The New England Patriots great joined Nestor and Luke from Radio Row in Minnesota ahead of Super Bowl LII.
SPEAKERS
Andre Tippett, Luke Jones, Nestor Aparicio
Nestor Aparicio 00:00
Welcome back wn st Towson, Baltimore and wn St. dotnet. Every year Luke and I get together wonder who will be the first Hall of Famer to visit us? We didnโt wait long. We didnโt wait long. And you know, really back in the day there were a whole lot of New England Patriot Hall of Famers, because they werenโt in the Superbowl seven out of every eight years. You come to the Superbowl every year and every year Andre Tippett joins us, weโre talking about whenโs Tom Brady going to stop doing this? Right.
Andre Tippett 00:26
Oh, man, itโs one of those, you know, he said it perfectly. Last week, he said, you know, you can never take this thing for granted because you donโt know when itโs gonna end. And itโs just something that itโs been an amazing ride, weโve had the great marriage of player coach and ownership. And itโs, itโs been something that itโs been awesome, from Coach Belichick standpoint is he had something to sell these guys on the fact that we won and Owen. And so heโs recruiting veterans to come in and be part of the team and make us better? Are you willing to sacrifice for the greater good? Are you willing to give up a part of your being as a player to give us this opportunity to go play for championships? And who, whoโs gonna say, No, I donโt want to be part of
Nestor Aparicio 01:20
whatโs a fascinating thing from the New England perspective, because you know, Iโm old school, Baltimore winning culture and a division and you came into the league and youโre playing up at Shaffer stadium, Salomon stadium, whatever they call it that week. It was like a little Erector Set, even then, against the rest of the league. It didnโt feel like an NFL. And we were one of the places trying to steal the Patriots back in the day. Absolutely. You know, Victor Cayambe. And all that stuff was going on. You were there during sort of a time where it might have been impossible to envision the stadium sitting down on route one and a whole trophy case full of trophies. That wasnโt what the Patriots were on your air. You were just trying to get to a Super Bowl and you finally got there.
Andre Tippett 01:57
Absolutely, we would just straight up old school football, we didnโt have a lot of the bells and whistles we drove to practice every day. We got in our cars to go get lunch down the road. And we sometimes when Iโm bought a helmet, but we do have that common factor of wanting to play wanting to you know, I was proud to be part of that first football team. You know, the outcome is what it is.
Nestor Aparicio 02:24
But that was a pretty good team. You played pretty,
Andre Tippett 02:27
pretty good team. But we got together to you know, we gave up some of ourselves, we fought for the greater good and we got there and it was it was amazing opportunity. Iโve just been fortunate to still be there part of the organization. Iโve played many roles there and itโs just amazing what weโve been able to accomplish and make happen.
Nestor Aparicio 02:53
We got Andre Tippett, here he is our first Hall of Famer, he is appearing on behalf of Kay Jewelers. This is the part where I like I hold the camera up and you sing because I too early the morning. Appreciate K for bringing by all the Hall of Famers here and I know you got promoted. Itโs Valentineโs Day. I gotta remind these guys Valentineโs Day is coming up in two weeks that you got bigger problems. Sometimes
Andre Tippett 03:13
you got to do those things. You know, itโs that jingle you know, every kiss begins with Kay. And itโs just when people hear that like, Oh my God, for real? Iโm like, Yes. Obviously, Kay Jewelers is the official jewelry store of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And itโs the trusted creator of the ring of excellence, which you just showed. And itโs a ring that every inductee receives. And itโs an amazing ring. And it just, it stands for so many different things. Now you guys have all talked about my career a little bit, you know that Iโve dropped a lot of quarterbacks in my day, but Iโve never dropped the ball on Valentineโs Day. So we try to get folks to buy into our thing. And itโs our theme is about winning. And if you guys go and visit Kay Jewelers or k.com you can find a perfect gift for that special someone
Nestor Aparicio 04:00
well, a perfect gift for Baltimore would have been to be here to serve ball. The next best thing is that one of our guys is going to get a jacket like this and a nice little ring of excellence. We think you never know when youโre getting nervous. Because you didnโt know if we were ever going to get the call right now. And then once you get the call that youโre afraid to come and take it away from you.
Andre Tippett 04:18
Absolutely. You know it I still pinch myself itโs been 10 years and you know, I was talking to John Hannah a while back and he John says, you know, for John Hannah says I donโt feel like I deserve to be there. I feel like theyโre gonna come and get my, my. Iโm John why. And but it is itโs one of those things that everybodyโs on the same page. everybodyโs on the same team. No oneโs bigger than anyone else. Once youโre part of that special fraternity, Pro Football Hall of Fame. Itโs thereโs nothing like it in the world. Itโs an amazing, amazing accomplishment. And you know, I hear people used to tell me, he said, you know it was about itโs about time you got it and I said no, no, no. It was well worth the wait. Well,
Nestor Aparicio 05:02
and thereโs all guys waiting and their conjecture this week is Ray Lewis is going to be first in your money. Oh, come on, you play to play the game play the position. So, Ray Lewis, you watched the career front the back,
Andre Tippett 05:13
he that kid set the tone he is a great ballplayer and, you know, I donโt like to poopoo anybody and I donโt want you know, heโs gonna walk into the Hall of Fame. But heโs earned every every alkaloid that needed to be earned to put himself in that position. And come Saturday. Iโm sure youโre gonna see. grown man crying.
Nestor Aparicio 05:39
Oh, thereโs no doubt about that. Weโve seen him cry before. So weโre running a bus trip out to Ray Lewis. And itโs been very popular as you can imagine. Weโre throwing a baseball game in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Rock Roll Hall of Fame doing it all up, make make a case for someone thatโs never been to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And look when you went in and oh, wait, I was always a little underwhelmed by the Hall of Fame. Because we drove out there every year we played in Cleveland, you know, Luke would get on the bus, we go out there. And Iโd be like, Yeah, this place a little 15 years ago. Now. It feels like Disney World. It feels like this amusement park they put back here that they 10 years from now you probably wonโt recognize it. Right?
Andre Tippett 06:13
Absolutely. It is going to have a theme park layout to it. Not hokey, but itโs going to be amazing. And, and I tell people all the time, if youโve never been there, there are things there that are going to blow you away. I tell people all the time, when you walk into that room where the bus star, it is the most eerie feeling that youโll ever have. Because thatโs all thatโs in there. And youโre walking in and the lights are low and and you got all these buses and youโre sitting up and then you walk in there. And itโs an amazing, I mean, 10 years, every time I walk in that go check on make sure nobodyโs messing around. Did you like I did. I was I was very fortunate to work very close, as we all are very closely with the sculpture, sculptor, and it was so cool. And
Nestor Aparicio 07:07
dude, you get a second?
Andre Tippett 07:08
Yes. If you want they give you one like a replica that you have in the house. And people come in the house and oh my god is that and Iโm like, well, just a replica. You know, who
Nestor Aparicio 07:17
do they say when they see your post that you look like if itโs not you? They say that looks like
Andre Tippett 07:21
nah. Iโve been I was blessed to get a good, good. layout. So
Nestor Aparicio 07:32
Andre chipper joining us here for Kay Jewelers, Hall of Famer, you know, I thought you went in like I was gonna say, last year, the year before, and itโs been 10 years now.
Andre Tippett 07:39
Itโs been a long time. It really has. And itโs amazing. I think weโre celebrating our 10 year anniversary of my class and itโs going to be pretty cool. Iโm pinching myself all the time, because it truly I mean, itโs, this is something that you canโt get cut from. They canโt treat you and you canโt quit. And
Nestor Aparicio 08:02
youโre not allowed to gain any weight because the jacket wonโt fit. Absolutely. So you got
Andre Tippett 08:06
absolutely. Itโs just it really is cool to be part of that.
Luke Jones 08:10
What do you got for us? Go ahead, look. Itโs funny. Weโre talking about Ray Lewis, but Andre Tippett looking at your career numbers. 100 sacks, five time pro bowler Defensive Player of the Year, the guy that Iโm kind of thinking of him, weโre talking about him in Baltimore a lot right now, as he winds down his career. Itโs Terrell Suggs, who has now played in the league, 15 years, heโs over 100 sacks, seven Pro Bowls. From your perspective, and I know you donโt watch them every week, per se. Is he a Hall of Fame player? Because I think a couple years ago in Baltimore, Iโm not sure that sentiment was Hall of Fame or just Hall a very good, but I think it seems like thereโs a lot of momentum for him to be in Canton one day,
Andre Tippett 08:47
I think Suggs has put together a great body of work. And I think that they all have been part of something thatโs special for a long time. I, you know, I think when his time comes, and then they start measuring and, and putting names out there and looking at everybody in there, I think his body of work will be able to stand alone. And I think that he will get enough people talking about him, that itโs going to be a great discussion. And itโs thatโs what it is. Itโs all about a discussion. And itโs a room full of voters that are talking and may are well hereโs what I see. And hereโs what I thought and this is what I know. And and thatโs what it is. You just want to get in the room. I was fortunate to get in the room. Iโve heard so many people telling me so many different things. And in people that matter they said if we can get you in the room, weโd get your name and we havenโt been able to get you in the room. He says but the day that we get you in the room Weโre going to be able to convince these guys why you and so I say to other guys that are future or possibility is you obviously, your body of work is the most important thing. Play your butt off. Make something happened. Donโt save anything. Leave it all on the field. And when itโs all when it when it comes to judgment day when itโs all said and done, that body of work man will, will get you through.
Nestor Aparicio 10:31
You got some Baltimore roots, right? You got kids in Maryland kids bounce house and rain radio station.
Andre Tippett 10:38
Iโm in Baltimore so much, man. Itโs unbelievable. I got the crabcakes coming out of my, my, my daughterโs finishing up her senior at Maryland. And my son is a freshman at Towson. He played on the football team. And kambrose Coach Ambrose he, I love those guys. And I you know, I tell my son, I used to tell my son all the time, you gotta go where they want you. And you know, my son wouldnโt bless with the same athletic outcome as his father, but he loves the game. Heโs a great competitor. He has athletic ability. Just everybody sees me here. My son is lazy, like you and Iโm like, No, heโs not like me. Because my heart, He has a passion for the game. And Towson wanted him and for that Iโm forever grateful. And my high school coach used to always tell me, you got to go where they want you. And I told my son the same thing. You got to go where you want me I know he wants to go here and go there. I said, You know what, go where they want you and youโre gonna have a great time. And heโs having a great time. He got to play a lot his freshman year and he actually just went back to school yesterday. So we both drove to the airport. I went my way he went his way. I see. Iโll see you in a few months, man.
Nestor Aparicio 11:52
Iโll try to keep an eye on him. All right. I mean, you donโt want me to be mentoring your child.
Andre Tippett 11:56
You know what I think I want him to have the connection. So he has someone that he can call talk to
Nestor Aparicio 12:01
Andre Tippett, here, Hall of Famer on behalf of Kay Jewelers, you can learn more, Iโll add all the website and every kiss does begin with K. Hey, I hope to see you in August. I know Rayโs gonna go when it is funny when you say well, you know, am I a Hall of Famer, theyโre gonna put me in the room. Anybody that gets in, thereโs no, well, that guy didnโt deserve it. That never happens with one, there are guys that donโt get there that maybe in your mind, you think deserve it. When I look at the 15 names every single year, we sit here and say, you know, I can make a case for any of you. By the time you get there. Youโre just kind of being a jerk and poopoo and somebody if youโre like, well, if they just would have had five more sacks or had another 1000 yards of passing or just won a title on a team where you know, I mean, the bills didnโt win as you know, right? I mean, thereโs nothing you do about that. Right?
Andre Tippett 12:47
Thatโs absolutely, absolutely. A and you just like you said at this at that point at that junction, it is what it is and and and you just got to take your hat off and say congratulations and
Nestor Aparicio 13:02
hope that the jacket fits. Absolutely. Joining us here all of our WSD coverage brought to you by our friends at Howard bank, theyโre on board with us. Youโre gonna be hearing a lot more about them as well as the Maryland Jockey Club. And of course our friends at Pizza John stepping up as well. We got a lot of new sponsors around here this week. Iโm making a huge announcement on Friday. I hope that you check it out on Facebook or Twitter. Iโll be writing a blog Lucas here I am Here we are live and radio row in Minneapolis. resuable 52. I am Nestor we are wn st dotnet am 1570 wn st Towson Baltimore. And we never stop talking. Baltimore sports