Pivot Podcast

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findTaking a pause on our NFL Training Camp tour before we roll out the remainder of our camp episodes next week, We pivoted to this wknd as thousands of young men across the country take the field to chase their dreams! That's right, with all the excitement and buzz around college football kicking off, we had the opportunity to sit down with two of the nation's top players, Ohio State's CJ Stroud and Texas' Bijan Robinson. Ohio State starts the season hosting Notre Dame Saturday and Texas hosting LA-Monroe.Stroud, a front runner for the 2022 Heisman and possible No 1 pick in next year's NFL draft, is poised and excited to lead the Buckeyes to a winning season. Sharing his upbringing and opening up about his father not being around to watch him play now is an emotional but uplifting story of a son who is not just working for his team but for his family's future as the head of his household too.Texas, once known for a rich history of college football and top draft picks, went 5-7 last season and Bijan is on a mission this year to restore the school's winning ways and looks to be a top running back selected in next year's draft. Bijan talks about the current NFL guys he looks up to and watches, hoping to model his play after guys like Zeke, Saquon, Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor, who he feels should have been the league's MVP last year.A man of a faith, Bijan tells Fred that he is ready to run his way into history books for Texas while CJ shares with the guys that this year is the best he's felt about his teammates and the chemistry in the locker room.With NIL deals changing the college landscape, CJ and Bijan explain to Channing, Ryan and Fred how although seven figure deals are rolling in, they are still able to stay grounded and motivated by the love of the game and their teammates, not the money. Ahead of Ohio State's first game, CJ gifted each of his teammates $500 to buy a new suit and look the part to start their college season together as one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findAs our NFL Training Camp Tour continues, we make a special Pivot stop in the Big Apple to sit down with one of the top running backs in the league.Sidelined by injuries and blurred by the noise from critics and media, Running Back, Saquon Barkley has more than a chip on his shoulder, he has a burning flame to remind the world just who #26 really is on the field.The running back says it’s no secret how quickly people flipped the switch on him from being the best they’ve seen to forgetting he could even play the position.Fred has a moment with his fellow running back and shares some of the tactics he used to regain his mental toughness and confidence after injuries that stalled him early on.Saquon talks about the importance of family and how his young daughter has helped keep perspective of what matters and his overall legacy. Ryan and Channing remind the young player all he’s accomplished and all that’s ahead of him personally and on the field.After an explosive rookie year in 2018, the world watched Saquon terrorize opposing defenses and run up yards and the score and in 2022, his contract year, it’s about leaving his mark in NFL history books. Excited for a new coaching staff and the accountability in the Giants locker room, Saquon is optimistic that Big Blue is ready to reclaim the NFC East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findOur NFL Training Camp Tour stops in Tampa Bay to catch up with former teammate of Fred and Ryan's and family of The Pivot, the Super Bowl Champion Byron Leftwich who won both as a player and a coach and holds the current reins with the Bucs as the Offensive Coordinator.Winning the Super Bowl as a teammate of Ryan's in Pittsburgh and a coach of the Bucs in 2021, Byron talks about the urgency to get back to the big game and his reaction the moment he found out Tom Brady would be back for one more season. Discussing all the talent and how impressed he is by the offensive weapons especially with the addition of Julio Jones joining Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Byron feels the team is poised and ready to make one more run at the big game.Talking about Tom Brady and what makes him special, Byron says it's pretty cut and dry- Tom views the game as simple and approaches it that way every play. Citing no one works harder and spends more time on the game than 12. The guys talk about moments and players throughout their careers comparing them to today's talent.Channing chimes in with some of his commentary about Byron and makes him an offer he immediately refuses if he wins another Super Bowl. Fred and Ryan talk about how Byron wasn't just one of the best teammates but one of the best humans and going to make one heck of a head coach as he is next up.Reminiscing about Byron's infamous college game where he was hurt and continued to play with a broken leg, the guys ask Byron what that experience was really like and how he was able to push through that time despite the severity of his injury. Fred asks if that was his most defining sports moment before winning a Super Bowl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findAs our NFL training camp tour continues, we continue to bring you the best of the best…And not that we ever need another reason to touch down in Vegas but visiting the Raiders training camp gave us a good one.In a rare sit down opportunity, Raiders Wide Receiver Davante Adams joins The Pivot for one of the most intriguing and open conversations we’ve done this summer. Allowing us into his mindset by sharing the little details that separate him from other receivers making him a true a 1 of 1.After creating a name for himself in Green Bay and becoming the league’s top receiver, Davante is ready for his next NFL chapter as a Las Vegas Raider.Understanding the foundation that the Packers gave him, Davante talks about his time playing with Aaron Rodgers, who he considers to have the Michael Jordan effect, making the people around him better and play differently just by being around them.Now, after signing with the Raiders and being reunited with his former college teammate and good friend QB Derek Carr, Davante believes the opportunity to win is inevitable and the talent on the team’s roster is loaded at each position. He breaks down his mindset and approach to each play before he lines up and shares what makes him such a threat to opposing defensesChanning pushes back on the “Best” label and says he sees other young guys who edge Davante out as being number one. But that’s one thing Davante has perfected, tuning out the noise and criticisms by letting his on field play do the talking for him.Signing a lucrative $140M deal, Davante is living differently these days but has never allowed the money to change him or make him forget where he came from.The star WR also shares how he recently sent a message to new head coach Josh McDaniels thanking him and acknowledging him as strong leader and someone who can turn this talented roster into a championship team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findKeeping up with our NFL Training Camp Tour bringing you some of the best football conversations around the league, we were able to sit down with Derwin James of the LA Chargers as he prepared to become the highest paid player at his position in NFL history.With several safeties around the league receiving big contracts of late, Derwin wasn't worried where he would fall in the pack and always remained confident that his on the field play would speak for itself when it came time for numbers. Putting his trust in agent David Mulugheta, the Chargers Safety stayed out of the negotiations and conversations between his team and representative knowing that he was in a good situation. Despite not signing a new deal before training Camp, Derwin showed up to support his team and partake in team activities, just didn't participate in practice.Ignoring the noise that he is injury prone and hasn't done enough to prove his consistent skill level, Derwin says it comes with territories and doesn't allow others opinions to affect how he approaches the game or his relationship with his organization, knowing fully that when he is on the field and playing- he believes he is the best safety in the NFL. Fred related to that notion as he dealt with some of that affecting his career and contracts while he played too.With full confidence in his quarterback Justin Herbert at the helm, Derwin believes the Chargers are not only the best team in the AFC West but a Super Bowl contender. "The more we get the ball to #10, we are going to win way more than we will lose". The Safety admits that it would be a letdown to get anywhere less than the big dance in February because he knows the talent on his team and what they are capable of this season,In a surprising response to Ryan's match up questions, Derwin says that Hunter Renfro is a guy they watch and believe is one of the better on offense that they face. Channing asks how he has avoided the pitfalls of being a star first in college and now in the NFL and what are some of the choices he made to rise above those situations that often derail young careers. Of course, no conversation is complete without Channing being Channing as he shares his thoughts on guys who use poor excuses of becoming fathers unexpectedly, and as usual it's a must listen!Growing up in Florida, Derwin talks about how he got his work ethic from his parents and watched his mom work out constantly as they were growing up so he adapted and did the same. As a father of his own little girl now, Derwin understands how this contract is not only life changing for him and his family but generational change too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findAs our NFL Training Camp Tour continues, we made a special Pivot Stop in Latrobe, PA, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers Training camp and as Ryan would say, the winning inspiration to our Pivot colors! While at St. Vincent's college campus, We spent time catching up with everyone's favorite Coach Mike Tomlin at practice and then sat down with not just one star but two- the Defensive Player of The Year, TJ Watt ANDDD Pro Bowl Running Back Najee Harris! Both conversations filled with football talk and off the field life conversations about the men they are today and the experiences that shaped them.Entering his second year with the Steelers, Najee Harris is setting high expectations to exceed last season's numbers and terrorize opposing defenses. Najee told Ryan, Channing and Fred, "I want to be the one who keeps defensive coordinators up trying to figure out how to play against me."Reminiscing about his draft party in a homeless shelter, Najee shares how he grew up in the Bay Area sharing how he will forever be indebted to how he was raised along with the loyalty and trust of those who help shaped him. Sharing some pointers and veteran advice, Fred opens up about some of the smaller things he can do as a running back that will have a big pay off in the end.Ryan is very candid about how Najee is perceived around the league by both teams and the media which has caused him to double down on always being his authentic self no matter the circumstances. Channing and Najee bond over playing for Coach Nick Saban although both speak on two entirely different experiences.Knowing the offense will be in a growth pattern with a new starting quarterback this year, TJ accepts the pressure for the defense to step up this year and help slow down some of the high powered offenses, especially in their rival AFC North. Growing up in a football family and following in the footsteps of his brother, future Hall of Famer JJ Watt, TJ talks about how living in the house with his two brothers helped mold him into the player he is today as well as the leader he strives to be on and off the field.Channing Asks TJ if he thinks he has his brother in talent and success on the field and in an emotional response, TJ takes the time to remind us of how good his older brother really is and all that he's accomplished in his career.Acknowledging that their team came up short last year and finished off with a record less than the standard of Pittsburgh Steelers football, Najee and TJ both share the sediment to get back to the post season and be Super Bowl contenders this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findAnd so, the NFL Training Camp Tour continues and so does the build around the 2022 season....Earlier in the week, we made a Pivot stop in Cincinnati and the Bengals wide receiver trio had a message for their AFC North rivals, well one player in particular...so we headed across Ohio and sat down with Cleveland's million dollar man to see what he had to say. Browns' cornerback Denzel Ward, the league's highest paid defensive back and one of the most elite, heard the message loud and clear and his response: "Well, you see what I did that game (against the Bengals) so it makes sense." Ward, known for being a man of few words, has allowed his on field play do the talking for him and is ready for the Browns organization to be on a different path of success heading into this season.Circling the Bengals on their schedule is a match up the Browns' DBs look forward to each year. With talent on both sides of the ball, Ward is letting the world know, the Cleveland Browns are not the same team people think they are still.Tuning out the noise and distractions that have plagued the franchise from losing seasons to coaching changes to Baker Mayfield drama to most recently the DeShaun Watson acquisition..Ward is speaking out on the renewed locker room camaraderie and leadership he brings to the team.By showing support to one another and trust in the organization's choices, Ward feels the team has become a closer unit which will ultimately help them play better, especially behind new quarterback DeShaun Watson, whenever he takes the field this season.Ryan asks about the loss of Denzel's father and how it impacted his life and Denzel opens up about how he almost walked away from the game of football all together and was ready to give everything up in 2016. "Make Them Know Your Name" a message his father instilled in him, is also the name of his foundation as a tribute to the legacy his family name brings and a reminder on how to treat people always. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findWe can’t do a NFL training camp tour if we don’t include the best, so we made a pivot stop to check in with the AFC Champions and had the privilege of sitting down with the league’s top wide receiver trio in Cincinnati. We know how demanding camp is, so for these three young guys to give us so much time in between practices and meetings was truly a special conversation.The prolific Bengals offense boasts targets Ja’ Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd who did record breaking numbers last season while turning an organization around from 4-12 to AFC champions in one season.Coming off a Super Bowl loss to the LA Rams, the three guys talk about the disappointment but also the motivation to want to get back there and take another crack at it.Focused on the team goals, the three guys said the key to their continued success is the overwhelming unselfishness in the locker room and how everyone wants each other to excel. It’s unique to have this much talent at one position and the guys explain how well the team has connected over the past year on and off the field.With QB Joe Burrow healing from a medical procedure, the guys explain how the team is staying focused and positive looking ahead to the games.Ja’ Marr doesn’t hesitate to admit that he would take a super bowl ring over his rookie of the year honors as Tyler Boyd continues to stress how zero selfishness exists on the team which is why they have confidence to not only repeat their success from last season but surpass it.It doesn’t take long for Channing to realize all three young star players are single as he dives into the personal life and what it’s like being a young single man with so much success so early in their careers.The three receivers talk about the NFL defensive backs they consider the top players at that position with a specific one coming out their division rival Cleveland Browns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findAs our NFL Training Camp tour gets under way, we made a Pivot Stop in motor city to check on our guys at the Detroit Lions and it was an unbelievable day. We had the chance to sit down with Quarterback Jared Goff in between practice and meetings and the conversation was one we all really walked away with a different perspective on Jared as a team leader and man.Being the first round pick to the LA Rams, leading his team to a Super Bowl but then traded to Detroit the following year all while watching his former teammates go on to win the Super Bowl without him has made Jared Goff’s journey an imperfect one but one with a lot of growth and humility. Jared explains how it was hard to watch the Rams win last year but he was also happy for his buddies and respected their win, but it also made him want to work even harder to get back there again as quarterback of his new team.Openly sharing his ups and downs that have helped pave the way for his new path in Detroit, Goff expresses his renewed excitement for football in Detroit and how the coaches have helped create a winning atmosphere and he knows now is the time to go after that NFC North championship.Ryan and Fred ask about breakout stars in training camp while Channing compliments Dan Campbell as being a dynamite head coach and true leader.Jared takes some jabs at Channing after seeing the Kevin Hart episode, while Ryan says how defensive players have it more difficult than offensive guys which Fred quickly chimes in to agree with Jared that isn't the case. Being featured on this season of Hard Knocks, Detroit's fields and facility were filled with cameras and crew members documenting the 6 week experience these players go through leading up to the season. The first episode of Hard Knocks premieres Tuesday at 10p eastern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcastINSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivotTWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivotTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivotFACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcastFOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydadFIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/findAs The Pivot gets underway launching a special series in August of NFL Training Camp shows featuring NFL players and coaches around the league, Denver's Pat Surtain II is joined by his father, former NFL star cornerback Patrick Surtain for an in-depth conversation with Ryan, Channing and Fred sharing perspectives from two NFL generations and goals for the upcoming 2022 season.The 9th draft pick overall for 2021, Pat Surtain II is entering his second NFL season with the Broncos after coming off a stellar rookie season and on pace for an All Pro career, much like his father had. Acknowledging the tough AFC West Division as the most competitive in the NFL this season, Pat says that whoever finishes atop the AFC West will be the Super Bowl team and believes Denver can hit that mark. With the addition of Russell Wilson as quarterback, Pat believes it has elevated the playing field for the divisional matchups with Kansas City, LA and Las Vegas, now having a leader who can compete with the other three.Ryan, still a little bitter about Pat II not attending LSU, jokes about the WRs the Tigers had vs Pat's Alabama teammates and where they rank in the NFL today. Channing and Fred ask what motivates him and propels him to work hard despite growing up in an environment very different from a lot of guys in the league. Another Denver great and one of the cornerbacks Pat modeled his play after and looked up to, Champ Bailey, says young Pat has the special skill set to be a Hall Of Famer.Pat, being raised in a NFL family, then having his dad coach him at the high school level shares what it was like growing up with the opportunities but also the pressures surrounding his play on the field. Pat Sr and Fred further the discussion about parenting and when to push your kids or know they have it in them vs the parents who push their kids too hard at youth sports trying to live vicariously through their child.After an extremely successful high school coaching stint in South Florida, Pat Sr is now in his first year coaching with the Miami Dolphins and talks how this will be the first time in his son's life that he isn't able to attend his games which will definitely be an adjustment. Pat also talks about the Miami Dolphins and how full of talent and depth the team is at each position and will make a run to challenge the AFC East favorite Buffalo Bills.New Episodes of The Pivot release every Tuesday at 12 noon eastern with special drops on Friday afternoons. All shows are available on Youtube, Spotify, Apple and other audio streaming platforms. Follow ThePivot on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for behind the scenes of the episodes and exclusive updates around the show. Don't forget to get your latest Pivot merchandise and tag us on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices