1
00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:07,800
Speaker 1: This is Tony Pike Cincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,

2
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:12,240
Speaker 1: sponsored in hard by Penn Station East Coast Subs, handcrafted

3
00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:16,680
Speaker 1: hot grilled subs, fresh cut fries and lemonade. It's all

4
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:22,000
Speaker 1: about good taste Penn Station East Coast Subs orderum line Today.

5
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:27,040
Speaker 1: This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

6
00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,880
Speaker 2: Welcome back since e three to sixty hour number three

7
00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,480
Speaker 2: on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

8
00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,160
Speaker 3: Let's feel bad for us.

9
00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:36,239
Speaker 2: Don't feel bad for us.

10
00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,200
Speaker 3: Feel bad talk about sports every year to talk about

11
00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:39,720
Speaker 3: the Bengals.

12
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:41,880
Speaker 2: And here's the thing. We're gonna talk about the Bengals

13
00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,560
Speaker 2: with our guy, James Rapine. And before we get to that, Austin,

14
00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,760
Speaker 2: I will say we've talked a lot about the Bearcats today.

15
00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,680
Speaker 2: I think the Bearcats and James tie in well together

16
00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,560
Speaker 2: because James is probably one of the only local media

17
00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,400
Speaker 2: folks around that would have scoring droughts similar to what

18
00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,480
Speaker 2: the Bearcats down the stretch. The guy just can't get

19
00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,240
Speaker 2: buckets when needed. Uh, but he can't talk about the

20
00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,120
Speaker 2: Bengals when need and he's joining us right now.

21
00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:11,479
Speaker 4: Hi, James, you know it's me against the world and

22
00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,120
Speaker 4: We're okay with that. Ask me any question you want.

23
00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:15,640
Speaker 4: I'm ready to go.

24
00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,840
Speaker 3: Doesn't it in the world in Austin, doesn't it seem

25
00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,679
Speaker 3: like it's Zach Taylor and Duke Tobin against the Wow?

26
00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,199
Speaker 3: Doesn't it doesn't it feel that way?

27
00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:25,760
Speaker 4: No?

28
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,639
Speaker 3: Oh, like to the fans, come on, I mean, obviously

29
00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,000
Speaker 3: it's I was gonna say, it's Mike and Zach and

30
00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:36,240
Speaker 3: Duke against the world and Joe and Joe.

31
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,600
Speaker 2: You know, come on, I know we're gonna spend time

32
00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,360
Speaker 2: and all of our time on the Bengals here. I

33
00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,800
Speaker 2: do have to ask, because I know you watch it

34
00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,120
Speaker 2: closely with what's unfolding right now at the University of

35
00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:52,360
Speaker 2: Cincinnati and the basketball program, what are your thoughts, James?

36
00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:54,600
Speaker 4: It sucks to see it like this.

37
00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:56,760
Speaker 5: It sucks to see it like this.

38
00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,480
Speaker 4: Obviously, Wes is uh I tweeted it earlier, like the

39
00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:05,559
Speaker 4: walls certainly closing in. We we I think we felt

40
00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,640
Speaker 4: it cross down shootout wise, like that was a game

41
00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,840
Speaker 4: they had to win. Obviously you lose to Eastern Michigan

42
00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,000
Speaker 4: and and then you go that, right, it wasn't Eastern Michigan, right,

43
00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:20,160
Speaker 4: It wasn't like Central Michigan. Antarctic, Michigan. They're all the same,

44
00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,600
Speaker 4: is the point. Yep, that's the point is they're all

45
00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,200
Speaker 4: the same. We don't need to know their name, and

46
00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,280
Speaker 4: the Bear Caps have no business losing to schools like that.

47
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,120
Speaker 4: So No, it's been a rough year and I was

48
00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,760
Speaker 4: pretty optimistic coming into this year for this basketball program,

49
00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,960
Speaker 4: and it's, uh, it feels like it's trending towards rock

50
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,480
Speaker 4: bottom here, which I hate because we haven't seen rock

51
00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,080
Speaker 4: bottom well in quite some times. I think, oh wait,

52
00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:45,880
Speaker 4: it was really truly rock bottom. Yeah.

53
00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,040
Speaker 2: There was also obviously the optimism as we pivot to

54
00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,919
Speaker 2: the Cincinnati Bengals going into this year, and the season

55
00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,040
Speaker 2: did not unfold how anyone hoped it would have. They

56
00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:55,919
Speaker 2: did get out to the faster start, and then Joe

57
00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:56,760
Speaker 2: Burrow's injury.

58
00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:57,640
Speaker 4: Uh.

59
00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,480
Speaker 2: And yet as soon as the Bengals season ended, seemingly,

60
00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,520
Speaker 2: we get the news that Duke Tobin and Zach Taylor

61
00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,560
Speaker 2: are going to be back, and then that's followed up

62
00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,520
Speaker 2: right away with Zach Taylor the next day essentially saying

63
00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,320
Speaker 2: they don't expect any changes to the staff. Your thoughts

64
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,760
Speaker 2: on on just that logistically, James, that there is the

65
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,640
Speaker 2: confidence to run it back with Zach, with Duke and

66
00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:18,560
Speaker 2: this current staff.

67
00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:24,000
Speaker 4: Yeah, I wouldn't have gone that route. I wouldn't have.

68
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,239
Speaker 4: I would have gone big fish hunting. I would if

69
00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,160
Speaker 4: it were me in charge. Marcus Freeman would be the

70
00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,240
Speaker 4: head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Right, are you being

71
00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,119
Speaker 4: one hundred pers like that's a serious take that you're

72
00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,440
Speaker 4: offering serious? It's been out there for two weeks on

73
00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,360
Speaker 4: Cincinnati Bengals stock. Yeah, you'd instantly have the best coach

74
00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,480
Speaker 4: in the AFC North. I would take Freeman and heart. Yeah,

75
00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:51,080
Speaker 4: someone that would be a leader, someone that would be

76
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,800
Speaker 4: able to be a face of your franchise and your

77
00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,160
Speaker 4: organization alongside Joe Burrow in Jamar Chase, And I think

78
00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,360
Speaker 4: that's it. It's like I would fire Zach. By the way,

79
00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,720
Speaker 4: there aren't many guys I would hire right now, I

80
00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,680
Speaker 4: think Baltimore is probably going to get a worst head

81
00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,480
Speaker 4: coach than they had. There aren't many guys that I

82
00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,920
Speaker 4: would hire or replay Zach, And I wouldn't just fire

83
00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,480
Speaker 4: him to fire him. There would be a very short list.

84
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,839
Speaker 4: And that's why I mentioned Marcus Freeman. It's not like

85
00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,320
Speaker 4: I'd be like, oh, well, what about Mike McCarthy or

86
00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:19,719
Speaker 4: this or that.

87
00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:21,080
Speaker 5: No, no, no, it would be a very.

88
00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:25,120
Speaker 4: Short list, and they didn't go that route. The good

89
00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,000
Speaker 4: news is is Marcus Freeman stated at Notre Dame, so

90
00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,880
Speaker 4: hope it's still there in that department, but we can

91
00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,080
Speaker 4: shelve that for now. The point is is that it

92
00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:36,760
Speaker 4: did feel like change was needed is needed, and the

93
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,960
Speaker 4: Bengals they stayed pat. A big reason why, I think

94
00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:44,200
Speaker 4: is they realize they didn't have enough talent. And I

95
00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,760
Speaker 4: agree with that. It isn't just on Zach.

96
00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:48,559
Speaker 5: There isn't just on Duke.

97
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:54,039
Speaker 4: It's the whole organization has failed to give and bring

98
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,960
Speaker 4: in enough talent, and so I see that angle as well.

99
00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,960
Speaker 4: That doesn't mean that change wouldn't have helped them accomplish

100
00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,080
Speaker 4: what should be their ultimate goal, which is winning the

101
00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,160
Speaker 4: Super I guess.

102
00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:07,880
Speaker 2: For me, the question goes back when when I heard

103
00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,280
Speaker 2: from Zach on Monday that they don't expect any changes

104
00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,680
Speaker 2: to the staff. I guess for my two cents, I

105
00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,120
Speaker 2: would like a coach after a disappointing season to say

106
00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,600
Speaker 2: the expectation was not met this year. We're going to

107
00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,440
Speaker 2: take some time to make sure that we exhaust every

108
00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,240
Speaker 2: opportunity and every resource to determine how we can get

109
00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,640
Speaker 2: back to what we're doing instead of just doubling down, like, yeah,

110
00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,160
Speaker 2: everyone's going to come back. Can we just be a

111
00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,800
Speaker 2: little transparent that, yes, this year was disappointing and we're

112
00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,480
Speaker 2: going to take a step back to look at things

113
00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:37,719
Speaker 2: and evaluate where we're going.

114
00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,960
Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I get that. I think Zack had made

115
00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,080
Speaker 4: the decision to keep the staff a month ago. You know.

116
00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,320
Speaker 4: I feel like that the Bengals made the decision to

117
00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:52,120
Speaker 4: keep Zach a while ago. And that's why Mike Brown's

118
00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:57,920
Speaker 4: statement it got some reaction, and obviously I think it's

119
00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,240
Speaker 4: hilarious that some of the say this in quote Cincinnati

120
00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,640
Speaker 4: celebrities have reacted and gotten a tention. I think that's funny.

121
00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:10,440
Speaker 4: And here's why not because you don't like the decision, Fine,

122
00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,400
Speaker 4: have your opinion. We've known this for a month, like

123
00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,359
Speaker 4: if you followed anything, like we told you what was

124
00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,760
Speaker 4: going to happen, and so that part of it is

125
00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,560
Speaker 4: what it is. So yeah, I am not shocked that

126
00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,360
Speaker 4: that's the case. By the way, I am team al

127
00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:29,200
Speaker 4: Golden in this sense. I wouldn't give Zach another defensive coordinator.

128
00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:30,640
Speaker 4: This is your guy.

129
00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,680
Speaker 5: This is the guy you wanted. You are the one who.

130
00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,440
Speaker 4: Said, all right, who needs to be out and you

131
00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:35,120
Speaker 4: need to bring in.

132
00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:38,400
Speaker 5: New guys and so all right, make it work.

133
00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,760
Speaker 4: And that's where I think they clearly look at the

134
00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,480
Speaker 4: talent on this roster. And even though the coaching staff

135
00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,560
Speaker 4: won't admit it, Joe Burrow is hinted at it. You

136
00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:52,279
Speaker 4: have to add a significant talent this offseason, and I

137
00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,640
Speaker 4: would do it in multiple areas, not just specific areas

138
00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,080
Speaker 4: of defense. We'll see if they do.

139
00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,760
Speaker 3: Do you think Zach's comment about keeping the staff together

140
00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,880
Speaker 3: a little bit premature considering how the coaching carousel goes

141
00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:08,440
Speaker 3: across the NFL, and especially now considering the report from

142
00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,600
Speaker 3: Diana Russini earlier this morning that the Browns want to

143
00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:12,880
Speaker 3: interview Dan Pitcher.

144
00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,160
Speaker 5: Yeah one, Dan Pitchers. And by the way, Dan, don't

145
00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:19,280
Speaker 5: go near that organization.

146
00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,720
Speaker 4: I was up there. Don't be dumb. Is a very

147
00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:25,760
Speaker 4: smart guy. He's a smart coach. I think he's going

148
00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,240
Speaker 4: to be a head coach. He might be a head

149
00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,160
Speaker 4: coach I've told people for the past week, might be

150
00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,160
Speaker 4: a head coach this cycle. And and so that's one thing,

151
00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,320
Speaker 4: but two learn from Brian Callahan, Man, you have to

152
00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,240
Speaker 4: have your quarterback right away. And so if the Browns

153
00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,240
Speaker 4: don't have a clear cut, clear cut plan to get

154
00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,800
Speaker 4: a quarterback right now, which they haven't done in two

155
00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,680
Speaker 4: decades outside of Baker, but they really haven't done it,

156
00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:53,960
Speaker 4: then then there's no reason. There's no way you should

157
00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,960
Speaker 4: go there. And so that's got to be the key.

158
00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,480
Speaker 4: You're not going to get blessed like Zach was with

159
00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,240
Speaker 4: an awful year one and then a rookie year or

160
00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,280
Speaker 4: two where you still suck, and then you get year three.

161
00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,560
Speaker 4: It just doesn't happen in the NFL. And and so

162
00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,440
Speaker 4: Dan be very selective. That being said, no, not surprised

163
00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,320
Speaker 4: at all that he's getting looks. And Zach did say, hey,

164
00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,600
Speaker 4: I can't say whether or not any of these guys

165
00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,920
Speaker 4: will get jobs elsewhere. It's just he's not going to

166
00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,920
Speaker 4: make any changes to his staff. I know he wants

167
00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,520
Speaker 4: Dan back, I'm not sure he's going to get him back.

168
00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:29,040
Speaker 4: I think that there are multiple organizations that should be

169
00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:32,120
Speaker 4: including the Baltimore Ravens. By the way, if I'm Baltimore,

170
00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,960
Speaker 4: that's exactly where I'm looking. But I'm not Baltimore. So

171
00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:37,040
Speaker 4: we'll see if they do.

172
00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:42,440
Speaker 2: I I would wonder James, if if it's still Duke,

173
00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,160
Speaker 2: if it's still Zach, if it's still the same staff.

174
00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,240
Speaker 2: The million dollar question then question then this offseason becomes,

175
00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,240
Speaker 2: how is it any different next year? What would you

176
00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:51,079
Speaker 2: say to that question?

177
00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,240
Speaker 4: Well, the key is the talent. I mean, I mean

178
00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:01,720
Speaker 4: that's the only that's their only option. Now it's you

179
00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:07,320
Speaker 4: have to be ultra aggressive. Add to this roster, leave

180
00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,079
Speaker 4: no stone unturned, continue to add to this roster.

181
00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:12,240
Speaker 5: And just when it's like, oh well we've done this,

182
00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:13,040
Speaker 5: this and this, like.

183
00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,839
Speaker 4: When they get content is when they need to press

184
00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,240
Speaker 4: the gas pedal, and they've just never done that. In

185
00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,559
Speaker 4: twenty twenty and twenty twenty one, they obviously had some

186
00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:25,120
Speaker 4: significant free agent hauls, signings that paid off. They need that.

187
00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,880
Speaker 4: They need a twenty twenty one style free agent hall.

188
00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:30,400
Speaker 4: Now that doesn't mean you're going to find the next

189
00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,680
Speaker 4: Tree Hendrickson, that's unrealistic. But can you find a starting

190
00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:37,480
Speaker 4: defensive end, a starting You don't need the corners like

191
00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,760
Speaker 4: you did last time around in twenty one when you

192
00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,040
Speaker 4: got Cheeto and Mike Hilton, but.

193
00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,000
Speaker 5: That same level where it's like, oh well we have a.

194
00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,319
Speaker 4: Starting defensive end. That's going to be solid. We have

195
00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:48,440
Speaker 4: a defensive tackle that we just added, and we added

196
00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,960
Speaker 4: another piece on defense. Maybe it's a safety, maybe it's

197
00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,920
Speaker 4: a linebacker. Who knows, maybe it's both. But that's what

198
00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,640
Speaker 4: they need is they need to go all in on

199
00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,800
Speaker 4: the talent aspect of it and say, yeah, we may

200
00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,559
Speaker 4: have a middle of the road head coach. He might

201
00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,679
Speaker 4: not be an A, he might be a B minus

202
00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,560
Speaker 4: when it comes to NFL standards, but we have an

203
00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,600
Speaker 4: elite quarterback, we have elite weapons, and we have really

204
00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,640
Speaker 4: good talent around them. They haven't had enough talent around

205
00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:16,679
Speaker 4: their trio as stars in recent years.

206
00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,720
Speaker 2: Duke Tobin is going to speak to the media on Friday.

207
00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,120
Speaker 2: This is significant because it's not something that he normally does.

208
00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,600
Speaker 2: What are you hoping to gain or understand from Duke's

209
00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,000
Speaker 2: appearance on Friday?

210
00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,760
Speaker 4: A couple of things, but that the main.

211
00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:36,640
Speaker 5: Thing isn't the past.

212
00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,400
Speaker 4: I know a lot of people are thinking about the past,

213
00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,880
Speaker 4: and you know his comment, I don't want to pay

214
00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,079
Speaker 4: more for the same team all of those things from

215
00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,520
Speaker 4: last year. It matters, It does, and I want to

216
00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,960
Speaker 4: know answers to that. But do you understand that you

217
00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,920
Speaker 4: need to go like all in on free agency. Do

218
00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,880
Speaker 4: you understand that no one's going to blame you if

219
00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,440
Speaker 4: you leave no stone unturned and if you manipulate the cap,

220
00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:05,439
Speaker 4: if you change the way that you've operated and really

221
00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,839
Speaker 4: try to push it here in free agency, if it

222
00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:09,960
Speaker 4: doesn't work, no one's gonna blame you. They're going to say, Man,

223
00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,160
Speaker 4: at least they tried, and they went at it and

224
00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:16,080
Speaker 4: they pushed and oh, well this happened or that happened. Well,

225
00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,880
Speaker 4: everyone knows it's hard to live. That's why twenty one

226
00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,520
Speaker 4: and twenty two it felt like man, and the roster

227
00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,439
Speaker 4: in twenty two is better than twenty one. It's not like, ah,

228
00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,760
Speaker 4: my goodness, if these offensive linemens just wouldn't have gotten

229
00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,200
Speaker 4: hurt down the stretch that they would have made it.

230
00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,280
Speaker 4: But guess what, you got to put yourself in that position,

231
00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,199
Speaker 4: and they haven't done that in past off seasons. Orlando

232
00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:41,000
Speaker 4: Brown Junior in twenty two was their big free agent signing.

233
00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,720
Speaker 4: He's not going on their door to sign. I don't

234
00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,600
Speaker 4: want that. They might take that as a badge of honor.

235
00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,200
Speaker 4: I don't want that. I want them in their offices

236
00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,439
Speaker 4: very much, looking at every single option, discussing every single

237
00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,600
Speaker 4: option and finding the best pass forward to build a contender.

238
00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,800
Speaker 4: And so does Duke make that clear? He probably won't, certainly,

239
00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,480
Speaker 4: not like I'm saying, But I want to know that

240
00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,640
Speaker 4: that they're going to really push the envelope when it

241
00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:09,680
Speaker 4: comes to free agency, because that's the key to the

242
00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,080
Speaker 4: off season. As much as I love the draft, as

243
00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,600
Speaker 4: much as we could talk about, go to the Duke

244
00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,199
Speaker 4: and all of these things, fill these holes. Have a

245
00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,920
Speaker 4: team on April first that is ready to go where

246
00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:23,480
Speaker 4: you look at it on paper and you're like, man,

247
00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,640
Speaker 4: they can be a playoff team right now. So that way,

248
00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:28,880
Speaker 4: when you go into the draft, you're playing with house

249
00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,640
Speaker 4: money and you can go best player available.

250
00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,319
Speaker 3: Last summer, James, the Bengals made some adjustments to their

251
00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,520
Speaker 3: personnel staff, at least in titles, by naming I think

252
00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,360
Speaker 3: three assistant general managers. Do you think that at all

253
00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,360
Speaker 3: changes the way that they approach an offseason or their

254
00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:46,360
Speaker 3: process at all.

255
00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,160
Speaker 4: I think that's interesting too, and it's going to be

256
00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:54,440
Speaker 4: something maybe we'll find out from Duke. What you hear

257
00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,600
Speaker 4: is it's a collaboration, but ultimately you need to come

258
00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,800
Speaker 4: to a final decision on some of this stuff, and

259
00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,600
Speaker 4: will these guys well, will the assistant general managers have

260
00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,680
Speaker 4: more of a role, more of a say, and hey,

261
00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:10,079
Speaker 4: we should go with this guy, or we should go

262
00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:14,920
Speaker 4: after that guy, or how about we go sign this

263
00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:16,559
Speaker 4: free agent or that free agent? Like I think it

264
00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:21,640
Speaker 4: all comes together. And yeah, I'm curious about the process.

265
00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,000
Speaker 4: I'm not sure they're going to feel back the curtain enough,

266
00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,760
Speaker 4: but we're damn sure going to try to figure that

267
00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,760
Speaker 4: out because I think that's an important part of it,

268
00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,800
Speaker 4: especially when you do try to assess blame. That's what's

269
00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,720
Speaker 4: been really hard for me when it comes to Zach

270
00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,679
Speaker 4: or Duke, and there's been a lot of dialogue for

271
00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,600
Speaker 4: months and months about both guys. Is all right, who's

272
00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,679
Speaker 4: the blame for this guy or that guy or what

273
00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,559
Speaker 4: they did here or there? The process? Can we get

274
00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:48,400
Speaker 4: more details on the process so moving forward we can say, hey,

275
00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,840
Speaker 4: Congress on making a great move, or be you guys

276
00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,320
Speaker 4: are idiots? Why did you draft someone Tony Pike's age

277
00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:56,960
Speaker 4: in the second round? Like I don't want that to

278
00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:57,880
Speaker 4: be the case this year?

279
00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,160
Speaker 2: What do you make Obviously everyone is in unison. Get

280
00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,480
Speaker 2: Dalton Reisner and get that deal done and get the

281
00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,679
Speaker 2: offensive line solidified. There's a lot of conversation that there

282
00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,000
Speaker 2: has been about, you know, getting out ahead of contracts

283
00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:12,400
Speaker 2: that that would have to happen at the end of

284
00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,760
Speaker 2: next year. Chase Brown, DJ Turner, Dax Hill. Are you

285
00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:17,880
Speaker 2: are you getting to players like that as soon as

286
00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:19,840
Speaker 2: possible and seeing if you can get something done, and

287
00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,880
Speaker 2: if so, which of those players would you prioritize the most.

288
00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:28,720
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think it's super important when you put together

289
00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:32,440
Speaker 4: this defense. What a blessing it is to say, oh, well,

290
00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,240
Speaker 4: we have Dax on one side. Who's it is Paul

291
00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:41,360
Speaker 4: Athletic has great arm length, cornerback that is versatile and

292
00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,440
Speaker 4: can he can play the neck if you need him too,

293
00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,880
Speaker 4: but obviously thrived outside down the stretch of the season.

294
00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:50,480
Speaker 4: And then DJ Turner, who's just He's Spider Man. I

295
00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,200
Speaker 4: love I love the way he plays.

296
00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,000
Speaker 5: I love his his style, the.

297
00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,560
Speaker 4: Speed, the ability to make plays on the ball which

298
00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,560
Speaker 4: is something that we've we've seen improved since he was

299
00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,480
Speaker 4: drafted in the second round. And his mindset, his attitude.

300
00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,600
Speaker 4: It's really going to be something you can build around.

301
00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,720
Speaker 4: So those are two building blocks. That is something that

302
00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:15,440
Speaker 4: you know and so keeping those guys around. That is

303
00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,520
Speaker 4: a huge, huge factor because then you're like, Okay, we're

304
00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,440
Speaker 4: set at TB one and TB two. It doesn't mean

305
00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,200
Speaker 4: you can't draft a corner. I'm not saying that, but

306
00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:26,200
Speaker 4: you don't need to be searching for a starting outside

307
00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,960
Speaker 4: corner and free agency which is a big blessing. And

308
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,160
Speaker 4: by the way, Dax Hill is on his fifth year option.

309
00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,600
Speaker 4: You could sign him to an extension and lower that

310
00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,640
Speaker 4: castet for this year. Bing bang boom. Now you have

311
00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,160
Speaker 4: more money to use elsewhere. And that's how the Bengals

312
00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,440
Speaker 4: need to be thinking. DJ Turner. You get that deal

313
00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,520
Speaker 4: done and then a couple of years from now, you're

314
00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,920
Speaker 4: not like, oh, well, how do we make it work

315
00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,720
Speaker 4: cap wise? You know it. You'll be able to spread

316
00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:53,960
Speaker 4: it out as far as you can. So yeah, I

317
00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,440
Speaker 4: would get both of those guys done, and then I

318
00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:00,320
Speaker 4: would also approach Miles Murphy and see see what it

319
00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,480
Speaker 4: would take. I think they're going to exercise his fifty

320
00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,440
Speaker 4: year option. Maybe you probably wait on him one more year, but.

321
00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,560
Speaker 5: Who knows, maybe you get a team friendly deal done.

322
00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:13,320
Speaker 4: And if he could that, I would not be against that. Obviously.

323
00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,200
Speaker 4: The Dualton Risers of the world that Joe Flackers of

324
00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:16,560
Speaker 4: the world, you'd love to see them back.

325
00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,760
Speaker 2: Does this rank as the most important offseason on record

326
00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,600
Speaker 2: that you can remember for the Cincinnati Bengals.

327
00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,800
Speaker 4: They all are like because we've said that year in,

328
00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:30,480
Speaker 4: a year out, and they are in it. The reason

329
00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:31,880
Speaker 4: why this one feels.

330
00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,480
Speaker 5: Like a like a proven offseason, not an.

331
00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:37,480
Speaker 4: Important one, like they need to prove it. I feel

332
00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,360
Speaker 4: like the equity's gone. All the equity they built with

333
00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,640
Speaker 4: me is gone, Like, oh, well, they spend in free

334
00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,280
Speaker 4: agency that this is the new look Bengals. They do this,

335
00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:50,760
Speaker 4: and they do that in the past three years. That's

336
00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:56,040
Speaker 4: a lifetime ago, and so they need to find a

337
00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,240
Speaker 4: way to build that back. And the only way to

338
00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:01,080
Speaker 4: do that is to be aggressive, show you're all in

339
00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:05,160
Speaker 4: on winning, and then win. And so yes, it's very

340
00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:10,000
Speaker 4: much a prove it off season importance. Yeah, it's super important.

341
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,760
Speaker 4: But they better prove it because if they don't, if

342
00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,680
Speaker 4: we're having some of these similar conversations and questions a

343
00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,520
Speaker 4: year from now, well then what the hell are we doing?

344
00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,359
Speaker 4: What's anybody doing here? And Joe is going to feel

345
00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,959
Speaker 4: the same way, and that clock is very much ticking.

346
00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,800
Speaker 4: He's going to be a Bengal this season. But you've

347
00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,439
Speaker 4: got to show Joe that you're going to do everything

348
00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,399
Speaker 4: you can to put the talent around him necessary to

349
00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,359
Speaker 4: win a super Bowl, because they have not done that

350
00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:36,199
Speaker 4: in recent seasons.

351
00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:41,040
Speaker 2: James Rapine with Duke Tobin speaking on Friday and everything

352
00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,240
Speaker 2: else in a super important Bengals off season, what's the

353
00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,359
Speaker 2: easiest way you advise listeners to keep up with everything

354
00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:48,000
Speaker 2: he got going on?

355
00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,560
Speaker 4: Well, I'm in the process of launching Us against the

356
00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:55,320
Speaker 4: World dot com. Until I do, make sure you check

357
00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,560
Speaker 4: out Bengals Talk dot com, Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube,

358
00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:00,720
Speaker 4: and the Lockdowns podcast.

359
00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,280
Speaker 5: Look, it's Us against the World peas.

360
00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:04,439
Speaker 4: I get it, man, So do you ask me whatever

361
00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,840
Speaker 4: you want. I'm gonna be here and we're not going anywhere.

362
00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,800
Speaker 4: We're gonna share this right in the eye through Duke

363
00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,080
Speaker 4: on Friday and off season long and singles time.

364
00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:15,639
Speaker 3: How many how many of your Duke Tobin questions have

365
00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:20,240
Speaker 3: you already written? And like you're you're you've prepared written?

366
00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:20,760
Speaker 4: Yeah?

367
00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,960
Speaker 3: No, you just remember everything.

368
00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:23,880
Speaker 4: You don't write it down.

369
00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:28,440
Speaker 2: He will get to ask one men, baby.

370
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,560
Speaker 4: More than I talk about anything in my life. Yeah,

371
00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:29,920
Speaker 4: I don't.

372
00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,640
Speaker 3: I know, but still do you know? You don't write,

373
00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,760
Speaker 3: write things down. Everything's off the don James.

374
00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,840
Speaker 4: I asked Zach like twenty questions on Monday, by far

375
00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,280
Speaker 4: of the most questions out of anyone in that press conference,

376
00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,679
Speaker 4: which is not a competition.

377
00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:48,639
Speaker 2: Let's see where you on Friday. Let's see where you

378
00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:49,960
Speaker 2: rank on Friday tracks.

379
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,160
Speaker 4: I know that much. Thanks James, James, you're the man.

380
00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,640
Speaker 4: You know what we don't get to talk to. I'm

381
00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,359
Speaker 4: just kidding, all right, I'll see you.

382
00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:02,240
Speaker 2: Thank you James later. That's James Rapine. This is the

383
00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:04,680
Speaker 2: start of our number three since he three sixty on

384
00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,480
Speaker 2: the whole of the Bengals ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

385
00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,439
Speaker 1: And Afternoon of Nothing but Sports. This must be what

386
00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,800
Speaker 1: happened is like Loeggar Today at three oh five on

387
00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,200
Speaker 1: ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

388
00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,520
Speaker 4: This is Jim. Hello. Jim started advertising