WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:16.930 Sam Acho: Welcome to the Sam Acho podcast, featuring Cliff 00:00:17.210 --> 00:00:18.850 Marshall, also known as CliffNotes. 00:00:19.200 --> 00:00:23.570 This is the place where we go first, we give space and we grow hope. 00:00:23.570 --> 00:00:27.130 We talk about faith, family, football, and finance. 00:00:27.310 --> 00:00:31.490 And so we're so excited, uh, once again to have a very, very special 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:32.410 guest. 00:00:34.495 --> 00:00:34.855 Clif Marshall: Absolutely. 00:00:34.995 --> 00:00:39.255 Sam, I wanna introduce to, uh, everyone out there listening, Eric Wood. 00:00:39.915 --> 00:00:43.215 Uh, Eric is a former professional football player who was a 00:00:43.215 --> 00:00:44.575 center for the Buffalo Bills. 00:00:45.370 --> 00:00:46.670 The National Football League. 00:00:47.210 --> 00:00:50.990 He played his college football for the Louisville Cardinals and was selected 00:00:51.050 --> 00:00:56.740 in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft with the 28th overall pick. 00:00:57.750 --> 00:01:02.200 Eric played nine seasons in the NFL, including a Pro Bowl appearance before 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:05.400 retiring in 2017 due to a neck injury. 00:01:05.970 --> 00:01:10.640 Since 2019, he's been the color commentator and analyst for the 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:11.880 Buffalo Bills radio network. 00:01:12.510 --> 00:01:16.800 Eric is a Christ follower, a husband, and a dad who currently 00:01:16.910 --> 00:01:18.560 resides in Louisville, Kentucky. 00:01:19.770 --> 00:01:20.120 Ewood. 00:01:20.130 --> 00:01:22.000 Thank you so much for being on our podcast. 00:01:22.715 --> 00:01:23.605 Eric Wood: It's an honor to be on. 00:01:23.625 --> 00:01:24.605 I'm a fan of this podcast. 00:01:24.835 --> 00:01:28.085 I've reached out to you guys before giving you some feedback and some, 00:01:28.305 --> 00:01:31.685 uh, positive encouragement after episodes that you've had in the past. 00:01:31.685 --> 00:01:32.845 So it's an honor to be on with you guys. 00:01:32.845 --> 00:01:33.285 Love you both. 00:01:35.215 --> 00:01:38.455 Clif Marshall: Absolutely, Eric and I wanna say, um, we have known each 00:01:38.455 --> 00:01:42.055 other, I guess since 2002, 2003. 00:01:42.915 --> 00:01:44.375 Uh, I knew you when you were as. 00:01:44.720 --> 00:01:48.325 Senior in high school, I was a strength and conditioning coach with the 00:01:48.325 --> 00:01:51.965 Louisville Cardinal football team, and we began recruiting you outta 00:01:51.965 --> 00:01:57.125 Cincinnati Elder, um, Jeff Brom, who's the head coach now at the University 00:01:57.125 --> 00:01:59.725 of Louisville, who's a great friend of mine who was actually in my wedding. 00:02:00.425 --> 00:02:03.525 Um, he's done many great things over the course of his coaching 00:02:03.525 --> 00:02:07.565 career at Western Kentucky, at Purdue, and now again at Louisville. 00:02:08.505 --> 00:02:10.565 But I say his greatest feat ever. 00:02:11.295 --> 00:02:16.675 Was finding the diamond in the rough Eric Wood, because you didn't have a 00:02:16.755 --> 00:02:18.395 ton of offers right outta high school. 00:02:18.455 --> 00:02:22.715 So walk me through that process of kind of how you chose to be a Louisville Cardinal. 00:02:23.150 --> 00:02:26.240 Eric Wood: Yeah, it was, it was easy because I only had one scholarship offer, 00:02:26.340 --> 00:02:29.280 so it became a very easy decision for me. 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:32.960 And you know, you, you mentioned it, Jeff Brom had, was recruiting 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:35.200 other guys from a high school, elder high school in Cincinnati. 00:02:35.260 --> 00:02:36.720 We had a bunch of division one talent. 00:02:37.735 --> 00:02:41.335 I was a tight end my junior year, switched to offensive line my senior year, and I 00:02:41.335 --> 00:02:43.255 wasn't really on the recruiting radar. 00:02:43.815 --> 00:02:46.495 I started gaining some interest my senior year, and then Jeff Brom 00:02:46.495 --> 00:02:49.775 offered me my first scholarship offer actually after a basketball game 00:02:49.775 --> 00:02:51.135 became and watching me play basketball. 00:02:51.195 --> 00:02:52.455 And so to me, I. 00:02:53.220 --> 00:02:54.900 I mean, there was a lot of positivity around that 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:56.060 Louisville program at the time. 00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:58.020 They had a good 2003 season. 00:02:58.110 --> 00:03:01.540 Brian Braum was the US USA Today player of the year. 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:02.940 He was coming in to play quarterback. 00:03:02.940 --> 00:03:04.580 They had some other nice recruits coming in. 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:08.420 And so I'd love to say, you know, I saw the foresight and I saw maybe 00:03:08.420 --> 00:03:12.580 early playing time or how good our offenses and teams would be, but. 00:03:13.190 --> 00:03:16.550 You know, God, God, God made it a very easy decision for me. 00:03:16.550 --> 00:03:18.390 And look, I can get decision fatigue in life. 00:03:18.690 --> 00:03:22.630 And so for me it was a very easy decision and ended up being an incredible one 00:03:22.630 --> 00:03:23.910 to go join the Louisville Cardinals. 00:03:24.965 --> 00:03:29.175 Sam Acho: Eric, what do you remember most about your time at Louisville and why 00:03:29.175 --> 00:03:30.495 did you decide to call that place home? 00:03:31.545 --> 00:03:31.835 Eric Wood: Yeah. 00:03:32.435 --> 00:03:36.315 Honestly, from the day that I got to Louisville, this city just embraced me. 00:03:36.315 --> 00:03:39.635 Whether it was Tom J, the athletic director at the time, the coaching 00:03:39.635 --> 00:03:42.675 staff, people around the community, I had a great group of friends that 00:03:42.695 --> 00:03:46.235 didn't play football, met him through our long snapper at the time, who 00:03:46.255 --> 00:03:47.755 was from Louisville, so I got to be. 00:03:48.275 --> 00:03:50.005 Good buddies with him and a lot of his friends. 00:03:50.005 --> 00:03:53.965 So I had a, a friend base outside of the football program that's actually the group 00:03:53.965 --> 00:03:58.045 of friends that I met my wife through my college girlfriend, who's now my wife. 00:03:58.105 --> 00:04:01.805 So got to meet her through that, that kind of friend group that I still 00:04:01.805 --> 00:04:03.125 remain friends with to this day. 00:04:03.185 --> 00:04:06.405 And so, to me, you know, I'm from the west side of Cincinnati. 00:04:06.455 --> 00:04:09.965 Where we live in Louisville is, is a little bit different from where 00:04:10.005 --> 00:04:13.965 I grew up, grew up and, um, and, and look, when I got to the NFL. 00:04:14.915 --> 00:04:18.795 I asked some people, uh, Jason Spitz included, who Cliff coached as well at 00:04:18.795 --> 00:04:20.195 Louisville, played a long time in the NFL. 00:04:20.235 --> 00:04:22.155 I said, what gets guys outta the NFL the fastest? 00:04:22.335 --> 00:04:24.595 He said, you forget what got you to the NFL. 00:04:24.975 --> 00:04:27.795 So, in the off season, I would go back to Louisville and train with the college 00:04:27.795 --> 00:04:30.875 guys at least a couple days a week, maybe, you know, if I had, you know, 00:04:31.145 --> 00:04:33.195 certain areas I wanted to improve on. 00:04:33.885 --> 00:04:36.765 I, I'd go see, you know, a one-on-one trainer for those, but 00:04:36.765 --> 00:04:39.765 at least twice a week throughout my entire career, I would go back and 00:04:39.765 --> 00:04:40.965 train with Louisville Cardinals. 00:04:41.205 --> 00:04:44.325 I always say it kept me young, you know, my wife, someone would come 00:04:44.325 --> 00:04:46.805 on the radio and I'd be singing along to like a newer hip hop song. 00:04:46.805 --> 00:04:47.765 She's like, how do you even know this? 00:04:47.865 --> 00:04:49.525 I'm like, because I train with the college guys. 00:04:49.525 --> 00:04:50.405 They keep me young. 00:04:50.905 --> 00:04:53.645 And, and for me it also allowed me to build relationships with 00:04:53.645 --> 00:04:55.405 guys, to be able to mentor to guys. 00:04:55.465 --> 00:04:57.045 And, you know, I mentioned Jason Spitz. 00:04:57.045 --> 00:05:00.365 Well, I got to be that for so many guys at Louisville because of it. 00:05:00.365 --> 00:05:00.685 And so. 00:05:01.375 --> 00:05:02.195 We love Louisville. 00:05:02.315 --> 00:05:04.755 I, I didn't know I was gonna be calling games on the radio for the bills. 00:05:05.055 --> 00:05:07.555 Uh, when my career ended, we sold our house pretty quickly up there 00:05:07.555 --> 00:05:08.555 and moved back to Louisville. 00:05:08.575 --> 00:05:12.675 So, uh, commuting for work nowadays isn't super convenient because I'm going 00:05:12.675 --> 00:05:15.995 to home and away games for the bills, and we live in Louisville, but this 00:05:15.995 --> 00:05:17.235 is home for us and we love it here. 00:05:19.255 --> 00:05:22.225 Clif Marshall: Well, part of living in Louisville, Kentucky, Eric, is you get 00:05:22.225 --> 00:05:23.945 to be a part of the Kentucky Derby. 00:05:23.965 --> 00:05:27.865 So talk to me about that, and how many consecutive Kentucky der have you been to? 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:31.080 Eric Wood: I'd say probably 15 or 16. 00:05:31.280 --> 00:05:34.600 I mean, we went in college, but I wouldn't even really call that going to the derby. 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:36.840 We, you know, I don't even know if I ever even placed a 00:05:36.840 --> 00:05:38.880 bet on a horse in college now. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:40.640 I didn't know anything about horse racing at the time. 00:05:41.390 --> 00:05:42.110 I didn't have any money. 00:05:42.650 --> 00:05:48.270 And you know, we're out in the infield with, you know, the masses, I'll say. 00:05:48.370 --> 00:05:51.910 So waiting in line to place a bet, you can't do it on your phone nowadays. 00:05:51.910 --> 00:05:53.670 Like, uh, you can now back then. 00:05:53.730 --> 00:05:57.190 And so, uh, the Kentucky Derby special though, you know, we love bringing people 00:05:57.250 --> 00:06:01.110 to Louisville, showing off the city, uh, what they've done with Churchill Downs. 00:06:01.110 --> 00:06:03.990 Uh, bill Mud, the president of Churchill Downs Inc's a good friend of ours and. 00:06:04.610 --> 00:06:07.710 So what they've done at Churchill has been incredible. 00:06:07.780 --> 00:06:09.070 It's an incredible experience. 00:06:09.110 --> 00:06:11.190 I always say it's the best sporting event to bring your wife to 00:06:11.190 --> 00:06:13.910 because there's no competing team. 00:06:14.050 --> 00:06:16.950 So it's not like walking into a football game where if you're 00:06:16.950 --> 00:06:18.870 wearing Steelers, you know. 00:06:20.285 --> 00:06:23.305 If you're a Steelers fan, you're wearing a jersey and you're in Cincinnati, 00:06:23.415 --> 00:06:26.545 someone's gonna cuss at, you know, you're just complimenting outfits. 00:06:26.545 --> 00:06:28.385 Hey, who you, who you like on this next race? 00:06:28.385 --> 00:06:31.185 You're, you're all there to, you know, place a few bets, 00:06:31.185 --> 00:06:32.425 have fun, connect with people. 00:06:32.805 --> 00:06:36.025 The wives like to show off with the hats and the dresses, do the red carpet. 00:06:36.245 --> 00:06:39.945 And so it's fun for us to bring other couples in each year for it. 00:06:39.945 --> 00:06:44.425 And, uh, each year gets more fun than the, than the last, in my opinion. 00:06:45.405 --> 00:06:46.145 Sam Acho: That's so good. 00:06:47.295 --> 00:06:53.785 Eric, you were a first round pick and an NFL Pro bowler Cliff mentioned 00:06:53.785 --> 00:06:57.625 about some of the opportunities of only having one college offer. 00:06:58.905 --> 00:07:01.675 When did you know you could play at the highest level? 00:07:02.325 --> 00:07:03.205 Eric Wood: Yeah, that's a great question. 00:07:03.305 --> 00:07:03.525 So. 00:07:04.995 --> 00:07:08.005 I'll say this, you know, I, I, I used to run a podcast called 00:07:08.005 --> 00:07:09.005 What's Next with Eric Wood. 00:07:09.005 --> 00:07:11.645 When my career ended, I was trying to figure out what's next for me. 00:07:11.785 --> 00:07:15.725 And so people from a variety, interest, uh, industries, we did over 200 00:07:15.725 --> 00:07:18.485 episodes and I got to pick people's brains that are just successful, 00:07:18.865 --> 00:07:20.525 uh, in life, people that I admired. 00:07:20.525 --> 00:07:22.285 And that doesn't necessarily mean financial success. 00:07:22.385 --> 00:07:25.845 Uh uh, that doesn't mean financial success necessarily. 00:07:26.045 --> 00:07:27.885 A lot of times it comes with it, but it's. 00:07:28.495 --> 00:07:33.540 Everybody from pastors, the big time businessmen, uh, and women to NFL owners, 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:37.300 to coaches, to players, whoever it may be, guys I looked up to and I just wanted to 00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:39.180 learn from, and it stood out to me that. 00:07:40.005 --> 00:07:43.970 Someone at some point gave them the confidence to either take that 00:07:43.970 --> 00:07:47.130 risk to go all in, that gave them the confidence to say, Hey, I can, 00:07:47.290 --> 00:07:50.090 I belong in this room that I, that I deserve to be in this position. 00:07:50.190 --> 00:07:50.570 For me. 00:07:50.570 --> 00:07:55.130 That moment came, I made the freshman All American team, um, my red 00:07:55.130 --> 00:07:56.650 shirt freshman year playing center. 00:07:56.710 --> 00:08:00.610 And look, I mean, I played between two guards that played in the NFL. 00:08:00.610 --> 00:08:00.970 We had a. 00:08:01.460 --> 00:08:02.560 All American quarterback. 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:06.640 I, I di I, I was just a freshman in that role at center. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:08.800 You know, maybe I deserved it, maybe I didn't. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:12.120 We had a really good offense, but I got that award and we got a note 00:08:12.140 --> 00:08:15.760 in the mail that came with the award and it gave the breakdown of. 00:08:16.975 --> 00:08:20.135 X amount of percentage of guys that are first team freshmen, all American 00:08:20.395 --> 00:08:23.615 end up being a first round draft, pick a second round draft pick, 00:08:23.615 --> 00:08:25.295 playing this many years in the NFL. 00:08:25.715 --> 00:08:30.495 And I framed that, you know, that was, you know, I was 18, 19 years old and I framed 00:08:30.495 --> 00:08:32.415 it at the time 'cause I wanted to keep it. 00:08:32.455 --> 00:08:33.215 I wanted to save it. 00:08:33.315 --> 00:08:37.215 And to me that put confidence in me to say, Hey, I can go all in. 00:08:37.275 --> 00:08:39.495 You know, I came to the University of Louisville with one goal 00:08:39.675 --> 00:08:41.615 and make sure they got a good return on their investment. 00:08:41.615 --> 00:08:44.935 Whether that was me, you know, practicing hard, working outta the weight room hard. 00:08:45.650 --> 00:08:48.350 Or if that was gonna be a star in the field, I wasn't sure, but I was 00:08:48.350 --> 00:08:51.670 gonna go in there and work my tail off because that was my only opportunity. 00:08:51.730 --> 00:08:54.990 And I know you weren't, at the time, you weren't getting cut in college, like you 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:57.150 kind of can now with the NIL and all that. 00:08:57.610 --> 00:09:00.910 But at the time, you know, I was just trying to, to, to 00:09:00.910 --> 00:09:02.230 find a role within the team. 00:09:02.450 --> 00:09:06.590 And so that note that I got from rivals.com, 00:09:06.710 --> 00:09:06.950 I guess. 00:09:07.935 --> 00:09:11.355 It gave me the confidence to say, oh, I got a shot in this league and 00:09:11.375 --> 00:09:14.835 if I go all in, I might one day be able to be a first round draft pick. 00:09:14.835 --> 00:09:18.075 That year, Nick Manel got drafted in the first round as a center and I thought. 00:09:18.845 --> 00:09:21.055 Okay, there's only gonna be one potentially. 00:09:21.075 --> 00:09:23.895 Now, my year there was two, me and Alex Mack, but there might 00:09:23.895 --> 00:09:26.695 only be one because there was only one that year in the first round. 00:09:26.755 --> 00:09:27.855 And that became my goal. 00:09:27.935 --> 00:09:29.095 I became obsessed with it. 00:09:29.435 --> 00:09:33.775 Um, and, and it really drove me to say, okay, I can, I can go out and 00:09:33.775 --> 00:09:38.535 change the trajectory of, of my family, maybe financially just by 00:09:38.745 --> 00:09:40.015 going out and putting in the work. 00:09:40.035 --> 00:09:44.455 And it, it, and it drove me to, uh, to really go out and attack each 00:09:44.455 --> 00:09:45.855 and every day to go try and be. 00:09:46.475 --> 00:09:48.680 That first round draft pick that NFL football player. 00:09:50.705 --> 00:09:53.905 Clif Marshall: That's great, Eric, you had a heck of a career with the Buffalo Bills. 00:09:54.725 --> 00:09:59.955 Um, then you transition into, you know, your role now working with the bills, 00:10:00.335 --> 00:10:05.315 um, and, and doing media, but you're also a husband and you're also a father. 00:10:05.905 --> 00:10:08.435 Talk to me about how you manage work-life balance. 00:10:09.210 --> 00:10:09.500 Eric Wood: Yeah. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:10.100 That's interesting. 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:13.580 And that's something I ask many people that, that I've met throughout time. 00:10:14.105 --> 00:10:19.075 Kind of the common denominator that I've gotten advice on is, look, there's 00:10:19.075 --> 00:10:21.195 gonna be different seasons of life. 00:10:21.335 --> 00:10:24.795 You know, the fall for me is a lot busier work-wise than the off season is. 00:10:24.895 --> 00:10:27.475 But wherever you're at, be all in there. 00:10:27.545 --> 00:10:29.675 Whether it's with your family, be all in with them. 00:10:29.675 --> 00:10:31.755 If you're at work, be all in there. 00:10:32.355 --> 00:10:37.435 'cause it's never, it's not likely gonna be a perfect 50 50 balance, or 00:10:37.935 --> 00:10:40.275 I'm gonna be, you know, 80 20 at home. 00:10:40.355 --> 00:10:42.595 I, I don't know how that looks based upon the season of life 00:10:42.595 --> 00:10:43.515 that we're in or the season. 00:10:44.450 --> 00:10:48.310 Of the year that we're in, that, that determines what that work looks like. 00:10:48.530 --> 00:10:51.830 But, you know, when I'm home, you know, am I taking the kids to school? 00:10:52.730 --> 00:10:53.030 You know? 00:10:53.250 --> 00:10:53.470 Yes. 00:10:53.770 --> 00:10:55.750 Can I, if I, if I'm able to, yes. 00:10:55.870 --> 00:10:56.750 I wanna be able to do that. 00:10:56.770 --> 00:10:58.870 And so, you know, obviously it. 00:10:59.735 --> 00:11:03.595 I'm, I'm blessed to just have a completely supportive wife that when I 00:11:03.595 --> 00:11:07.795 get outta the NFL, she goes and lets me chase my next dream in broadcast again. 00:11:07.935 --> 00:11:12.355 You know, she understands it's good for my soul to be around the Bills organization 00:11:12.535 --> 00:11:14.035 and to go travel and call games. 00:11:14.055 --> 00:11:17.435 Now I try and bring them along with me as much as I can, and school and sports. 00:11:17.545 --> 00:11:21.635 It's getting more and more in the way of that now than it was maybe a few years ago 00:11:21.635 --> 00:11:24.795 when we'd look at the off season or the schedule for the bills that year and say. 00:11:25.250 --> 00:11:27.700 What are the best away trips that we can bring the family to? 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:29.020 Where could we sneak into vacation? 00:11:29.020 --> 00:11:30.460 That's getting harder and harder to do. 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:35.700 But you know, my wife is so supportive and you know, she never makes me feel guilty. 00:11:35.870 --> 00:11:39.740 Those times where, you know, we got a long road trip and then I gotta stay 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.780 and do an appearance for the bills. 00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:41.980 I never catch any grief. 00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:45.580 But then that also makes me want to go all in on the back end when 00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:48.700 I come back home because I'm not catching grief in those moments. 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:49.060 So. 00:11:49.800 --> 00:11:53.940 You know, I know that's a, you know, kind of a long-winded answer to say, my advice 00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:58.860 would be wherever you're at, be all in and, and then just understand, you know, 00:11:59.010 --> 00:12:02.300 when you, when you feel that angst, maybe you've been gone too long, maybe the Holy 00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:07.350 Spirit's trying to tell you something that, you know, as you continue to learn 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:09.390 those seasons and those rhythms, maybe. 00:12:09.390 --> 00:12:09.630 Okay. 00:12:09.850 --> 00:12:13.470 As we schedule out the next one, we try and figure out something where 00:12:13.520 --> 00:12:15.390 maybe I'm not gone as long because. 00:12:16.215 --> 00:12:19.985 I'll tell you this, I, I, I, I rarely ever get angst that I'm not working enough. 00:12:20.185 --> 00:12:23.305 I, I generally get the angst like, man, I, I'm not pouring into 00:12:23.305 --> 00:12:24.425 the family enough at this time. 00:12:24.475 --> 00:12:24.695 Clif Marshall: Hmm. 00:12:25.555 --> 00:12:27.195 Sam Acho: Hmm, Eric dig. 00:12:27.205 --> 00:12:28.675 Let's dig deeper there for a second. 00:12:29.905 --> 00:12:33.835 You played at a high level, you succeeded at a high level. 00:12:34.255 --> 00:12:39.715 You are in broadcasting media at a high level, but you talked about this angst as 00:12:39.715 --> 00:12:42.355 far as feeling like, man, family matters. 00:12:43.335 --> 00:12:44.205 Where is that from? 00:12:47.505 --> 00:12:50.785 Eric Wood: Honestly, it probably comes from coming from a divorced 00:12:50.785 --> 00:12:55.145 household to where, you know, just deep down, you just think like, 00:12:55.365 --> 00:12:56.745 man, I don't ever wanna ruin this. 00:12:56.865 --> 00:12:57.585 I don't ever want to. 00:12:58.300 --> 00:13:02.000 See my kids 50% of the time, and I don't ever want to get to that spot 00:13:02.140 --> 00:13:06.560 to be where my parents were, where you only get custody of the kids so often. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:10.960 And, and I would imagine that's where it stems from, uh, just, just being 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:12.520 completely honest and, and just. 00:13:13.910 --> 00:13:18.570 If I'm telling you my values and, and where I say I'm prioritizing my life 00:13:18.630 --> 00:13:23.690 and that would be my faith, then my family, and then football is my job. 00:13:23.910 --> 00:13:28.010 And so, you know, it kind of goes back to the faith, family, football, finances, um, 00:13:28.430 --> 00:13:31.450 and then I know it doesn't begin with an F but I always say philanthropy as well, 00:13:31.910 --> 00:13:36.170 but, but it's like, okay, if that's what I'm gonna say, I'm about in that order. 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:41.010 When it doesn't become that order, I know deep down that's when the 00:13:41.010 --> 00:13:42.050 Holy Spirit starts tugging on me. 00:13:43.645 --> 00:13:43.725 Clif Marshall: Hmm. 00:13:45.575 --> 00:13:45.925 Great. 00:13:46.065 --> 00:13:48.205 Uh, great wisdom, Eric, right there. 00:13:48.325 --> 00:13:52.125 I do want to transition and talk a little bit of football because we have 00:13:52.185 --> 00:13:56.925 you, and obviously we have Sam, both experts, both in the media, right. 00:13:57.545 --> 00:14:00.245 And both study the game like no one I know. 00:14:00.545 --> 00:14:04.525 So I want to ask you, what is your prediction first on the Buffalo Bills, 00:14:05.065 --> 00:14:08.445 and then secondly, what is your prediction on the Louisville Cardinals this year? 00:14:08.850 --> 00:14:10.375 Eric Wood: Well, I'll start with the Louisville Cardinals. 00:14:10.405 --> 00:14:13.655 It's harder and harder these days to stay up with these college programs. 00:14:13.875 --> 00:14:15.855 Sam, I see you on college football live all the time. 00:14:15.895 --> 00:14:18.455 I don't know how much prep work you gotta do for those, but this 00:14:18.455 --> 00:14:22.695 is not like when I first got to ESPN, that was pre transfers in NIL. 00:14:23.130 --> 00:14:24.710 And you kind of knew the rosters. 00:14:24.730 --> 00:14:25.870 Hey, here's who's coming back. 00:14:25.870 --> 00:14:26.870 Here's who the studs were. 00:14:27.020 --> 00:14:29.150 Well now, okay, where's this guy even at now? 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:32.470 Okay, I recognize that name or, and so college football's 00:14:32.470 --> 00:14:33.150 getting harder and harder. 00:14:33.350 --> 00:14:36.470 I have full confidence in Jeff Brom, and they've adapted so 00:14:36.470 --> 00:14:38.350 well to this transfer NIL era. 00:14:39.130 --> 00:14:42.310 To where, you know, they're going out and a majority of who they're 00:14:42.350 --> 00:14:45.750 bringing in or transfers that they, that they're working on, you know, 00:14:45.750 --> 00:14:49.990 throughout the year to bring those guys in to fundraise to get those guys in. 00:14:50.050 --> 00:14:52.310 So I got a lot of confidence in my Louis Cardinals. 00:14:52.310 --> 00:14:55.710 They got a fairly, uh, favorable schedule this year as well. 00:14:56.130 --> 00:14:57.470 Uh, prediction for them. 00:14:59.215 --> 00:15:05.305 I'll say, uh, 10 and two and probably likely, uh, just missing the playoffs 00:15:05.395 --> 00:15:06.865 based upon strength discussion. 00:15:06.865 --> 00:15:07.705 So that would be my guess. 00:15:07.825 --> 00:15:10.065 I, I hope somehow they can sneak in there. 00:15:10.365 --> 00:15:12.465 Uh, they got Miller Moss at quarterback this year. 00:15:12.465 --> 00:15:13.505 The transfer from USC. 00:15:14.065 --> 00:15:16.685 I'm not gonna lie, I haven't seen him play a ton, but I did see him 00:15:16.685 --> 00:15:19.805 torch my Cardinals in the bowl game a couple years ago, and it's not 00:15:19.805 --> 00:15:23.765 surprising that Jeff went out and, and tried to go get that dude this year. 00:15:23.825 --> 00:15:28.325 As far as the Buffalo Bills goes, they've been so close these last four 00:15:28.325 --> 00:15:31.445 or five years, just barely can't get over the hump at the end, whether 00:15:31.445 --> 00:15:34.645 it's been the Chiefs or they've got knocked out by the Bengals one time, 00:15:35.145 --> 00:15:37.245 uh, in the a FC divisional round. 00:15:38.695 --> 00:15:41.225 Part of it's staying healthy throughout the season, especially on 00:15:41.225 --> 00:15:42.305 the defensive side of the football. 00:15:42.305 --> 00:15:44.025 They've been dinged up on defense in the playoffs. 00:15:44.025 --> 00:15:45.025 So can they stay healthy? 00:15:45.525 --> 00:15:48.105 Can they put pressure on the opposing team's, quarterbacks in the 00:15:48.305 --> 00:15:49.905 playoffs without bringing a blitz? 00:15:49.905 --> 00:15:54.065 That's been their Achilles heel, and so to me, they bring in Bosa this off season. 00:15:54.065 --> 00:15:56.785 They bring in Michael Hoyt, they sign Larry Ogen Joby. 00:15:56.975 --> 00:16:01.145 They draft three defensive linemen in the draft in the first four rounds. 00:16:01.405 --> 00:16:04.585 If those guys can make an impact this year, I think this is a team that can. 00:16:05.540 --> 00:16:06.160 Go all the way. 00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:08.680 This is the last year in the historic Highmark Stadium. 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:11.920 I saw Sam there last year and it's a special place. 00:16:11.950 --> 00:16:15.880 It's gonna be a fun sendoff season as they moved into a brand new, 00:16:15.880 --> 00:16:17.360 beautiful facility across the street. 00:16:17.410 --> 00:16:20.720 We're right now, I mean, it is old school in Buffalo, but it. 00:16:21.420 --> 00:16:22.320 But it's our old school. 00:16:22.390 --> 00:16:25.840 It's our, yeah, I don't wanna call it a dump, but I mean, it is what it is. 00:16:26.260 --> 00:16:30.920 But it's a fun, awesome atmosphere, uh, friendliest people that you're 00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:33.320 gonna meet in the NFL for the most part as you're going into the stadium. 00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:35.280 It looks like a big college tailgate out there. 00:16:35.560 --> 00:16:38.840 I hope we don't lose some of that with the, uh, you know, the cost that's 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:43.600 gonna come with getting seats at the new stadium, but it would be a storybook year 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:46.120 to kind of ride off Highmark Stadium. 00:16:46.900 --> 00:16:49.225 Hopefully host throughout the playoffs there as well, if the 00:16:49.225 --> 00:16:50.465 bills can go out and get the one C. 00:16:50.465 --> 00:16:54.265 But honestly, I think two biggest things for bills this year handle business in 00:16:54.265 --> 00:16:57.025 the regular season control home field advantage throughout the playoffs. 00:16:57.305 --> 00:16:58.545 I think that gets them over the hump. 00:16:58.565 --> 00:17:01.385 And then can this defensive front put pressure on the 00:17:01.385 --> 00:17:02.985 quarterback in the playoffs? 00:17:02.985 --> 00:17:04.745 Because that's what's knocked them out. 00:17:04.825 --> 00:17:08.065 I mean, they just simply have not been able to affect the Mahomes, 00:17:08.065 --> 00:17:11.025 the boroughs in the playoffs, and that's what's bid 'em. 00:17:11.975 --> 00:17:12.055 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:17:12.725 --> 00:17:14.735 Eric, you talked a lot about influence, right? 00:17:14.735 --> 00:17:18.135 Whether it's influencing the quarterback or maybe people who have had a, that 00:17:18.135 --> 00:17:19.695 stadium that's had an influence on you. 00:17:20.375 --> 00:17:21.735 I wanna talk about a coach. 00:17:22.665 --> 00:17:26.535 Which coach has influenced your life the most and why? 00:17:26.735 --> 00:17:26.855 I. 00:17:27.545 --> 00:17:28.885 Eric Wood: That's a, that's a great question. 00:17:29.565 --> 00:17:34.215 I would say to me, my offensive line coach, when I got to the University of 00:17:34.215 --> 00:17:36.455 Louisville, Mike Summers, um, I didn't. 00:17:37.405 --> 00:17:42.975 I'll admit, I didn't realize how special he was until maybe now, later in life. 00:17:43.165 --> 00:17:47.455 Then we've remained friends and you know, the, the little lesson, you know, 00:17:47.455 --> 00:17:48.735 you're talking about a Christian man. 00:17:49.520 --> 00:17:54.290 Married still to this day, to his wife Kathy, who I absolutely adore, and 00:17:54.290 --> 00:17:55.690 they would have us over to their house. 00:17:55.710 --> 00:17:58.890 And I got to see him not only be a coach on the football field, 00:17:58.890 --> 00:18:02.010 but then how he treated his wife, how he treated his daughter, Amy. 00:18:02.130 --> 00:18:05.530 I get to see how he is with his grandkids now, and we'll go out and visit. 00:18:05.670 --> 00:18:06.570 My daughter loves horses. 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:09.410 I'll go, Michael texts me, Hey, we got some fos. 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.450 Bring your daughter out. 00:18:10.450 --> 00:18:11.290 Come meet these horses. 00:18:11.470 --> 00:18:14.770 And, and still to this day, he's pouring into me now on the field. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:16.280 I was a sponge. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:18.800 I, and I played one year of high school offensive line. 00:18:18.800 --> 00:18:20.920 So when I got to the University of Louisville, one of the great 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:23.240 things, and you know, you talk about blessings in life, you could say, 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.440 well, I had no experience at O Line. 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.680 Well, I had no bad habits either. 00:18:26.020 --> 00:18:29.960 And so Mike Summers could just mold me into the player that he wanted me to be. 00:18:30.300 --> 00:18:35.000 And so I really appreciated, uh, and still to this day, the impact that he 00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:37.200 had on me and the others in that room. 00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:39.440 And then when I think about. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.330 Guys that you know, affected my career. 00:18:42.390 --> 00:18:45.170 We had an offensive line coach come to the bills named Aaron Kromer, 00:18:45.630 --> 00:18:48.690 and he was absolutely outstanding. 00:18:48.870 --> 00:18:52.070 He had kind of a, I don't wanna say checkered reputation 00:18:52.070 --> 00:18:52.870 coming into the bills. 00:18:52.970 --> 00:18:56.550 He had the J Cutler comments when he was in Chicago. 00:18:57.090 --> 00:19:01.070 He had the incident prior to coming to the bills with a little scuffle on the beach. 00:19:01.130 --> 00:19:06.070 But talk about a guy that really helped transform my game to the next level. 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.110 Kind of get out of the like. 00:19:07.830 --> 00:19:10.630 Meathead, we're gonna use all we got and we're just gonna move these 00:19:10.630 --> 00:19:13.670 guys off the ball into, Hey Eric, I need you to become a technician. 00:19:13.670 --> 00:19:16.710 You're getting older and I'm gonna, I'm gonna really teach you some 00:19:16.710 --> 00:19:18.190 techniques to transform your game. 00:19:18.190 --> 00:19:18.670 And he did. 00:19:18.690 --> 00:19:20.430 And it wasn't a coincidence then. 00:19:20.490 --> 00:19:24.030 That's the year that I get into the Pro Bowl, Aaron Cromer's first year, and so. 00:19:24.905 --> 00:19:28.165 Uh, Aaron Kromer when we had a coaching champs, uh, a coaching staff. 00:19:28.165 --> 00:19:31.565 Change goes out to the Rams, wins the Super Bowl with the Rams, and then Sean 00:19:31.565 --> 00:19:35.485 McDermott calls me a few years ago, and I'm glad Sean told this stir 'cause I, 00:19:35.565 --> 00:19:38.925 I would never wanna bring it up unless Sean told it first and he did last year. 00:19:38.945 --> 00:19:42.125 If someone asked how he got connected to Aaron Cromer, 'cause he's now back 00:19:42.125 --> 00:19:45.045 with the bills and the bills had one of the best offensive lines in the league. 00:19:45.745 --> 00:19:47.605 So this is actually kind of a funny story. 00:19:47.665 --> 00:19:50.205 So a FC championship game, we have some people over our house. 00:19:50.245 --> 00:19:51.445 I get a call from Sean McDermott. 00:19:51.525 --> 00:19:53.845 I knew that they had just fired their offensive line coach, and I looked 00:19:53.845 --> 00:19:56.885 at my wife, Leslie, and I said, I think Sean's about to offer me a job. 00:19:57.425 --> 00:19:59.685 And he wasn't offering me the job. 00:19:59.705 --> 00:20:01.245 He wanted to know who I would recommend. 00:20:01.245 --> 00:20:05.405 And I said, Hey, if you can get Aaron Cromer, who loves Buffalo, his family 00:20:05.405 --> 00:20:07.165 loves Buffalo, if you can get him back. 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:10.230 That would be the ideal coach for this group. 00:20:10.300 --> 00:20:13.750 Just knowing the young guys they had the talent that they had, and they 00:20:14.070 --> 00:20:15.310 absolutely love him up in Buffalo. 00:20:15.650 --> 00:20:18.910 So I, I would say Mike Summers and Aaron Cromer would be the 00:20:18.910 --> 00:20:20.310 two most influential on me. 00:20:20.370 --> 00:20:24.750 But that, I mean, I, there's so many I could name, you know, strength coaches, 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.630 they spend so much time with the players. 00:20:26.790 --> 00:20:29.670 I think back to a Joe Ken, who I had laid in my college career, 00:20:30.050 --> 00:20:31.990 who treated me like a pro, I mean. 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:37.260 If I wasn't feeling, if, if something was bothering me, it wasn't a hey, he 00:20:37.260 --> 00:20:38.540 would get tougher and push through. 00:20:38.560 --> 00:20:39.300 It was a no. 00:20:39.300 --> 00:20:41.660 You're a, you're, you're a, you're gonna be a pro, so I'm 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.500 gonna treat you like a pro. 00:20:42.840 --> 00:20:46.260 And he taught me how to manage my body and maximize some strength gains. 00:20:46.430 --> 00:20:47.300 Jason Amp. 00:20:47.975 --> 00:20:49.815 I mean, he was there early in my career at Louisville. 00:20:49.835 --> 00:20:55.295 He did so much to transform my body to a division one and future NFL Center. 00:20:55.395 --> 00:20:59.615 And so there, there's, there's a lot of those folks out there, Joe Dallas, 00:20:59.795 --> 00:21:02.255 Andres, um, who passed away last year. 00:21:02.255 --> 00:21:03.455 He was with the Ravens. 00:21:03.455 --> 00:21:05.375 He was my offensive line coach earlier in my career in Buffalo. 00:21:05.535 --> 00:21:05.735 I mean. 00:21:06.365 --> 00:21:08.690 Like I said, I mean, Sam, same way. 00:21:08.690 --> 00:21:11.930 I'm sure with you, cliff, you think back the people that influence you, you hate 00:21:11.930 --> 00:21:16.250 to just name a couple because you're gonna leave the people out, but man, just, just 00:21:16.310 --> 00:21:20.930 so fortunate to have been around so many great coaches, and I'll end with this. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:25.650 We had very little success throughout my time in Buffalo. 00:21:25.870 --> 00:21:28.450 We broke the longest playoff drought in all of professional 00:21:28.450 --> 00:21:30.610 sports my last season in the NFL. 00:21:31.495 --> 00:21:34.825 When you're that bad, we had including interims, seven 00:21:34.855 --> 00:21:36.185 head coaches in nine years. 00:21:36.565 --> 00:21:40.155 And so you could say, Hey, that's, you know, terrible 00:21:40.155 --> 00:21:41.675 because there's constant turnover. 00:21:42.025 --> 00:21:45.755 Well, I also got to meet so many tremendous individuals because there 00:21:45.755 --> 00:21:48.475 was so many of those people coming through the facility every, you 00:21:48.475 --> 00:21:49.755 know, one and a half to two years. 00:21:50.535 --> 00:21:53.555 And then now I get to see those guys through broadcasting on the 00:21:53.555 --> 00:21:55.035 sidelines and catch up before games. 00:21:55.095 --> 00:21:57.715 And so, you know, at the time where I probably didn't see it 00:21:57.715 --> 00:21:59.755 as a blessing, that's something I do see as a blessing now. 00:22:02.630 --> 00:22:04.630 Clif Marshall: Well, Eric, you talked about some coaches 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:06.270 that have influenced you. 00:22:07.050 --> 00:22:10.910 Is there a book that you've ever read that maybe had influence on your life as well? 00:22:13.560 --> 00:22:16.260 Eric Wood: The book that probably has had the biggest influence on my life 00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:22.260 actually stemmed from a Tony Dungy book that I read, and he was referencing, 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:24.860 uh, apologetics writings, and so. 00:22:26.760 --> 00:22:29.640 I had never kind of delved into that world. 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:32.840 And so I started with the Case for Christ, which is maybe the most popular 00:22:32.870 --> 00:22:34.600 Christian apologetics book ever. 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.640 And look, 00:22:37.760 --> 00:22:41.050 however you get down to it, you're gonna need some type of faith to 00:22:41.050 --> 00:22:42.370 believe in what you cannot see. 00:22:42.870 --> 00:22:46.610 But I loved the Christian Apologetics writings and especially the Lee 00:22:46.730 --> 00:22:48.770 Strobel, uh, writings that he's done. 00:22:48.790 --> 00:22:50.210 And he's written a bunch of 'em now. 00:22:50.210 --> 00:22:52.530 I've read, I believe 'em all at this point, but. 00:22:53.555 --> 00:22:58.680 Being able to, to really say like, this, this happened and this is why it happened. 00:22:58.940 --> 00:23:03.840 And you know, the apostles, you know, they all died. 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:07.680 11 of the 12 died extremely violent deaths. 00:23:08.395 --> 00:23:08.615 Clif Marshall: Hmm. 00:23:09.265 --> 00:23:10.245 Eric Wood: And they wouldn't have done it. 00:23:10.245 --> 00:23:12.165 Like maybe one or two of them does. 00:23:12.185 --> 00:23:15.605 But if they didn't witness it, if they didn't see it, they wouldn't have done it. 00:23:15.825 --> 00:23:16.645 And the book's great. 00:23:16.645 --> 00:23:18.445 It goes through many other examples. 00:23:18.445 --> 00:23:19.685 Case for Easter is incredible. 00:23:20.105 --> 00:23:21.405 Um, case for Faith. 00:23:21.485 --> 00:23:22.965 I mean, you could read 'em all, they're all great. 00:23:23.065 --> 00:23:26.725 But I would say the case for Christ is probably the book that had the biggest 00:23:27.155 --> 00:23:32.445 influence kind of on my walk with Christ, which is the biggest influence in my life. 00:23:33.185 --> 00:23:36.925 And, uh, but I give Tony Dungy the credit for turning me onto that. 00:23:38.225 --> 00:23:38.305 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:23:39.925 --> 00:23:42.015 Eric, I'm gonna transition a little bit. 00:23:42.075 --> 00:23:44.735 You know, on this podcast we talked about going deep. 00:23:44.755 --> 00:23:47.655 You know, we, we like to kind of talk about some hardships and struggles, 00:23:47.655 --> 00:23:52.755 and so my question for you is, what's the biggest adversity that you faced 00:23:52.815 --> 00:23:55.565 in life, and how did you overcome it? 00:23:57.620 --> 00:24:00.150 Eric Wood: Yeah, I mean I've, I've been through a good 00:24:00.150 --> 00:24:01.590 amount of adversity in my life. 00:24:01.710 --> 00:24:02.590 I would say the biggest. 00:24:03.505 --> 00:24:06.525 The biggest one that stands out would be having the career ending neck injury. 00:24:06.745 --> 00:24:10.085 Before the 2017 season, I signed a contract extension with the bills. 00:24:10.365 --> 00:24:11.405 Everyone thought we were tanking. 00:24:11.785 --> 00:24:14.845 Um, call me an eternal optimist, but I didn't see it. 00:24:14.965 --> 00:24:16.485 I mean, we had a lot of talent still on the team. 00:24:16.505 --> 00:24:17.805 We had just brought in Sean McDermott. 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:20.040 We had the new ownership group in place. 00:24:20.190 --> 00:24:23.360 Brandon Bean was getting hired, or Brandon Bean had been hired. 00:24:23.780 --> 00:24:26.720 And so I had a lot of faith in those guys and I said, I believe we got, 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:28.080 we can have a winner here in Buffalo. 00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:31.880 And so I signed a contract extension before the season first contract that 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:36.400 Brandon Bean ever gave out as an NFL GM and play every single snap that season. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:39.200 We break the playoff drought, we're getting ready to draft our 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.400 future quarterback in the draft. 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:43.960 Who ends up being Josh Allen and I go to exit physicals. 00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:49.050 Which every, every player in the NFL has to take a physical before you 00:24:49.050 --> 00:24:50.730 leave the facility for the off season. 00:24:50.730 --> 00:24:53.650 And they said, Hey, let's, let's get an MRI on your neck. 00:24:53.650 --> 00:24:54.610 You had some stingers this year. 00:24:54.670 --> 00:24:56.170 I'm like, my high school buddies had stingers. 00:24:56.210 --> 00:24:59.450 I, I never missed a snap the entire season and my son's 00:24:59.450 --> 00:25:00.170 about to be born in Louisville. 00:25:00.210 --> 00:25:01.330 I need to get the heck outta here. 00:25:01.750 --> 00:25:04.730 And so they said, let's get grab an M MRI on your neck and you can leave. 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:08.690 Three days later, I'm in the hospital room waiting on my son to be born. 00:25:08.750 --> 00:25:12.650 So 50 minutes before he's born, I find out my career is over. 00:25:12.770 --> 00:25:13.850 I have a career ending neck injury. 00:25:14.375 --> 00:25:18.945 Disc and bone sitting into my spinal cord at C2 C3, and they said, look, I know 00:25:18.945 --> 00:25:21.145 you saw Ryan Sha ear laying on the field. 00:25:21.145 --> 00:25:21.985 That should have been you. 00:25:21.985 --> 00:25:26.225 I don't know why it isn't based upon the MRIs, but as high as it is, you 00:25:26.225 --> 00:25:27.585 could never come back and play football. 00:25:27.685 --> 00:25:31.935 And so at that time, it's not only hard on you, it's hard on your 00:25:31.935 --> 00:25:33.415 family, it's hard on your wife. 00:25:33.615 --> 00:25:37.375 I mean, we were worried about how we were gonna get a two week old to the Pro Bowl, 00:25:37.395 --> 00:25:40.415 and now we're trying to figure out what are we gonna do with our house in Buffalo? 00:25:40.685 --> 00:25:43.015 What does this next stage of life look like? 00:25:44.280 --> 00:25:47.900 You know, there was some disputes contractually with the bills, which 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:49.820 was tough because those are my buddies. 00:25:49.830 --> 00:25:52.620 Those are myrie, you know, I thought you guys cared about me. 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:57.060 And the second part of the question on how I got through it, I'll say 00:25:57.060 --> 00:25:58.660 this, it, it was my faith in God. 00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.740 It was the people that. 00:26:01.390 --> 00:26:05.130 God had put in my life for a reason and I didn't know exactly why. 00:26:05.290 --> 00:26:08.730 I was surrounded by such a great group of people nationally, but 00:26:08.730 --> 00:26:12.410 especially in Louisville that could really just pour into me. 00:26:12.410 --> 00:26:15.130 Through that time, I was working with an executive coach 00:26:15.150 --> 00:26:17.010 at the time, uh, six months. 00:26:17.050 --> 00:26:18.410 I started with him six months prior. 00:26:19.295 --> 00:26:22.555 To my career ending, who ended up just being perfect to help me. 00:26:22.605 --> 00:26:25.835 Throughout that transition, I wrote a book called Tackle What's Next? 00:26:26.225 --> 00:26:31.355 It's chronicled much deeper in that, uh, in that book there, I honor many 00:26:31.355 --> 00:26:34.155 of the podcast guests that came on and helped me through that transition, 00:26:34.155 --> 00:26:35.995 people that poured in into my life. 00:26:36.015 --> 00:26:38.555 But you guys will get a kick out of this. 00:26:38.655 --> 00:26:44.275 So, uh, uh, our team chaplain in Buffalo, he based our entire. 00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:48.900 Chapel series that year around Matthew 25 7. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:52.100 He who builds the foundation on the rock, you know, the storms will 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:55.140 come, the winds are gonna blow, but he will not crumble because he has 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.340 his foundation built on the rock. 00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:59.940 And I, I just kept thinking, man, this could be really valuable for somebody in 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:01.540 here, but like, life's good right now. 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:02.940 I'm not injured. 00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:05.020 And I had dealt with injuries throughout my career. 00:27:05.300 --> 00:27:07.220 I got hurt my first four years in the league. 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:10.980 Went on IR twice, broke my leg again in 2016, like. 00:27:12.095 --> 00:27:14.295 I was thinking, man, this is gonna be so beneficial. 00:27:14.515 --> 00:27:15.295 And it was me. 00:27:15.475 --> 00:27:18.655 It was literally for me, I had rocks from the season. 00:27:19.015 --> 00:27:20.575 'cause that was the theme that year. 00:27:20.575 --> 00:27:22.975 And we'd have different verses on these rocks all kind of 00:27:23.145 --> 00:27:25.215 based back off of Matthew 25 7. 00:27:25.955 --> 00:27:35.075 And it was amazing that it was all for me, and thank God that through U of 00:27:35.075 --> 00:27:38.955 LFCA and through the people that poured in my life, that I had a foundation 00:27:38.955 --> 00:27:40.555 built on the rock that included. 00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:46.400 My faith in God, but also friends and family that, that they lifted me up and 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:49.520 people came into my life and said, Hey, if you want to transition into media, 00:27:49.520 --> 00:27:52.480 please let me help you out because you've been so great to me, you know, 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.680 throughout your time with the bills. 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:55.520 And it, it just really helped. 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:57.000 Was it all sunshine and rainbows? 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.560 Absolutely not. 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.910 Is it sunshine and rainbows now? 00:27:59.910 --> 00:28:00.310 No. 00:28:00.760 --> 00:28:05.480 I don't know if I'd still be playing at 39, but at 32, I felt as good as I 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:09.440 did throughout my entire career, and my confidence level was so high in the game. 00:28:10.330 --> 00:28:10.870 In my game. 00:28:11.050 --> 00:28:13.190 And then at what point would I have hung it up? 00:28:13.330 --> 00:28:15.830 You know, it's, you're on the verge of the Super Bowl, each year 00:28:16.050 --> 00:28:17.510 you get to snap to Josh Allen. 00:28:17.970 --> 00:28:20.430 Uh, and me and Josh have become pretty good buddies now. 00:28:20.450 --> 00:28:22.750 And you know, it just, there's times where it hurts. 00:28:22.750 --> 00:28:26.910 You see them report back to training camp this week and I'm like, I really wish 00:28:26.910 --> 00:28:27.990 I could have had a few more of those. 00:28:28.090 --> 00:28:29.413 But But you know what? 00:28:29.903 --> 00:28:31.670 Life gets better each and every year. 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:35.110 We're at such a fun stage with a 7 and a 10-year-old now. 00:28:35.870 --> 00:28:39.970 Me and my wife are, are in, in as good of a spot as we've ever been in 00:28:39.970 --> 00:28:43.570 our relationship, and it continues to get sweeter in, in our marriage. 00:28:43.830 --> 00:28:47.810 And so, uh, extremely blessed to be sitting in these shoes right now. 00:28:48.110 --> 00:28:52.980 But at that time, in 2017, heading into early 2018, it was difficult. 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:56.510 Clif Marshall: What a great testimony. 00:28:57.435 --> 00:29:01.525 Eric and I tell you, God doesn't cause pain, but he can use 00:29:01.595 --> 00:29:03.405 pain to draw us closer to him. 00:29:04.065 --> 00:29:05.845 And you explained that through that adversity. 00:29:06.385 --> 00:29:09.805 You leaned upon your faith and you, and you grew closer to God through 00:29:09.805 --> 00:29:11.685 that, if that was your greatest 00:29:12.310 --> 00:29:14.070 Eric Wood: I was gonna say real quick, real quick. 00:29:15.850 --> 00:29:20.170 I would get asked to speak often prior to the career ending injury 00:29:20.470 --> 00:29:25.170 at, you know, an FCA event or a a, a men's group at a church, and. 00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:30.260 I would always say like, my testimony's boring, you know, I got poured 00:29:30.260 --> 00:29:31.660 into by a good amount of people. 00:29:31.800 --> 00:29:35.340 I'd never necessarily had a rock bottom moment to where I came up. 00:29:35.760 --> 00:29:41.020 Uh, I didn't have that, you know, saw to Paul transition per se. 00:29:42.170 --> 00:29:46.290 I just kind of, you know, over time I said, wait, that guy's a Christian. 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.370 He's a Christian. 00:29:48.065 --> 00:29:49.525 What's the common denominator here? 00:29:49.565 --> 00:29:50.565 I wanna be like all these people. 00:29:50.565 --> 00:29:51.565 What's the common denominator? 00:29:51.595 --> 00:29:53.085 Okay, well let me check this out. 00:29:53.105 --> 00:29:54.125 Let me, let me dig deeper. 00:29:54.185 --> 00:29:54.965 Let me dive deeper. 00:29:55.145 --> 00:30:00.635 Got baptized in 2012 and after that I have my testimony. 00:30:00.935 --> 00:30:05.475 It, it is like God has used that story to put me in rooms and put me around people 00:30:05.475 --> 00:30:10.595 and potentially impact so many people because of that pain that you mentioned. 00:30:11.765 --> 00:30:11.845 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:30:12.495 --> 00:30:14.645 Cliff, can I ask one just to dive deeper? 00:30:15.045 --> 00:30:19.475 'cause Eric, you kind of went back and, and shared about that testimony. 00:30:21.865 --> 00:30:29.345 What was God, what did you learn about the character of God during that sudden stop? 00:30:31.815 --> 00:30:35.455 Eric Wood: I don't know if it was the character of God, but kind of just 00:30:35.455 --> 00:30:36.895 going back to that foundation like. 00:30:38.075 --> 00:30:41.745 Chris Morgan at U of L, our FCA director always says, you know, in 00:30:41.745 --> 00:30:46.065 life you're either going into a storm, in a storm or coming out of one. 00:30:46.245 --> 00:30:49.065 You know, it's, if you're in a sweet spot in life, just get ready. 00:30:49.065 --> 00:30:51.705 Those storms are coming, you better have your foundation. 00:30:51.705 --> 00:30:51.945 Right. 00:30:51.965 --> 00:30:55.945 And I realized the importance of that, uh, much deeper. 00:30:56.085 --> 00:30:59.545 And I mentioned, you know, coming from a divorced household and we had some 00:30:59.545 --> 00:31:00.905 turmoil in the house as a kid, like. 00:31:02.795 --> 00:31:07.085 I've, one of my biggest transitions in my faith over the last probably four 00:31:07.085 --> 00:31:13.605 or five years, and some of it comes with having a son now, is I, I, I, I 00:31:13.605 --> 00:31:18.735 would always say that I believe God was my Lord and Savior, but when I prayed 00:31:18.735 --> 00:31:24.285 Heavenly Father over these last four or five years, it feels different now. 00:31:24.785 --> 00:31:29.605 And, and just like the, the way I see my son and the love I have 00:31:29.605 --> 00:31:30.725 for him and understanding that. 00:31:32.245 --> 00:31:37.755 God's love is so much greater in in, it's in almost incomprehensible. 00:31:38.955 --> 00:31:43.655 But that's kind of been one of my biggest transitions in my faith journey over 00:31:43.655 --> 00:31:49.625 these last four or five years is God is my father and not just my Lord and Savior. 00:31:51.015 --> 00:31:51.095 Clif Marshall: Hmm. 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.300 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:31:52.530 --> 00:31:52.610 Hmm. 00:31:54.835 --> 00:31:57.725 Clif Marshall: Eric, if that was your greatest adversity, the neck 00:31:57.725 --> 00:32:02.175 injury, right, that ended your career, what is your greatest victory? 00:32:02.405 --> 00:32:03.805 you've had some great victories too. 00:32:03.965 --> 00:32:07.725 I mean, being a first round draft pick, being a pro bowler, you know, 00:32:07.725 --> 00:32:10.965 being a dad, what would you consider your greatest victory in life? 00:32:12.075 --> 00:32:16.075 Eric Wood: I would say career wise, um, I got the nomination for Walter Payton 00:32:16.075 --> 00:32:17.395 Man of the year twice with the bills. 00:32:18.335 --> 00:32:22.035 And, you know, that's not the sexiest award in the NFL. 00:32:22.225 --> 00:32:26.835 It's not, you know, MVP of the league, but to be voted on that by your 00:32:27.075 --> 00:32:30.435 teammates, which is a, a character award and also a performance award, 00:32:30.975 --> 00:32:32.795 but to be that twice for the bills. 00:32:32.975 --> 00:32:36.315 You know, I, I just remember sitting there as a rookie and a young guy 00:32:36.315 --> 00:32:39.475 in the league thinking, man, I wanna be just like Fred Jackson. 00:32:39.575 --> 00:32:42.235 And Brian Scott, and a number of those guys who had won. 00:32:42.915 --> 00:32:47.605 That nomination in the past and to get honored with that was career-wise, 00:32:49.185 --> 00:32:50.985 probably my greatest victory, I'd say. 00:32:51.045 --> 00:32:53.465 Now making the Pro Bowl was extra special. 00:32:53.645 --> 00:32:55.865 You know, we didn't grow up going to Hawaii as a kid. 00:32:55.945 --> 00:32:59.105 I got to bring a bunch of people out to Hawaii with me to experience the last 00:32:59.125 --> 00:33:03.345 Pro Bowl in Hawaii that, you know, they had never experienced Hawaii before. 00:33:03.445 --> 00:33:07.665 And to be in that setting was was absolutely incredible. 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:12.840 Honestly, I'd say my greatest victory right now is just looking 00:33:12.840 --> 00:33:16.840 around at my family and just seeing my kids and how they interact 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:18.960 and my relationship with my wife. 00:33:19.020 --> 00:33:20.840 And look, that doesn't come without work. 00:33:21.020 --> 00:33:24.120 And we've been in a couple's bible study for, uh, we were trying to 00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:27.200 do the math the other day, I think about 12 years now, where we're 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:29.040 getting poured into by other couples. 00:33:29.040 --> 00:33:31.320 We surround ourself with other couples that we can learn from. 00:33:31.320 --> 00:33:31.600 We have. 00:33:32.235 --> 00:33:36.705 Close friends that are, you know, our age, but I almost see them as 00:33:36.705 --> 00:33:38.745 mentors in relationships as well. 00:33:38.885 --> 00:33:43.725 But, you know, I, I would just say, you know, where I'm at as 00:33:43.765 --> 00:33:47.245 a husband and father, I would consider my greatest victory. 00:33:47.745 --> 00:33:50.765 And I give all the credit to the people that I've got to witness 00:33:51.105 --> 00:33:54.645 and learn from throughout my life to be able to make that happen. 00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:58.560 Sam Acho: Who are some of those people who you've learned 00:33:58.560 --> 00:33:59.680 from, who've made that impact? 00:34:00.255 --> 00:34:01.465 Eric Wood: Yeah, so Dave and Beth Stone. 00:34:01.565 --> 00:34:05.505 So Dave Stone was the pastor at Southeast Christian Church for. 00:34:06.815 --> 00:34:07.815 19, 20 years. 00:34:07.875 --> 00:34:11.455 And so he invited me and my wife to a, a bible study, a couple's 00:34:11.455 --> 00:34:12.375 bible study at their house. 00:34:12.535 --> 00:34:14.815 I believe it was 2013, right after we got married. 00:34:14.955 --> 00:34:18.815 And so we've been doing that and you know, we might meet 10, 12 00:34:18.815 --> 00:34:21.255 times a year, but super impactful. 00:34:21.795 --> 00:34:25.455 Um, I was in a disciple development group with seven other guys at 00:34:25.805 --> 00:34:27.415 Southeast, including Kyle, Adam, their. 00:34:27.965 --> 00:34:29.770 Current head pastor at Southeast. 00:34:29.870 --> 00:34:32.530 And just learning from those guys has been really special. 00:34:32.730 --> 00:34:36.570 I mentioned Chris Morgan on here a couple times, our U of LFCA director, 00:34:36.570 --> 00:34:40.690 just seeing him in college and how he interacted with his wife and how he 00:34:40.870 --> 00:34:45.570 served our team and then served his three girls was just beyond special. 00:34:46.230 --> 00:34:49.770 Um, and then, and then we just have some, some close friends, you know, 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:54.130 whether they're our age or older, where we, you know, I'll say, you know. 00:34:55.690 --> 00:34:56.780 What, what makes it work? 00:34:57.120 --> 00:35:01.580 You know, how, how do you, how do you get to be 60 years old and you're 00:35:01.580 --> 00:35:03.100 having fun with your wife still? 00:35:03.100 --> 00:35:04.940 You have a relationship with your kids, you have a 00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:06.180 relationship with your grandkids. 00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:08.540 'cause you see it all the time where people don't have that. 00:35:08.650 --> 00:35:11.340 They, you know, they just didn't make the investments along the way 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:13.020 and it becomes an estr relationship. 00:35:13.080 --> 00:35:16.660 So, um, you know, those are a few specific names, but. 00:35:17.275 --> 00:35:21.485 Like I said earlier, I, I know I'm leaving some out, you know, and, and I, it's, 00:35:21.485 --> 00:35:26.085 uh, I've remiss to not mention them by name, but, um, you know, those, those 00:35:26.085 --> 00:35:27.205 are the ones that stand out right now. 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:30.060 Clif Marshall: Wow. 00:35:30.090 --> 00:35:33.140 Eric, I have a great respect for Southeast Christian Church. 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:37.220 I actually started attending that church in 2004 when I was finishing up my 00:35:37.220 --> 00:35:40.540 career at the University of Louisville, and Dave Stone was preaching there. 00:35:40.810 --> 00:35:41.780 Kyle Iman was his. 00:35:42.170 --> 00:35:46.455 Assistant at the time, and we often visit that church, uh, from time to time 00:35:46.455 --> 00:35:48.095 when I'm driving back down to Kentucky. 00:35:48.555 --> 00:35:50.615 And I know you're a part of a men's group there. 00:35:50.955 --> 00:35:55.535 Um, you know, as you mentioned, and one of the bible verses that I like is Proverbs 00:35:55.535 --> 00:35:58.895 27 17 and that says iron sharpens iron. 00:35:59.595 --> 00:36:03.975 Can you talk about just getting plugged in at that church and in those bible studies 00:36:03.995 --> 00:36:05.535 and how that's helped you in your walk? 00:36:05.895 --> 00:36:06.545 Eric Wood: Yeah, absolutely. 00:36:06.585 --> 00:36:08.865 I mean, when you attend the fourth biggest church in the country, I 00:36:08.865 --> 00:36:09.825 don't know where the metrics are now. 00:36:09.825 --> 00:36:09.985 I know. 00:36:10.650 --> 00:36:13.230 At one time it was fourth, and maybe, you know, I know that 00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:15.110 that changes each and every year. 00:36:15.250 --> 00:36:20.390 But if you're not getting in with a small group of dudes or couples, it's 00:36:20.390 --> 00:36:23.950 gonna be tough to, you know, get those personal touches each and every week. 00:36:24.010 --> 00:36:27.310 Now, you, you, that's not taken away from anyone who doesn't attend the 00:36:27.310 --> 00:36:30.950 small groups, but I would recommend if you're at a really big church. 00:36:31.655 --> 00:36:34.155 To get that accountability in life, you're probably gonna need, 00:36:34.335 --> 00:36:35.995 uh, to get in a smaller group. 00:36:36.375 --> 00:36:37.955 You know, we've all been in locker rooms. 00:36:38.015 --> 00:36:41.075 You get enough accountability in a locker room, you know, you can't get 00:36:41.075 --> 00:36:45.315 away with anything in a, in a locker room, whether it's college, NFL, whatever 00:36:45.315 --> 00:36:46.715 it may be, with a coaching staff. 00:36:46.715 --> 00:36:48.315 Someone's checking you constantly. 00:36:48.415 --> 00:36:52.355 But when you get with a small group, it allows you to dig deeper with a 00:36:52.355 --> 00:36:55.875 smaller group of guys or gals that can, that can check you in life 00:36:55.895 --> 00:36:59.435 and say, Hey, I see these blind spots, uh, in your life and, and. 00:37:00.060 --> 00:37:05.925 Look, I, I've always really prided myself on being coachable and, and I 00:37:05.925 --> 00:37:07.685 want to continue to be like that now. 00:37:07.725 --> 00:37:08.725 I mean, I love to play golf. 00:37:08.845 --> 00:37:10.485 I have a dude who gives me lessons and can. 00:37:11.115 --> 00:37:12.565 Tell me what's going on there. 00:37:12.725 --> 00:37:17.405 I have, you know, I had an executive coach, a, a, a life coach per se, uh, 00:37:17.505 --> 00:37:20.805 for a while, for a long time, three and a half years, to, to try and help me in 00:37:20.805 --> 00:37:22.805 my transition and check for blind spots. 00:37:22.835 --> 00:37:25.965 I've had my own personal advisory board where I open up my finances. 00:37:27.180 --> 00:37:29.810 Everything and say, Hey, pick this apart. 00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:31.130 Tell me where I'm going wrong. 00:37:31.190 --> 00:37:35.330 And these are all guys that I look up to and, you know, have the 00:37:35.330 --> 00:37:37.210 characteristics I wanna be like in life. 00:37:37.310 --> 00:37:40.890 So, you know, I just think there's tremendous value in, in being a part 00:37:40.890 --> 00:37:44.610 of a small group and you know, even especially, you know, people that 00:37:44.610 --> 00:37:49.560 transition from military or team sports or whatever it may be, finding 00:37:49.590 --> 00:37:51.600 that group again can be so valuable. 00:37:52.625 --> 00:37:52.845 Clif Marshall: Wow. 00:37:54.045 --> 00:37:56.265 Sam Acho: So you talked about Cliff, your life verse. 00:37:56.265 --> 00:37:59.345 Eric, I want to ask you, what is your life verse? 00:37:59.455 --> 00:38:03.435 What verse in the Bible has kind of emanated with you the most? 00:38:04.115 --> 00:38:08.245 Eric Wood: Yeah, so we have a, a verse that's on our wall right 00:38:08.245 --> 00:38:09.605 before you leave our garage door. 00:38:09.605 --> 00:38:10.965 Proverbs 1125. 00:38:11.705 --> 00:38:15.325 He who refreshes others will be refreshed and a generous person will prosper. 00:38:15.745 --> 00:38:18.125 And look, there's, there's so much that can. 00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:23.950 Stray our attention, our kids' atten, you know, attention on what they 00:38:23.950 --> 00:38:25.270 should be like, what they want to do. 00:38:25.270 --> 00:38:28.190 And I say, look the woods, we want to be joy spreaders. 00:38:28.190 --> 00:38:29.310 We wanna refresh others. 00:38:29.450 --> 00:38:30.710 We are beyond blessed. 00:38:30.890 --> 00:38:34.790 And I'm not just saying find like we are so blessed in our current stage 00:38:34.790 --> 00:38:38.790 of life with health and resources and where we live and all that. 00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:42.110 Like we should be joy spreaders and we're gonna be generous. 00:38:42.110 --> 00:38:42.830 We've been given a lot. 00:38:43.445 --> 00:38:44.410 Time, talent, and treasure. 00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:46.250 We're gonna use it to benefit others. 00:38:46.350 --> 00:38:49.450 And so that's become, that's become our family's verse. 00:38:49.450 --> 00:38:52.370 And my personal, it was my verse personally, and then I 00:38:52.370 --> 00:38:53.530 made it our family verse too. 00:38:53.600 --> 00:38:56.010 Like, but it, but it just simplifies it, you know? 00:38:56.040 --> 00:38:59.730 It's like when my daughter gets outta the car before school, I 00:38:59.880 --> 00:39:00.680 say, what are you gonna make today? 00:39:00.950 --> 00:39:01.640 Best day ever. 00:39:02.150 --> 00:39:03.040 What are you gonna do? 00:39:03.220 --> 00:39:03.920 Spread joy. 00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:05.360 Alright, go get it. 00:39:05.720 --> 00:39:07.680 I, you know, do I want her to get good grades? 00:39:07.790 --> 00:39:08.080 Sure. 00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.200 She rides horses. 00:39:09.460 --> 00:39:10.680 Do I want her to win first place? 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:11.680 Absolutely. 00:39:13.375 --> 00:39:17.415 I take more pride in watching people light up when she walks in a room because 00:39:17.415 --> 00:39:22.135 of how she treats people and how she treats classmates like, to me, that's 00:39:22.135 --> 00:39:23.455 what the woods should be all about. 00:39:23.635 --> 00:39:27.535 And so we try and spread joy and bring generosity everywhere we go. 00:39:29.720 --> 00:39:31.270 Clif Marshall: Great wisdom Ewood. 00:39:31.450 --> 00:39:36.910 At the end of every show, I like to give a cliff notes and two cliff notes that I 00:39:36.910 --> 00:39:39.430 took from you today, both very impactful. 00:39:39.650 --> 00:39:44.230 The first you said, be all in, be where your feet are, so if 00:39:44.230 --> 00:39:46.190 you are at work, be all in. 00:39:46.410 --> 00:39:47.390 Be where your feet are. 00:39:47.490 --> 00:39:49.390 If you're at home and you're being a dad. 00:39:50.705 --> 00:39:55.785 A husband, be all in, be where your feet are, and the second one you just 00:39:55.985 --> 00:40:01.625 finished saying it, refresh others so you can be refreshed, spread joy. 00:40:01.645 --> 00:40:03.785 And that's Proverbs 1125. 00:40:03.965 --> 00:40:10.025 So thank you brother for the wisdom and the um, the great advice you've 00:40:10.065 --> 00:40:12.625 given us here over the last 45 minutes. 00:40:12.845 --> 00:40:15.425 We can't thank you enough for being a part of our podcast today. 00:40:16.040 --> 00:40:18.700 Eric Wood: No, like I said at the start, it, it's an honor to be on with you guys. 00:40:19.050 --> 00:40:21.940 This is a, this is a bright spot of my day to be able to connect with you. 00:40:21.940 --> 00:40:22.100 Two. 00:40:22.120 --> 00:40:25.300 Big fan of the podcast, appreciate what you're doing, the message that you 00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:29.460 guys, uh, spread in your daily lives and then now spreading through the podcast. 00:40:29.600 --> 00:40:32.420 And I'm glad you're doing the podcast so more people can be exposed to it. 00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:34.020 So I appreciate both you guys. 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:37.840 Sam Acho: Now we appreciate you and one thing I know we usually, this is 00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:41.300 usually our ending, but man, you've mentioned this a couple times, uh, 00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:43.180 on our podcast we talk about faith. 00:40:43.200 --> 00:40:45.900 We talked about it on this podcast, family talk about family football. 00:40:47.125 --> 00:40:47.685 Finances. 00:40:47.685 --> 00:40:50.805 You've mentioned that word a couple times, and I, I have a question because 00:40:51.265 --> 00:40:55.445 you went from kind of, people might call it like unknown to first round 00:40:55.475 --> 00:40:59.685 pick, to signed a big deal, and then all of a sudden, unbeknownst to you, 00:40:59.685 --> 00:41:03.965 your career ends, but you've talked about finances in different ways. 00:41:06.115 --> 00:41:11.085 How have, what has money been for you and your family? 00:41:13.310 --> 00:41:14.250 Eric Wood: Man, that's a great question. 00:41:14.430 --> 00:41:17.930 And, and, and honestly, you know, you look around and you could 00:41:17.930 --> 00:41:19.090 compare yourself to anybody. 00:41:19.190 --> 00:41:22.370 We see the salaries that some of these guys are making nowadays, 00:41:22.430 --> 00:41:25.570 and you could say, Ooh, and, and, and one of the things I've tried 00:41:25.570 --> 00:41:27.610 to just strive for is contentment. 00:41:27.610 --> 00:41:29.810 Like, yes, I still want to be successful. 00:41:29.850 --> 00:41:31.170 I wanna be a good steward of my money. 00:41:31.210 --> 00:41:34.710 I wanna make successful investments And I want to be paid what I 00:41:34.870 --> 00:41:37.540 deserved in broadcasting, but being content, we, where we are. 00:41:37.945 --> 00:41:43.205 You know, money has provided us a, a, a certain comfort level in life to 00:41:43.205 --> 00:41:47.165 where, you know, I remember as a kid, my parents constantly fought about money, 00:41:47.185 --> 00:41:50.725 and me and my wife don't have to fight about money and, and it, you know, so 00:41:50.725 --> 00:41:52.965 it provides some comfort and security. 00:41:53.475 --> 00:41:56.085 It's allowed us to be generous and make an impact, and that's 00:41:56.085 --> 00:41:57.165 really what we want to do. 00:41:57.235 --> 00:41:58.005 It's allowed us to have. 00:41:58.465 --> 00:41:59.775 Incredible experiences. 00:41:59.850 --> 00:42:02.310 I'm getting off the grid with the family before the season starts 00:42:02.310 --> 00:42:05.030 to back up next week, and we're going out to ranch in Montana. 00:42:05.170 --> 00:42:07.990 And had I not played in the NFL, we might not be able to do those 00:42:07.990 --> 00:42:12.230 types of things, but you know, I, I just never wanna let money define. 00:42:13.070 --> 00:42:15.210 Who I am, it's not gonna be my identity. 00:42:15.830 --> 00:42:16.690 Yes, we're blessed. 00:42:17.230 --> 00:42:18.770 You know, do some people have more? 00:42:18.790 --> 00:42:19.130 Of course. 00:42:19.190 --> 00:42:20.170 Do some people have less? 00:42:20.640 --> 00:42:20.930 Sure. 00:42:21.590 --> 00:42:23.970 But that's not gonna define how I look at anybody. 00:42:24.550 --> 00:42:29.770 Um, but I also feel like the way we have been blessed financially, we 00:42:29.770 --> 00:42:31.050 need to be good stewards of the money. 00:42:31.070 --> 00:42:31.930 We need to be generous. 00:42:31.930 --> 00:42:36.170 We need to be generous at the church, and we need to, we need to make a, a 00:42:36.170 --> 00:42:41.530 kingdom impact because of the financial security that we currently have. 00:42:42.540 --> 00:42:42.830 Clif Marshall: Amen. 00:42:43.685 --> 00:42:43.975 Sam Acho: Amen. 00:42:43.975 --> 00:42:44.615 That's so good. 00:42:44.755 --> 00:42:45.735 That's so good, man. 00:42:45.735 --> 00:42:47.415 Well, Eric, we're so grateful to have you. 00:42:48.150 --> 00:42:51.770 On the Sam Macho podcast featuring Cliff Marshall, I thank you for your 00:42:51.770 --> 00:42:53.530 time, effort, energy, investment. 00:42:54.050 --> 00:42:56.650 I remember watching you from afar and being like, man, there's 00:42:56.650 --> 00:42:57.570 something about this dude. 00:42:57.770 --> 00:42:59.850 I know you said that about guys, that you got a chance like, 00:42:59.850 --> 00:43:00.930 well, what is it about this guy? 00:43:01.310 --> 00:43:04.370 And for me, you being, uh, a few years ahead of me, I'm like, man, 00:43:04.370 --> 00:43:06.780 there's something about this man. 00:43:07.400 --> 00:43:11.420 And so from just from one man to another, now I'm in media, but yes, 00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:13.980 as a player and all those things, it's like, dude, I respect you. 00:43:14.440 --> 00:43:16.580 And it's, it has very little, I would say, to do with. 00:43:17.420 --> 00:43:20.240 The stats or accolades as a football player, but it's 00:43:20.240 --> 00:43:21.200 the way you played the game. 00:43:21.200 --> 00:43:25.340 You talked about that return on your investment to the coaches like that. 00:43:25.340 --> 00:43:27.900 For me, you said I was a freshman, I wanted to have a great return. 00:43:28.220 --> 00:43:30.620 I wanted them to have a great return on their investment that showed up. 00:43:31.090 --> 00:43:34.110 You talked about that Walter Payton Man of the year like that showed up. 00:43:34.110 --> 00:43:36.470 That's something I cared about as a player. 00:43:37.010 --> 00:43:37.230 Yes. 00:43:37.370 --> 00:43:39.870 Pro Bowl first round and so, and then now what you're doing in 00:43:39.870 --> 00:43:40.750 media, we got a chance to connect. 00:43:41.870 --> 00:43:46.000 Last year in Buffalo, and I mean, we had, don't know, 10 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:47.320 minutes, 30, whatever it was. 00:43:47.380 --> 00:43:52.400 But it was so refreshing to hear the way you talked about God, about 00:43:52.410 --> 00:43:57.120 money, about your family, about your career, about your future, and 00:43:57.120 --> 00:43:59.240 for those reasons, uh, thank you. 00:43:59.330 --> 00:44:02.360 Thank you on behalf of, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, a man. 00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:03.400 I would say a young man. 00:44:03.620 --> 00:44:06.760 Uh, we're both young men, but a man who admires you and respects you. 00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:08.080 Thank you for, for, uh. 00:44:09.750 --> 00:44:13.260 Going all in because it shows up in everything you do. 00:44:14.160 --> 00:44:16.520 Eric Wood: I, I, I really appreciate those words, Sam, that 00:44:16.710 --> 00:44:18.240 that was extremely encouraging. 00:44:18.280 --> 00:44:19.080 I appreciate that brother. 00:44:19.740 --> 00:44:20.360 Sam Acho: Uh, definitely. 00:44:20.360 --> 00:44:23.040 And thank you all so much for listening to the Sam Macho podcast. 00:44:23.620 --> 00:44:25.160 We can't wait to see you soon.