Chris Lengthy resides as much as his final title — and taking part in the lengthy sport in constructing a media enterprise.
The 2-time Tremendous Bowl champion spoke to The Submit about a variety of enterprise and soccer matters, and revealed solely that his “Inexperienced Gentle” podcast shall be partnering with Amazon’s Amp stay audio platform on Thursdays in the course of the NFL season.
Lengthy, who performed defensive finish for the Rams, Patriots and Eagles from 2008 by way of 2018, has labored with Amazon on NFL studio protection previously, and noticed this as a possibility to be “extra dressed down and informal.”
Lengthy didn't wish to go into sports activities media and need to put on a swimsuit and tie on a regular basis.
“Did you see Amazon’s pregame present final week? Fitzy [Ryan Fitzpatrick] wore a Hawaiian shirt. Andrew Whitworth had a hoodie beneath his swimsuit. I’m simply extra dressed down. It’s higher than working with another person. And Amazon’s leading edge. The panorama’s altering they usually have the firepower to have the ability to hit a curveball or transferring goal.”
There shall be common contributors and fan interactions on the present.
“Once you’re producing a podcast, generally you get slowed down on the main points, and when you've folks sending in questions it’s an amazing alternative to be off the cuff,” Lengthy mentioned.
Lengthy has been working with Blue Wire, a four-year-old podcast community based by Kevin Jones, on increasing his media umbrella. It’s an association the place Lengthy handles the content material, whereas Blue Wire takes care of the advertising and marketing gross sales. The 2 sides have a deal on a income cut up.
“The explanation that Blue Wire was so engaging is I’m driving the subscriptions and downloads, however the again finish stuff that I've zero curiosity in coping with is taken care of,” Lengthy mentioned. “You get to be a part of a giant community however you additionally get to be an unbiased contractor.”
The concept of being his personal boss was essential to Lengthy.
“That’s a giant deal for me,” he mentioned. “I work 10 minutes from my home [in Charlottesville, Va.].”
They've advertising and marketing preparations with Wynn — which collaborated with Blue Wire on a huge $3.5 million studio at their on line casino on the Las Vegas strip — and Miller Lite.
“As you become old, I don’t go to the bar as a lot, however I’m a giant day drinker,” Lengthy mentioned. “Whether or not I’m out on the water, hanging out outdoors with my buddies or no matter, a light-weight beer goes down easy. When it’s 85-90 levels or hotter, and also you get a chilly Miller Lite, that’s at all times been considered one of my favourite beers. Once they got here to the desk, I used to be fanboying a bit bit.”
Lengthy can also be increasing his Inexperienced Gentle umbrella, and introduced aboard brother, offensive lineman Kyle Lengthy, who formally retired from the NFL this previous offseason.
One enticement was the promise of a “chill boss” — and a solution to have a few of his personal content material autonomy. Lengthy’s former Eagles teammate Beau Allen, — the 2 went viral together with Lane Johnson for sporting canine masks after defeating the Vikings within the 2018 NFC championship sport — can also be becoming a member of Inexperienced Gentle as a contributor.
Whereas the phrase podcast implies an audio medium, the enterprise has developed everywhere lately. Lengthy’s group needs to create large impressions on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch and extra.
Lengthy is spreading the ball round, so to talk. Different common contributors on his personal podcasts embody the school soccer author Nicole Auerbach, Stanford Steve (Scott Van Pelt’s pal on midnight “SportsCenter”) and Nate Collins, the previous Bears defensive sort out who performed with Lengthy at Virginia.
“As we develop, generally when the pod’s too crowded, and I can solely do 90 minutes, and now we have so many individuals we will have in — I would like it to be Chris Lengthy and Buddies. I don’t need it to be all about me,” Lengthy mentioned.
Post a Comment