1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: Thanks twenty four after five o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty. 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 1: Richard Skinner joins us on Wednesdays, sometimes before he helps 3 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: his high school basketball team that he coaches, Bludge and 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Milma Mater, and sometimes at Texas Roadhouse. I don't know 5 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: what it is this week, but it's awesome to have you. 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: I appreciate that, mo. I'm sorry that we did that 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 2: to your team. I like the head coach, Steve Romeyer 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 2: very much, and they've actually they've actually won game since then, 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 2: so maybe it's just us. I hope it's just us. 10 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: Good win for you, guys, is what you're trying to say. 11 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: Yes, very good. 12 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,959 Speaker 1: You outlined a pretty dark Sunday you've been You've been 13 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: covering this team and covering sports in various capacities for 14 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: a very long time. How would you encapsulate the last 15 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: week for the Cincinnati. 16 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: Bengals deflating and weird both deflating it. It seems like 17 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 2: there's no real change coming, whether it be in the 18 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: coaching situation or the front office situation. The quarterbacks in 19 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: a goofy, weird place, and you can even say a 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: dark place. You know something's amiss. You don't see what 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 2: you said last Wednesday then followed up with that performance 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 2: on Sunday without it being something, right, I don't know 23 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: what the something is. None of us know what the 24 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 2: something is. To me. I think it was a message 25 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 2: to the organization. I can't keep having major surgery and 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 2: rehabbing and coming back and you guys doing nothing to 27 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: help me out. I think that was the message. But 28 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: I'm not going to speak for and that's just my 29 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 2: takeaway from it. But yeah, I mean it's been a 30 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 2: it's been a weird and frustrating week. 31 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: The game on Sunday. We've watched Joe Burrow have subpar games. 32 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: I've watched him make mistakes, certainly saw it against Buffalo, 33 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: like I've seen him play poorly. I think you had 34 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: to have watched that, like you you could look at 35 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: the box sper and go man, Burrow must not have played. 36 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: You had to have seen how that unfolded on Sunday, 37 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: I think to completely grasp what was going on with 38 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: him in this offense. 39 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: No, I agree with that. Yeah, ye, to your point, 40 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 2: I mean, you can just look into way you didn't 41 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 2: play well. No, it was more than that. It was 42 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 2: it was more than that it was almost like a 43 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 2: guy's who lost his fire and his drive and was 44 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 2: resigned to whatever happened happened. And that's just not him. 45 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 2: That's not the guy I've watched cover and people change. 46 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 2: I get that, you know. I hope it's the organization 47 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: hasn't made him change because of and and to that 48 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: kind of a guy. The thing that's part of the 49 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 2: superpower is the competitiveness. It is the the gloving the grind, 50 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: loving the process, loving the test on a Sunday and 51 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: then seeing if you pass that test. And I think 52 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 2: Buffalo broke him, Does it mean it's broken him forever? No, 53 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: not forever. I'm super interested to see what this looks 54 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: like in nice weather, you know, against the Bleff football team. Uh, 55 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: and to see if there's a bounce back performance in 56 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 2: him especially and then you just go, Okay, that was 57 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: a weird outliar on a weird week that you're going 58 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 2: to look back on and go, he was broken. And 59 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 2: sometimes to get things fixed and tis patched back together, 60 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 2: you got to get broken. And I think Buffalo broken man. 61 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 2: And now it's a chance this week to start building 62 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 2: himself back up. 63 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: If if people aren't going to lose their jobs and 64 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: they're not gonna swap out p people who are here 65 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: with folks from outside. How do things change this Offseason's. 66 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 2: Great question because and you could sense the frustration from 67 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 2: my frien Mike, but Patraya today because we've been trying 68 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: to get to speak to Duke Tobin for weeks now. 69 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 2: We actually put a formal request in a few weeks 70 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: ago try to get in to talk to us, and 71 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: it just keeps getting ducked and dodged, and to this 72 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 2: point has gone to know a vail. Mike's the president 73 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: at the local Pro Football Writers Association, so he put 74 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 2: a literally a formal written request in to talk to Duke. 75 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 2: I think he's gonna put another one in. So there 76 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: was some frustration there and I don't know, I mean, 77 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: I guess to go back to this, I know what 78 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: exact answer was today that you know we did this 79 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 2: in twenty one and twenty two. That's fine, Yeah you did, 80 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: and those same people were in place, But this is 81 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 2: a what have you done for me lately? League? And 82 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:48,119 Speaker 2: sometimes what have you done for me lately? Year to year? 83 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: You've now had three straight misses and really kind of 84 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: a epic collapse this year with Joe Burrow. Without Joe Burrow, 85 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: you were still not going to be a very good 86 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: team this year because you've proven that. And I don't 87 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 2: know how you trust this, that that personnel department to 88 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: get it right. You know, you've now in the Zach 89 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 2: Taylor tenure, and I'll give you that credit for this 90 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: from today. He pointed the face, and the buck stops 91 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 2: with me and nobody else. And I'm guessing he's probably 92 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: covering for Duke because guess what again, we can't ask 93 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: that at the moment. Zack's the one that has to 94 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 2: answer the questions board, so he can certainly point the 95 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,679 Speaker 2: finger inward and said, I got my fingerprint all over this. Okay, 96 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: I'll take your word at that. But so then what 97 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: makes me trust that you can get this right? Because 98 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 2: you did it twice when the other times you've had 99 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 2: five non playoff seasons out of your seven, and you've 100 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: had more losing season in the playoff season than your 101 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 2: ten yere three now, and I know the first two 102 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: years were kind of you know, gud Roster from the 103 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 2: end of the Marvel loose here, but you're still that's 104 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: on your record, man, So I don't know why all 105 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: these guys feel like they think they can get it right. 106 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: They've got it right less often than they've gotten it right, 107 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,239 Speaker 2: and why would I trust them to get it right again? 108 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: That's the answer for Duke, til why should we trust 109 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 2: you to get this right? What makes us think as 110 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 2: and what makes you think the fans can think this 111 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 2: that you can get this right. I think it's a 112 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 2: great answer that that would come. 113 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: Is it that hard to simply say, Yeah, I've got 114 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: a contract for two more years and I hope I 115 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: can stay here even longer. 116 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 2: Uh No, I'm kind of with you. I I I 117 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: do think that he will eventually apologize to Mike personally. 118 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 2: I think that's who Zach is. I think it got 119 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: the way it was, fraz I did catch him off guard, 120 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 2: to be quite honest with you, because we've been talking 121 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 2: about this for a long time, Like get when we 122 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 2: get told that response, like i's the question for Duke, 123 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 2: the response from us has to be, well, we don't 124 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 2: get kids talking to Duke and God loved Mike because 125 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: that's literally snapped right back at him. And I thought 126 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: it was you know, I know people hate us as 127 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 2: reporters and all that, but I thought Mike hanle him 128 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: so great. I thought it was a great response, and 129 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: I think it caught Zach off guard. But I think 130 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 2: your point's right. I mean, the contract really deal isn't 131 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 2: any of our business. I'm a little surprised he didn't 132 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 2: announce it after the DAFT Championship. Gamme guys, right in 133 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: high off of the Super Bowl and an AFC champion game. 134 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: We just extended his cat for another year. And I 135 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: know again he was kind of even a polarizing figure then. 136 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: But wouldn't you be proud to announce that. If you 137 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 2: were proud to announce that, I would be. I would be. 138 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: And again, if the answer is going to be, well, 139 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: ask ownership. That's cool, but you know, you know ownerships 140 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: never made available. That was bizarre. Today things are bad, 141 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 1: and that didn't do anything to make it better. 142 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 2: No, it didn't, it didn't. 143 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: It did not. 144 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 2: Uh. 145 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: This is my last Wednesday for the year, So thanks 146 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: for all the all the appearances, and we'll bother you 147 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: after the last game. 148 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: Thanks as always. 149 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 1: That's our guy, Richard Skinner from Local twelve and Local 150 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: twelve dot com. I'll try to answer one of the questions. 151 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 1: I just asked Skinny. In just a few minutes, we'll 152 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: talk injuries with one of the many experts from Ortho Sincy. 153 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: Next on ESPN fifteen thirty