As a once-in-a-generation quarterback at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., Armanti Edwards led the Mountaineers to FCS national championships in 2006 and 2007 as well as an extraordinary road win over then-No. 5 Michigan, (https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article170453812.html) often called the biggest upset in college football history.
Lightly recruited out of Greenwood, S.C., Edwards would become the first two-time Walter Payton winner as the FCS National Player of the Year. He was also a four-time All-American and led App State to a 42-7 record as a starter. Edwards then became a third-round NFL draft pick by the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers employed Edwards from 2010 to 2013, trying to switch him from a star quarterback to wide receiver and punt returner with little success.
That was a period where Edwards said he experienced “the darkest time in my football career.” In our “Sports Legends” interview he also discussed in detail for the first time the circumstances of his release from the Panthers in 2013. Edwards would then have a strong career as a wideout in the Canadian Football League (https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article167843882.html), where he once played on a team that won the CFL’s equivalent of the Super Bowl. He now lives in Charlotte with his wife and two children.
Sports Legends of the Carolinas is hosted by Scott Fowler. It’s produced by Loumay Alesali, Jeff Siner and Kata Stevens. McClatchy’s director of audio is Davin Coburn. Our interns on this production are Zoe Williams and Christina Silvestri. For lots more on the show, visit
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Hello everybody and welcome to another Episode of sports legends of the Carolinas I'm your host Scott Fowler Sports columnist for the Charlotte Observer who I've worked since 1994 and as always in this podcast I'm Traveling across both Carolinas seeking Out some of my favorite sports stars and Asking them to tell the real stories Behind their rise to iconic status now For this episode of sports legends we're Back in our podcast studio in Charlotte And I'm delighted to be sitting across From Armani Edwards Who as a quarterback At app state had the swort of college Football career most people can only Dream of now 35 years old armanii Edwards was a once in a generation Talent at appalachin State a dazzling Quarterback who could run and throw and Who led the Mountaineers to two national Championships and a legendary upset of Michigan in 2007 that had all sort of Quirkiness that we'll get into Today now Franklin humming Armani Edwards takes off and is caught from Behind but what a throw from James Franklin and Armani Edwards almost found Daylight the Mountaineers had a Remarkable run of three straight FCS National titles in the mid 2000s and Edwards was the very biggest star for The last two of those in 2010 then Edwards was a third round NFL draft pick
By the Carolina Panthers who decided to Switch him from quarterback to wide Receiver that didn't work out well at All and caused Edwards to experience What he calls now quote a lot of dark Times unquote we'll talk about all that Armanii Edwards also played for several Years in the Canadian Football League he Now lives in Charlotte with his family Don't forget to pre-order your copy of The sports legends coffee table book at Sport sports legends Book.com and now here's Armani Edwards Next on sports legends the Carolin Armani welcome to the show thank You for having me it's been great to uh Catch up a little bit off the air and I I know people are very interested in What what you're up to now so give us a Little sense just sort of of you your Family why you ended up settling in Charlotte and so on I'm from Greenwood South Carolina so only about hours away So you know once I was drafted here in Charlotte uh me and my now wife uh it's My girlfriend at the time we just fell In love with the area it felt like home And we was you know far away from home But close enough to visit and have Visitors and that's why we fell in love With the place tell us about your Children our son is about to be 12 next Month and we have a 15 year old daughter She's be she'll be 16 in September and
Do they play sports yes um our daughter She's never been really interested in Sports up until now she's uh wants to Get involved in track so we're going to You know put in um on the track team This year and our son of course only Likes football you know I try to get him In other sports um he he just can't find The interest but he loves football and He's uh you I think you mentioned he's Playing flag right now uh yes they Recently finished up their flag uh Football season um they won the the Championship um so so he's pretty Excited about that was he a quarterback Uh he played uh wide receiver and um Defensive back know he he never saw me Play quarterback so he's only seen me Play receivers so that's right yeah I Guess that that's true because he would Have seen you in the in the CFL mainly He was born once we got here in Charlotte when I played here but he was A little baby so it was our daughter who Who's always seen me um play we had her When we was in college So nice well uh you are a a legend in These parts but even more so in Boon North Carolina I have two sons who Currently attend out state right now and Of course the legend of Armani Edwards Is still alive and well in Boon how Often do you get back to App State it Hasn't been often um ever since I played
In the CFL so um but I was able to make Um two games last year so that was the Most I've made I think since I went to Canada huh in a year so it was uh it was Great um yeah I was at the game um the Hell Mary play Oh The Very that was Their game yeah the big one of the Season when they caught it on the last Play or whatever yes sir I was at that One and I can't remember who they played The last time um I was I want to say it Was James Madison if I can remember Correctly but I was able to make both of Those games nice well we'll get into a Lot of your app State Career but let's Go ahead and start off with one of the Headline moments and talk about the Michigan game a a game that people it's 16 years ago now and to appstate fans it Still seems I think like it's yesterday I think one time we were speaking about This for an interview several years ago And you told me that you had never been On a plane before that game not at all That was that was my first plane trip so Didn't know it quite to expect um a Little afraid nervous but you know once The plane took off and got up there if I Can remember um I want to say I did go To sleep now uh let's talk about the Leadup for it before you we get into the Game um what was it like you guys were Coming off a national championship Nevertheless a huge Underdog going to a
Place where 109,000 people would be what Was the leadup to it and did you think As you guys were over the summer and the Way weight r or whatever that you were Going to have a chance uh so this Started before the summer um it's um a Two-e program that we do in the early Offseason what we call Winter gym so That's shortly I want to say it's in February at the time and we have to be Up 5:00 a.m. and we got extreme workouts It's um a circuit that we have to do and I think after day one or day two you Know coach he always gives us a speech After every practice some kind of Motivation and just that day he Announced that uh we were playing Michigan and everybody was hiking you Know everybody yelling uh just just Excited so we knew you know early on in The year who we had and you know after After that um we come back for summer Workouts um our strength coach coach Dilman at the time he literally played The fight song Michigan fight song on Repeat and wait room for the entire Summer Oh how' that make you feel know that Irritated uh everybody you know we so we Went from being excited to play them to You know we're we're getting mad now so Yes yes so they're they're pumping you Up they're playing the Michigan fight Song get in yall angry you get on that
Plane and go to Michigan and this is Supposed to be one of those games that The big school schedule uh to just kind Of beat up on somebody right I mean to Beat up on a quote little school even Though app state is is not a little Place but in the pregame what did it Feel like so want to go back a little Bit um a week or two um left before we Was going there you know we started Facing injuries um I got hurt myself um Our Center our starting center um a Upper classman he got hurt and wasn't Able to play in the game at all so we Have our backup Center and um the week Before that game I wasn't able to Practice um at all what was wrong with You I had a um sprain AC joint in my Throwing shoulder oh so I think it was Great too and leading up to that we had Other injuries but what a lot of people Don't know as well we had a severe Thunderstorm that came you know two Three days before that game so we didn't Really get to practice at all that week But at the same time um when we was Watching film um offensively we saw that They were having extreme trouble with The spread you know when Ohio state Would spread them out or any other team That was a spread offense spreading them Out they had trouble covering because You know Michigan is a huge team but um Their linebackers are more you know for
The eye formation stop and run and so That that got our confidence uh building Up even more once we saw that and And leading up to it um once we got There um before we even went to the Hotel our coach immediately took us to The stadium to let everybody walk around And see it um they played um LSU I think Two years before that so the upper Classman you know they're familiar with You know hostile environments playing Big schools but our coaches were you Know so experienced at the time they Understand that we got guys that haven't Been in this environment and it's a big Game so they let everybody go check out The stadium get the oo and O out and you Know he had another speech then and said Okay you've seen the stadium now you Know pretty much you know let's just get Ready to play the game tomor and this Was coach Jared Moore who was a legend At at App State himself and so you guys Early on kind of hit him in the mouth Sort of described what you remember as As you guys I think it was it Dexter Jackson you you had some early success Yes there their defensive linemen were Obviously bigger than our offensive Linemen so our game plan going into the Game was you know quick throws get the Ball out quick to give our offensive Linemen a chance to hold up and be able To play fourth quarters so we wanted to
Spread them out as we did and go quick Games you know five six yard pops we was Happy with that And you know fortunate fortunately for Us we had one of the fastest guys in the Nation at receiver who can take a slant 80 90 yards easy and that's just what Happened Off to the Races and going all The way to the end zone the Speer Dexter Jackson he was a Southern Conference 200m Dash champion and he ran away from The Michigan Defense were you uh in pain during that Game with your shoulder um not at first Um I did take a a shot so um pretty much It was numb um and at that moment in Time I wasn't getting hit or taking any Hits on my on my left shoulder so it Wasn't up until I want to say the first Drive coming out of halftime when I got Sacked and I fumbled and I was thrown Directly on my shoulder so that um Hurted even more um but adrenaline was Still rushing so I was able to manage And finish the game and you know just Jumping ahead but after that game I Suffered um a a crack I think it was a Crack bone with the AC joint spring so I Made it even worse in the game you mean That's and you missed couple of games Didn't you right after that yes um I Missed I want to Say three two or three games I tried to Come back early and reinjured it again
Um against w and had to miss you know Another game or two so you were really Playing hurt uh but the team was playing So well I'm sure you just felt like you Couldn't you couldn't miss this Opportunity and so the game goes back And forth uh you guys toward the end Kick a field goal to go up 3432 uh and so I guess just sort of Describe what you remember from the last You know five minutes of the game and Everything thing that transpired after That yes we had um complications leading Up to the to the end of that starting With the offense you know before we took The lead you know a lot of us we wanted To go down and score so but um our coach Uh Coach Moore he wanted to get in field Goal range kick a field goal and put it In the hands of the defense to to get The stop so that was um one of the the Conflicting moments we had it was a Great drive that we had a must drive we Got down there we got the field goal but It was still you know too much time on The clock right kicked the field goal on First down I think if I remember yeah we Yeah so it was a a lot of commotion There but um again what a lot of people Didn't get to see is our practices with Um Jerome Touchstone and Corey Lynch When it comes to special teams and Blocking field goals They were so good at blocking them I'm
Not exaggerating they literally would Run past our kicker and let him kick the Field goal in practice really yes so We've seen uh even games before that Seasons pass Cory Lynch um blocking Field goal so that was something that Wasn't um you know um shocking for us to See and you know just being on the Sidelines uh part of you has it in the Back of your head that you know Somebody's going to blow BL it but Another part um is saying that man we've Already blocked one field goal what's The chances we block a second one this Game so yeah so it was 5050 at that Moment yes so for those who don't Remember y'all scored got up 3432 but Then they threw a long pass that somehow Got caught and so they're setting up for A a game-winning field goal and uh on That Play uh Lynch comes in from I for forget What side but comes in comes in from the Left side and and blocks it let's listen To that as it was called ready snap's Good the whole the kick the kick is the MERS are going to try to take it back to The big house the big 20 15 10 the Mountaineers have just beaten the Michigan Wolverines the Mountaineers of Appalachin State have just beaten the Michigan Wolverines in the big house so The field goal gets blocked Armani did
You watch the play were you too nervous To watch describe what was going on on The sideline I was watching the play um He's a funny moment at that time though Our biggest offensive lineman Carri Brown he's like 67 315 monster um one of The best lineman um I had the privilege The to be behind and he's not a um very Spiritual guy so you know when when we Do the prayers or have our FC um s FCA Meetings um you'll never see him there And this is the one moment where he was Literally on the bench kneeling praying Not looking at the place so it wasn't Funny in the time but it was very funny Once the game was over to to know that This guy that that you've never seen Pray he's big monster out there he's Really down there praying yeah found Guys yeah yes at that time in the big House yeah but I was I watched it and um You know luckily um the the refs didn't Throw a flat because I along with you Know 50 other guys were on the field While cor was running the running the Ball back so wow good snap good hold and The kick is blocked appalachin state has Stunned the college football World what A of the greatest upsets in sports History blocked by Cory Lynch and so what was that plane ride Home like and then your uh when you came Back into boom it was uh one of the most Exciting but painful experiences I had
But because at that time the quarter Zone shot at War off the adrenaline is Wore off I'm in the sling and you know As much as I want to celebrate I I can't Move my my left shoulder but you know I I wouldn't changed that experience for The world you're I guess you got the Quarter Zone shot at halftime or was it After you got hurt in the third I took Um I took the quarter Zone shot before The game uh and then once you got back To uh Boon the student reception was Like what it's crazy um it was the National championship games all over Again you know once we came back from Those games in Chattanooga had a a huge Crowd out in front of the um the Facility waiting to greet us rocking the Bus and everything and we got that same Exact experience again in Michigan it Was like 3 in the morning as well so it It was very late and you know fans out There just rocking the rocking the bus Just just congratulating us now you grew Up let's go back a little bit but tell Me about growing up in Greenwood and and What what that was like for Armani Edwards small town only like 20 30,000 People so you know the only thing to do There is play sports but um I come from A big family um all together I had five Brothers Three Sisters but um even Outside of that I have can't even count You know eight to 10 uncles and aunts on
Both my sides mom and dad's side and but On my mom's side um we was a little Closer because they always have family Unions and everything and in high school If I remember didn't you play some wide Receiver before becoming a quarterback People always get the story mixed up Okay straight out yeah so it's actually The opposite I always played quarterback So then up until um my junior year so The high school I went to was a Prestigious high school you know lot of Great athletes that go D1 we had um we Had a legendary coach shell douer you Already knew Once you got to high school it was a Waiting game there was always somebody You know athletic or you know about to Get a scholarship that's in front of you So I always played quarterback going up Into there so my junior year we had a Quarterback that's already there uh Zar Matthews uh very skillful he played a Quarterback receiver running back Defensive back so that's type of athlete He was um also he got a scholarship to Marshall so he's the starting Quarterbacks so where do I go um the um But fortunately um our coach coach liner Offensive coordinator he understood that Um I was pretty athletic too so he put Me at receiver and literally the first Game Zer got hurt so in halftime of the First game I go back to quarterback so I
Only played receiver for a short stint And once um he came back he was healthy We alternated every series so when I Played back he'd be at receiver or Running back and when he was at Quarterback I was at receiver and that's The only time I played receiver oh Interesting and that was your whole Junior year yes and then Senior Year you Were strictly quarterback strictly Quarterback how heavily or lightly Recruited were you as a quarterback um I Wasn't recruited um heavily because of My size I think I was like 15560 lbs at that time and what how tall Were you 5'11 5 Which is what you always were right yes Yes but of course you know in high School um at this time there's no social Media so for a college recruit to see The athlete they got to come to the game So on paper I was 6 feet 185 Pounds so so yes who knows any better Yeah so I did have um D1 Scouts coming Uh my offensive coordinator Chris liner He took care of all the scouting for me So I was very grateful for that but you Know I had South Carolina the Clemson Those guys come to the games but once They saw me and I was undersized they Didn't want me as a quarterback so Instead of uh coach ler informing me Like hey we have Clemson here watching You you know he tell them no because
They wanted me as a receiver of DB so I Didn't get many scholarships uh for that Reason because once the colleges saw me They saw I was small you know in their Eyes they want to change my position you Weren't interested in switching Positions um it wasn't uh that I wanted Type of thing um it was more of that he Saw um the potential I had as a Quarterback so instead of him even Letting me know this this school wants You you know as a receiver he just told Them no he's he's a quarterback so the Only the only colleges who said we would Give him a chance at quarterback then Him and um coach Doula would inform me You know this school's looking at you And so what did that narrow it down to How many schools would do that um pretty Much d1aa um I had um one D1 offer from New Mexico State as a quarterback but um Again um D1aa there's no social media at the time So I'm very unfamiliar you know with These schools but again I'm grateful for Coach Duan and Coach liner because they Handled pretty much all of our scouting And um when it came to schools and it Pretty much came down to Georgia Southern in Appalachian State and a lot Of people don't know but I was Originally going to commit to Georgia Southern really yes but their coaches Got fired so once the coaches got fired
Appachan State you know like a week Later called and wanted me to have a Visit and I love the place um up there Just the people around Uh Kevin Richardson uh our start running back one Of the first guys I met and he was just So down to earth and then U once I got Back and had to talk with um coach doua He felt that that was the best fit for Me to go there so that's how I chose Appachan state were you raised mainly by Your mom or who raised you mostly in Green one yes so I stayed with my mom um And on my mom's side I have a a older Brother and older sister so I'm the Youngest on that side but uh my dad was In my life uh he's um he's an older guy He was born in the late 40s so he was Hardworking um he owned his own brick Contracting business and so I would go Work with him in the summer um long Story short I got in trouble as a kid And it was supposed to be My Punishment You know to go out there in the hot sun No shade summer gone gotta go work for Free yes but you know my dad being the The man he is he paid me for it so I won Not go out there um but yeah it it was Hard work going out there and everything But I did more things with my dad as Well you know he came to the games when He can make it um he offered me to go to Church you know as a kid I didn't like Going to church but you know pretty much
Almost every Sunday after church he'd Come get me take me out to eat or we go Up um to Anderson of Greenville to the Flea market and stuff like that so yes I I grew up with my mom but my dad was There and he is now incarcerated and and Has been for many years um I'm sure That's one of the difficult parts of Your life was that while you were still In high school that he had to go to Prison yes that happened um sum are Going into my senior year you know again Um for people that know um that don't Know what type of guy my dad is um with His brick Contracting um business he Didn't take applications you know he Because most of the people that work for Him you know had had problems they Either been to prison and stuff like That but um he hosted a card game every Uh Sunday with his high school Classmates that's what he do but know Even when my friend Or family members on my mom's side that Not related to him wanted to come out And make extra money on the weekend he Let them come with me you know pay them So that's the type of guy he was but he Led playing cards and unfortunately this Time he two guys that he's never you Know played with or been around he Invited them to to his home and you know They end up uh wanting to Rob him so and It led from there m and and so he's in
Prison now for for murder for a very Long sentence have did you ever see him Since he went to prison yes yes um I Would visit um often pretty pretty much Um every chance I got uh come home Because the first prison he was at it Was only like 30 minutes from our Hometown so right down the road um so I Would visit often it was only once I Went to Canada where I couldn't uh visit As often as I wanted but he called Constantly he's always calling um I just Talked to him maybe a week ago now so Yeah it's great his name is Freddy yes Freddy Edwards so it's always great to Hear his voice but he's um then Co Happened so that pretty much messed up All the visitations um for like I want To say two years they couldn't even have Visitors so I haven't seen them in about 3 four years now so yeah yeah well and That's interesting though that you Really did have a close relationship Growing up I I had not known That we'll be back right after This welcome back Armani your college Career really was amazing you won the Equivalent of the Heisman trophy for FCS Schools twice two different times so I Wonder if you all the Great Moments you Had there if you could narrow it down Let's take the Michigan game out of the Equation because we just talked about That but what tell me one or two of your
Other very favorite moments games uh Times of your life while you were at Upstate um I'm going to take the title Games out as well so obviously you know Can't can't top get in the ring um but Um I would say Richmond what year was this 2007 um and Walford probably the same year where we Had um it was a Halloween game on ESPN To so um with the Walford game um they Beat us after we beat Michigan at their House right right yes and they stormed The field and everything uh that's the Game I reinjured my shoulder didn't get To play the second half and we pretty Much lost know in the last minute and You know they had the game one already But they instead won it to to stick it To us and they scored again so that that Left a sour taste in our in our mouths And we just couldn't wait to play them Know we had them for Halloween um it was Our blackout night and we were on ESPN Too we didn't get that often yes so that Was a great feeling and we hung up like 70 on them that game nice so yes Revenge Was sweet yes and Richmond um I think That was the game leading up to Um the championship so it was the game Before that and know it was just a crazy Atmosphere what a night it's been for Arm Monte Edwards as we welcome you back To ESPN college football Prime Time Presented by Jack linkx beef jerky 46
Total yards and five touchdowns arm Monte Edwards is responsible for tonight And he's back on the field there or at B Um in Boon in Boone and that was one of My well that was my best uh rushing game Obviously all the plays wern't wasn't Runs but you know um I had um over 300 Rushing yards that game so it was Remarkable yeah one of my favorite when You play did you prefer like what was What was a bigger thrill for you like Rushing for a 50- yard touchdown or Throwing a 50- yard touchdown um more Throwing because um I was already I was Always comfortable running you know um I Would admit at the at early on in my Career you know I I missed pass reads And everything I wasn't that you know um Efficient mindwise um I wasn't Comfortable just yet with all the the Pass reads um early on my freshman Sophomore year so it was very Comfortable for me to run but me being Who I was I wanted to see you know my Friends and other guys you know happy And get the ball as well so it was more Exciting for me when I was able to Complete a deep back pass or just you Know get the ball to one of the the Receivers that don't get to touch the Ball as often and let them do what they Can do as well so you had that Incredible college career and then the Carolina Panthers drafted you in the
Third round trading up to do So shot the off steart Newton fires Downfield with the catch is made by Arachi Edwards and Edwards with one man Aete is knocked down by Defender G so Tell me well first of all let's go to This do you do you feel like in the NFL that you never should have switched Positions of course um again from from Ag6 to leading up to my NFL career I was Quarterback up until you know that Junior year stin in high school I always Played quarterback um it was second Nature to me it felt natural and I loved It and everything and it's not that um It's not the fact that I had to switch Um I was old enough and mature enough to To know what kind of you know size was Needed prototypical quarterback uh was Needed at that time so I already had a Understanding that it's possible I won't Be able to play the position but at the Same time you know I I was told at times As well and I thought it too that I Would at least get you know Opportunities to do you know some wow Cat know not once or twice a year but You know have actual packages for games And that never happened so you know that Was a hard time for me as well I bet Because that seems like would have been Ideal I mean put you in and that first Year if I remember cam wasn't even there Yet we had Matt Moore and Jimmy Claus
Was in my draft class so that's with our Two quarterbacks in and we only won two Games so that was not a good team yeah I What they would have really benefited From some Armani Edwards uh Wildcat uh And you mentioned the prototypical size Of course and and so in the NFL you Played at what weight roughly um in Carolina I was 190 190 okay and still About 5'11 or whatever that's not far Off this size of for instance Bryce Young you know so it it can be done Right I mean we see it being done now But when I was drafted Russell Wilson Wasn't there yet no he's after me so There was no under six feet guy pretty Much you know Drew Brees was the closest But he's not 190 pounds as well so it Was you know highly unlikely at that Time and know it wasn't accepted at at Carolina then for those um four years You were here uh how do you characterize Is that experience overall that was the Darkest time in my football career uh Carolina and I'mma start from the Beginning because it did have bright Spots um towards the end um but at the Beginning you know I'm not going to Throw any names out there but I had a Guy um that I looked up to on the team Uh he knows a lot ins and outs and he Told me you know only reason they Brought me in was to sell tickets cuz I'm from app so you know I didn't
Understand it at the time um went over My head at the time but you know as the Season go on and I'm not even getting The opportunity to play and we're losing You know you start to see it um then you Know you start to hear that you know the Coach didn't even want to draft you the Coach we had at that time so um again You trying to figure out why I'm not Playing not getting opportunity I'm not Um I felt like I wasn't even getting the Help I needed to you know be a returner Yet alone learn how to play receiver um Because um I did play baseball growing Up but I was always infield first base Third Base pitcher so you know I never Play Outfield so they always said you Know catching catching punts and Kickoffs just like catching the ball in The Outfield and I tell them I never Play Outfield so you have to teach me And what people don't know in um in the NFL special team doesn't get a lot of Practice a lot of the practice is geared Towards offense and defense and you'll Have literally you know 10 minutes of Special teams and it's different special Teams for each day so literally once a Week I get an opportunity at punt return And only like one live and when I say Live that means I catch it I see Defenders coming down and I get to run At them only once or twice so I wasn't Getting practice
And a lot of people don't realize I only Dropped one punt in my career and that One punt I dropped was in preseason my Rookie year with when the coaches didn't Put me back in Until what um Atlanta the second time we Played Atlanta uh the the be Punk return Again so no it was a lot of hardships a Lot of dark times um and uh once uh Coach Rivera got there um he felt Genuine um I liked him it felt like he Liked me which he did um I didn't know At the time but as it got um years in um You know he was really trying to look Out for me um got my opportunity to play Punt return but again um I'm not getting Uh the practice so I'm not you know Really getting anywhere my second year Then my third year they draft another Receiver and Coach R informed me said if You're going to make the team it's going To be at receiver because we got another Guy that's going to play punt return so Trying to focus at receiver but um this Is the first year where I'm actually Learning how to play receivers so before That um no disrespect to the receiver Coaches but they didn't help me you know They really just went and Coach the guys They knew they were going to play yeah So I didn't get any help and the only Time the well not the only time but the First time I started getting help was When Ricky Pro got there as the um
Assistant receiver of Coach so he Actually took his time outside of Practice in practice to actually coach Me Teach Me technique and everything so That was the first time where I actually Started the grasp you know learning how To play receiver and then uh when I Really started feeling comfortable my Fourth year and Coach Rivera deemed me The most improved player in Camp uh he Was excited Um I got hurt um had hamstring problem Okay so I didn't get to play in the Final preseason game which would have Been a a big game for me going into the Season because I was uh I was competing With Ted Gan and Dominique Hixon at that Time for the third receiver spot all Right this is 2013 yes and I didn't get To play that game um and at this time we Got a new GM and that new GM brought in Those exact two guys that I named so You know if you understand the business Where you already know who he wants to Play and once I got hurt um and Ted had An awesome fourth preseason game you Know he he get he gets the spot but you Know um coach Rivera and Ricky Pro sat Me down and told me don't worry about it You're going to make the team you you Made a great strides you know not those Exact words but they pretty much told me I was going to be on the team they was Going to put in packages for me and they
Look for to see me strive uh for this Season and we started off one and four And in those what five games uh Ricky Pro told me hey I'mma ease you back in Because if I'm mistaken again not those Exact words he's had hamstring once or Twice so he understood you know the Complexity of it so he was trying to Ease me back in play here and there and Once I was fully recovered that's when He was going to throw me in and Literally After I wonder to say it was Buffalo we Lost to on the day Off yeah so it kind of sucks I got Released on my day off but you know I Got the call said um I was getting Released and once I went up there and Talked to the coaches offensive Coordinator Ricky Pro know they had no Idea that I was getting released think It was a Dave Gman decision uh it was 100% his decision um Ricky he told me Himself he had no idea um when I talked To the OC for the five minutes he said He was literally you know drawing up Plays for me so yeah he said they pretty Much said they was in there drawing up Plays and Gman just stuck his head in And said hey I'm releasing our money and Left how did you handle that that you Had succeeded for for so long in Football and it had been your I would Assume a very major part of your life
For many many years so what did you do Next um I didn't handle it handle it Well um for the simple fact for the Reason I was given for the release you Know um I'm a man first we're all men in The business so I was looking for you Know just to give me you know the Straight up answer you know if you tell Me hey you're you're not panning out to What we expected you know we want to Give other guys tries stuff like that I Can handle that but you know during this Time U my aunt passed during Camp so he She was like the head of um our that Family she held the pieces together um She was um she was the closest sister at That time to my mom so that was Devastating for her and everything but At this time I'm hurt as well so I'm not Practicing and I asked could I go to the Funeral they let me go cuz I'm I'm not Practicing I went to the funeral and Everything you know how that goes I come Back I'm still not practicing and I'm Easing myself in but you know to skip Past that the reason that I got from Ghan was I was never the same after my Aunt died so that's what he told me to My face really yeah so after after you Released yes so that left a sour taste In my Mouth we'll be back right after This Welcome back and then you had a brief uh
Time with uh two other teams in the NFL Right am I remember um three weeks later I was picked up by Cleveland um um our Former offensive coordinator shazi um he Was there with the Browns so you know Gave me an opportunity but again they're Putting me back at punt return now so Mind you for the past two years I have Play punt return I was only focused on Receiver because that's what they told Me how I was going to make the team so Now they put me back at punt return and Only got to play two games um I um grade Two a great three spraying my ankle um Lateral and um on the outside so I was In a walking boot pretty much placed on Ir and obviously released um after that So never got to have that opportunity Again and then I was um ass signed to The Bears um for in that off season and Know it was just that was just that you Know you can pretty much see they Already had their guys um know they Already had Brandon Marshall alson Jeff Jeff so that's that's how it ended so Were you mad at football at that point In your life or did you did you stop Watching football yeah it was all of it I stopped watching I didn't watch the NFL that year and I pretty much you know Hung up my cleats I wasn't going to play Again I told my agent you know I'm I'm Done don't don't throw my name in the Hat anymore it's over you know and U for
That entire year 2014 um I didn't watch Football and 2015 come around I get a Call um from a GM in Canada and he Wanted to um sign me and give me an Opportunity to play quarterback up there But now by this time I'm five years six Years out of playing quarterback so now In my head um already you know see the News articles we have social media now I See what people are saying like no I'mma If I'm going to go back to playing Football then I'mma play receiver Because I got something to prove to Myself and I got something to prove to The naysayers that say I couldn't do it And then pan out but I said no I turned It down cuz at that time I still wasn't Fully you know motivated to play but Then I want to say you know a couple of Months later my wife showed our son who At this time is 2015 he's four so he's Four at this time showed him Jun yeah Showed him college highlights of of me And I just saw you know how he lit up Because he didn't get to see me play you Know in the NFL pretty much and I just Saw his eyes lit up and that's what Pretty much sparked that fire for me to To um go back to football so um I got Another call from from Canada the Following year and I took it and you Were a wide receiver there had a Thousand yard season uh won the gray cup Sort of explain what the gray cup is and
Who you won that With and the 2017 great Cup Game goes to Ricky Ray and the Toronto Argonauts all right so the great cup is The equivalent of the Super Bowl for the CFL and that was my second year and it's Crazy how life works because uh the very Head coach that cut me in Chicago is my Head coach in Toronto coach tresman I Didn't know that yeah so so yeah tresman He's the coach up there so great guy Great guy um you know but yeah it was Awesome um my first year in in Canada Though wasn't too well is I got hurt Again so I only got to play like three Four games that yeah I got hurt in the Off season um MCL and once I came back From my MCL I broke my hand in the game So yeah so you can only imagine you know What I'm thinking at time like here we Go again but you know um um going into My second year I'm not in Toronto yeah I'm still in Saskatchewan so that was my First team the first day of camp they Trade me they trade me to Toronto so I'm Going blank again with the names but the GM Jim Pop I think it was he's from Around here yes Jim pop yeah so Jim pop Was the um GM who called me in Montreal And Jim po is now the GM in Toronto he Always wanted you yes he told me that so He traded for me and you know it it went From there um I didn't get my thousand
Yards that season I was short I was at Like 978 or something but you know we Won the great cup you know it was a Great experience for me a lot of great Guys and I got to play with u one of the Quarterbacks he's equivalent to Tom Brady up there uh Ricky Ray he's um Great guy played for a long time with Four or five gray cups two with two with Each team the Canadian Tom Brady 100 yards Ricky Ray to deir Posy how did a guy from South Carolina Do in that Canadian cold I was used to It know going to appachan state in the Mountains and so you played there how Many years and and when did it finally End all so Including covid year so I played six Years that's a lot there wow more than So way more than in the NFL I mean years Wise and everything yes so you would Overall characterize that as a as a good Experience yes I was I was very happy With um you know leaving the game after You know that I I got a ring that's what I wanted I proved to myself I can play Receiver I was over 900 yards three Straight uh Seasons a receiver and one Of those Seasons I cracked a thousand Yards finally so know I I didn't at that Time I was done you know I didn't have Anything to prove to nobody but myself And my son got to see me play football So I hit all of it on the head that's
Great and I remember and and uh it one Of the things that you I know didn't Like when you were with the Panthers you Had a couple of very long plays but they Didn't end up as scoring so you didn't Score an official NFL touchdown so in Canada isn't it true that once you Scored like you just put a massive Spike On the ball or something the first time Yes it was getting the monkey off my Back you know it was like oh will I ever Get in the end zone again will I ever Get a professional touchdown and once it Happened it was just a a huge relief for Me so there from there on I could just Just play and have fun first down bethle Thompson throws wide open TouchDown Armman Edwards and the Aros are on the Board first a 33 yd Touchdown thomps armman Edwards so what Are you doing as a career now armoney uh I've been uh trading Forex um I've been Learning for past three years now but at The same time I was still focused my Main focus was football so I couldn't Put in the the time and effort that I Really wanted to and that's sort of like For people who don't know that's sort of Like day trading stocks or what is that Exactly yeah so it's equivalent to Stocks um you can argue that it's much Better to trade uh than trading stocks Uh for the very reason the market is 24 Hours and you can sell so you're not
Just sitting there buy by byy so you can Make money when price is coming down you Can make money when price is going up But pretty much all you're doing is Trade in one country's currency for Another and you look like our audience Can't see you but you look like you're Still in good shape how how healthwise Are you um I still get know aches and Pains from it but um I try to stay in a Little bit of shape um I don't do any Extreme running or matter of fact I Don't run at all I haven't ran in over a Year but I I still uh still do a little Bit of working out and also I work the Kids out so they keep me keep me going And motivated as well you don't have any Problem with your own son playing Football tackle football when he chooses To oh not at all um me and my wife we're We're not the parents to to make them do Something we want to do so if it's Something they really want to do we're Going to support it 100% um our job is Just to guide them and make sure they Have the the best path that they Possibly can so he's not playing tackle At the moment um we're not comfortable With that um not because we don't think He's capable he's shown he's very Capable at playing football just the Simple fact that he's not mature enough Mindwise along with other kids's age to Learn how to take their head out of
Tackling or if they're trying to run Somebody over you know they're going to Use their head in instead so we want to Protect his brain at all cost but yes um As he get older and definitely once he Get in high school he'll be in in tackle Football nice did you have any Concussions in your career if I did they Wouldn't report it so I definitely know I had had a couple rings and where I Didn't remember you know for know a Couple of minutes you know couldn't even Think of a play at time so I'm 100% sure I've had concussions but um I've never Had one reported how did you get along With Cam Newton and what was that like Being in in the locker room with him While he was in his prime cam is a he's A great guy um a lot of people see you Know all the sh boating but he's a funny Guy he's he's him uh the showboating They see when he's scoring or getting a First down that's him off the field as Well he he just a he's a big big kid big Personality for sure did he give you a Nickname I know he did that to a lot of Folks uh Silent Assassin that's what he Called me so yeah so um I didn't do much Talking but you know he along with the Coach Rivera and the other coaches he Saw a massive improvement from my third Year to my fourth year and he started Calling me uh the solid assassin so That's a good one I bet Boon people
Would have liked that if they could have Thought of it back in back in the day Well Armani Edwards this has just been Uh terrific I've learned so much about You and and I know that so many appstate Fans and football fans in general are Going to be so happy you did this uh we Thank you so much for joining us thank You for having that's Armani Edwards I'm Scott Fowler and this is sports legends Of the Carolinas Remember you'll find much more about This interview and about all of our Guests including Steph Curry Roy Williams Dale Earnhart Jr and Don Staley In our sports legends book it's Scheduled to be published in Fall of 2023 pre-order your copy now at sports Legends.com Thanks so much for listening to sports Legends of the Carolina's a production Of the Charlotte Observer this show is Produced by Lum Ali Sally Jeff Seiner And C Stevens the sports editor of the Charlotte Observer is Lydia crarer and The executive editor is Raina cash Davin Coburn is ml's director of audio for Lots more Sports content and to continue Supporting this kind of work please Visit charlotteobserver.com and consider A digital subscription and connect with Me on Twitter at Scott fower or email at Sfer charlotteobserver.com see you next
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Charlotte North Carolina – The Best of the South
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