Ed’s glorious Indianapolis journey, 2025 version

There very almost was no ‘Ed’s glorious journey to Indianapolis’ this yr. After touring to the NFL Scouting Mix the previous six years I used to be not going to make the trek this time round.

My bosses gained’t like me mentioning this, however the annual journey to the Mix is a private alternative in an effort to do my job higher and never a paid enterprise journey. It’s an out-of-pocket expense.

I used to be going to remain residence this yr. However, isn’t there all the time a however? SB Nation’s Affiliate Director for NFL Crew Manufacturers Jeanna Kelley labored some magic and acquired a small group of us an AirBnb — even when it was 2 miles from the Indiana Conference Heart and never the lower than two-tenths of a mile I’m used to strolling from an Indianapolis lodge every morning when on the Mix.

That, plus making the 12-hour drive from upstate New York quite than paying for a flight considerably diminished the associated fee and made the journey possible. Even with an in a single day cease at an inexpensive motel to separate the journey in half.

Sunday, Feb. 23

I’m a espresso addict. No denying it, no working round it. My Sunday evening keep en path to Indy was at an affordable motel with out in-room espresso makers, which necessitated bringing a small, moveable espresso maker and my very own espresso. Besides any individual forgot to pack any Splenda or espresso creamer. I needed to scramble on Monday morning for the fixin’s. Oh, nicely. Finest-laid plans!

Someone at residence was apparently lacking me Sunday evening.

That could be a photograph my spouse despatched me from Sunday evening of two very confused cats who sleep on my facet of the mattress — however solely once I’m in it.

Monday, Feb. 24

Because it all the time does, my 64-year-old bladder woke up me round 4:15 a.m. No biggie. I ALWAYS return to sleep for a pair extra hours. Besides, in fact, for as we speak. When I’ve 490 miles of driving forward of me. Enjoyable occasions!

Regardless of the dearth of sleep, I made the drive efficiently, and with no nap. The dearth of a nap is an accomplishment. You’ll perceive once you get to be 64 — for those who aren’t there already.

One factor I found about driving is that it really makes memento buying simpler. I’ve complained for years about an lack of ability to seek out souvenirs for the grand youngsters in downtown Indy. The airport has been the one place I’ve had any luck.

Nicely, since I had a while on Monday once I arrived I used to be really capable of finding two memento outlets I wouldn’t have in any other case been in a position to stroll to. So, that chore is finished for the week.

After six journeys to the Mix throughout which I’ve stayed nearby of Lucas Oil Sradium every time, I do know my manner round from there.

I found Monday evening that even with Google Maps attempting to direct me, I had no concept the place I used to be going from the BatesHendricks neighborhood the place we had been staying. I figured I may stroll the two miles to get to Harry & Izzy’s for dinner.

I by no means acquired there. Don’t ask me how I wound up wandering previous the Gainbridge FieldHouse, which is the place the Pacers had been taking part in and never close to Harry & Izzy’s. I ended up at Kilroy’s, a spot I like and have been to many occasions, however I nonetheless don’t know the way I ended up there as an alternative of at Harry & Izzy’s. And, sure, I used to be utterly sober.

Another factor in regards to the grand youngsters. My spouse and I (nicely, principally my spouse) host a factor we now have come to name ‘cousin Monday’ at our home after faculty ends on Mondays. I suppose I missed the grand youngsters placing on fairly the present Monday:

Tuesday, Feb. 25

Joe Schoen Day.

I spent a while earlier than heading to the Mix after which once more early Tuesday morning prepping a listing of questions for the Giants’ GM. The record of what I believed Schoen wanted to be requested crammed roughly 4 pages in my reporter’s pocket book.

On my manner from the media room to the interview room I crossed paths with Giants scout Hannah Burnett. We each acquired a great snigger out of the size of my record as a result of we each knew the one questions anybody actually cared about had been those relating to Matthew Stafford.

Hannah did ask me to “go easy on Joe.”

Sorry, Hannah, however as a gaggle I don’t assume we did that in any respect.

The one different noteworthy factor about Tuesday was that I lastly made it to Harry & Izzy’s. This time, I had an Uber take me there.

Wednesday, Feb. 26

The 16-Bit Bar + Arcade.

That was undoubtedly not on my Bingo card for the week in Indianapolis, however that’s the place I discovered myself for 90 minutes or so on Wednesday evening.

There have been a dozen or so representatives of SB Nation masking the Mix. Jeanna Kelley (The Falcoholic), Pete Sweeney (Arrowhead Pleasure), Jeremy Reisman (Pleasure of Detroit), Jared Mueller (Dawgs By Nature) and I had been amongst a gaggle of principally SB Nation of us who determined to hit the city for dinner Wednesday evening.

We selected Fogo De Chao, the Brazilian Steakhouse, partially as a result of it’s incredible and partially as a result of we couldn’t get into the enduring St. Elmo’s Steak Home. In case you love quite a lot of steak, pork, rooster, and lamb and have by no means tried a Brazilian steakhouse, it needs to be a bucket record merchandise.

The arcade was our subsequent cease, the place I found that a number of of our crew fancy themselves to be ‘Cornhole’ superstars. And the place Sweeney, Reisman and Mueller acquired absorbed right into a deep recreation of ‘NFL Blitz.’

My closing cease on Wednesday evening was with Mike Tanier of the ‘Too Deep Zone’ substack. We had been the previous guys of the crew. After we bored with the arcade, we walked over to ‘Prime,’ a preferred restaurant/bar the place coaches, scouts, entrance workplace personnel are recognized to hang around.

That was a wash — a really crowded, noisy wash — apart from bumping into Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Requested him how his week was going and Bowen stated he missed his two younger kids. See, coaches are individuals, too.

Thursday, Feb. 27

I attempt to discover no less than one distinctive, informative, unique story annually whereas I’m on the Mix. For the previous few years that has been a 1-on-1 interview with Chris Simms. This yr, Simms by no means made himself out there once I was meandering across the interview room. Why had been ya hiding from me, Chris?

Regardless of. I discovered one thing else I consider you guys loved.

Wandering across the room on Thursday whereas ready for tight ends to talk, I noticed Greg Cosell of NFL Movies. He and I had by no means met, however when he was alone for a second I launched myself and requested if we may discuss Giants and quarterbacks for a pair minutes.

“Sure, we can do that,” he stated.

And we did.

Day made. Field checked. The humorous half was that after our three-minute interview I stored operating into Cosell. Whereas speaking to Madelyn Burke from the Giants, Cosell walked up. Whereas I used to be within the JW Marriott some time later, Cosell walked by. Extra on the JW a bit later.

I’ve to be sincere about one thing. It’s cool to speak to those prospects of their podium classes. Most of these tales, although, don’t transfer the needle. The conversations aren’t precisely deep.

I actually wasn’t all that fired up about speaking to the tight ends Thursday morning. So, I didn’t. However, I did determine at hand out a few arbitrary awards.

Finest Mix porn ‘stache

That goes to Robbie Ouzts of Alabama.

Finest Mix hair (possibly beard, too)

That goes to Gavin Bartholomew of Pitt. For what it’s price, once I wandered previous Bartholomew’s podium, he was discussing mullet care.

Now, again to the JW Marriott

All of the stuff with gamers occurs at both the Indiana Conference Heart, the place media interviews are held and the media workroom is, or in Lucas Oil Stadium.

The actual nerve middle of the Mix, although, is the JW Marriott, its ‘High Velocity’ bar/restaurant and its upstairs ‘Starbucks.’

I’ve made the trek to ‘High Velocity’ at evening numerous occasions. I’m not, although, sufficient of an evening owl to be out till 2 or 3 a.m. So, these treks are enjoyable however probably not helpful.

This yr, I made a decision to take a look at the JW in the course of the daytime. That’s the place a lot of the groups, although not the Giants, and lots of the media members from the nationwide shops keep.

I did lunch at Connor’s, the restaurant within the Marriott throughout the road the place the Giants really keep. Noticed former Giants and present Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt and a number of acquainted reporter faces — Dan Duggan, Dan Graziano, Ryan Dunleavy, Pat Leonard, Connor Hughes. What did I eat, you ask? An superior plate of smoked rooster wings coated in dry rub.

Then, Jeanna Kelley and I spent a great chunk of the afternoon simply individuals watching within the JW.

Noticed Archie Manning shuffling, and I do imply shuffling, across the foyer nibbling on what I feel was a bag of chips. Why was Archie on the Mix, anyway?

Went upstairs to the notorious ‘Starbucks,’ scene of the Jordan Schultz-Ian Rapoport tete-a-tete. No crime scene tape. No bodily proof. However, noticed numerous reporters, brokers and different NFL varieties milling about. Met Mina Kimes, my ‘Bluesky’ hero. Chatted up an agent I’ve recognized for some time.

Why haven’t I carried out the JW daytime factor earlier than? I’m most undoubtedly going to make it an everyday prevalence any longer.

The media circus at Shedeur Sanders’ podium in Indianapolis on Friday morning. There was one other horde of media members a few podiums away speaking to Cam Ward.

Photograph by Justin Casterline/Getty Pictures

Friday, Feb. 28

I actually would have favored to hearken to the quarterbacks converse to media on Friday morning. The brutal reality, although, is that I wished to go residence much more. To that time, I made a decision to skip the thought of an in a single day lodge keep to separate the journey residence and do your complete 790-mile, 12-hour journey in a single shot.

That meant leaving at 8:30 a.m., earlier than Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders had been set to step to the rostrum at 9 a.m. No likelihood I used to be hanging round for that, leaving Indy round 1 p.m. and driving till the early morning hours to get residence.

I ended the day pleased with my NASCAR crew chief abilities. I crammed my tank with gasoline as I left Indianapolis, then strateically plotted one needed mid-trip fill-up of my 2014 Honda Pilot, pondering if I did it proper I’d have simply sufficient gasoline to get residence. I waited nearly so long as I presumably may earlier than filling up, squeezing greater than 400 miles out of 1 tank. I re-filled the tank only a couple miles from residence, with the odometer telling me I had all of 16 miles price of gasoline remaining. Excellent! I made it to the end line with out operating out of gasoline! Anyone want a crew chief?

I even acquired residence in time for ‘Fire Country,’ our Friday evening present.

The cats, by the way, had been as pleased (happier?) to see me as my spouse was.