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Quarterback Tom Brady to Retire After 22 NFL Seasons; Interview with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) about Tom Brady and a Massive Snowstorm to Hit the City; Interview with Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) about President Biden's Supreme Court Pick. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired January 29, 2022 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[16:00:25]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN HOST: I'm Phil Mattingly in for Jim Acosta. And you are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And we begin with the very big breaking news. Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of our time, is retiring at the age of 44 after 22 seasons and seven, count them, seven Super Bowl titles.

Joining me now on the phone is former NFL running back, Warrick Dunn.

Warrick, thanks so much for your time here. I was trying to envision you in a Tom Brady offense, the type of offense that made Kevin Faulk look like an elite player. I figured you'd have like 150 catches to go along with a thousand yards.

Well, can you just tell me, as an NFL player, somebody who's studied the game, played in the game, what was it about Tom Brady that kind of allowed him to play at the level he did for as long as he did?

WARRICK DUNN, RETIRED NFL RUNNING BACK: Well, I appreciate you having me on. Tom was honestly a winner. Known as a winner. But he was more of a key player. This is the guy who made the ultimate sacrifices. You know, when it came to money and those things, but he led by example. He led because, you know, they won a lot of Super Bowls and they did that because they were able to have players, and he was able to have linemen, you know, teammates that were there with him along the journey.

And he made sure that they were eating as well. So I think, overall, it wasn't just about money for him. You know, he was, I think, you know, showed the ultimate sacrifice in that way. He was consistent. A guy who led, you know, like I said, led by example and that competitive fire that he just brought day in and day out. And when you're watching him, I mean, he's just a competitor and this is a guy who practice his craft.

He figured he'd played all these years and this game will drop. No, he pushed himself even more. And I think he's just an individual that's a special, special player. MATTINGLY: What's it like, you know, when you have a quarterback, we

were talking to Donte Stallworth about this a little bit ago and obviously he was a receiver, you were a running back, but who knows everything the defense is going to do and seems to have a sense kind of naturally about what's happening before every single play. What's it like to line up behind somebody like that and play as a running back?

DUNN: Well, you know, if I was able to play with him, I would have figured he would have my interest. He would put my interest first. Right? He would always look out and make sure that I could be successful. That I can contribute as well because he didn't think of himself as just Tom, I. He knew he needed guys around him on offense, but he also knew that he needed guys on defense so they can get the ball back.

So this is a guy that I knew would not, would take care of me. I think he proved that a couple of weeks ago by getting Gronk that extra catch so he can make that extra money. I mean, this is a guy who is all about team, team, team. Commitment. Work ethic. I mean, it says it all about him.

MATTINGLY: Yes, and for those who didn't see it, you should go look it up. Rob Gronkowski needed one more catch for I think it was $500,000 or $600,000. The game was by far out of reach, the Bucs were going to win, and Brady made sure he went back in, got him the ball. That Warrick Dun is referring to.

Warrick, and it's funny that I'm asking you this question because you were one of my favorite players growing up. But back then, I was a Florida State fan. I was an Army brat who lived in Tampa Bay. What did Tom Brady mean to the NFL in terms of fans and how they identified with him?

DUNN: Well, I think, you know, any stadium he went into, he was the LeBron James of the NFL. Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. You have Tom Brady in the building, it's on fire. And I just think overall, this guy left New England, winning Super Bowls, and went to Tampa and had success early on. I mean, immediate success. And I just think the aura that he carried with him says a lot and obviously if you can have him on your team, you knew that you were going to have an opportunity to compete week in and week out.

An opportunity to play in championship games and win Super Bowls. He's just, he's been unreal and I don't think there will ever be another player like him come through.

MATTINGLY: I've asked a couple of folks this. I just think it's, I want people to try and understand the idea of a 44-year-old not just still playing in the NFL, but playing at such an elite level.

[16:05:04]

As somebody who played, as someone who took the beating week in and week out, can you describe just how rare it is for somebody to, not just play, but succeed in the NFL at Tom Brady's age? DUNN: Well, it's rare. I know the league has changed a lot over the

last years. You know, they're not as physical week in and week out. They practice on a week. So he's been able to take care of his body. It's a lot of maintenance that you have to do. You know, get massages. Making sure you stretch. Not, you know, pulling muscles, you know, during the week to hamper your progress or slow your progress for the game.

He has just been exceptional because if he felt like he was sufficient in one area, he worked on it. He practiced. Young kids have to understand that to play at his level and to be consistent week in and week out, he practiced his craft and he went out and tried to perfect it. And, you know, he may not have thrown the ball well one day, he's going to come out and, you know, practiced how can he be better, expand, executions. I mean, he's such an exceptional leader that, you know, again, when you have the guys around you and that's just being unselfish when it comes to finances, he's making sure everyone else is eating and not just himself.

MATTINGLY: We're watching video right now of Tom Brady after the Rams game. Obviously it was an extraordinary game. One of four extraordinary games last weekend. The decision to call it a career in the NFL. You know, you hear players constantly talking about how hard it is. Someone who don't get to decide themselves. Obviously, Tom Brady was in a different place there. What goes through your mind as a player when you're trying to figure out if this is it?

DUNN: Well, I think for him, you know, knowing the journey he's been on and how competitive, you know, he's been and for the toll of the game, I think now he's not thinking about himself. He's not thinking about his other teammates. He's thinking about his family. His kids. The opportunity now to really go out on his own terms, right, and this is his opportunity to be a family man.

Spend time with his wife. His kids. Right? Really take his brand to the next level. Next step. Because he's created so much aura about him and his brand that I think now he can enjoy the fruits of his labor, you would say, but also be a father. Attend, you know, his kids' games and those things, just be much more engaged. And I think that would give him a lot of satisfaction because as football players and athletes, we give up a lot of our holidays, you know.

We give a lot of our weekends up because we're playing a game that we love, but we're also sacrificing. You know, our families have to sacrifice and now he can take a little bit of that back and really give his kids what they've been missing all these years.

MATTINGLY: Yes. Certainly has earned it. No question about it.

Warrick Dunn, a great NFL player, also a wonderful philanthropist as well, and I wasn't kidding, was actually my favorite player growing up. Thanks so much for your time. I appreciate it.

DUNN: I appreciate that. Thank you.

MATTINGLY: All right. Joining me now on the phone is Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

And Mayor, we originally booked you for the massive storm hitting Boston and we are most certainly going to get to that, but I feel like everybody who's staying inside because of that storm right now is watching either this or reruns of the legendary Tom Brady games.

As mayor of Boston, what is your reaction to the news that maybe one of the greatest athletes in New England history is retiring?

MAYOR MICHELLE WU (D), BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Absolutely. We knew it was going to be a big day today with this nor'easter, but now it's become an incredibly emotional day as well. I mean, Tom Brady is just an icon in the sport, but here in New England, 20 seasons that he gave us and some of the most memorable Super Bowls that we will always remember.

It's quite emotional today I think for a lot of folks and just thinking about all of the specific memories that we all have sitting in front of the TV or out at a party watching when he delivered again and again. And just wish him and his family well in this moment of transition.

MATTINGLY: One more before we get to the storm, which I do want to dig into, but one of the things I was always struck by is Boston fans, who are not super collegial to non-Boston fans historically, but they seem to hold no resentment when Tom Brady went to Tampa Bay. Most of them seemed to be rooting for him last year so long as he wasn't playing against the Pats. Why was that?

WU: Yes. There was that small carveout where really he was back at Gilette. But he's an icon here. And the way he played the game, the way that he just always executed, as such a leader of the team, of just an all-around good guy, it's going to go down in the history books as something that won't be matched.

[16:10:09]

And so we all I think here in New England and in Boston see him as one of our own no matter where he will be in the world, and have continued to root for him and to see all the lives and doors that he's continued to change and to open.

MATTINGLY: Yes. No question about it. I do want to get to this nor'easter storm. We had a live report from Boston just a few moments ago. Massachusetts is getting hit especially hard right now and the Boston area in particular. What are you seeing right now? Is there anything you need as this plays out?

WU: It's still coming down. At this point it slowed a little bit and I think we're past the peak of the storm, but this is coming down hard and fast, and so it's been historic not only in the total snowfall, but the level of preparation that's gone into it. We have over 900 pieces of equipment out on the road. Snowplows and salt spreaders. But we just really need folks to stay patient. Stay inside if at all possible. We have seen some cars now back on the road a little bit and they're

all getting stuck in drifts and snowbanks, and so please stay inside. Let our crews do their work. It's going to take a little while to dig out of this. It's still looking pretty messy out there.

MATTINGLY: One of the I think biggest concerns in moment like this particularly in cities like yours that know how to deal with big storms particularly in the winter is the idea of power, electricity. How is that so far? What are you seeing? Is there anything that needs to be addressed on that front?

WU: There have been some scattered power outages, but most have been resolved pretty quickly. And so incredibly grateful to all of the folks who have been working non-stop even starting late last night all the way through today and will be working all the way through the weekend. It's been going relatively smoothly all things considered. We did see a little bit of very high winds matching with high tide and so there were some coastal flooding as well, but all in all, we're very lucky that this is happening on a Saturday when most folks are not on their regular job commute and schools were closed. People were home and safe, and we just need that for a little bit longer as we clear off the roads.

MATTINGLY: Yes. There's plenty of old Pats games to watch.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a tremendous amount of preparation going into this moment of the storm, now dealing with the storm. Thanks so much for your time.

WU: Thanks for having me.

MATTINGLY: All right, and don't go anywhere. We are bringing you the very latest on the breaking news that the greatest quarterback of all time Tom Brady is retiring. We'll be right back with more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:16:41]

MATTINGLY: Back now to our breaking news, Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of our time, is retiring at the age of 44 according to multiple reports. Now when he was drafted in the year 2000, he was the 199th pick. For those not familiar with the NFL, those guys don't usually make it. Instead, he ended up winning seven Super Bowl rings and even at the age of 44 led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Joining me now is former NFL wide receiver Donte Stallworth. And Donte, we've spoken a couple of times. You obviously played with Tom Brady. I think from a 30,000-foot perspective, explain as somebody who played in the league and obviously is very cognizant of what's going on in the league now that you're no longer in the league, what Tom Brady meant to the NFL.

DONTE STALLWORTH, FORMER NFL WIDE RECEIVER, PLAYED WITH TOM BRADY: You know what, he is a long line of professional athletes who looked up to other professional athletes and in particular in the NFL, Brady is from northern California just like I was so we were all 49ers fans growing up as kids. So naturally he was a Joe Montana fan and I was a Jerry Rice fan. And so to get on the same stage as those guys and to be able to perform was my childhood dream just as it was Brady's.

The difference between he and I was that I, you know, once I got to the NFL, for me, that was, I didn't care to break Jerry Rice's records. I didn't care to win 100 Super Bowls. I wanted to win maybe one. But outside of that, I just wanted to live my childhood dream and do the best that I could. And Brady just had this chip on his shoulder that he was able to go out and not only exceed his childhood hero in Joe Montana, but to push the barriers so far that I believe it's unparalleled.

No one will be able to match what he's done, and to play at that age that, you know, age of 44 in the year '22 in this game today is again a testament to how well he's taken care of his body. How well that he's prepared mentally to be able to understand all these defenses that teams are trying to throw at him and he's seen them all. But to also go out there and execute and to raise the level of everyone around him, and that's just something that people will always remember about him.

And you know, he wasn't the most flashiest quarterback. He wasn't obviously the fastest, probably the slowest quarterback to ever play. But he had all the other intangibles that you need in a quarterback. And what he has done for the NFL has, like I said, there are guys that are going to be growing up looking, watching Tom Brady and wanting to be the next Tom Brady. I don't know if any of them will succeed, you know, what he's done and the career that he's laid out, but just that mentality, kind of like that Mamba mentality that Kobe had is something similar with Tom Brady.

And I expect that, you know, that he's retired, we'll get to see a lot more of that, a lot more of his personal life because he started to share it the last couple of years that he's been in the NFL, but I think he'll probably be a little more sharing. And he's writing a book soon. I'm not sure if it's out yet, but he's writing a book soon.

[16:20:05]

And you know, I think he wants to help not just other athletes, but other people in understanding that mindset and how you can use that not just as a professional athlete, but in your everyday life and in your career. Whatever occupation you hold, whatever job it is that you do, Brady has a template to be successful at it because he wasn't known as like I said, the fastest guy. He didn't get drafted in the first round. He was a sixth-round pick.

And as you noted before, you know, a lot of those guys don't make it. The average life of an NFL player career wise is only three years and Brady played 22 seasons. And that's unheard of especially in today's game. But again it's a testament to how well he prepared mentally, to be able to not only, not only be able to play well at that age, but to raise the level and raise the bar for everyone around him. MATTINGLY: Yes, Donte, one of the things, you know, as you know, the

cliche is that NFL stands for not for long and Tom Brady seemed to have bucked that quite a bit. The Kobe analog is interesting to me because Kobe was kind of legendary behind the scenes for being extraordinarily tough. Michael Jordan-esque on his teammates, right? Really, really hard on them to the point where a lot of them didn't like him all that much behind the scene.

But I never got the sense Brady was like that. You played with him. You were with him in the locker room behind the scenes. What was the sense of him as a teammate?

STALLWORTH: He was the best. He's the best. He was one of the best teammates I had ever had. And I think, you know, a lot of it was that he just understood and I think we all understood that, hey, we have a job to do, we're professionals. But at the same time, you know, he was going to hold himself accountable. As a future hall of famer he never walked around with that air of him being, you know, a super famous guy or a future hall of famer. But he just had this air about him that he expected greatness and he went out and performed that way.

He practiced that way every single day. At meetings, he would take notes every single day. And I remember just looking down at him one time in the front of the room taking notes and I'm just like, you know, this guy's already won three Super Bowls, what is he doing? Like, what doesn't he know already that he needs to write down? But, you know, that's how he was wired. He was wired in a way that every day was a new day and keep stacking brick by brick by brick and you never know when you're going to need that brick, maybe five, 10 years down the line.

But he put himself in a position physically and mentally to be able to do what he's done. Like I said that is just unparalleled for someone to do in general, but at the age of 44, that's just unheard of.

MATTINGLY: Yes. No question about it. Some people are just built different.

Donte Stallworth, thanks so much for your time. I really appreciate that and your perspective, my friend.

And I want to continue to focus on this because according to ESPN, who initially reported the breaking news, Tom Brady's agent has put out a statement and the statement reads in part, I understand the advanced speculation about Tom's future. Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what's being reported Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy.

He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody so that should be soon. That's known in the business as a non-denial to some degree. The NFL obviously also tweeted a thank you to the, ,quote "GOAT." But we'll see. Still hasn't been officially confirmed by the man himself, but seems to be very clear where things are headed.

All right, more on that in a bit. But coming up, President Biden's promise to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court has some Republicans tripping all over themselves. That's next.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:28:21]

MATTINGLY: President Biden's promise to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court, the first in history, has some Republicans tripping all over themselves to preemptively discredit an individual who hasn't even been selected yet. Here was Republican Senator Roger Wicker on Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ROGER WICKER (R-MS): The irony is that the Supreme Court is at the very same time hearing cases about this sort of affirmative racial discrimination.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

WICKER: And while adding someone who is the beneficiary of this sort of quote --

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Fellow Republican Senator Josh Hawley made these comments to CNN this week, quote, "I think it sends the wrong signal to say that well, if a person is of a certain ethnic background that we don't care what their record is, we don't care what their substantive believes are. That would be extraordinary."

That's also not really what's happening. As for right-wing media, near hysterics about the forthcoming Biden pick.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TUCKER CARLSON, FOX HOST: You have to wonder at this point since we're going by skin color and gender, why Joe Biden is ignoring the obvious choice. Why doesn't Biden strike a real blow for equity and just nominate Bridgette Floyd. Who's that? It's George Floyd's sister. She's not a judge or a lawyer or whatever, but at this stage, who cares? Clearly that's not the point anymore, this law stuff.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Right. OK. Here to discuss this is the number three Democrat in the U.S. House, South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn.

And Congressman, I guess Republicans -- some Republicans, are basically saying you can have diversity on the court or you can have expertise on the court, but not both. What's your response to that?

[16:30:00]

REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC): Well, thank you very much for having me. But you know, I was a little bit surprised at Roger Wicker. I know Robert very well. We had done things down in Alabama together to try to get beyond what has been so much a part of our country's history.

It's amazing. Throughout the entire history of the country, never has an African-American woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

He doesn't see that as a problem. I think most people do.

Now the fact of the matter is we might have had five women to serve on the Supreme Court. Never has an African-American woman even been discussed.

I'm old enough to remember -- that we would have gotten ready to do something in the Congress to honor her. An African-American woman who was outstanding jurist and never got any consideration.

Now we have several. There's seven on the list. It could be 70. These people are very well qualified.

Of course, I've been advocating for one who happens to be from South Carolina. One that I know very well.

But these are highly qualified women. And for them to claim that if you're an African-American woman, you cannot have the where with all to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court.

That, to me, is preposterous.

MATTINGLY: It's an odd kind of line of attack here. The resumes speak for themselves. You may disagree with their judicial policy or ideological believes.

You mentioned that one in particular, Judge Michelle Childs, Congressman, is somebody you have spoken to the White House about in the past. You have been very public about your support for her nomination.

Have you spoken to the president in the last 24 hours? Do you plan to advocate directly to the president for Michelle Childs, who the White House has confirmed is on the list they're considering?

CLYBURN: No, I have not talked to the president in the last 24 hours. And quite frankly, I don't know that I will talk to him.

We've talked about this for about two years now. And the president knows very well what I feel about Michelle. And they are considering her along with at least six other African-American women. All of whom highly qualified.

I just know Michelle. And she has kind of background that would offer some diversity to this court.

Today, over 50, in the last 50 years, there's never been a person to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States that's a graduate of a public school, undergraduate or law school. What's this notion that if you don't go to a public school, you're not

qualified? Here's a person with four degrees. All from southern schools. Her zip code disqualifies her?

I really believe that we've got to get beyond this notion of elitism.

There are a lot of people who graduate from public schools, including the current president of the United States, who ought to be considered for high office.

And so I just think this thing has built up and it's bothering a lot of people, including yours truly.

MATTINGLY: One of the interesting things, that has been one of the focuses that the Biden administration has taken with the federal judiciary, generally.

Folks who have differences not just diverse backgrounds in terms of who they are, but also diverse professional experience as well.

When you look at the list of seven, many of whom went to Harvard or Yale to some degree, is there anybody on that list that you're concerned about or that you don't believe is qualified? Whether it's Michelle Childs or not?

CLYBURN: Not a single one. I knew at least one other. I think she's an outstanding woman. I know her very well. She's run the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. That's the background.

I don't have anything against all of these women. I'm for all of them.

I just happen to feel that the time is right for us to break through this glass ceiling. Not just as it relates to gender, but as it related to zip code.

Zip codes in the south don't matter? I think they do. And I think that Michelle Childs has demonstrated through her service.

She's now the president-elect of the Federal Judges Association. Isn't that a big deal? I think so.

MATTINGLY: Yes. And she was nominated for a D.C. circuit seat and was postponed because she's under consideration.

[16:35:02]

Congressman, I want to focus more broadly on the administration.

You're close to the administration. You're critical to the president.

The recent "Time" cover marking President Biden's first year shows the stack of challenges facing him, it's COVID, inflation, what we're seeing on the Ukraine border with Russia.

You're key to the president's turnaround when he was candidate-Joe Biden, in this midterm. He cites you when he talks about the second year. The comments you made about lowering prices on health care, those types of things.

What does he need to do in your view to kind of bring things back around?

CLYBURN: We've got to keep focusing on the glass being half full.

I've been saying this for a while now. This president's had four big issues out there over the past year. Two of them are now law. Two of them are still pending.

And I say that advisedly, but they are pending. We will not get all of Build Back Better, but we will get some of it. I'm certain.

We may not get everything that we want in boarder education and boarder voting right, but we will get some of it. I'm certain of that as well.

Let's focus on the accomplishments. I believe in accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative.

That, to me, is what we need to do more of going forward.

MATTINGLY: Get your first opportunity when the House comes back in session on Monday and a big week ahead, big month ahead, big year ahead.

Congressman Jim Clyburn, thanks so much for your time, sir.

CLYBURN: Thank you very much for having me.

MATTINGLY: All right, we'll be right back with more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:41:14]

MATTINGLY: Now to this hour's other breaking news. Nearly 40 million people on the American east coast watching a major winter storm barrel into them.

Blizzard conditions in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware. But the Boston area is expected to take the biggest hit with more than two feet of snow expected.

In coastal Massachusetts, this bomb cyclone is pulling out all the stops, white-out conditions, wind gusts close to hurricane strength, and coastal flooding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(WAVES CRASHING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Incredible pictures. This hotel in Plymouth rocked by waves crashing against the windows. On the island of Nantucket, homes have snow on the roofs and water on

the porch.

People kayaking through the streets in ice-cold flood waters. You can see it right there. Several areas of the island have lost power. The most significant concern.

Wild conditions also in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where a mailman right there, somehow still getting the job done. Clearly, deserves a raise.

But the governor has now ordered vehicles to stay off the roads until at least 8:00 tonight.

More than a foot of snow has already fallen in parts of New Jersey as the storm reaches its peak. In some areas, it's dumping two to four inches of snow per hour.

We have CNN team coverage across the coast.

But I want to begin with CNN's Polo Sandoval in Boston and Alison Kosik in Long Island, New York.

Polo, we've been going back and forth with you. What's the latest right now around Boston?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Phil, timing is everything sometimes in TV news, right? Right before you came to us, the winds started to kick up again.

It reminds us of the wind component of this bomb cyclone, where at times, the snow will be gently falling then it's like somebody shakes the snow globe and you have the horizontal snow hitting you in the face.

There are still people out and about walking. This is Boston's historical north End. This is a park. There's some grass underneath this snow here.

And even authorities have been trying to make sure the sidewalks are clear for the pedestrians, but mainly the folks on the street as well.

Mayor Michelle Wu renewing her call for people to stay home today. Her message basically is, the less traffic on the streets or the lighter traffic on the streets, then the more would be in their ability to clear up the streets.

You're looking at about 900 pieces of equipment in the city Boston alone with thousands more at the state level, according to the Massachusetts governor, who we expect to hear from in the coming few minutes or so.

What we've been seeing this early this morning is that snowfall, with meteorologists expecting two to three inches to fall to fall per hour.

The big question, will we actually reach historic accumulations? Boston knows how to handle these snowstorms. They are no stranger to

this. It's this kind of bomb cyclone weather that becomes an inconvenience and a potential danger for those on the roads.

Then long-term, you have the power outages, you mentioned, especially in coastal communities.

We heard from utility companies that they are staging, ready to respond. And as soon as the winds begin to decrease, hopefully, later this evening, then they can get out there and get more people online.

We're talking about the people stuck in the dark right now -- Phil?

MATTINGLY: Such a critical issue when it's that cold, those kinds of conditions.

Polo, we talked to you last hour, I felt everything was calming down. Then we go back to you and it's clear this is what a bomb cyclone looks like.

Real quick, I want to go over to Alison Kosik on Long Island.

Alison, you've been experiencing the same kinds of things. It looks like a snow drift. What are you seeing on the ground?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT; Yes, the wind is certainly blowing. Phil, it's what the concern is here on Long Island as we get into the evening hours.

[16:44:58]

In fact, officials in Nassau County, the western most county of Long Island, are warning residents to stay off the roads because of the strong winds.

Because of the reason of the snow drifts you just mentioned, going onto the roads, making it treacherous to drive. Not the mention the worry about winds impacting possible power outages.

So they are warning people to stay off the roads. Let the plows do their work.

Earlier today, the governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, said Long Island was actually the epicenter of the storm.

And we also learned that it was a blizzard, a blizzard that moved through here.

Meaning that 35-mile-per-hour winds were blowing and visibility was less than a quarter of a mile. All that happening for three hours at least.

So this blizzard, as you heard, moving up the coast, the coast as we know it.

As -- standing in at least a foot of snow. This is not plowed snow. This is a sidewalk in Smithtown, a central part of Suffolk County.

It's expected that least 18 inches fell in the western-most counties. Then on the east end, two feet or more of snow has fallen after this blizzard hit Long Island.

And it's a blizzard that was serious. It impacted travel.

We heard about major airports in the New York New Jersey area, talking about LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, reporting that major airlines had to cancel a majority of their flights.

The major commuter rail line, the Long Island Railroad, literally stopped running for passengers all day.

This has been a serious storm and we are watching to see what the winds do tonight -- Phil?

MATTINGLY: You guys have great reporting. Great work as always. Alison Kosik, Polo Sandoval, thanks so much, guys.

Coming up, major developments in the Ukraine crisis. President Biden talks about sending U.S. troops to Eastern Europe as the Joint Chiefs chairman paints a stark picture of the death and destruction a Russian invasion could trigger.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:51:28]

MATTINGLY: Turning to the rise in tensions over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Biden telling reporters yesterday, when, not if, U.S. troops will start moving into NATO countries in Eastern Europe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Have you decided how soon you would be moving U.S. troops to Eastern Europe?

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll be moving U.S. troops to Eastern Europe in the NATO countries in the near term.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: No specific timetable was given.

And the president's comments came as his top military adviser warned that, compared to previous movements, this time, quote, "does feel different."

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GEN. MARK MILLEY, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: Given the type of forces that are arrayed, the ground maneuver, artillery, ballistic missiles, the Air Force, all of it packaged together if that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant. Very significant. And it would result in a significant amount of casualties. And you can

imagine what that might look like in dense urban areas all on roads and so on and so forth. It would be horrific. It would be terrible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: While diplomatic talks continue on that front, some Irish fishermen got their way with the Russians when it came to naval drills scheduled to take place just off the coast of Ireland.

For that story, I want to go to live to CNN's Donie O'Sullivan.

Donie, I've been keeping an eye on this for the last couple of days because it is fascinating. Can you lay out what happened here?

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Russia really trying to flex muscle here.

We're at the most western edge of Europe and they are still due to run some military drills, their Navy, they're about 150 miles off the Irish coast here behind me.

And all week in this little village, this fishing village in County Cork in Ireland, fishermen have been making international headlines.

They pointed out that where the Russian exercises were due to happen was where they need to go and fish, where they make their livelihood.

They actually had a meeting with the Russian ambassador in Dublin in Ireland earlier this week where they laid out saying that we still plan on going out there fishing, no matter what you guys are doing.

And the Russians said that would be unwise, even dangerous for them to do that. But the fishermen didn't back down.

And tonight, from Russia, a change in tone.

Take a look at this statement that the Russian ambassador to Ireland just put out in the past few hours.

He said, "In response to requests from the Irish government as well as from the Ireland South and West Fish Producer Organization" -- that is the fishermen -- "the Russian Defense Ministry has made a decision as a gesture of good will."

"To relocate the exercises by the Russian Navy planned for this week outside the Irish exclusive economic zone with the aim not to hinder fishing activities by the Irish vessels in the traditional fishing areas."

What that means is that Russia has now agreed to move these activities further away from the Irish coast, further away from these fishermen.

We were here all day speaking to fishermen, who were planning on going out to sea this week with that Russian risk, who were delighted tonight when this news broke. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK MURPHY, CEO, IRISH SOUTH & WEST FISH PRODUCER'S ORGANIZATION: Shocked really, like. I didn't think that little old us in the Irish South and West would have an impact on international diplomacy and make an impact like that.

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O'SULLIVAN: So there you go on this David and Goliath story, Phil. A win for the little guy.

[16:55:05]

MATTINGLY: Good. I always say, internally, you don't mess with the Irish. Because I'm terrified of you.

(LAUGHTER)

MATTINGLY: No. Great reporting. Just a really, really interesting story given --

(CROSSTALK)

MATTINGLY: Exactly.

Donie O'Sullivan, on the ground for us. Thank you so much, my friend.

We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

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