Josh Hines-Allen: A Lot Went Into The Name Change

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You have got what appears to be a dynamite sound. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Daddy's hosting today kids. Live from The Rich Eisen Show Studio in Los Angeles.

Would Dak Prescott for the rest of his career be better off somewhere else? Depends on how you look at things. Is it about making money?

Because bottom line is that's what it's all about. Today's guests. Jaguars linebacker Joshua Heinz Allen. ESPN NBA reporter Dave McMenamin. Co-founder of the Men and Blazers Media Network, Roger Bennett. And now it's Rich Eisen.

That's right. Welcome to this edition of The Rich Eisen Show. We're live on the air on the Roku channel.

This Rich Eisen Show, terrestrial radio affiliates Sirius XM, Odyssey and more. We're thrilled to be here on this Thursday. It's ESPY night so there's lots going on. Right.

Did I say that? I'll be there. Oh, you're going? Yeah. You're going to the ESPYs tonight. My invite still comes. Hey.

Even though I never worked. How about that? It's been, hold on a minute. Let me check my, let me check my phone.

21 years in town. Do you want to be my plus one? I'll talk about it. All right. Long story short is we're here. I'm here. We're there. Hopefully you can call us.

844-204. Rich is the number to dial. Normally I start with the top story of the sports world. And normally I start with telling you who the guest list is, but we just got to jump right in because I'm seeing ghosts. I mean, I, I, I feel like Sam Darnold right now.

I feel like I'm seeing ghosts because I noticed Chris Brockman. I know who you are. Hey Rich. Good to see you.

And TJ Jefferson. I know who you are. I'm in the building. You are here. I'm here. You are here. Yeah, buddy.

But the ghost of rich eyes and past. I took a lot of grief. I was gone.

People hit me up, DMing me. Like, what are you doing? I'm like, I was gone for a month doing soccer.

I'm done. So, but soccer, I did up until the playoffs because there's two of us that had to do it because it's a cope. When you wait for there were 16, 18 hour days, but what's the playoff? What are you talking about?

The playoffs, quarterfinals in the semis. Oh, okay. So I did up until knockout knockout round.

Yes. I was done with the knockouts. I'm done.

Once I was done with the knockout, but there's still the ultimate knockouts remaining. So these are the biggest games. Why are you not working faders for the big guy there? What's on Sunday? I've already done it. I want to send them off on Sunday. Yeah.

Sunday and Saturday. So you'll do, you'll work faders for, you know, countries that have no shot of winning the cup. I did every team.

You're doing the dirty work. When it comes to countries with no vows in their name, when it comes time for the biggest I've done it. I've done the championship already twice. I'm I don't need to do it again.

I'm over that. It's like, yeah, I did enough overdoing the big soccer. I did a big game last night.

I did the USA basketball team. You won't play the drops for himself that potentially make him look less than stellar. Here it comes. It's not a lot already. If you believe it makes no sense that you, you, you tap out on this program. Yeah. This one. Okay.

Some great guests, but no, no, no, no, no, no. Okay. You have, you have your Fox gig, which is very important. And I understand that.

I want you, I want everyone out there to understand where I'm coming from. So for you, but you'll, you'll do FS three Columbia versus I was on Fox, you know, the country that was in Woody Allen's bananas, right? I did all the, okay. That's the Copa America. You know, I did all the PK games that ended in penalty kicks games. So you're going to be, you'll do that. But when it comes to England versus Spain, I was going to ask him who's in the final. Cause there's no England, Spain, a hundred percent Argentina from me. You want me to keep going?

Argentina versus Columbia. I think I paid attention. Good to see you back, buddy. Good to see you back. I missed you guys. I really I'm seeing ghosts. Michael, a lot's changed in the month since you've been gone. What happened?

What is a lot of stuff? You know, you missed a lot, but change everything. Is that Rogers out of hiding to our Rogers? Actually he was out of hiding. He was at UFC three Oh three last weekend. He's now in Tahoe and our ears are peeled because I was predicting when he did not have, he was a no show and the jets made it known. It was an unexcused absence, no show at the mandatory mini camp, despite him being at every other thing that wasn't mandatory. I said it would happen today.

The it being comments on what happened because he's going to be out there. Yesterday was the pro-am. I think it's also today. I'm wondering today. Okay. So today or tomorrow, when he's out there for the real contest on one tomorrow, there will be a local reporter out there from some spot that he used to know.

Cause he used to be in college there or it's a hometown or whatever. And he will give a soundbite on this subject matter. Um, I'm, I'm fully predicting that. So keep an ear out today.

I could be wrong. Let's talk about, uh, by the way, the, um, team USA versus team Canada last night, what do we call this? A friendly showcase showcase soccer to friendly a showcase. And you remember myself, you remember, um, you remember that was on FS one. Yes. Okay. Cause it went straight from, it went straight from the Columbia semi-final right into Gus and wrath and wrath and Christina pink on FS one in Vegas.

Gus is great. USA versus Canada. You remember USA versus the Russians, right? And Madison square garden and the Russians beat the tar out of the USA team. And everybody thought they have no shot and they won a gold.

Right. And so last night I looked up and I saw team Canada was up to nothing ever. I was ready to blame the president.

It was 11 to one, 11 to one, definitely blame the president. So long story short, it all worked out and team USA took it down. And this is big because I guess Canada and France would be the ones that, uh, everyone's identifying as the ones that could potentially short circuit this dream team's opportunity. A lot of NBA players on team Canada and France. Right.

Okay. So, uh, but last night it was a win. And so all we're talking about is who replaced Kawhi Leonard. It was odd, man, that Kawhi's like, yeah, I didn't finish the season with the Clippers.

So I'm going to go play in the Olympics. And I don't know if that's what caused Kawhi to tap out or he's just like, I'm not feeling myself very well. I'm not feeling well in my knee or I'm not feeling great about, you know, the Clippers maybe being upset about it. Cause you know, the history of this, when the IOC allowed professionals to play in the Olympics and the NBA decided to send it stars to the Olympics, that there was a rule passed, I think under David Stern, that no team, no club was allowed to tell its players, you can't go. Nobody could stand in the way of a star wanting to play for team USA. So it can't be the Clippers telling Kawhi, you're not playing. I mean, it could. That's not apparently, uh, that's verboten rich as team Canada.

It's team Germany. And he might, many things like for verboten and yet it still happens. I don't know. He just decided he's not playing anymore.

And he's not, he's just tapping out just before last night's showcase showcase. Okay. Well, Derek white took the spot, which gives the Celtics three Olympians.

Nice. Jason Tatum drew holiday. Now Derek white, by the way, outstanding story about Derek white, what this guy has turned himself into over the last couple, three seasons since the Celtics acquired him in a trade with the Spurs that I'll be straight up. We didn't talk about on the show.

I don't think anybody talked about it when it happened. I don't think anybody thought, okay, future two way star and Olympian and NBA champion, Derek white just got acquired by the Boston Celtics. Now what he has done is what he has done is remarkable and it is worthy of giving him his flowers. He has played his way into the Olympics because he is awesome. And he is exactly the type of athlete that you want to have on your team. He is a type of athlete that Boston fans love because he, he'll just chip a tooth and keep playing and he will just be awesome. Now then, is there anybody missing from the Celtics on this Olympic team that might've maybe taken a spot?

Hmm. Let's see who's on the team. Jason Tatum's on the team, right?

Luke Cornette. Well, Pritchard would get called for traveling in the Olympics if he, you know, he could take nine steps. You got such haters.

I just think around the world, people would know the extra step. Yeah. So Jason Tatum's on the team, right? And Drew Holliday's on the team. And now we got, oh, I get it.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. He won the NBA finals MVP. JB number seven. The best player technically in the world.

If you win MVP of the NBA finals. There's him. He noticed. He took to the old Twitter. He tweeted out the googly eyes. Then he tweeted it Nike.

Yeah. Which is weird. Cause he put the at Nike first. So if you only follow Nike and Jalen, I was the only way you kind of saw that. Interesting. Well, a lot of people I'm sure follow Nike and Jalen Brown on the old X machine. I'd say so. Just pointed out, I called out Nike, even though, you know, they're, they're a very powerful shoe brand. Are they picking the roster?

Well, if they were, wouldn't everybody be having swooshes? So there's that. Okay. Maybe just maybe what Stephen A. Smith said a few weeks ago, where he went on first take and read off his phone, a source from the NBA telling him that Jalen Brown is not marketable as one would think somebody of his statue would be because he has an ego. He knows it and other people know it. I'm paraphrasing what, what Stephen A. said. And Stephen A. got, had something of that statement retweeted by Jalen Brown saying, state your source. And Jalen wore that on his t-shirt. He wore a state your source t-shirt on the duck boat parade. And so now that he's been passed over for the Olympics, Stephen A. took a wee bit of a victory lap on Twitter today.

I love Stephen A. Smith. You know, I'm a big fan. Do you all believe me now? Do I need to reveal my sources? Yo. And then he used Jalen's Twitter handle.

Do I need to reveal my sources now? Is it not obvious now? How in the hell is a $300 million man now a champion in an NBA finals MVP who's clearly a top two player on the Celtics, the top 15 player in the world, not chosen for Team USA because his teammate not named Tatum is selected before him?

Come on y'all. So this was all placed in the lap last night after the Team USA victory over Team Canada of Grant Hill, who is part of Team USA basketball's management. And this is what he had to say about choosing Derek White and not Jalen Brown. You have incredible interest from, you know, an abundance of talent that we have here in the United States. And I've talked a little bit about when we, you know, we assembled this roster. You can't get 12 spots and you have to build a team. And one of the hardest things is leaving people off the roster that I'm a fan of, that I look forward to watching throughout the season, throughout the playoffs. Guys who've been finals MVPs, guys who've been a part of the program, guys who've won gold medals, guys who I respect, admire and enjoy watching. But the responsibility that I have is to put together a team and a team that complements each other, a team that fits, a team that will give us the best opportunity for success.

And so, you know, whatever theories that might be out there, you know, they're just that. But that's my responsibility. And it's tough. It's tough to, you know, have conversations, tell people that they're not on the team.

And so I know I talked about that in the past, but I just think that speaks in general. Like I'm trying to win and I'm trying to put together the right pieces that fit and give us a chance to win. Look guys, someone's going to have to shut down a 12th man on South Sudan.

Who do you want to have? Who cares? It doesn't matter. They're going to win gold anyway. Exactly.

Give it to them. By the way, South Sudan is one of the teams. Mike, who's their 12th man?

The Phoebia tournament. Listen, again, that's why it's real tough to not think Stephen A's kind of spot on here, right? Well, it backs it up a little bit. Don't you think? And obviously I'm a Celtics fan.

I love Jalen Brown. Just a really bad look to kind of go public with this. Really easy to just fire off some text to your reps or whoever. Yeah, to say what's up.

And say, hey, what is going on here? Can't blame him for asking why the hell I'm the NBA Finals MVP and you're taking the third Celtic. How is it not me? Totally valid. I was wondering how he wasn't on the team originally, how it was Drew Holliday instead of him. Well, because they're building a team and you've got one of them. Which I love.

It's a great idea. If you're taking on another team and their point guard is a tough nut to crack, I think you want Drew Holliday in the Olympics, don't you think? Yeah.

If that's what you're doing. They tried 20 years ago to just throw out the 12 best players and it didn't work. They got embarrassed and didn't win gold medal. And then that was the whole Redeem Team arc in 08. And so, yeah, I love the team building idea, but to go public on Twitter with that? Yeah, yeah. Pretty juvenile, in my opinion, for a guy that I really like. Yeah.

I mean, for him to hit send, the thumb should have hovered longer and then just moved over to the cancel button. Delete draft. Which is why Stephen A. is victory lapping this morning. Victory lapping? But what does that mean? He says he has a source. That could be anyone. That could just be someone sitting around going, hey, I hear that blah, blah, blah doesn't like Jason.

Maybe, but it doesn't... Listen, if you're going to... Stephen A. does deserve our benefit of the doubt as a one-time actual journalist, that he's not going to just say, oh, my buddy said this. And by the way, if this is a clap back you don't appreciate, then he should have folded up the state your source T-shirt and left it in the drawer too. What do you think is going to happen? Another thing you guys say you can't believe you took the Twitter, like, we got to remember, this isn't like the 90s anymore, everything.

And it's not how we remember things being done, but that's how everything is done now. But his point is this involves a teammate. His point is this involves a teammate. It's not like they chose Jalen Brunson instead. Who I'm still wondering. Well, he broke his hands.

I know that was two months ago, though. But it's the same way that Kawhi, you know, isn't playing. And I'm sure he's not pissed at Derek White. Why would he be? He's upset at the decision makers.

But hours after your teammate is selected, like, come on, man. Guess who else didn't make an Olympic team? Isaiah Thomas. He's still one of the why didn't he? Yes, but they didn't take Joe Dumars.

I don't know. I don't know if that's a good analogy there, because the reason why they left him off is exactly why Stephen A. Smith is saying that Jalen Brown was left off. Greatest player of all time allegedly said there's no way. But there wasn't an opening.

And then they took Joe Dumars. You know what I mean? That's that's yeah, like a last minute opening. My point being, yeah. Jalen Brown is going to be OK, is what I'm saying.

At any rate, listen, he'll be OK. Everyone's going to be OK. This is this is a July. What is it? 10th, 11th conversation. 7-11. Right.

We're always open day. Exactly. And just but it is when you're involving a teammate, it's in the same way. OK, the other day, any time when Jay Feli is here, I'm like, where's Del Tufo? Yeah. And then I'm like, hey, Jay, happy you're here, but where's Mike? Or the other day when Mike showed up to help with the behind the scenes process and label Chris Brockman B-Man on my panel here. There it is. Which has now been memorialized in a much better way.

Before it was just a piece of tape. I got a full name. Listen. And Sarah says to Mike, oh, you know, we miss you here right in front of Jay. And then I start laughing. Yeah.

It's the same thing. But let's stay feeling like, you know, the phone lines are lit and we're going to talk about all this with Dave McMenamin in our number two. Roger Bennett will join us in our number three because Greg Berhalter has been bounced as the manager of the men's national team in soccer.

England advanced to the World Cup, pardon me, to the Euro Cup final. So there's lots to talk about with Roger. But in our green room is the artist formerly known as Josh Allen. Joshua Heinz Allen, one of the best pass rushers in the National Football League. I last saw him in London. Can't wait to see him here in Los Angeles.

He's next. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Let's talk O'Reilly Auto Parts, people. You love their jingle. You're going to love their friendly, helpful service even better because they're in the business of keeping your car on the road and the parts knowledge they have. It's all you need for your maintenance and repairs.

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That's OReillyAuto.com slash E-I-S-E-N O-O-O-Reilly Auto Parts. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show here on the Roku Channel feed, our radio audience will rejoin us in a couple of minutes time, so it'll be two times. I introduce Joshua Hines-Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Good to see you, sir. Thank you for having me on. How are you? I'm blessed.

Good to see you. Now, when I saw you just moments ago, you say, just still keep it Josh or just like what? Yeah, we can keep it Josh. Okay. Don't want to change change up too much. Well, I don't know.

I mean, it's already a big change out there already. So we just keep it Josh and, you know, okay, we could just I'm still rich. And then by the way, the I don't know if you overheard over there, guys, when he sat down, when Josh sat down, he saw my best dad ever son. And I got I got a best dad ever, huh?

Like that sort of thing. And because I you were drafted by showing off what a best dad ever you are. Right. I mean, how old was your your son? Right.

Yes. How old is he at the time? He was one.

He was one. And what was on the cell phone that you were handing him? Right. Monsters University, the movie.

So you're streaming Monsters University for your son to be somewhat occupied. We're going to hear that and was left occupied. I know when I heard a couple of pics and I was like, oh, I don't know what's going on. Was that the phone, though, that the Jaguars called you on? No, that was my wife's phone.

Okay. It was my wife. So your wife's phone was keeping your son. What's it?

What's your son? No, that was my phone. It was. It was my son. I had to hold on, hold on. Yeah. Yeah, that was my.

So Monsters University got interrupted with a call from the Jacksonville area code. I love that. Fantastic. Do you have to tell your kid what's your son's name? Wesley. You got to tell Wesley. Hold on a second.

Daddy's got to get drafted. He was trying to figure out what was going on. I'm sure you were, too.

And it's happened fast on a draft night. Monsters University. I mean, come on. I know that, by the way. Fantastic movie.

Fantastic movie. Back on the Rich Eisen Show radio network, sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk, furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry. Grainger has the right product for you.

Call clickgranger.com or just stop by. This man is one of the best in the business at doing what he does. And what he does is puts quarterbacks on their behinds on behalf of the Jacksonville Jaguars organization, the Jaguars star defensive and Joshua Hines Allen here on the Rich Eisen Show. Good to see you, sir. Let's get into the name change.

Obviously, that's something that happened earlier this week. Walk me through the process on why you wanted to be called differently in the NFL. Um, I mean, it was a lot went into it, you know, for years. You know, my whole family is not my whole family, but my sisters are Hines Allen and my brother and I were just Allen.

So that was. But I was always known as Little Hines. That's how you were known when I was growing up. Like, you know, my whole family grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, you know, through high school, middle school. So we were well known in the city.

And so me coming up when it was my turn, I was at the park outside. Little Hines, Little Hines, my uncle was well known. So I was always known as that.

But we didn't have the last we didn't have the complete last name. And so, like, just growing up and going through the motion, not really thinking anything of it, wanting knowing that I'm always been a Hines, you know, has always been there. And then I got to a point, you know, when I got to the NFL, it was like, OK, you know, I wanted to do it. First of all, I didn't know how to do it. I didn't know if I had time to do it.

Right. And I didn't know if I had the patience to wait to do it. And so for me, it was like, you know, wait, wait, wait, whatever. And then my wife really encouraged me.

She, you know, my wife really encouraged me to to to do it. And then we hired, you know, a great marketing team and they helped us really lay the foundation down on this is what we this is how you do it. This is the process. This is the process if you need help doing this, you know, I had a good lawyer there in Jacksonville that can help me manage that. I had a little bit more time. Meaning what?

To legally change your name in the in the like, get into contact with people who can who can who can direct me to making it easier. OK, sure. You know, and so you mentioned your sister. She plays for the Washington Mystics, right? Myisha Hines Allen. Yes, sir. Um, your sister, Kyra, is that OK? Plays at Cheney University. She played. And your sister, Latori, played at Virginia Tech in Towson. Yes, sir.

Huh. And then the Hines family itself. Uncle Gregory Hines played is in the Hampton University Hall of Fame. He was in the Golden State Warriors organization, huh? The 83 draft.

Your uncle Keith played at Montclair State. So now you are now carrying on the Hines Allen name. Yes, sir.

All right. So did you call the Jaguars and say, hey, guess what? That's how it worked?

Pretty much. It was a you know, I had to legalize it first because I wanted to keep it like a secret for as long as I can before it was right. You know, I have an idea.

I'm thinking about doing it or going going with it. And then once I got it, when I talked to my lawyer about, you know, this is a real thing and started giving him the information, it was like, OK, this is this is really happening, happening. So now I had to start reaching out to the Jaguars and the NFL and letting them know, stop making the jerseys, you know, because, you know, some of the bigs happening.

And yeah, now once we got past that part, it was it was easy now. So when when did that happen? When did they stop making the Allen 41s and start churning out the Hines Allen's 41s? I couldn't even say I feel like we've been doing this since when was when was this in February? February is a Super Bowl. So February and March around like March, April, it was that time frame that we were like, OK, this is that's it. We're doing it.

And then they stop making. Well, because, you know, I mean, this and part of the reason one of the many reasons why I'm happy you're here and this has happened just before you were here is to, you know, use this platform to get the word out, because, you know, some people will think you did this because you didn't want to be known as the other Josh Allen in the National Football League anymore. Are you aware of that?

I'm sure I'm 2-0. But, you know, respectfully, yes, great player, great guy. You know, you know, people I can't I really can't control what people what people may think or why sure everybody has their opinion. And, you know, that's their pain for a reason. I know the reasons why I've done it.

I think it was a great opportunity and great moment in my career to to maximize off the everything that I can do and, you know, the sky's the limit. I'm only going to go up from here because, I mean, we have the photographic proof of the 2-0. I mean, there's there's there's one right there.

That's a good one. Yeah. Was this the one where it was just the trifecta one? No, this was just a this is just a tackle. OK, just because you're you're first and currently only career interception. No, I have one last year against Monday night against the Bengals against the Bengals. OK, but prior to that, it was that was my that was my first interception ever in my life. In your life. You never had one in high school, never had one in college.

Yeah, I did have one in college in Georgia. OK, but like that was it was then and that was right there. That was like, OK, that was prime time. All right. So so now it'll be just Heinz Allen on Allen crime if you guys face one another.

And I think you are again, actually. That's right. Week three. You go for three, you know, in week three, not just in this current matchup, but for the campaign, obviously for the Jacksonville Jaguars. And with that being said, I will be doing a, you know, a jersey exchange that week, week before we play Buffalo Bills. So, you know, all my Jacksonville fans come out support. We're going to have a great time. Bring your family, bring your jerseys.

So anybody who's got the Allen forty ones will go and be able to swap it out and they they get it free of charge or discount discount discount. This is still the National Football League. Understood.

So it's a business. So and so you choose you choose the week you're taking on Josh Allen to have the jersey exchange or just it was the best timing. You know, we played them Monday night, so we had a little bit more time during the week.

I didn't want to do anything during training camp. You know, my time is going to be occupied around that time. And week two, you know, Sunday, you know, week two, we won Sunday, week two Sunday. So it was like Monday night. We got a little bit more time in the week, a little bit more free time. So, you know, I thought it was a good time, especially earlier in the season. It's a good time.

It just happened to be, you know, we played the Bills. OK, Josh Heinz Allen here on The Rich Eisen Show from the Jacksonville Jaguars. One of the things that I remember when you and I first had a conversation, which was the broad pre broadcast meeting prior to that Bills Jaguars game in London last year and that the rest of the broadcast team was so taken by is your. Nonstop desire to be the best ever and how you described it, and I'd love to try and if I can get that out of you and what you do every day to make sure that you are going to be the best ever with a bust and a jacket and a ring championship ring and all of that. Josh, what what what mindset do you bring to the equation here? Just trust in my process, you know, which is what what is your process? You know, first of all, the way I take care of my body is the way I take care of my body. Like I've talked to, you know, a lot of, you know.

NFL Hall of Famers and, you know, a lot of great NFL players, not Hall of Famer players, yes, but great, great players and guys that have done it consistently. And what I took it from them was finding your way. I can't I can't iterate a way that Troy Palma or, you know, Lawrence Taylor did, you know, you know, there's to find their success or Ed Reed or even Clays Campbell, you know, I can figure out in my way in my life the way I like, I have three kids, three dogs. I'm busy all the time, but I have a way to be great and it's my way.

So finding out my way was priority number one. And that's the way I take care of my body and the time I put in for that. You brought a hyperbaric chamber to London last year. I did. I did.

I used I sleep in my hyperbaric every day, every day, every day. Every day. Did you bring one to Los Angeles?

No, I did not. But injured, like when I go back home to to. Because it's my birthday next week, so happy birthday. OK, you know, you're going to need a bigger cake now at the Heinz-Allen. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. OK, but like I say, so hyperbaric chamber, you know, I go to sleep with my wife every night, you know, make sure that, you know, she's good and I'm here.

We're good. And I set my alarm for about one o'clock every morning, twelve to one o'clock every morning. And I spend the rest of my time in the chamber and I wake up and go to work. You know, where do I find time to study?

That's also important. So when I'm in when OTAs is going on, I'm in Arizona and I'm doing everything I can to to maximize that time by myself. And and so I do a lot of my studying there, do a lot of my catching up in my reading, my mental aspect of the game. You know, I write down my game plan on what I want to do, what the tackles I'm going to play each week. Just really just trying to when I when game day does come, I'm at my best mentally, physically and emotionally. So mentally, I take care of that by by studying months before. I mentally I physically prepare by training and pushing myself every time I work out. And I take care of my body by recovering, eating the right food.

We're about to we're about to now hire a chef. I think that was the next step of, you know, my professional ways is nutrition. I always thought I could I thought I always thought I ate well.

But talking to a lot of other athletes, there's a there's really a different side of that. And it can make you feel a lot better. So if I'm, you know, having my whole recovery team working on my body and now I'm doing that and I'm eating better, I think it's just going to help me in the long run. What about game day? Game day? Game day is I'm locked in. You know, I'm you know, I go to sleep the night before I fly my it's a away game.

I fly my IV doctor and my physical therapist out to every game. Get my work in the night before I wake up, get my work in with them again. And then I really just rest, you know, I stay in the dark, secluded area in my room. Just get ready, get my mind right.

No music. What are you thinking about? I'm reading. I'm really reading. I like to read because it helps me just like get my mind off of football.

Just any old books, audio books. I like to read, you know, books that can easily apply to my life and or my work. I read a lot of mental, you know, preparation books. You know, I think throughout my journey in the NFL, I feel like mental like having being there and just being fully mentally involved is very important. And I feel like, you know, you're not if you don't have a good foundation of, you know, you think you need to rely on other people to help you feel some type of way. And then when that stops, how are you really feeling?

I think getting past that point in a career is very important. And once I got past that and I said, it's all about me. It's all about the way that I carry myself in. I can only be the one that's going to bring me up and I can bring me down.

Nobody else can be in my bubble and pop that because I'm solidifying where I am and the way I think. So, you know, come into that, you know, preparation is huge. So I think, you know, when I read my books, it's it's all about stuff like that. When I go, I start getting, you know, get dressed, look good, you know, headphones on. Usually this is my little secret.

I'm going to let everybody know. I usually don't listen to music when I have my headphones on. It's just me and my thoughts, not even thoughts.

I'm just clear minded, just controlling my breathing because I don't want to get too high. That's a wasted energy. So there's no music in your headsets.

They're just noise cancellation, noise cancellation. That's all you're wearing it for, for that purpose. OK, well, now I'm sorry, guys.

Did somebody ever come up to you at some point in early on in your career? Because I imagine now Jacksonville now knows and everybody in the Jaguars knows what your process is. And just kind of it's cool. Everybody knows like now it's like I just started doing this again like this this past year. But now everybody knows, like, you know, I go so as soon as I walk away games, as soon as I walk into the facility, my equipment staff like meets me at the door and like takes me to like a dark room because I like to be by myself.

I like to that's why I read, meditate, just get get myself refocused for the game. So he'll point to me, come on, Josh, we're going over here. This is your room, you know, so I'll be in there majority of time. I'll, you know, get ready, get tape. I walk the field one time.

I activate, and by that time, like no energy wasted, you know, I'm not not a big speech guy. I'm not a rah rah guy anymore because I feel like I'm wasting energy and I got to, you know, I'm trying to dominate this game, so I got to have all the energy that I can and, you know, and I bring y'all up when we making plays. And this is why you think your play keeps rising this past year, four different games with at least two and a half sacks in those games. The only other player in the history of the NFL since the sacks been recorded is Lawrence Taylor and you. That's the list.

Yeah, this is what you believe that all of everything you just said is what is leading to this production. Because I feel like, you know, I've played at a high level before, you know, so playing at a high level is not new to me because the high school first year playing defense. I broke the New Jersey State record in sacks for sure playing defense my senior year in college, went to University of Kentucky.

You weren't really nationally known at the University of Kentucky, but I had to build my way to that end up winning every Defensive Player of the Year award coming out of Kentucky and, you know, has 17 17 sacks. So it's like I've had I know what 17 feels like even though it's a different level. Yeah, I played at a very high level before. So right now it's like I don't know what my limit is, you know, so it's like what is my limit? If I keep doing the things that I'm doing now to take care of my body, mental family, like what is my limit? So that's why I know like I don't 17. Is that the highest? I had 22 in high school. Can I beat that? You know, so that's really the way I think.

That's why I don't really get into the the rankings, you know, what about the Defensive Player of the Year award stuff? You know, for me, like that's that's one of my goals, but I think, you know, if I can control what I can control, right, I can play at a very high level, which is you're sleeping and you're eating and your thought process and your environment is real is real. And now, you know, my family, I think really was like managing my family as well. Like, that's also another task that a lot of three kids, three dogs, three kids, three dogs, one hyphen, one hyphen. Yes, sir, that's it's a lot of it's a lot of work because I'm you know, I want to be the best dad ever, you know, and you know, I want to spend time with my kids and you know, I want to heck we we're out here and we're in the universe on Disney back to back days. Wow, by the way, I don't know what's tougher, that or the crucible of a National Football League season, Universal and Disney and back to back days.

And for those in the national audience right now, they're not next door to each other. No, not close. No. Got to go lightning pass, Josh. Right.

Lightning pass. This is a, you know, V.I.P. Yeah, good. I'm fortunate to afford it now and enjoy it. Yes. And well, I mean, congrats on the new contract, which is well deserved. And also, apparently, if you're flying around, I.V.

people and in hyperbolic chambers necessary. I got that from LeBron. Like that's when LeBron said, you know, I was reading something. He didn't say it, but I read something. And, you know, the amount of money that he invested through his body is it's essential. And for me, it was like, oh, he's doing that.

And look at look what he's getting from it. So it's like if I can invest a little bit more than I've ever done, what can I get back from that? So it's like I invested, you know, let's just put a number out there. I invested, you know, one hundred thousand dollars in recovery last year. I just got one hundred and forty back. So are you willing am I willing to invest that that that some to maximize off the value that I really can get?

So it's like hyperbaric. That was that was an investment. So I'd use for the rest of my life.

That was a good chunk of change. You know, but I know if I get it, it's going to help me maximize my value that I can bring and I can make more from that later. So so what do you what's the expectation level for the Jaguars this year? Your suggestion, Josh, to the fans?

Yeah. You know, for me, you know, for me, you know, my level is is to bring I want to like last year, I want to be the best player on the field at all times. I did that last year and I feel like I didn't get anything from that.

I got paid, which is which is which is a blessing. But, you know, for the goals that I wanted to achieve, I wanted to be first and sacks. I didn't do it. I wanted to be defense play the year.

I didn't do it. I wanted to be first team on pro away and get it. So it's like I did all that for no reason, you know, not in a sense. OK, so it's like, you know, I'm hungry to to to to get that. And but it's also now I'm past that part and I'm past. OK, if I could play at this high level, but also bring this guy, this guy, this guy more than what I normally do and like raise these guys to my level. You know, I'm new. I'm always out there early.

I'm always out there late getting free work, extra work. And I always brought younger guys with me. Now I'm bringing if I bring all these guys up and we could become the best defensive line in the National Football League. Those are the guys that win the Super Bowls. Those are the guys that dictate games and I want to be a part of the best defensive line in the National Football League. And when you look at the best defensive line, you look at the best player on that defensive line. And, you know, I want to I want to be that guy.

What do you say to people who think Trevor Lawrence didn't deserve the contract he got? I mean, first and foremost, it's it's you know, it's the market. So it's like you have to you have to read the market.

And I know people may people probably say that about me. You know what I mean? Like it's the market. That's the way the market goes and it's only going to go up, you know? So and the people who don't who say that he's done deserve, I don't think, you know, people really like the fans don't really understand the market. The market is the market.

You can't. But you also see him as a teammate, what he does, right? I love Trevor. I love Trevor on it. I love Trevor. He's a guy that when he got drafted, who kept it consistent, like who the first one in the building and last one to leave as well.

You know, and when we were up the same way, we were down the same way. So I know I know his time is going to come to where he takes that elite role. And I'm very excited for that because we we all have his back. You know, as much as I want to be the best, I want him to be the best. And I think he is going to be the best. And, you know, we need we need a couple alphas on the team and he's an alpha.

He's a guy that's, you know, it's going to take over. Can I keep you to the end of the hour? Can I keep this man for a couple more minutes?

I'm going to do that. Let's take a break. Josh Heinz Allen right here on The Rich Eisen Show from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Don't go anywhere. He's going to finish the hour and then hour number two with Dave McMenamin talking about LeBron coming up. All right, back here on The Rich Eisen Show, you know, we're breaking news right here. The Buffalo Bills quarterback, Josh Allen, has just changed his name.

This just in. What if he did that? What if he just changed his name to Josh Patrick Allen? That's his middle name. Is that right, John? Yeah, it could be that.

We could go by all three names. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know. Must have been thinking about it for a minute. Maybe he's just sitting there going, wait a minute. I was saying, you know, you've had more success.

You're 2-0 against him, right? He should be changing his name. I mean, there's a hierarchy of names. If someone has the same name as you and you're more successful, they got to change your name. It's like from office space.

Why should I change my name? He's the one who sucks. You know what I mean? Well, that's a little strong. I'm just quoting the movie. You've got to be careful because they do play each other in week three of the National Football League season.

You're not worried about that? No, but I respect all of them. I respect the game. All right, Jaguars win-loss. Let's go.

Okay, very good. 17-0, baby. Yeah. So what rides did you go on? Are you a roller coaster guy? I'm not a roller coaster guy. Neither am I. I'm beginning headaches, man.

The motion. Oh, no way. We can't have that.

I can't, no. But, you know, I got my daughter. So my son, my middle son, just reached the mark where he can, like, he's at that 40. Oh, he's tall enough to ride the rides now.

But not all of them. Not all of them, but he can ride a lot more. And so, you know, once in a while, my nanny, I let my nanny, my wife get on the rides with him. And, like, he's a big daddy's boy, so I got to get on a ride with him. But my daughter, I stay back with my daughter. You know, especially when it gets too hot, I just stay back. I'll be with my daughter.

That's right, yeah, because you're a girl dad. Let everyone else go on the roller coasters. Not you, that's right.

But I'm right now. I think I'm at the point now is like, you know, as long as everybody's enjoying themselves and, you know, that's good. Well, we, you know, I'm out here to do this, but my whole family's here. So training kids about to start.

We don't want to be two weeks or two weeks from what our kids was like. Yeah. Bring them out here.

Let them entertain the grandparents out here. Yeah, right. And so you're going to go to Universal. You're going to go to we did all that Disney. Yeah. OK, so what Joshua Heinz Allen, our radio and it's just rejoined. So what ride have you now been forced to go on that you normally wouldn't go on now that your son is like, Dad, I'm tall enough to ride the ride.

What if you got it out? He's not that tall to ride those rides. OK, my son, my oldest, that's going to happen. This doesn't like him. Oh, which is good for you because you don't like him either. But then my and my second one is like a he's like a daredevil, like he'll try it out and he'll want to experience.

So I'll suck up and like, you know, and do it with him. My eyes would be closed like this. Because you don't like because you don't like the motion.

The stomach dropping. You don't like that. We did. We did the we do the Guardian, the Guardian of the Galaxy drop. OK. And that wasn't too bad. You know, I could do that.

It's the motion and the whoopsie loops and all. Well, what's your middle son's name? What's your Julian? Well, Julian's going to get old, tall enough. And at some point, you know, again, if you not to get I'm not to get aggressive here, because again, you know, you're you're a sack king.

If you come at the king of the best that ever sign, you best not mess. OK, so I'm just saying. So when Julian says, Dad, you know, we're going on what, Space Mountain or something like that. You got to go on Space Mountain. And I'm going to say, OK, OK, OK.

Wait in line. And that's what your daughter writes. What's your daughter's name? Vanessa. That's when you need Vanessa.

Last second. Go to daddy. Yeah. Stay. Yeah. Then you'll have to go to June. Sorry. But I can't.

But I'm really big, so I can't really fit on a lot of rides. Yes. Yes. That kind of like, oh, sorry. So what are you going to do? My mom will go with you.

But it's funny. So we talked about the mental aspect of what I do, right? I even I got my kids, so I got my kids on that. So I asked my kids, I'm gonna get a video, I'm gonna post it.

OK. I asked my kids, what does daddy do for a living? Sack quarterbacks.

What are you going to do for a living? Sack quarterbacks. This is them.

Sack quarterbacks. Yeah. And so I just so I can get in my mind, this is what I do.

You know what I mean? And I got them rushing my moves. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it.

I'm posting on social media here in a couple of days and just I got them. Yeah, I got the spins. They're doing. They're not that they cross chop.

They cross chop. My oldest can do it with his eyes closed. My my youngest has gotten a lot better. I know he's going to pick them up things a lot quicker.

Yes. Oh, he's they're going to be I'm gonna get them right. My my kids talk a good game. You know, they talk. Yeah, that's what that's what my wife and I are teaching them right now. Talking good.

Rich, the feeling that Josh gets from these roller coasters. That's the same feeling every quarterback has. Yeah, that's true.

On Sunday, they're probably closing their eyes also. You know, Smith Smith last year was coming at him from the OS. You want that?

Yes. So in the last minute and a half, what do you tell Jaguars fans right now about what to expect for the season? You know, expect expect great things.

Where's the camera? Great things from us. Our expectations are to win the win now to win late and the win the win in January.

Taking nothing less. First, it starts with our division. Got to win a talented division, but we got the pieces to get it done.

Get to the playoffs. We'll get it done. We're going to best defensive line.

I'm holding myself accountable and I'm holding all my other guys accountable and we're going to be lights out. Love you Duval. Boom. September, come out here and support your boy.

Joshua Heinz Allen wants to know where his camera is. That's right. I like that. I like it. Yeah, because obviously things did not finish up the way you wanted to last year. And I imagine that doesn't sit very well with you. No.

As you sit here right now. No. Do you think about stuff like that?

Was it just the negative thoughts you try to get out of your mindset? You know, it's a more fuel, you know, more fuel to the more fuel to the team aspect fire. You know, I have my individual fuel that keeps me, it keeps me going. And I have what, you know, the value that I can bring to this team. And I know my value and I know what I mean to my team.

And that also puts in a huge part of when I'm not going to let that happen again. Well, Joshua Heinz Allen, it is a pleasure to have you here for the first time. You know where we are. Don't lose our number. Thank you for coming on the program. Thank you for having me.

And if you're in the area in September, jersey swap, folks, jersey swap. Or fly out. And in the minute plus we have left, you know, when you mentioned what a talented division, clearly the whole CJ Stroud mania is going on right now. You can personally try to put a stop to it, right?

I will. Yeah. I mean, look at it. You know, I've played against, I play against them boys all the time. It's not even, you know, for me, you know, it's not against me or CJ or it's me against their offensive line. You know, he has a talented offensive line. Lerman Thompson is one of the best tackles in the National Football League.

And that's a battle that I look forward to every year. Other side, Tyers Howard, who's also another, you know, versatile tackle over there. And then CJ is a guy that can deliver the ball anywhere. So, you know, as a defensive line, we have to take over. And for me, when he got drafted, I thought, you know, my whole mindset was the best defensive line is going to win this game.

Two talented quarterbacks on both sides, two talented offenses on both sides of the ball. The defensive line is going to win this game. And, you know, you look at the first matchup we played them, their defensive line had it. You know, I had a little, I was playing with really one arm. You know, I had a, you know, A.C., you know, a grade two A.C. sprain I played on. So, they couldn't get my best.

Got them a couple of times, though. And then you look at the next time we played them. The best player on the field affected that game. And that best player? Was me. I just want to confirm that. Joshua Heinz Allen right here on the Rich Eisen Show, Duval County's finest by way of New Jersey and Kentucky right here on the Rich Eisen Show. It was a lot of joy because I kept waiting to see how it was going to keep going and then how they would somehow settle it.