Robbie Chosen NFL Free Agent on Mental Health wellness, rebuilding reputation on & off the field, life changing moment, learning from Tyreek Hill in Miami and what's next for the wide receiver

In partnership with Fanatics, we bring you an episode today that is important for us all to takee a listen... Continuing the important conversation around Mental Health, Ryan, Fred, and Channing sit down with Robbie Chosen, previously known as Robbie Anderson, on his 31st birthday, the moment he marks as a new start for the NFL Free Agent. Robbie's career statistics speak volumes about his journey—having started as an undrafted free agent in 2016 to acquiring 4,000 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns, Robbie's impact on the field is undeniable. In an unguarded and honest conversation, the guys delve deep into Robbie's rollercoaster career path and reflect on his tough upbringing and early years from hard family circumstances to personal decisions to his growth. Robbie describes what it was like growing up without a father in a place full of negative temptations, and the guys ask about how he made it to the league despite the hardships around him. He talks about the moments where his path became cloudy, like being kicked out of college or having harsh sideline interactions, but puts a pinpoint on the ways in which he developed out of the labels people had for him. The former 1,000-yard receiver still says he has years on the field left in him, and Ryan touches on his admiration for how Robbie is changing his generational curses into blessings. Even with his name changes, Robbie has solidified his identity as a person and a player, but by leaning on his values and faith, he also describes his true definition of success. On a day that's all about personal introspection, Robbie takes a moment to reflect not only on his past but also on his aspirations for the future and legacy as a father, husband and teammate. New episodes drop on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. ET and Fridays at 3:30 p.m ET on YouTube, with audio available on all streaming platforms. New York City, come meet us at Fanatics Fest NYC! We’ll be recording our podcast LIVE with some special guests, signing autographs, meeting fans, taking photos and more. We’re excited to be at FFNYC alongside some of the biggest names in sports such as Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Kevin Durant, Sabrina Ionescu, and more. FFNYC is happening August 16 –18, 2004 at the Javits Center. Visit https://fanaticsfest.com to learn more and buy your tickets! https://bit.ly/3yw2qAm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Speaker 00

  Flowing ad budget on metrics that look great till the CFO sees them? That's bull spend. And marketers are calling it out in Dashboard Confessions.

• 0:09Speaker 01

  I remember telling my boss, "It'll be good for the brand," when leads were slow. Yeah, it wasn't.

• 0:17Speaker 00

  Cut the bull spend. LinkedIn lets you target by company, job title, and more. Advertise on LinkedIn. Spend $250 on your first campaign and get a $250 credit. Go to LinkedIn.com/campaign. Terms and conditions apply.

• 0:30Channing Crowder?

  Hey, y'all. I'm so excited to make this announcement. Fanatics Fan Fest NYC.

• 0:35Ryan Clark?

  It's the first of its kind. A three-day fan event where sports, collecting, and pop culture collide.

• 0:41Fred Taylor?

  August 16th through the 18th at the Javits Center. Meet us there.

• 0:44Ryan Clark?

  We're gonna be there recording live right there on stage. Signing autographs, taking pictures with fans, and much more. We may even kiss babies.

• 0:51Fred Taylor?

  They're bringing the biggest sports podcasts from around the world, so you fans can be a part of this experience.

• 0:57Channing Crowder?

  We will be sharing the stage with some of the greatest icons and athletes of all time.

• 1:01Ryan Clark?

  Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, Sabrina Ionescu, Allen Iverson.

• 1:05Fred Taylor?

  Eli and Peyton Manning will all be there. And we're gonna share a lot of stories and laughs. Make sure you'll be there.

• 1:10Channing Crowder?

  Tickets are on sale right now. You gotta visit FanaticsFest.com.

• 1:14Ryan Clark?

  To learn more and buy your tickets. We hope to see you there.

• 1:18Channing Crowder?

  What up, brother?

• 1:21Channing Crowder?

  Good to see you, bro.

• 1:22Fred Taylor?

  What up, boy? How you doing, family? Good to see you. What's up, Fred? Good to see you, dawg. All right, now.

• 1:29Speaker 05

  Hold up.

• 2:03Ryan Clark?

  Man, welcome to The Pivot. Appreciate it. This is Robbie Chosen now, correct? We'll get to the name changes at some point. This is Fred Taylor, Channing Crowder. I'm Ryan Clark. Welcome to The Pivot, part of the Fanatics family. You know, man, this show is about... Journeys, right? This show is about like where people come from. It's cool to be doing it here in Miami because this is part of your story. But, you know, a big thing and a big reason we like to do these shows in May, and you see Freddie T-shirt about mental health, is because this is Mental Health Awareness Month. And we started our first three-man show of the month just checking on each other, asking if we were okay, if there's anything that we could do for one another.

• 2:47Ryan Clark?

  So I think I start the same place with you. How are you doing right now?

• 2:52Speaker 06

  I'm doing great, dawg. I can't lie, you know? I'm blessed, you know what I'm saying? And I'm doing good. Appreciate that. How about yourself?

• 3:02Ryan Clark?

  Oh, shoot. We just had a whole conversation about that, man, a couple of weeks ago. I'm excellent, first off, but I think it's still about evolution. It's still about growth. It's about understanding that we're never a finished product and life won't stop lifing. Just when you think you have it, it'll be another curveball. There's people around you that are affected in different ways. And you know, as a man, a lot of times it's our responsibilities to also help people through those. And so I think that's just what I'm focusing on. But for you, man, someone who was born close to MetLife, grew up in Florida, you know, had a mom, and I think one of the coolest things I've seen was when you got an opportunity to buy your mother a car.

• 3:44Ryan Clark?

  But you mentioned you guys had talks, but whether the lights was cut off, whether the car was raggedy, like your mom always had a very positive outlook on continuing to get through things. How did that affect you growing up?

• 3:59Speaker 06

  Yeah, you know, it was tough. Even when I was younger, it was a lot of instability for me, you know what I'm saying? And now I'm to the point in life where I can understand that. But, you know, a lot of it really wasn't her fault, you know what I'm saying? But... Only thing, not only thing, but the main thing she always instilled in me was that she didn't want me to grow up and have to struggle. You know, and I saw firsthand, she was very transparent, like it wasn't like she hid things for me, from me. Like, I remember walking out, going to school, car gone, her breaking down, but still making sure I get to school and figuring it out. You know what I'm saying? And working two, three jobs, doing all she can to have me in sports and in something positive, you know what I'm saying?

• 4:40Speaker 06

  Even when I was young, she would fight so hard to try and keep me away from certain environments and certain things. I didn't understand it at that time, but it's obviously mature now, I see what she was trying to protect me from.

• 4:52Channing Crowder?

  Your upbringing, like, I say the internet, bruh. You see the jumping around, you see different places, you see the different, the, uh... I talked to you a number of times. We done sat and talked for thirty minutes, and I know you were a talented dude. And then I see in college, you had the ineligibility stuff and all that stuff, bruh, like, could you explain to me? Because usually I can look it up. There ain't much on your upbringing. There ain't much on what you just spoke about of like, where did Robbie come from, where the chosen convert, but like, the upbringing from you coming up through the ranks? Like, I, I, I was interested to know, like, your path, to be honest.

• 5:28Speaker 06

  Yeah, I mean, I was always smart. I just didn't always apply myself, you know, and I was stubborn, you know? But it was, a lot of it too, now that I've grown to the point, I had a lot of trauma from my childhood. And it took me to get to this point in my life to understand that. And one of the biggest things with me, I had a lot of buildup anger, but sports was my getaway. That was my therapy, you know what I'm saying? But I didn't listen, you know? My life could have been a lot easier if I would have just did the right thing and just listened. But I didn't have that father figure to implement that. And it was like with my mom, I got to a point where, especially to me being mixed and me being a black man, there's certain thing.

• 6:08Speaker 06

  And not a black man, me being mixed and, you know, being black, it was hard for me to certain things connect with, with her. Certain things she just can't understand in a sense, just being transparent. So that's where some of my struggles came from in a sense. But, you know, looking back, if I would have just listened and did the right things, life would have been so much smoother.

• 6:26Ryan Clark?

  Like, that's a very interesting conversation, right? You talk about being...

• 6:32Ryan Clark?

  Biracial and my oldest daughter is half white. And she was raised with me and my wife who is black. And much of her tendencies, much of her cultures, much of her likes and dislikes are very much of African American. Right? Because that's where she grew up. That was the cousin she was around. Those were the people she was around. Different conversations I could have with her about being a black woman or conversations my wife could have with her about being a black woman. She was in the household for that because whether I could look at you and say, okay, he's light skinned. He may not be all black or whatever it is. To the world, you're a black man. To the authorities, you're a black man. To the criminal justice system, you're a black man.

• 7:17Ryan Clark?

  Where did you go then to get those conversations or to get that advice or to learn? Was there anybody there for you?

• 7:26Speaker 06

  I had it, but then I didn't. You know what I'm saying? Like it was like more so of people that came into my mom's life and then those things, you know, didn't work out in a sense, but a lot of my discipline came through sports, you know, and then sadly, not getting in trouble in school. Like my mom doing what she could, you know, to discipline me, but that's where like that father discipline came from was through sports or, you know, getting in trouble in school in a sense.

• 7:54Fred Taylor?

  Being an undrafted free agent, did that increase the chip on your shoulder that you've had?

• 8:01Speaker 06

  Yeah, definitely. You know, I was thankful to have the opportunity, but I remember being at practice, like going through training camp. Like I was just mad, you know what I'm saying? Like I was just pissed off because I knew I didn't even get a chance to go to the combine. You know, and I knew like obviously my talent, I deserved that, but you know, circumstances were what they were, but you know, that was, that was always my thing. Just taking, that was like releasing my anger.

• 8:30Ryan Clark?

  You say anger twice already. Well, I'm biracial. My momma white, daddy black. They got divorced when I was nine. I was a black man, living with a white woman in Atlanta. Like you say the anger and you said something about trauma, like I knew the struggle.

• 8:47Channing Crowder?

  You know what I'm saying? But like I wasn't angry about it. Like I understood the struggle. I understood like, you know, we in, we outside by the pool. And they talking about, yeah, you know, they, they, they calling my mama names. And it's just like, yeah, we good. You know what I'm saying? Was it from having a white mama? Where, where did that anger come from?

• 9:06Speaker 06

  Just not having that father figure, you know, like that consistent bond. You know what I'm saying? Like I would see my dad, like I'd go up to New Jersey and see him. You know what I'm saying? And he was trying to pursue his career. So I'd be in the house of my grandmother. God bless her, God bless the dead, you know? But even when I would go there, we wouldn't really have that, you know, that vibe like, like that. Like we did, but it was always limited. So that's where a lot of my anger stemmed from, like wanting to have that bond with a father. With your father or a father figure? I mean, my father and then who I did have that father figure with. A situation happened with him and my mom and then he was separated. They were, they were separated. So it was like, it's just always kind of like that letdown, you know?

• 9:47Ryan Clark?

  You said your father was pursuing a career. What was the career he was pursuing?

• 9:51Speaker 06

  Music.

• 9:52Ryan Clark?

  Music. And I ask that because those sorts of careers aren't guarantees. Those sorts of careers don't necessarily love you back the way you love them all the time. And continuing to pursue those, there are some times where the home is not tended to. Or whether it's the children, your loved one, your spouses, don't necessarily get the attention that they deserve. When Fred asked you about being an undrafted free agent, I think self-awareness is important. I was, I was an undrafted free agent and, you know, the blessings of God and grace and mercy. I played 13 years, but I understood the struggle of it, right?

• 10:35Ryan Clark?

  Like the, you're not getting as many reps as the other guys early on. You feel like you constantly have to prove you're good enough. But I also looked back at my college career and said, okay, this year in my senior year, was I going out too much? Was I trying to mess with too many women? Was I focused enough to go work out and hit the weight room before practice? How did you look back on your college career? The mishaps with grades and being at home for parts of that? And say that those things played into why you weren't drafted?

• 11:07Speaker 06

  Nah, definitely. You know, I take full accountability, you know what I'm saying? Like, if I would've handled my schoolwork, none of that would've happened, you know? And if I wouldn't have been one foot in, one foot out, none of that would've happened. If I would've been a hun- like, I look back. The biggest thing I wish I would've did when I was in college is the times that I struggled or I worried about this or was confused about whatever I was going through. I wish I would've just read the Bible and just prayed and just stayed still, you know? And when I first went to college, I kinda was in a shell in a sense. And to myself, and you know, I let temptation and, you know, certain people trying to hang out, trying to be around, and those are things that started pulling me off track. But, you know, I take full accountability for not handling what I should've handled.

• 11:53Fred Taylor?

  Yeah, I think that's where it starts. You know, we've all been young. We've all lived the college experience. We've seen a lot of the things through the same lens. The reason I asked you about having a chip on your shoulder, you mentioned your upbringing, or you mentioned your father. You can develop this like a callus. You know, I remember when you had the full grill and you changed your name from Robbie to with a Y, to Robbie with an I, to Chosen. On the outside looking in, it was seen that you're trying to run from something. You know, not in a bad sense, maybe to run to something better, you know, a different identity, where you're trying to forget about the past. Understand that this is who I am, but this is where I want to go and who I want to be.

• 12:38Fred Taylor?

  Am I far off? Like, help me kinda figure that part out.

• 12:41Speaker 06

  You're pretty much on point, and I think that that's definitely what it was. You know, a lot of it, you know, I was trying to put on for where I was from, you know? But that doesn't correlate with my NFL goals, you know? And I made it out of that, and you know, that's part of what it was, you know? And... It was the environment that I was surrounded in, the influence, but you know, I've grown from that. But that is part of what the name change, you know, stems from. And then even deeper to, you know, I feel like I broke a lot of generational curses, but I developed a lot of generational blessings. And I want to pass that down to my seed, them to step into what I created and not what I overcame in a sense.

• 13:23Ryan Clark?

  You know, you say you have generational blessings and you want to pass those things down. Is it more so, okay, in the change in the name, now my lineage starts with me? Is that how you see it?

• 13:34Speaker 06

  Yeah, like who I've been re, you know, I believe I've been reborn through Christ, you know, and I created a new identity and, you know, I still face battles. It's not, like you said, still, we still face curveballs and all that. But, you know, I have the wisdom and knowledge to withstand those things. And it's still temptation and all those things. It's just probably even more now because I'm aware of it. But, you know, just staying true to that and continuing to grow through there.

• 13:58Ryan Clark?

  What started your path spiritually? What was sort of the catalyst?

• 14:02Speaker 06

  I would say, believe it or not, when I got my extension, when I got my extension, it's like I got all this money, but what mattered was like my family and stuff was kind of like shattered a little bit. Like all that stuff got a little misconstrued. And, you know, I've never been, been around millionaires or knew how to handle those things. Besides like players I played with and things like that. But you can, you can learn through a person, but until you're really in that. So I would say when that, when that situation happened, things just, what really mattered to me wasn't, you know, on point. And that's what really drew me real close to the Lord.

• 14:38Channing Crowder?

  Is that where Chosen comes from? Is that biblical? And then even from the Robby to the Robby, I E. to the Chosen to the...

• 14:44Ryan Clark?

  He probably just thought that was cute.

• 14:46Channing Crowder?

  The I E.?

• 14:47Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, he probably like, he probably like, you know what?

• 14:49Channing Crowder?

  I'm gonna throw another letter on that bitch.

• 14:50Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, he like, watch how I kill him right here, you feel me?

• 14:53Channing Crowder?

  What was the decision between the name change thing? It was killing, it was killing, like, I don't say it was killing me, but I kept seeing it, I'm like, damn, this motherfucker changed, why couldn't it be Nathaniel and Brutus? Like, what's the, why?

• 15:04Speaker 06

  Nah, the I E and Y, I did that back in college. Like, oh, growing up was always I E, but I personally liked Y myself, so I just changed it then, and then I just decided, because when I had number three in high school, I had I E, so I was like, let me just go back to that in a sense. It wasn't, I didn't like mean too much, but with the chosen, that was, that was more so from, from, from the Bible. I felt led by doing that through, through the Lord. And it's something I had thought about for a while, you know, and I just felt strongly about it.

• 15:33Channing Crowder?

  Like, was it just biblical because the chosen one and all? Like, we know the phrase behind it, but did it mean something to you, that name? Or was it just a biblical name? Because you would have went with Bartholomew or Bethlehem or...

• 15:47Speaker 06

  That name's...

• 15:47Channing Crowder?

  Not Bartholomew was not biblical, Bethlehem. And you would have went with anything else, you know what I'm saying? Like, why, why chosen?

• 15:54Speaker 06

  Nah, chosen just...

• 15:55Channing Crowder?

  Bethlehem, that's what the people wanted.

• 15:58Ryan Clark?

  That's where Christ was, Christ was born, yes.

• 16:00Channing Crowder?

  He's always got to be a comedian. Bethlehem is a biblical term.

• 16:04Speaker 06

  I just felt like a lot for my life, you know, was, was that I was, it was chosen by the Lord, you know? Even with the NFL, like, I, I tell myself, you know, I wasn't drafted. I was, you know, in a sense, I was chosen by the right team, by the right situation. So, you know, just, just deep like that. And I just think what the, what that name, what that word, that name and stuff stands for, you know, it's, it feels, you know, feels right.

• 16:28Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, you know, when you change your name to something like that, it's different than being birthed into that name. When you pick a name like chosen, I believe there's a responsibility that comes along with that. I believe there's a way that people around you will look at you differently. And, you know, that also comes with accepting Christ as your Savior.

• 16:53Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 16:53Ryan Clark?

  Right? Now, the people around you, oh, so you are different. You're supposed to walk a different way, move a different way. And as you said, the temptations won't change, but your awareness of them will. Your ability to deal with them in a spiritual way will be an expectation now.

• 17:13Ryan Clark?

  How has, I guess, sort of the eye-opening and awakening been for you to be able to understand the things that will now try to knock you off the course of that spiritual journey?

• 17:27Speaker 06

  I feel like my, I have a lot more clarity, you know, but also too, a stronger purpose. And I can't do the same things I once did, you know, and don't surround myself around the things I once did, you know, because I can't look myself in the mirror and lie and can't play in God's eyes either.

• 17:44Ryan Clark?

  You talked about the things your mother was dealing with, the anger that you had. Growing up, where you did, you know, that's a place where you can see a kid that's supposed to be in middle school with you, you know his family doesn't come with money, he's not in school, but he got a pair of Jays on. Or you can see somebody who's supposed to be in high school with you, who's not in class, but he got a gold watch and a gold chain, right? The trappings of the streets become attractive when you don't have anything. And especially not necessarily having a father figure to tell you to stay away from that as much as your mother tried. How were you able to avoid those things and get an opportunity to go to temple?

• 18:28Speaker 06

  Nah, I mean, for me, it was hard because I was saying that since I flirted with that, and I was working towards football, but it was like, that wasn't happening. But I'm, I go, I leave school, and then the boy jump out, rental car, pocket full of money, and they got the world in their hands. So to me, it started making me think, is this really going to happen? It's not happening, but I'm seeing what they doing happening. So, you know, it was tempting, you know what I'm saying? I think that that's where a lot of my distractions stemmed from.

• 18:57Channing Crowder?

  How did you make it to be where you are now? Like, you said, all your boys was doing what they was doing, like, and you, like you said, you was looking at both sides, but you obviously picked the right side. You might have struggled with your decision, but you picked the right side. Where did that decision come from?

• 19:12Speaker 06

  The grace of God, first of all, but... At the end of the day, I always had my bigger picture in my heart. You know, even, even not gonna sit here like not being perfect. My bigger picture was still in my heart and, and it might've got cloudy, but it still wasn't a glass frame, you know? And God had a calling for me. God had this in my purpose, you know?

• 19:33Channing Crowder?

  Was it a moment of revelation? Or was it a process?

• 19:37Speaker 06

  Nah, it was definitely a process. And I think when, when it really hit me was when I was kicked out of school. And I had to sit on the couch and watch them boys play. Cause even when I got kicked out of school and back in my mind like, I'mma be back in school by the summertime, you know? And then when I went up there and they told me, nah, you can't come back to school this year. And I had to sit on the couch and watch them boys play and go to community school. That's when it, it really sunk in and hit me like. And even through that process, coach wasn't picking up the phone. It wasn't no response, you know? It wasn't no, I, I almost went to a D2 school. You know what I'm saying? Like it was almost, I was a regular. I tried to get a job. I couldn't even get a job cause I had open cases. You know what I'm saying?

• 20:19Speaker 06

  That's when it, you know, as sad as it sound, that's what it took for me to realize like, you playing, you know what I'm saying?

• 20:26Speaker 00

  Blowing ad budget on metrics that look great till the CFO sees them? That's bullspend and marketers are calling it out in Dashboard Confessions.

• 20:36Speaker 01

  I remember telling my boss, it'll be good for the brand when leads were slow. Yeah, it, it wasn't.

• 20:43Speaker 00

  Cut the bullspend. LinkedIn lets you target by company, job title and more. Advertise on LinkedIn. Spend $250 on your first campaign and get a $250 credit. Go to LinkedIn.com/campaign. Terms and conditions apply.

• 20:56Fred Taylor?

  You, you said God had a plan for me.

• 20:58Speaker 06

  Mm-hmm.

• 20:59Fred Taylor?

  I'd like for you to change that to God has a plan for you.

• 21:02Speaker 06

  Sure.

• 21:03Fred Taylor?

  You're speaking into existence, whatever that plan is. But I think overall it takes, um, the steps are identifying, you know, what's been going on in your life. And it seems that you've done that. And I think the next step also, what you're trying to do to, you've taken a lot of, it's taken a lot of courage to get to that point. What we do best here on The Pivot. Is we allow the guests to be themselves, to tell their story. In turn, what we get is, we give back. We give back to the community. There's gonna be some young kid who's a fan of yours that's gonna watch this, that might be trying to figure out which direction they wanna go in life. Well, they try to be that little badass dude in the hood.

• 21:46Fred Taylor?

  Or they following the wrong person. They're gonna see and hear what you're saying right here today, and they're gonna be able to go back and make a decision that'll hopefully redirect the course of their life. Allow them to pivot and reshape, you know, what they wanna do. So, keep pushing forward, but you gotta understand that there's a purpose. Can't be no going backwards. Because from now, you're reprogramming your lineage. You know, maybe you didn't agree with how your father, that relationship was. Now you have an opportunity to change that for you and your kids, your offspring's. I'm always rooting for you.

• 22:25Ryan Clark?

  Appreciate it.

• 22:26Fred Taylor?

  Even if you decide, "Look, I wanna try to play ball again." You know, you're pretty young, you still got it in you. So, just continue to understand that through God, you keep your faith strong. You live in purpose. You know, you go back, there's so many people out there that can take you as an example and make their lives better. That's my two cents on the reason why you're here. The way I'm seeing how everything is coming together, that's what I take from it.

• 22:54Ryan Clark?

  I appreciate that.

• 22:55Fred Taylor?

  For sure.

• 22:56Ryan Clark?

  I think that's the beauty of having opportunities to sit down. And I think reflection is huge. I wanna talk to you about another night, the night you had to sit in jail. You mentioned sitting at home on the couch and, you know, having to watch the boys play. I'll say something here that not many people know. After we won the Super Bowl, I was out, I was watching a basketball game, playoffs. Leave, I was in Arizona, soon as I... Leave from the parking lot, boop boop, get pulled over. I had been drinking, right? So like that night, like they took me to jail. I am not built for jail.

• 23:41Ryan Clark?

  Like I know that, right? That's why I don't do criminal stuff. But in that moment, like I'm sitting there, I just won a Super Bowl, just accomplished the things I'd want, wanted to accomplish. I was an undrafted free agent too. And sitting in there, the first thing was like, I have kids, right? I have people to take care of. I have people that look up to me, people that follow me. You're letting them down. Parents, right? Who raised me in a different way to be smart and make good decisions. And I got my last name. And all of those things at that point were in jeopardy. When you were sitting in there for a night, what was that experience like for you?

• 24:23Speaker 06

  Nah, I was just, I just sat there telling myself like, you, you in the NFL. This not your life, you know what I'm saying? Like this ain't like, why you, you know, taking yourself back down this route, you know what I'm saying? And I came to peace with it, you know, I knew what I did wasn't that serious, you know? It was technically in my eyes, you know, a slap on the wrist, but you got too much in front of you to go achieve than to be sitting here in this cell.

• 24:50Channing Crowder?

  Do I say, because, hey, we telling the rest stories. I think my arrest in college hindered my draft status. Y'all were undrafted. Yeah, yeah, we ain't worried about that. But I went third round. I was supposed to go first round. They had all the, all the smart people said and ESPN and shit people, Mel Kiper goofy ass said I was gonna go first round. But I got locked up a bunch of times and I think them arrests hang on my head. And it was just really, I've talked about it on the show a number of times. I was, I was just fighting dudes. Like you called me a bitch and we gotta fight now. I'll punch you in the face, you punch me in the face and we just fight like it was some old country shit. But I think that hung over my head for years. He's a, he's a trouble guy. He's all, you know, all that stuff.

• 25:32Channing Crowder?

  Do you think, do you think your past is hanging over your head unjustly? Because as we've talked, like I said, like you talk, you talk like a Florida dude. You got the dreads like a Florida dude. You been locked up. Like do you think they put you in this box?

• 25:48Ryan Clark?

  And it hangs over your head with that?

• 25:49Speaker 06

  Still to this day.

• 25:51Ryan Clark?

  Yeah.

• 25:51Speaker 06

  Like, I think that coaches and people that's around me enough, they, they understand me enough to know. And you know, I haven't been like, the last time I got in trouble like that was 2018. And I think, you know, everybody that knows me, they know I've outgrown that. You know, it still could be a stigma. But I don't think as far as on with my career and things like that, I don't think that, that too much exists anymore. I think that, you know, enough grace has been given to see that, you know, he's overcome that. And those that know me, they know my heart, they know what I stand for, they know my purpose, they know how much my community means to me. And they understand how much football means to me. You know, I think, I don't think that, back then, yeah, but now, and I wouldn't even say back then, yeah, I feel like,

• 26:34Speaker 06

  you understand how the NFL works, they gonna use what they can against you, and I gave them that, you know? And that was on me, you know what I'm saying? I put myself, but, you know, I had that calling for my, you know, I still do, but, you know, I don't think no more though.

• 26:48Ryan Clark?

  Take me back to 2021. I think you had 95 catches, you go for over a thousand yards in your first year in Carolina. And like, I, I know what it feels like to be undrafted, have four years under your belt, and finally go to a place and it's like, okay, now I'm being me. Now I'm being used as I should be used. Now I'm being as successful as I believed I could be. Did you look back on your Jets time where you have said yourself, it was difficult to go to work?

• 27:25Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 27:25Ryan Clark?

  How did playing for the Jets in those four years and having to push yourself, go to work, help you truly appreciate what it was like that first year in Carolina?

• 27:38Speaker 06

  Nah, it helped a lot, um, being in Carolina, that season was like, you know, one of my favorite times of my life. You know, just who I was surrounded by, what was going on, did the winds come in how we hoped? Nah, we was close, you know what I'm saying, it was the first year, but to be able to succeed at that level and, and do what I did and... Just, you know, playing in Carolina is a beautiful place to play. I was out there with Teddy, you know what I'm saying? DJ Curtis, like, we was just out there having fun, you know what I'm saying? Like, that was a beautiful time of my life. And especially, you know, getting my name out there to be top five, being two yards away from being the number one receiver in the league. Like, knowing all that that work that I had been putting in, you know, was starting to finally pay off to my expectation.

• 28:21Speaker 06

  You know, I always knew I was capable of doing it. And, you know, just making the most of the opportunity. But, you know, I was very thankful for that year. Had a lot of fun.

• 28:30Fred Taylor?

  How much credit do you give TA, Goldfeet?

• 28:33Speaker 06

  Uh, TA, you know, I appreciate him, you know what I'm saying? Like, Dog really pushed me. You know, I grew up with him. I grew up playing against him since little. A lot of people don't know how good he really was at football. You know what I'm saying? Like, Dog was legit. But, you know, Dog really pushed me. It's not just a homeboy going out there. Like, he really pushed you like a trainer. But, you know, he helped me a lot, takes strides in conditioning me and training me and all that.

• 28:59Ryan Clark?

  Tevin Allen is Goldfeet's real name. I remember, I called him, my son was maybe eighth grade, ninth grade. You know, when you're teaching a kid, they see certain things on the internet or... And they're like, "You're just dad." Like, all of these people know some other things that you don't. And I called him, I DM'd him, I called him. And I was like, "Hey, man, I'd like to fly you out to work with my son." And he said people had told him that, but no one had actually ever did it. You know, I called him out, man, and like, him and my son Jordan, and they just went to work, and I just sat. I didn't say a word. Like, I just allowed him to do what he's now become one of the best in the business at doing. And I think it points to, when Freddie asked you that question,

• 29:44Ryan Clark?

  yeah, it's about working, but it's also about being around genuine people who want to see you succeed. And, you know, I feel like you had that in Matt Ruhl, who you knew from college, and he was now in Carolina. David Tepper, he's the most temperamental owner in sports. You know, he fires Matt Ruhl. And now you have Steve Wilkes. And there's an incident with you and the wide receivers coach, where they send you to the locker room.

• 30:13Channing Crowder?

  What was that all about? Because what I loved about what you did was you stood up like a man and you said, "Let me explain to y'all what happened." Tell me a little bit about how y'all got there.

• 30:25Speaker 06

  I wish that it didn't get to that point, you know, and I take accountability for, you know, that's not how I was raised, you know, that's not the man who I am today, and that's not the, you know, that's not the place for that. You know, and I'm, it took me some time. I was disappointed in myself for a while, you know, and I've come to peace with it because my legacy, you know what I'm saying? And, you know, how it looks from the outside looking in, but, you know, there was a lot more that took place prior to that situation, you know, and in a sense, you could say it was provoked, but I should have done a better job of handling that, but I've grown to that point now, so, you know, I'm not disappointed in myself. But, you know, there was a lot more that took place prior to that situation.

• 31:09Speaker 06

  And then, even with Steve Wicks, you know, it was nothing to disrespect him, you know, and especially it being his first week as a coach, and, you know, the stigma he has to deal with being a black coach, you know, it was nothing to undermine that at all, you know, it was just more so of, just, you know, aligning that situation to go further than it should have. And looking back now, I wouldn't even, I would just walk away, you know, but I've grown to that point. But I think that if a lot of people were in my shoes and were provoked in a sense, they probably would have handled it a thousand ways differently.

• 31:44Channing Crowder?

  I don't want to say you protecting them, but you look like the bad guy.

• 31:49Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 31:49Channing Crowder?

  You know what I'm saying? Like, if you the bad guy, you coming out the corner punching. And if there's so much to it, or there's more context to it, and it happens a lot of times where you just, you know what I'm saying? The, what is it, the bigger person type thing? But you really not the bigger person if people are looking at you funny. Because with that situation, I was looking at you funny. Like, it had to be something with him, just the organization and this one player.

• 32:12Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 32:12Channing Crowder?

  Why wouldn't you put more context to it?

• 32:15Speaker 06

  Because it affected me more than anything, you know? So, you know, I feel like that when that time come, I don't, I don't, I don't think that... You know, I don't know. I just don't think it's really worth going into too much detail about.

• 32:29Ryan Clark?

  Yeah.

• 32:29Speaker 06

  And even with Carolina, like, it was more so disappointing because my teammates there, they know things like more than any of my other teammates. Like, I done hard down, opened up my heart, like, my testimony to like, how I really almost wasn't here, what I had to go through, like, those tough moments. So, you know, it was disappointing. You know, everything happened so fast with me being traded. You know, there was already trade talks after Coach Rule got fired. That was already in the works. Even prior to that season, there was a trade on the table for me to go to Baltimore. But they didn't press play on it, you know, probably because Coach Rule was there. But, you know, it was disappointing. But, you know, at the end of the day, I shouldn't have handled that situation like that.

• 33:12Ryan Clark?

  How do you feel going forward that has affected you? Because coaches talk, coaches have relationships, and I do love the fact that you've been the bigger man. And also, whatever you say about it, in any way that you say you were provoked is going to be looked at as an excuse. People are gonna point to you and say you're an adult, grown professional. You understand the perception of players. You understand, like you said, what black coaches deal with, especially interim head coaches. They're gonna say you should have handled it differently. How do you feel, though, that plays in other locker rooms when, in this sense right now,

• 33:55Ryan Clark?

  you're saying, "I'm better. I've learned. I've grown." But the film says, "This is at least who you were."

• 34:02Speaker 06

  I had to deal with that last year. And thankfully, so, you know, the Dolphins, they was willing to, you know, give me the opportunity or, you know, make those phone calls with the right people to vouch for me. And, you know, they saw that that doesn't exist with me. They saw how much of a team player I was. And, you know, if those things did exist, that when I got released before the season, if I was all about myself, I would have left. Even when I got released the second time, I would have left. You know, last season, you know, not even just last season. I don't, I don't play this game just for myself. I play to be a champion, you know, and that's why I used to be so frustrated because... Even when I had big games back in New York, I couldn't celebrate that because we lost. You know what I'm saying? So at the end of the day, not even just because I got that situation on the sideline.

• 34:47Speaker 06

  That's not why I handled myself like that. That's just how I was brought up, playing football, you know, to win.

• 34:54Fred Taylor?

  You played nine games last year for the Dolphins. If you go back to, I think it was 2022, another receiver that's your age, 31, Jarvis Landry. He played nine games before his last season. He didn't play at all last year, but he got invited to the Jaguars rookie camp. Are you expecting to still play? Do you want to play?

• 35:14Speaker 06

  No, I still want to play. Personally, I feel like I haven't played my best football yet. You know, and last year I took every day to work on my craft and prepare for when that moment does come. You know, I knew what I was walking into, but my commitment was to come there, be the number three and contribute towards winning the Super Bowl. But I definitely still want to play. You know, I had my thoughts of, you know, is my time up? Is it time for me to step away and things like that? But, you know, I could still run, you know, and I've gotten faster. I've gotten faster, you know what I'm saying?

• 35:48Channing Crowder?

  You faster than?

• 35:49Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 35:51Channing Crowder?

  You fastened out of what you was when you was

• 35:54Channing Crowder?

  in Carolina?

• 35:55Speaker 06

  Yeah. Because my body's just like, you got to understand, the past two years, I've been preserving. You know what I'm saying? Like, I ain't been getting hit, you know what I'm saying? So I've only been working on my craft. I'm smarter. I feel better. Like, some of my best practices last year, I ain't even stretched before practice. And when I then, you know, like, it was like I was just like a little kid hanging out again.

• 36:16Channing Crowder?

  That's what I used to say because cheaters don't stretch before they run.

• 36:19Fred Taylor?

  Watch out.

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• 36:50Fred Taylor?

  But things like that, right? Things like that. When you say you didn't stretch before practice, not questioning the productivity because obviously I wasn't there. Do you think coaches and the scouts that are around, having had the history that's followed you from other teams, they're gonna keep a close tab on you? No, that's what they do. It's their job to evaluate. Like body language, just everything. If you were a group of guys who are warming up and are doing things, you got Cheetah, Waddo, whatever other receiver that's out there, and then you have yourself. If they see you not stretching and warming up and being engaged,

• 37:34Fred Taylor?

  do you think like that sends a negative message? And maybe the team don't want to stick with you as long because of your approach, I guess?

• 37:45Speaker 06

  No, when I say not stretch, I mean like how I normally would. Like I was still with them, you know, warming up, but I'm talking about intensely like that. I just felt that like just organic, you know what I'm saying? Like I just feel like, I feel like never before, you know what I'm saying? Like I'm confident in myself, you know? The coaches, they know what I did every day in practice. My teammates, they know.

• 38:07Ryan Clark?

  Shoot, Denver know too. Bombed on them.

• 38:10Fred Taylor?

  That was the long one.

• 38:11Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, being in that sort of environment and working on being your best self and continuing to get better, having an opportunity to be in the same meeting rooms with Tyreek and Waddo and also practicing with them every day, being in the game. What things did you take from the experience this year in Miami?

• 38:32Speaker 06

  No, I mean, I learned a lot. I was around the best receiver in the NFL. One of the best to ever do it.

• 38:39Channing Crowder?

  Sorry, Kiel, yeah.

• 38:40Speaker 06

  You know, so I'm learning from, I'm seeing what he doing and, and learning what, you know, and seeing what more he could have did too, and seeing, you know, how a bro operate, what works, and then on top of that, going against Ramsey and X, you know, that's, that's two of the best corners.

• 38:56Channing Crowder?

  Yeah.

• 38:57Speaker 06

  And then learning from Wes, learning from Mike, you know, but definitely. And then I enjoy, you know, with Wilder, I look at him like a little brother, so I'm able to teach him things that I probably didn't know, and I, I, I embrace that, you know, even with Cheetah pushing Cheetah, to see him be as great as he could be, you know, just doing whatever I can to help us reach that ultimate goal.

• 39:18Channing Crowder?

  What's your, I say your knocks, and I say it is, when the Dolphins cut my ass, they were like, you can't cover a tight end no more, and I said, I sure can't.

• 39:31Channing Crowder?

  Got old seventeen knee surgeries, they come out there and start that little stutter, them little option routes, and I go, oh, oh, oh, oh, and my back was tight. What, what, have you asked anybody or seen what, what's, what's your knocks or what's your negatives, because everybody gonna try to find something bad in you. What do they want you to improve on, or just like in, when you come out of college, like when your draft stop dropped, mine, mine dropped because of character issues is what they called it. Is it character? Is it on the field? Why are you not on the team? Why are you not a number two receiver, a number one receiver on the team right now?

• 40:05Speaker 06

  Yeah, I think from, like, what they tell me is that I'm not a number three receiver, you know, I've never been a number three receiver, I've never been a guy that just line up in the slot, yeah, I'll come in the slot sometimes, but they see me as a one or two, but they have their one or two, you know what I'm saying? So that's pretty much what it is.

• 40:22Channing Crowder?

  You started playing the slot in New York, though? And then, and you moved outside?

• 40:26Speaker 06

  Yeah, like they would.

• 40:27Channing Crowder?

  And became the guy?

• 40:28Speaker 06

  They would put me in the slot, but like, when I came in, I believe when I would come in, I would go to Z.

• 40:32Channing Crowder?

  Got you.

• 40:33Speaker 06

  And the Z would go to F.

• 40:34Channing Crowder?

  Got you.

• 40:34Speaker 06

  You know what I'm saying? So I've never really been. Like a true F receiver, like I could do it, you know what I'm saying? But it's also that they, they system is not that, you know, feature the F receiver like that. Spread it like it's a, you know, it's a type of system, but that's pretty much what it is. It's not that they don't see like anything, they just see me as a one or two, but they have their one or two.

• 40:54Ryan Clark?

  How old are you now?

• 40:55Speaker 06

  I just turned thirty-one today.

• 40:57Ryan Clark?

  I know, that's why I was asking. I heard Fred say you're thirty-one, I was just trying to get you to say it was your birthday. Well, happy birthday.

• 41:03Speaker 06

  Appreciate that.

• 41:04Ryan Clark?

  First off, and birthdays are times where we kind of, you know, take stock in, in where we are. And looking at where you sit today, how do you feel about your life?

• 41:16Speaker 06

  I'm, I'm, I'm very thankful for everything, you know, for what God has blessed me with, not just financially, you know, with family, you know, having a fiance and what we're working towards and having my family members and, you know, having lost certain family members allows you to grow that much more appreciation for what truly does matter. You know, but I'm thankful, you know, even for my career in the NFL to date, you know, being undrafted, overcoming what I overcame and being at peace and I'm not in a situation where I need to be on the team to pay the bills. Of course, I'm gonna play the game like that, but to have freedom, you know, to be able to wake up and just be at peace and be happy.

• 41:57Speaker 06

  And, you know, I'm at a point where, a life where I went through, you know, seeing what about materials and all those things and those things don't hold value. I'm, I'm thankful for fresh air and going to the beach and doing the simple things and putting smiles on people's faces. You know what truly matters in life and, you know, the bigger picture.

• 42:18Fred Taylor?

  And your profile on IG says gamer. Is that like, uh, online gaming or just?

• 42:24Speaker 06

  Nah, you know, when I touch that field, I'm, I'm not there gaming. I'm not, I don't look at myself as a prototypical athlete or.

• 42:32Fred Taylor?

  I was thinking, I, I thought you was gonna give me a gamer tag so I can get you some business online.

• 42:36Speaker 06

  Oh, nah, nah, I don't be on the game too much.

• 42:39Ryan Clark?

  Fred, what game do you play online?

• 42:41Speaker 06

  Pac-Man.

• 42:43Fred Taylor?

  I still play Call of Duty.

• 42:45Ryan Clark?

  Fred.

• 42:46Fred Taylor?

  When I ain't trying to study, you know, to get a degree.

• 42:48Speaker 06

  Fred, you play what, Ping?

• 42:51Fred Taylor?

  Nah, Ten Year Fight was that shit.

• 42:53Ryan Clark?

  Boy, you know, the first game Fred ever had on his phone was Snake on Nokia.

• 42:57Fred Taylor?

  Senator?

• 42:59Speaker 06

  I had that secret, that's that gas. Yeah, Fred was thirty-five when he got Snake.

• 43:07Fred Taylor?

  Bruh.

• 43:08Channing Crowder?

  Why you always, you always showing out in front of company, man?

• 43:12Fred Taylor?

  I'm just messing around.

• 43:13Ryan Clark?

  Robbie, you know, mentioning your fiance, there's the change that happens when you decide that that woman is the woman you want to make the rest of your life with. What made, you know, now or when you made that decision, the time and what made her the right person?

• 43:30Speaker 06

  You know, I feel like God led me to that, but she, she, she was solid, you know? She genuinely was there for me for the right reasons. And at times I struggled with accepting love and that was just because of my own issues. But she genuinely, you know, loves me, cares about me and wants the best for me. You know, not just the female that's just around to just watch you spend all kind of money and do this. Like holds me accountable, helps me be a better person, help me grow closer to God and, you know, all those great things.

• 44:02Ryan Clark?

  I love that, man.

• 44:03Channing Crowder?

  I always say, don't get a passenger on the plane, get a co-pilot.

• 44:07Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 44:08Channing Crowder?

  Because if something go wrong in that house and you, I just, I say it all the time, you get into a coma, can the house keep running?

• 44:14Speaker 06

  Nah, for sure. Nah, and even, I, I hate to glorify this, but even when I went to jail the first time, we weren't even talking, she, she, you know, paid my bond, came and got me, you know, and ain't, ain't had to do that.

• 44:29Fred Taylor?

  Yeah.

• 44:30Speaker 06

  You know, so.

• 44:30Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, get you a co-pilot. But even with that, with the bigger picture of life, Bruh, I hope, I hope you play another 30 years. I hope you play till you 61.

• 44:38Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 44:39Channing Crowder?

  But that shit gonna end sooner or later.

• 44:41Speaker 06

  Mm-hmm.

• 44:41Channing Crowder?

  What is the chosen next step, the legacy that's gonna continue? Because it's football, but sooner or later, football's gonna stop. What's the next step of you?

• 44:49Speaker 06

  Nah, you know, being a husband, being a father, and that's the most thing I'm most excited about is that. My son's gonna have me to be that best friend and I'll be able to be there every step of the way. And I've been able to build, to have things to that prestige, to be present for all that. And then, you know, philanthropy, you know, giving back to the community. And then, you know, getting into production, you know, other things I'm interested in, going back to school. You know, educating myself about business and things, so I know what I'm getting myself into. So I'm, somebody else is not leading me blind and, you know, just finding things I'm interested in. And, you know, supporting my wife and her careers and, you know, all that great stuff.

• 45:29Fred Taylor?

  We always gotta try to show love. Like, is there any shameless plugs, anything you got going on you want the people to know? You or the missus?

• 45:37Speaker 06

  You know, she has her podcast she's coming out with. That's, that's it was, came out, but it's still in the works of, um, you know, growing. I've been working on some clothing things, clothing brand and stuff like that. And, you know, just things like that, nothing too major.

• 45:54Channing Crowder?

  I threw a website name or something.

• 45:56Speaker 06

  I'm still, I'm still. Nah, I'm still, I'm still in the process.

• 46:00Fred Taylor?

  All right, so since, we'll, we'll let you get back to that. Your biggest pivot, we always ask the guests their biggest pivot in life. That's that one moment you can kind of go back to and say, without this moment or moments, it wouldn't be, you know, I wouldn't be chosen.

• 46:15Speaker 06

  Yeah, that sideline altercation, getting sent into the sideline and getting traded to Arizona. When I went to Arizona, that's, I finally, it's like I, life slowed down. Like football slowed down, it's like I was able to breathe. And then going all the way over there and not being so accessible to coming home to Florida. There was, there was certain things that I feel God was trying to keep me away from that had appeared down here that wasn't here. And, um, life just slowed down and it gave me that time to reflect and live out these revelations.

• 46:49Fred Taylor?

  I love that.

• 46:50Speaker 06

  And it, it also showed me, I say this, um, it showed me who was gonna ride first class with me, but who wasn't gonna fly on Spirit.

• 47:01Ryan Clark?

  I ain't mean to laugh, cuz that's a real statement. It's just funny as hell cuz it's true. Cuz I love you both. If y'all flying on Spirit, I'm not coming.

• 47:11Speaker 06

  Yeah, I ain't.

• 47:11Ryan Clark?

  Like, I am not going, bro.

• 47:13Speaker 06

  I mean, sometimes it might be necessary.

• 47:15Ryan Clark?

  Duh.

• 47:16Speaker 06

  I had to fly to Denver on Spirit to do a show.

• 47:19Channing Crowder?

  Nobody want their fold-out chair with their flatbed.

• 47:21Speaker 06

  Man, I thought I walked in the fucking freezer.

• 47:24Ryan Clark?

  I flew on Spirit to do Mike Tyson. I almost quit. Almost quit The Pivot. My flight had got canceled. I was like, this junk ain't worth it. You know what I'm saying? Luckily.

• 47:33Speaker 06

  That's real, though.

• 47:34Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, nah, that's real.

• 47:35Speaker 06

  That's real.

• 47:36Ryan Clark?

  It's worth it now, man. It's worth it now, man. So, we appreciate you, bro.

• 47:40Speaker 06

  I appreciate it.

• 47:41Ryan Clark?

  We wish you the best. You're now a part of the family.

• 47:44Speaker 06

  Thanks, sir.

• 47:45Ryan Clark?

  Thank you to everybody who subscribe, who views, who watches our show. Uh, this is The Pivot, part of the Fanatics family. To Michael Rubin, everybody over there, all love. We appreciate you, guys. We got two hats for you. We got a shirt. But, man, from everybody sitting here, dawg, like, we rooting for you.

• 48:03Speaker 06

  I appreciate that always.

• 48:05Ryan Clark?

  The rebirth, to be able to say, I wanna give back to my community. But first of all, I wanna give back to the family that I start. And I wanted to start a different way than mine did. I think that's one of the more admirable things we've heard on this show, man. So, we appreciate you.

• 48:19Speaker 06

  I appreciate y'all a lot. The opportunity means a lot. You know, learning from y'all and salute to y'all, you know, for all the great things y'all accomplished and continue to do. You know, I have a lot of respect for y'all. You know, appreciate this opportunity a lot.

• 48:32Ryan Clark?

  No doubt, brother.

• 48:33Speaker 06

  Yes, sir. That's a wrap.

• 48:35Ryan Clark?

  Ooh, I am hungry.

• 48:37Speaker 06

  Yes, sir.

• 48:37Ryan Clark?

  Big dog.

• 49:04Speaker 07

  Every game day, you show up for your team. Now, it's your time.

• 49:15Speaker 08

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