lot of that falls on us in terms of,
03:36 you know, where he was and what he was ready to do
03:39 and so I'm still pretty high on Trevor Penning,
03:42 I think we all are but we recognize that, hey, look,
03:45 we've got to do a better job in terms of development
03:48 and preparing him to be ready and I think we'll do
03:51 that this off season, I think we'll have a good plan for him.
03:53 >> And if it was a decision to bring Dennis back,
03:56 a fairly easy one and also like how much he could finish
03:59 in 4-1 over the end of the season?
04:01 >> Yeah, look, here's what I think.
04:04 I think sometimes, you know, the easy thing to do,
04:09 the lazy thing to do is look at the results of the season
04:12 and say, oh, it's the coach's fault
04:14 or it's the quarterback's fault.
04:15 I think oftentimes you have to look beyond that.
04:18 I would just-- look, I was prepared
04:21 for this question, right?
04:22 Chuck Noel, his first three years, Hall of Fame coach,
04:25 he was 1 and 13, 5 and 9, 6 and 8 but they recognize
04:30 that this guy is a good football coach, right?
04:31 Bill Belichick, here's his first three seasons, 6 and 10,
04:35 7 and 9, 7 and 9.
04:37 Tom Landry, 0 and 11, 4 and 9, 5 and 8, 4 and 10, 5 and 8.
04:44 Hall of Fame coaches, all of them.
04:47 Bill Walsh, first year, 2 and 14, second year, 6 and 10.
04:50 So I think the easy thing to do is just look at the results
04:53 and say, oh no, we got to have a change.
04:54 You got to look beyond that.
04:55 You know, what are the reasons why we were 9 and 8 instead of,
05:00 you know, 13 and 4?
05:02 And look, it's collective.
05:04 It's the players.
05:05 It's the coaches.
05:06 It's me. It's our personnel staff, our roster.
05:09 It's variables, sometimes that we don't have any control of.
05:14 And so my assessment is Dennis Allen is a good coach.
05:18 And again, you know, with Sean Payton, we went 10 and 6
05:23 the first year, but then we were 7 and 9, 8 and 8.
05:26 I heard some of the same noise.
05:27 But at the time, I knew we had a good football coach.
05:30 And so I think sometimes the hard thing to do is
05:34 to be patient and recognize your other shortcomings
05:37 and get those fixed.
05:38 And that's what we're doing.
05:39 >> Can you talk about the culture a little bit
05:41 at the end of the season?
05:42 What are some of the things with the culture that you feel
05:43 like need to change?
05:44 >> Yeah, I don't like the word culture necessarily
05:47 because I think, look, we've got really good guys willing.
05:49 And I think, look, a lot of things that I said
05:54 to the players, I'm sure you guys are aware of it,
05:56 were for the players' ears only.
05:58 I think collectively, though, that everybody, you know,
06:04 if you ask, do you want to win, everybody stands up.
06:06 They raise their hand, right?
06:07 Everybody says, are you willing to do what's necessary to win?
06:10 They all raise their hand.
06:12 But sometimes we're not doing the things
06:15 that are necessary to win.
06:16 And that's on me.
06:19 That's on me 100%.
06:21 We've got to -- I've got to hold our guys to a standard
06:25 to do the things necessary to win.
06:29 And I think that -- I probably let that slip a little bit
06:31 over the last few years.
06:32 And so we're going to get that recalibrated.
06:35 And so that's my message to our entire building.
06:38 It's not just to the players or just the coaches.
06:42 It's to our entire building.
06:43 >> Is some of that stuff like back to your home or to study
06:45 and taking care of the body, like stuff like that?
06:47 >> Well, there's a lot of things.
06:48 And I think I was pretty specific
06:50 about what those things are.
06:52 But that's really for their ears, not for your ears.
06:54 >> Can you elaborate at all on how it's on you
06:57 if you don't deal with the players day to day?
06:58 >> Excuse me?
06:59 >> Well, you said that it's on you.
07:01 But since you're not the one dealing with the players day
07:03 to day and kind of, you know, looking over their --
07:05 >> Well, look, I'm accountable for that.
07:06 You know, we have a certain standard here.
07:09 And look, some of it's out of our control.
07:13 You know, COVID, league rules, there's things that are
07:17 out of our control.
07:18 But that doesn't mean we have to --
07:20 that we can't have a standard that we set.
07:23 And look, it starts with me.
07:25 It does. And certainly, our head coach and our coaching staff
07:29 and all the people in the building are responsible for it.
07:32 But it begins with me.
07:34 >> Mickey, I don't know if this has been addressed,
07:36 but going back and talking about that,
07:39 you don't like the word culture.
07:40 But as far as the camaraderie amongst teammates,
07:43 when you look at the victory formation and what occurred,
07:48 I don't know if this has been asked, like Jamal Williams,
07:50 did he have an incentive, like you scored X amount of touchdowns?
07:54 >> No.
07:54 >> So that didn't come into play.
07:55 So it wasn't like you scored a touchdown,
07:57 you get an extra 100,000 or nothing.
07:58 That wasn't --
07:59 >> No, look, I think this has been talked
08:02 about way too much, frankly.
08:04 Look, I get it.
08:05 Players wanted to get you a favor for, you know,
08:08 one of their teammates and probably didn't think it
08:12 completely through.
08:13 I would rather we not do that.
08:17 But there was no underlying message to that.
08:20 It was all exactly what it appeared to be.
08:22 They're trying to do a favor for a teammate,
08:23 get him a touchdown, and that just wasn't appropriate
08:27 in my view.
08:28 But it's overblown, you know.
08:30 I don't -- I think it's overblown.
08:32 >> No, I just brought up the monetary reasons.
08:34 I know a lot of people --
08:35 >> No, there was no incentive or anything.
08:37 There's no financial reward.
08:38 >> I remember I had started 12 games,
08:40 and I got 250,000 bonus.
08:42 >> If you scored one touchdown?
08:43 >> No, if I took the first -- if I took the first snap,
08:46 if I took the first snap, and Mr. Fainthill wanted me
08:49 to play, he goes, oh, I know you manned up to me.
08:51 >> Yeah.
08:52 >> And --
08:52 >> That doesn't happen here.
08:53 >> And yeah.
08:54 >> We're not doing that.
08:55 >> He said, you manned up, and I said, I'm playing.
08:56 I said, you shoot me up, whatever.
08:57 I'm playing.
08:58 I'm going to get that money.
08:59 So that's why I said, when you get -- so --
09:01 >> I understand the question, but that's not part of it.
09:04 >> The only kind of thing that's going to change
09:05 when it comes to potential offensive coordinator coming
09:07 into the building, but were the moves that y'all made
09:09 on the offensive side of the coaching staff yesterday the
09:11 only moves that you intend to make at this time?
09:13 >> Yeah, I don't know that that's the case yet.
09:14 You know, we're -- yeah, I don't --
09:16 I'm not anticipating anything either way.
09:19 >> I mean, I know another phrase you probably dismiss as being
09:23 overused, lost the locker room, and I heard you kind
09:25 of dismissed that the other night.
09:27 >> Yeah, it's okay.
09:28 >> Is that -- you say most people should be able
09:31 to look beyond the results, but I mean,
09:33 players have felt the effects of three losing seasons, too,
09:36 and you felt the need to have this talk
09:37 with them after the season.
09:38 Is that a danger with players not believing that this, you know,
09:43 coaching staff will have the answers when you go
09:45 through three loses?
09:46 I mean, is that something you're --
09:47 >> I'm not worried about that.
09:48 >> Yeah, I mean, do you feel confident that this team stayed --
09:51 >> Yeah.
09:52 >> You see --
09:53 >> Look, I -- there's a lot of things about our team
09:55 that I really, really like, too.
09:56 So, look, I like that we played hard.
09:59 I like that we finished four out of the last five.
10:02 Effort, you know, those kinds of things that happen in games,
10:08 even when things were going poorly, were really good.
10:13 You know, I had a lot of individual talks with players,
10:17 and I came away from those feeling really positive
10:19 about a lot of things.
10:20 >> When you said that you wanted to change offensively,
10:24 are you referring to, like, a kind of a step away
10:27 from what you all have done for a long time here with Sean
10:29 and Pete, or is this just a matter
10:32 of getting a new set of eyes?
10:33 >> Yeah, I think that remains to be seen.
10:36 >> I mean, how concerned are you about the future
10:40 of Ryan Ramchick, all the way to the top lineman,
10:42 and with his knee issue?
10:43 >> Yeah, I think, look,
10:45 anytime you have a good player who's going through, you know,
10:47 a tough thing health-wise, you're always concerned.
10:51 And yet, you know, I have a positive feeling
10:55 about where he's going to end up.
10:56 And I think he does as well.
10:58 >> Mickey, when it comes to the offensive coordinator,
11:00 it's obviously been a long time since there's been a change
11:03 in that regard.
11:04 Is that search different from, say, a position coach?
11:08 Is there a bit more weight to it,
11:09 and do you approach it differently?
11:12 >> Yeah, I mean, it's different
11:14 because the responsibilities are different.
11:16 You know, particularly when you have a defensive head coach,
11:20 and you're looking for an offensive coordinator, yeah,
11:22 just no different than when Sean was a head coach, and we,
11:25 you know, we went through searches
11:27 for defensive coordinators.
11:28 So, yeah, it's different.
11:31 >> What are you looking for in the next offensive coordinator?
11:33 I mean, coming off of, you know, part of me is the guy
11:35 that was around for 18 years,
11:36 and gives you an opportunity to really know what it is
11:38 that you like.
11:39 What are you looking for in the next guy?
11:40 >> Yeah, I think we have a set of criteria
11:42 that a lot of different guys can fill.
11:45 We're just kind of going through that process now,
11:46 so I think I'll leave it at that.
11:47 >> How did you view Derrick's first year?
11:49 >> Yeah, I think he did a lot of good things,
11:52 and wasn't perfect for certain.
11:55 But he did a lot of good things.
11:57 And listen, I think that he was hurt for a good portion
12:04 of this season, probably more so than, you know,
12:08 he would let on or that was out there.
12:10 So, I felt like he kind of hit a strike toward the end,
12:14 and we did collectively, too.
12:16 So, and he's not the only player or position
12:21 that that was the case for.
12:23 >> Make you even surprised how well Andrews played
12:26 at that tackle, because usually you don't talk about him,
12:28 and then he's doing a good job.
12:29 And I thought he was outstanding, considering that,
12:33 you know, maybe he was in the guard,
12:34 and then how he finished the whole season at that tackle.
12:36 >> Yeah, I would say, yeah, you know, he gets thrown back
12:39 out there, and did a good job.
12:42 He did. Really pleased with that.
12:45 I think that gives him some confidence as well.
12:48 >> Mickey, every offseason is a balancing act
12:51 between putting together the best roster
12:54 and staying fiscally responsible.
12:56 >> Yeah.
12:56 >> Do you ever get to the point where, when you're
12:59 over the cap every offseason, where you look at it and say--
13:03 >> You mean like every year?
13:04 >> What's that?
13:05 >> You mean like every year?
13:06 >> Yeah, like every year, where you say maybe we need to look
13:11 at the financial foundation for the future.
13:15 >> Yeah.
13:15 >> And maybe make some tough decisions with older players
13:19 and count on our players' development and drafting
13:22 and free agency, and roll the dice a little,
13:26 counting on younger people to evolve.
13:29 >> Yeah, I think, yeah, we go through that process every year
13:33 in the offseason, and you know, I've said this before,
13:37 is that we had kind of a vision and a plan for post-Drew Brees,
13:44 and then, you know, COVID hits,
13:48 and we get this big setback relative
13:50 to the cap and finances.
13:52 And so that's caused us to recalibrate a little bit,
13:55 but the answer to the question is yes, we do do that.
13:58 I'm not going to tell you what we're doing, but we do do that.
14:03 >> Maybe we'll just be--
14:04 >> And we have, you know, we have to make up some ground.
14:07 There's no question, you know, over a period of time here,
14:10 we're going to have to make up some ground cap-wise.
14:12 >> What was the thinking behind the timing
14:15 of reworking Marshawn Latimer's bonus,
14:19 like while the season's still going on,
14:20 and making it an option bonus?
14:22 Like, I mean, obviously, some of those--
14:24 >> Yeah, it's just cap management, you know,
14:27 I don't want to get into the details of it.
14:28 >> But there wasn't a purpose to be like that?
14:32 >> Yeah, there's a purpose, but I'm not going
14:34 to tell you what the purpose is.
14:35 >> Or you're considering trading?
14:37 >> It's just cap.
14:38 It's just cap management.
14:39 That's what it is.
14:39 >> Mickey, since 2017 draft was incredible, since then,
14:45 how would you evaluate what you've done since then
14:48 and will you tweak your philosophy as far as the draft,
14:54 and you evaluated that as to what you might do
14:58 to maybe get some more results there?
15:00 >> Yeah, well, look, I think a number of these drafts, you know,
15:04 the results have yet to be written.
15:07 And look, 2017 was incredible, right?
15:12 It-- I don't expect to duplicate that every year.
15:18 I'd like to duplicate that every year,
15:19 but then I have that expectation.
15:21 So, no, I think our philosophies are sound,
15:24 and I don't see that changing.
15:26 >> Yeah, I was just curious, and it didn't come out yesterday,
15:30 but maybe it wouldn't, or is anybody on the current staff
15:35 for OC job, I mean, or is that not--
15:39 >> Yeah, I'm going to keep that list to ourselves right now.
15:42 But, you know, those candidates will come out eventually.
15:49 >> How about Coach Marone?
15:51 A lot of fans have asked me, like,
15:54 how he's developing the offensive line,
15:56 and the guys putting up their expectations,
15:59 and I mean, I don't know, just a rumor, like,
16:01 oh, he might end up retiring over the years that he's coached.
16:05 So, what do you think of Coach Marone
16:07 in the offensive line right now?
16:08 >> Yeah, I think he's a fantastic coach, I do.
16:11 And I haven't heard anything about him retiring,
16:13 so that would be a surprise to me.
16:15 >> You mentioned some of the stats earlier
16:18 about like maybe not paying attention to them.
16:20 You've seen this league evolve over decades.
16:23 >> Yeah.
16:23 >> Where do you kind of, or how do you reconcile the data-driven
16:26 analytics versus kind of that gut feel, so to say?
16:30 >> Yeah, that's a good question.
16:31 Look, I think that analytics have been
16:36 around a long, long time, way longer
16:37 than we've been talking about them.
16:40 They existed in 1983 when I started.
16:44 We just didn't call them analytics.
16:46 I think it's a tool in the toolbox, right?
16:50 And you have to view it as such.
16:53 And so, I just look at it, and look, we got a lot more data,
16:57 a lot more information than we did certainly then.
16:59 And even in the last three or four years,
17:02 we got a lot more data that we need to pay attention to.
17:05 And so, we do.
17:06 But it's a tool in the toolbox, and there's still,
17:09 you know, some of these analytics tell you to go
17:15 for it on every fourth down, right?
17:16 Well, what if you don't have a fourth
17:17 down play that you like, right?
17:19 What if you have a player that's injured
17:21 at a particular position that's key to --
17:23 so there's just a lot of factors and variables.
17:26 And so, I look at analytics as valuable,
17:30 but a tool in the toolbox.
17:32 >> Can I ask, you just referenced 1983,
17:34 that people ask this question, and, you know, rumors get
17:37 out there with social media and stuff like that.
17:39 You've been doing this a long time.
17:40 Your role is not changing here.
17:41 You seem energetic about recalibrating the organization.
17:44 From the office, is staying the same as far as your position?
17:47 >> Yeah, I saw a couple of -- that was just made up, whatever.
17:50 I saw -- I know you're referencing --
17:52 somebody just made that up.
17:53 That's never been discussed or talked about.
17:55 Now, am I slower?
17:56 Yeah, I probably ran a 4.5 when I was 30,
17:58 and I don't think I could run 5 flat right now.
18:00 So, I am slower.
18:01 But, yeah.
18:03 You know, I've been asked that question.
18:06 You get asked that when you get to a certain age, right?
18:09 Whatever age that is.
18:10 And, I've said, "Look, I'm just going to wake up one morning
18:13 and say this is the day."
18:14 And, it's not going to be tomorrow, but everything
18:18 for the next 10 years is open.
18:19 We'll see.
18:20 >> Mickey, when you were asked about DA earlier,
18:22 you mentioned the stats of other coaches' careers.
18:25 But, what are some of the things he's done in the last two years,
18:28 or some of the qualities he has that led you to believe
18:30 that he can get the team back to the playoffs?
18:32 >> Yeah. Well, I -- you know, I think the things
18:37 that the head coach is responsible for, you know,
18:39 game day management, scheduling, all the things
18:42 that you guys don't see that I see,
18:44 or that we see internally, I feel good about.
18:46 And, yeah, there's certainly areas that he can improve in.
18:50 But, look, we've had a quarterback change.
18:54 We've had, you know, some things change in the last two
18:57 or three years.
18:57 And so, we've got to look at ourselves and say, "Okay,
19:01 what's our expectations?
19:03 Are they realistic?"
19:04 And, if we're not meeting those expectations,
19:07 what can we do differently?
19:08 You know, I don't believe that that's the head coach right now.
19:14 I like Dennis Salomon.
19:16 >> Offensive coordinator, do you share that with Derek Carr,
19:24 as far as his input, and what he thinks?
19:26 Or is it like, "Okay, you make the decision,
19:28 and then he has to accept it?"
19:30 Or is he involved in that?
19:31 >> Yeah, we don't ask our players to make decisions.
19:35 We don't.
19:35 It's not a burden.
19:39 That's not a burden that we put on them.
19:40 Now, we do talk to -- we talk to a lot of our veteran players
19:43 about the season, about the things that we expect from them.
19:46 And they should certainly have expectations from us.
19:49 But we're not asking them to do any evaluations of any kind.
19:52 >> I mean, just to kind of rephrase that a little bit.
19:54 Well, Derek Carr's, you know, whatever offensive coordinator
19:57 you go with, Derek's obviously got to be a big factor
19:59 in that decision, right?
20:01 Like, he's got to be able to work with that.
20:03 >> Well, look, when we make a hire, when Dennis makes a hire,
20:06 certainly he's going to make the hire that'll be --
20:09 that'll work for him.
20:11 But that's not -- that'll be our assessment.
20:13 That won't be -- we're not going to ask him
20:15 if he approves of A, B, or C, right?
20:18 Does that make sense?
20:20 >> When you guys do hire the OCA, will the OCA have input
20:23 on some of the openings?
20:23 Like, maybe guys that you want to bring with them?
20:25 How does that come about?
20:26 >> Yeah, we'll see where that goes.
20:27 >> If you do -- and again, things that are out there.
20:31 I know you can't talk about coaches,
20:32 but John Gruden's name keeps popping up.
20:34 How much of it has to be, you know him as a person,
20:37 but knowing the situation and what happened and how he feels
20:41 about it, just from a news perspective,
20:43 not talking about him here?
20:46 >> Yeah, it's a fair question, but I don't really want to talk
20:49 about any individual candidates for that role.
20:53 It's a fair question, but yeah,
20:56 we'll answer that when we hire.
21:02 >> How quickly do you expect that process to go?
21:04 Is it one where you would like to take a little bit more time
21:07 doing it, or is it, I would think,
21:08 another situation about a rapid approach?
21:10 >> Yeah, I think, look, one of the mistakes that our league
21:13 in general makes is, you know, we're in a rush and a race
21:16 to hire people because we're afraid of, you know,
21:19 someone else, you know, beating us to the draw.
21:21 I think that's a mistake.
21:22 I think the most important thing is the right guy
21:25 in the right situation.
21:26 Take your time.
21:27 Make sure it's a thoughtful, planned decision.
21:33 So we're going to go through the process,
21:36 and we're going to get the right hire.
21:38 We're not going to make the expedient hire.
21:40 >> Do you anticipate restructuring Derek Carr's
21:43 contract this off-season?
21:45 >> I don't know.
21:47 We're going to have to restructure a lot of contracts.
21:50 >> Yeah, but for him, too, I mean, like, in theory,
21:54 if you don't, you could move on after.
21:57 >> It just seems like with that one, there's a pretty big --
21:59 >> Yeah, well, that's all part of cap management.
22:01 >> If you just --
22:03 >> That we've got to deal with.
22:04 >> Sorry.
22:04 >> If you just follow up on the, you know, the length of time,
22:07 the process, the evaluations, you know,
22:10 just because it gets asked a lot,
22:11 why does it take as long as it does?
22:12 So you do kind of being intentional about all
22:14 that is a strength of this kind of institution
22:18 of taking your time, making sure you get the right decision.
22:20 >> So what's the question?
22:22 >> Is that something you use as strength in terms of, you know,
22:24 it's not necessarily, you know,
22:26 just kind of triple your thumbs, like, there's a process
22:28 that you go through and --
22:29 >> Yeah, I just think that, you know,
22:34 any decision of this magnitude, this has to be a thoughtful,
22:38 well-thought-out process, right?
22:40 And you have to, you know, look, there's an obvious group
22:44 of candidates, right?
22:45 But there's another group of candidates
22:47 that might not be quite so obvious that we need to make sure
22:49 that we take a look at, and we'll do that.
22:53 >> Have you always done that, Glover,
22:55 or is that something you learned?
22:56 >> I'm pretty deliberate.
22:56 I've always been deliberate.
22:58 I think that was one of Sean's complaints about me occasionally,
23:01 is that I'm too deliberate, and he's too impatient.
23:04 So it was a good match, right?
23:06 >> You had a couple people in your front office,
23:08 energy for advocacy.
23:09 >> Yeah.
23:09 >> Is that -- how are you kind of approaching that?
23:11 Do you anticipate any changes?
23:13 >> Yeah, I don't know.
23:14 Look, we've got great candidates inside our building,
23:17 Kai and Jeff, and even Michael Parrington.
23:20 And so we have some top flight executives in our building,
23:27 and I'm rooting for them to get an opportunity.
23:33 Although if they get one, I'll probably rule it, so.
23:37 >> Me, too.
23:38 I know Carolina announced they're interviewing Kai Harley,
23:41 and I think they kind of can't remember,
23:42 but it was announced or reported
23:43 that Jeff Ireland's interviewing with the Chargers.
23:45 >> Yeah.
23:46 >> Have they then asked for other interviews as well?
23:50 >> No, not that -- no, they haven't yet.
23:52 >> If I could go back just to Pete for a second.
23:55 Obviously, it's professional, but you've spent 18 years
23:58 with somebody who has a huge human component
24:01 and personal relationship there.
24:03 >> Yes.
24:03 >> Not that I want like the full Pete behind the curtain,
24:06 but like how emotional is that when you've been
24:08 through so much with somebody?
24:09 >> Yeah, it's really emotional.
24:10 Pete's such a -- he's a great coach.
24:13 Not a good coach.
24:14 He's a great coach, and he's done -- you know, I think --
24:18 listen, we had historically good offenses here
24:20 for a long period of time.
24:21 Pete was a much bigger part of that than he gets credit for.
24:26 Really brilliant.
24:30 You know, look, his first game as a play caller,
24:32 I think we scored 60 points.
24:33 So, yeah, it's emotional, and he's such a good person
24:41 and such a great representative of the organization
24:45 for all these years.
24:46 And it was emotional for me, that's for sure.
24:50 And it was emotional for a lot of people.
24:52 By the way, I'm chewing this gum because I have a cough,
24:55 and keep coughing.
24:56 >> Do you plan in place for --
24:59 I mean, I think Jeff's interviewing today.
25:00 >> Yeah.
25:01 >> And do you plan in place for lose one, lose two?
25:05 I mean, you don't want -- you want to, you know --
25:07 >> Yeah.
25:08 >> Proceed and be successful, but plan here if you lose both.
25:12 >> Yeah, I mean, again, that'll be a thoughtful,
25:17 intentional process if one or both go.
25:24 So, you know, no different than it was when Terry Fontenot went
25:29 to Atlanta and Ryan Pace went to Chicago.
25:31 We've got, you know, great people behind, you know,
25:37 those people, too.
25:38 So I'm really confident in the people we have in the building.
25:41 But that doesn't mean we won't look outside the building,
25:44 either.
25:44 >> What's your overall assessment
25:46 of the defense this season?
25:47 >> Yeah, I think it was, you know, a lot of good things,
25:49 some ups and downs.
25:50 It felt like we had some young players develop and improve,
25:54 and I'm excited.
25:56 I'm excited about the prospects for our defense.
25:59 I really am.
26:00 >> Nicky, you seem kind of fired up compared to some
26:04 of these other meetings.
26:06 >> Yeah.
26:06 >> You have a lot of challenges going forward.
26:10 >> Yeah.
26:10 >> Including the three-year trial from the playoffs.
26:13 >> Yeah.
26:14 >> How do you feel personally being the guy who's got
26:18 to steward the organization through all of these challenges?
26:20 >> Yeah, look, I'm excited about it.
26:21 I'm excited about the prospects of, you know,
26:25 the guys that are on the team and they're --
26:27 I'm excited about the willingness of all
26:32 of our people, players, coaches, staff, to look inward and say,
26:37 "Look, I've got to do better."
26:38 Yeah, including me.
26:44 And so it gets me fired up.
26:46 Look, I hate doing these press conferences.
26:48 You guys know that.
26:49 So typically, I'm very stoic and unenthused, right?
26:56 But I think we need enthusiasm.
27:00 I think we need, you know, a boost in energy
27:03 and excitement in our building.
27:05 And so that, again, you know, all that stuff starts with me.
27:08 >> Thank you so much.
27:09 I think -- sorry.
27:10 >> No, go ahead.
27:11 >> Nicky, how much do you appreciate
27:14 that Miss Gail Benson has an honor compared
27:17 to maybe other owners around the NFL
27:19 where they have no patience?
27:20 And whether it's the Eagles or Dallas
27:23 or whatever the team might be --
27:25 >> You can name them all.
27:26 I don't care.
27:26 >> Yeah, yeah.
27:26 But I mean, do you appreciate her ownership
27:29 and how she has their trust?
27:31 >> Yeah.
27:31 >> And we've done it as well.
27:33 >> Yeah, absolutely.
27:35 We just have the best owner in sports.
27:37 We just do.
27:38 And I felt that way about Tom Benson, too.
27:41 And Tom was more emotional.
27:43 Bobby, you know that.
27:44 And yet, man, he just gives us everything we need
27:50 to be successful.
27:50 So if we're not successful, it's not on her or it wasn't on him.
27:54 It was on us.
27:55 And that's all you can ask for in my role
27:58 and our coaches and our players.
28:01 You know, we -- there's never a --
28:03 it's never a no when we need something to help us win.
28:08 And so that's so valuable.
28:11 It's hard to even describe.
28:12 And we can look around at different franchises
28:16 and different sports and say, "Ah, you know,
28:20 the problem starts up here."
28:21 Well, it doesn't start up here with our owner.
28:23 She's fantastic.
28:24 >> Can I follow up on that, just speaking of money?
28:27 >> Yes.
28:27 >> There's a lot of coaching openings.
28:28 There's going to be a lot of assistant coaches in demand.
28:31 Does that play a factor?
28:33 Will that be something when you try
28:35 to lure an offensive coordinator here that --
28:36 >> Yeah, that won't be an issue.
28:38 >> Okay.
28:39 >> You talk about enthusiasm.
28:41 What are your thoughts on some of those games
28:42 where the fan base, you know, were booing
28:44 or sold their tickets to other fan bases?
28:47 And how do you get the fans back into it and --
28:50 >> Well, you have to win.
28:51 You have to perform well.
28:52 It's -- that's on us, you know.
28:54 And look, there's a little bit of a double-edged sword.
28:58 You know, we just watched the Detroit Lions in their season
29:01 and how fantastic that environment is and, you know,
29:05 winning for the first time in a long time.
29:06 We experienced that here, right?
29:08 We experienced it in '06, '07, '08, '09.
29:12 You raise the bar, right?
29:15 We raise the bar.
29:17 And that's a good thing.
29:19 And so now that we've raised the bar, we've got to meet it.
29:21 And if we're not meeting it, that's on us.
29:23 The only thing I really don't like is when we sell tickets
29:27 to the opposing team and allow, you know,
29:31 a big group in our building.
29:32 And look, that's popular here
29:34 because New Orleans is a destination, right?
29:35 When our opponents look at their schedule
29:39 and they see New Orleans, ah,
29:41 that's the trip I'm going on, right?
29:43 We understand that.
29:44 It's just -- it's part of the deal, part about --
29:47 of being in a great city like New Orleans.
29:50 So -- but in terms of booing, the crowd reaction, that's on us.
29:56 That's not -- that's not on the fans.
29:59 Look, if I was in this stand just a couple times,
30:02 I might have booed them, you know.
30:03 >> Maybe back to the question I asked about the age,
30:06 obviously that's 50-something divided by something.
30:09 But very clearly some core players,
30:12 almost everyone who's made an all-pro on this team,
30:14 DeMario Davis, Kim Jordan, Ryan Rabichak,
30:16 Tyron Mendenhall are in their 30s.
30:18 What does give you the confidence
30:20 that this roster is strong enough in guys in their 20s
30:24 to maintain that level?
30:26 >> DeMario Davis was all-pro.
30:28 He's 35 years old, 34 years old, you know.
30:30 Kim Jordan basically played on one leg for more
30:33 than half the season and was productive.
30:35 And so, you know, age is a number.
30:39 I get to say that because of my age.
30:42 It's more about the performance.
30:44 And so -- and I like some of these young guys
30:47 that have come along, you know, Alonte Taylor and Paulson Adibo
30:51 and Carl Granderson.
30:54 I mean, I can name a lot of players.
30:56 Eric McCoy, the receivers that we have.
31:00 There's a lot of really good things.
31:02 And look, these guys -- remember this around the league.
31:04 These guys are under contract for generally three years, right?
31:09 So it's not like you have them under contract for 15 years.
31:13 You have them under contract for three years at a time,
31:15 and then you make a decision.
31:16 And so that's just our league, you know.
31:19 That's what it's about.
31:20 So I'm comfortable with -- I mean, I don't feel
31:25 like we've got a particularly old team.
31:27 And usually, I don't know what --
31:29 I didn't see the one you're looking at, but usually the spread
31:32 between the oldest and the youngest is like 12 months, 13 months.
31:37 So it's not like it's -- you know, we've got a team that's got a bunch of 35-year-olds
31:42 and another one that's got a bunch of 23-year-olds.
31:44 >> What do you guys do after, like, Trevor Cunningham not playing,
31:47 Peyton Hurd, Turner being hurt, not playing, like, high draft to guys?
31:50 >> Yeah.
31:50 >> How does that affect your roster role and your approach?
31:52 >> Yeah, it affects it.
31:53 Listen, you can't -- you know, these injuries are --
31:59 I don't want to say coincidental, that's the wrong word,
32:02 but they're not controllable generally, you know.
32:05 They happen.
32:08 And look, I hate when it happens.
32:12 And, you know, Peyton, for example, was doing some really good things and got hurt again,
32:16 you know, so that's tough.
32:18 But it's not like he's trying to get hurt.
32:20 You know, Trevor Penning's had a couple injuries that have slowed their development.
32:24 So that's different than mis-evaluating the talent.
32:29 So I don't know how to answer it otherwise.
32:34 >> Is Trevor, like, at a point where you've got to have a contingency plan, maybe,
32:38 going forward because it is, like, a little uncertain, like, that confidence level?
32:42 >> Well, we have a contingency -- excuse me.
32:44 What's that called?
32:45 I mean, we have to have a contingency plan for everything.
32:49 So, you know, injuries are indiscriminate.
32:52 >> Mickey, when you look at, like, last offseason,
32:56 Turkey we got to play better against the run.
32:58 You have to be disappointed in that.
33:00 Were you thinking interior, David Sublian, you know, David Onyemada,
33:04 Lee Chaito and everything.
33:05 Seems like we took a step back in that regard where basically giving up four
33:09 and a half yards a run and obviously not running the ball as well as we wanted.
33:13 But that needed to be flipped, you know, as far as what we gave up for an actual average.
33:17 So how was your disappointment with us actually being able to stop the running system?
33:22 >> Yeah, look, I think you go into any season wanting to stop the run,
33:28 run first, right, and then pass second, generally.
33:32 But at the same token, you know, we wanted to improve in takeaways, right,
33:38 in our takeaway turnover ratio.
33:39 We did that.
33:40 We weren't as good in the red zone on either side of the ball as we've been in the past.
33:46 And yet I felt like, man, back half of the season we really improved
33:50 in that area pretty significantly.
33:52 So there's improvements that happened during the season, although the end result,
33:55 the end statistic may not be where you want to be.
33:58 So, you know, we're looking at all those areas and saying, okay, what did we do right?
34:02 Why did we do that?
34:05 And how can we improve on it?
34:07 And then we're looking at the things that we didn't do well that we have to improve on if we expect
34:14 to get a record and the results that we want.
34:17 >> I know.
34:18 >> It's a good question, though.
34:20 You know, we've got to look at every one of those single areas and say, ah,
34:24 we weren't as good as we expected to be.
34:26 Why?
34:26 >> What did you make of Michael Thomas this season?
34:28 >> Excuse me?
34:30 >> What did you make of Michael Thomas this season?
34:31 >> Ah, look, I thought he was doing well and really excited about where he was.
34:35 And then, look, we had another injury.
34:36 It's really difficult for us and for Mike to have to go through that.
34:41 He's such a great competitor.
34:43 So, you know, he wants to win so badly, wants to be out there so badly.
34:48 And, you know, for him to get hurt again was difficult.
34:52 >> And, Nicky, with that being said, it seemed like the fans were led to believe
34:55 at least the last maybe couple of games that Marshall Attenborough
34:59 and Michael Thomas would have been available.
35:01 >> Yeah.
35:02 >> So was it just their injuries?
35:04 >> No, I said if they were available, they would have played.
35:07 >> Okay.
35:07 >> I know why Dennis was asked this question.
35:11 It's been a long time since we've heard about a primary player who had only the Superdome.
35:16 Do you think what Eric went through was a little too much from the fans?
35:20 >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean, that's the nature of the quarterback position, though, right?
35:24 You get more credit than you probably deserve, and you get more blame.
35:28 It's what I said at the beginning is that the easy and lazy thing to do
35:33 with results is to blame the coach or the quarterback.
35:36 Yeah, that's what fans do.
35:42 That's what the media does.
35:44 That's what -- I mean, I hear ex-players doing it, so -- and they don't really know.
35:49 >> A week ago, Dennis said he thought you guys were close.
35:54 You're getting back to wherever you wanted to go.
35:58 Do you agree, Kurt?
36:00 >> Well, I think -- close is a -- I think we have the potential to be a really good team.
36:10 Now, I thought that coming into the season as well, and --
36:13 but there's some things that we have to do collectively and individually to get there,
36:20 and, you know, actions are going to speak a lot louder than any words,
36:25 so we'll see how the offseason goes.
36:27 But, yes, I'm excited about the potential of our team.
36:31 But we've got to do it.
36:34 We've got to perform.
36:35 >> With Dennis, are there schematic things you've been impressed
36:37 by during his tenure here in terms of this past season?
36:40 >> Yeah. Dennis is a fantastic defensive coach.
36:44 Fantastic.
36:45 >> Making a reference at the end of the day, saying you have some ground to make up in the cap,
36:51 you kind of said in the years past you want to maybe look at how you're doing that.
36:56 >> Yeah.
36:57 >> Is there going to need to be a little bit of a change in how you operate just
37:01 with the management of it and with some of the structures and board meetings and stuff?
37:07 You know, just some things like that, how many of you guys are carrying all that?
37:10 >> I don't know the changes of the right word.
37:13 We've just got to be conscious of, you know, making up some ground in the next few years,
37:22 and there's different ways to do that, so.
37:25 >> You know, and I've said this to you guys before,
37:29 you sometimes have to look beyond the numbers.
37:31 You have to look at, okay, how many guys are under contract?
37:34 What's the roster?
37:35 Where are your core players?
37:36 There's lots of different things to look at.
37:40 You know, if you're $50 million over the cap and you have 30 players under contract,
37:44 that's different than being $50 million over the cap and having 70 players under contract.
37:49 So there's just a lot of different variables.
37:52 >> With Dennis, sorry if this is dumb, but, you know, you listed off Belichick
37:58 and the records there, their first few seasons.
38:00 Does his Oakland experience just not matter at all?
38:02 Because it would be tough.
38:03 >> Yeah, it matters.
38:03 >> If you throw that in, it would be year five rather than the first few years.
38:06 >> Yeah, it matters.
38:07 You know, it matters.
38:09 You know, where you're at matters.
38:10 The experience.
38:11 Look, I think having any head coaching experience is valuable.
38:16 You learn a lot of things, you know, your first time around.
38:18 Again, you have to look beyond just the record.
38:22 You know, what was the circumstances when he was in Oakland?
38:24 You know, they basically were way over the cap.
38:27 They had to tear down the team.
38:28 You know, the quarterback situation.
38:30 There was a lot of variables there that -- and he was given a short amount of time.
38:35 So you got to look at all those variables.
38:38 >> Have you ever felt the need to have a meeting with the entire team at the end
38:44 of the season like you did this year?
38:46 Has that ever happened before?
38:48 >> I've had meetings with the team before.
38:51 It's been a while.
38:52 But I felt like there were some things that needed to be said to the players.
38:56 Just like I think there's things that need to be said to the coaching staff
39:00 and to our football operations staff.
39:02 And that's going to be said, you know.
39:04 Again, I think maybe we've gotten a little too comfortable over the last few years.
39:11 And so I want to make it uncomfortable.
39:13 >> How does that vary with -- I mean, using that expression, we've gotten too comfortable.
39:21 And also, you guys made it very clear.
39:23 You didn't think the culture needed to change.
39:25 You, you know, kept most of the staff after -- like, you know,
39:29 what's the pros and cons of that?
39:31 >> Yeah, well, you know, you're co-mingling terms.
39:33 >> Well, I'm asking --
39:35 >> Culture is --
39:35 >> What is --
39:36 >> You know, culture means a lot of things to a lot of different people.
39:38 We've got great people in the building.
39:40 So I want to make that really clear.
39:41 We've got really good guys, great representatives of the organization, hardworking.
39:48 There's a lot of really good things.
39:49 But there's some other things that I felt like, you know, we need to clean up.
39:53 And that we've, you know, let -- I don't want to say slide.
40:01 That's not the right word.
40:02 But a few things that kind of have deteriorated over the last four or five years.
40:07 You know, kind of core beliefs.
40:08 And again, that's my responsibility.
40:10 That's why I spoke to the players.
40:13 And look, the DA spoke to the players as well.
40:15 So it's not anything different in terms of what the head coach does.
40:21 >> What was last week?
40:23 I know assistant coaches were away from the building.
40:26 Was it you and Dennis and some other core decision makers kind of evaluating what are the major changes we want
40:32 to focus on first and offense came away as well?
40:35 >> Well, look, last week is -- the first thing, I don't think you ever make really good decisions
40:43 in the aftermath of a season when it's still emotional, right?
40:47 So that's, you know, we're giving the staff off.
40:51 And everybody was really off a good part of last week.
40:54 But it gives Dennis a chance to, you know, get some thoughts and me.
40:59 And, you know, it wasn't anything formal.
41:02 >> And -- but the main takeaway, obviously, you said it'll bear on the results.
41:07 And we'll see what happens.
41:08 I mean, since the offensive changes, I mean, does it feel like that is kind
41:12 of one of the major things you've identified that could change the portions of this team?
41:15 >> Yeah, obviously.
41:16 Yeah.
41:17 >> Is there any one game this season that you look back and like maybe regret or think
41:22 like that game could have changed the course of the season?
41:25 If you think back, right?
41:26 >> Yeah. Yeah, there's a few things that happened that fourth quarter out of our control
41:34 that I didn't like that might have changed the outcome of that game.
41:39 But there's always things.
41:41 There's always a play here, a play there.
41:43 I can talk -- it's a one game, right?
41:49 Changes the entire course and narrative of the season.
41:51 >> When that's happening at the time, do you think that like it --
41:55 >> Yeah, I do because I've experienced it before.
41:57 >> Right. I don't know if it's not really the season you think, well,
42:00 this could come back later.
42:01 >> I said to someone, you know, the last week we had to have certain things happen to --
42:05 for us to get in the playoffs, right?
42:06 We handled our part.
42:08 But I've been in that situation in my career probably four or five times
42:15 and not one time has it ever happened like you wanted it to happen, right?
42:18 So I hate getting to the point where you're relying on someone else to, you know,
42:24 do their job for you or do our job for us.
42:27 So we can't put ourselves in that situation.
42:29 >> And then when you watch Tampa do what they did in the playoffs,
42:33 does that add to another element of it or --
42:35 >> Yeah. Yes.
42:38 They played a great game and have become a good football team.
42:44 They've won a lot of games in the last, you know, six, seven weeks.
42:46 It's a credit to them and a credit to their coaching staff and players.
42:50 >> I keep interrupting.
42:52 Sorry. When you say too comfortable and make it uncomfortable, when you have like a body
42:57 of work like you did and combine the history, is that kind of like maybe an '08
43:01 when Garrett Gibbs left and Greg Williams got here and a '13 when like Lance and Roman,
43:06 is that kind of what you're alluding to that maybe a little bit of a change
43:10 or is that just a parallel that I just kind of made up?
43:12 >> No. I think that's -- you know, there's some similarities there.
43:15 Yeah. Yeah.
43:16 What's the old thing about keep doing the same thing is the definition of insanity, right?
43:25 So, yeah, we got to do things a little differently.
43:27 We expect a different result.
43:28 >> Yeah. I've got just a little more of a lead question.
43:31 I'm officiating headlines a lot this year.
43:34 I'm just wondering -- >> I'm trying not to talk about officiating.
43:37 >> From your perspective, that was --
43:38 >> At least critically.
43:39 >> -- one of the most high-profile gaffes in recent history.
43:43 >> I'm sorry.
43:43 Say that again.
43:44 >> From your experience as someone who went --
43:45 >> Yeah.
43:46 >> -- who was a victim of this basically, but one of the most high-profile mistakes,
43:49 admitted mistakes, where would you say generally --
43:53 this is not a specific call this year against your team or anything like that,
43:56 but where would you say -- how would you say you feel generally about the evolution
44:00 of officiating since then to now?
44:02 Is it disappointing, or do you hope there would have been more changes designed
44:09 to minimize errors, to minimize the headlines?
44:12 >> Oh, man.
44:16 I'm not going to comment on that, Brett.
44:20 I'd like to, but, you know, I have some thoughts, and I've shared those with the league,
44:24 and, you know, it's their responsibility.
44:27 But it might be great.
44:30 >> How critical do you think it is this year to get it finally fixed
44:37 and get back to the playoffs?
44:39 >> Yeah. I think every year is important to get back to the playoffs.
44:46 That's the standard.
44:47 That's the first standard, right, of a successful season, make the playoffs.
44:50 And so if you don't make the playoffs,
44:53 then I don't think you can say you've had a successful season.
44:56 So we didn't have a successful season this year.
44:58 You know, we want to have a successful season next year.
45:01 So, and we'll evaluate next season when next season's here.
45:04 >> The idea of a window, as you were kind of talking about earlier,
45:08 do you guys internally see that?
45:10 You mentioned like player contracts in like three-year terms.
45:13 Like do you guys view kind of a window for how this roster's built as well,
45:17 or taking advantage of a window?
45:19 >> Well, I think you have to -- I probably wouldn't describe it like that.
45:25 I think you have to assess your team and have realistic expectations.
45:29 But I think making the playoffs is a realistic expectation.
45:34 I've said that.
45:35 That was my realistic expectation this year.
45:38 And so we're close, but not close enough.
45:41 >> Thank you.
45:43 I apologize.
45:44 I have a really bad tooth.
45:46 And I have a desk one.
45:47 >> You want me to pull it for you?
45:49 >> When I leave, it's going to be clunky as hell.
45:50 And I apologize.
45:52 Goodbye.
45:52 >> Goodbye.
45:53 >> With Joel Thomas taking the -- or headed to the Giants, first,
45:59 was that a spot running back coach that you all were considering making a change at already?
46:04 And also, just what are the --
46:05 >> That was Joel's decision to, you know, pursue that.
46:10 You have to ask him about, you know, the reasons behind that.
46:15 Joel's a fantastic coach.
46:17 He did a fantastic job.
46:18 Yeah.
46:19 >> You could have blocked it, though.
46:22 Was it just --
46:22 >> No, I don't feel that's fair to do.
46:25 Look, when someone's been here for a good period of time and done a great job,
46:29 they have the right to, you know, self-determination.
46:32 So generally speaking, that's how we approach it.
46:38 >> Nick, have you talked with Dennis about this, that if you're watching a number
46:41 of games, how you see poor tackling?
46:44 How do you practice tackling?
46:47 >> Yeah.
46:47 >> You know, or did you see it throughout the league?
46:51 >> Yeah. Look, that's a good question.
46:53 I think that that's one of the things that we need to assess,
46:57 is how are we approaching the offseason?
46:59 How are we approaching training camp?
47:01 How are we approaching the preseason games?
47:03 Because I felt like we got off to a really slow start in a number of those fundamental areas.
47:10 And so is that a result of the way we're practicing?
47:14 Is that a result of the way we play the preseason games?
47:17 And look, it's hardest on your O line, D line, right?
47:21 It's hardest on them because that's a, you know, it's contact sport in pads.
47:27 And so what's the right amount of practice and preparation for those situations?
47:36 Same thing with tackling, you know.
47:37 You don't do a lot of tackling in training camp or certainly in the preseason
47:45 if you're not playing a lot.
47:46 So these are all the things.
47:47 You know, look, I was telling someone, you know, when I was in Seattle in 1983,
47:52 we had I think we had 60 three-hour padded practices for training camp,
47:57 something like that.
47:58 I mean, you experienced it.
47:59 Now we have 17.
48:01 And they're not minimum three hours.
48:04 And so, look, it's a different amount of preparation.
48:07 I'm not saying that that was right to do it that way,
48:09 but the preparation time is just different.
48:11 And so we have to adjust to that.
48:13 And I think that's a hard, really hard thing about coaching in this era of football
48:20 is that do we have the right amount of time to get those fundamentals squared away
48:31 and ready to go week one of the regular season?
48:35 And look, I don't have the answers for it.
48:37 I'm not a coach.
48:38 So that's a coach's responsibility.
48:41 But it's something that we need to talk about and examine.
48:44 Are we preparing the right way?
48:46 You know, relative to the rules that exist.
48:50 Does that examination include potentially like, I'll be counting in for training camp
48:56 like Greenbrier or something like that?
48:57 Sure. Yeah.
48:59 All that's open for discussion.
49:03 Yes.
49:03 As of right now, you only have two picks in the first four rounds,
49:09 maybe a couple of picks from your way.
49:11 Is that an area maybe where you seek to add to that pool just to kind of help with the financial flexibility of the roster?
49:20 Yeah, sure.
49:26 Yeah.
49:26 Yeah, because look, you know, when you have a young player on a rookie contract,
49:33 that's a different cost and cap than having a veteran player so that it becomes part of the elements.
49:38 But we want to put the best roster together that we can put together.
49:43 And I've always believed, you know, you can acquire players in all three forms, really.
49:52 Free agents, draft picks, trades.
49:54 And so we're going to look at all those areas.
49:57 And if we can improve our roster, that's what we'll do.
50:00 Making all the same lines as the question about practice and being able to practice, you know, full contact and things like that.
50:08 Cam Jordan talked the other day about the changes in the technology around the league and how, you know,
50:15 the convenience of being able to study film at home.
50:18 Yeah.
50:18 But then the complications that come with that as well.
50:20 How would you measure sort of the technological advances of the league in balancing the conveniences,
50:27 but also some of the problematic things that can come with that?
50:30 Yeah, I think that's part of the equation, you know, is that...
50:37 Look, when somebody wins a championship, right?
50:40 One of the very first things you always hear is, "Man, we had great chemistry on our team.
50:44 We loved each other.
50:45 You know, we played for each other."
50:47 There's a trust in a relationship, right?
50:50 And yet, today we have, you know, and we're all guilty of it, particularly young people.
50:58 They're at dinner and they're on their cell phone, right?
51:01 They're on their texting.
51:03 They're not conversing and developing that relationship.
51:07 And so I think that we have to be conscious of that.
51:10 It's hard to develop chemistry and trust if you don't know your teammates well.
51:16 And so, you know, 15 years ago or 20 years ago, there'd be a group of guys in the position meeting room,
51:26 watching film together after practice, right?
51:27 Bobby, I'm sure you did that with your receivers and some of the other guys on your team.
51:32 And you're conversing, you're watching the tape, you're watching your opponent, you're talking about it,
51:37 you're sharing, you know, information.
51:41 And today, you know, they go home with their iPad a lot of times and do that same study.
51:45 So they're putting in work and effort, but it's just not the same.
51:48 And so that's one of the challenges today.
51:51 And so we have to, you know, have a right balance between the technology and then developing the relationships and trust.
52:01 Do you have, as an organization, the ability to, forgive the question, I'm just thinking about it,
52:07 the ability to maybe mandate certain things?
52:11 Not really.
52:12 You know, everything's voluntary these days, but here's what's mandatory is a commitment to winning, right?
52:21 That's what's mandatory.
52:22 I was kind of curious about the same thing he was asking.
52:25 So it's basically asking the players to do extra, I guess.
52:29 So you can't say you have to come in and do extra film study because they've already had their film study in their normal meetings, right?
52:36 Yeah.
52:36 So does that fall to, like, the team captains to organize that or even leadership, specific groups or whatnot?
52:45 Is that entirely a player driven thing?
52:47 I think it's everybody.
52:49 It's, you know, what do you want out of your career?
52:53 What do you want as a player, as a coach?
52:55 Me, what do we want out of this?
52:58 And it's what I said before, right?
53:00 We all raise our hand when we say we want to win.
53:03 And we all raise our hand and say, we'll do whatever it takes to win.
53:06 But then you have to do it, right?
53:08 And a lot of these things that you're talking about, you have to do if you want to have a successful team.
53:14 And so, yeah, it's simple as that, right?
53:18 You've got to work on your craft.
53:21 It's not a part-time career.
53:25 You've got to work on your craft.
53:26 And you've got to be thinking about that in some way, shape or form 24/7.
53:29 Especially if you don't think the other 31 teams are doing that.
53:35 What gives you, you know, the NFL is so close.
53:38 The margin for victory is so narrow.
53:41 What are we doing differently?
53:45 What are we doing better than everybody else?
53:47 It's not just, hey, the roster is better.
53:49 That didn't happen very often.
53:51 It's the teams that do the things necessary to win.
53:58 And there's lots of them.
53:59 There's lots of things.
54:00 >> It sounds like it's not to diminish it to a, like a quality over quantity kind of a thing.
54:07 But it feels like even if you're doing the film study away individually, it's a different quality
54:12 of work than doing it in a group, sharing, doing things like that.
54:16 Is that, is my assessment of that, like is that accurate?
54:20 Or am I?
54:20 >> Yeah, I just had to get right back there and just done it.
54:23 So ask him.
54:24 But I think, Bobby, I see you nodding.
54:28 I think you agree with me.
54:29 Is it that there's things that you have to be committed to do.
54:33 And it's, again, it's not mandatory things.
54:36 It's not, there's not a consequence.
54:38 There's not a consequence for not doing them.
54:43 But here's the thing.
54:44 Look, none of it's mandatory, right?
54:46 And if we do every single thing, it doesn't guarantee that we're going to win.
54:50 But if we don't, it kind of guarantees that you're not.
54:53 >> Mickey, how do you feel like, it seems like this is the NFL goal where we're at right now.
54:59 You can look on, that was over half the league.
55:03 I don't know, I think it might have been 11, 12 teams, whatever.
55:06 We need like seven or eight or eight and seven.
55:09 Then you have, everybody looks more to 49ers.
55:12 Imagine looking to Ravens.
55:13 But is that ideal?
55:16 Because all the fan bases, everybody wants to win.
55:18 Everybody's not going to win.
55:20 And it's every year at least six, seven, eight coaches get fired.
55:24 And that's never going to change.
55:25 Because everybody wants to win.
55:27 It's demanding.
55:27 But you think that's good, the parity where everybody's hovering around 500?
55:33 >> Well, my perspective's a little different in that, look,
55:42 I was in the league before free agency, you know, existed, right?
55:45 So you build a good roster and a good team,
55:47 and then you can keep it together for a long period of time.
55:50 And if you build a really good roster and you weren't losing anybody, look,
55:54 you had these teams that year in and year out for a good period of time were really good.
55:58 And the rest of us are trying to catch up, right?
56:01 Now it's just different in that it's hard to keep an entire squad, a good roster together
56:08 for more than three or four years because of free agency.
56:11 I think that's a good thing.
56:12 I think every year, every city and every fan base wants to have the chance to win.
56:17 And I think we have that in our league, and I think that's a good thing.
56:21 But the result of that is you have a few teams that haven't got their roster
56:26 to the point where they can win yet.
56:28 You've got a few teams at the very top that are really good,
56:32 and then you've got the rest of us in the middle right now fighting to be, you know,
56:36 11 and 6 or 7 and 10, yeah, right.
56:41 So, and there's a lot of variables within that, right?
56:45 Yeah, I look for the most popular sport for a reason.
56:50 That's one of the reasons.
56:52 >> If you kind of, kind of following up on that, can you explain just your personal philosophy
56:59 or your, the way you look at it when you're constantly trying to,
57:03 trying to be competitive every year instead of, instead of taking this and looking
57:06 at like a hard reset, blow everything up, you know, and wanting to extend the,
57:11 that kind of thing?
57:13 >> I don't know if I can explain it.
57:19 >> Yeah, just why is it important?
57:21 >> Look, I look at, I look at things, you know, glass half full.
57:24 I look at a roster and a team and say, man, if A, B, and C happen, we can be really good.
57:30 And if it doesn't, or you have some injuries, or you get some calls that don't go your way,
57:36 then it goes the other direction.
57:38 And look, we can point to these last three seasons, nine and eight, seven and ten,
57:45 what was the year before, nine and eight?
57:47 >> Yeah.
57:47 >> And say, man, there was three games there that could have easily went the other way,
57:52 and now we're talking about 12 win seasons, right?
57:54 And so, you know, I think we've got a good roster, I do.
58:03 And I think that, but we got to do some things better.
58:07 >> I'm afraid I didn't answer the question, but.
58:10 >> That's all right.
58:11 It was great.
58:12 >> All right.
58:13 Thank you guys.
58:14 >> Thank you.