Shannon Sharpe: Life Lessons from Football and Beyond | Undeniable with Joe Buck

[Music] my guest tonight is a true country boy who  grew up in a home without running water but   never lost sight of what is possible after  being drafted in the seventh round by the   Denver Broncos Shannon sharp would harness  his strength and discipline to redefine the   position of tight end he's an eight-time pro  bowler has over 800 career receptions and is   a three-time Super Bowl champion but before  he became a Pro Football Hall of Famer did   you know he caught chickens for extra money as  a kid was a high school state champion in the   triple jump was originally drafted as a wide  receiver tonight we'll learn what makes this   undeniable icon who he is a man who once said  when people told me I'd never make it I'd listen   to the one person who said I could me please  welcome the pride of Glenville Georgia Shannon sharp thank you thank you oh man wow thanks for being here  it's good to walk out to a standing ovation thanks   for having me your story is absolutely incredible  it's hard for me to sit across from somebody and   say man you you really had uh not much as a kid  but that that is truly where you came from right   it really is but it was something that you didn't  dwell on because everybody that I knew my family   members had a a life very similar to mine so  that was all you saw that was all you knew I just   knew my body was in Glenville but my mind was a  thousand miles away I knew that wasn't what I was   going to be when I got older you're born in 1968  in Chicago youngest of three and not long after   that you're shipped off to Georgia to grow up well  my mom and dad had separated and uh in the South   when Parents separate the grandparents take the  kids and uh my grandmother came and got me when   I was uh 3 months old and and it's fair to say  you did not have a relationship with your father   it's a long story but my father died at 39 um and  all of his brothers with the exception of one died   before the age of 50 and then on my mom's side  I had a aunt died 47 and none of my uncles have   reached the age of 70 so my grandfather died at  like 57 58 so I think that was that's why I don't   drink that's why I don't smoke and I try to to  maintain it because I know what's stacked against   me uh that lunch longevity is really not in my  family tell me about your Grandma Mary Porter I   mean this was an absolute Saint walking the earth  I mean what a wonderful strong woman I don't know   if I'll ever love a woman the way I loved her I  I as I said she came and got me at three months   I slept with my grandmother in the very bed that  she slept in until I was 15 I did not get out of   the bed with her until my brother went to college  and so um my grandfather because my brother my   grandfather father slept together and we when my  grandfather passed I was like I'm I'm staying with   standing in the bed with my grandmother was he uh  put his arm around you kind of a man was he and   I love you boys kind of a guy or no not really um  you got a roof over your head you got food in your   stomach I love you that's how he show that that  was his thought process I don't I don't remember   I don't remember my grandmother saying but I just  remember her doing see and and that's kind of how   I am and I kind of fell into that trap and I  think that's what happen happened to a lot of   my relationships as we go down the road is that  I'm a doer and if I do something I'm showing you   that I love you even though I'm not telling you  and some people are are more verbal they need   to hear it and you know my grandfather and them  what they were doing for me you came and you took   you raised your nine kids and you took my mom's  three you absolutely love me you make sure I have   clothes on my back I got food on my stomach yeah  the roof leaks but I know you love me your brother   who I've gotten to know also uh is is one of the  coolest toughest smartest most driven people I've   ever been around there so it's no coincidence  that so were you I know how close you were can   can you that relationship with your brother was  so special from an early age it really is Joe but   it's almost like he's like he's like my dad uh  we're three years apart and we're best friends   but I didn't view him as my brother I looked at  him as like my father because my grandfather died   I was eight uh my dad died like I said I was I  was 13 and so really the the the most dominant   male figure in my life was him Joe I'm me tell  you the story and this is how I knew my brother   loved my brother loved me we wake up one Saturday  morning cartoons back then cartoons only came on   Saturday and we only had milk enough milk for one  bowl of for one bowl of cereal and my brother got   up first cuz normally whoever got up first you  know that's who ate the cereal my brother ate   the cereal but he didn't drink the milk because  he knew if he drank the milk I wouldn't have any   cereal so he left the milk he ate the cereal  left the milk so I could have some and that's   when it it really dawned on me I was about eight  years old I was like yeah that Ain that ain't no   brother stuff that's that's something a father a  parent would do for a child can you describe the   home I mean it it it was it was humble let's say  let's put a good word to it humble but no running   water not a lot of food on the table sindle block  cement floors no paneling uh no indoor plumbing   no running water it was me my brother my sister  my sister had a u a special needs child my three   ants and my grandfather okay my grandfather died  so it's sometimes it's it's anywhere between seven   to 10 of us my grandmother's making $197 in that  house in that house my grandmother is making $197   every two weeks so you went to the woods that's  where you went to the bathroom yeah middle of the   night middle of the night the middle of the day or  whenever you had to go that's where you had to go   I did not take a shower until I went to 4 well  I I went to 4 Camp I think in about the fourth   or the fifth grade that was the first time I took  a shower and I remember going and not knowing how   to turn it on so you know I'm like man and I'm  like how can I play this how can I play this off   uh and I was like man I don't I don't think Thea  was I don't think Thea was work and then one of   the guys came in and said well you got to turn  it like this I just knew like I know all my all   my family Liv like that my cousins and aunts they  didn't have indoor plumbing either and when I tell   people that people looking at me like but you're  not that old yeah uh I didn't have indoor plumbing   until 1988 when my brother went into the league so  from 6 to 88 to the woods I went you and Sterling   used to catch chickens and and I can't believe the  ratio of number of chickens caught to Money Paid   to the sharp Brothers to kind of wrangle these  chickens talk us through that well we worked in   uh we worked into tobacco Fields so we worked from  700 to 7:00 um with an hour for lunch and we'd eat   lunch and my brother and I and my cousins we go  play basketball so we'd take us about 5 10 minutes   to eat and then we spend the next 30 40 minutes  playing basketball until the uh the guy would   come back and we get on the truck and we go back  out there till like 6 or 7 o'clock that evening   and then about 8:30 my uncle would come pick us  up and we would go like probably like 30 m 30 40   miles were probably far farthest we would go and  we would catch chickens and you got paid a dollar,   thousand so you call it so it' be 16 8,000 to  16,000 20,000 chicken between you a night yeah   you're catching 8,000 chickens 20,000 was the most  we caught yeah which gave you 20 bucks yeah but   and plus the1 to $15 that we made so that was  45 bucks a day that was good money but you was   working you know anywhere between 16 18 hours a  day and even when I was in even though you're in   school I was still catching chickens my brother  and I was catching chickens and going getting   up to go to school so we we get home probably  3:30 4:00 and we get right back up and uh go to   school next day at 7:00 is it fair to say that  you always knew down in your soul that you were   going to be somebody I mean at the age of 12  you promised your grandmother you were going   to buy our house yeah and those are big big dreams  for somebody who didn't have much um Joel I only   wanted to be two things in all my life I wanted to  be a professional athlete I wanted to be a lawyer   but I knew that would take me longer to make money  doing that than it would be a professional athlete   and God gave me ability uh he gave me I worked  on the farm I had muscles from the time I can   remember I think I was like six or seven years old  and kids would look at me and like he got muscles   and I did I had I well you worked so hard I did I  did but I I was I was driven Joe I I had to I had   to I I didn't and then I was in high school and  I said Grant I'm I'm going to make some money no   I was 12 or 13 I was said Grant I'm I'm going  to have some money one day what you want your   cuz she always call me she called me baby she she  never call me my name call me baby she called me   son she called me boy I said granny what you want  me to buy you I said you want me to you buy you a   car and teach you how to drive she said no son  I don't I don't want no car I said well granny   what you want she said son I want a decent house I  could lay on my bed in my grandmother's bed and I   could see the sky through the roof because it was  a tin roof I could see and I'm thinking to myself   my grandmother she just want to go to bed before  she di she said she want to go to bed one night   have it rain wake up and not be wet man Joe I mean  I just uh don't know I mean people don't know how   many times I would fall on my knees at night  she wouldn't actually she would not let me get   into bed without saying my prayers cuz she laid  on she was in the front and I'd have to say my   prayers and I'd have to cross over her to get in  bed Joe I I prayed him Mania nights high [Music] school the only thing I wanted to do  was make my granny proud that's it yes yes well said Thank you thank you for sharing  that I I love when I read that even as a young   boy used to stand in front of the mirror and  practice talking into the mirror yeah I I I knew   giving an interview asking myself tough questions  answering I knew I knew I was gonna be something   I knew I was going to do something in front of  the cameras I knew I knew I was gonna be famous   my and my grandma and people used to ask me say  yeah I knew that boy he talked too much not to be   able to do something right but my calling was to  play in the National Football League my calling   was to help get my grandmother out of there and  me and my brother that was all we that was all   we talked about my my brother and I believe  it or not we didn't do a whole lot of talking   about girls growing up we're three years apart we  didn't do a whole lot of talking about girls man   what you going to do when you get some money yeah  granny you think granny want to come live with us   no she ain't gonna leave Glenville but that was  our thought process you got the chance to play   with your brother Sterling he was a senior in high  school you were a freshman yes I was a backup you   were his backup with his backup I always wanted  to be like my brother so whatever number he chose   I chose he was three I got number three um he  was number two in college I got number two in   college he was 84 I was 84 and I played all the  positions that he played because I wanted to be   like him you know I played quarterback I played  running back linebacker receiver but it was my   senior year I was like you know what I don't want  to be a quarterback I want to be a tight end what   was it about tight end I I would think you'd  want to be split out and run and I mean tight   end involves blocking too yeah but Azie Newsome  and Kelly winow were tight ends so I want that   those are the guys I wanted I wanted to be like  uh and so I got moved to tight end had a lot of   scholarship offers but prop 48 and I tell people  all the time I say with my grades I couldn't have   got in prison your grades were were bad enough  to keep you out of South Carolina which is where   your brother Sterling correct correct Bo them  grades were bad Joe I look back I was like dang   I need a crane to pull my grades up which you you  attack once you got to Savannah State but this is   division onea it was division two at the time so  okay so we're we're talking about if you're good   enough they'll find you but man they're going to  have to really look they going have to look yeah I   remember stepping on Savannah State campus in 1986  and the very first thing I told him at that first   day of practice I said I'm going to the NFL and  everybody looked at me like I was crazy but Joe it was we had probably 100 probably 110 guys we  lined up five yards apart from one end zone to   the other and Coach Davis said guys only got  like 55 to 60 uniforms he said I got to trim   the fat though so we ran before we ever practiced  I'm talking about we ran ran you ought have heard   the Foot Locker slamming and the cars cranking up  guys leaving I ain't going I said this is nothing   I said you think this I was like I'm only out  here three hours a day yes 100 degrees but I   work for 12 hours in 100 degrees I'm not this is  nothing and that next day you had like 85 then   75 then 60 then 55 and that's what we went with  but so if if you could survive the running and   the physical oh yeah side of it he was going to  keep you and and you B these these guys basically   weeded themselves out exactly almost transferred  to the universal to Miami after my sophomore year   I was going to say Miami Came Calling and our  old friend Jimmy Johnson and he he saw Shannon   and what Shannon sharp could do but but you stayed  I stayed cuz coach Davis told me he say son you're   good enough to play in the NFL he didn't say if  you you're good they'll find you and he believed   in me everybody else when my Graves were bad and  no one could get me wanted to take a chance on   me coach Davis believed in me and I felt I owed  that to him and plus Savannah was only an away   from my grandmother and I could get home at any  given time to make sure I go see her your senior   Year you guys go 8- one1 and you're setting  records now yardage records touchdown records   and you've got to be thinking okay now it's time  to go to the next level yeah I remember uh when   the schedule came out we're going to play Georgia  Southern and Georgia Southern was a was a power   they were onea champ erk Russell was their head  coach uh he was the defensive coordinator for   the University of Georgia when they they won  the National Championship with hersel and uh   I remember seeing them on the schedule Circ we're  going to play them at their building and that was   the time because everybody's like well yeah he's  good thousand yard he got this but who he played   against and I just remember Georgia Southern I  said oo I said they don't even know now I got a   second cousin that played for Georgia Southern um  his grandfather and my grandfather were brothers   and he played for Georgia Southern and he was in  film study and they were watching and he told the   coaches he told the defensive coaching staff he  said if you play my cousin like that he'll hit   you for 200 yards well they played me like that  and I hit him for 202 yards wow I did we lost and   let me in true story after the end of the game  after the game was over ER Russell came to the   uh rest Soul he came to the center of the field  and he gave me a cigar he said son you're the   best athlete I've ever seen the opposing the  opposing coach I still have that cigar wait   I I don't want to lose that in the Applause you  still have the cigar I still have the cigar I'm   very sentimental what a thrill it must have been  for your grandmother to see you play in your final   game in college my final game I mean I can't  imagine you more driven but if you know your   grandma's there what was that like that's the only  times you've ever seen me play everybody's told   her how great I was in high school um and to know  my grandmother in the stands one time and because   I I didn't know if she'll probably she was never  going to see me play again but I just remember I   just remember walking out on the field because  it was senior day and they introduced everybody   and and looking up there and seeing my grandmother  in the stands I was like that was that might have   been my greatest achievement and when I came out  to feel out that the game was over and she'd say   baby you did good um man well your seventh round  draft pick of the Denver Broncos I know that was   a disappointment very you thought you were higher  heck your brother went seventh overall to Green   Bay when he got drafted now here you are seven  being the lucky number but it's round not overall   correct uh I assume knowing you the little I  do that that was motivation to show every wide   receiver and tight end selected before you that  you were better than them and those teams made a   mistake I remember when I got back from the  allstar games I told my brother I say spank   they I said they a a they ain't a wide receiver  or tight end here better than me I said them guys   not better than me I got went to the combine and I  didn't I ran like 46 five 466 something like that   I said bro they not better than me I said ' they  not I said I understand they went to Michigan and   over the Dame and all I said but they not better  than me I'm better than you you you you y'all got   drafted before me how why I mean I mean I was in  shape I mean I'm abbed up I got muscles everywhere   and I'm like you went before me looking like plus  you know the NFL game CU you've been watching your   brother play in the NFL game the thing was Joe is  that I always want my favorite superhero was the   incredible Hook I always wanted to be big I wanted  to be be the incredible Hook I wanted muscles and   so I started lifting and my brother would always  tell me say bro you gonna lift yourself into a   three-point stance I'm like no I'm good I'm good  which means he goes from a skill position to the   offensive or defensive line but I wanted to be a  guy that could bench 400 pounds and squat 600 but   and I'm and he's like but there are no receivers  that can do that why do you want to do that well   that's that gave me even more motivation to  want to do because nobody else is doing it and   when Dan Reeds my my rookie year says uh all  the tight ends got hurt all the guys got hurt   and everybody's thinking that Dan's gonna go out  and sign a tight end well the offense is really   complicated and Dan didn't feel like he could you  know get a tight end up to speed in time so Dan   called me in and said well what do you think about  playing tight end my first words out of my mou I'm   going a chance to play he's like yeah but you're  going to have to learn I was like okay I do it   they mve me to in John's going through the I'm on  the line of scrimmage John's going through the uh   the play John Elway he's going through the plays  I like hold up time out time out what I got again   so obviously I'm having a hard time learning it so  they put me in motion so every time I go past John   El John would tell me what I got you got to block  the end blue 17 block the end blue 17 no way yeah   run a corner run out he's telling me the whole  game he told me what what I had to do they put   me motion I'm dog tired and I know he's tired cuz  he got aund things in mind he got to tell me what   I got to do he got to read the defense he got  to worry about somebody tried to hit him in the   back of his head so we win the game and so I'm  walking up the field and I can see him walking   up that corner of my eye and he just tell me he  say I think we need to learn the plays next week   yeah I said I think I think you're right right but  but there you had a great relationship with John   unbelievable and and and there was something  there that I mean he could have he could have   embarrassed you he could have ripped you in front  of the rest of the team but but he needed you I   don't know I don't know what it is about me but  it was just something that he just kind of like   he liked me by 1992 you break out and and the  world knows how good Shannon sharp always knew   how good he was and you become Elway's number  one target I did there there's a relationship   there though that we can't miss and that's your  relationship with head coach Dan Reeves he's the   guy that called you when you were drafted uh he  was a player himself he believed in you like coach   Davis believed in you at Savannah State when and  I I guarantee knowing you the way I know you if   somebody believes in you like that I can't gold  they are um he told me I could be special he said   you're too big too fast too strong not to play  this game for a long time and there's pressure   there with this great organization that had been  to the big game but had not won yeah it was um it   was happened in 1990 when I got drafted they had  just just gotten the breakes beat off him by the   49ers in the Super Bowl 5510 so I'm thinking you  know okay this a Super Bowl team so we going back   the next year we go like 5 and 11 or six and 10  I'm like what happened I thought y'all just went   to the Super Bowl you know is it me right the next  year we go to the AFC Championship game we lose to   Buffalo 10 seven I'm like okay we we're building  something and then the next year we were really   good but then John got hurt and then Coach re  left in in in and at the end of the 92 season I'm   thinking to myself wow I just made the Pro Bowl  what if they get somebody in here that doesn't use   the tight end because still everybody was still  wanted that Big Mo that tight end that could move   people off the ball running bring your running  game play defense nobody was thinking about if a   tight end caught 25 30 passes so be it and so Wade  Phillips who's the defensive coordinator got hired   and he brought in Jim fossil and one of the things  that Wade told him says tell me what you're G to   do with Shannon sharp how you going to use him and  I became the focal point that's how Jim got hired   yep how he was going to use you yep now the office  is going to be cater to what I do um which was get   down the field find a mismatch put me outside  linebacker safety could beat some Corners um   and John was going to give me the ball it was it  was great it was it was great so now people are   starting to see um my brother 100 catch he had  a 100 Catch season in ' 92 uh had another 100   Catch season and the crowning achievement is that  we're both going to the Pro Bowl how cool is that   you two are competitors against each other in the  Pro Bowl yeah I mean these two sharp Brothers one   kind of dad and one kind of son are in Hawaii for  the for the Pro Bowl that's awesome well Joe uh   I was feeling really good about myself and so I  bet my brother 25,000 i' have more catches than   he would wait a minute now times have changed  now there's no more uh eating posum you bet you   bet your brother how much I bet him 25 Grand I'd  have more catches than he would and your brother's   like all pro yeah uh I ended up with 81 he ended  up with 112 so did you write the check no no jo   I was going to be able to do that I was going to  be able to do I was going to be able to do that   but I but I had I had to do something I had to  put some pressure on myself um and look I know   I wasn't G to you know I thought I could I mean  John that was John's fault right yeah but I want   but I wanted to I I wanted to issue a challenge  to him and I wanted a reason to to show up to   work go to work every day with that lunch p and  hard hat because I had a goal it wasn't to just   CU I wanted to be what he was he was an all pro he  was a pro bowl player that's what I wanted to be I   wanted to be an all proo and to be on the all proo  team and be in the Pro Bowl with your brother not   very many people can say that so Shanahan comes in  how important is winning Super Bowl to you well I   I felt that's what would separate me from some  of the other guys um I had established myself   um as a preeminent tight end and when Mike came  in Mike says I can throw you a Shannon he's like   you can catch a 100 Balls no problem but we're  not going to win he says I need you to block   more and probably worried less about catching  passes he says not if you can't do that we're   going to have to find somebody that can that well  since you put it like that I think I could do it   yeah I think that'll be okay with me and but you  were a good fit for that scheme right that zone   blocking scheme Z yeah it it didn't require me to  try to move a 280 pound man just do enough to get   TD to the line of scrimmage TD would do the rest  that that was my job and that's the thing that a   coach has to do a coach has to be understanding  enough some guys you can kick in the butt some   guys you can pass them on the back some guys you  can be funny with but it's your job to understand   what you need to do to get each guy to perform at  their absolute best and the really good coaches   can do it and Mike knew what buttons to push um  he let us be hey he let us be us we had fun but   when it came time to work and if you if you listen  to the film uh uh uh the cut UPS or when he's Mike   he'd always say get him ready 84 get him going  that was my job he went to you for that he hey   my job was to strike up the and I was a drum major  I'm goingon to get it going um be at training camp   I'm going start talking to the defense get them  riled up that means the offense is going to get   riled up because we don't want to get shown up and  they're going to get riled up because they don't   want to get shown up that was my job you guys  go 13 and three yes you're going to play against   Jacksonville Jacksonville Jaguars you guys are  heavily favored they're franchise they just been   in the league 95 with their first year in the NFL  so this is their second year of existence you've   called that the hardest loss of your career mhm  it's hard is it hard for you to even watch yeah   because there's two plays in that game that cost  us the game that two-point conversion all I had to   do was open up my hips I tried to body catch  the ball I didn't open up and we had a third   down and three uh we ran a shallow cross going in  motion and John put the ball right on the money   and I catch it and as I'm bringing it in my knee  pops it out winning never feels as good as losing   hurts but it motivates you man it drove me I was  on a mission all coming off that all coming off   I said no no no I said I want to I want to have a  I want to have a better season I said I'm I'm man Joe that that I feel like you're ready to go  right now Joe man I I was on a mission as a   matter of fact my homeboy he called me I said  look here dude I say uh you got one week to come   see me once cuz they I didn't see anybody once  once that time frame if you didn't come see me   in that time frame that was it my friends family  you got one week come see me after that I'm in a   tunnel I'm done so Super Bowl 32 arrives but  prior to that your brother had to retire and   and your hero mhm other than the Incredible Hulk  Sterling had to hang it up that that had to crush   you it did man I I remember when he I remember  when he called me and said man I don't know he   says I don't I don't think I'm gonna be able  to play again I said is that what the doctor   says he says well I'm going to meet the doctor  and um I'll let you know but I remember his uh   his girlfriend at the time who who who's not his  wife she called me she said Sterling's not going   to play again I'm like man I'm like we had I  mean you got to realize now he's in his prime   he's seven years I mean he had just had 108 112  94 his last year 94 catches 18 touchdowns over   a th yards and never played another down and  I just remember going to do an interview and   I told him I said when I'm going give my brother  the ring he didn't know he didn't know I I would   do that this is the way I'm going to say thank  you this is why I'm going to say bro everything   that you've ever done for me I had a single  minded Focus I was looking straight ahead I   was thinking about all the people in Glenville  my grandmother's watching a thousand square foot   cement floors cinder blocks T roof my brother  so I'm going to go get this ring for him I'm   G to go get this ring I said we we about to get  this you literally on your way out of the tunnel   days earlier um this was the only time Mike  Shanahan the head coach he said Shannon we're   going to kick their ass but let's make them think  that they're going to win so don't say anything crazy like man you know I got to talk this thing  up I like okay I said yeah oh man it's going to   be a great game you know they're defending champs  they got the MVP we going to tell y'all look y'all   don't even know we felt that the way we you  couldn't be right what do you want to do you   want to play Man coverage do you really want  to put your safeties on me or do you want to   ring and presenting that to your brother what  what was that moment like uh I just remember   going up to his house tell him thank you I'm here  because of you what you see the player that I am   is because of you and because you couldn't get  one the only thing that I can do this the only   thing I can give you bro um size of kidney you  don't need that but the next thing I the best   thing I can give you is this uh you described  yourself as the second best trash talker to   Muhammad Ali in sports history I talked to Terrell  Davis about it uh you're legendary for this stuff   you could get a defense and particular players  so out of their game and so pissed you need to   be ready to do your job cuz I'm ready to do my  job and so however they want to bring it yeah   I'm GNA put pressure on you because I'm gonna  start talking early on I'm gonna get them fired   up and if you're not ready to play somebody's  going to get embarrassed and I'm not getting   embarrassed well one of those offensive linemen  I just making me think of what Terell Davis said   he talked about Mark schare and he said at one  point something like hey Shannon will you shut   up yeah well I got to block these guys you're  pissing off everybody and they're coming to   me they're not coming to you I don't know why  but the defensive backs and and the safety they   wouldn't talk to me it was always the defensive  lineman right and so well oh you want to talk   okay well I get on you I call them fat I make a  yeah it didn't matter to me and they would just   be teeing off on stink them and they would go  tell stink isare that's that's his nickname   but it it it it got TD 2,000 yards because they  were ready to play that year oh they were ready   and TD got that done oh man one he became the  fourth guy to ever rush for over 2,000 yards   but we talked about the Super Bowl in '97 now you  guys are going back MH in 98 but of all teams the   Atlanta Falcons and of all head coaches Dan  Reeves the one who drafted you the one who   believed in you the one who you know had your back  yep and and now you're going against him in the   biggest game in the world what was that like it  was tough because I know he wasn't going to win so that that that that was really tough because  we had played them um in 97 in Atlanta and uh we   we ended up we ended up winning that ball game  but we just knew from a a from a a defensive   standpoint we were loaded we had like three uh  uh Pro Bowl offensive linemen uh I was in the   Pro Bowl John was in the Pro Bowl TD was in  the Pro Bowl Neil Smith was in the Pro Bowl   atwat was in the Pro Bowl I mean we we we  were loaded let's take a look at Super Bowl   now you've gone back to back well Mike told us  if you want to be remembered for being special   you needed to back it up uh there have been a  lot of teams that's won one in a row but we we   felt we were special we wanted to be remembered  as special because so few teams actually done it   TD had rushed for 2,000 yards but if you look  at some of the games he didn't play after the   half he didn't play in the third quarter so  theoretically he would have had he could have   easily had you know 23 2400 yards but at what  expense because at the end of the day our goal   was not to get TD 2000 our goal was get back  in two and win the Super Bowl but it was nice   getting td200 well you know that added that to my  resume too I block 2,000 yard rush that's right   so I think of you as a Denver Bronco but in 2000  you end up with the Baltimore Ravens they needed   a playmaker you were their guy uh that's a big  switch that's that's a big life change for you   going yeah cuz I thought I was gonna I would  always I would finish my career in Denver I   was goingon to be one of these guys that play all  of his career at one local um it didn't work out   like that um I was getting up there in age um I  had broke my collar bone um four games into the   99 season and I think Mike thought thought well  he's not going to be that same he can't be that   same guy and I think he undervalued about all  the things that I did that wasn't necessarily   on the field the way I got the guys to practice  the way I had the guys in meeting rooms how they   kind of had to answer to you didn't they yeah  yeah I I was the gatekeeper so and I I I think   he took that for granted and the Ravens I remember  meeting aie oie and aie Newsome who's the general   manager he then one of the alltime great tight  end himself of Fame and I remember meeting him   and he says I want you to be the Shannon you  were in Denver now I don't heard about you say   I know you talk a lot and I don't come here and be  quiet I want you to be that guy okay okay but that   but but that's not easy going to a new place you  you were able to talk in Denver because you had   a body of work there and you knew all the guys  now you got to go to Baltimore you don't know   the personalities and as you said there's some  guys you get in their face they might go into   a shell I for me I needed to show up and let them  see how I worked um bringing my own food the way   I ate the way I trained the way I did things very  meticulous and very methodical in my Approach and   then everybody got an opportunity to see this  is what it takes to be a champion how's how   good is this play by the way you're backed up the  2000 AFC champion ship game against the Oakland don't know why with that down in distance on that  area of the field was it third and 17 third and   18 third and 18 backed up all we were trying to  do was get like four yards so the punter could   have his actual 13 yards from the center to the  punter to punt the ball that's all we trying to   do we just trying to get like three or four yards  why would you ever on 319 come with a blitz Ray   Lewis came to me like [ __ ] we going to the  Super Bowl I'm like dude this second quarter   what you talking about this like they're not  gonna score they gave up three points in in   in that game they gave up three points to the  in the wild card game against Denver they gave   up 10 to the uh the Tennessee Titans that defense  didn't give up a point in the Super Bowl they got   that on the kick return so in four games 16 the  defense gave up 16 points that's incredible so   you win Super Bowl 35 mhm um now you've got three  rings mhm uh I assume you kept the second two yes   uh I I noticed like many people I know who have  won Super Bowl rings and who I work with yeah you   don't wear them well if you have one you wear  it when you got you got three they [Applause] know we have this quote on the wall when people  told me I'd never make it I listened to the one   person who said I could me yeah what does that  quote mean to you I've always had the utmost   confidence in me I've always I mean everybody told  me I wasn't going to make it you know yeah I mean   I was good at at peeee sports they like yeah but  when you get to high school I was good in high   school sports they say yeah but when you get to  college I got to college said yeah once you get   to the NFL and say yeah you in the NFL they  say well when do you get to the Hall of Fame   you won't be the best player in the Hall of Fame  I said okay I I'll settle for that right but but   for me Joe for me it's always been I knew there  was there really honestly I never doubted for   one second Joe I wouldn't make it to the NFL I  was focused on football and the quickest way to   make a lot of money I thought was football the  quickest way to get my grandmother out of that   situation was football the quickest way for my  grandmother mother could kick her heels up and   not have to worry about anything and she could  fish all day if that's what she wanted to do   was football and that's what kind of house did  you in Sterling get her it was simple nothing   extravagant she wouldn't want it no no no she  didn't um she was really simple and that's why   when people ask me would I do it all over again  knowing what I know to give my grandmother that   life because 66 years she had gone to bed and  if it rained she got wet and this to give her   that Joe I do it all over again man this is I  what you see football is what I did but that's   not who I am I am Mary Porter I'm Barney  Porter I'm Sterling sharp I'm Sher sharp   I'm a byproduct of what I saw them do and how  they raised me and I wouldn't change anything   about my life I wouldn't because it made me who  I am it it made me who I am it made me what I am wow I love that you retired to Denver Bronco  you went back to Denver you're breaking all   the records and and all the individual things  you know that you were able to accomplish and   in 2011 you get elected to the Hall of Fame I  mean there wouldn't be a Hall of Fame you've   got to have Shannon sharp in the Hall of Fame  and your grandmother is alive to know you're   going into the Hall of Fame but passes  away before you get inducted month one   month before you're wearing that gold jacket  you lose your grandmother I remember calling   her after I got after I got the word that I  was going in in in in Jan in February and I   remember calling and I said well she said hey  baby I said hey Granny I say uh we go into the   Hall of Fame she say what's that I say that's  where they put all the the good players she   said oh that that's show nice son that's show  nice she said I I sure hope I'm around to see it I a grant you will be I went down they were  doing a story uh Mike C was doing a story on me   for the Denver I think the Denver Post and I  went down in June and I remember my sister my   sister called me and said Shannon she's gone  I said for real Libby and I hung the phone   up and my girlfriend Katie she asked me she  said what's wrong I said granny pass I was I   was never the same and I'm never going  to be the same part of me dad wish you Dad part of me broke when she broke oh my life I live my life with one purpose  I yeah I wanted to be a good brother yeah I wanted   to be a good son I wanted to be a good partner and  if I were to ever have kids I wanted to be a great dad but the thing I wanted most to be a great   a great all-time great grandson  for Mary Porter the proudest my grandmother gets or she got is when people  would say Mary you did a good job raising   them boys they're so humble they're  so well-mannered it's yes ma'am it's   no ma'am is yes sir no sir that gave  my grandmother greatest enjoyment my   grandmother could have cared less that  my brother and I made it to the NFL my   grandmother could have cared less that I'm  in the Pro Football Hall of Fame she cared   more that I was a good person that means more  to me than 50 Super Bowls than 20 gold jackets wow well it's it's been it's been a life it's been  a career well done um I I know to some degree when   I ask as I do every guest out here what's next I  know you're busy every day I know you're you're   on FS1 and you're debating Sports topics but  maybe personally what's next for you just try   every day to be a better person try to be the  person that my grandmother envisioned I would be uh I want people to know that I am what you see I want the world  I want America to be better than what it is I   know we can be and maybe that's going to be  my focus maybe that that is to to convince   America that we can be better we deserve better  we should be better and we're going to get there so that would make her proud all right we end with  this this is called a uturn in an in an interview   okay they're called fun questions but this will  lighten the mood would you rather be able to fly   or turn invisible be invisible who where would you  sneak into is your first invisible Mission would   it be Sterling's life or what would it would  it where would you go no you know what I would   like to be invisible because I want to hear what  people say about me when I'm not around okay fair enough this is a good question for  you would you rather go back in time   and meet your ancestors or forward in  time and meet your great-grandchildren probably backwards want to go back backwards go  even Beyond yeah even though even though I know   how troubled those times were but those were  some resilient people they don't make people   like that anymore if they do there's very few of  them right good answer oh man this is another good   one for you would you rather lose your cell  phone or lose $10,000 oh 10 grand easy yeah   I knew it I knew it you don't want to lose  that cell phone no no I hold on let me let   me see yeah I can't lose my cell phone okay  I can't lose the cell phone I'm not going to   ask what's on there I I mean it's a no no no  no there's there's none of that stuff that   you know if somebody hacked my phone they're  like this dude got like 5,000 pictures of dogs right last question of the day what makes a great  tight end imagination that's what I think was my   greatest asset was my ability to think and and to  try different things um you know sometimes it was   too you know I went too fast uh John would say  they I need you to slow down I don't need you to   be open and I don't have the ball yet or I'm not  ready to throw the ball or I was too slow he's   like that's too long something bad could happen  so I think imagination understanding what they're   trying to do against you what they're trying  to do to stop you uh and unselfishness I know   I speak on behalf of everybody sitting in this  theater thank you that this has been incredible   thank you and and we thank you for being as honest  as you've been we thank you for being as open as   vulnerable as you've been and uh I I know I  can speak on behalf of this wonderful woman   that I never met Mary Porter when I say job well  done my friend one of the greatest ever Shannon sh thank you thank you guys thank [Music] you [Music]

Channel: Audiorama

Views: 80,958

Keywords: Joe Buck Interview, Joe Buck, Joe Buck SVP, Joe Buck Handshake, Joe Buck Fox, Rod Interview, Undeniable, Undeniable show, Joe Buck Undeniable, Joe Buck Arod, joe buck best calls, shannon sharpe, shannon sharpe makeup, first take shannon sharpe, shannon sharpe highlights, shannon sharpe first take, shannon sharpe stephen a smith, Shannon Sharpe Denver Broncos, Shannon Sharpe Broncos, Shannon Sharpe Tv, Shannon Sharpe Super Bowl

Id: Hxp5LO01FfQ

Length: 50min 13sec (3013 seconds)

Published: Wed Nov 08 2023