3X SB Champ and Patriots HoF Ted Johnson joins! What does Johnson think of the Vrabel hire? NFL Will it be strange critiquing a favorite teammate?
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00:00Our new co-worker
00:02Announced yesterday. He will join the afternoon show
00:06here at WEI
00:09former teammate of wiggies
00:11you know, I I generally loathe taking credit for anyone else's success, but
00:19It seems here we go
00:22It seems like just yesterday
00:24That you began your radio career on a little station called WAF Ted Johnson
00:32Greg it that's that was the genesis of my
00:36You know my my lucrative broadcasting career. No doubt
00:40it was I
00:42Was doing the map buddy, you know
00:44I mean
00:44Do you realize how long it's been since I've done an interview on on either the Hillman show or the Great Hills show or some?
00:52Variation of Greg in Hill in the name of a show. I'm afraid I'm a long time bro. I'm afraid to hear it
00:58How long is it?
01:00Over 20 years over 20 years
01:03Yep, it's been over 20 years. So so people know I was drafted by the Patriots in
01:091995 and in 1996 I started relationship with Greg and I did his show for nine straight
01:16Years every Monday after every game I was there you can depend on me. I was never late
01:23and
01:24And I was I was I remember I think you paid me handsomely too. I remember
01:30The golf it was gift cards for restaurants. I think there you go. That was I mean, so you so you really hooked me up, too
01:37I remember that
01:38Well, it's good to be on with you and on with you guys and who would ever thought that you and I would be teammates
01:44It's pretty cool. Yeah, it's great to have you here and we're really excited about it
01:49I tried to get rabble going on it yesterday when I suggested that very frequently
01:57the the late David Crowley and I would
02:02Would take you and rabble on golf wise at the Worcester Country Club and take all of your money. So
02:08Those were those were the days you guys you guys you did you did hustle us a little bit
02:13But we we also knew we were being hustled because we loved playing those nice courses with you guys
02:18But it was uh, it was it was like those were good times, man
02:22You know, I mean those those early 2000s those teams those guys those characters and of course, there's only one David Crowley
02:29So, uh, you know it those those were a lot of fun and Braves
02:33Braves one my favorite teammates and wigs. I'm sure you know, I know you're speaking highly of him
02:38He's he's a hard guy not to not to really like so it feels a little bit strange from art
02:44How you guys feel or you know wiggy how you feel but it feels a little bit strange that
02:50You know, I'm analyzing and being critical of someone who I've absolutely loved as a teammate
02:55Well, and that'll be that'll be an interesting dynamic. Yeah, I was gonna ask you
02:59Is it gonna be hard since you guys are so close for you to say how you really feel?
03:04I don't I don't think so. I mean I was really close to Belichick and I was pretty hard on him, you know
03:10So
03:12You just
03:16It shouldn't be any problem, it's just it'll be the same thing
03:21You and Curtis will have that in common
03:33Well, you know, I think I've learned that what is it
03:36You know resentment is like drinking poison, but waiting for the other person to die. So I've moved on I've grown up
03:42I've learned a lot in the last 21 years since we've last talked again. So I'm I'm a more enlightened person now
03:48So I'm you know, I don't carry those those resentments
03:52Things that what used to weigh me down anymore. I was talking about this earlier. I was shocked by the
03:58chime
03:59It's nerd on nerd crime when chime says it but chime said it was predominantly the analytical nerds
04:06Who were losing their mind yesterday because Mike Grable shared
04:12You know a little bit of analytical knowledge with us
04:16about teams that teams that throw the ball over 50 times in a football game and
04:22In they're absolutely panicked that he's gonna come in here and just run the football. I don't I don't know
04:29your thoughts on that I
04:31mean, well if you just going by the
04:34Going by the you know, his his previous years in Tennessee
04:38I mean the the numbers would suggest maybe that his leaning was towards having a heavy heavy run game
04:45Look, I think I think Mike's I think Mike's smarter than that. I think Mike's
04:50You know, I saw a soft part. I saw parts that interview yesterday. I'm gonna I just got to be honest
04:55I mean, he was the smartest guy in the room, you know, when you guys were interviewed. No effects. You guys are all
05:00is a
05:02Bright bright
05:04Person and he knows what he's doing. And so look, you know, he comes from an age, you know an error in which you know
05:11You know
05:11we and I play where it was more like fighting in a phone booth football was
05:15Was more about who was tougher and it wasn't about scheme in space. And so Mike's from that era
05:20So he takes some of those, you know, you know meet methodologies and philosophies into his coaching now, but don't kid yourself
05:27He knows what he's got to work with in Drake May and he's never had a quarterback at Tennessee
05:33I don't care even when Ryan Tannehill was at his best
05:36You know, they he couldn't touch what the what Drake May is capable of doing and so
05:42Mike's gonna use that exploit that and you know, don't patience fans shouldn't lose any sleep over over that Mike's Mike's
05:50He's gonna have a forward, you know progressive
05:54Offense the hill run for sure. Does it bother you like it bothers some that Drake May wasn't there for his press conference?
06:03You know
06:05Look, I it would have if he was in his third or fourth year
06:10it would have it just
06:12Look, I'm giving the kid a break. I mean, it's his first year, you know, maybe somebody should have said something to him
06:18He probably didn't realize in the moment what you know
06:23Hey, you know, it might be a good idea to just say a few words, you know, Gerard Mayo's just been you're fired
06:29You've supported him recently, you know, you've had his back to say a few words
06:34You know, I don't I'm not sure if anybody said that to him and I'm not sure he would you know what I'm giving a
06:38Guy a pass. He's a rookie
06:40you know, he doesn't know all the situations just shed really what his job fully entails being a you know, kind of the
06:48You know the the figurehead of your football team and so I'm gonna give him a pass for that
06:53I'm gonna give him a pass for not being here for labels
06:56Announcement being head coach goes, you know what?
06:59It was a long season for him. He's on vacation and I I just I don't think it's that big of a deal that he wasn't
07:07Independence at either of those days or has made comments now
07:10He wants to make comments and go on on, you know, some kind of platform and just give his thoughts
07:14That would be good, but I'm not gonna hold that against him Greg
07:17Yeah, and see the thing about Vrabel and Ted and Teddy could tell you this the reason why I don't think Vrabel gets
07:24You know when we're critical of him. I don't think it bothers him because
07:28He knows he would be critical of himself and Teddy knows like that's the era of football
07:34We were we were brought up in like when we talked with Jelani to buy fans booing us
07:39We understood why we were getting booed when we were playing like ass and if labels, you know
07:44Coaching like gas and the team is coaching like gas Teddy knows he'll probably be like I
07:48Understand why you're criticizing me. I would criticize me too. And I think that's gonna be the difference between Vrabel and
07:55Mayo when you start to see see them this year. Were you Teddy? Were you blown away by what Jelani to buy said a
08:04Little bit. Yeah, I mean, you know, but I shouldn't be I mean look there
08:08There's I play with a lot of different guys and I play with some guys that seriously
08:14Didn't know whether poop or wine or watch I had it, you know, and you know, you know, we I don't know
08:18I always thought it was D lineman, you know, they're
08:20Literally, if you just say Ringo lucky it tells them to go right or left
08:25like that is how you talk to a defensive lineman, but but
08:30Look, I I I just think
08:35You know, I think the kids a smart guy and I and I think it's gonna be totally fine. I do. Yeah
08:41All right, well you begin on Tuesday afternoon, is that correct?
08:46Hey, I start Tuesday Tuesday afternoon. I do. Yep. That's my first day. So looking forward to that
08:51So you need what you needed one long weekend before you began? I
08:56Would have started earlier if they if they needed me, I mean, yeah, no, no, I was I was ready to go right now
09:01All right, but I just you know
09:04There was up to the you know, they they they picked that date and so I'm not gonna argue with them
09:08And Teddy I'm ready to go when I tell me I know you're a big strong guy Ken can be intimidating but I promise
09:18Yeah, Ken he's your new coach Ken is your new your new bill right he's an unsuccessful Bella check
09:25Okay. All right. I'm gonna look out for Tim for sure now Ken will not
09:30He will not make you practice when you are concussed. I can guarantee you that
09:38Well, we're listen, we're really excited and
09:42I'm really happy that you're here and can't wait to get it. Welcome. Yeah, welcome and
09:48Thank you guys. I appreciate the the warm. Welcome. Thank you very much