1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: This is Tony Pike since he three sixty about Cincinnati 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: from Cincinnati, sponsored in part by Cincy Shirts. 3 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 2: Cincy Shirts all since E all Day. 4 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. 5 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 3: Hi, Hello, welcome in our two of Tony Pikes since 6 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 3: E three sixty. Here on ESPN fifteen thirty. I'm Austin Elmore. 7 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 3: You might be wondering where on God's green Earth is Tony. 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 3: He's still employed. He's just a little under the weather today, 9 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 3: so it's just me, hopefully the big fellow back tomorrow. 10 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 3: But the show goes on, and every Tuesday we talk 11 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 3: to our guy, Joey d Joe Daniman from Fox nineteen 12 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 3: who joins us. Now, Joe, have you begun your preparations 13 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 3: for Thanksgiving? 14 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 2: I have, and by my preparations, Austin, that means running 15 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 2: extra miles every single day, so I don't feel guilty 16 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: about the crime I'm going to commit on Thursday at 17 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 2: the Thanksgiving table ahead of the Bengals in the Raven Game. 18 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 2: To me, Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year. 19 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 2: I love Christmas. I love Christmas, but Thanksgiving comes with it. 20 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 2: What I feel are the two best gifts to men, 21 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: food and football, and they come with an overflowing amount 22 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 2: on Thursday. I can't wait. What a huge Thursday it 23 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: is for Cincinnati. Everybody gets to eat and then everybody 24 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,839 Speaker 2: gets to watch Joe Burrow make his return on Thursday 25 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 2: night football. Happy Thanksgiving, Austin. What a night it's going 26 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: to be. 27 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 3: Well, Happy Thanksgiving to you, Joe, and thank you for 28 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 3: being here and we're thankful for your presence on this 29 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 3: show each and every day. Before we get to Joe Burrow, 30 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 3: let me ask you, how, like, how many miles a 31 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 3: day do you normally run? And are you the type 32 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 3: of person that does a turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning? 33 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? So I've been training for it because when I 34 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: was younger, I was a competitive runner, and I think 35 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 2: when you're a competitive runner, you have a hard time 36 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 2: taking that competition out of your soul. So even when 37 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,239 Speaker 2: you're in your forties and you're out running leisurely, you're 38 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: always racing against something. I can't turn it off, so 39 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: I'm always racing against the clock. So this year I 40 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 2: decided to set a target, and I was preparing for 41 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: it and I feel great about it. And then two 42 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 2: nights ago I saw the forecasts for Thursday morning, and 43 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 2: I'm now officially spooked, and I'm on defense. I'm actually 44 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: going to do the race. You're talking temperatures in the 45 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: twenties with fifteen mile per hour winds and wind guts 46 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 2: even higher. A. That's miserable. B. I think it would 47 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: prevent me from running the time I want to run. 48 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: So I might be like Ryan Rico, a drop back 49 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: about fifteen yards a punt on Thursday morning, even though 50 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: I'm ready. Wait, but I'm sure it's going to allow 51 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 2: me to the forecast. 52 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 3: Well, I would share the same advice with you that 53 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 3: I share with Bengals fans who fear the return of 54 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 3: Joe Burrow and getting hurt again, and that is that 55 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: you cannot live a life out of fear. You only 56 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 3: have one life and one opportunity. Why Joe Burrow, Why now? 57 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 3: Why is this all happening the way it's happening. 58 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 2: Well, Number one, I think he's earned it, okay, and 59 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: I think it's okay for everybody in this discussion, and 60 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: that's everybody listening to this show. I'm sure has had 61 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 2: an opinion on Joe Burrow. Should he come back, should 62 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 2: he not come back? When's the right time for him 63 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: to come back. And I'm going to get a lot 64 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: of your listeners are a lot like me who have 65 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: changed their opinion on this and aren't really sure where 66 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: to land. And I think that's all right, because you know, 67 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: we grew up in the and the Jim Rome. Have 68 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 2: a take and don't suck up radio. Right, you have 69 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: to land on one side, debate it and be strong 70 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: in that stance. But I kind of see both sides 71 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: of this one, the pros and cons of Joe Burrow's return. Ultimately, 72 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: I'll go back to what I said at the start 73 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: of your question, which was I believe he's earned it. 74 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: When this happened, we were all thinking a mid December 75 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 2: or b the season is going to be so far 76 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 2: gone by then that there's no point. We'll see you 77 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty six. But Joe Burrow has worked maniacally 78 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 2: to give himself a chance to come back and play football. 79 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 2: And if he's given and he has been given a 80 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: clean bill to go out and play, that he's fully 81 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: healthy one hundred percent. But I think he deserves to 82 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: play if he wants to play, and Joe wants to play, 83 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 2: and so I think now is the time and not 84 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 2: Sunday against the Patriots, just because of the short turnaround 85 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 2: from Sunday to Thursday, and the Bengals don't know how 86 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 2: the toe is going to react when you get it 87 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: out there, because look, you can do about eighty percent 88 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 2: of everything a quarterback has to do to get ready 89 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 2: to play in a game, but that last twenty percent 90 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 2: you can't simulate in practice. You can't simulate with anything. 91 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 2: That's when he's in the game. The pockets, money bodies 92 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: are near him, on the ground, near his arm, how 93 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: does he escape, does he take sacks? And he tried 94 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,799 Speaker 2: to make plays that kind of instinct. You can't simulate 95 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 2: that until you get into a game. And I'm not 96 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 2: sure they knew how he was going to react from 97 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: Sunday to Thursday playing a game. So that's why I 98 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: think Thursday night to night and not Sunday against the Patriots. 99 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 2: We all understand the Bengals playoff chances, but I think 100 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 2: most importantly Joe has earned this, and I think his 101 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: presence matters. And I think and we can debate this too. 102 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: Certainly a coaching staff that needs to be evaluated when 103 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: they have their quarterback on the field. 104 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, I agree with that. Now there's been a lot 105 00:05:56,040 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 3: made of the Flacco offense compared to the Borough offense. Well, 106 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 3: Flacco can't move. The Bengals probably want to protect Burrow 107 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 3: a little bit, not only from defenders, but from himself. 108 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 3: Do you think there's going to be that big of 109 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 3: a difference in the actual structure of the offense from 110 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 3: Joe Flacco to Joe Burrow. 111 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 2: I think there will be changes. I think if you 112 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 2: go back and listen to what Zach Taylor said on 113 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,799 Speaker 2: Monday when he was asked about that directly. He didn't 114 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 2: come out fully and say yes, but he didn't come 115 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 2: out fully and say no. So I think there are 116 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: going to be some slight variations to what Joe Burrow 117 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 2: does on Thursday night. For me, I go back to 118 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: think about Peyton Manning and near the end of his career, 119 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: and it was something we probably all laughed at, but 120 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: when there was any pressure near Peyton Manning at the 121 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 2: end of his career, he would just fall to the ground. Yeah, 122 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 2: like a folded launch carriage to take a stack. And 123 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 2: that's not in Joe Burrow's DNA. I get that. That's 124 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 2: not who he is. That's not how he plays the game. 125 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 2: So for me to sit here and talk about it 126 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 2: might be a waste of time, But I think there's 127 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 2: probably a happy medium where you don't just play dead 128 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,679 Speaker 2: in the backfield like Peyton Manning did, but you also 129 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: don't try to be who Deany like Joe Burrow has 130 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: been for so many years now. I know it's hard 131 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: to tell the guy to play the game differently, but 132 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 2: maybe you do have to tell the guy to play 133 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 2: the game just a little bit differently to start to 134 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 2: see what it looks like, until he feels one hundred 135 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: percent comfortable that the toe is okay, the mechanism he's 136 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 2: wearing an his shoe is functional, and that he can 137 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 2: go out there and forget about it and start playing 138 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 2: football like we've seen him play. That's a hard thing. 139 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,559 Speaker 2: How it looks different. Will it look different? We won't 140 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,679 Speaker 2: know until Thursday night, but I do think reading between 141 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 2: the lines a little bit of hearing Zach Taylor talk, 142 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: they're aware of that, and I think you might see 143 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: some changes, maybe at least in theory, on Thursday night, 144 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: before the Live Bullets starts flying and Joe Burrow starts playing. 145 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 3: The Bengals, Deep has a long way to go, but 146 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 3: they are at least showing signs of improvement, a little 147 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 3: bit of progress over the last couple of weeks. What 148 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 3: stands out to you about the defense and how they've 149 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 3: gotten better against Pittsburgh and New England. 150 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, to me, it's about evaluation now of individual players 151 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: and seeing which one of those players you can count 152 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: on in twenty twenty six. You know, if you start 153 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 2: just in the defensive backfield, I think you can count 154 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 2: on Certainly, DJ Turners had a great year. I know 155 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 2: Dak still got picked on a little bit Sunday, but 156 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: I think he's a guy you can count on as 157 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 2: a future player for this team. We'll see what happens 158 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 2: with this contract going forward, but certainly he's played his 159 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: way into a guy that I believe the Bengals believe in. 160 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: And certainly with Cam Taylor, BRIT's future and how very 161 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 2: much up in the air, I think you like those 162 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 2: two guys at least going forward. But looking in the 163 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: front seven, right, you're looking defensive line, you're looking linebackers. 164 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 2: We've talked so much about the linebackers and what they're 165 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 2: trying to do with Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter Baron 166 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 2: Carter had a good game on Sunday. Yet if you 167 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: go look back and look at the statue, see he 168 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 2: had sixteen tackles. I don't know what the mistackle number was, 169 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:15,839 Speaker 2: but it was very small as none zero zero zero. 170 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: There you go. So that's the number. So he played 171 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 2: a better game. And the other guy that I think 172 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: has started to flash a little bit and it took 173 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 2: a long time, is Miles Murphy. And here's Miles Murphy. 174 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: He's had a couple of nice games back to back. 175 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 2: And what you're looking for from Miles Murphy is and 176 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 2: I go back to this, and the guy that comes 177 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: to mind with me is is a guy like Peter Warick. 178 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 2: Peter Warck was a good Cincinnati Bengal but was often 179 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 2: in the crosshairs of criticism because of where he was drafted. 180 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 2: You know, if Miles Murphy was a fifth or sixth 181 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: round pick, we would see a guy right now and say, Okay, 182 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 2: there's a guy who now has a runway of the 183 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: next six weeks to prove he can be a guy 184 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 2: who can produce and be a contributor on this team 185 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 2: and maybe even earn the finals. Six weeks a spot 186 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 2: is a starter next year. But the fact that he 187 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 2: was a first rounder and the fact that first rounders 188 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 2: come with higher expectations. He's played well under expectation his 189 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 2: entire career here in Cincinnati. But you've seen the last 190 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 2: couple of weeks and flashes, and I think that's what 191 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 2: you want to see individually from the defense overall. Now 192 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 2: I know as a whole, the run defense has been better. 193 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 2: We saw them show some guts, show some fight at 194 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 2: the goal line several plays against the New England Patriots. 195 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 2: Now are the New England Patriots just a good fit 196 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,959 Speaker 2: for the Bengals defense to look better because they aren't 197 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 2: just an explosive offense. Perhaps, And I think maybe you 198 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 2: get a better test of that the next three weeks 199 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 2: with the Ravens twice in the Bills. But I think 200 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 2: you are seeing signs of individual players showing small bits 201 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,959 Speaker 2: of growth, and I think that's what's important in the 202 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 2: second half of the season. Here the final six weeks, 203 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: the guys like Miles Murphy, Demetrius Knight, Barrett Carter showing 204 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 2: signs that they can be contributors and counted on. In 205 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six. 206 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 3: Who plays another snap for the Bengals first, Jermaine Burton 207 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 3: or Trey Henderson. 208 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 2: Well, boy, that's such a great question. Often I'll go 209 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 2: Trey Hendrickson, even though I'm not sure he's going to 210 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 2: play another snap, because I think the Jermaine Burton story 211 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 2: is just kind of sailed at this point. He can't 212 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 2: be counted on, and the Bengals have made it very 213 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 2: clear what they think of him and his status with 214 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: the Bengals going forward. Even when he was asked a 215 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 2: question about him on Monday, Zach Taylor took the question 216 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 2: and basically drove it to a different path of talking 217 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 2: about a completely different player when asked about Jermaine Burton, 218 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 2: the Trey Hendrickson thing is going to be so fascinating 219 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: because you know who's winning the Trey Hendrickson air down here, right, 220 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 2: Because I don't want to bury the guy. Because while 221 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 2: there hasn't been a ton of information about his injury 222 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 2: and we haven't seen a lot of them inside the 223 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: locker room and around the facility, we are led to 224 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 2: believe the guy is actually injured and can't play. Now 225 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 2: the question is okay if he is that injured, and 226 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:14,839 Speaker 2: that comes out every week at the start of the 227 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 2: week and says he's dealt for or out. Why is 228 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 2: he not on IR And that's a great question for 229 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 2: people to ask, and we don't have a great answer 230 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 2: because it hasn't been given to us. But as this 231 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: starts to lead into twenty twenty six and this upcoming offseason, 232 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 2: which is going to be so important on so many 233 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: different levels, but most importantly, it's finding personnel on defense 234 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 2: for this defense to take a step in twenty twenty sticks. 235 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 2: You think back to last year in the comments Mike 236 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 2: Brown made about negotiating with Trey Henderson and how difficult 237 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 2: that is. I just am so fascinated what it's going 238 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 2: to look like this coming off season with the option 239 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 2: to tag him, and it would almost feel like a 240 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 2: tag out of spite for Trey Henderson. So this could 241 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 2: get MESSI again in the offseason with Trey Hendrickson. But 242 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 2: certainly the lesser of the two that have a chance 243 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: to play, I would think would be Jermaine Burton. I 244 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 2: just don't see a pack for him being active the 245 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 2: rest of the season, and at least there is a 246 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,559 Speaker 2: glimmer that Trey Hendrickson might want to get out there 247 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 2: against some bad teams. In the final couple of weeks 248 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: and pat his stats a little bit and look good 249 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 2: in the offseason. 250 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 3: Last Bengals question for you, how do they beat Baltimore 251 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 3: Thanksgiving Night? 252 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 2: Well, Baltimore just hasn't looked great. And so I go 253 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 2: back to what I said last week against New England, 254 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 2: and I didn't think New England was built to blow 255 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 2: the Bengals out, so I thought they would have a 256 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 2: chance in the fourth quarter, and there they were without 257 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 2: Literally there are four best players, Joe Burrow, jamar j A. 258 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 2: T Higgins, Trey Hendrickson in the final couple of minutes 259 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 2: and they had the ball near the scoring zone to 260 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 2: go ahead and beat the team tied to the best 261 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 2: record in football. Now that's New England, right. I think 262 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 2: we all are smart enough to say, Okay, New England, 263 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 2: great story, great record, certainly deserving of being a playoff team. 264 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 2: I'm not sure we go as far as saying they're 265 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 2: an elite team or a super Bowl team. Baltimore has 266 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 2: that capability, and Baltimore has started to figure it out 267 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: with some scheme change defensively since since the middle weeks 268 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: of the season, and they've taken off on that side 269 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 2: of the ball. The question is where's the explosion on offense? 270 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 2: Why hasn't Lamar Jackson accounted for a touchdown in two 271 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 2: weeks against the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets. 272 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 2: You know, teams go through stretches like this and oftentimes 273 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 2: it's predicated on their quarterback and his health. Something's off 274 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 2: with Lamar. What it is, I don't know. I know 275 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 2: he was coming back from the hamstring. Now he's got 276 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 2: a tow problem. He's not playing at Lamar Jackson level. 277 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 2: So you know, the offensive fireworks were used to sing 278 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 2: with Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson on Thursday nights, and 279 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 2: going back to last year, I would I would point 280 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 2: people to go look at that box score and look 281 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 2: what those quarterbacks did last year on Thursday Night did. 282 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: Was awesome football to watch, but too just elite quarterbacks. 283 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 2: I'm not sure we're gonna get that because we know Joe. Look, 284 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 2: the Bengals have won seven consecutive games with Joe when 285 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 2: he starts a game. But we know when Joe starts 286 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 2: seasons or comes back from injuries, he often starts slow. 287 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 2: So I don't know what to expect from Burrow on 288 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 2: Thursday night and certainly don't know what to expect from 289 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 2: the Ravens offense. So I think the pass for the 290 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 2: Bengals to win this game is that the Ravens continue 291 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 2: to scuffle and get in their own way on offense 292 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 2: and Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase can find that magic 293 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 2: they've often had against the Baltimore Ravens. And I think 294 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 2: that's that's a plausible thing, that that's not a far 295 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 2: fetched thing to sit here and think that the Bengals 296 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 2: can go challenge the Ravens at offense that just hasn't 297 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 2: looked good for a couple of weeks and try to 298 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 2: get a win on Thanksgiving Night. 299 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 3: Talking to Joe Danaman Fox nineteen, I know this is 300 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 3: kind of old news now, but I want to ask 301 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 3: you about it. The Saint ex Elder game at pay 302 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 3: Court Stadium. What was that environment? 303 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 2: Like? 304 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 3: How much fun was that for you as someone who 305 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 3: you know isn't taking a side, but just kind of 306 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 3: got to soak it all in and cover that event. 307 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, as someone who's from here and understands what it 308 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 2: means the high school football that is in the Tri 309 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 2: State area, you know, it's funny because I talk often 310 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 2: you know, to high school kids and college kids about 311 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 2: my job, and and a lot of times kids will 312 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 2: ask me if you ever thought about going to a 313 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 2: different city, And the hardest thing for me to leave 314 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 2: would be the high school football and high school sports 315 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 2: scene in Cincinnati. It means so much to people. The 316 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 2: community is so strong in that in our area. It's 317 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 2: it's a bit unique to our city, to our region, 318 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: to our state. So so that that's the one thing 319 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 2: that that I love about Cincinnati and to see it 320 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 2: on display, listen, if you're going to make the commitment 321 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 2: to move a game that felt that big. Look the 322 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 2: two big brands right a Saint Axe and Elder and 323 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 2: the biggest football stadium. It's a great headline. But then 324 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,879 Speaker 2: the game has to deliver. And the game delivered, and 325 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 2: the crowd delivered, and the atmosphere delivered. Like I want 326 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 2: you to picture in your mind. It rained all the 327 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 2: way up to kickoff, and it then was misty during 328 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 2: the game and there was a fog in the air. 329 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 2: The lower bowl was almost completely full. And a lot 330 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: of times when you put these teams in these huge stadiums, 331 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 2: like when Ohio Stadium was hosting the State championship games. 332 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 2: It felt empty, It felt cavernous, like you would take 333 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 2: shots of these teams playing and you would see nothing 334 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 2: but empty seats. But if you go back and you 335 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 2: look at the highlights of that game, all the seats 336 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 2: behind the players were full, and it just added an 337 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 2: aura to what was a great game. And then the 338 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 2: two teams combined for seventy six points. There are a 339 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 2: listers on the sideline. Know, I got to talk trash 340 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 2: a little bit to Dave Portnoy. That was funny, funny 341 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 2: story if you want to hear it. 342 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was my next question. 343 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 2: Portnoy walked in and I had been tipped off that Portnoy, 344 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 2: Brady Quinn, Matt Linert, and urban Meyer were all showing up, 345 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 2: and I said, listen, I mean, what an amazing open 346 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 2: shot to the highlights it would be to see that 347 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 2: quartet walking down the tunnel towards the field. And so 348 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 2: by the time I get there, I'm told, Okay, Portnoy's 349 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 2: showing up early because he's shooting a bit for Big 350 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 2: Noon on Fox, and then the other guys are going 351 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 2: to show up later, and Urban actually never did show up, 352 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,120 Speaker 2: But so I get the shot at Portnoy walking in 353 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 2: and then he goes and does his bit, and then 354 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 2: I'm told that Brady Quinn are coming, So I go 355 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 2: back into the hallway and Portnoy's down there was I 356 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 2: guess what was his social media team, and the guy 357 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 2: was showing him the clip that I put on Twitter, 358 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 2: and he had no idea that I was the guy 359 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 2: who shot it and was standing two feet from it, 360 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 2: and he's looking at his phone and he says, gosh, 361 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 2: they made me look like Joe Burrow walking into this place. 362 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 2: And I said, hey, that was a great shot. What 363 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 2: He's like, yeah, it's a great shot. I'm like, well, 364 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 2: it came from this camera right here. And he got 365 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: a kick out of that. So we had a good 366 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 2: time with it. And you know, he was talking, you know, 367 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 2: about Michigan and about Ohio state, that kind of thing, 368 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 2: and some guy yelled to him, oh, and he looked 369 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 2: at me. He said, are those the only letters that 370 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 2: people in this state know? And I have the biggest 371 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 2: stick out of that. So he was a good sport 372 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 2: with a lot of fun with it. And to have 373 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 2: those guys on the sideline and be part of it, 374 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 2: I think added to the moment and certainly to the experience. 375 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 2: You think about the high school student sections. All those 376 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 2: kids wanted pictures, wanted a moment with portnoys. So it 377 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 2: was a cool thing. 378 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 3: Well, before I let you go, you mentioned it Ohio 379 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 3: State Michigan coming up this weekend on Fox Who You Got? 380 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 2: So I was having some fun yesterday inside the Bengals 381 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 2: locker room, and I'll tell you that you know it's 382 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 2: going to be the eye roll again, but there's a 383 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 2: different energy about the room. When Joe gets back, he 384 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 2: has a presence. Listen, man, that that presence is real. 385 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 2: Like those young players that they see him walk in 386 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 2: that room and they see him back, and guys raise 387 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 2: their game. They understand the standard of Joe Burrow being around. 388 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 2: So there's a different energy, a different vibe in the room. 389 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 2: And I was curious to talk to Chris Jenkins and 390 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 2: DJ Turner about whatever the special secret sauce that Michigan 391 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 2: has had the last four years against Ohio State, because 392 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 2: as I told Chris, and you know, he nodded along 393 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 2: with me, it feels like every time Ohio State plays 394 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 2: this game, they're they're ranked higher, they're they're favored to win, 395 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 2: and then they kind of get on the field with 396 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 2: Michigan and it starts to turn on them, and you 397 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 2: wonder if it's an oh no, here it comes again 398 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 2: kind of feeling. And Chris made a good point, Chris 399 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: me and Chris Jenkins. He said, I feel like when 400 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 2: we get on and we, being Michigan, get on the 401 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 2: field with Ohio State, we're the team that isn't afraid 402 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 2: of them, and they sense that that when Ohio State 403 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 2: walks out there and they throw their jersey and their 404 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 2: helmet on the field, teams are afraid. They're they're going 405 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 2: to get run out of the building. And with the 406 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 2: physicality and the confidence that Michigan brings to the game, 407 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 2: he feels like that affects Ohio State, their players, and 408 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 2: their coaches. Has Ryan Day figured it out that that's 409 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 2: the question? Right? Has Ryan Day figured out how to 410 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 2: coach this game? And are his two star wide receivers 411 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 2: at or near one hundred percent or good enough to 412 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 2: be difference makers in this game? Are the two biggest keys. 413 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 2: If those things are figured out, Ohio State wins. If 414 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 2: not Michigan with Jordan Marshall, the pride of moll Or 415 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 2: High School are going to do what they do, and 416 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 2: that's choke Ohio State out with physicality, run game, and 417 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 2: confidence and beat them again at Michigan. So I'm fascinated 418 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 2: to see if Ryan Day has got it figured out. 419 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 2: I'm fascinated to see if Carnel Tate and Jeremiah Smith 420 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 2: and themselves on Saturday in the Big House. 421 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 3: So you're just not going to make a pick. 422 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 2: You're gonna set the fence on this one, Okay, If 423 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 2: you want me to make a pick, I'll pick Michigan 424 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:19,439 Speaker 2: until until Ryan Day proves damn it he's got it 425 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 2: figured out and can beat Michigan. He's only one in 426 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 2: four against them, And you know, Michigan, it feels like 427 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 2: to me is built to beat Ohio State the way 428 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 2: they're built offensively, defensively, and the way their coaches coach. 429 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 2: My pick is Michigan to win on Saturday, because until 430 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:40,919 Speaker 2: Ryan Day proves it, I'm gonna stick with Michigan. 431 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, it's it's fair. I regret asking you 432 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 3: the question because sometimes the truth hurts, but it's it's 433 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 3: the truth. Uh, Joe, You've been generous with your time, 434 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 3: really appreciated. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving. We appreciate you, 435 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 3: and we'll talk to you again next week. 436 00:22:55,840 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 2: Thanks, ma'am. Austin happiest of Thanksgivings, Like a champion on Thursday. 437 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 2: Get it done, yeat, yeat. 438 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 3: Indeed that is Joe Danim and he's the best. We 439 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 3: are way late talkbacks for next ESPN fifteen thirty. 440 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 4: Thanksgiving Day is about family, food, and most importantly football. 441 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,360 Speaker 4: Armyloves Bengals look to roast the rival Ryvens in an 442 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 4: AFC North Turkey tussle that reminds me I thought you 443 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 4: should know. I really enjoy a delicious slice of punkin 444 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 4: pie with whipped cream. It's Cincinnati versus Baltimore. Coverage begins 445 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 4: at four pm Thursday. Stream for free on the new 446 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 4: and improved iHeartRadio app or ESPN fifteen thirty, the official 447 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 4: home of the Cincinnati Bengals. 448 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 2: People are buzzing