After 11 seasons as an NFL quarterback, Sage soaked up enough football knowledge to justify the name his free-thinking parents (who apparently don’t like being referred to as “hippies”) bequeathed him. We hear about his alternative upbringing in small-town Iowa, his intellectual enlightenment under then-Texans offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and his surreal 2009 season as Brett Favre’s backup in Minnesota--with equal parts insight and humor. He also tells us why he sympathizes with star quarterback Deshaun Watson’s desire to get the hell out of Houston.
Following a brief comparison of Mike’s and Sage’s inductions into respective Jewish Sports Hall of Fames, the longtime NFL quarterback talks about his unconventional upbringing in rural Iowa, his emergence as an NFL prospect and the PhD course in offense he received from future 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan that changed the course of his career. We also hear about Texans owner Cal McNair’s unlikely hobby, the organization’s current train-wreck status and why Sage believes star quarterback Deshaun Watson has every right to try to bolt. We also hear about the shrewd career advice Sage got from future Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett and the meathead culture that still permeates NFL coaching circles.