It can be a long offseason without football, but here's some Panthers related content to brighten your offseason. Our beloved head coach Ron Rivera will be guest starring on an episode of "Fluffy Breaks Even" on FUSE, airing May 19th. The premise is that comedian Gabriel Iglesias and some friends will eat a cheat meal, and then Ron will put them through an actual NFL workout. I got the opportunity to speak with Rivera about the episode, and ask him some questions that I could pass on to our CSR community. This isn’t really related to the team, but I had some fun with it and poked around at Ron's sense of humor.
Brian: Hi Ron!
Ron: Hey Brian how you doing?
B: I’m good, this is Brian Beversluis, I’m a writer for SB Nation’s official Carolina Panthers website, Cat Scratch Reader. How you doin Ron?
R: I’m doing great thank you.
B: I was calling to ask you a couple questions. I hear you’re going to be appearing on a show called Fluffy Breaks Even, a show on FUSE featuring Gabriel Iglesias. Is that correct?
R: Yes it is, ya know, it was an awful lot of fun, getting an opportunity to shoot the episode.
B: That’s really cool, what was it like working with Gabriel?
R: Well first of all, you’re constantl laughing, I think that’s probably one of the biggest things I think most people can tell you about being around comedians. He and his whole crew were outstanding, they’re really good people, they have a great sense of humor and timing, and I will say this they aren’t very athletic I’m a little concerned about that. Other than that it was a good time it really was.
B: Sounds like a lot of fun. What drills did you end up putting them through, Ron?
R: Basic offensive and defensive and special teams type drills. They weaved in and out of pads, they caught footballs. Probably the most exciting was we used what we call the jugs machine, which launches the ball about 40 yards, probably about 70 yards in the air and about 40 yards downfield. They gotta try and catch it, and trying to judge that was kind of an interesting thing. That’s one of the highlights of the show.
B: That sounds pretty hilarious. How’d they end up fairing with a lot of the drills?
R: Well they looked surprisingly good, at first kinda watching them wobble out to the field, I was a little concerned. But when they started going through the drills, you could see some of their athleticism taking over, or their lack of. They really enjoyed it, I thought they did a nice job, I really do. It was kinda funny watching them, but as they got into it you could see the competitive nature coming out. Them wanting to be impressive and they had a good time.
B: That’s awesome, and I guess my question would be how would you compare the drills you put them through to the drills you put your normal guys through, like the Carolina Panthers roster?
R: Well for the most part these were drills that we use with our players, and trying to get them to emulate them was a little bit of a task, they aren’t quite the same tempo, the same energy. But for the most part they had an opportunity to go through what professional athletes go through, and it was a unique experience and I thought they did well.
B: Well Ron, I know you’re a pretty good talent evaluator, as evidenced by your last few seasons with a lot of success. And I’m sure you’re involved with the draft a little bit. If you had to put a draft grade on Gabriel Iglesias what would you give him?
R: Ooh, um, he’d probably be what we would say a back board guy. That’s when all else fails you go to the back board and grab a guy off of that.
B: Nice, I have one more, and this is a little inside joke for our community. Can he play tackle?
R: Can he play tackle? Uhh, um I’ll tell ya, the best part about Fluffy Breaks Even is the part where we get to eating and he most certainly tackled the food.
B: Oh my gosh, yes, and I got one more question for ya Ron and I’ll let you go. What did you like most about coming on the show?
R: Oh in all honesty it was being around the guys. Being around them on the football field, and then being around them at the food part of it, we went to a really good restaurant here in Charlotte. They expressed their etiquette as far as the food they were eating and it really was a good time and I enjoyed being around them.
B: Thanks so much Ron, I look forward to checking it out. And hey Ron, thanks for coming on to chat with me I really appreciate it.
R: Thanks for having me I had fun talking about this show.
B: Hey have a great offseason Ron!
So I legitimately look forward to watching this show. It’s always a long offseason and stuff like this helps fill it. Now excuse me, I have to go fan girl about actually speaking to Ron Rivera.