Ben Troupe’s voice still carries the energy of Sundays on the gridiron. The former All-American tight end from the University of Florida and first-round NFL Draft pick has long since traded pads for a microphone, but the insight remains sharp and the opinions never lack edge. As the game evolves around him, from the hybrid tight ends who float like wings and hit like tackles to the explosion of athlete branding, Troupe watches with the earned perspective of someone who’s played it at the highest level.
Troupe’s time in the NFL with the Titans and Buccaneers gave him a front-row seat to the league’s physical demands, locker room dynamics, and expectations placed on young quarterbacks. But now, as a broadcaster, analyst, and storyteller, Troupe gets to do what he loves most: talk ball. And he does so in a way that’s both relatable to fans and challenging to the very athletes and coaches he critiques.
In a recent conversation on the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Troupe unpacked everything from multi-sport athleticism to the current state of NFL quarterbacking. The game may look different now than it did when he played, but the themes of toughness, adaptability, and star power remain the same. Whether comparing the grind of football to the rhythm of basketball or examining the marketability of today’s QBs, Troupe doesn’t mince words.
What results is a fascinating perspective that blends his playing experience with his media lens. He weighs in on today’s tight ends, evaluates quarterbacks like Tommy DeVito, and tackles the never-ending question of whether Lamar Jackson has what it takes to win it all in Baltimore.
Here’s our full conversation with Ben Troupe:
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do today’s NFL tight ends need a basketball background to thrive at the position?
Ben Troupe: I think it helps if you play basketball because you get a skill set that only basketball can give you and I’m talking about endurance; I’m talking about — people don’t understand being able to move without the ball. When you’re a tight end and when you can say, I can find a way to move without the football… and then when someone has to cover me, it’s gonna be easy. Antonio Gates has the most touchdowns in NFL history. He didn’t play tight end until he got to the pros. He has the MOST touchdown in history! He’s probably going to be a Hall of Famer this year. Tony Gonzalez. He played basketball at Cal. Travis Kelce because you know, he’s the white man with swag; he did something outside of football, I think he played quarterback before he played tight end at [University of] Cincinnati. George Kittle. One of the best all around tight ends in the league; Kyle Pitts? He looks like he plays for the freakin’ Hawks at 6′ 6″. But I think it helps because if all I know is football, I’m only giving me what football can give me. If I know basketball, I’m saying, Wait a minute. Look at a receiver getting open on a slant route. They’re doing a crossover without the ball… when you seeing them juking out there, so it’s able to translate over but, let me say this to all my basketball players out there: No football player can play in the NBA and no NBA player (Love ya LeBron…) can’t play in the NFL because it’s the mentality more than the skill set. Even though if anybody had a shot, it would be ‘Bron ‘Bron but I ain’t never seen anything like him, but I would give him the greatest shot to be able to you know… go to the next level.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Could Deion Sanders in his prime have made the leap from the NFL to the NBA or the other way around?
Ben Troupe: Yeah, because I think that he has a unique skill set and they say that he was real, real good back in the day in basketball in high school. Deion Sanders is like Bo Jackson, you know? He’s a different breed of athlete in general but it’s just hard to stay because, I don’t want to disrespect the game of basketball for this reason, Scoop. Basketball changes every 2 or 3 years when you talk about what players start looking like and what their skill set is. Dirk [Nowitzki] is the reason why 7-footers shoot threes now because he’s the swingman. If Deion put his mind to it? Yeah. I think that he could. I don’t want to disrespect it because you’re Scoop B, man! Things you guys do go viral and I don’t want these basketball players in my DM talking about like Draymond and them? They be listening! I’m just saying I respect basketball too much but, I just think that it’s a different world because getting beat up in basketball isn’t the same as getting beat up in football. You get beat up in football, you might not get up. Basketball? You’re gonna have some bruises but that’s 80-something games, baby! You gotta make it happen day in and day out during the week [in football]. But I just think that it’s two different worlds, but I want to see that. We never had an NBA to NFL player. We’ve had baseball, football but we’ve never did NBA to NFL. That’s going to be the breed of all breeds. Maybe Bryce James. Maybe he might try to do basketball to football. If anybody can do it, it’ll be in that James bloodline.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Why is it more realistic to be a two-sport athlete in football and baseball than in football and basketball?
Ben Troupe: It’s the physical demand. Basketball is more physically demanding. Baseball is less physically demanding. Think about it. You could be in the outfield go awhile game and not get one ball hit to you depending on where you’re at in the outfield and I just think Michael Jordan once again, and we’re talking about a different breed and mentality, I just don’t think it can happen because guys be thinking that, Oh man. I’m super duper athletic… We don’t see what basketball players do and let me say this, this is what it really comes down to: Who’s going to get the opportunity to do BOTH? Who’s going to tell Michael Jordan what to do? Michael Jordan wants to come to baseball? Check. Michael Jordan wants to play baseball? Boom! But he started getting good at it once he moved back to the NBA. Who’s good enough to be a star player — not just a player… I starred in my role at football and I’m a star basketball player. Okay, what position is he going to play? Oh, he plays guard and he has to guard Steph? Not gonna work. Well then maybe he can be like a Draymond Geeen… ? Draymond Green is the smartest person on the court. That’s why he doesn’t have to score. I just think it’s way too much especially now because we got social media. So if you’re a two-sport athlete, somebody’s covering you all the time like you’re Taylor Swift at a Chiefs game! They’re gonna be watching you, right? So then if Scoop B is asking you a question, Hey man, you’re averaging like, four and two and you’re not doing anything significant, right? I would love to see it. I think in today’s world… Now let me say this: If anybody does have a shot to do it right now, Travis Hunter could probably do it because I ain’t never seen nothing like him. I really, really haven’t. To be that dominant on offense and defense, never get tired? And I’ve seen him hoop now, but once again Scoop and you know this, they’re going to accept him in the football world because that’s what he’s known for. As soon as he’s stepping on that court they’re coming at him — Ja’s coming at him, Steph… and they’re going to come at him because it’s like, Aye bruh, don’t make a mockery… because that’s another thing, right? Don’t make a mockery of our sport because you can do it. Don’t think because just because you have a little penmanship doesn’t mean you’re a journalist. Because if I say I want to do journalism, Scoop’s gonna read my stuff and be like, Uhh… because you know what you’re reading compared to the average reader. We’re talking about a person who knows what they’re looking at, not just I like basketball. I ain’t talking about just standing in the corner, you know? What’s he going to do? Play for the Spurs, stand out on the wings and wait for the pass? Stay away from it because if you can’t deal with the criticism of being a two-way sport athlete and they’re coming at you! I would love to see it but like I said, the NBA, man… People out there scoring 73. 62. 60, you know what I’m sayin’? And these are 7-footers out here scoring 70? Luka [Dončić] scoring 73 against my Hawks who don’t have anyone on there to play defense? And they still only won by 5 that night? Leave it alone people! Because if one person does it, the floodgates are going to open and then everybody will want to do it. Leave it alone. Stick to one sport. To the Deions of the world we appreciate you. Mike. I know Nate Robinson played football at U-Dub before he moved to basketball; Draymond, I saw you in the spring game at Michigan State trying to play tight end. That was embarrassing! I love you but, don’t put that tape out! Just leave it alone. We would love to see it but if anybody could do it, I think a tight end has the best shot only because they’re used to being utility players — being asked to do a lot but not really caring about the credit. So if anybody has the mindset, they can do it as a tight end. Kyle Pitts is 6’6”. Darren Waller’s is like 6’5” for the Giants but LeBron is 6’8” and he’s coming down the lane in Year 20 [laughs]… Just leave it alone, man. Because you’re gonna get posterized real fast and you can’t fight for real but I would love to see it though.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Is Tommy DeVito a true full-time starting quarterback in the NFL, or is there more to the story?
Ben Troupe: I think he is but this is the thing: What kind of full time starter? Because what happens is, I’m not gonna get my Cam Newton on and calling out people’s names and this, that and the third but… Super Bowl full time starter? No. Win you games? Yes. And the problem is he can win you games but you want to be in the Super Duper, right? So, yes he can because I think after the top ten quarterbacks in the NFL it’s a huge drop off — like 11 through 32 they mix and match. Top ten quarterbacks? They go to Super Bowls. You don’t believe me? Who led the league in passing yards? Brock Purdy. Who’s the BEST Quarterback in the world? Patrick Mahomes. And who was in the Super Bowls, right? You see the correlation? Football is like basketball. I don’t care how good your bigs are. If you don’t have a point guard or if you don’t have a backcourt, you’re not going to win. Listen, you’re not going to win it all — go back to every single NBA Champion and what they got in common? A good backcourt. Every last one of them. Quarterbacking is the same way. If he’s good enough he can win you games. But if he’s great? They can add some jewelry on that ring finger. So I love you Jalen Hurts. I love ya Lamar. Love Josh Allen, you know? But it doesn’t mean a thing and like my daddy says, “Do you play in the game that EVERYBODY watches?” That’s the Super Bowl. Everyone watches the Super Bowl, right? I don’t care what sport you like. The Superbowl’s on? Who’s that? I’m just sayin’ the last two quarterbacks standing and you got a lot of money in the bank, a lot of endorsements but once you get to that conversation about championships you walk out the barber shop. You don’t wanna talk about that!
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do you see Lamar Jackson winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens?
Ben Troupe: I do. I do. I think Lamar Jackson is running into the same thing Charles Barkley and Karl Malone ran into when they were in the NBA. We got the greatest we’ve ever seen right now in football and Patrick Mahomes is saying, I’m not saying that I can’t be beat, but you got to beat me… I’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks. I’ve played with Steve McNair (RIP), played with Vince Young. Saw Tom Brady, played in the same division as Peyton Manning… I ain’t never seen anything like Patrick Mahomes because he might not be the best player on the field, he’s gonna play his best every time they need him. And here’s a thought: He doesn’t have Tyreek Hill. His best receiver is a rookie. Now he has Travis Kelce and Travis Kelce is the GOAT but he has a bunch of receivers if they were walking around Kansas City with their jersey on, people still don’t know who they are; and he’s in the Super Bowl! So for me, Lamar I think he’s gonna do it but I think what the NFL is afraid of is whoever wins the Super Bowl and the MVP, they have a chance of being the face of the league. They’re scared of Lamar, boy! Lamar is from Miami. Lamar is Edgerrin James without the gold in his mouth. I’m telling you, that scares the league, you know? Like Ja [Morant]. Because they know if he gets it together off the court, who’s better than him? So, Lamar Jackson is box office. I wish he had gotten it this year but Patrick Mahomes is saying, Look bruh, I know I don’t look like much. I’m not super duper ripped up or on the front cover of Men’s Health and I might be the only one in the world sporting a mohawk, but you STILL can’t beat me! Six years starting, six years in the AFC Championship Game. Think about that. Fourth Super Bowl appearance but I hope Lamar does it because in that draft class they hated on that man and moved back up in the first round to 32 overall; got his money with no agent. Love Lamar but you know how it is Scoop… like I said, when everybody’s watching, you got one option: On or Off. I hope Lamar gets it. I think he’s great for football, I think he’s great for the culture and he embodies what the NFL is now and that’s a mobile quarterback. You gotta get you one.
Troupe doesn’t just bring strong takes. He brings lived experience. His views on today’s tight ends playing more like combo guards in the NBA than traditional blockers reflect the evolution of the position he once defined. But even with the changes in pace and style, one thing remains clear: the NFL still demands a different level of physical and mental toll than most sports, especially when comparing it to basketball.
Whether talking about Deion Sanders’ athletic versatility or why football to basketball crossovers rarely succeed, Troupe keeps it real. For him, the demands of the NFL are a beast few can tame, let alone juggle with another sport. Even icons like Prime Time would have had their hands full pulling double duty in today’s hyper-specialized game.
His quarterback commentary is just as direct. On Tommy DeVito, Troupe offers a realistic but not dismissive view of the young QB’s place in the league. And when it comes to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, his answer comes not from doubt but from high expectations. Winning a Super Bowl isn’t about flash. It’s about fit, consistency, and coaching that elevates the right kind of playmaker.
At his core, Ben Troupe is a student and teacher of the game. He’s seen stars rise and fall, heard all the debates, and still finds a way to offer a fresh take rooted in respect for the grind. He’s the rare blend of old-school mindset with new-school fluency, which is why his perspective resonates in this modern era of highlight reels and hot takes.
