 What's up everybody and welcome to season one episode three of Falcons in Focus. I'm Scott Baird. That's Tori McElaney You all know who this guy is. He's Richie Frickin Grant. How you everybody doing? Safety for the Atlanta Falcons Central Florida alum and Richie we're gonna start With a pretty serious Tori and I are season journalists So we're gonna start with a hard-hitting question right here that we want to know about your mouthpiece Right because sometimes it's normal. Sometimes it's normal Sometimes it looks like a junkyard dog. Sometimes it has like a grill on it. Sometimes it has like maybe It all kinds of stuff. Give us the origin story of where the mouthpiece comes from What's his guy name man? It was a quarterback I had in a at UCF I think his name was cruise chick something like that But he had these wristbands like a huge bag of And I ain't no I mean not the wristbands, but the uh the mouthpiece a huge bag of them. I didn't know uh Like who they were from or anything like that, but I seen all the designs on them like I'm finna spice it up this year I said give me two of those man. So he threw me two of them. Um He threw me a white one in like a pink one. I never wore the pink one But the white one is one I still wear to this day not the same mouthpiece Same design same design. So the same design So it's like a little white mouthpiece with skull teeth on there. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's my favorite one It was this picture zoomed up on you like really close and I was like I would not want to run it that day Funny story about that dude my coach and college met my db coach So one day, you know, you know practice is going kind of bad or whatever whatever and uh We watching a film We're watching a film at the practice And he was like, why are you smiling? Like because I'm not smiling. I was I was mad like you like, you know, we're not we're not performing He was like, I see you right there. You smile. I was like, because that's my mouthpiece, man Like put your glasses on man Mouthpiece or whatever but but yeah, that's a funny little story about that mouthpiece though Yeah, no, we love because we were when we were prepping for this podcast We were like, what can we add? What can we start the podcast off with and we both were like immediately saw those pictures with some pictures and we're like No, those are those are fire the gold one is new though I just got that one last season because I lost my white one They got me in love on but the gold was nice though. Yeah It really pops. Yeah, it looks good. Yeah, okay So next question talking about the whole swag that of which I feel like this secondary has I really think it's this group is very fun to watch. I really like watching and to like interacting with one another I like watching you and hawk and de-haul like just Hang around each other. What's y'all's relationship like and and it seems crazy from the outside looking Yeah, I was about to say I don't know how to describe it to you. You know, it's just a lot of hugging a lot of dancing A lot of you know, um ish talking Who's the best dancer? Who's the best dancer? The best dancer? Damn I'm out of that competition Uh it gotta be hawker Hawker de-haul They dance the most so you know you're practicing it all the time. Yeah, but you you gotta be good. Yeah, you gotta be good You know, that's not my lane, but I watch them boys. Do they look I like that you said both of them so when those guys listen to the podcast you haven't sided with one and pissed off the other All right, let's let's we're gonna move on because I there's okay I've been wanting to ask you this question for a very very long time because I was actually on your When you were drafted it was The night you were drafted and it was your press conference after you were drafted and for those that don't know Yeah, it was very emotional But what people don't know is that like when you were drafted like covet protocols were like pretty intense Like we couldn't really like do a lot But so everything was over zoom But it was so funny because I believe it was like one of our comms people kept coming up and saying like We're trying to get rich you but like everybody's really excited He has a ton of people and then in that press conference I remember hearing people like in the background just like Like here you are like in the corner just like trying to process this and everybody is just like loud and excited What was that night like with your family and and friends because it seems like it was so much fun. It was like You know that um that one video when uh Kevin Garnett was like we're going to disney world That's the excitement I had man like I had like 40 people in that house with me Like 40 people all family members some friends um someone like grew up with but um man like So I got the call I'm on the phone call everybody's quiet whatever. I'm talking to coach. I'm talking to um t. I'm talking. I'm just talking to everybody um hang up The moment was just like Like out of body experience. You know what I mean? Like I'm really here right now Like I just got on the phone with the focus like that's real. So, you know, I had asked my brother like the focus like So, you know, we you know, uh, we stayed quiet until my little time came on the tv But after they called my name on the tv, it was just a party from the other. It was so fun, man And everybody just you know, just showing me love and we was talking about the journey um Like I said, I said my little prayer after after the tv went off You know, I cried like a baby or whatever, but finally out of those two we parted some more So it was a super fun night, man. Everybody I love was around me. Um got a bunch of calls a bunch of text messages So it was really blessed night. I love that I mean that that's kind of how you hope that it is right everybody who you have proved right Right, they all thought you were going to be an nfl player an nfl star and then bang the phone call comes Um crazy The lone real football question in this whole thing. Yeah, this is really it Is is this is that you go back through the pre-draft process And you you cannot type in richie grant into a google search without the senior bowl coming up You just can't do it And it was like senior bowl star like the like the week just sent him like a rocket ship So it came up so much that I cannot ask you about that week and what that week I don't know what your mindset was going into it, but what came out of it Was pretty awesome. So give me a a thought about what you were going Through mentally going into that thing. Does it turned out so well for you? Um, honestly, man Just a bunch of question marks like in terms of what is spit on that week But I'm so grateful for that invite because that like I was I was already on the way but that changed the whole course of my draft process Like that senior bowl like I mean, yeah, my name was out there You know people was talking I was getting phone calls, but That senior bowl week was like probably one of the most important weeks I had in the whole draft process going into it not knowing what to spit But talking my teammate and robison uh with a giant shot at him, but talking to him. We just like man like Supposed to be the best of the best. So let's just go out here and you know and do what we do We had faith in our abilities But the weird thing was We were training for the combine at the time So, you know body was like my body was sore. Yeah, we were right in the beginning of training for the combine So you putting all these new lifts on and all this new running conditioning like nothing had to go perform You know from all these guys and teens, you know, I'm saying I play the best of the best. Yeah, body feeling like this Whatever, let's go. You know what I mean? Like whatever ain't got time for that. No excuses. So Showed out that week, you know shaking everybody here. I'm like, okay First night. I'm like, I'm gonna go out here. I'm gonna go out here Like you know in my head. I'm like, okay. I see who here. All right, da da da And then first practice man, you know, I said my prayer and I just I just wanted to have fun and competing And I think I think I did exactly that and every single day They don't fold it that way. So it was crazy because it was like The name Richie Grant before The senior bowl very different than the name Richie Grant after the senior bowl and I thought that was very fascinating Because not a lot of people can say like that one week really kind of changed the trajectory But for you, it kind of was that it definitely gave me a little boost Like it gave me a boost and I noticed it, you know, I mean, but try to stay humble and just keep working Yeah, one of my favorite quotes that you've ever said and we talked to you quite often But one of your favorite ones it was when I believe it was when we were talking to you Probably early training camp last year And you said and I have it or have it written down He said I've always been a guy who bit off more than I can chew. I learned Yeah, I learned at an early age. You can't grow unless you're put in uncomfortable spots to get better I feel like that is a very specific quote and I need to know like what situation You went through that you felt like this is way more than I can chew and I've got to be uncomfortable I gotta push forward, you know what man? I think It's just that uh That competitiveness in me. Maybe like, um, you know, I had all these I had all my cousins We all lived in the same house growing up and you know, you're gonna you're gonna compete, you know playing tackle football on our knees all types of You know, I always wanted we playing as teams, but I always wanted to be On my own team because I know I depend on myself I say, you know what all y'all get on that side I'm gonna get on this side and I'm gonna try to score the touchdown So I ain't been in a whole new game, you know, so this started at at an early age in terms of like Uncontrollable positions because I just wanted to win like how far can I push myself? You know, I mean that's and it was so innocent back then but now it's like it's actually, you know, it's a purpose behind it but Still do I had to learn like, okay, you can push yourself, but it's a limit. You know what I mean, so Challenge but like I said, by now more than you can chew it a bite you in the butt So I mean when you're going up against, I mean, however many sticks seven fifth grade cousins We got we got down there And it's crazy because You're not the only grand who's pretty good at football, right? You have an uncle Terry that wasn't half bad at the University of Alabama Got a little freshman record over there for touchdowns. Yeah As a kid growing up with somebody like that and of course he went to Bama, but I think I he was mr. Mississippi couple of times, right Right, so we're talking about an athlete at the sport that you want to play like What was it like to have that? I don't know example role model even when he was in high school I would assume right were you out watching his games in high school? Well, I watched his film to three four five in the morning every night like as a kid All I want to do is watch his how like he used to be so mad like you want to watch him again? I'm like put him in I want to watch him again But he played a way bigger role than just that football part, you know, I mean like My uncle was like the dad, you know, I mean all these cousins and my siblings I talk about We all in that one trailer or whatever. He was like the dad to all of us. So Just I just wanted to to Get to a level he did, you know growing up even shooting stars coming across coming across the sky. I'm like Please just make me like my uncle, you know, I mean, I want to be successful I want to be you know a leader. I want to be like a proud father figure I mean just a role model and and that's what he was for me. So I didn't want to disappoint him So every summer we went up there when he was at Bama me my cousin Lizzie Mississippi and my little brother we went to we went to Bama stayed with him for like two months And we would like work out every day, you know, you're pushing up. We look kid. You know, I mean Yeah, how old were y'all because it wasn't that like it was like 2006 like 2009 You probably like six to nine years old, right? I had to be at least like eight. Yeah Yeah, something like that, but it was it was instilled in me so early because I'm like man This dude was so successful and like everybody love him. You know, I mean he gets so much respect I'm like, what is he doing? So he he's just a respectful guy and he worked hard. I'm like, I can do that You know, I mean, I can do what he's doing. So that's that's where it started in those building blocks You know, it just created who I am day I love that because one of the things that when we were researching for this podcast I came across a quote that said, you know, you were talking about Terry and you were like He's someone who kept me out of trouble and he's I can't remember exactly what you said But you were like, he's the highest character man that I had to look up to I mean, I think that's that's such a compliment to someone to hear that. I mean, what does he Mean to you even like now now that you're in the NFL and you're playing so back then, you know being a kid I moved out of Mississippi as a kid moved to Florida But we went to Mississippi every single weekend and most most of the most of the time was to go watch him on Friday night So at the school we getting on the road, you know, me my grandma getting on the road to go watch them play or whatever, but um Seeing him Hold on. Say that question one more time. Yeah. No, just like when you were talking about like him saying like you were you said about him Like the highest character man you had to look up. So that's what I was going So seeing him like at that early age, you know, you in the room with like let's say Michael Jackson or somebody walked in here That's Michael. Like I can't believe I'm in the presence of Michael. You know what I mean? Like you want to That's how I felt my uncle like That's my uncle like really like I get to claim him stuff like that But you know, as I got older it turned to more like what's up, like you doing that? But he still plays that father role, you know that father figure and I lean on him so much You know for advice because he been down this road, you know football in and just being um Somebody that everybody looks up to right, you know a role model and he been in this road So so long and he was the first one to do it with no help So I'm like man, like you're so strong and where you getting all that from So now I'm just picking his brain and I've been doing that for years and it's been helping me Obviously, you know, I got to a good point in my life. Uh, obviously I want to go further But now it kind of the rose kind of reverse So he didn't get to go to the end of the field. He played in the CFL for two years So now he's watching my journey, you know, I mean, he's he's seeing all these things He's asking me questions and he want to be involved in every part and I'm like man Like look how life worked, you know, I mean like it's like full circle He brought me here and now I get to bring him along, you know, I mean I love it. I love it. So like when you when you went to see him when he was at Bama Do you have any stories from like when like anybody you met while you were there? I mean I feel because those teams because those teams were loaded. Yeah So many first rounders so many all the first rounders And I can't tell all the stories We just been locking room man. I didn't met Karine Jackson Julio jump I met Julio. He was a freshman. Oh, really? Yeah, he was teaching me and my little brother how to play the It was the 40 yard dash on the PlayStation way back then He was teaching us how to do that. I met Julio, Mark Terrence Cody. I don't even know if you remember Terrence Cody big dude. Yeah Just say I didn't met everybody 2006 to 2010 I didn't I don't know if they remember me, but I remember them. I'm sure if you ever come across them On the other side of the line of script is you'll be like, hey Did Julio remember you? I don't know if see see right before I got here Oh, yeah, that's right. That's right. There's a chance to meet him, but um, but in Tampa, maybe you can Hey, man, we're talking to the 40 yard dash You know, you know between the line, you know, yeah After the game, you know, we're talking but between the line probably ain't gonna be too much talking But again, you go so as we're kind of wrapping this thing up I I got to ask you about something that's not on your wrist right now And that's because there was a press conference last year Where you told us a cool story about you you wore two wristbands for like, I don't know ever since like your software You're in college, right? If I got it, right? It was It was above the line That's more and always compete always always compete. There we go. And you had a third one that you gave to your sister I remember that too. Yeah. Yeah, so Finally took them off that I took them off after all those years like five months ago Finally took them off man Took me a long time But like were they nice reminders like while they were there just you know, because in in college They were kind of slogans of right of yours, right? Yeah, so, uh, Coach Shannon man love coach Shannon. Uh, he coached coach me at UCF for two years Um, him and his staff they just had this idea, you know, like let's reward guys for doing what they're supposed to be doing Like, um or going to extra, you know going above and it kind of kept people in line You know, we young we want to reward system, you know, I mean, so Uh, it started with t-shirts and it was with the gpa. So the gpa had to be above a certain thing Or if you had a high gpa in your position group, you'll get rewarded and then it went to on the field. So now is, um finishing the play, you know, not loafing or or Making it to class on time, you know, you don't have any late or uh, Unusuals and stuff is all those types of things and and then Uh, the second year he came out with some some cool. I'm like a buddha line always compete. I'm like, you know what? I just write little stuff in my wristband and pee we yeah, just help me remember. Okay. Go hard Don't walk, you know, I mean just stuff like that all type of stuff. So so a buddha line always compete I'm like that's that's what you need to do in football You know being a buddha line and the people who don't understand being a buddha line just means like, um If the whole team Is finishing a drill and then you got like two guys who loafing in the back or they don't finish through the line Right. Okay. Everybody's a buddha line, but those two guys are not we trying to get everybody on this side of the line You know, I mean if everybody's on this side of the line, then we're going the right way You know, I mean so we can trust everybody do what they supposed to do And that you know, those wristbands was a simple reminder that you know, I mean it's just I guess the leader in me like, hey, you know wristband. Hey y'all y'all get right now It's like checking yourself. Yeah, it was just keeping me accountable to So to wrap up the podcast unfortunately, we have to wrap up We can keep going for like an hour But so we at the end of every episode we play a game. It's like a rapid fire type of game. Um, we We ask the same questions for everybody. However, we have one question in here. That's just specifically for you Because we heard that you're really big into karaoke. Oh, man. Don't do that to me You don't have to say don't worry. We would never do that. But well, we might we might but not right now We want you to come back. Yeah, don't do it to me. I mean yelling calls No, no, no, you're good. So Just so you know, there is a question about karaoke come right, but the first question is a simple one What is your favorite play ever in your career? Oh, man I feel like sometimes that's really hard because there are so many yeah, so if we go as a falcon as a knight It's up to you. All right. Let me let me go ahead and then be specific. Okay as a knight My very first turnover in college, um It was kind of to seal the game, you know, it was playing our rival usl They were driving down. I got a force fumble. That's my very first turnover I had one entire year on like being a red shirt. So, you know, I'm making plays in practice I'm like this college like how I'm gonna play the game And I got that turn. Oh, I was like, I can do this Right. We can do it. I can do it. What was the last movie that you saw? Even if it's embarrassing, you still gotta say it. No, I'll be truthful The last movie I watched I think it was gray man Yeah, I think it was gray man, uh, that new movie that came out. I just wanted to check it out. I like it pretty All right action. I like thrillers. Yeah, I'm really big into the mcu like marvel I'm with you This is the this is the question you what is your go-to karaoke song the one that you could get up and do without thinking Mario, let me love you That's a classic I actually did that one time At a karaoke night that was my first time I was in front of all these strangers. I'm like, I'm not going up there, bro I'm not going up there and then my homie. They were like, man. Just go up there, man You know your little boy, so I'm like, I don't go up there I went up there. I killed that jump I often start doing this every weekend. I honestly brought the house down. Man, I killed that. It was like a new talent Is that what you're saying for we so the thing is it's like that rookies have to when they come in Oh, the rookie show. Yeah. Is that what you're saying for them? I swing. I sang uh, um Sweet thing by uh, thanks shotgun. Okay. All right. Wow. I'm an old soul I was gonna say that was before you were born We just turned the jams on every Sunday and cleaned up the house Hey, that that's like a thing you woke up in the morning. You heard your mom like turning I knew what time it was. Yeah, it's time to clean up. Uh, which foul can you spend the most time with? Hmm the most time At this point it might be e-hares, you know, since since we've been in yeah since we've been back in the building, uh Might be e-hares uh With my boy Mike a lot Mike Ford The hall You know what? I can't even tell you Um, last one, what is your biggest pet peeve? Oh biggest pet peeve. I'm like, you know, I'm a chill guy And I don't I don't like to let other people affect my mood, but That was a that was a very strong very strong. I do got a couple I got a couple now. This is the one that I feel like everybody always kind of like has to really think about right, you know what? I don't like selfish drivers. So like okay when I'm in traffic Yeah, the people who caused the backup in traffic like cutting people off, you know, I mean, or Yo, it's so one 65 you gonna go like, you know I'm not about the next person like no, just Love that you brought this up because literally today we were talking about it and I was talking about Oh, I was so mad because when you get in the left lane, you should not be going 60 miles an hour That's the bad lane the bad lane. So the fact that you said this, I feel validated in my anger. So thank you No, we we did get on that. We did get on that. Thank god. And we bonded on episode three Richie Grant. Thank you so much. Thank you, sir Great review subscribe all that fun stuff we're gonna come back to you. I don't know if you're gonna be able to top Richie That's gonna be tough Falcons teammates you're on notice that was a good one You know, I come with it