Eli Rogers
Eli Rogers episode is out now. Available on Google Podcast, Spotify, Spreaker, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio
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In this Episode of the Franchise Tag Overtime Gareth got to speak to Orlando Guardians star WR Eli Rogers about the upcoming season. Eli is easily Gareth’s favourite guest so far and found him such an engaging guy to speak to. One not to be missed!
During the conversation Gareth and Eli discussed how the team was doing and using this time during the Snow storm and how he is and the rest of the WR room is building their relationship with their experienced WR room. Eli said,
We have been getting on great and I think Coach Lamar Thomas has done a great job of making the room comfortable. Setting expectations on how we are going to go about our business and everyone is a bunch of great guys. We talk to each other daily and meet daily. We go out and eat daily so it is coming along great.
Gareth talked about how Eli was one of the big names that jumped out for his experience in the NFL and Eli talked about how his time in the NFL and with Cody Lattimer experience can help the WR in Orlando achieve great things this season. They also talked about Mike Tomlin and how the he helped develop him into the player he is now. Also talked about Coach Buckley. Eli said,
He is about coming out and being consistent everyday. Being the same guy everyday. His philosophy is being smart, fast and fearless, so you have to play smart. Know your assignment and your alignment. You have to play fast and play fearless. His approach to the game is something that I think is really important as an athlete. What he is teaching me and teaching the team I think is really building a championship team in his example in what he set everyday.
They discussed the changes to the QB room with the arrival of Paxton Lynch and the relationship he has built with Deondre Francois. (Previous interview can be found here) They also discussed about Eli being one of the leaders in the WR room and how he knows what it takes to win. Gareth asked Eli about when the XFL was announced it was coming back was it always his intention to come back to the XFL? Eli said,
Yes it was. I had detour on, I went into the fire academy in Houston. One thing led to another and I didn’t pass the medical exam to become a certified EMT. During that time football never left my mind. When I heard the XFL was coming back and it was really exciting for me because it was unfortunate for me how it got cut short because of COVID. I feel that DC team just started to click and I just started to get back in my groove.
Coach Lamar Thomas snuck into the intervew to say Hi and then Gareth and Eli discussed about how he stayed motivated and how tough it was during Covid following the passing of his mother. Eli really opened up about this and how he was playing using her memory to motivate him moving forward. They talked about the irony of his opening game being in Houston following him almost becoming a fire fighter in Houston and why he cannot wait to play this game. He said,
I really excited to be playing in Houston again because 1. My Cadet class, my firefighter class. I want as many of them as they can to come. We all still keep in contact and they are really excited to see me play so that is one thing I’m excited about. Then 2. I’ve not played a full game since 2020. So it will be almost 3 years since I’ve touched the field on a global scale with cameras and tonnes of fans watching. I believe I am a better player than I’ve ever been.
Gareth and Eli discussed the advantage Orlando has with international fans and what he wants to see when it comes to fan engagement to ensure Orlando Guardians is the must see destination for any international going to the city of Orlando. They discussed the uniform and how much he likes the uniform as well as the first game of the season vs the Brahmas.
Eli was an incredible guest and truely an honour to speak to. Wishing him a huge season this year and moving forward. #StandGuard