The Facility XX
[0] Blockbuster trade in the NBA.
[1] Luka Doncic headed to the Lakers.
[2] You already know it.
[3] Y 'all saw it.
[4] Bring us on camera.
[5] Bring us on camera.
[6] Bring us on camera, please.
[7] Anthony Davis, 10 -time All -Star, blah, blah, blah.
[8] The question now is real simple.
[9] Blah, blah, blah.
[10] Y 'all know me. Born and raised in Dallas.
[11] I've told y 'all.
[12] Very passionate about this discussion.
[13] Very passionate about this conversation.
[14] Can LeBron James, can Luka Doncic, can they coexist?
[15] There we go.
[16] Oh, my dog.
[17] Y 'all know Jay got offered to play football and basketball for those that needed to know.
[18] Villanova wanted me, too.
[19] Don't forget that.
[20] Look, I'm talking to y 'all today as a fan.
[21] My analyst hat is off.
[22] I think LeBron and Luka can coexist.
[23] Matter of fact, I'll say I'm sure LeBron and Luka can coexist.
[24] Here's why.
[25] Remember LeBron?
[26] Remember Luka and Kyrie coexisted.
[27] But they didn't coexist at first.
[28] LeBron and Luka might not be able to coexist at first.
[29] 2 -5, you remember when that trade occurred, I think it was a 22 -23 season.
[30] The Mavs were 29 -26, sixth overall seed in the West before the trade.
[31] By the time the season ended, the Mavs were the 11th seed in the West.
[32] They were 9 -18 with Luka and Kyrie when Luka and Kyrie first got together.
[33] So what I'm suggesting is...
[34] It might not work immediately.
[35] But y 'all, don't get it twisted.
[36] The Mavs did not walk to the NBA Finals when they first acquired Kyrie.
[37] They got worse.
[38] I was scared, Jay.
[39] Mavs were the sixth seed.
[40] And y 'all remember, sixth seed, you okay because you might be in the play -in, but you can avoid the play -in.
[41] And then Luke Kyrie shows up.
[42] They finish 9 -18.
[43] They drop all the way down to the 11th seed.
[44] We missed the playoffs.
[45] I was like, yo, this is disgusting.
[46] How can it work?
[47] Two ball -dominant players.
[48] Neither excel on defense.
[49] Neither are the janitor players.
[50] I refer to a janitor player as a person who's willing to do it.
[51] the dirty work.
[52] Neither is a janitor -caliber player.
[53] It can't work.
[54] Next year, the Mavericks get straight to the finals.
[55] We see instantly how Kyrie and Luka can work.
[56] To me, I don't know if LeBron and Luka will work tomorrow.
[57] I don't need them to work tomorrow.
[58] But can it work next month?
[59] Can it work next year?
[60] Because we probably only got one to two more great ones out of LeBron James.
[61] LeBron just had a triple -double in Madison Square, so I can't assume he's going to be done anytime soon.
[62] Can it work?
[63] In the next year or so, that's where I say 2 -5.
[64] I think it can.
[65] These are two of the most cerebral offensive minds in the history of basketball, LeBron and Luka.
[66] I love this trade.
[67] For the future, for the Lakers.
[68] Not right now.
[69] Not for LeBron.
[70] I mean, listen, let me say this about LeBron.
[71] LeBron's a great player.
[72] Luka and LeBron, they're the same players.
[73] Instead, Luka's younger and does everything better.
[74] Said that about Kyrie 2 -5.
[75] No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Kyrie's always been a great number two.
[76] We said ball -dominant, offensive -minded player.
[77] Slow down, slow down.
[78] I'm slow.
[79] I'm slow.
[80] LeBron.
[81] Kyrie played with LeBron.
[82] That was the ball more than anybody, right?
[83] So what I'm saying is he played that role well.
[84] Kyrie did.
[85] I ain't ever seen LeBron take a backseat.
[86] Yo, yo, look.
[87] I'm going to do everything you do.
[88] If you watch Luka play, the ball's just hitting all day.
[89] He sees the floor great.
[90] That's why he has all them assists.
[91] He rebounds.
[92] He pushes the pace when he wants to.
[93] He slows it down when he wants to.
[94] Who does that better than LeBron James?
[95] That's LeBron right there.
[96] Listen to what I have to say.
[97] Slows the pace down.
[98] Speeds it up when he wants to.
[99] He controls the whole thing.
[100] He slows the ball down when he wants to.
[101] And he sees who's opening, etc. He has a great floor vision.
[102] That's Luka.
[103] How are they both going to do that?
[104] Because, Shady, they're both brilliant offensive minds.
[105] They're both basketball savants.
[106] With the ball in her hand.
[107] Something got to give.
[108] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[109] With the ball in her hand.
[110] Of course.
[111] You're saying how smart their offense is?
[112] Yeah.
[113] Have you ever seen LeBron James not with the ball in his hand?
[114] No. No. Have you ever seen Luka not with the ball in his hand?
[115] Of course not.
[116] Have you seen Kyrie with the ball not in his hand?
[117] Yes, when he was with LeBron.
[118] You get what I'm saying?
[119] I feel you.
[120] Oh, okay.
[121] I know.
[122] I know.
[123] Who's going to have the ball in his hand?
[124] No. Which one?
[125] Is it Luka or LeBron?
[126] That's a great question.
[127] LeBron only has two more years.
[128] We would say that Luka is going to be in his hands, right?
[129] Of course.
[130] But how do you, like Aaron Rodgers said, I can't turn 20 -something years off.
[131] But wouldn't you say that at this point in LeBron's career, he can adapt to really any type of player he is?
[132] At any point, he's going to have to.
[133] But he's also like a really physical enforcer down low, but he can also get outside, shoot the shot.
[134] At any point.
[135] But then you got Luka.
[136] At any point, though, don't you think that, especially this, like my answer is like, they don't really have a choice.
[137] They got to make it work.
[138] If they want to do something special with two number one and two star players, can they coexist?
[139] Like, that's my thing is, like, if Luke is bringing the ball down, where's LeBron go?
[140] Like, J .J. Redick, offensive savant, can he go?
[141] They just went 4 -1 on the road trip.
[142] Like, they're going to have to coexist at one point, right?
[143] See, this is going to be tough because Anthony Davis is walking into the Dallas Mavericks right now, and it's a perfect fit right away.
[144] You know what I mean?
[145] They're going to, hey, you play defense, you get in the post, you do what you do.
[146] We're going to roll.
[147] This is going to take some time, like you're saying, Acho.
[148] This is two ball -dominant dudes.
[149] Both these dudes is not good off the ball.
[150] And that's just true facts.
[151] They're not good off the ball.
[152] They both are ball -dominant, making everybody else around them better.
[153] But it has to work.
[154] LeBron James, you are 40 -plus years old.
[155] It has to work.
[156] Luka in the game, you bring it down sometime.
[157] You make something happen.
[158] But I think the main thing this will work is with the other units.
[159] So now when you're getting LeBron rest, we got a dude on the basketball court that's going to make everybody better.
[160] Right.
[161] You know what I'm saying?
[162] So now that you're on the court getting some rest, we don't just – Anthony Davis ain't making everybody better.
[163] We have a dude that has carried teams to the finals making everybody better.
[164] You have that when you're resting now.
[165] Now, on the court at the same time, I will be sitting up here lying saying that it's not going to be difficult.
[166] Y 'all know because we all watch Hoops up here.
[167] Obviously, Shady James, I know y 'all's basketball acumen better.
[168] I've worked with y 'all longer than I've worked with Chase.
[169] LeBron has been able to do it in spurts.
[170] Miami Heat, Mario Chalmers in spurts.
[171] Miami, Cleveland Cavs, Kyrie Irving in spurts.
[172] Now, has he done it for 82 games over the course of the season?
[173] Absolutely not.
[174] But, Shay, I went to the 2017 NBA Finals when the Cavs were playing.
[175] I saw, hey, Kyrie, it's your time.
[176] Now, it's in spurts.
[177] It might be for six minutes.
[178] Obviously, Miami Heat, it's in spurts.
[179] Luka does that, too, sometimes.
[180] But, Jardy, let me just say this real quick.
[181] Both of these dudes since high school, this ball's been in their hands.
[182] And y 'all tell me this is going to change that?
[183] No. Think about what I'm saying, though.
[184] Not with ease.
[185] Not with natural ease.
[186] But not only that, but even when we see Luka defer to Kyrie, all we see him do is stand there.
[187] You know what I'm saying?
[188] Like, he's not good off the ball.
[189] Luka don't need to adjust.
[190] LeBron has to adjust.
[191] It is going to take the time.
[192] So you want the king who's been running the show.
[193] He has to, though.
[194] Think about this for a second, though.
[195] No, he has to.
[196] Because y 'all saying this, but we humans, dog.
[197] Our body, muscle memory.
[198] Without thinking, I know how to do this move because my muscle knows it, right?
[199] You're telling me this dude since high school, the ball's been in his hands since a rookie, all the way to his 40 years old?
[200] And y 'all telling him that he got to change?
[201] I think he can.
[202] It sounds easier than it has to be done.
[203] I'm telling you that right now.
[204] 100%.
[205] Hey, I got to bring in one of the...
[206] Oh, Slickshare!
[207] in the sports world right now.
[208] For those that are unfamiliar, Rick Buecher, I would suggest there is no more brilliant basketball mind covering the sport right now than NBA analyst, my friend, my guy.
[209] We text on occasion.
[210] We talk more often.
[211] Slick, Rick the Buecher.
[212] Slick, so much I want to ask you about right now.
[213] First and foremost, have you ever seen, because you've been covering the sport, I believe 37 or some odd years, have you ever seen any trade like this in the history of sport?
[214] Contextualize just how big...
[215] a deal, what we are witnessing and what occurred is, please.
[216] I don't know that I can give you one that quite meets this criteria, but I was actually, I presided over one and that was Chris Webber as rookie of the year being traded to the Washington Wizards.
[217] And then Chris Webber, an all -star in the middle of an all -star career being traded to the Sacramento Kings.
[218] That's about as close for Mitch Richmond.
[219] That's about as close as I can get.
[220] in terms of taking a cornerstone franchise player and being moved from one place to the other.
[221] All right, now Slick, let's talk the Luke of it all.
[222] Let's please, again, I'm from Dallas, born and raised.
[223] I was at Reunion Arena before it became American Airlines Center.
[224] Like, I grew up on the Dallas Mavericks.
[225] This trade has kept me awake for the last two days.
[226] Can you make sense out of any of it?
[227] Like, what are you hearing?
[228] What were the grumblings?
[229] Is it true that you were chanting N -I -C -O, Nico's got to go, on your way?
[230] I wish I would have come up with it myself, Slick.
[231] I wish I would have.
[232] Make sense of it, can you?
[233] Yeah, well, look, it's essentially they go to the finals last year, and as you guys have discussed, the letdown was Luka Doncic.
[234] Wasn't playing defense, wasn't in good enough shape to be able to compete with the Boston Celtics.
[235] And you would have thought that that would have been a wake -up call for Luka in terms of coming back and being a different player this year.
[236] And what they saw was he wasn't.
[237] And this is a very unique situation.
[238] I mean, I was just shocked as anybody.
[239] There was absolutely no rumblings that this was going to happen.
[240] But when it did, I immediately thought about all the rumblings that I had been hearing about Luka's difficult to play with.
[241] keeping him in shape.
[242] And ultimately, what it was is Nico Harrison looking down the line.
[243] And this is something that is really new to the NBA now, because there's never been any contract that you would say is unmovable.
[244] But we are now getting into the realm with Supermax contracts and the way that they are configured, where you're going to invest $69, $70 million a year.
[245] into Luka Doncic, and you're asking yourself, when I have to give away all those other pieces, can he be the guy that leads me there?
[246] Slick, let me interject, Slick, because you said a lot of brilliant things.
[247] But you said they go to the finals last year.
[248] I have been arguing tooth and nail.
[249] My blood pressure's so high, I got to go see the doctor after I leave here with the fellas at this desk.
[250] They go to the finals last year.
[251] I was suggesting that we have seen players.
[252] have flaws.
[253] Shaquille O 'Neal notably, end of games, had to come off the court, hack a shack.
[254] Giannis Antetokounmpo right now, he has no outside perimeter game.
[255] You can just pack the paint.
[256] You have to build around Giannis.
[257] You needed to get Giannis shooters.
[258] You needed to get Pat.
[259] You needed to get Giannis Dame.
[260] You needed to get Giannis, different people that can stretch the court to make up for Giannis' flaws.
[261] Every player I would suggest has flaws.
[262] Luka is no different.
[263] Why not build around Luka's flaws as opposed to trading this individual?
[264] Because every NBA player is flawed.
[265] Because the flaw is at the heart of him being able to improve.
[266] It's not the talent.
[267] It's the willingness to do the things that are necessary to be that leader of the team.
[268] It's really intangibles.
[269] And I do know this about championship teams.
[270] Your best player has to be your hardest worker.
[271] And if you don't have that, you're always going to be susceptible.
[272] to falling short somewhere along the line.
[273] And then when you have to pay that player a premium amount, and look, they've been putting pieces around Luca to compensate for him.
[274] And I will say that this is a very unique situation in that you're looking across the way and suddenly there is a guy available who answers all your needs.
[275] He's a guy who is an MVP.
[276] at the defensive end.
[277] You know, I'm not surprised that James and Chase and Shady did not talk at all about the defensive end of the floor, but I'm very disappointed in you.
[278] That is the missing linchpin here.
[279] And it will be the missing linchpin for LeBron and Luca getting together because they are going to look, they were a mediocre defensive team.
[280] with AD playing like a defensive player of the year.
[281] What's that going to look like when you take him out and you put Luka and LeBron on the floor?
[282] That's going to be their great challenge.
[283] Slick, I got a couple questions for you.
[284] Number one, how do you get better from 28 -8 -8 and taking your team to the finals?
[285] Number one, you giving up a player like that.
[286] That's like giving up Anthony Edwards or Shea this young in their career, which sounds crazy.
[287] Number two.
[288] Who takes the backseat in L .A.?
[289] Because somebody has to take the backseat.
[290] LeBron or Luka, somebody has to take the backseat in L .A. because they both ball dominant.
[291] How does this work?
[292] Well, the fact that the Lakers have said it, because they didn't confer with LeBron before making this move.
[293] They said, hey, we're going to go get our next superstar.
[294] So for this year, Luka may be the star in waiting, but there's no question that they've made the decision.
[295] We're turning the page.
[296] And we went and got our next superstar.
[297] And as Shady said, we went and got the carbon copy of the guy that's there who's 40 years old.
[298] Now, I don't know about you guys, but when there's a senior vice president and they bring a young guy in who does the exact same thing, the senior vice president probably has to say, okay, that gold box may be coming pretty soon.
[299] So as far as the Mavericks are concerned, I think one of the things that Nika looked at is this season.
[300] When they've played all the top teams in the West, they've played them without Luka Doncic and won.
[301] And they've played them with Luka Doncic and they've lost.
[302] Now, that's regular season.
[303] But I keep looking at the way the team is composed and what they were missing.
[304] And maybe most of all, look across the NBA.
[305] Who's the dominant team?
[306] Like, who's the team you have to beat?
[307] It's wide open.
[308] And Nico's looking at it and saying the way Kyrie Irving is playing right now, the way all the other pieces fit, all those pieces were the vehicle to get us to the finals.
[309] If I add an Anthony Davis playing the way he's playing right now, I am in the league.
[310] And I don't believe that they were thinking that.
[311] Hey, slick.
[312] I'm so happy you came on because when you say stuff, people, listen, I said the same exact thing you said all day.
[313] And they look at me like I'm crazy.
[314] And you say it.
[315] They're like, oh, I'm here for you, Shady.
[316] I'm here for you, Shady.
[317] Breaking news to report.
[318] It doesn't really get bigger than this.
[319] In the NFL, reigning defensive player of the year, Myles Garrett, the fifth most sacks in the history of the league in the first eight years.
[320] He is requested out from the Cleveland Browns.
[321] Literally during commercial break, just got off the phone with someone from Myles' team, and he just reiterated the simple truth.
[322] Miles Garrett doesn't care about going from Cleveland to Canton, which is what Andrew Barry always cared about.
[323] Miles Garrett cares about winning and playing in Super Bowl.
[324] So to me, it makes sense.
[325] I do feel sad for Browns fans.
[326] The Cleveland Browns drafted me. But I also understand Miles Garrett's only been to the playoffs.
[327] Twice in eight years.
[328] Twice in eight years.
[329] He has the second most sacks since 2017 behind only T .J. Watt.
[330] Canton will take care of itself.
[331] But Miles has taken care of itself.
[332] And what Miles has done on the football field has not helped lead to winning because the Browns, ultimately, they continue to be a dysfunctional organization.
[333] I can't say that I am surprised.
[334] It's unfortunate for Miles Garrett.
[335] You're a number one overall pick.
[336] You hope not only to change the trajectory of the franchise.
[337] You hope not only to win in your career, but you hope.
[338] to win with the franchise that you changed the trajectory of.
[339] So I'm not shocked, but it is unfortunate because Miles has been such a beacon of hope for the Browns, and now Miles is like, look, I see what y 'all got going on.
[340] I don't want nothing to do with it.
[341] Would you want to stay?
[342] Let's be real.
[343] With how they handled Deshaun Watson and that whole situation, with how they've given out so much of this money to that, even though the coach, two -time coach of the year, right?
[344] That's great.
[345] But when you keep losing, bro, one playoff win in eight seasons.
[346] One.
[347] Like, it makes complete sense for me. At some point, these star players, and Shady can probably talk a lot about it, you're going to get all these sacks.
[348] You're going to get all these pressure.
[349] You're going to get all these stats.
[350] You're going to go to Canton one day, easily.
[351] Walking into Canton, in my opinion.
[352] 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.
[353] At what point, though, in your career do you care more about winning?
[354] than all this other staff.
[355] Like, yeah, they were part of some really good teams, and they got to the playoffs with Joe Flacco, right?
[356] And when they signed Deshaun Watson, I'm sure Miles Garrett was like, this is my calling card.
[357] Like, this is our chance to be great.
[358] Because remember how Deshaun Watson was in Houston the year before?
[359] He was like that.
[360] And so he's probably thinking like, all right, this is it.
[361] Now we got Baker Mayfield.
[362] Now we got Joe Flacco.
[363] Now we got James.
[364] He's like, I want out.
[365] It doesn't surprise me at all.
[366] He's at a point in his career where he cares more about winning.
[367] And unfortunately, they're not winning.
[368] And as he should, because you get to the Hall of Fame by what you do in the postseason, too.
[369] You know, you want to have some postseason stats.
[370] He's not playing in any meaningful games in Cleveland.
[371] You want to get to a team to where you know you're going to be playing in some meaningful games.
[372] He's accomplished.
[373] He got over 100 sacks.
[374] He's a defensive player of the year.
[375] He has accomplished so much, and you're not playing in any meaningful games.
[376] You want to have an opportunity to get to this game that the Eagles and the Chiefs are playing in if you're Myles Garrett.
[377] That is your legacy.
[378] You're different than a lot of players in the National Football League.
[379] It's about your legacy now, and your legacy is not going to continue to get built in Cleveland because you're not going to win no games.
[380] Who going to be the quarterback over there this year?
[381] We don't know.
[382] That's basically a rebuild situation over there for Cleveland.
[383] I absolutely love it.
[384] especially him coming out right now before the draft, all this stuff, because he is the type of player that can get to somewhere right now and help them boys get to that game.
[385] And he deserves it.
[386] He's earned that.
[387] So I love it for Miles Garrett.
[388] Hopefully they deal him soon.
[389] Hopefully he goes to the Green Bay Packers and he can make this thing work.
[390] I don't know how the money situation is, but this is a special talent.
[391] I mean, about time.
[392] I know Miles Garrett.
[393] We cool.
[394] About time.
[395] I joke a lot with a lot of people.
[396] You know, sometimes they don't take me serious.
[397] I'm like, bro, what you doing there?
[398] What you considering?
[399] I mean, all you doing is delivering stats, right?
[400] Devious player of the year, all pros each year.
[401] For what?
[402] No meaningful games?
[403] I look at a guy like DeAndre Hopkins, right?
[404] You know how much joy he's having now?
[405] Now I'm playing for, like, some meaningful football games, right?
[406] Even if I'm not involved or not, I'm still happy to be here.
[407] Darius Slay, right?
[408] I'm just thinking about all the Super Bowl teams.
[409] You go from the Detroit Lions when they were, like, bad, bad.
[410] Now you're in a Super Bowl every other year with the Eagles?
[411] Just think about Saquon, right?
[412] You know what I'm saying?
[413] It's like...
[414] So true.
[415] Now, we all know how great he is, but I feel like certain players that are really, really good, when they play on the big screen, when I say big screen, I mean prime time games, NFC Championship games, Super Bowls, and they play really, really well, they look better than what they really are.
[416] So if you take a guy like Miles Garrett, who's already great, you put him in the Super Bowl and let him dominate and have a chance to get an MVP, Super MVP?
[417] He's a game changer, bro.
[418] You get what I'm saying?
[419] He's a game changer.
[420] Miles Garrett should have been good out of...
[421] Nothing comes good out of Cleveland.
[422] I've been LeBron.
[423] I'm being serious here.
[424] Like, what are we talking about?
[425] Now, what about the aspect, though, of kind of trying to stay there and be the legend?
[426] Obviously, I was there with Joe Thomas.
[427] Joe Thomas drafted to the Browns.
[428] Joe Thomas consecutive start record.
[429] Joe Thomas walked into the Hall of Fame.
[430] Joe first ballot.
[431] Obviously, everybody loves, respects, admires, and adores Joe Thomas.
[432] Shady, obviously, I'll ask you to speak to that because you were the highest drafted player at the desk and the most legendary for your franchise.
[433] What about that aspect of it as well?
[434] It's the Browns.
[435] I'm sure when he's with his daughter and his kids and his wife, he said, baby, I should probably get out of here, man. I'm being serious because sometimes as players, we get so caught up in being loyal, right?
[436] I'm loyal to my team.
[437] But the NFL is not a loyal place.
[438] It's all about what's best for you.
[439] People don't want to hear that.
[440] But I look at so many different people's careers.
[441] If they played their careers for themselves, it worked out for them.
[442] Because now you're playing for good teams, meaningful games, right?
[443] Your acolytes get bigger because you're playing on...
[444] primetime TV, Super Bowls, the MVPs and all that, you can accomplish some things.
[445] When you play for the Browns, look, I'm going to have a good season, maybe a playoff game, and that's it.
[446] Who want to go through that?
[447] I don't know.
[448] If I had everything all over again, there's certain things I wouldn't have accepted.
[449] No, I'm not getting traded.
[450] No, we ain't doing that.
[451] Speak the truth.
[452] Which one have accepted?
[453] I mean, I don't want to get into that.
[454] Speak the truth.
[455] You hear what I'm saying, though?
[456] There's some things where I look at.
[457] Like, I have really, really good years in Buffalo, right?
[458] And it might get overlooked because the marketing wasn't as big.
[459] If I had them same years in Philadelphia, you know what I'm saying?
[460] Everything was way bigger.
[461] I look at a dude like Marshawn Lynch.
[462] We went to the fight this weekend, so he was hanging out, he was talking and everything.
[463] And we was talking about the career.
[464] And I said, you know what?
[465] I said, bro, people don't give you enough credit for you controlling your own destiny.
[466] When you got out of Buffalo and you create the whole beast mode.
[467] People forget you played for Buffalo because you did so well with the Seahawks.
[468] And not only did you play well, y 'all went to the Super Bowl.
[469] You had a good team.
[470] You had a good defense.
[471] You had a really good head coach.
[472] You had a solid offense.
[473] You had to go off as a line.
[474] When you do all these different things like that, your name gets bigger.
[475] And there's guys that people think he's better than, and they might have 7 ,000 more yards than him.
[476] But he played with a good franchise, and it helped his career out.
[477] If he'd have been too loyal, yo, yo, I'm staying with Buffalo.
[478] Man, I ain't worried about that.
[479] They draft me. I'm loyal.
[480] Beast won't, might not have been Beast won't be seeing today.
[481] You get what I'm saying?
[482] So that's why I always say players control the old narrative.
[483] That's why I love what Deion's doing with his son.
[484] Nah, we ain't going to them trash teams with no market.
[485] We're going to big market teams.
[486] It's incredibly well said.
[487] Marshawn did play three and a half years with Buffalo.
[488] No clue.
[489] Played five and a half with the Seahawks, but you only think about the Seahawks.
[490] Hey, there's a lot going on right now with the Bears, so we had to bring in one of their best players, cornerback Jalen Johnson, coming off back -to -back Pro Bowl seasons, including, I mean, just been dominant.
[491] Really just been dominant.
[492] Hey, Jalen, bring him on camera, bro.
[493] Hey, what's up with the family?
[494] How you living?
[495] How you living?
[496] Solid, solid.
[497] Appreciate y 'all having me. Hey, no doubt, no doubt.
[498] Hear the Pro Bowl, don't it tag.
[499] Pro Bowl.
[500] Hit tag.
[501] Hey, let's talk about it, bro.
[502] Obviously, the biggest thing right now for the Bears is a new head coach.
[503] Y 'all had an upseason, y 'all had a downseason.
[504] Started off hot, 4 -2.
[505] Next thing you know, losses started piling up.
[506] What is your mentality?
[507] Because I consider you a leader of that team, one of the best players on that team.
[508] I think you've been one of the best corners since you got into the league.
[509] What's your mentality now with this new head coach?
[510] How can you turn the Bears around?
[511] I think the talking is over with.
[512] Honestly, personally, I just feel like for us, for me, it's not about talk.
[513] It's not about...
[514] expectations and none of that.
[515] It's about going out there and hooping on Sunday.
[516] And I thought that's what we haven't done consistently enough.
[517] And even for me, all the hype being when we're getting Caleb, of course, Caleb's a heck of a player.
[518] Rome's a heck of a player.
[519] But at the end of the day, that doesn't improve yourself on Sunday.
[520] We got to go out there.
[521] We got to ball.
[522] We got to hoop.
[523] So even for the defense, we had a down year.
[524] We didn't play to the expectation that we wanted to on defense.
[525] And then, of course, trying to just get the offense rolling consistently.
[526] So, I mean, it ain't too much to talk about for us.
[527] We got to go out there and play and make plays.
[528] I heard that.
[529] Jay, I'm a big fan of yours, brother, because I love that type of dog mentality that you always have since I've been watching you play for sure.
[530] No doubt.
[531] I want to ask you this, though.
[532] Going against Ben Johnson twice a year, right, and seeing what that offense looks like, bringing him to the Bears, how do you feel about that?
[533] I mean, I was expecting it to.
[534] If he didn't come to us, I kind of would have been a little upset.
[535] But, I mean, just for me personally, just always seeing the type of brain and mind that he had.
[536] when it comes to the game and studying the game.
[537] I mean, even with the chick plays, people think it's just a fun thing, but I think he really schemes it up perfectly.
[538] Even the one against us with them faking the fumble and things like that.
[539] We had a play like that last year in Green Bay first game of the season where they actually fumbled the ball.
[540] and they seen how we all came forward towards the ball, and then we gave up an explosive on that play.
[541] So just his details to that, to be able to go back and watch that tape against Green Bay and to see how we reacted against that and then created a play and a trick play off of that is amazing.
[542] So, I mean, you just kind of can see where his mind is, how he can draw things up, and a coordinator like that makes it tough.
[543] You think with the weapons that you guys have on offense, now I know you're on defense, but you practice against them every day, so you see it.
[544] You think with the weapons that you guys have now, you bring a mind like him, Johnson, to the Bears.
[545] Can you tell us what you expect next year, though?
[546] I don't want to, like, overdo a Super Bowl or something like that, but what do you do in the tough division?
[547] But what do you see, though, with your defense and that type of offense and the players you already have there?
[548] What do you see?
[549] What can you say that maybe, I don't know, give us some expectations for next year?
[550] Like, I just want to dive a little bit deeper, but I'm not trying to make you give us any type of predictions yet.
[551] No doubt.
[552] I think, honestly, speaking, if we can just play off our potential, I feel like there's no reason why we can't be in the playoffs.
[553] We can just, in a sense, talk from that perspective.
[554] I feel like we have enough in every position room, of course.
[555] I think we can add some pieces up front.
[556] I think that will make us really, really dominant.
[557] But I feel like as far as the skill, the back seven, the...
[558] seven on offense.
[559] We got running backs, tight ends, receivers.
[560] I think just getting some more dogs and guys up front, I think will, I think just really solidify everything.
[561] But if we really play to our potential, there's no reason why we can't be a 10 plus win team.
[562] I mean, even teams that win 10, 10 games aren't guaranteed playoff spots nowadays.
[563] So, I mean, just, just for us, I feel like the expectation is try to get 10 wins.
[564] We haven't touched 10 wins in a little minute.
[565] So I think for us, that can be a realistic expectation is just try to get at least 10 wins, but really just to play.
[566] to our expectation.
[567] I think with Ben Johnson coming in, the guys that we have on offense, I don't think it's nothing that we don't have.
[568] Of course, we can beef up the front, but for the most part, we got everything that we need to be able to contend.
[569] The catalyst of that offense is obviously Caleb Williams.
[570] Rookie year, up and down.
[571] There's a lot of talk.
[572] Generational this, generational that.
[573] Three separate offensive coordinators now that Ben Johnson's in in like a seven -month span.
[574] Can you talk a little bit about his growth and how he was coming into the locker room and how difficult it was for him to be a leader in that locker room?
[575] And do you feel like he is a superstar quarterback in this league?
[576] Honestly, the first one, I think it was, I think it's challenging to find your way.
[577] I would say in the locker room, of course, being thrown in as QB1, but also being thrown into a new environment.
[578] I think trying to juggle both of those is tough, but I think he handled it.
[579] handled it really well.
[580] I think he came into the locker room just trying to be one of the guys, just talking, laughing, joking, just the human side of it.
[581] I think he came in and gelled really well too.
[582] where him calling things in a huddle or him orchestrating the team, the defense, or whatever it may be, he was able to do that.
[583] And we were able to listen and buy into what he was doing.
[584] But of course, with the struggles up and down, I never seen his personality waver in the locker room and things like that.
[585] So I think he was really consistent and solid in who he was throughout the year, no matter what was going on with the season.
[586] And I think really for him, I think once he gets locked in mentally and gets where he wants to be mentally uncomfortable.
[587] Of course, with consistency and coaching staff and things like that, I feel like there's no reason why he can't be a top three quarterback in this league.
[588] Let's go.
[589] My brother, I got a couple for you.
[590] I know you got the Pro Bowl.
[591] You been on the phone yet, Myles Garrett?
[592] Just asked for a trade.
[593] You got that pass rusher in front of you.
[594] You know what I mean?
[595] You can sit on some routes.
[596] We might need to make some calls.
[597] You can sit on some routes and you can get a little active.
[598] But another one, you play corner, obviously.
[599] Who's the tougher cover?
[600] You got Jay Janis that you see two times a year, and you got Jamar Chase.
[601] Who presents the tougher challenge when you go up against those dudes?
[602] I ain't seen Jamar since his rookie year, but I would say based on tape, I'd probably say Justin.
[603] I only say, I say that because Justin is a lot shiftier in his route running, just kind of even.
[604] Being on the same team, just kind of seeing his movements and things like that, I'm always in DB mode.
[605] So just seeing his movements, running routes and things, I'm like, nah, he just moves a little different than I feel like a lot of cats.
[606] And I feel like with Jamar, he's more of a bruiser.
[607] He's a physical guy.
[608] He's not going to shake you off the line and just run any super crazy route.
[609] I think it's more so for him just making them strong, tough catches.
[610] They could run after catch.
[611] I think those are some things that I feel like he does a little better.
[612] But as far as route running releases...
[613] fluidity in the routes and getting in and out of breaks, I would definitely say Justin edges him out a little bit.
[614] So I mean, for me, I'd much rather play against a physical guy than a finesse, quick, good route runner.
[615] No question.
[616] Now, I got my last question, right?
[617] I never really ask top five questions unless I'm talking to a top five player.
[618] I think he's a top five corner man. There you go.
[619] So who's your top five wide receivers right now today?
[620] Ooh.
[621] Don't gotta be in order.
[622] Don't have to be in order.
[623] I mean, this ain't your question.
[624] Just today.
[625] Not your question.
[626] Not your question.
[627] Come on, man. So we need five to one then.
[628] Right.
[629] Five to one.
[630] Let me think.
[631] No, I might have to go.
[632] It's easy to start at the top.
[633] I'll probably go.
[634] Okay.
[635] I'll probably go Justin.
[636] JJ.
[637] Okay.
[638] I'll go Jamar.
[639] Jamar Chase.
[640] Then that's when he gets hard.
[641] Devontae Adams, he a little on the older side for you.
[642] I know the guys, I know the guys.
[643] I'm trying to think of this year or two, like more recently.
[644] I feel like you just think of guys, he pops up, but I don't feel like this year, I don't think he would.
[645] It could be your last, like, because I do what?
[646] Two years, two to three years, I do that.
[647] Two years?
[648] It's equity.
[649] I'll probably go.
[650] Tyreek Hill.
[651] Yes, there we go.
[652] All right, let me go.
[653] Let me think.
[654] Let me think.
[655] Who else we got?
[656] That's a good one.
[657] It's a dude from Philly.
[658] Nah, I was thinking AJ, but it is tough.
[659] It is tough.
[660] I'll probably go...
[661] That's tough.
[662] I'll probably go CD at four.
[663] CD.
[664] Yeah, okay.
[665] Who else we got?
[666] Who else we got?
[667] Oh, he ain't put AJ in there, huh?
[668] Five is tough.
[669] Five is tough for me because I want to go...
[670] I want to go AJ, but...
[671] I feel like this year, I don't need to say it's his fault, but this year.
[672] It's not his fault?
[673] It's not his fault?
[674] What you mean?
[675] What you mean by that?
[676] No, no, no, it's not his fault, but I mean.
[677] Whose fault is it?
[678] It's tough when you ain't getting up.
[679] You said who?
[680] Whose fault is it if it ain't AJ's fault?
[681] It's just the.
[682] It's all good.
[683] We all, look, look.
[684] We all been there, dawg.
[685] Nah, man. It's Saquon.
[686] I'll say that.
[687] Nah, it's Saquon.
[688] It ain't changed.
[689] Hey, hold on, fam.
[690] Before we let you go, we know you into fashion.
[691] You doing some stuff with Chicago Magazine, bruh.
[692] I'm going to take you off the hot seat.
[693] The floor is yours.
[694] What you got going on with the magazine and fashion -wise?
[695] Oh, yeah, I got to fly back to Chicago this week.
[696] I got a fashion shoot with Chicago Magazine to show off some different looks, take some pictures.
[697] That's been a thing of mine I've been trying to really get into.
[698] fashion, being creative on the fashion side of it.
[699] I think to a lot of guys in the league, they'll throw on some design and they'll just throw on something that just look good without them being in it.
[700] So I think for me, just trying to find different pieces, different outfits to where I can make it look good.
[701] I can make it look flashy and different too.
[702] Because I mean, I feel like a lot of times guys put on the same pieces.
[703] I always want to put on something that's a little different.
[704] So I was looking forward to getting that opportunity to showcase in that and then hopefully just keep showing up to more fashion weeks and things like that.
[705] No doubt.
[706] Look good, feel good, feel good, play good.
[707] You obviously got the play good part down, Pat, my dog.
[708] Hey, best of luck this offseason and next season.
[709] We'll see you soon, fam.
[710] Yes, sir.
[711] Appreciate y 'all, boys.
[712] Yes, sir.