 This is the OTP presented by Farm Bureau health plans plan on paying less for the coverage You need the Farm Bureau health plans get a quote today at FBHP.com With Amy Wells. I'm Mike Keith and this is Calvin Ridley wide receiver, Tennessee Titan Welcome, thank you. I like saying that Calvin Ridley wide receiver, Tennessee Titans Oh, it does sound good. It does sound good. It works. It does Calvin Ridley wide receiver, Tennessee Titan. That's it. Yeah, it's nice That's that's fantastic. The news of your gring to the deal Surprised a lot of people on Wednesday. Yeah, I know you weren't surprised because you're in on it You're talking to your agent But in terms of the Titans being in the running for your services Were they in it all along or did they pop in and went at the end? I Honestly asked for them for my agent. I said, what's over the Titans? I kind of said that and then they really were in I think from him telling me You know, I only talked to my agent to tell them but when I had after the season I gave him a list and I put the Titans in there and He they were interested in me also. So Thank God. All right. So why were the Titans on your list? When I got out of the season, I knew I was probably gonna be a free agent I was just looking around, you know, I you know all the you know potential spots I can go and you know, just the rosters and everything and quarterbacks and I don't know. I just was like, you know, I looked at Tennessee with my brothers and we looked at the You know the game like a game or two and we looked at will and we you know We looked at the receivers and we were like You know, it could be a potential spot for us. So let's put them on the list and you know It's kind of was at that point from there. But uh, no, but what I really was thinking was, you know I think I could come over there and help them. I think I could come over there and they'll give me the ball I mean, honestly, that's kind of how I was looking at it and uh And I know teams are always making their team better all the time. So it's like, um, who knows how good we're gonna be Was one of the things that impacted that decision the fact that there is an opportunity for you to get a lot of playing time and the opportunity for you to Make those plays that you'd want to be making That that was that had a lot to do with it. It had a lot to do with it because I was like, you know Man, I want I want I want to show these people, you know, not only that but I I like to get the ball I do I want to be someone they look at it's like, all right We want to get him the ball and uh all the time and he can he can definitely help us Especially like in the red zone, you know, a lot of areas I can score trust them I just wanted to put myself in a position where I can, you know, you know, get the respect and you know, Obviously from my work at that and me putting in the work and going on the field and doing what I got to do But at the end of the year, I wanted to, you know, my team to be in a good successful spot winning wise and you know, I had a You know, I had something to do with that. I know deandre hopkins is someone who you are familiar with You guys know each other. Um, how much did his presence on this team? Impact your decision and his skill set. It's got to be complementary to what you're doing. Yeah, no doubt. Um Obviously when I was looking at it, I didn't want to be by myself because then I you just you can get taken out the game And doubled and other things. So, yeah, obviously, uh, when I was getting to the point where I was like, all right This three teams I want to go to now Uh, I was just breaking it down. I was like, yeah The hops over there, you know, it could work. It could work It's not that many a lot a lot of people You know, jack was just in my fate. Uh, jack was that just got gave davis. I was like Yeah, we're gonna be a lot of us over there. I was like, all right, no brainer. We're right now I'm going right now. Tennessee's looking really good for me because like I said, I like to get the ball You know, I want to you know, I want to help my team and I want to be one of the guys the coach is looking at Like that guy's gonna help us, you know what I'm saying? So Once they did that, I wanted to thank him. I was like, hmm They're already both teams are offering good money. I'm not, you know, doing it for the money I'm doing it to the, you know, to be good and, you know, be comfortable somewhere. So I was like Tennessee is It's looking good for me over there. I think I just took it I was like, you know, they're gonna use me. They want me there. I know nick Nick just came from jacksville. So I was like, Nick Holtz offensive coordinator officer coordinator I mean, what am I doing? I mean, Nick's over there. I have a good relationship with nick We could talk and it's just I was like, well, and like I said, I want to I could see me and will and how all of us you just got to get together talking we could you know, we could be really good Mike mentioned earlier all the swirling media wondering where you're going to go what you're going to do Are you surprised by how few people really understand how many elements go into this? I mean, you're considering a wide range of things when you're deciding what team to play for Yeah, it's uh Yeah, this was it was really cool. Honestly, like until my free agency and all that That was the first time I did it. I thought it was really cool. It was really It was a lot of emotions in it, but it was um, really cool because you you like in control of where you go Kinda and you know, they're sitting offers in Yeah, it's just it's a lot of emotions because you know, you don't know what city you got kids now You don't know where you're gonna live. It's just like a lot of emotions But it's a very very cool process and I think a lot of people should you know be able to go through that because It was something different that I never went through and I was excited the whole time pretty much Fort Lauderdale guy. Yeah coconut creek high school. Yes. Oh, no, no, no monarch high school monarch high school It's in coconut. It's in coconut creek. Yeah Was free agency similar to being recruited coming out of high school as a five star Yeah Yeah Yeah, but you know, you can't talk they only could talk to your agent But it's kind of like that. Yeah, once just obviously once you get you you just don't get the information from them You get it from your agent. So it's kind of it is kind of like not calling you at home Yeah, they're not calling me or they're not calling my mom or you know my you know Well speaking of you being young do you remember your pre draft visit here in 2018? I would never forget it. You know why because I got a ticket leaving here You got a ticket? I actually was driving because you know, like my wife's from Huntsville. So I was just drawing. Yeah, you know, there are a lot of Titan's fans in Huntsville Yeah, really? Yeah, awesome. Then we Well, that's where we live So I was coming I drove from Huntsville up did my visit. It went pretty well Drove back on the way down. I got pulled over. I got a ticket. So I was never how fast I wasn't uh Like 70 something. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I remember your visit here Because we did an interview we did we did We probably did. Let's check it out. No way Alvin Ridley wide receiver Alabama They say they're number one wide receiver prospect in this draft. When you hear that, what do you think? I think yeah, I am uh, I definitely think I put in the work and I definitely deserve it And uh, I mean I go to I play for Alabama. I had you know, three great seasons and we won a lot And I definitely do we think I am the best receiver in the draft Don't you have to if you're going to be an elite receiver? Don't you have to feel that way? Yeah, I mean I I definitely have a lot of respect for all the other guys that are in the draft But I just think I I am the better receiver in the draft And I I do have to have some type of confidence in myself to you know, or the teams wouldn't want me So yes, I do and I am the best receiver. I love this video. Yeah Talk about your game Go on and on about several parts, but I want to ask you about one thing specifically You're route running. You're said to be one of the best route runners to come out of college in years How did you get so good at that and and how have you perfected all of it? I think just by watching other guys and uh, trying new things and going out there and doing it in practice and uh I'm the type of guy who's uh, I can watch film on a marco or hula old ab and uh Do what they're doing lock it on the field and I think I try to do that and I just Try to find ways to get open hide behind guys get in front of guys and just different things that Help works in and I mean some of the best guys probably do the same thing and I'm just I'm gonna take it from them and just become my own best, you know, who do you model your game after? I think I'm counting really to be honest But I I do have a couple of guys that I do like and I like like I said ab and tony or brown Amara Cooper Emmanuel Sanders hula old jones It's a lot of other guys, but I think those four are the ones I watch What pieces do you take from their game or have you taken from their game? Yeah, like a guy like ab man. He just gets open. He's known to get open no matter what So I try to like see how what does he do and like Like what is he doing to get open so easily and coop? He's just like a technician. He's like a real I think he's a real rock runner. He's really good And uh hulio, I feel the same way about him. He's just an overall beast and I just want to like figure some things out He's doing in the manual. He's a great rock runner as well. He's very you know, like technique like mamari He sells everything really good You you have seen nfl defensive backs already, haven't you? Yes, I have every day Every day in practice, what have you learned going against mink of Fitzpatrick and and guys of that ilk over your time there Oh, man that I got to bring it every day and practice in order for me to you know To keep my position and for me to feel comfortable about myself You know, and I feel really good about that that knowing and going to practice that I'm going to get the best work You know, I got Anthony ever at leave our wall as mink of Fitzpatrick runny harris and just a bunch of guys in the secondary Who are gonna test me every day to get better. I'm gonna test them as well It's really good. It helps me in the games Tell me something about calvin ridley not the football player. We know that Tell me something about calvin ridley. We ought to know Um, I'm a real cool guy. I mean real cool. I like to hang out chill I really like to laugh all the time. You funny. I'm gonna laugh. It's funny. I'm gonna laugh That's one thing about me. I like to laugh. I'm gonna laugh That's a good thing. Yeah, it is. I love to laugh And I like to have fun. I want to smile. I mean I want to Crack jokes all the time. I just want to have fun. I'm the type of guy I want to have fun When you hit through the phone on april the 26th And that team says You're our guy What's gonna go through your mind? To be real honest, I don't know I mean the feeling I got right now is like Every day the drive gets closest. I get this little feeling inside and it's like man. So I honestly don't know I mean, I'm gonna say Thank you. And I can't wait to be there obviously, but I really don't know how I'm gonna feel or what I really am gonna say I'm just gonna be this part gonna be so much. I don't know who is the person in your life You're gonna be happiest for at that moment my mom because I'll be able to I mean she'll be able to do things that she You know, she'd be able to get a house. She can get a nice car Just to be able to see her smile and make her feel better and know that she uh She raised a great son and he's gonna take care of her now and uh You know, my mom really I want her to be very proud That almost made me cry. Did it really? Yeah, I was about to say turn that off That part right there. Yeah, it's good, though That's all right. Why'd that make you so emotional? I don't want to talk about it As I just don't want to cry I don't know. It's the good. It's really good You've lived a lot of life in the six years since there. Yeah, you know, I'm there I don't have braces anymore, but your teeth are perfect. Yeah, well done. It really was You know that guy I do I do that's a really good guy right there. That's a really good guy right there What would you tell that guy? That would help him For the next six years to make him better or maybe not make certain mistakes or whatever I always think that's interesting because we don't get to show those two guys very often At that time We did them with everybody who would take visits And the only way they aired is if we picked the player so nobody's ever seen that So what would you tell that guy? I'll tell that guy You're the coolest person in the world For real It's good though I mean, that's good stuff. You were a first round pick And it turned out to be A very good thing got to take care of mom And here you are in the nfl And you're a tennessee titan now after being a free agent And you've got a contract that is obviously very special and you've earned it You've got to be proud of this moment We're so happy you're here Didn't mean to Didn't mean to hit you that way just thought it'd be fun to take a look at it You have no idea how happy we are to have you here calvin ridden Thank you. Thank you. All right Seat geek is now the official ticketing partner of the tennessee titans Whether you're buying tickets to titans games or any live event in nashville Seat geek is the place to do it seat geek the new official ticketing partner of the tennessee titans So titans fans can fan. He's a good guy. He's a great guy. We're just talking I remember watching that video Which i had i'd never seen oh i'd never seen that because as we said um We didn't so we did all these interviews. I mean we've got interviews with guys With half the nfl it feels like the jamis wendstands and people all these people who've come in on in-person visits we used to do that And they would not see the light of day unless Those people were picked by the titans right and It's kind of an awesome thing to go back and watch it But i just forgot how much i genuinely liked him Because the people i always liked the best in those settings are the people who they're just real they're just real people and You know what he talked about was real and it was just it was just very cool Well in those situations our evaluations of someone is very different than a scouts evaluation of someone You know those pre-draft visits were all part of the process and We talked to them in a very different way than the conversations they have with the football people and how they talked to us exactly Before the interview starts. Yeah, it's like i had a band-aid on my nose in the middle of my nose Sure did in that interview. Yeah, and the reason i did is i was picking up some equipment underneath the stairs And i turned around and hit a metal What would you call it a like a it's like a support beam a support beam I hit the metal beam and i knocked myself out. Yeah, and i was cut straight across here Yeah, and i bled like crazy. Yeah, that was a bad sequence. And so in that instance I guess i did that interview because you weren't here You were probably off shooting an interview somewhere else or working on some other feature Yeah, yeah, there was something going on that day where you and i were dividing and conquering and who knows what it was Yeah, it was 2018 you knocked yourself out and still went on and he didn't say anything Didn't even bump on the fact that you had a band-aid on your nose. It was a bad look. Yeah, it was a bad, but again We didn't know if it would ever air so i mean, you know, it didn't really matter that much because you have a one in however many Chants so one in at that time the majority of the guys they brought in Were all first or second round picks like earlier that week herald landry had been in Yep, and he was a second round pick as it turned out but people thought he was going to be a first round pick Yeah, so none of these interviews Hit you know aired it's like we're talking about james winston And what a different opinion we had of james winston Until he came in right 100 percent and we all thought he was fantastic He was bare hugging everybody when you meet him in person you get it very that's the whole thing you get It's not the crab claws and the whole whatever else was going on It was and that's why he's still in the league And that's why teams want him around Because he has that sort of That sort of positive influence yeah now i'm just happy that we we did those because we have those To go back to every now and then all throughout the course of a season We will be referencing those Kind of catalogs that we've created for ourselves of these interviews that we've done with people But very very rarely do we get to pull them up? And use them in the way that we were able to with calvin ridley that was really special That was fun. That was a lot of fun All right, let's hit a few other things through the course of this week. First of all tajae spears is no longer number 32. He's number two like or no The I i'm still struggling with the single digits. I know it's old news, but it I I don't love the way it looks But at least it's one of his number. He can go with something strange I know you love it so hard Aesthetically it just it doesn't compute in my brain I don't like the way it looks and 32 is a great number 32 is a great number, but two as a back Mike so wonderful aesthetically it bugs my brain can't I can't get there I know it's old news. This is not a new thing the league has done I'll like it in 10 years probably maybe maybe tony pollard. What about tony pollard and And tajae spears together. I like that right now. That is something I like right the second I think that's a phenomenal group tony pollard was someone that as soon as free agency started I said that guy he's he was 20 in dallas 20 is open right now. It's great 20 But he has not been assigned a number. Yeah as we record this nobody has officially been assigned a number yet But uh double digits tony 20 do it man 20 is great. All right second thing nick folk back is the titans kicker like that Love yeah, I missed one kick last year. Yeah outside 50 yards Consistency and he did fine on the kickoffs. I'm telling you kickers are like oxygen You don't know you need them until you've well and we've kind of been Yeah all over the road. I mean we went through a couple years of bad. Yeah And then went through a couple years of okay And he and he did a great job consistency is key. I love it uncle nick. He'll be 40 during the season next year We'll throw a party. All right Uh Cheeto aloozi is fun. Yes Really fun and more importantly he can really play. Yes, he can play He I mean he's been someone who throughout his nfl career has Performed consistently. There's that word again all the way through no matter where he is. He is a good Performing player and so i'm excited to have him with the titans I'm excited to see what he's going to be able to do in a defense that has the potential to look a little bit different um than what we've seen in the past and i'm just really fired up about that and I like That he understands that he has a name that's hard to say And he's very patient about that. Well, and okay, so I didn't look good in that o.t.p. See I don't think you looked bad, Mike. It didn't come across well that it's awu ye It's a lot better. Thank you. Have you been practicing? But I don't think I'm going to say it like that on radio and television I don't think you'll be able to I don't think I will either. Um, and then I've gone back and done some research About how other people have said it It's just so dramatic at a pronunciation I think a woozy the americanization of it, which he says is fine, right? I think it's much easier to say in the speed of a game and I think that I really appreciate that he gives you an out with that he says in My language, this is how it's said in the american english This is how it's said This is cool because I understand. But how do you think he says it when he walks into a room puts out his hand and says Hi, I'm cheeto I'm guessing it depends on the room. Okay. That's fair. Yeah, but I'm saying if he's just meeting us He probably says a woozy a woozy. Yeah. Yeah Just recognizing but I'm really torn because I try to get guys names The way they want them. It's funny and I know that That bugs when you don't get it right. It bothers me because like another of the pre draft interviews we did a couple years ago was Kenneth Walker, who's originally from memphis played at wake forest in michigan state now. He's with seattle titans had him in for a pre draft visit So we did the interview when he walked into the room I extended my hand and I said Good to see you. I said do you prefer Ken or Kenny or do you prefer Kenneth? He's like, oh, it doesn't matter. I said, no, no, it matters. I said You are going to be in the national football league. You will have reached the highest level Of this sport. You've earned this. So whatever you want to be called You tell me he goes, I'd like to be called ken I was like good for you Great. Well, I mean, I think I think that's great because I think you I think you earn that right And I think you want to call people what they want to be called. Yes, but ken or kenneth walker Is a lot different from cheeto awoos. Yeah Or awoosie If you're going fast Yeah, because I mean on the radio you're going fast and you're saying words that are not And this is hard to describe. I might sound very silly saying it But football words are there's a lot of like harsh Consonant words in the things that you're saying and the words that you're using to describe There's not a lot of flowing language when you're talking about football And it's loud and you're projecting and the way your mouth moves to do that it would be hard to go from football words that are harsh and direct to a very flowing kind of Delicate language. It's all in the way you move your mouth as a broadcaster I know that was a bizarre thing. I'm moving on. I'm sorry. That's okay. No, but I mean, I think you're right I think it's real. I mean it's two different languages. That's why I'm sharing with the ot people That's why I'm sharing with the ot people because it is real. I was trying to justify You did it. No, no, no, I just how you said it was just so much fun Especially after you told me to mind my business yesterday in the interview with kenneth I said I didn't have time for you Is what I said you could do whatever you needed to do. You didn't have time for me. I didn't have time for you Have you gotten any harsh judgment about that from anyone? No, I think people genuinely understood that but out mike We needed to continue on that you and kenneth murray were having a moment How many people do you speak to in the national football league where they're like, yeah? I went scuba diving last tuesday and you're like, oh, sure you did like That's a conversation. I've never had with a human before I'm from Missouri. It's not like there's water there You look like of the arzarks. Yeah, you're not scuba diving unless you see some stuff that you probably don't want to see in that lake It's nasty People don't scuba dive in the lake. So I don't interact with scuba dive. Oh, that's great So now she's the spokesperson for explore Missouri. No show me Missouri. You don't want to Not as a scuba diver like walk through a cave. All right, moving on. Lloyd cushion barry's big He is big. Wow. Did you know he was that big? Yes Even I'm coming out of LSU because there were some people who thought he was certainly going to be a guard And there was one of the reasons that they liked him so much as a prospect across the board Is that he could really play anywhere. I mean, he's tackled size And that's the anchor in the middle that he's going to give them And what he's going to mean to peter scurronski on the left and whomever ends up being the right guard I mean, it's a it's a big deal Well him just talking about his arm size and I had never really thought about it But as a center, you don't usually see people with arms that are that big And wow the advantage that it gives him in so many different ways just from a leverage perspective Well, a lot of centers are really stocky guys the six one six two Three hundred. I mean there are people who weigh three fifteen But there aren't people who are big like this. I mean when he walked in the room You thought tackle because of the arms and just the way he's the way he's built I mean he is I mean, it's like we call jeffrey simons big jeff. He's big like that As an offensive lineman. I like it. Yeah same. I think great Kenneth Murray your scuba diving friend. He's great Not hired to be a ziz al shire in this defense. I think there is some feeling among people That he's supposed to be the guy running the defense. I think what they want him doing is just running. Yeah. Yeah, I Disrupting I got the feeling that he was brought in to be disruptive is a great word that force. He is there to Get after the quarterback get after the football Recavac is what I Kind of feel like is more going to be his role Not so much the orchestrating of the defense as a unit Just get in people's way, man. Nick Westbrook. Akina is back very exciting He's uh, I mean he's been such a consistent Person within this offense to where no matter what his role is he's able to just step in and do what's asked of him He's a gritty guy, you know, he Doesn't mind doing whatever he needs to be if that's starting in a game great If that's coming in as a rotational guy also great If that I mean we've seen him do so many different things over the years He's familiar with this organization familiar with The receiver's room kind of where they've come from where they're going. I think that's a great choice Just as a stabilizer for that unit Well, he's not there to take snaps away from Calvin Ridley or deandre hopkins. No He's there when those guys need a rest because he can play all three positions He's there Because he can be up on game day. He can be I mean he's really signed to be part of your 48 Because he can be up on game day due to the fact that he can fill all the receiving spots He can be a core special teams player, which makes him part of the 48 If you need him to go play if somebody gets hurt He can he can play and be effective. He has certainly done that I mean, that's what good NFL rosters are made up of are are not just the great players and the highest paid players It's the good solid football players who can help you across the board that ends up being the foundation of your team Is those players and so yeah, I I think that Having him remain as a part of this team is good for the Tennessee Titans And and that's the thing is He's being signed to help you on Sundays In whatever way that is And honestly if you have a team full of Calvin Ridley's what you end up with is chaos Well, you I mean you have the you can't not everyone can be that guy There's just not there's one football. Not everyone can be the man. Well, ain't buddy. Calvin Ridley just tell us I want the ball. Yeah Nick Westbrook of Kine's not going to say that he's going to say if I'm open and I need to get the ball I'd like to have the ball. Sure. I'm a receiver. Yeah, but They're they're different strategies that I want Calvin Ridley to say I want the ball I want deandre hopkins to say I want the ball if you don't have players like that You don't win right, but if all the players are like that sometimes you also don't then nobody blocks Nobody tackles and it's a right. You need the block and tackling people. Okay. So as we wrap up Texans have made a trade with Minnesota Texans have sent their number one pick at number 23 to Minnesota for pick number 42 And then in exchange of some picks and then the Texans get Minnesota's number two pick next year So the Texans are out of the first round But they have two second round picks and they have an extra second next year And now Minnesota has 11 and 23 Interesting. So what are they going to do with 11 and 23? Most people think they're going to package them And go up To get one of the top quarterbacks Daniel Jeremiah says this morning that he is hearing right now from his nfl sources Four of the six picks In the draft which begins on april the 25th will be quarterbacks And that minnesota will likely move up They'll take 11 and 23 and package it to go up and get drake may from north carolina It's I mean it makes a lot of sense. Oh But what's really exciting is if four quarterbacks go Who is left on the board? Well, that's fantastic. What does that move closer to tennessee? Yeah Because with the chargers trading keen and allen To the bears The chargers need a wide receiver. You would have to figure at number five. They're going to take a wide receiver Yeah, you would think So then I mean if we know one picks a receiver and we think four of the first six are quarterbacks Then what does that move towards the titans? That's the interesting thing about where the titans are picking is even though the titans aren't in the market for a quarterback You've got to pay attention to the whole quarterback dance because it impacts Who remains on the boards and then are pushed down so much? You have to a you have to want something like that to happen because that's incredible The more quarterbacks that can go early the better for the rest of us back here That is fascinating. Yeah Yeah Well, but then there are also rumors today That new england is very interested in trading with chicago for justin fields So then would new england be that team at number three that wants to get out for a team like minnesota Because if they have their quarterback in fields that they're not going to pick one And so does that get more interesting? with how everything rolls and Would you see new england? Let's say hypothetically they make the trade they drop back to 11 Would they want to then move up and get something at say seven? And be willing to offer a third round pick or Something else in order to get that. I don't know new england not drafting in the draft is a tradition unlike any other It truly we should get jim nance to say that It's a tradition though. They hoard draft picks. They never actually pick any players It's the craziest thing. Do you think maybe they figured out? That's why they are where they are right now I think there's a really good chance. They're regretting some choices right now, but You know, they've got a lot of new stuff Going on and maybe it'll all turn out fine, but the patriot's not picking anybody. Sure. Yeah, that's a movie I've seen that's going to do it for amy wells. I'm mike keith thanking you for joining us for the otp