Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert Talks Tua's Return, Tyreek & Miami as a Top Team in AFC

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is set to return this Sunday as the Miami Dolphins host the AFC rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The guys visited the Dolphins facility and spent time chatting with players and the organization ahead of this week's game to get a feel for the mindset and understanding of having their team leader return after one of the more difficult concussion incidents we have seen in the NFL. Running Back Raheem Mostert sits with Ryan, Fred and Channing to talk about how hard it was for himself and teammates, especially Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to be on the field in Cincinnati and see Tua, their brother, fall as he did. Described as one of the more difficult experiences, the team is full of optimism as they welcome back their team leader. Tua's leadership and determination has been proven and fighting through adversity is just one more level the quarterback has mastered. Mostert talks bout Tua's perseverance and what having him back in the huddle means to the team and that the Dolphins are a team that should be taken seriously as a championship contender in the AFC. The running back, most known for his quickness and dynamic play as part of the infamous 2019 Niners AFC Champion team, recognizes that the talent on this Dolphins roster runs deeper than what was on his team who went to the Super Bowl a few years ago. Mostert also jokes how he is faster than Tyreek dating back to their college days where on paper he is listed quicker than his current teammate and is not backing down that he is faster now either. But makes it clear, when the game is on the line, there is no one else who should get the ball than Tyreek, because he is the best he's seen play. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 pregame moneyline bet. Bet must win. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Sponsored by DK. Ends 11/20/2022 11:59 PM ET. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.#1 Rated Sportsbook App based on Eilers&Krejcik (2Q22). Product Analysis: Testing, Scoring, and Ranking U. S. Sports Betting Apps 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.

• 0:01Speaker 00

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

• 0:11Speaker 00

  Ask your prescriber about Wegovy. Semaglutide injection 2.4 milligrams a GLP-1. Call 1-833-4-WEGOVIE or visit wegovie.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about Wegovy. Why wait?

• 0:30Ryan Clark?

  Florida and Texas, like cats really be flying. We out here chasing rabbits. Yeah.

• 0:34Channing Crowder?

  Mucking off.

• 0:35Ryan Clark?

  The problem is that-

• 0:36Channing Crowder?

  Florida, Florida football's a track meet.

• 0:38Ryan Clark?

  The problem is that Louisiana has better football players, like, just based on size.

• 0:43Channing Crowder?

  They're big.

• 0:44Ryan Clark?

  You know?

• 0:45Channing Crowder?

  But there's big people in Oklahoma, Texas, and all that.

• 0:49Ryan Clark?

  We don't have big people though. Yeah, like, y'all got more, like, here, like-

• 0:53Channing Crowder?

  It's a track meet.

• 0:54Fred Taylor?

  That's a sideways comment, bro.

• 0:55Channing Crowder?

  It's not a sideways comment.

• 0:56Fred Taylor?

  But if we do the research, we go to Hall of Famers, we can start really getting to it.

• 1:00Ryan Clark?

  The thing is this, you guys are historically better, but as time goes on, we're catching up. You know what I'm saying? Like, historically, yes. Like, if you go back in the day, like, in your time, in your age.

• 1:14Fred Taylor?

  Three years apart.

• 1:16Channing Crowder?

  So, we gonna stop, so, we gonna stop producing athletes, y'all gonna keep producing.

• 1:19Fred Taylor?

  Louisiana was never in the conversation of best football states. It was Florida, California, Texas, Georgia.

• 1:27Channing Crowder?

  Everybody knows that.

• 1:29Ryan Clark?

  But it's different now though.

• 1:30Channing Crowder?

  No, it's not.

• 1:31Ryan Clark?

  Look at the, look at the amount of people in the league.

• 1:34Fred Taylor?

  Y'all had a small run.

• 1:35Channing Crowder?

  Honey Badger got y'all acting funny.

• 1:37Fred Taylor?

  That's what it is.

• 2:03Ryan Clark?

  As usual, the pivot starts, starts off the rails, but we're gonna, we're gonna get it back here, right? I don't know how I always end up on the show with all of these people from Florida. Right, you're a Georgia guy, but you go to school in Florida. Channing, Freddie T, Florida guy, you stay at home, you go to Florida. Raheem Mostert, running back of the Miami Dolphins. I would name all the teams. I mean, it's been the Eagles, it's been the Ravens. It was, I think, the Dolphins. Dolphins before, the Bears, 49ers, obviously, where you had one of the greatest NFC championship games of all time from the position. And now, back to Miami. Obviously, I'm RC, welcome to the Pivot.

• 2:46Ryan Clark?

  We're excited to bring you just an in-season look at what some of these players are dealing with, what they've gone through to get here. Thanks to DraftKings, thank you to, happy to have our sponsors, everybody that subscribed. We appreciate y'all. Don't forget to like. And like we always say, man, and this is actually the most apropos time to say this, anybody could podcast, but not everybody can pivot. And Heem, I want to start with you, because I'm an undrafted guy. People like these humans don't understand what that, what that life is like, and being cut, and having to deal with and go through all of those things. How did you continue to fight? How did you continue to believe in you, that you could be what you were today, when you were going through those things?

• 3:31Speaker 04

  Yeah, you know, first and foremost, I'd like to take the time to say thank you guys for having me. You know, I've watched you guys' show, and you guys do a great job, you know, just trying to get the perspective of, you know, us young men and athletes, and trying to just, just talk football, and even life. I think that's the most important thing in regards to the way guys move on and off the field. And you guys are definitely doing that by capturing a lot of different things. What you said, Ryan, about, you know, coming in undrafted, you know, fellow undrafted guy. You know, you have to turn that notch, that dial, where... You know, it's all about how can I get on this team the best way possible. For me, it was special teams.

• 4:16Speaker 04

  You know, it's kind of a cliche thing, you know, you hear it over and over again about how, hey, look, you know, you gotta, if you want to make this team, you gotta, if you want to make that 53 man roster, you gotta do it by special teams. And I took that to heart when I first got into the league, you know, I, in college, I didn't really have a best, you know, outcome that I thought I could. Whether it be a coaching change, you know, me focusing solely on track my junior year, which led to me being a starter my senior year, and then eventually I fizzled out at the running back position. To now, it's like, hey, you know, yeah, I went undrafted. Now it's all about how can I make these teams? So for me, I took into account, hey, look, you know, I gotta hustle.

• 5:01Speaker 04

  I gotta, I gotta be able to provide, you know, for myself and, and the legacy I want to leave. And that was, that was to just be great. You know, growing up, watching, watching Fred, man, you know, it's an honor even to sit next to you, truthfully, because, you know, I was, growing up in Daytona, you know, that's two hours away from Jacksonville. So for me to watch you and Maurice, man, that just, man, I talked to Maurice a couple of times here and there, and it's finally awesome to see you face to face, you know what I mean? So it's a blessing, but you guys gave me the hope too, whether you, whether you want to believe that or not, but you guys really did that for me. And I just showed gratefulness. I think that was the biggest thing, you know, when you come into a league where there's

• 5:45Speaker 04

  nothing but dogs, there's nothing but, you know, guys that can actually make those plays. And they've been doing it at these prestigious universities, and they're getting drafted first, second, third, I mean, even, you know, sixth and seventh round, it's just like, hey. When I get my op, I can't look back. And that's what I did, you know, all these years. You know, I didn't, I didn't get that running back role until my fourth year in the league, you know, 2018, the third year. I didn't get my first handoff. And so, you know, that actually counted. I look back and I'm like, hey, once I get that op, I ain't looking back, so.

• 6:21Fred Taylor?

  So, but I'm sure to, to go through those experiences, being signed, undrafted, signed by Philly, released there after preseason, you come to Miami, then you're here for a few weeks, right? They call it a cup of coffee for people at home that, on the few weeks. Then after Miami's Baltimore, and then Cleveland, right? All in 2015.

• 6:42Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 6:43Fred Taylor?

  At some point, that has to be extremely frustrating. How do you maintain that drive and that desire to say, I'm, I'm gonna fulfill this dream no matter what?

• 6:52Speaker 04

  Yeah. So, when I, when I came into the league, yeah, going through, you know, four teams, my, my rookie year, I knew I had the ability because, you know, if, if a team sees you, they see the opportunity, especially like, you know, an undrafted guy. They see the opportunity that, you know, I possess. I'm, I'm a great special teams player, you know, I'm, I'm a, I'm gonna do what I gotta do because I got that mindset of being a dog. I mean, growing up in Florida, you know, we were talking about, you know, Florida. Growing up in Florida, there's only one thing down here, really, and that's, that's football. You know, you don't hear too many basketball, great basketball players. And I'm not knocking those basketball players that did come out and did, you know, wonderful things in NBA, but when you think of Florida, you think of actual, real deal football.

• 7:35Fred Taylor?

  The best in the world.

• 7:36Speaker 04

  The best in the world, exactly. So, um, you know, Clark's gonna have a little offense to that.

• 7:42Channing Crowder?

  Well, what, what click, you talking about 18 when you got your real chance, and then like RC brought up the, you know, we all saw the NFC Championship, like.

• 7:49Speaker 04

  Crazy.

• 7:50Channing Crowder?

  Now you're named, like, the fastest running back in the league, like, everybody knows your name, but Freddie Hitt, I think, what was it? 49ers were your 7th team in 2 years?

• 7:57Speaker 04

  Yeah, 7th team in 2 years.

• 7:59Channing Crowder?

  Well, what clicked? Like, what, at that moment, what happened?

• 8:02Speaker 04

  It was a situation too, because at the time, you know, I was with Philly and I was with Chip Kelly. So when Chip Kelly, you know, got fired and then he got picked up by the Niners the following year, you know, he stayed in touch. He was checking in on me, "Hey, look, I know what this guy can do. Call him my agent." Like, you know, when I get that window, I'm gonna bring him on. So I actually met him in Orlando. Yeah, ever since then, it was just like, "All right, I'm gonna give you your first op." And he gave me that first op, you know. He was fighting for me. It was towards the end of that year too, my second year. Team wasn't doing all that well, the Niners weren't doing all that well, and he just jumped in and was like, "Hey, I'm trying to fight for you. Like, you know, I'm talking to the GM to get you on board. Let's go."

• 8:47Speaker 04

  You know, you can't, you can't, you know, show me wrong. You can't prove, you gotta prove them that they made a mistake on you. And yeah, I was able to, I did some punt return deals and then next, the following year, bam.

• 9:00Fred Taylor?

  I think they say one thing that's uncoachable that not a lot of guys have is speed. So speed was able to sustain you and prolong those opportunities. So let's pivot back to college. You know, I think you were 60 meter and 200 meter indoor champ. But they say you were second fastest after Tyreek, your teammate, Tyreek Hill. What do you say about that?

• 9:23Speaker 04

  Well, statistical wise, I'm faster than Tyreek. You could check that on the paper itself. I actually ran against him while we were in different heats in the indoor track meet in Albuquerque. And yeah, he won that race. I wasn't really prepared for that because, you know, I also dialed in on football in itself because like, my junior year, we had got a new head coach. And I was a receiver at the time. So like, you know, me, I'm thinking, okay, you know, new coach, he gonna see me, you know, I done did jet sweeps. I was doing, you know, similar to what Debo's doing now, you know, the role that he playing. So I was doing that, you know, for my university at Purdue.

• 10:07Speaker 04

  And yeah, come my junior year, he wasn't really looking at me at receiver. And so I went into his office, asked him, "Hey, look..." What do you think about me switching over to running back position? Because I think that's going to bring me to better opportunity. And he was like, I mean, I'm all up for it, but you know, you're gonna have to work a little bit. Because we had like other guys that were still good too. But you know, going into that role and then thinking about track, you know, track was that getaway for me. Because I always did that, you know, even in high school. I ain't run till like my junior year in high school. And the track coach kept asking me my freshman year, sophomore year, hey Raheem, come on and join the team. I was like, I'm worried about football because I started playing when I was seven.

• 10:48Speaker 04

  So hit the track my junior year and truthfully, I was actually a 300 hurdle guy. And I did 300 hurdles and this blew up on 100 and 200, you know. But yeah, my junior year, that was definitely the pivotal moment for me. Going into, you know, my senior year where I had a lot of, a lot of good things that was being said about me being the fastest guy in college. And you know, backing that claim up with what I was doing, both indoor and outdoor track, so.

• 11:22Channing Crowder?

  You never think about running track, like track over football? Because like, yeah, we know the injury history. You don't get hurt in track. I know I ran the 300 hurdles one time and I damn almost had asthma attack and I was the last time running it. But you don't get injured injured. You ever thought about picking track over ball?

• 11:38Speaker 04

  So funny story that you brought that up. When I was coming out, 2015, I'm sitting at in my apartment at Purdue. My wife, my girlfriend at the time, she sitting next to me. I get an email from Team USA and they asked me to be on, you know, the track team. And I'm like, man, it's a great opportunity. Mind you, I'm watching the draft too. So like in my head, I'm thinking like, okay, well, where is this going to play out for me? Now, I could choose football, something that I've been doing since I was a little kid. Or I can run track, you know, may or may not pan out the way I want it to. But at least I know I can go out on my own terms if I do decide that.

• 12:23Speaker 04

  And so we, I was having that conversation with her. I was like, hey, you know, what do you think? She was like, honestly, you know, whatever your heart is determined, like you go out there and I know you're going to give it your 110%. And I was like, football's always been there for me. I'm just going to stick with that, whether I get drafted or not.

• 12:42Speaker 04

  Look at me now. Pay it off.

• 12:44Ryan Clark?

  He mentioned, he mentioned the injuries and all of us have dealt with certain things. But I understand what it's like to wait for your opportunity. You know, you keep saying, you know, getting that op. Like, I know for me, it was going to Washington and playing for a coach who didn't care how we got there. And his thing was if you can play, if you can help us, you're gonna play. And so I always was like, okay, if I go out there and do what I have to do, I get my opportunity. I also know that opportunities for us look differently, right? Whereas if you're a first-rounder, you're a top-10 pick, or you're one of those guys, you have a career to prove to everybody that you can't play.

• 13:18Speaker 04

  Right.

• 13:19Ryan Clark?

  Right? You gotta prove to one team that you can't play. Somebody else gonna say, I remember when I scouted him and when I evaluated him, how good I thought he was. I'll give him a chance. For us, it's you can go out and have a great game. If that guy who they drafted comes back, hey, he's ready to play. You're on the back burner. You finally get to that point where you're becoming a household name. San Francisco 49ers go to the Super Bowl. You guys beat one of the greatest in all time in Aaron Rodgers in the NFC Championship. And it's largely based on what you were capable of doing. Like, I know what that feels like, like, oh, it's about to be my time. Like, I'm finally going to get to show the world that I've always been this. And then you start getting hit with the injury bug. And you have the huge injury that, you know, eventually, you know, you leave San Francisco and you come here and now you're healthy.

• 14:04Ryan Clark?

  What was it like starting to build and starting to grind to get your name to be one of those household names? And then kind of have that opportunity taken from you with injuries?

• 14:14Speaker 04

  Yeah, so you guys know about the injury bug when you, you know, me, I'm like at the highs of high, right? You know, I'm, I'm working my way up into a role where everybody's seen me as a starter. Everybody's seen me as this guy that, you know, could be a difference maker. And when that, that rug gets swept up under you, it's like a, for me, I knew that it was one of those things where I was determined to get back to that level. Like, people can talk, people can say whatever they want about me, but like, at the end of the day, I gotta look myself in the mirror and be happy with the product that I produce. So if I'm not gonna go out there, if I'm gonna go out there and, you know, not produce at a high level, I'm doing myself a disservice. I'm doing the organization a disservice.

• 14:57Speaker 04

  Who, who took that chance on me? I'm doing my family a disservice. I got three little boys, like.

• 15:05Speaker 04

  If you got kids and you understand what that's like. You know.

• 15:08Ryan Clark?

  They looking at daddy.

• 15:09Speaker 04

  They looking at daddy. Like, my son, every time he come up to the stadium, I come out that tunnel, he in a certain section and I know where he at. He raising his arms up, you know, be strong daddy. Like, all those little moments right there, it's just like, it's impassable for me to get back on my feet to get, get out there and get, get on that grind. Especially on that field, like, you gotta have that heart and determination, cause at the end of the day, that's, that's all you can stand on, really.

• 15:35Ryan Clark?

  How does, how does that, that affect you? And this is like, my brain works in a weird way. This is like way away from, from football. Uh, you know, we all have kids and we have our relationships, uh, with our children. Uh, I had kids early, so my son got to be there for everything. And he was, he broke us down in the Super Bowl huddle. He broke us down for every playoff walkthrough, like those experiences. You know, when you look at your boys and at home, you are just daddy. But sometimes when you put those pads on, it's kinda, it's a superhero costume. Right? Your kids believe that daddy's better than everybody. Your kids and your, your, your wife and your family believe that, because they've seen you work, that you deserve everything that they've seen you work for.

• 16:19Ryan Clark?

  What is it like having to deal with some of those lows and go home and look your boys in the face and, and be a husband to your wife? Knowing what you're dealing with internally inside this building can't impact what you are for them.

• 16:33Speaker 04

  Yeah, it can't impact. I mean, it's crazy too, cause like I was having this conversation with teammates too. Um, you know, because I'm, I'm an older guy on this team. Um, and we have a young, a young group of guys, but, you know, they ask me all the time, like, how do you, how do you deal with like, being at home and then, you know, football? And I tell them straight up, like, I got a 30-minute car ride. You know, I can ease my mind on, on a lot of things, especially, you know, coming from home or coming from work, so. Um, I think that, that definitely boils down to is like, hey, how can you, how can you separate what's going on with both the aspects? And just really dial in on yourself, you know? It, it's one of those inner, those inner strengths that I believe in, like.

• 17:16Speaker 05

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

• 17:26Speaker 00

  Ask your prescriber about Wegovy. Somemagnitide injection 2.4 milligrams a GLP-1. Call 1-833-4-WEGOVIE or visit wegovie.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about Wegovy. Why wait?

• 17:45Speaker 04

  I can go out there. I'm mentally tough. I'm mentally capable of doing it, but like, I literally physically, I gotta get my body right too. And like you said, when they allude to that injury bug too, it's like, man, my kid's looking up to me, so I gotta take care. That means I have to stay here for an extra two and a half, three hours to take care of my body now, especially because I'm that upper, that upper guy, you know, in regards to age, then I gotta do what I gotta do because I can't go home feeling sore. I can't go home looking at my kids and being like, hey daddy, I don't know if daddy's gonna be up for the challenge tomorrow. You know what I mean? So that's where I get my motivation from is like, just stay here, do the little things, stay here and get right. So that way, when you do go home, hey, your kids see you happy, you know, everybody in

• 18:30Speaker 04

  the house is happy because nobody wants to come home to, you know, angry person, you know what I mean?

• 18:35Channing Crowder?

  Drink you some wine.

• 18:36Speaker 04

  Hey.

• 18:40Speaker 04

  Wine is definitely a good solution, I'll tell you that.

• 18:42Channing Crowder?

  Hey bro, why Miami though? I know, I know McDaniel had the connection, you know, in San Fran, but why Miami? Why'd you choose here?

• 18:50Speaker 04

  The reason why I chose Miami honestly is because, you know, they're one game away every year. These past two years, they've been one game away from the playoffs. Now, as y'all know, when you hit them playoffs, you can have a great little run. I've witnessed that with San Fran. You know, the year before, we were what, 4 and 12? And then we went on an eight game win streak the following year, 2019. Went on an eight game streak, and then next thing you know, hey, we in the dance, baby. So if I could help the team with just one game, like us. That's ultimate for me because I already know what I'm gonna do in the playoffs.

• 19:28Channing Crowder?

  Yeah.

• 19:28Speaker 04

  Like, that's already been proven. But like, if I could just help this team, me personally, if I could help the team, and then of course with, you know, Mikey.

• 19:36Channing Crowder?

  Yeah.

• 19:37Speaker 04

  It, it, it's always good to have a good connection, but that's, that's my, that's my goal, is to help this team with that one game, so that way I can go to the playoffs.

• 19:46Channing Crowder?

  But with McDaniel too, because I'm, he's through to us, I live, we live down here, we live, we in Miami, dude. But, uh, RC covers every team, and it, proof's in the pudding with the, you know, with the wins and losses and all that stuff. But, he seems like he knows what the hell he's doing. You question a lot of young coaches, especially first-year coaches, but young dudes, you know what I'm saying? I think I'm, I think we're all older than Mikey Dan, you know what I'm saying? Like, did you, did you see that in him in San Fran? Did you know that when he got here, he, he could run a team, he could run an organization?

• 20:18Speaker 04

  Yeah, just based off of the conversations that I had, because, you know, he'll run game coordinator in San Fran, and he was that for about five years, and then last year he got the role as the offensive coordinator. So I already knew, you know, with me, I mean, come on, I'm trying to get little nuggets here and there on what the game plan is, so that way I can perform, you know? When the NFC Championship game, I blew up on the scene, he was the reason, you know, I, I sat in them hours with him in that office, and I was like, hey, what, what's Green Bay defense? How they running? Like, what's the D-line talking about? They three-four style defense? I already know Preston Smith on the edge, I already know they got Zedarius Smith on the, on the other end,

• 20:59Speaker 04

  so like, how can we attack these boys? And, yeah, we got, we got some playmakers, we can get this done. So, just communicating with him, and I'm like, hey, this, this dude really knows what he talking about. Like, X's and O's, he know exactly what he talking about. So like, that was the perfect solution for me. I was like, alright, well, let's see how this transpires from run game coordinator, now he the OC. Look what he did last year with Kyle. I mean, you know, Kyle's the brains of everything too, but like, he the real brains behind the scene too, that people don't know about, and then... Come to find out, he interviewing for the job, I'm like, what? Like, I couldn't believe it. I was like, you talking about Mikey? Like, you know what I mean? Like, we talking about the same Mikey.

• 21:43Speaker 04

  Like, and they're like, yeah, you got some words for him? I'm like, hell yeah, this man, he legit, so.

• 21:49Fred Taylor?

  He's just a few years older than you are.

• 21:52Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 21:52Fred Taylor?

  Uh, you know, and they tell us, when you look at the average lifespan of a player's career in the NFL, it's around three to three and a half years. You know, and if you're lucky enough to go past that, and then you hit that wall, they say 30 is usually the age that most players decline.

• 22:08Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 22:09Fred Taylor?

  But that expedites itself for the running back position, and you're right here at 30.

• 22:13Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 22:14Fred Taylor?

  Looking at the trajectory of your career, being an undrafted guy, having to pivot and go through, you know, all those different challenges, finding a landing spot in San Fran, now you're here in Miami. You've had your share of injuries. What's your mindset when you hear, know those things in the media, or just knowing that 30 is that age that usually comes with a rapid decline? Like, what's your mindset and your approach to your health and the things you have to do to keep pushing for?

• 22:42Speaker 04

  Yeah, so, it might sound stupid to like a lot of people, um.

• 22:48Fred Taylor?

  Well, it won't sound stupid to me, because I've been there.

• 22:50Speaker 04

  Yeah, yeah, you been there, so, I say a lot of, you know, a lot of people, but. My mindset is like, I'm 30, you know, I ain't get, I ain't really get a production idea early on in my career, which, you know, prolonged my career a little bit longer, but, you know, I'm 30. I'm, I feel like I could be the best damn 30-year-old playing this game than anybody has ever played the game. Like, that, and that's my mindset, right? Because like, I'm always, so, I always want to chase a gold jacket. Now statistically, that might not be the case because of where I'm at, you know, yardage, all that good stuff, like, it is what it is, but I'm still gonna have that mindset of, okay, how can I get this gold jacket? Because ultimately, that's what I want.

• 23:33Speaker 04

  You know, a lot of guys want the fame, the money, you know, everything that comes with being a professional athlete. But my mindset is, I want a gold jacket, so how can I get that accomplished? Well, if that means, you know, you gotta do a little bit extra, do a little bit extra. If you gotta watch film, watch a little bit of extra film. If you gotta get your body right, shit, get your body right, and. Like I said, that's where I came from. That's how I grew up. Like, don't just half-ass anything. Like, don't just dip your foot in a pool and expect it to be cold. Like, just jump in. You don't know if it's gonna be warm. You don't know if, you know. I've been through all these different challenges. Why would I settle? I can't settle.

• 24:16Ryan Clark?

  I mean, you come here and, you know, it's a dang four by one team. You know, once they add you fastest back in the league, you obviously have, you know, you have Jaylen Waddle, you have Tyreek Hill. You're great at tight end with Mike Geseky. And obviously, Tua Tagovailoa is a huge part of that. An entire offseason, everybody pointed to this as an evaluation year for Tua Tagovailoa and what he can do to help the Miami Dolphins reach the heights that you believe they can reach, which made you want to be a part of this organization. You guys had the hot start, the huge win against Baltimore, you know, where you guys come back in the second half. And then, we obviously know what happens to Tua Tagovailoa against Buffalo,

• 25:01Ryan Clark?

  then against Cincinnati. Something you never want to see whether you truly understand football and the toughness that it takes to play it or not. What was the overall feeling when you have to watch that, when you guys are now taking the field without your leader, and it is the Teddy Bridgewater's and the Skylar Thompson's, knowing what Tua was already doing this season for the team?

• 25:24Speaker 04

  Yeah, Tua, man, he's just, his perseverance and, you know, him being, since him being in the league, he's always, you know, had that mantra of, hey, look, like, I can get the job done, I just need my number called. And, you know, I can't really speak on the past Dolphin years that he's been here, but all I see is just resilience out of that guy. You know, he wants to be in a position where it's tough. He wants the adversity to strike because, as you can see, he thrives through that. So like, when that whole thing happened, you know, when we played against the Bengals, you know... We all were scared because you know if you check the replay, all that and the way it looked, it didn't look good.

• 26:08Speaker 04

  Especially me and I mean me and Tyreek just got done running routes and he took a sack. So then you see him just me and him rerun like running back to the huddle. You know, we seeing the the motion and everything and we like, oh, man, like that's our brother right there. So it was kind of tough, you know what I mean, to go back out there and play, but then it's that next man up attitude that you gotta have. So you know Teddy comes in and he started killing it. So it's just like it's a trickle down effect and and that's what you need in the organization. Two has been able to do that, you know, in regards to like the past with him and Fitzmagic, you know, him learning under him and all that stuff. And then when he gets his op, you know, you see what he can do. So just have to add that mantra for him and he's been able to do a great thing for that.

• 26:53Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, and having him back, just having that guy and we know everybody in this league can play. You can play, you ain't up here, you ain't, nobody has a contract that can't play. But now having two back, RC hit it on the head, big wins, Bet Buffalo wins. I'm I don't even jump up and down during that during game. I'm sitting at the bar jumping up and down when that clock ran out.

• 27:13Speaker 05

  I said, oh, they don't got enough time. They don't got enough time.

• 27:16Channing Crowder?

  And then you have the low, now having two back, like, how much does it help? And not, you know, saying a lot bad mouthing anybody, but just having that man back in that huddle, knowing what he can do, seeing the fourth quarter Baltimore game, like we all saw it. How much does two help coming back?

• 27:32Speaker 04

  It's a lot of help. He he just comes back and it's just like an aura around the whole huddle. Like we had practice with him earlier today and like you could just tell the aura and like the demand that he's asking throughout his players, like his teammates, his brothers, like it it's different. Like y'all know that huddle, y'all know that guy that come in and y'all like, oh, yeah, we got to rally around this guy. That's definitely two. And I'm excited, man, you know, we got a good game coming up this week. So it's gonna be a great opportunity for not only him, but for the whole team to bounce back and get back to what we know, what what we've been able to do, you know, the first three games. So and and we understand the importance of, you know, getting that dub, but.

• 28:15Speaker 04

  It starts with Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, you know, going into Saturday and leading up to Sunday, so.

• 28:21Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, I really, I want you guys to get it right. Not this week, but like after this week, I really want things to, I really want things to work out for y'all.

• 28:30Channing Crowder?

  They gonna wear the Steelers ass out.

• 28:31Ryan Clark?

  I hope not. I'm just being honest.

• 28:34Speaker 04

  You didn't even really peep the colors that he was wearing in the building though? In the building, like come on, man. In the building.

• 28:41Ryan Clark?

  Hey, bro, you watch the show, the actual colors are black and gold.

• 28:44Speaker 04

  Yeah, I understand that, but come on now.

• 28:46Ryan Clark?

  We are a show of winners, and so we picked winners' colors. When you, you know, listening to you talk about Tua, it resonates with me because I understand that you know, right? You've been to the Super Bowl, you've been on the fields with the Aaron Rodgers and playing against other greats at that position. Also playing with Jimmy Garoppolo, who took you to two NFC championships. And now having Tua back and you mentioning, you came here to get that one win that puts you in the tournament. I mentioned all the things that you guys have in the skilled players' positions on offense. Obviously bringing it over to Ron Armstead to anchor down the left side of that line. Defensively, a team that can blitz, a team that can cover,

• 29:31Ryan Clark?

  run sideline to sideline and tackle, rush the quarterback. When you look at the ceiling for this team, after being on a team that you've seen do it before, you've seen reach the biggest game in football, do the Miami Dolphins have what it takes to reach that pinnacle?

• 29:49Speaker 04

  I mean, yeah, if you're in the building, you understand that we do have what it takes.

• 29:56Speaker 04

  And we've been, we've been down with some unfortunate events, man, that just, you know, we can't really control, but like, at the same time, you know, you just gotta go into it with an open mind now. I will say this, you know, this team, and some people might take it the wrong way, but this team is way more talented than that 2019 year that we went to the Super Bowl.

• 30:17Ryan Clark?

  Two, wait.

• 30:19Speaker 04

  Timeout though.

• 30:19Ryan Clark?

  Yeah. That's crazy.

• 30:21Speaker 04

  I mean, if you look, I mean, the defense is just like, they shut it down. I mean, this past game, like, we didn't get the win, but, I mean, they forced 10 punts in a game. Like, that's like almost unheard of, really. And they did their part. You know, it's on the offense. But like I said, you know, it's different when you've got that quarterback that's missing, that missing piece. It's like that energy, it just electrifies throughout the entire offense. Like even in the building. I mean, y'all know, I mean, y'all could feel it. So I will say that this team is definitely, you know, got a little more talent than that

• 31:05Speaker 04

  19 year, but we just got to put those pieces together. And it don't really mean much. I mean, the thing about, you know, the Browns a couple of years ago, they had a stacked roster too, and they weren't able to get it done, but you know, I hate to say that, but it is what it is. Like you said, proof's in the pudding.

• 31:22Fred Taylor?

  You know, as a running back, we all admire other running backs and, and you know, different running styles and abilities. Who are your top guys in the league right now?

• 31:35Speaker 04

  My top guys in the league right now? Well, definitely, I would say Nick Chubb. Yeah, I think that he does an unbelievable job with the ball in his hands. Saquon is definitely hitting his stride right now, and I love to see that, especially what he's been going through since, you know, his rookie year. I would, Najee, I think Najee is definitely a good back as well. Yeah, I mean, that's, there's a lot of good backs.

• 32:05Ryan Clark?

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• 32:23Speaker 05

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• 32:53Fred Taylor?

  With that, those guys that will aspire to get there, you know, guys that are probably at home watching this, looking at the direction your career had gone in. You know, we have, one of our sponsors is DraftKings. But RC and I, we came up with something, the Undrafted Kings. What's one message, you know, would you give, you know, a young player at home who didn't get drafted coming out of high school, you know, what's one thought you would leave them with?

• 33:26Speaker 04

  Yeah, so, you know, one thought that I would leave them with is, you know, don't ever give up. It may not go the way you think it is at the moment, you know, but the only thing that you can honestly do is, is put it, put forth your effort, you know, your effort is your legacy. So if you, if you have a great effort and you're gonna have a great legacy, I really believe that. And that's something that I've been able to do, you know, with my, my legacy. Now, I've, I've dealt with all kinds of stuff in my life and, you know, I can't never hold that against me, you know, I can only move past it and always think of the outcome. Think of positivity, because at the end of the day, that's, that's all you can really stand on.

• 34:09Fred Taylor?

  For sure.

• 34:09Speaker 04

  So I would definitely say just have a great attitude about things, you know, it may not work out the way you envisioned it to be, but if you still had that grind mindset and, and to keep going and to keep fighting, it's gonna pay off.

• 34:23Channing Crowder?

  Man, y'all two should've just balled in college like me and Fred.

• 34:27Speaker 04

  Should've.

• 34:27Channing Crowder?

  First off.

• 34:29Ryan Clark?

  First off, I was cold.

• 34:31Speaker 04

  You just balled in college.

• 34:32Ryan Clark?

  When I left college, I had the most tackles of any DB leaving college.

• 34:36Speaker 04

  But you were there for eight years.

• 34:38Ryan Clark?

  I was there for four, like everybody else who plays. All of us don't leave as sophomores and go fishing because Mel Kiper said we was gonna get drafted in the first round. Anyway, like, you know, I was thinking about you saying, you know, you talking about, you know, like, don't give up, right? And the AFC East, historically, at least to the last, through the last two decades, has been the New England Patriots division. That's a team you guys have beat. Coming into this year, it's become the Buffalo Bills division with Josh Allen, the Stefan Diggs, obviously Von Miller defensively, like a complete team. Another team y'all had the opportunity to beat.

• 35:23Ryan Clark?

  The Jets now are all of a sudden good. You know, so this division has gone from one of those divisions where it always seemed like a one or two-team race to where all four teams are competitive. When you look at where you guys sit now at 3-3, what is it going to take if it's not that we find a way to catch the Buffalo Bills and win the AFC East? What is it gonna take for you guys to finish in a place where you can get one of those wild card spots? Or how do you see you guys moving through the AFC East to get one of those wild card spots so you can be in the dance at the end of the season? Because when you look at this division, which people used to always count for the New England

• 36:05Ryan Clark?

  Patriots and say, oh, the New England Patriots gonna win six games, right? They gonna beat Miami, they gonna beat Buffalo, they gonna beat the Jets. It's not like that anymore. All of these teams are competitive. When you look at the division, how do you guys stack up?

• 36:19Speaker 04

  I mean, we beat supposedly the team that's supposed to make it to the Super Bowl. And... That in itself tells you the determination that we have, you know. We're not a team to, you know, I hope people don't take us as a team that you can just pat the stats. Because we are not that. That's changed. Like, our attitude, that, everything's changed in this building. And it starts with the guy that's controlling it, like you said, Mikey. You know, he has that conviction that, hey, we're a damn good football team, and we just gotta go out there and prove it. And we've been able to do it. But now, like I said, once we get certain guys back and healthy and, you know,

• 37:03Speaker 04

  we just gotta take off, you know. Any given Sunday, you know, you hear that all the time. Like, it's any given Sunday. No matter who the opponent is, they might, statistically, might be better than you, but it might not be their day. So, that's the mindset that you just have to take, especially us. We taking that mindset of, hey, look, one week at a time. And then we can control only what we can control. Moving forward, we ain't worried about, oh, we gotta beat this team in order to get in this category. We gotta do this, that. No, just one week at a time and one game at a time.

• 37:41Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, we mentioned, you saying, you know, you're faster than Tyreek and those things. You got an opportunity to play with Debo, who, you know, who was younger, you know, when you guys made your run, you know, those couple of years. But obviously, last year, he was a huge part of helping you get to the NFC Championship. So you've seen talented players, even though you say that this team is more talented. And I think when you look at the top guys on this team and the skill sets they possess, I think it's easy to see why you would say that. You know, you guys, you late in the fourth quarter, you need a big play. Whose hands should the football be in?

• 38:22Speaker 04

  I mean, there's really one guy, and that's Reece. I mean, the guy's just, he's undeniably like, that guy. Like, you see why he's in the position where he's in, you know? Because he can make that play, and guys do count on him. But, I mean, it stands to, I can go to, you know, Waddle too. Look what he did against Baltimore. You know what I mean? He cranked up at the end of the game, got us that game-winning touchdown. So, there's a number of guys that can get it done. I mean, even Mike Gesekki, you know, he can get it done too. So, there's a lot of different guys that can go out there and, once you put the ball in their hands. Like me, I'm a early, I'm a early guy, I guess you could say.

• 39:06Speaker 04

  Like, I get the ball early, I make the magic happen. But, when it comes out, those, you know, we need it, let's lock in, that's them guys.

• 39:15Ryan Clark?

  I got a request. Can y'all get him to stop gritting? That's just trash.

• 39:20Channing Crowder?

  He said he the veteran, you the vet. You should pull him to the side and say, "Don't do that no more."

• 39:26Speaker 04

  Look, man, at the end of the day, I can only control some way. You know what I mean? Control what you can control. That's it, that's it. And if he's scoring touchdowns, ain't no problem, right? If he's scoring touchdowns, you just let him be. Come on now, like, so, yeah, nah, he, uh, Mike's a great energy guy, man. I mean, I was sitting there right next to him, we in the end zone, I'm like...

• 39:46Channing Crowder?

  Ah, I can't rock with you on this one, bro. You should have grabbed him and lifted him off the ground.

• 39:50Speaker 04

  I wanted, hey, but he just kept going, I was like, end zone to end zone, I'm like, alright, side to side.

• 39:56Ryan Clark?

  Hey, man, for us, brother, I think this is, this is really what we needed. Because there's so much going on with Miami right now, that's all speculation. Are they, are they as good as they seemed in the first three weeks? Is Mike McDaniel the type of coach that can lead this team to the playoffs after Brian Flores, getting them, you know, on the precipice the last couple of years? I'm gonna switch away from football to end the show, because this is something that we like to do. And if you've watched the show, you've known this. You have had a road of being cut, a road of working yourself into contention to be the guy, then falling to injury. What would you say has been the biggest pivot that has you at this point,

• 40:38Ryan Clark?

  not only believing that your team can reach enormous heights, but that you can still be everything you ever sought out to be?

• 40:46Speaker 04

  I mean, that's a great way to, you know, put it towards the end.

• 40:52Speaker 04

  I guess it would just say my determination to being great. Like, I said that early on in the show, but I really believe that. I feel like if I didn't have that mindset, then I wouldn't be where I'm at, you know? And the supporting cast, you know, my wife, she mentally, she's probably one of the toughest people I know. So, you know, just having her in my corner telling me like, hey, look, you know, you. I mean, there was a moment when I got cut by the Browns, you know? I made the 53-man roster. The next day, we went to celebrate that night, had a nice little steak dinner, you know? Enjoyed it. It's my second year in the league.

• 41:32Speaker 04

  And then the following day, my wife, truthfully, she had a bridal shower that day. And that was the same day I got cut. So I had to call her dad up and he was with the ladies, you know? He organizing and helping around the event, whatever. And I called him, I'm like, hey, man, you know, I don't know how to tell you this. I ain't telling Devon, I ain't telling my wife, and I'm damn sure I ain't telling my mother-in-law. But I got cut and he was just like, all right, well, we gonna talk about it when you get home, when we get home, when we get done with this event.

• 42:08Speaker 04

  Wife and in-laws came to our apartment in Cleveland. And I had a conversation with them after, you know, being cut so many times. And I asked them, I said, hey, look, what do y'all think, like, moving forward? Because this, this whole moving around, like, you know? I had to pack suitcases in Philly to come to Miami, like, I had left my, all my stuff. I was just about to sign a lease. It's all, it's all different. Like, I hate this moment. And they were like, how much do you love the game? My wife asked me, she was like, how much you love the game? I was like, I've been in it for some years now, you know? I've been playing since I was seven. And she looked at me, she was like, well, that's your answer right there. Why stop?

• 42:50Speaker 04

  And so, at that moment, I was like, yeah, it's about, it's about have that mental, that mental fortitude to go out there and just put it all on the line, give it your best. Like, no matter what everybody says outside of what you can control, what, outside of those lines, like, all that matters is your legacy. And my legacy has always been, I want a gold jacket. And so, that's why I would like to leave you guys with, like, no matter what, man, just keep fighting. Like, it's gonna pay off. You just gotta have that conviction and believe in it. Because if you don't, then you're not gonna be anywhere, really.

• 43:31Speaker 04

  Like, and we all have that. Like, we all have that conviction, like, okay, look, I wanna be the best DB. I wanna be the best lineman. I wanna be the best running back. I wanna be the, like, convict that. Like, be convicted in it, then it's gonna pay off for you, so.

• 43:45Ryan Clark?

  Man, that's it.

• 43:47Fred Taylor?

  Why didn't you choose U M, man?