1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: All right, My first guest is a must read in 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: the Athletic. He's worth this subscription alone. Check out the 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,319 Speaker 1: seven round mock Draft today and the Growler podcast a 4 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: must listen as well. We must be speaking of Paul 5 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: day Er Junior and Paul, it seems like every five 6 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: minutes a linebacker has been signed by somebody. I loved 7 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: your word choice this week. Disregard what do you make? 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: How do you explain the Bengals disregarding the linebacker position 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: to this point? 10 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: Oh Land, I don't know, how are we doing this again? 11 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 2: I went into the mock draft today and sat there 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 2: and said, I guess they have to take a rookie 13 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: linebacker again. Right, It's like, how did we end up 14 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,599 Speaker 2: back in this situation? I don't under I don't know 15 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 2: how to explain it other than what we were told 16 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 2: was not what we were eventually sold, and that is 17 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 2: that we were told that they wanted to add a linebacker. 18 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 2: They wanted to add experience to a room that needed it, 19 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 2: A guy who could be mentors to help in the 20 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 2: development of Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight. A combination linebacker 21 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 2: that can bring something off the edge, that can hold 22 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: up that edge. They don't have to ask Knight to 23 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 2: do that anymore. That's what we were told by people. 24 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: That was what they were supposed to be doing. That 25 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 2: was the plan. But instead we didn't get any of that. 26 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 2: We didn't get any we got Hey, here's Barrett Carter 27 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: and Demetrius Knight again. Now, so I guess there could 28 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 2: be a draft pick added into that room. And I 29 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: guess there could be this year's version of Orrin Burke's 30 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: added to that room. You know, a guy who maybe 31 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: he's a veteran, but he's not going to come in 32 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: and necessarily increase your level at the starting spot. I 33 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: don't know how to explain other than there clearly was 34 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: some kind of a disconnect in what they wanted the 35 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: plan to be and the actual execution of it last week, Paul. 36 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: I also love your reference to the Bengals paying a 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: penalty for draft misses, the example being you spend a 38 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: pick on Chris Jenkins, if he doesn't pan out to 39 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: what you thought, you then have to spend money to 40 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: fix it. In this case, it's Jonathan Allen. 41 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, it ends up being a well, it's practically one year, 42 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 2: thirteen and a half million dollar band aid because you 43 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: miss on a draft pick. It's they're so critical, and 44 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 2: you know that twenty four draft has obviously been a 45 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 2: real pain in the side right now once you get 46 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 2: past the Mims pick, when you talk about Jenkins not 47 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,959 Speaker 2: giving you anything, that the backle that was the third 48 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: round with the Burton and the Jackson haven't really turned 49 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 2: down like all the way down that line. You just 50 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: if you're going to operate the way this team wants 51 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 2: to and does, and you're not going to be huge 52 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 2: players in free agency, or you're gonna limit some of 53 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: the things that you do there, your drafts can't look that. 54 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: You can't have drafts that look like that one. They're 55 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 2: actually lucky that their twenty three draft has really started 56 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 2: to pan out, because if that didn't happen last year, 57 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 2: if you didn't get such a leap from those guys, 58 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: that twenty four would be hurting even more. But for 59 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: now they were able to put a band down it. 60 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 2: But yeah, it costs you, like that's the cost of 61 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: a miss. When you don't land that pick, you have 62 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: to pay for it somewhere, and in this case, it's 63 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 2: trying to squeeze another year out of Jonathan Allen, So, Paul. 64 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: What's your sense for what their free agency approach means 65 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: for the tenth pick overall? 66 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 2: Well, I don't know that it changes that one very much. 67 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: I still think you're in the same place where you'd 68 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: love to add a playmaker on defense. We'll see who's around. 69 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: You knew you were going to have premium positions where 70 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 2: you could take the best player available and add to 71 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 2: your team like that. I don't think that changed to me. 72 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: The impact of free agency or the lack of a 73 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:05,119 Speaker 2: sort of a second wave of free agency beyond their 74 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 2: top three not filling out a couple more spots. There 75 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 2: is what's gonna happen in round two and three and four, 76 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: And it's kind of what the problem was last year, 77 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 2: where they felt like they had to go get linebackers, 78 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: They felt like they had to get a starting guard. 79 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 2: They needed to go fine starters on Day two. You 80 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 2: can't win like that, Lan. It's like there's no team 81 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 2: is winning when they're forced to shove Day two rookies 82 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 2: immediately into the starting lineup at multiple spots, which is 83 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 2: what happened last year, and they paid for it the 84 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 2: first half of the season. They needed to go into 85 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: this draft where all of those picks are depth picks, 86 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: are plotting for the future. Are who's the next corner? Like? 87 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 2: Or draft a guy and see if he can go 88 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 2: above the current guy. But right now there are spots 89 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 2: where you're like, they need players to come in right now, 90 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: and I I think that's some of the impact. And 91 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: obviously linebacker is going to be one that's going to 92 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: be near the top of the list there too. 93 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: You know, the most often asked question of those who 94 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: are members of the Caleb Downs fan club is does 95 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 1: adding Brian Cooks take Brian cook take Caleb Downs out 96 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: of play at ten. 97 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: In your mind? No, No, I don't think so. I 98 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 2: think there's too many things that Caleb Downs does well. 99 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 2: I mean, you he can be your starting nickel on 100 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: day one. You can use him however you want to. 101 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: I just think you draft the guy because he's a 102 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 2: great player and a culture changer and tone setter that 103 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 2: you can eventually what he did in Ohio State, they 104 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 2: eventually said, I know we've got a lot of good 105 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: players here, but we're going to build the defense around 106 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 2: that guy and he can become that. You can't pass 107 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 2: on that. In my opinion, not on this defense, not 108 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 2: one that needs leaders and tone setters and all of 109 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 2: that stuff. There's too many things you can do with 110 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 2: him in terms of the way you deploy him, using 111 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 2: him in that nickel star position, whatever you want to do. 112 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 2: I don't think you could pass on Caleb downs if 113 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: it were me. Maybe maybe they do, maybe they don't 114 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 2: view him that way. I doubt it though. That feels 115 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,919 Speaker 2: like one of those. If he finds his way down there, 116 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 2: he's not going to make it past ten. 117 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: Pald Aner junior checking in a couple more minutes from 118 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 1: the Athletic. Theathletic dot Com. You did a seven round 119 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: mock draft today, God bless you. Who did you have 120 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: at number ten in today's edition? 121 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 2: I had Jamal McCoy. He's a cornerback from Tennessee, which 122 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: is kind of a little bit of a new name 123 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 2: to the mix. I put an asterisk next to it. 124 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 2: He did not play last year because he tore his 125 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 2: ACL in January of twenty five. But that year in 126 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 2: Tennessee he was dominant, and particularly he was really a ballhawk. 127 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: He have four picks. Really it was a shutdown type 128 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: of corner but that he was a receiver when he 129 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 2: was recruited to go to college. Like, he has that 130 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 2: kind of ball skills. That's something that they have always 131 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: talked about. This group has talked about, this group of coaches, 132 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 2: they have value that thinking. They just want these guys 133 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,799 Speaker 2: that can at more passes, create more turnovers, get the picks, 134 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 2: and the fact that he has that, to me, would 135 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: be a tie breaking skill. The question is he has 136 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: not worked out, since he has not done anything since 137 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 2: His pro day is the end of this month. Mark 138 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: down March thirty first as the Tennessee Pro Day to 139 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: see how McCoy looks. Because he goes out there and 140 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 2: looks really good when you consider what his foundation was, 141 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: the level he played at as a really young kid 142 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: in the SEC. I think he is definitely the type 143 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 2: of guy you'd be willing to take it. Ten. 144 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: They signed Josh Johnson over the weekend. Quarterback who's been here, there, 145 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: and everywhere. Does that mean that Joe Flacco won't be 146 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: coming back? 147 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 2: Are you there? Oh? Yes? What was the question? That's 148 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: all right? 149 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: They signed Josh Johnson over the weekend. Does that mean 150 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: that Joe Flacco is out of play? Or could he 151 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: still be in play? 152 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 2: Oh? He could still be in play. I mean, in fact, 153 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: I actually think this sets them up for him to 154 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 2: be in play. More than anything, Josh Johnson is the 155 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: exact type of quarterback that you sign when you need 156 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: a placeholder for Joe Flacco. He can run an offense 157 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 2: during the off season, he can know exactly what he's 158 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 2: looking at, and if you had to go win a 159 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 2: game with him, you could. I mean, he's been around 160 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: and done it with just about everybody you could ever imagine. 161 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 2: But the moment Flaco says yes, he can very easily 162 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,319 Speaker 2: step aside and Joe Flacco comes in. So I think 163 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 2: Johnson was signed with the idea of somebody needs to 164 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: be here to hold the place until Joe decides that 165 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 2: this is the place for him to come. And that 166 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 2: might happen because a lot of the you know, he 167 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 2: wants to play, he wants to be a starter. Those 168 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 2: spots have for the most part dried up out there. 169 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 2: He'll have to make a decision at some point if 170 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 2: a spot where he feels like he can compete is 171 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 2: open or will come open. And if not, he said 172 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 2: it himself, he'd be more than willing to come back 173 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 2: to Cincinnati. So the Bengals just want to be ready 174 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 2: to accept that when he says yes, right. 175 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: This is highly informative. As always, I love the Growler podcast. 176 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: Tell everybody how they can read, watch, follow and get 177 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: everything you are providing right now through the Athletic and beyond. 178 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, thik dot com that's always there, follow me on 179 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 2: all the social medias of course, and then yeah, the 180 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 2: Growler podcast. We are we are rolling. We are rolling now, 181 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 2: new episodes all the time. Follow on YouTube or wherever 182 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 2: you get your podcast. 183 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. Thanks for making time tonight, Seas. 184 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: There you go, Paul Daer Junior from The Athletic Theathletic 185 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: dot Com. That Growler podcast excellent. The seventh round mock today, 186 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: I was gonna ask you aboy about who he had 187 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: to the Bengals of the seventh round and pick number 188 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: two twenty six, but I opted not to. I thought 189 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: you'd be more interested in who he had him uh 190 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: taking at number ten as of today. All right, still 191 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: around around the corner, we'll talk with the voice of 192 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: the Miami Red Hawks, Steve Baker. You're gonna hear Hunter 193 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: Hunter Green explain what he did, why he did it, 194 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 1: and when he did it, coming up at six point fifty. 195 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: That and more straight ahead after a check on News 196 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: RNL carrier Sportstock presented by Kelsey Chevrolet seven hundred WLW