the great players in the National Football League, one of
the best tight ends as well. He's here
to talk about tight end. Universities George. Kennel.
George. What's up, man?
How we doing today? We're doing great. Not as good as you
though tight end University. Tell me what's going on here.
Also title sponsor
presented by Charmin. They care about their tight ends. Hey,
that's that was nice. That was a nice segue to see like they
care about their tight ends. They protect your
Backside and, you know,
know what else, like we've been able to have a lot of really
good partners that are allowing us to put this event on the,
you'll
pay for the guys is Hotel food, Transportation, all their
amenities. We got Charmin who's going to be there for the tight
ends.
We have Levi's, you know, might as well get some jeans for
those tight ends. Why not got some cold crispy Bud Lights for
those tight ends, you know, if you're of age
and you know, and then an ash, we have Bridgestone who's, you
know, from Nashville and they're going to take care of
us down there as well, you know, maybe put us on some
Wheels.
But we had some great sponsors here in allowing us to is
amazing event for the second year in a row. And I was really
looking forward to it. And I'm really waiting for the summer.
I've been given Sharman a lot of free advertising in recent
months. Let me tell you why. I know this is about 10
University. I got to tell you the story. I got a book that
came out this year. You can see it there over my shoulder. It's
called Playmakers, and I get a
lot of reaction along the lines of,
hey, I can buy it
for toilet paper
and I tell people
if you really want to rip a page out of a book and wipe
your butt with it, feel free and you'll deal with
the consequences. Stick with Charmin
stick with Charmin. So
yeah, that seems aggressive. It seems aggressive. Yeah, I bet
atonia book up the page of a book is not something you want.
You want down there anywhere,
how to tighten University come to be. I remember seeing about
it last year. We probably had some content about it if PFT
but how did how did it all happen? Really? So
I live in Nashville, I train about six to eight. Maybe ten
NFL tight ends in the off season and Greg's.
Olson was retiring
and I was a hey, Greg. Why don't you come down? Like,
you know, maybe put us through some workouts, wash them tape
and he's like, hey, why don't we bring a bunch of tightens
down and will kind of make an event out of it. And we know we
both mean Greg share of marketing team. And
so we kind of were bouncing ideas off each other. And then
we're like, well, we got Travis to come down to. Let's so we
threw some ideas past him. He was really excited about it.
And so we kind of put our heads together and like, hey, let's
do like
tight and University and it just that's literally how it
came together and
thank goodness. We have a great marketing team has been able.
All to organize, everything for us, but
we just wanted to bring all these tight ends together under
the same roof. Watched tape, hang out and get to know each
other and like, you know, like the end of the day. If
if these Titans come down, they don't learn a single thing
about football. At least they've met 50 to 60 other guys
who are on the league. And now they know guys are other teams.
I can talk to them interact with them and
they know that's kind of
the Titan Brotherhood is something I'm trying to extend
everywhere. So, you know, just your two little bit bigger and
better doing it. Vanderbilt University, nice fields and
everything.
Going to be a riot.
How many more tight ends do you expect this year
versus last year?
We had 49 last year and we totally under book for that our
goals like 25. And we got up to almost 50
goal. This year's
goal is about 80. If we go a little over, that's awesome. We
go a little under that's fine. But we definitely open it up to
more people.
So like I said, we had to go to Vanderbilt, just make a little
bit more bigger, a little bit more space in the high school
years last year, which was also fantastic,
but we're looking forward as bring all these guys down and
another little tidbit. We're bringing in some Legends to. So
one of my favorite items, all time, Dallas Clark is coming
down. He's going to teach a class or two.
Tony Gonzalez will be there. I think, for a day
he's going on a family vacation and then Kelsey's working on
Antonio Gates. So hopefully we have a couple of Legends down
there to talk ball. The boys, Dallas, Clark, 44 with
the Colts. I feel like he got overlooked and wasn't
appreciated because he was in that offensive machine with
Reggie,
Wayne and Marvin Harrison, but that guy was putting up huge
numbers in his day, huge numbers with the tape fingers
and know. Love's,
that's what was so cool. He was out there running routes
blocking. He was one of my favorite players. I had season
tickets at Iowa. So I saw each one of those carts college
games as well.
Who was it? That Drew you to the tight end position. How did
you end up picking that? I didn't really pick it. I would
just put me there.
It worked out for me though. They had. You want to play Leo?
Linebacker. Do you want to play tight end? I was like, I'd
rather have the ball in my hands and it worked out for me.
How old were you when you figured out? You could catch
pretty well.
I don't know. I think I'm I should have won the Heisman in
seventh grade as a running back. I'm not gonna lie,
you know, I saw an interview
somewhere as I was getting ready for this today, and
you've got a mindset where you try to continue to approach
life like you did when you were 13,
where did that? That idea come from for you?
Well, my dad's, whereas preach to me, like, when I'm playing
sports, you know, you're going to try to get better going to
work hard, but you're going to have fun and it didn't take me
very long to realize that when you're having fun playing
football. It's a lot easier.
And so
I just try to, I tried to do right by my 13 year old self.
So the decisions I make, I just try to make that kid proud.
So I don't like they tried to do stupid stuff. I try not to
upset my parents too much.
I try to be kind to everybody and
just I feel giving live, you can live with that, you know,
just that childish, appreciation
for life. It just makes your day a little bit better every
day. One of the some of the challenges, though, George of
of that attitude, when you're talking about a billion-dollar
business and all of the Tease of being in the NFL and we know
how guys get chewed up and spit out by the machine. And you've
got to take a stand to get what what you deserve and you get
into battles with management. How hard is it to
continue to have that attitude when there are business
realities that can maybe make you cynical or Jaded? By
the way, it really is.
I mean,
like definitely like, so, for example, like no contract
conversations, like, when I was doing my contract, it's a very
fun. And I think the best thing I heard about, it's like
braces. You absolutely hate it when you're doing it. And
the second, your Track the braces.
Come off. You got a beautiful smile. You don't really think
about braces anymore. I think Richard Sherman told me that
one and you know, that came true for me. He's like, hey,
don't take it personal. Like
I know like it's tough when you getting judge like, hey, you're
only worth this amount. Well, I think I'm worth this amount and
then you're arguing, but at the end of the day, once you get
your contracts like, all right. Well, it is what it is. We say
what we said, but we're still here working together to want
to try to win a Super Bowl. So
you got, you can't think things personally just got to move on?
Honestly,
the tight end position League wide.
Me a guy that that you look at and say, wow,
that is, that guy
is the guy at the other than yourself, if the timings
isshin, so hear me out.
I mean, Travis Kelce, six seasons in a row. So 1,000
yards, appreciate is the most receiving yards over any wide
receiver skill position in the last six years and he gets paid
half of what a wide receiver makes, which just boggles my
mind.
And so mean to me like Travis Kelce, he's been doing it for
so long and at such a high level and he's Doesn't have
an off game. Like I think he has one bad game a year and it's
just because he's getting triple team. So like
he's a player. I look at him like you when he gets the ball
in his hands. He's a monster and you know, it's fun to is
like more tight ends and more Titans are starting at the ball
more start to be more part of the offense. Be more explosive
like
love watching, Darren Waller. I love watching. Mark Andrews
Earth's is really fun. Now down in
Arizona, like that's just fun to see him, just kind of
Dominic it a lot of touchdown. So, Hawkinson tonyandsarah.
I mean, there's all these tight ends that are explosive and fun
to watch but
Kelsey's just You have six 1,000-yard season to Rome and
your hell of a football player. You mentioned the pay
disparity. The receiver markets gone crazy this offseason. It
hasn't thought about it from the perspective of the tight
end
was like hey, we do
the same stuff and we have to block like, how do we get lost
in the shuffle here?
We'll see. I don't know. I mean, I would say that every
NFL team in the last that's won a Super Bowl, or been the Super
Bowl for, like, the last five years is that an All-Pro tied
in a part of the team. So
f******. It's a, it's a, it's not Titans, not just like a cog
in the wheel. It's an important position that can really
add to your offense or does or diminish. It.
Is there a receiver out there that you'd like to recruit to
the tight end position
or receiver to the tight end position?
Hmm. Know if I got to hang out with Brandon Marshall for
the first time.
I'm and he is bigger than I am. He's taller than I am. He's got
bigger shoulders than I do. He probably weighs five pounds.
More than me.
I was like, what are you doing? Brandon? Like, you can come
back right now and played tight end. He's like, I don't know,
my hips are a little titles. I, I mean, you could sign a 10
million dollar contract tomorrow and play for one
season,
but he'd be pretty fun to watch.
Hey, you speaking of the physical toll
of football 17 games, this past season. I know you battled
through a calf injury at a minimum last year, what kind of
a difference that having that extra game that extra?
That extra that extra stretching, the rubber band,
what did that do for you? And your teammates as far as you
noticed?
Hmm, it's definitely, I mean an extra week of football, without
extra pay is definitely different. I'll tell you that
much.
It's you know, hey football football love playing football.
It's a long season that made it a little bit longer. I'm you
know, I'm all up for playing more football.
It's awesome. You get more exposure. You get to play in
front of more fans. You to go to another city, like it's
a blast.
I wish they would throw another by week in there somewhere. You
know, I'll take two buys. You know that the body recover
a little bit. Let's let your star players stay on the field
longer
so you don't have all those injuries. So
yeah, that's kind of my take on it. I just prefer one more rest
week and then I'll be good to play more games. One of
the assistant coaches in San Francisco. Mike McDaniel, head
coach of the Dolphins. Now, how much will the offense do you
think
Miss? Mike McDaniel? Oh, I mean Mike was a
important part of our offense.
He was he Brought in a lot of different, you know, a lot of
different ideas to the Run game, especially he was very
creative. He put guys in positions to succeed.
So yeah, I mean we're going to definitely miss Mike.
I think our Run game will definitely be similar. It won't
be the same obviously, but, you know, we have Coach first, ER,
and Coach Shanahan that are doing the Run game stuff. And
I mean, I think Kyle knows how to do Run game, which I'm excited
about as well. So, we're going to miss him. Now. I'm going to
miss his
his positive energy, and
he's definitely got great Swagger out there with his
shoes all the time, but I'll miss them.
But I'm not like worried about it because I think the position
that the coaches that we have in place or they're very good
at what they do and I'm excited to see how it's different.
There's an obvious question, uncertainty lingering over
the roster at the quarterback position.
If you haven't heard Trey Lancer. Jimmy Garoppolo,
how do you, how do you as a team leader
guy? That's been there been around.
Establish yourself. Proving yourself. How do you keep that
from being a distraction for you? And the guys?
I mean we're kind of used to it at this point. I mean, Jimmy G
has been under scrutiny since after the 2018 season where he
tore his ACL and that whole seems like all is Jimmy G. The
guy then he comes back takes us to a Super Bowl, then
we lose. And then the next offseason is those Jimmy G,
the guy and now we had no other injury 2020s with tough year
for the Niners and then we came back and go to another NFC
Championship game. And
so like we've been through this,
it is what it is. I don't think it's really much of
a distraction. I mean, I can't tell being in the building.
I see the guys show up every single day. Go.
The routes would lift the weights
go to meetings and it's not really even a topic of
conversation. You know, we're all here. Just trying to get
better and where that's Jimmy G. Whether it's trade lands,
whether it's Nate side, filter, our mystery relevant, Brock
Purdy.
Now, whoever singing that rock
hopefully just throw it to me more than anybody else.
You have said that trade Lance has an insane ceiling. He just
needs to play
to get there. What's in the best interests of the team for
2022. Is it Trail ants working toward his ceiling and dealing
with the growing pains. Or is it Jimmy Garoppolo who
already is basically a finished product and can step in and
pick up where he left off last year.
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? I know
that's one reason. I'm glad I'm not the head coach of
the 49ers. So that's all I'm coach Shanahan, you know, like, and
I'll give you both ways. Like, you know, Jimmy G.
Awesome in the Huddle. Great leader directs, guys people,
you know, you know, go to attention when he's talking.
He's got a quick release. He knows the offense, you know,
like I said been to an SEC Championship game so he knows
what he's doing.
Trey, Lance can run, extend plays does all the play action
stuff. Incredible could throw the ball. 70
Yards, so it's just it. I don't know. It's a toss-up for me.
I like I said, as long as you're throwing me the football,
I it is what it is. You know, I just want football's
a competitive sport, if there's not competition, if you're not
fighting for your starting job every single day, then you're
not going to get any better. And so it was nice to see those
to push each other all year and
I think trailer and a lot from Jimmy and
know if Trey's the starter and there's Growing Pains a
sob. I think we have a good enough players around him to
help him succeed from trip Williams to Ayub to Fully Debo
to me to our Run game. So,
you know, I think we have plenty of play,
plenty of players around him to help him succeed.
A few weeks ago. Jimmy Garoppolo
did an interview with Adams shine and said that
last year was strange
and I'm not sure I would wish that on anybody. What did you
see if anything to suggest that Jimmy G was going through
a year that he wouldn't wish on anybody.
I mean, everybody can see it. When you trade three
first-round draft picks for a quarterback. It kind of has
a writing on the wall. Doesn't it?
I mean, and Jimmy did nothing but be a professional every
single day. He didn't complain about it. One time. He wasn't
in the corner, you know, talking crap about, you know,
the situation
he show up every day, as the starting quarterback of the San
Francisco 49ers
and he went out there and practice every day. He worked
hard every single day. He said, good examples for all the young
guys for all of us and he motivated everybody. So like
I don't know if there's a better professional in the NFL, the
McGraw, blow with how he dealt that situation
and I think he, you know, he made everyone around him better
that year and they're just like, hey, you're dealing with
something that no one else here is dealing with and you're
being incredible about it. I can deal with any of my stuff
and move on and just go play football. So
it was great. You know, the way handle was great for us. And
I mean, I wouldn't wish that upon anybody else but hey, he
did a lot with it and he played at a high level. I'm thinking
back the tight end University. Let's finish it up. Where we
started, all those tight ends there, who's going to be there
to throw the Balls, who
is Jimmy G going to be
you're going to have some quarterbacks there? You can't
just be the jugs machines know. So we got a, I'm working on
a couple.
I got I got I got three confirmed for you. I got I got
my guy, CJ beathard. I got my guy, Nick Mullens.
I got my guy Trail ants. He's coming down to teu.
You can help me peer pressure. But Zach Wilson's at about 99%,
He's trying to decide if he wants to come back from Cabo or
not. And I was like Zach, you're going to come back from
Cabo.
So if you want to help me influence, um,
That
and then the last one I'm working on Josh. Allen's trying
to see if you can make it work. So hopefully we have a handful
of awesome. Quarterbacks. Are, you could also talk to us about
running routes and
you know what? They see out there. So I'll be pretty fun.
Josh Fallon's a guy. You could recruit to be a tight end.
Oh, dude, he's got the energy for it to be. He's basically
he's a tied in with the, with a cannon for an arm.
All right. Well, hey, appreciate some of your time.
Congratulations again, on all your success
and all the best with tight end University June, 22 to 24.
Built University,
Nashville, Tennessee,
presented, by Charmin. Don't wipe your butt with pages from
a book wipe your butt
with Charmin. Yes, sir commercial. Alright. Great
friend of George. Thank you.
See ya.