Welcome back to Stick to Football, brought to you by SkyBet. On this week’s special guest episode we are delighted to be joined by American Football legend and Burnley co-owner JJ Watt.
Watt announced his involvement with Burnley in 2023 and reveals his special connection with the town and football club, relationship with manager Vincent Kompany and his aims for the future at Turf Moor.
Despite a struggling Premier League season following promotion from the Championship, the 6ft5 Wisconsin man reiterates his long-term ambitions and talks about the rise of American footballers investing in English football clubs.
Regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, a competition he and siblings Derek and TJ have made a lasting impact in, Watt offers a unique insight into the difference behind the scenes and structures between America’s and UK’s national sports.
The 3x Defensive Player of the Year, who spent the majority of his career at Houston Texans before retiring at Arizona Cardinals, was the first player to make multiple 20+ sacks in multiple NFL seasons speaks and he explains how he used to eat up to 7500 calories a day as well as telling us who he thinks which footballers could make it in the American sport.
Finally he talks about how his last NFL game coincided with his new-born son Koa’s first game and life after retirement which has seen him enter football club ownership.
If you liked the episode don’t forget to let us know in the comments and if you want to listen only you can catch Stick to Football on all major podcast platforms.
00:00 Promo
01:00 Behind the Scenes
08:18 Why Burnley?
12:36 J.J. Watt’s journey into American football
16:01 Rise of American football viewership in UK
18:54 J.J. Watt’s sacks clips
24:18 Differences between football v American football
29:09 J.J.’s brothers Derek and TJ
34:30 Leading younger professionals
40:30 Being a football club owner
54:00 Which footballers could make it in the NFL?
57:39 Is J.J. good at football?
58:59 Can Burnley stay in the Premier League?
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I said this very confidently I was like
given few years to train I would be a
great keeper wow she dribbled across top
of the box and fired a shot zinged past
my head at 74 mph and I said babe okay
new rule you don’t kick it from anywhere
inside 20 yards I’m obviously a very
impatient person but when I’m watching
American football I don’t get that I
don’t I don’t feel that our agents in
America you basically have just a
standard set feet over here it’s the
Wild Wild West I play dumb sometimes
like I don’t know how this works but
these refs are pretty bad there’s a
certain quarterbacks you were really
after every single one every single one
I hate them all my average is probably
about 7,500 calories a day feel like we
should Fe it’s
like League 2 Striker I mean were you
smoking weed or I’m not an investor that
said oh I’m only going to be here from
the Premier League like I’m here for the
fight who jumps I mean well maybe you
you can’t jump off the ship just because
the team’s not going to win like not
turn up for a
show I sometimes think why why did we
start
this why did we start the overlap what
happened the other week when we didn’t
release when a guy came up the streets
and we stick to football said we had a
week off mate no no it’s not right that
it’s ruined on my WhatsApp group I’m
like that means we’ve got to do that
means we’ve got to do it forever oh is
it starting now is it JJ can you can you
can you understand their accent can you
understand when they speak yeah the
sces these sces my driver is a United
fan and he was was like I didn’t I knew
there was a rivalry between United and
Liverpool I didn’t realize it was
so you would assume city in United is
the biggest and he’s like no we hate
Liverpool significantly more what’s the
sort of like state or town in um in the
US where you almost need a passport to
get in it’s almost like they’re a bit
strange and they’re just like you know
they they like look after each
other got something about
them you know mean them people think
than what are you only from Berry but
he’s on LinkedIn now he’s on
LinkedIn he doesn’t tweet no more he’s
above twit I’m on linked with all
I’m are you on LinkedIn JJ
no
mej I thought intelligent like you
massive linked of you what the [ __ ]
about are you on X yes but do you
actually
I do it 100% myself yeah I do as well
but I’ve stopped last few months I think
why it’s like a Cess pit honestly it’s
almost being that no it’s not it’s got
worse in the last six months it’s like a
the division on there is unbelievable
are you letting him get to you what’s
that are you letting him get to you you
can’t
effective about politics nothing toall I
mean it’s insane it’s terrible it
doesn’t matter you could say the sky’s
blue and somebody say it’s red what
there’s no debate anymore there’s no
sort of like conversation it’s like a an
attack what’s point it turned into that
early doors girl I thought it was one of
the greatest platforms that’s ever came
the Twitter you can you can be someone
in the Far Corners of the world and you
can if you want to you can message Messi
and and you can debate you can debate
turned into just a place to just be
nasty exactly it used to be conversation
and maybe the odd debate maybe it get a
bit heated but now it’s become abusive
it’s become it’s horrible it’s also all
Bots like the first 20 responses on
anything would be just yeah AI generat
yeah hello everybody JJ bit of advice
LinkedIn LinkedIn JJ honestly bit more
bit more polished you know I mean you’re
building a post you know Sports career
athlete career just a bit raw frame your
career sort of you know what I
mean my driver told me he took you my
driver told me he drove you to a
parachute you you go parachuting we done
parachute jump yeah have you ever done
one no would would you do it no we have
you done uh I mean so I I I went to a
Navy sealed event one time where I was
like if I’m ever going to do it this is
when I’m going to do it and they had a
250 lb limit so I didn’t have to make
the
decision we have that problem how many
times have you done was close to
it it just squeezed in once one time
15,000 for which is the it’s the highest
level you can go without having without
needing oxygen was 14 to wor was it 14
would you do it again no we wouldn’t no
but worth it once can we
Jo I’ll take it in St I’ll take it in
stages what happened for me the rickety
playing on the way up you got imagine
youve got the shut up no good that bit
and then you’ve got the bit where you
get pushed out towards the edge again no
good over the edge the Free Fall bit was
I thought was amazing the Free Fall bit
where you go fast but then the bit where
you think it’s going to be good when
they pull the parachute out and you
realize you’re floating towards the
ground you felt sick I felt sick I
didn’t enjoy any it know no didn’t it
was all tight and uncomfortable son
chill that’s all right we all know
you’ve got a
penis like I know I’m sorry Jill I’ve
I’ve got tight are have you done it Jill
um no I don’t think I’m scared of height
me I hate height yeah I’m not a fan of
Heights or even flying for that matter
but yeah I done a Bungie which the
closest I’ve come to what was it 160 or
something and it’s the closest you come
to that you know that Free
Fall it’s the Free Fall before the the
bounc comes I don’t like the vi of the I
like the free bit I don’t like the vibe
of the parachute where you got to pull I
just don’t
like I did um for League of the one I
had to do a forfeit and it was through
the Grand Canyon and you were sat on a
swing and it just went out and then it
just dropped you and that was the worst
thing no you’re just like this and then
it just dropped and that was the I
thought was going to die have to do go
around all my accessories unfortunately
the Grand Canyon yeah did you did you do
that swing thing no oh my God that took
me and maker up right and he’s so scared
of Haight and then they were
like yeah we don’t think we’ll get you
back up and he was like he was proper
kicking off he’s like well do you think
I’m do you think I’m doing it then if
you’re just going to drop it and he had
a go back he was F and we all got like a
really nice meal we all got a nice meal
and everything no but said to him he was
too heavy so imagine going oh yeah I’ll
I’ll go on it then you might be too
heavy yeah no there might be don’t give
me any
might that’s all me I don’t trust like
the P person packing my parachute or The
Bu bung jump person like like there’s
too many people that could screw this up
I think that I’m like one wrong move and
you’re dead and they were like it’ll be
the best feeling in the world when
you’re swinging through the canyon I was
like just get us I hate it every minute
saying that you do anything for money
Jill wouldn’t
you it’s a program
you he’s BR he’s in he’s in brutal form
at the moment it’s cuz he canell all his
things yes he’s canell just
for ad an ad okay thank
you I do this show I’m focused but when
I turn up everyone’s in a hurry no no in
a hurry what makes you hoodie uh Gary
what’s that What Makes You
hoodie got he was really you shouldn’t
have laughed now he’s in his head cuz
that’s two times you ever wear anything
B and think it’s subtle thank you that’s
what I was saying Jamie I saying why
don’t they just have the bbery kind of
pattern just on the S years burber’s
made I think it’s com to a bit of a it’s
reinvented itself new design you’re
wearing it new new designer just I I
think it’s better it’s all right again
it’s always been that
pattern yeah but you used to have like
you used to have basically the whole
pattern everywhere didn’t you now it’s a
little bit subtle you bet you all that
in you no I got from
Liverpool to be honest I do like that
one
thank you but I think they could go
subtle I you see I would do it on there
Jame you see like the sleeve or the
little you see the little bit on the
pocket just a little spit there
subtle shouting at people oh I’m wear
right
[Music]
right JJ you there with the Burnley cap
on why Burnley I mean burnley’s a great
town but
[Laughter]
whyley love it’s I mean I knew I wanted
to get involved in ownership after my
career so the last couple years of my
career I started looking at
opportunities both in America over here
um I love football I really do I watch a
premier league since 2010 2011 looked at
a few clubs somebody said you should
talk to Burnley I went up visited met
with everybody met with Vince met with
Allen saw the town and just it just felt
right I’m from Wisconsin so like Green
Bay you know it’s it’s not a major city
it’s not but it’s a town that loves and
cares about its people and cares about
its team and I could tell that Burnley
lives and dies with every single kick of
the ball and it just felt like something
did you play have you played football um
I played when I was a kid I mean just
like Elementary School um but I got a
little too big to where did when did the
love come from when did you start
watching like the Premier League and and
so I think because I played so many
American Sports growing up that the
Premier League was always interesting to
me because I didn’t know a ton about it
and so as soon as I started to learn
about it I just I was infatuated with it
I started to get all about European
soccer and then my wife is also a 10year
professional soccer player in America so
I just really enjoy all aspects of it
and learning about it and now I’m I’ve
delve all in and I’m gaining as much
knowledge as possible how does it work
where you say you want to get involved
in any club is it basically like you got
a few quids you want to put it into a
football club so you’ve got to say how
would you just T up a Bandy and they
yeah yeah kind of it actually is so like
you obviously you just see who who has
opportunities you kind of pass pass the
word around that you’re looking for an
opportunity and I mean we vetted out
what is that opportunity obviously you
put money you want to say in basically
running a football club and yeah so that
was a big thing for me is I didn’t want
to people say do you want to invest in
NFL team well sure but There’s 7 billion
dollars and you’re put in
0.00001% and why would the owner ever
listen to you or have any sort of say I
wanted to come to a club and find an
ownership group that would allow me to a
learn about the pro process and B have a
little bit of you know say in it and
really feel like I was a part of it and
that’s that’s what happened I I met with
a few and they were like sure you can
put money in but but Allen and Burnley
were like we’d love to have you a part
of it we’d love to have you integrated
into it and that’s really why it was
such a good do you see this as like a
almost work experience and that in the
future you actually want to completely
own a football club run it you know from
top to bottom yeah I would love to but
knowing that there’s a lot to learn and
knowing that there’s so much that goes
into it besides just obviously I have
the athlete mindset of you know kind of
what it takes from that side but the
business side and the books and running
and organizing a basically a corporation
yeah when you retired did you not want
to just take a break I couldn’t think
all that hard work and then oh now I’ll
start running a club I I it’s a balance
I’m trying hard to find but as you guys
all know it’s for athletes we’re so used
to working like we’re so used to putting
in that work and having something to put
our energy towards and put our passion
towards um and the other big thing that
has done for me is it filled that
competitive itch yeah because when
you’re done playing you don’t get the
highs and the lows you don’t get those
adrenaline rushes or those deep lows and
this is absolutely done that for me
sometimes a little too much on the low
side and it’s also extremely frustrating
because I’m sitting there watching the
matches and I can’t do anything about it
you just want to go on and like smash
people and lately lately a few referees
I’ve wanted
to with yeah that foul that So-Cal foul
on 8 NY they gave the free kick and then
they scored from it’s it’s so
frustrating and you know at the
beginning of this back a year ago when I
invested you know you you hear things
from the fans the supporters where
they’re like you know the refs against
smalltown clubs you know and I’m like
sure sure like I’m a player I know we We
complain about refs all the time but
then as the season starts to go on
you’re like wait a second there’s
there’s a lot of lot interesting things
happening and so and I like I I’ve gone
on Twitter before and I’m like I don’t
know how the fine system works over here
I just play I play dumb sometimes I
don’t know how this works but these refs
are pretty
bad so I know Vince can’t say it I know
Allan can’t say it but I I’ll take the
hit you know what university so what
university did you come out of Wisconsin
right yeah so my brothers and I all
played at Wisconsin right and how did
that work in respects of your career how
did you was you a good player at that
age how was you so I I came out of high
school um how tall was you was you was
you still quite I actually grew to the
fish like me like what your grad at
school then what your grade you shut
your I grew uh I grew two inches in
college actually so I was like a little
bit of a late bloomer I kind of I kind
of hit puberty a little bit later than
most so I I grew more and got bigger
throughout college and then um I
actually started at Central Michigan
University transferred to Wisconsin
walked on um no scholarship it means it
means basically tryy out it’s pretty
much kind of like a tryy out and then I
worked my way up to being a starter
there and then I I went on obviously to
the NFL and did that but yeah it was it
wasn’t like a easy traditional path but
it also was wasn’t crazy yeah earned it
what is the traditional path I mean I
would say just uh recruited out of high
school you get a scholarship to a school
you go play at that school like you’re
kind of a high a high recruit like we
have a star system one through five five
stars the best high school athletes and
you were uh on one site I was a two star
on one site I was a zero star so I
wasn’t I was but it wasn’t all I also I
don’t want it to seem like a soab story
like I was I was I was decent I was okay
in high school um but then just grew and
worked hard made my way up my mom my mom
and dad are basically like my dad was a
firefighter so I learned a lot of hard
work and things from being around the
firehouse as a kid my mom started as a
secretary at her company and worked all
the way up to being the vice president
so just between the two of them I kind
of learned all about hard work and what
drive and passion can do for you and
they they taught me the way was the NFL
the dream then was that your dream or I
actually grew up playing hockey when I
was a so it was hockey to start and then
as as I it’s just an expensive sport so
I couldn’t play it forever so I switched
over and football the NFL was definitely
the dream and what I did when I was a
like a freshman or sophomore in high
school is I looked at the NFL draft and
I looked at the top 10 picks and I said
okay who of that am I most like and I
found one guy and then I just looked at
his height his weight his speed his
college like his grades from college and
I said okay how do I get there and I
worked backwards to today and I said
what can I do to today to be that guy in
5 years you know right you are so humble
though you’re like one of the greatest
NFL players appreciate that no but he he
is very wants an
autograph you know what as soon as I
told my brother that I was doing this
cuz he’s a big NFL he’s like you’ve got
to get us an autograph and I tell him I
work with you guys all the time he never
asked we don’t like him neither
appreciate that I I I must say that
being around this table for me is very
very cool like you guys are all legends
of the game and not only from what you
did on the pitch but also what you guys
have done in post career and all this
entertainment has been very very
enjoyable to watch for an American
Premier League fan but also now from an
ownership side it’s you guys are
phenomenal what to inist I think you’re
a big fan of the NFL obviously you’ve
just said about about your brother and
you’re watching the Premier League do
you think sort of in this country NFL is
massive because for me I haven’t got a
clue really last years has it is a big
following now oh there is no yeah of
course the last few years with obviously
Sky covering the games and um and
obviously the games coming over here
there’s been a few games I think out of
obiously Spurs at Wembley twicken them
this few game to tricken them so yeah it
when I started coming over here you know
12 13 years ago my rookie year nobody
knew anything they didn’t know much
about the game I remember when Games
first started to come over here people
only cheered the kicks like they just
want to see the kicks now every time I I
can walk down the street in Manchester
and people ask for pictures autographs
like that is completely different than
it used to be and they’re knowledgeable
about it everybody has a favorite team
everybody has a favorite player they’re
asking me about free agency it’s it’s
very cool how people over here have
accepted it and I think same thing on
the other side you used to never really
see as many kits as you see over in
America now you know they’re doing fan
zones and everything where there’s
people thousands of people turning up in
Premier League kids it’s really cool I
as I said I don’t know too much about it
but I watched the program on fli I
thought was brilliant called the
quarterback with I can’t remember the
other bat momes was on it and and the
other people and I was thinking about
that that role that they have in the
team I’ve never seen nothing like it it
almost feels like the the most probably
most important position in any sports
team cuz I couldn’t relate that to
football in terms of how much
information they have to take and it’s
almost like the manager is on the pitch
is that a fair way to say 100% if you
don’t have a good quarterback you don’t
have a chance it’s just the fact of life
like you it it is somewhat unlike any I
would say basketball if you have a super
superstar Steph Curry or Lebron somebody
that can pour in points but in football
if you don’t have a quarterback you
don’t have a chance and they literally
touch the ball every single play so they
do affect it that’s why you love nailing
them yeah man they make it harder and
harder now with the rules like you have
to hit them a perfect way like otherwise
you’re getting I’ve I’ve incurred some
fines over the course of my career I’m
I’m sure you know you get huge bonuses
for sacks as well isn’t there yeah I
mean yeah yeah I mean you you make a lot
of money if you can sack the quarterback
times really what for tackling the
quarterback you get paid you would have
been a millionaire would have been
loaded I would have been the quarterback
what’s the bonus for I mean it just
depends like you’re ay you’re obviously
can get a better next contract if you
pack them but B every contract is
different so um I mean a guy might have
in his contract if you get 10 sacks you
get an extra $2 million if you get 15 if
you get to 15 you get an extra three you
know what was your average each season I
want to see a couple of clips of you um
you were leading weren’t you that yeah I
mean I am the only person ever to have
20 oh no wait I think my brother just
did it did he us yeah I think we’re the
only two people ever to have 20 sacks
twice wow W but there a certain
quarterbacks you were really after every
single one every every single one I hate
them all yeah silly question s let’s
let’s have a quick look yes Bess for
your tackle is a let’s have a quick look
yeah easy
I almost tackled these two once at at
the turf Mar the yeah they go bam wow I
missed it it was that quick your eyes up
when the greatest F going to at the back
who did you nail there that’s Josh Allen
for the bills this is a play he’s not
done look at you’ve just moved his arms
look there JJ this is a playoff game I
actually tore my tore my Peck uh off the
bone two months earlier and this is my
first game back so that was that one
felt good oh did I actually read
something that you got your heart there
was something to matter with your heart
and then you played the same week yeah
yeah it was it was pretty wild my heart
uh went into apib so it was beating
irregularly so does it count against the
Jets no no that’s actually one of my
very good oh it’s not that’s Sam darnold
never mind yes yeah I think that was the
first play of the game it’s a great way
to start it’s like scoring off the
kickoff
wow it’s so
quick I you
don’t you wish you could do that have
you got a timeing you have to get to him
the top quarterbacks pry much I mean Tom
Tom Brady is hands down the guy that
gets ball out of his F hands the
quickest and sometimes he’ll have the
ball of his hands in 1.8 2.1 seconds
like cuz he knows he can’t he can’t run
yeah but he’s brilliant he also is so
smart he knows exactly who’s he knows
the coverage he knows who’s going to be
open it’s like and plus these defensive
guys finding to a pass he already knows
where it’s going to go before he gets it
and with the guys you’re protecting they
are obviously the best around him cuz if
he if if he can get it away he’s going
to probably cause you problem so he’s
got the best around him right yes of
course is he invested in Birmingham is
he he’s in Birmingham yeah investor he
have you spoke to him about it in terms
of sort of like coming into yeah we just
spoke uh this week about it cuz they’re
trying to get out yeah so we’re both
kind of in a similar situation just
different leagues right now so yeah he’s
um I know he’s working with them on
their training and some of the physical
aspects because he’s got his business as
well from that but yeah it’s we love it
you know there when you said you you
you’ve got the record for 20 sacks in a
season twice what I’m sure the you know
the the shape of you and how you do it
and you know people have sort of trying
to do that themselves in the NFL what
what what’s special about you that you
get more Quick Care Reading the game
what is it about that I mean there’s
there’s a lot of luck involved for sure
but I would say um you know it’s really
hard I think it’s a combination of size
speed athleticism I always when I was
training in the offseason what I would
always try and do is create the best
overall athlete not necessarily the best
football player so I wanted to be as big
as I could possibly be as strong as I
could possibly be but also as fast and
flexible as I could be so I would do
some of my running with the wide
receivers because I wanted to be as fast
as them I would do my lifting with some
of the offensive line because I want to
be as strong as them so I figured if I
could take the best attributes from
everybody and try and put it into one I
may not get there but whatever I create
is going to be better than what I was
going to be and then I get to training
camp and I hand that to the coaches and
I say here this is the athlete now you
tell me what to do and they put me in
great spots and I had good teammates and
it’s so great mentality what does it
take to get this big like what do you
wait looking him up and down look at you
no but like that’s one of the nicest
part about being retired is that I don’t
have to eat at the same level that I had
to eat at before which is sounds like a
great problem to have you know but like
yeah it’s an interesting thing being in
England finding enough protein over here
is difficult like the meals just don’t
have the same amount of bre there’s so
much bread there’s so much bread like
beans like beans on toast like eggs on
toast like everything’s on toast which
is delicious but I’m like I need some
steak like I need some I need some fish
like so it’s so how many calories when
you playing so when I was playing I was
probably my average is probably about
7500 calories a day wow yeah 7,500
calories a day wow right now I’m on I’m
on about 4,500 calories a day right now
and doing what training with that I
train I train weight 4 days a week and I
do cardio 3 days a week right now I feel
like we should Fe it’s
like I’ve had a full English this
morning I’m good so how often would you
have to eat so so you’ll eat obviously
breakfast and you lunch what at my Peak
it was two breakfast two lunch two
dinner Jes it’s it’s it was like a it
was like a job I mean you had and it all
obviously had to be fairly healthy so
it’s a lot of plain chicken breasts it’s
a lot of white rice it’s a lot of just
basic stuff and it’s which is harder to
get your calories in is there any teams
you wish you could have played for no
were you always settled where you were
or I mean I loved being in Houston I had
never been there before I got drafted
the people were unbelievable to me it
was great in the end because when you
got drafted they weren’t so Keen huh
yeah no they they booed me when I got
draft Bo you bro yeah but I don’t blame
them they don’t know like it’s it’s like
any sports fan you know you don’t know
until you know and it also gave me a
little bit of that motivation to be like
all right I’ll but I mean I did I grew
up in Wisconsin and like I said I grew
up in Green Bay like the Packers they
have a little bit of a different
relationship with with their fans than
anybody else because they’re a community
owned team it’s a small town so that’s
one that always would have been really
cool if someone of your quality which
you’re the best in your position in the
league in this country you would be
picked up by the best team and you’d be
win Super Bowls you’d be winning the S
Premier League what is that why is that
not happen to you there’s so many things
over here that are fascinating to me and
part of the reason like so like ay the
agent culture over here is unbelievable
I’ve never seen anything like the agent
culture with the the fees and the way
that they control much it I mean I think
like our agents our agents in America
you basically have just a standard set
fee every single player has the same I
mean your agent will not make more than
3% of your contract he sounds like it
right over there yeah over here it’s
it’s the Wild Wild West I mean like your
agent fees are through the roof and it
could one agent could ask for this much
one agent could ask for this much and
yeah um the other thing is obviously
promotion relegation makes everything
different like in our league you know
you’re the worst team in the league
you’re getting the first draft pick so
like there’s this par amongst it all the
the goal of the NFL is basically for
every team to be the middle so it’s
competitive over here promotion and
relegation your team gets relegated now
half your players are going to be asking
to go somewhere else or you know it’s
it’s all about that trading as well you
know when like so for instance if the
worst team in the league they get the
the pick but then they can trade with
someone else say okay you can have him
but you give us these two so it still
works out so it all it all somehow works
out whereas you know I mean I I’ll never
forget the first match of this season we
played man city and and somebody texted
me a graphic of it I was at the match
but somebody texted me a graphic and it
said man City’s current Defenders cost
this much burnley’s entire history since
1882 cost less wow I mean and and you’re
sitting there watching the match and
like you’re cheering for your squad and
you want your boys to do good but at the
same time you’re like all right I have
to be a little realistic about this you
know it’s a billion pound Squad against
a 100 million pound Squad you know the
draft when you’re talking about sort of
the best almost the best player of the
first draft pick goes to the team at the
bottom what I can’t get me headed round
is that you’ve got no say in that
whatsoever so when this draft happens
you can go to anywhere in the country at
any team at any level no matter how good
a player you are correct and I think
that’s that’s mad yeah you’re going to I
mean that’s the wild part about used so
like I’m sitting there on dra played
obviously you want to you want to win
the Super bowl or you want to win the
Champions League or the Premier League
and imagine that wasn’t here now and
then you you just so you go from say
you’re the best player in the league
you’re at Nottingham Forest you go for
the British transfer record but then a
team in the middle of the table will
just buy you I’ll be a bit like what
like de bruy going Sheffield United next
but also on the flip side of that
wouldn’t you say that if you just sit
here and you have the chance you’re the
best player in the league and you have a
chance to go anywhere in the world and
you go to the team that’s already
winning like if you go to Real Madrid
like You’ be like well yeah they they’ve
won dozens of championships you’re just
going to go and you’re is going to go
win another championship there whereas
this system is like like now that’s why
nobody else has a chance because
everybody’s just going to continue to
choose to go win trophies does everybody
okay as I said I don’t know too much
about it but say that the Super Bowl is
that really is winning the Super Bowl
almost spread right through the league
or is it still only s of five or six
team not spread only a few like the
Chiefs at the moment are brilliant
aren’t they yes but but again you look
at the Chiefs let’s call it you know 10
years ago it’s nobody was calling them a
Super Bowl favorite but then you would
also say they’re not in like the biggest
most sexy Market they’re in the dead
center of the country in a little bit of
a smaller Market they got a good
quarterback and they built a really good
team around him and then you win that’s
what gives but that’s what like every
single Market in the NFL feels like at
some point they have a chance to do like
truthfully if you’re being honest in
this country do the bottom teams
truthfully think they have a chance to
win the Premier League you know when
teams towards the end of the season are
all struggl and you’re out of the
playoffs would some teams almost not
want to win knowing they is that that
must
yeah it’s it’s a fan thing and I’m I’m
sure in the ownership level at some
point they’re watching the game thinking
like it wouldn’t be the worst thing if
we lost you know but nobody I don’t
think anybody is actively doing to do
that but that is the other side of it is
obviously in this league you’re in the
bottom three you’re out there’s a whole
incentive to be playing strong at the
end of the year whereas in the NFL it’s
it’s lit easier you couldn’t go out to
lose or in that spot imagin the not
going to lose but with the ownership
thinking of will we get the if we get
the first draft if you’re the worst team
and if you lose the last few games
you’re already the playoffs anyil you’re
not going to get relegated so there’s
nothing to be gained but you can maybe
get the best we actually had in Houston
we had a situation where the last game
of the season they they were currently
sitting for the number one pick they
threw like a Hail Mary at the end of the
game won the game and so like the fans
were excited to win the game but also
mad they didn’t pick but then full
circle moment they ended up getting the
number two pick they drafted CJ stad who
is currently like a superstar freen on
quarterback so it worked outs out
see talk to me about your brothers cuz
you how has it be that you’re like make
you make history in your position but
then your brother is now making history
in that same that’s a freak it’s
unbelievable yeah it’s really really
cool so we are unbelievably close me and
both my brothers talk every single day
we grew up obviously pushing each other
playing together um Derek played seven
years he just retired after playing
seven years and TJ obviously is one of
the best defensive players in the
history of the game and it is really
crazy we were just talking about this
because um he went to accept an award
and they told they told us him and I
combined won seven of the last 10 of
this award and he remember he sent me a
picture of when we flew to accept the
first one and he was like a little kid
on the Jet and so he was like I’ll never
forget this day when I watched you
accept it and now for me going back to
accept it
and it’s just really incredible for us
to experience it and to think about it
if you could sit there and talk with
your well I mean I guess you know um
about what it’s like to
[Laughter]
play don’t diss the nevs bro but like
like you guys have like this group
imagine if it’s family to be able to
talk about like what the locker room is
like what like on your darkest days when
he’s gone through injuries and I’ve gone
through injuries like nobody can talk
you through it like somebody who’s been
there and we have that Bond it’s really
cool have a Content platform in the US
as brothers have you thought about that
cuz the Kelsey Brothers have this really
amazing sort of podcast now don’t they
where they sort of do it together are
you thinking of that so TJ’s a little
different for me in that standpoint
Derrick’s kind of right in the middle
but uh he’s not as he doesn’t love the
media you know like he does he’s not
he’s not like the most he’s very very
you know football like and so um we’ve
talked about it I think it’d be great
cuz he’s hilarious but he also is a
little more what do you see it as a
distraction you think like
I think I think he’s extremely focused
right now and he really wants to yeah so
like during the season it’s really hard
like and and I give credit to people who
can do it but I mean imagine you’re
coming off a really big loss against a
rival and then you got to go in on
Tuesday and do a podcast about it you
know we need a podcast him like like
during your day would there ever been
somebody doing a podcast the day after
what you say what you going to call the
podcast say what already got executive
producer put it on his
l
but you think about that now in terms of
sort of imagining you being in the
dressing room and thinking that a player
was do the podcast no but it would it
just be me Gary would it no it be
everybody I think you I just I just
think I I can only think I think it’d be
the same I think a lot of the senior
players if players were off well we’d
get frustrated with players who were
going off doing other stuff anyway if
you you had a if you had a busy uh busy
schedule yeah you wouldn’t be happy with
it I’d agree I don’t think it’s right
for a player I think your your focus
should be 100% on the game well there’s
a couple of lads is it is it Antonio and
Callen Wilson are doing
something it pops up whenever they sort
of make make a joke about maybe someone
who’s missed a chance or something the
kelse brothers the kelse brothers what
you just said though the Kelsey Brothers
have defied that haven’t they in the
sense that they have this podcast that I
saw last week a headline that they’re
going for a $40 million deal it’s
unbelievable it’s like a massive thing
the thing that I the thing that’s
interesting to me and that I’ve noticed
throughout the course of my career
because social media has kind of come
along during the course of my career is
that people have at the very beginning I
think there were a lot of people that
said why are you posting on social media
why are you doing this you need to be
100% focused on football but then over
time people like started to understand
there’s 24 hours in a day I can train I
can study I can do everything for eight
10 hours a day there’s still 14 more
hours left like I do think that we we’re
starting to understand I always think
over here with the headlines and the
newspapers somebody would be like Marcus
rashford uh goes out after goes out to
dinner after uh
Manchester United lost I’m like well
should he not eat like we’re not
supposed to have a life I do think that
you can but I also think there is a very
fine line between doing a podcast and
like either giving away Secrets or or
talking about things that are very
sensitive inside the locker room you
know yeah no I think you have to be
open-minded all of course I’m certainly
not a dinosaur but I think there’s a
time and a place but if You’ have a
regular podcast on a Tuesday or
Wednesday and you’re a player at the top
level I think I I I would disagree with
people who I think that can be a
distraction for player particular if
you’re on the back of defeat and you’re
in the next day and everyone’s having a
bit of a laugh you’re like cuz I don’t
think you should laugh I don’t think you
should laugh for a week or two if you’ve
been
beaten he you I’m with you that that is
a tough that mentality is a tough thing
that I’ve had to learn over time
especially as a leader in a locker room
is when when to impose that mindset and
when to back off a little bit too
because kids are also changing over time
young guys coming to the league are
changing over time and somebody told me
this once and it was a very interesting
quote they said if you hold every single
player to the standard you hold yourself
to you’re always going to be
disappointed and that was just because
like you hold yourself to such this
incredibly high standard and truthfully
some of these young guys just don’t know
yet they still have to learn how to be a
pro they still have to learn how to
handle it and yes you want to bring them
up to your level but you also can’t be
so angry every time no you can let’s
talk let’s talk let’s talk about that
how someone coming to the end of their
career can help a young player in the
dress room how did you deal with that
because you’d look at them and think
they’re so different than I was when
obviously I was that age but you
obviously have to work with them and get
the best out of them sometimes I was
good at it sometimes I was bad at it I
had to learn also how to be a leader and
there’s definitely situations I look at
where I say oh man I could have done a
better job there um but the thing that I
had to always remember was who with who
is which time do you think of a which
player do you look at early on for sure
like especially so my second I was my
first year in the league I started slow
but then became a pretty good player the
second year I was a captain and you’re
still trying to figure yourself out a
little bit I mean like we talked about I
moved to a city that I’ve never been to
before and I’m trying to set up my own
life and then I had success and we made
the playoffs for the first time ever so
all these things and then you’re also
trying to be you know 22 23 year old
captain of the team and helping lead
these guys um and I just I didn’t I feel
like I could have been better there but
the thing I always try to remember is
they’re they don’t know everything I
know yet and that’s a hard switch for me
to make sometimes is like I go out to
practice and I have this knowledge
because of the experience and I get mad
at a guy because he doesn’t know that if
they line up like this they’re going to
run this play and I’m like why didn’t
you know that but he doesn’t know I have
to give him that knowledge and I have to
help pull him along or a guy shows up
late to training and two days in a row
and you get mad at him he doesn’t like
just little things that how to be a
professional you’re studying your film
you’re doing your weights maybe the
little extra things it’s the things that
have become natural to me over time but
it’s not natural to them and you have to
teach them and that’s that’s really hard
I think being a professional is
something that you is actually taught
it’s not just a normal thing do you
think it’s hard to teach that sometimes
with the players cuz I remember I was
someone who I had to do a lot of extras
but sometimes I’d feel like some of the
younger players just wouldn’t want to do
it and it’s hard how do you like teach
that mindset I think there’s a lot of
you’ve either got it or you haven’t yes
and it’s very interesting too because
you speak about there’s different Talent
levels like like I may have had to work
harder than body else because they’re
but uh a coach once said this the the
better the player the longer the leash
so if a guy like a guy can miss a few
buses if he scoring a few touchdowns you
know like like if you’re you’re the last
guy in theer you miss
one that was he and he was
obviously I was on a long
Le listen to Just Tony Adam see what you
done T you score the goals nobody
cares that’s also the other thing like
if I ever did anything wrong I was like
oh boy I need to have three sacks this
game
otherwise um but you been Bley dressing
room do you get do you get to go in
there with the and speak to the guys and
yeah it’s it’s literally my favorite
part of the job because I mean just like
you got like the dressing room is the
thing you miss the most when you’re done
playing just the camaraderie the
atmosphere so I spent a week with them
up at training out at practice in the
weight room in the dressing room after
every match I go in that I’m here I go
in the dressing room I sit with Vince
for a few hours we talk about the match
I’m talk with the players it’s truly one
of my favorite Parts he’s seen as one of
the big leaders of you know not just of
Manchester City but sort of the Premier
League E he’s he’s one of those figures
that you look at isn’t he I mean I would
you see him as a leader he’s great I
think that the way that he commands the
respect of the players because of his
knowledge um also I mean he’s a
brilliant man he speaks I think like six
seven languages so to watch him out of
practice and he’s speaking to fana in
one language and he’s speaking to as in
another language and he’s just
seamlessly moving these guys and it’s
incredible um and then he also keeps
level head about him um unless refere
last week but like all season long even
when things haven’t been going the way
we wanted to the just the mindset and
the ability to keep the players moving
it’s it’s been really enjoyable but you
already planning now would you be think
I don’t want to be jumping the gun
because you’re still fighting hard to
stay up thinking about the championship
next year would you have to as an
investor it yeah it would be it would be
naive of us not to be planning for both
scenarios of course yeah so we’re in our
board meetings and in all discussions
we’re talking about what each scenario
would look like hey trying to take your
money
back it’s
so it’s so funny because I post on I
post every game I post all about Burnley
and everything and a lot every every
single post there’ll be somebody that
says oh yeah we’ll see where you are
next to year when you’re in the
championship like bet you’re not going
to any games in the championship I’m
like well hey I went to four games in
the championship last year be like I’m
not an investor that’s that said oh I’m
only going to be here from the premier
League like I’m here for the fight I’m
an athlete I am a part of this club now
and I want to be here for it yeah I’m
going to be right there in the
championship fighting to get back up who
jumps I mean well maybe you it sounds
like from the from the conversation
earlier you can’t jump off the ship just
because the team’s not going to win like
I’m Turn Up For a
show that’s kind of what I was talking
about when you were when you were
talking about the draft situation where
a player just wants to go to the best
team where they can win where’s the fun
in that you know like the fun in it is
yeah we might get relegated and we might
have to fight our way back up but we’re
going to fight like and I want to be by
their side for that fight I don’t want
to then now just jump to IP switch cuz
they’re coming up or Sunderland what we
could do with someone like you I’ve
Sunderland Sunderland till I die is
truly just watched the the I’ve just
watched it it’s so good and like those
types of documentaries that one
specifically was really really good have
done wonders in getting Americans more
interested cuz that’s some of the stuff
that they talk to me about most that
song at the beginning of that show oh
it’s brilliant brilliant it’s so good
and that club like watching that show is
wildly interesting for many reasons but
just because of some of the stuff that
they’ve been through
and it’s it’s pretty crazy do you get
subtitles do you get
subtitles we the
[Music]
lad I’m a club owner with a mentality
that the money that I put in I’m not
going to get back yes that’s that’s
that’s just how I think yeah how much
you put
in too much but that’s that’s my
mentality so it’s not an investment and
I sometimes think the the amount of
American Investment that’s coming not
just from ex-athletes but also from
really experiened Shar business people
have put money into uh English football
clubs is it the same mentality where you
put the money in with thinking I’m I’m
probably not to get this back it’s
actually just a bit of a passion it’s a
for me yes I I think I think there’s
other people obviously who look at it as
a business Endeavor but I do think that
our group especially like you have to
look at it like that because also from a
passion standpoint and from being able
to handle situations like we’re in I
mean if I was looking at this purely as
a financial play I’m looking at the end
of this season I’m like oh my gosh 150
million pounds for staying up or 40 50
million for and you’re like oh my God
but no I’m looking at this as a
competitor and as so yes I look it at
that way how’s your experience been um
it mixed
yeah
yeah you what you say about the actual I
watch every game whether it’s actually
live or on the link that feeling of up
and down you still get from sford that’s
you know United as well sometimes but
you still get that feeling of up and
down like you did when you were a player
but it it’s interesting it’s frustrating
sometimes but then I actually love it
you how involved are you day to day I
was involved for eight seasons and then
um I was theer I was the operational
shareholder for eight seasons and in the
last two um board
meeting I was only do two days a week
we’re almost doing it like
semi-professional so now Nikki but’s
gone in Ryan gigs has gone in Paul
skull’s G in they’re full-time so
they’re in now full-time they’ve been
doing it for two seasons one and a half
two seasons and better or worse than the
last eight um no there’s been some pay
ATT that of the day today stuff I miss I
missed the buzz of it because on Match
Day what I would say is it’s an easier
match day for me now because I don’t
feel as responsible cuz I’m not the
operational shareholder so I feel more
that that’s the thing but I I just think
from a financial side I just feel it’s
like it’s bit like going to a casino
you’re probably going to lose the
reality is it’s you’re going to lose
your your money is going to go away and
I remember Steve Parish when I went to
see him he said he had two computers in
his off and he did have two laptops in
his office and that was the Premier
League p&l for next season and that was
the championship and he said he always
had them there and he looked at them
throughout the season to understand and
the difference was staggering to me can
you enjoy it do you enjoy any I don’t
think the money that we’re losing is
money that would be sort of like scary
to us whereas I look at the money in the
Premier League and I look at that
difference I I’m sure it say like 92
million pound difference wow and that is
like a it’s like they’re off the edge of
a cliff I I I disagree with it strongly
I believe that the reason there
parachutes is because it’s a steep drop
right there shouldn’t be a steep drop it
should be a step yeah shouldn’t be you
shouldn’t need a parachute right and for
me I think Burnley if they go down this
season Legion should have sporting
disappointment but they shouldn’t have
Financial almost
like it’s bad oh it’s it’s it’s
incredible but then the the thing in the
question similar to the agents but
similar with the spending in this league
is how do you put the toothpaste back in
the tube like it’s out there you know
like and the money’s out there and the
billions of pounds have been spent how
do you try and reel this whole thing
back in now that it’s out there you’ve
invested heavily in the squad as well
season yeah we have of course and so do
you have do you have it’s probably too
you probably W well answer that from a
point of view but because one of the
things that I think this owners have
done they have the the trigger drop in
the contract if you’re not in the
Premier League so actually the wages
fall right yeah in line yeah that’s a
that’s a pretty standard thing which is
wild to me like that’s something that I
learned when I came over here that I did
not know earlier is that like player
cont like in player contracts being
changed based on which League are which
makes sense I mean if you physically
look at it but in America that’s a a
vastly different whereas we have guys
with fully fully guaranteed contracts
not the NFL but other sports where a
team might cut you and you can get paid
for 10 12 years after you’re done Jesus
Christ Bobby Bon is technically still
been playing 30 30 years after because
he deferred his contract I mean he’s
getting paid every January I think he
gets paid $2 million who’s that his guy
named Bobby
Bona yeah he’s just for the rest of his
career he gets paid out every every
February yeah jeez I think that MW leads
with Robbie F I think I just stop
playing rby last
week that that that that owner who did
that contract probably will regret that
now sure they I mean it’s a it was like
a deferred contract because of their
money situation at the time so it was an
interesting situation but there’s I mean
that’s like basball players do a lot of
deal that he just did as a deferred
contract after 10 years he then he gets
the gets the money after 10 years yeah
what’s the biggest just relating it to
the Premier League I’m trying to think
who’s got the biggest contract in the
Premier League probably erling har but
what’s the biggest contract in the NFL
for a player biggest contract in the NFL
is so Mahomes would have I believe the
overall cash because he did a 10-year
deal but if you go year by year I think
the biggest per year money right now is
is somewhere right around 50 million I
think it’s 45 50 million for one year
yeah it’s a million a week million a
week is Holland the highest P it always
blew my mind how you guys do by I didn’t
know cuz we only have
17 well you said that one
of I was I was going to bring that up
earlier but I didn’t know I
was come on I mean League two Striker I
mean are you are you smoking weed
he watch he watched a lot of we leag to
yeah I I don’t know what the big deal is
I I give him prayers every week I give
Man City and I think he’s an amazing
Striker but his General play is that of
a League 2 player I and I’m I’m glad
you’re not agree with me I don’t expect
people to agree with me it’s just harsh
the the league two comparison har didn’t
even League one the thing his General
play week and week go is not is no one
near good enough he literally had the
argument to win the balloon balondo or
last B I always screw that up there’s a
there’s a clip for the internet American
as a goal scor this tryer the best in
and I said that Jesus people see this
what happens people don’t listen so when
you say General play you’re you’re
talking about his link up play way he
lays the ball off sometimes the options
he gives his teammates or the options he
doesn’t give them has a striker and a
goal scorer the best in the world some
of his other player is that of a league
too he’s a great goal scorer he’s not a
great player I would I think that’s I
think there sometimes there is a
difference I mean would you agree with
that right you think there is a
difference I think the is is is is
pretty on point the only thing with it
is mentioning the League 2 cuz that’s
what everybody’s everybody remembers
pretty decent standard but the thing he
knows how to get the
clicks we’re going to talk about I
guarantee pep deep down Pep’s going to
defend him of course but I guarantee pep
would sit with the staff and go of
course he’s got to improve on his the
leag to but this is what I’m going to
say as as a striker this is it’s part of
you have to have I think that when you
look at him scoring he’s kind of
clocking that level in respects of when
the guys got time they could play it
through to him he goes bam he scores but
there’s games like the one we saw
against Arsenal and that’s and a game
like even last year when they beat
Arsenal 4 and it was holding on him he
he was able to deal with that but when
you’re playing against that kind of
caliber of of Defender you have to do
more to make sure that you can at least
keep it that’s the thing when you watch
him in those situations like that game
the bruyne was shut down fodm was shut
down Bernardo Silva his service was
restricted to him so then what was what
you need from him is a little a bit more
Savvy remember he’s only 23 he’s still
learning game you need a bit more Savvy
in how you’re going to make moves to get
time on the board if it’s your weakness
to get the touch to lay it off what
you’re seeing at the moment is he’s not
doing
that I just the was tough because as did
do well but I’m not about in general I
don’t think what I said was such a big
deal he a young he’s a young player and
he will improve it and I guarantee you
pep sits with his staff every go he
needs to do more he needs to do more
when he’s not quite getting larg of
chances or larger goals yeah
he might working he’s now absolutely
he’s working on if at the right time if
we’re talking about har and he’s going
to be playing for the best he’s probably
going to go on and play for the best
that is part of his game he’s going to
have to improve on I mean the thing with
with Harland is I I don’t I don’t think
he cares about the the other stuff
probably not there was a spell last
season I think where pep was asking him
to actually come deeper and get involved
in Midfield and he looked a bit awkward
it just doesn’t suit him I don’t think
he wants to I don’t think he’s
interested you have to still have that
in your game as a no but I think I think
the way man city played they got that
many players who were in that area and I
agree with r s of fen in there de bruy
in there Bernardo Sila who can do that
sort of Link play and he’s just I don’t
care about it I actually go back it’s
not just the Arsenal game remember his
performance at anfield
yes he’s almost like I think if he
doesn’t score you don’t actually know
he’s right yeah do you think the we City
player because you know like as a
midfielder or if you are a striker
dropping in like you want to get your
touch on the ball early doors get a few
touches in but he doesn’t really get the
opportunity he has most touches game
doesn’t yeah but that’s what I mean so
if you’re not getting the Rhythm in your
play like you know when just a few his
game is not about getting Rhythm so
difficult then for him because how many
touches does he have a game but when he
does get them touches make them like
make count General L just little ball
lay off it’s behind somebody or too far
ahead of somebody a couple times I saw
him trying to head it and he it looked
like didn’t know what he was doing that
and he will learn his game you know the
problem he have absolutely the problem
he have is as you get into those games
of of real importance top games he will
be targeted because then what will
happen is that when when I started my my
weakness was holding and linking the
play so you have to do more so you can
get there like I sa a bit of time to
control it I think as he goes to those
levels what’s going to happen is he will
be targeted because if you can stop them
guys and he’s touches bad you’re going
to turn the ball back over you’re going
to get the ball back you said something
before about uh your coach said to you
uh the better the player the longer the
leash in terms of Highland the leash is
long because I think you can put up with
what you’re saying because he gets that
many goals his goals are like he’s not
just a great goal scor it’s like off the
scale the numbers so I think is that
something that you go back to where you
say you put up with that as a coach in
terms of what Roy saying I think we
agree with that but the goals and and
the leash is that long yeah I suppose
that’s almost kind of what you’re saying
is that this part of his game is League
2 don’t don’t quotee me on
that but then then the goal scoring and
everything else is top of the Champions
League best in the world so yeah so he
should have a longer leash now if that
part starts to come back down then
surely if you’re if you’re a decent
player surely he’d want to improve I
remember when I United and my game was
box to box I remember Brian Robson
pulling me and saying listen you need to
try and get come and get deep and get I
was like no that’s not my game but as I
got a bit older I went that is part to
learn all aspects of the it be like a
wide receiver who catches a bunch of
touchdowns scores a lot of long balls
but he won’t Block in the game you’re
like you’re like all right that’s okay
as long as you keep scoring those
touchdowns now if he starts dropping
some balls then you’re like okay I’m
going to put somebody in that can do
both we see him he we will like you
mentioned it he he’ll have to learn you
you you naturally have to learn to be
fair I was going to use a different
example than you Ro because I think that
when Coley came to United or when rude
came to United their General linkup play
wasn’t of the standard probably that you
would expect but the work that went on
on the training ground into them just
actually having balls played into them
after training receiving it on you know
receiv
I’m sure they’re doing that with him a
lot and that should get a lot better I
think in absolutely as a strike as well
you know like when the ball’s coming in
you make the move you go then he comes
and then he he comes too you go down bam
you you I think I think the problem I
think the problem for him is he he’s
played a lot of his career I feel at
Dortmund probably running that way yeah
and that’s where I think his great
strength is was I think he’s come to
city and he’s never running that way
he’s actually always got his back to
goal and he he’s always if you like in
those spaces where deep defense players
in front of him he’s got have tight
touches he’s been asked to play
completely
different absolutely anyway go back to
learning where why do you like NFL
because I to be honest you’re the I
think you’re the one amongst us here
that have traveled to NFL games you’ve
gone to America to the US to NFL games
strange enough for I’m obviously a very
impatient person but for some reason
when I’m watching American football I
don’t get
that find out later
no when I was when I was a kid grew up
in irland I’d watch any sport so when
the NF well was AR I was obviously glued
to it you know we’d one or two stations
but not as many stations so I got into
it as a young kid always loved the game
got back to it in the ‘ 80s watching the
game and the fact it takes so long I
grew up watching it so I’m dead relaxed
when it takes three and a half four
hours for a game my wife and I my wife
and I have conversations all the time
her obviously being a professional
football player and myself in the NFL we
talk about the overlaps and the
different types of athleticism required
and obviously and so we talked we were
recently talking about Holland and were
saying like could NFL players with let’s
call it 5 years of training come over
and make a roster I’m not saying play on
the top teams make a roster and vice
versa if you give a guy like Holland 5
years to train in the weight room and
learn could he come and do something in
the NFL and it it was a fascinating
debate that we got into rugby players
just signed for the Chiefs has the Wales
rugby players that be a good Netflix
documentary will he make will he make it
or will end up just sort of like it’s a
big news over
here strong and he looks amazing doing a
very big reveal on it which it’s funny I
saw like the meme yesterday that was
like they’re doing a reveal for a guy
that’s going to be fighting for a roster
spot but it’s so a we just changed the
kickoff rules in the NFL so I think
that’s part part of it is that he has
experience in this you know kind of
rugby style running system where the
kickoffs might play um but he it’s not I
don’t think it’s a slam dunk like yes
he’s absolutely going to make it at
least from what I know I know a little
bit about it um but he does have a
chance would be gunning would I be
gunning for him the guy from Wales is’s
coming over to
America they’re going to say truthfully
I don’t think like the NFL is such a
Cutthroat business and such a hard like
like I don’t think anybody would even
give a second thought to it it’s just
cuz there’s only 53 spots and you start
the roster with 90 so that means you’re
cutting all those guys to get down to 50
so you don’t care who you’re every year
yeah Jesus Christ every year every
team’s roster starts with 90 at
beginning of training camp and then by
the opening day you have to get to 53 so
37 people get bombed every year so where
did they go home
J we been going out
skiing so all those teams are cutting
that many players
so where do they end up they’ve got to
try and go so get paid home you I mean
you get paid for a couple weeks to
training camp yeah but you no yeah you
go home most guys like that’s that’s the
dream like so a lot of people will say
like I played in the NFL for a cup of
coffee cuz like they came in for their 3
we four we training camp got cut and
they never actually played in a real NFL
game or something wow um um but that’s
another big difference between premier
league and and NFL is that at any point
throughout our season you can get cut
like week seven of the Season you could
get cut and be done um you could also
get cut cont ripped up yeah g and you
could also get picked back up the next
week like same team or a different team
like over here if you’re on a team
you’re pretty much on a team unless you
get to the transfer window it’s very
different W you we got have such a
strong mentality don’t you just asking a
question so Harry Kane is a very fond
he’s he’s massively into NFL I think
it’s he’s huge into NFL and he also I
think half fans himself as a kicker of
course so I’m going to now give you a
question Harry Kane practices for three
or four years answer this question could
he get to the level of an NFL kicker I
think with true proper dedicated
training I think you could um because I
I think that his skill set obviously
having kicked balls for his entire life
then you put him with a proper kicking
trainer um I don’t want to diminish the
job of a kicker I think it’s an EXT
extremely difficult job but somebody
that does it at the highest level like
Harry has with proper training I do
you’d be good at you good at K the ball
over the
bar I did I did a field goal competition
with Sergio Aguero um in America when
man city was doing there and he was
phenomenal I mean he he was making 65
yard field goals the only difference
that he would have had to work on was he
took a long run up whereas you get from
from the time the ball is snapped to the
time you kick the ball is 1.2 seconds
Jesus so you’ve got to take a two-step
run up and and kick it and that was the
only difference but I mean he was
pounding the ball through the upright
you see someone like Harry cuz like the
B still as well the B’s still you can I
think he actually is going to try it
like it sounds like he actually I think
I’m surprised at your answer I thought
You’ have said no these guys have been
doing it since they were 12 and he’s
this is kicking a Gary this is I know I
get that but
still kicking a Justin Tucker is the
best kicker in NFL history he like I’m
not saying that Harry can be that I mean
that guy is unbelievable but do I think
that Harry could possibly with again you
have to remember 3 to four years of
intensive everyday training do I think
that he could make an NFL roster 32 I
think probably just because of he’s had
to do it his whole life and maybe a
keeper would probably be a better option
because they’re having to you know goal
kicks and everything are you good at
football like can you play a bit your
wife play I can I can be her training
partner like I can I can do the passing
drills I can um I can knock a ball down
you going goal so this is this is this a
point of contention do you join in you
don’t join him a Burly did in this
session um so I was I was supposed to
last week but they didn’t have boots My
Size the do boots in a size so next time
I come over I’m bringing my
owny I’ve got to ask sh about you said
about Vincent company being you know Mr
cool and calm is that the opposite of us
number
two B Bell gave me I said Bell I’m going
on stick to football give me something
he’s like which one do you
want to go out
everybody but no he’s great he actually
took he had to take control in the
second half against Chelsea did a good
job for us so yeah no he’s a feisty they
have to be different though don’t they
like you’re number one number two good
cop bad cop what’s because all year I
interviewed Believe It or Not Craig at
right at the start of the season and he
was they were adamant they never going
to change the style of play irrespective
of what happens every other club that’s
been through a bad run like Burnley have
been has adapted at some point in the
season it sometimes as an owner I found
in the position where you have to think
well if we keep doing the same things
and continue to do the same things and
we keep on struggling sure there’s a
slight stupid thing for to see yeah but
I think so but youve seen that that I
can see you by your face something that
the adapted so we we they have but not
not took a long time it’s like seven
months in eight months in change we
definitely held that mentality for for
quite a while and then we learned that
it wasn’t going to be successful so we
we did have to switch it um I think
that’s a Vince is obviously a first-time
manager as well so he’s going through
the Premier League the first time and we
the way that we played in the
championship last season was so
successful and dominant obviously so you
think you add players to that you tweak
it a little bit but then you go up and
you try in this league again like we
talked about earlier in this league
you’re going against one two billion
pound rosters sometimes you just
literally don’t have the ability to do
that so we did switch it at some point
um and obviously the we we’re four
unbeaten in the last four matches so
something has worked but yeah it’s you
can’t sit there when you’re talking
about football management or R’s team go
this is where we’re not going to change
for anybody I know that yeah and a lot
of people say it I think it’s bizarre
when I hear coaches or manager say that
we’re not changing for anybody of course
you got adapt yeah against bigger and
better teams well you just going to keep
playing off from the back and it’s just
not burnning we see loads of teams doing
it because they’ all been fooled by a
man city in the Barcelona they’re
getting caught loads of teams have done
over the last four or five years but is
a city mindset isn’t it that he’s come
from from so many years and he’s
probably thinking you’ve got to make the
mistakes to get better but you don’t
have the players do you is is the plan
because obviously Burley went down with
Shawn D with the came straight back up
again cuz they had continuity and
stability is that the thinking that
whatever happens at the end of the
season we’re just going to continue to
do what we believe in well I mean it’s
that’s it’s the conversations that we’re
having obviously there’s so many
different things and there’s also
similar to what we’re talking about here
the difference in Premier League
football versus championship football
and some of the styles that you can play
in one that you might not be able to
play in the other then the players
required to do each of those different
styles so it’s a little bit of always
trying to find that Balancing Act
especially right now with where we are
in okay if you go back down you’re going
to do you play this style with these
types of players and then if you go back
up do you change that again like it’s a
constantly a learning cycle and it’s
fascinating and I didn’t realize coming
over the quite different styles from the
Premier League to the championship and
what might work in one and not work in
the other you’re involved in a
relegation B with two teams who’ve got
who who’ve who’ve lost points and
another team in ever who might who might
lose more I mean how does that affect
you in terms this people are talking
about this could actually go to the last
week of the Season or even beyond the
season I mean how are you dealing with
that yeah it’s it’s very interesting
because obviously you sit here and you
say I want it to be as fair and I want
everything to go as Fair as possible
which financial fair play is a fairness
issue um and you don’t want to have to
try and stay up because somebody else
got deductive points but that’s the
reality of where we are so you’re just
sitting there hoping to get results on
our side control we can control and then
see where everything else
[Music]
Falls with American football player that
you look at you think would be someone
that could play football yeah it’s it’s
very interesting to have this discuss
this is part of the discussion my wife
and I had because I always look right at
speed like I’m like okay let’s see cuz I
think the technical side I 100% agree
with my wife on this that you guys grow
up with the ball at your feet like you
the the ability to control the ball
handle the ball I don’t think any of us
could get that in five six years that’s
a lifetime of a ball at your feet so
then I go to okay what could they do
like a wide receiver with speed running
up down the side and being able to cross
one in I think they can might or a
defensive back man-to-man defense in the
NFL I think playing like a left or right
back and being able to just man up a
Winger play right back don’t disrespect
right back it’s the easiest position
Defenders we got defend Defenders you
know what I
mean yes but like that that where you
don’t have to be on the ball as much
where you’re literally just shadowing
somebody like I think that might
be
stop
where can we hide them you know like I
know but I always thought so this is
where this back to the wife thing this
is back I always I was confident this
and I said this very confidently I was
like given few years to train I would be
a great keeper and I was like I think I
could legitimately be a professional
keeper wow and I I was a lot of American
Keepers hasn’t he in the and so my wife
obviously is like she was ribbing me
about and she’s like no I stop saying
that to people don’t say that to in
public so during Co obviously everything
shut down she has nobody to train with
like and I want to help her train so in
our backyard in Wisconsin we have a
bunch of land and we built literally a
soccer field and I was like all right
here it goes like I’m going to play
keeper you go out and you shoot on me
she she dribbled across uh top of the
box and fired a shot in Upper 90 zinged
past my head at 74 mph and I said babe
okay new rule we have a new rule you
don’t kick it from anywhere inside 20
yards so I have the most newfound
respect for Keepers that I’ve ever and I
no think could like I watch Arrow our
keeper who’s played these last three
games he’s come and he’s played the most
he’s played an incredible level he took
a shot from point blank Breakaway that
was probably four yards away it was
oneon-one him and the guy and he just
took it dead to the chest no problem and
it was one of the most impressive things
I think he he was pretty unlucky you
know when he came up I thought they
would have kind of stuck with him at at
least at the start just to ease maybe
it’s tougher young goalkeeper in the
Premier leag very tough for him I
thought with James very tough for him
he’s going to be a very very good be a
very very good but for a young Keeper in
the Premier League for a team that’s
going to be fighting relegation very
very the post athletic career T are you
finding it easy or are you struggling
with it or are you up and down I’m I’m
really enjoying it I I did I think I
also partially planned for it mentally
in my head because I’ve heard so many
former teammates and I’ve heard so many
former athletes talk about how difficult
it is and some of the struggles they
went through so I’ve tried very hard to
set myself up for success in surrounding
myself with the right people and also
coming to terms with the fact that it
was coming to an end when it was and I
think being able to walk away on your
own terms is makes it easier you know I
consciously did that I could have
certainly played a few more years if I
wanted to but I always knew that when my
time when I felt like it was coming
towards the end I didn’t want anybody
else to tell me I had to go I wanted to
be the one to decide do you think having
your son helped cuz I seen that his
first game was your last and I thought
that so was like just such a beautiful
moment that you can transition into
being a dad it was really a a big part
for me of why I retired also like I want
to I believe that it’s so incredibly I
think being a father is such a massive
you know great thing in this world and I
want to be the best father I can
possibly be and I know myself I know how
much time and energy I commit to playing
football and I didn’t want to have to
make decisions every day on okay am I
going to watch a little extra film or I
going to go play at the play set with my
son and I wanted to make sure that I
could make that make that decision but I
had my son in the middle of the season
last year and I played 10 games after he
was born and I had 10 sacks in 10 games
so I would say like it was really really
cool and then the game after he was born
I had two sacks and it was really
special it uh but it’s the best thing
that’s ever happened he was at Turf
Moore For the First Time a couple weeks
ago you should you should have called
him you should have called him sacka you
should car up play a million pound
million dollars a sack I’ll keep up
babies that’s a different start
earlier
Jesus
you lower the toer there every
week we walk on
T any of you guys have kids when you
were playing yeah I toward the end yeah
is that something I’m interested in to
hear how how you handled that cuz like
the the time away is tough it’s tough
it’s tough that one because like you’re
you’re just like so everything’s about
trying to win and trying to be the best
and trying to train hard and do the
stuff you your family are the ones the
wives espe the wives what the wives have
to especially if you’re one of those
players that move all over the place
they have to change schools it’s and
you’re just going you just get you you
get like you move to a house you you go
training the wife’s got to sort
everything out you’re just focusing on
that especially if you have more than
one wife isn’t
it you know it’s so no no no it’s tough
It’s very hard you know even to even to
when they’re younger careful you’re
getting into Jamie territory brother
even when you’re younger and your boys
you want to go even when you go want to
watch them when they playing playing
football and you’re you’re you’re
playing at time Jeremy Kyle and your
kids are playing kids are I think you
travel a lot more do you think are you I
get the impression you’re away a lot
more yeah where footballers at least
you’re home you at home at half one 2:00
most days we your kids old enough to
know what was going on like be able I
think that would be the coolest thing I
I I do love the fact that we not so much
see me play but can remember sort of
going to games and going to you know Cup
final at the end he was actually on the
pit at the end I think it was in 2012 I
think towards the end of my career is
something nice I think to look back but
I always think now as a player to have
almost my advice to my kids basically is
have kids not as late as possible but
almost get to your 30s especially my
sons are professional footballer now but
there is something that I think you can
really focus on your on on your your
game no no distractions but I think it
is something I do like the fact that
he’s seen me you know we can remember
some games it does there is like a sense
of proud I mean my son had no idea what
was going on but I did want to take the
field to make him proud like I wanted to
know I wanted him to know that after he
was born like his dad had a new meaning
a new why and that when he goes back and
watches those clips he can watch him be
like that’s my dad yes and you’ve got
that picture as well forever yeah but
that burnly if they’re losing every week
that won’t be good for him
with yeah exactly has to learn adversity
from there oh what a beautiful place to
finish
you’re very impressive amazing I
appreciate like I said I truly
appreciate you guys having me on the
show because I appreciate watching it
it’s it really is fun and I think it’s
very very rare to find the combination I
told you this about the CBs show as well
like I think it’s very rare to find the
combination of level of talent
experience and knowledge that you guys
all possess but also the humbleness and
the respect for each other and the
willingness to kind of you know break
each other’s chops every now and then
too I think that’s a rare com too
nice you never lost that’s why we
got stay up are you going to go have a
proper celebration yeah you on the pitch
I’ll be here I’ll be here I mean there’s
a chance that Nottingham game at the
last last game of the season could so I
was last last thing last year for the
championship so I I came on as owner
about a year ago and we won the
championship like two months after I
came on and Allan our majority owner
looks and he goes you carry the trophy
on the pitch wow I was like Alan these
people are going to boo me out of the
stadium I’m the student that showed up
to the project and got a without doing
anything but it was the coolest day I
mean we did the bus prey we did
everything so like knowing that day and
I think always having that day in the
back of my mind that’s the only thing I
want to get back for these people is how
that feels do you know clubs in notam to
tell them to go but the farest I mean
they’re they’re our last match of the
season so if you could just tell them
just like take it easy just like maybe
just take a couple days off that that’
be great um but no but you’re in
fighting aren’t you you’re thought they
might get more than four points too I
thought they might get more than four
points you call somebody
and he’s got his Burnley shirt on did
you do that on purpose yeah Burnley the
colors yeah so lovely and you at Burnley
BR yeah yeah man yeah it was um it was a
good time as well I was there with my
the coach that started me off at Palace
so I went there at the end and we got
promotion who was the manager stand turn
it was brilliant it’s brilliant time
going back it’s like going full C back
to those guys and it was the most fun
I’ve had in a dressing room the guys
were amazing man it was a nice place it
was small town and everything I’m
pleased for him it all started obviously
we got promotion when I was there and
then they went on for to to get the
success cashing into towards you we
cash
still no no massive self spot for I just
want them to do well it’s very tough for
him but I want him to do great people up
there man they’ve been they’ve been
incredible I feel like people over here
are very skeptical of Americans coming
in but I have to say they’ve been
phenomenal to me and my family so I’m
very grateful are you surprised when you
came in as it took over your motionally
more than what you thought or is it just
have they won you over quicker than what
you yes like it it’s it’s I can’t
explain how deeply passionate I am about
it and I knew I was going to be but I
did not realize to this level like how
much I would care how much I would love
interacting with the people I mean even
when I’m not here and I’m in Arizona
waking up at 4:00 in the morning for a
match and like it is all out I mean my
son he’s only 18 months old but he will
yell at the TV because his dad threw
across the living room you
[Applause]
know that was nice H really nice to
collect
things I it turned me straight and
turned you gay turned me gay were like
this you
just be professional talk about he’s not
only he’s not only gorgeous he’s
impressive impressive the Premier League
more of him 8,000 calories a day that’s
a lot I remember like speaking to James
Asko was you’re amazing right he said
that right he needed 4,000 he needed
8,000 he’s 6′ 20 right of course he’s
got but you got 8,000 because going to
be a treat like human heard that a human
I’ve never heard that before he said 200
calories I would have said well that
doesn’t seem like much exactly it’s
going to be [ __ ] 8,000 is it he’s 6’9
he trains nine times a day it’s going to
be a lot and when he said it you and
like oh is it
me it’s impressive what you have your
breakfast rice Cris
be
Jesus Christ have you got a kid I’ve got
little
boy he’s jealous love 20 see
that’s not enough I’m telling you the
Frid used to do better than that listen
to how he’s gone now he’s gone I hope
he’s
[Music]
gone
23 Comments
He was doing so well until he said 'upper 90' 😄
Haaland reminds me of Gary Lineker of old, having to goal hang.. If he comes short too often, he'll get in the way of the brilliant midfielders or not be in the right place to perform his main function
Oh cool hes from Wisconsin Ive got family there. Hope they can manage to stay up Burnley, seems like a good, decent guy
Can they bring the Wrexam guys?
twitter is something the left wing made into a cesspit along with most social media platforms, ring any bells Gary ?
Roy Keane is comedy gold 😂
"he's 6ft 9, trains 9 times a day, it's going to be a lot!" best Roy Keane line ever.
‘No you can’ 😂😂😂
Love it
Loved listening to JJ, but there was loads of times he was mid sentence and one of you cut him off and he didn’t finish what he was saying! Ha’way man!
So glad JJ came on here. Shows that some of us Americans do love the sport of English football and there is no reason to hate on one another from across the pond. My grandmother was English so I always loved the culture. I also understand why some people may hate on us, but they gotta understand the stuff you see on tv and movies is versions of American people turned up to a 100. A lot of us are actually humble people just trying to make the best of the situation we are in and be happy.
You try and get LeBron James on stick to football because of his connection with liverpool
Ian Wrights career and JJs college career are basically the same.
We love JJ in Houston, take care of him, Burnley.
Great episode. However, I don't understand how a co-owner can be involved in the dressing-room or on the training pitch. There is something wrong with that. You can't be working "with" the manager and then be deciding whether to sack the manager – while you've been part of the manager's activities.
That seems very odd to me. You can't have your cake and eat it. He'll never be a soccer manager or coach because he didn't grow up with the game. He needs to accept that.
JJ's a Top bloke… good luck with everything!
Could we have Ryan Reynolds or Rob Mcelhenney next?!
LMFAO I love Roy Keane. The ending my god.
Haaland scored a ridiculous amount of goals last season, he's been injured for a large part this season but still got most goals and not fully fit. People say that anyone could score in a city team? Which striker over the last decade has scored more for them with same players and similar team in a season
“He can go back and watch clips and say ‘that’s my dad!’”
“…yeah but if you’re at Burnley losing every week it won’t be good for him will it?” 💀
Great insight in to the game.
This is the best show in football. Even the yank is sympathetic. 😅
Roy Keane’s face when JJ came out with that quote was hilarious😂 he didn’t buy it at all