1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:06,359 Speaker 1: This is Tony Pikes since he three sixty about Cincinnati. 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: From Cincinnati, this is ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station. 3 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 2: Hi, Hello, welcome in our number three, the final hour 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 2: of Tony Pikes since e three to sixty here on 5 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 2: ESPN fifteen thirty. My name's Austin Omore, the big Fella Tone. 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 2: We'll be back with us tomorrow. He's going to be 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: solo tomorrow. I am filling in four Moegar one hour 8 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: from right now. Filling in for Moegar will be Chick. 9 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 2: Ludwig the Chickster is in the building. I can't confirm. 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: He has his coffee, he has his computer. All he 11 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 2: will need is you Chick. Coming up later on this afternoon, 12 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 2: Red's winners last night have a chance to win the 13 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 2: series tonight against the Pirates. More on that coming up 14 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 2: in just a little bit, But first I do want 15 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: to talk a little bit about the Bengals. Haven't talked 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: too much football this week for obvious reason, and there 17 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 2: hasn't been all that much going on, but the NFL 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 2: annual meetings are happening in Phoenix, and earlier this morning, 19 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: Zach Taylor met with the media and was with them 20 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: for about forty minutes now. The people who are there 21 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: covering it, there hasn't been a lot that's come out 22 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: about it, and I'm sure they're working on different stories 23 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 2: and talking. A lot that goes on at the NFL 24 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 2: annual meetings. Paul Dayner Junior from the Athletics said that 25 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 2: they covered a lot of ground about the defense and 26 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 2: all levels of the defense, the approach to the season, 27 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 2: the extensions to young players Joe Flacco and Joe Burrow 28 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,839 Speaker 2: playing flag football, and we'll get a little bit more 29 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 2: about that coming up as those stories begin to come out. 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: But the story that seems to be the biggest story 31 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: from this week is not that Zach Taylor is talking. 32 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: It's that Katie Blackburn is not talking. I don't know 33 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: that people fully understand because Mike Brown takes a lot 34 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: of the arrows and understandably so, and there's plenty of 35 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: reasons for people and Bengals fans specifically to be critical 36 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: of Mike Brown, but Katie is the most important person 37 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 2: in that organization and makes many of the decisions and 38 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 2: leads the charge on so much of what happens within 39 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: that Bengals franchise. And when Mike is no longer the 40 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: owner and the president. It's going to be Katie. And 41 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 2: there are a lot of things about the way the 42 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: Bengals do business that fans don't like, that fans disagree with, 43 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 2: and that fans would like clarification and understanding about why 44 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 2: they do things the way that they do. And that's 45 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: completely fair, especially if you're one of those fans. So 46 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 2: as we talked about earlier, pays a lot of money 47 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 2: for season tickets, especially if you're one of those fans 48 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 2: who lives here in Cincinnati and helped pay and build 49 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 2: and continues to help pay and build for that stadium, 50 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 2: Especially if you're one of the fans who spends any 51 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: amount of money investing in this team, whether it's to 52 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 2: buy a jersey or to buy ticket to a game, 53 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: or whatever it might be. Fans want transparency, Fans want understanding. 54 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 2: Fans want some sort of indication that the plan you 55 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 2: are trying to put in place is working. And I 56 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: think that's magnified by the fact that you have, in 57 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 2: many people's opinion, the best quarterback in the National Football 58 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: League on your team and you have not made the 59 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: playoffs now for three consecutive seasons. You've made the playoffs 60 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 2: just twice over the last ten and if not for 61 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: that run in twenty twenty one, what really is the 62 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: conversation about, what really is the conversation regarding this franchise 63 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 2: in the future of this franchise and Joe Burrow, I 64 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: think when they went on that run in twenty one, 65 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: it solidified the idea that Okay, this is possible, and 66 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: now the standards at all levels need to be raised, 67 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: and I do think the Bengals at times have done 68 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 2: a good job of doing that, but they haven't done 69 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: a good enough job. And it has felt like from 70 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 2: my perspective as a fan and my perspective talking about 71 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 2: them every single day, is that there are times when 72 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: the standard that has been set forth by the fan 73 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 2: base does not meet the same standard internally by the 74 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: front office. And I also think that there is maybe 75 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: a different standard, at least it feels this way, it 76 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 2: is perceived this way from the players and the coaches 77 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: than there is in the front office. And that's an 78 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 2: issue because you need all three levels front office, coaching staff, 79 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 2: players to have the same standard and each day be 80 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 2: working towards the same goal. And the Bengals, if you 81 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: were to ask them, they would tell you that that 82 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 2: is what they are doing. I disagree with that premise. 83 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: I don't know that the Bengals are willing to do enough, 84 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 2: change enough, a just enough pivot, enough, go over the 85 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: top enough to make themselves and raise themselves to that 86 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 2: standard that is going to be necessary, and certainly not 87 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: to the standard at this point. I don't know Joe 88 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: Burrow holds himself in the players and the coaches and 89 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 2: everyone else is such a high standard. I don't know 90 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 2: that the Bengals front office wise are doing enough, or 91 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: have done enough, or are willing to do enough to 92 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 2: meet that standard. And it opens them up to criticism, 93 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 2: and it should because this is the single most important 94 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: player and era in the history of this franchise. I 95 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 2: have said this many times. I stand firm in this 96 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 2: belief that if the Bengals screw up the Joe Burrow era, 97 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: they will do irreparable damage to their fan base. They 98 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 2: will lose people, They will lose people for a long time. 99 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: There will be people that will not come back because 100 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: for the second time they will have a franchise caliber quarterback, 101 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 2: a super Bowl caliber quarterback that they've screwed up. Now 102 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 2: you can say whatever you want about Carson Palmer and 103 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: whether or not he was that level of quarterback. He 104 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 2: certainly wasn't at the level of Joe Burrow, but you 105 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 2: felt like he had all the tools that he could 106 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: have gotten you to a super Bowl, and he did 107 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 2: go to the NFC Championship Game with Arizona. And the 108 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 2: issue with Carson feels like the same issue with Joe. 109 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: Are the Bengals doing enough to go all in? Are 110 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 2: they pushing all their chips at the center of the table. 111 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 2: And the fact that we had this conversation with the 112 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: talkbackers earlier today and multiple times it was brought up, hey, 113 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: do you care more about winning or do you care 114 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: more about the bottom line of your business? That to 115 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,799 Speaker 2: me is a major issue when it comes to your perception. 116 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 2: And that's what bothers me the most about Katie not 117 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 2: talking in Phoenix is that you have an opportunity to 118 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 2: change the narrative. You have the opportunity to level with fans, 119 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 2: to come eye to eye, to send your message to 120 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: the fans, to do the PR tour and say, hey, 121 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 2: we know that this offseason so far hasn't been good enough, 122 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: and we know that our team needs to improve, and 123 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 2: we believe in the guys we have, but we know 124 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: we need to do more. And what we've done for 125 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: the last three years is completely unacceptable and there is 126 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 2: a pressure inside the building to fix it, and there 127 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 2: are jobs on the line, and we know that the 128 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 2: standard that we have met the last couple of years 129 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 2: is not the standard that we have for ourselves or 130 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 2: that our fans have for us, and so we are 131 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: doing everything in our power to change that. It would 132 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: not be hard for Katie Blackburn to do that. You 133 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: have the platform. You can say that, you can reassure 134 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 2: those people who might not want. 135 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 3: To be season ticket holders anymore. 136 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: You can convince people who do want to buy back 137 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 2: into this organization. You can tell people and set the 138 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: standard from the highest ranking person in the organization all 139 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 2: the way down. What we've done is not good enough. 140 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: You have the opportunity at owners meetings really whenever you 141 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 2: want to set that standard. But they don't, and that 142 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 2: should bother you, because it bothers me. I say constantly 143 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: that I believe that this organization should be in an 144 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: aggressive pursuit of a championship from the moment their feet 145 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 2: hit the floor in the morning and I believe there 146 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: are people in that organization that do feel that way, 147 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 2: and I know that they want to win, but they 148 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 2: continually make things so much harder on themselves because they 149 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: feel so far away, because the transparency isn't there, because 150 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: they're not leveling with fans, they're not relating to fans. 151 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 2: It feels like they're so far away that they don't 152 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 2: really want to talk to you. They don't really want 153 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 2: to relate to you. They don't really want to make 154 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: you feel seen. And they've sucked at this for a 155 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 2: long time. And we've all said it, and we've all 156 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,959 Speaker 2: acknowledged it, and all of us who are Bengals fans 157 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 2: have felt it. And it's frustrating and it's annoying, and 158 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 2: you would just hope that at some point the light 159 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 2: bulb will come on and these people would say, you 160 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:18,839 Speaker 2: know what, our fans deserve better. Our fans deserve transparency, 161 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 2: our fans deserve truth. And instead of continuing to throw 162 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 2: Zach Taylor out to the wolves, or this past year, 163 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 2: throw Zuke Tobin out to the wolves, We're gonna go 164 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 2: out there and answer the questions. Here's the other thing too. 165 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 2: If you do believe in your process. If you believe 166 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: fully in what you're doing and your plan and how 167 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: you want to execute it and that it will work well, 168 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 2: then you should have no problem defending it. You should 169 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 2: have no problem getting out there and saying, here's why 170 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 2: we believe. Here's the resources we've given Duke, Here's the 171 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 2: resources we've given Zach. Here's the conversations we've given and 172 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 2: we've had with Joe Burrow. Here's why we believe our 173 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 2: process works. Here's why it's different in how it's different 174 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:03,199 Speaker 2: from other processes across the league. And this is our mentality. 175 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:09,079 Speaker 2: It's not that hard to say, this is how we 176 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 2: believe in, this is how we operate. 177 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 3: If you are so. 178 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 2: Convinced that your way of doing things works, will then 179 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: explain it, defend it, make sense of it to everybody, 180 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: especially the people who are investing in your organization on 181 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 2: a day to day basis. You know, the players would 182 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 2: like to hear that too. You know, the coaching staff 183 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 2: who's pissed off right now that you haven't given them 184 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 2: good enough players to actually compete because this offseason has 185 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 2: been such a failure in terms of roster building, They 186 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: would like an explanation and understanding of the process, the fans, 187 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 2: the season ticket holders, the people who are in the 188 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 2: media every day criticizing you and questioning you. The former 189 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 2: players like Andrew Whitworth, who had a thirty minute conversation 190 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,719 Speaker 2: with Kelsey Conway in the Inquiry this week, saying the 191 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 2: Bengals just don't do enough. They would like to understand 192 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 2: your reasoning. It feels like the fourth year in a 193 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 2: row we've had the same conversation. This is the most 194 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 2: important offseason in Bengals history. Well, it is, and I 195 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 2: don't know that what we saw from Joe Burrow last year, 196 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 2: his frustration, I don't know that that necessarily means that 197 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 2: Joe is ready to bolt. I'm not there yet, and 198 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 2: the people I've talked to have told me Joe Burrow 199 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 2: is not there yet. But losing wears on people. It 200 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 2: wears on him, It should wear on him. It's not 201 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: acceptable and there needs to be concrete proof and belief 202 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 2: that the organization is doing everything possible to fix it. 203 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 2: It's maddening that the people in charge don't speak. They 204 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 2: aren't transparent, and I get it. Not every owner in 205 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 2: the NFL talks. Some of them are very hands off. 206 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 2: Some of them put their gms out there, the director 207 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 2: play of personnel's out there. 208 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 3: All that. 209 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 2: I get it, and everybody has different ways of doing business. 210 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 2: This is the one time of year we normally get 211 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 2: to hear from Katie. I would have liked to have 212 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 2: heard from Katie. And like I said to Joe Danoman, 213 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 2: there's not a Trey Hendrickson contract you got to talk about. 214 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 2: There's no stadium lease stuff that's really going on. It's 215 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 2: really just football stuff. And hell, the Competition Committee changed 216 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 2: four or five rules today. You can talk about that stuff. 217 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,359 Speaker 2: And it's about team building, and it's about your philosophy 218 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 2: to team building, and your financial philosophy and your fiscal responsibilities, 219 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 2: that sort of stuff that gives people an understanding of 220 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 2: how you operate and why you operate the way you 221 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 2: operate so that you can clarify that portion of your 222 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 2: business that she's not talking about. I have a hard 223 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: time understanding that, even if you just look at it 224 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 2: from a pr perspective. This is your opportunity to control 225 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 2: the narrative. And yeah, of course you're going to open 226 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 2: yourself up to more questions and you're going to open 227 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 2: yourself up to criticism. 228 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 3: That's part of a gig. 229 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 2: But that doesn't mean that that you're not going to 230 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 2: be criticized for not talking, because it makes you look worse. 231 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 2: It makes it look like you're hiding something. It makes 232 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 2: it look like you don't believe in your plan. It 233 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 2: makes it look like maybe you don't have a plan. 234 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 2: Just from that perspective alone, you have the chance to 235 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 2: explain yourself and defend yourself and control the narrative, and 236 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: you don't even do that, And it makes people wonder 237 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 2: just how committed are you? How much of a priority 238 00:13:56,520 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 2: is winning a Lombardi Trophy. You might believe it in 239 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 2: your heart, you might say it, but if you don't 240 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 2: show it, how a how are people supposed to believe it? 241 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 3: This is ESPN fifteen thirty. 242 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 4: From the locker room whispers to stadium roars. He's got 243 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 4: it all Moeger today at three pm on ESPN fifteen thirty. 244 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 2: Welcome back since e three sixty, ESPN fifteen thirty. I'm 245 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 2: Austin Elmore. Phone lines are full after that, Brant I 246 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 2: just went on five one, three, seven, four nine, fifteen thirty. 247 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 2: Let's go to the phones. Let's start with Steve in Charlotte, Steve, 248 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 2: what's up? 249 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 5: What's up? Guys? How are you doing? 250 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 3: Good man? What's on your mind? 251 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 6: Well, it's good to like I say, I know that 252 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 6: Tony and everybody's gone, but you come down there. Always 253 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 6: drive up for the games, even the Reds games stuff 254 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 6: like that, for the you know, to see everybody. But 255 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 6: I just I got season tickets. I come up for 256 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 6: most of the get for most all the games. I 257 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 6: just went online because I got the seat relocation email 258 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 6: this morning. So whenever they're not upgrade, my seats moved 259 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 6: down a little bit close to the field and one 260 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 6: fifty one. But I'm gonna tell you right now this, 261 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 6: this is it. This is the last year. I've been 262 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 6: a season ticket hall for a while. 263 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 5: Moved to Charlotte. 264 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 6: Twenty sixteen, and I don't think that there's a First 265 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 6: of all, there's a ton of seats open for seat, 266 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 6: which means a lot of people give their seats up. 267 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 6: Almost my entire row in one point fifty two rows 268 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 6: thirty nine was given up, so I moved closer. But 269 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 6: I don't think that, you know, I think a couple 270 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 6: of years ago it started for me whenever Mike Brown 271 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 6: gave up you know, he sold the naming right. I mean, 272 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 6: he took his dad's name off of the building, you know. 273 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 6: I mean if he doesn't care about his his his 274 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 6: family's legacy and having his name on the building, does 275 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 6: he really care about the fan base? That's something you 276 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 6: should you know, we need to really look a hard 277 00:15:57,680 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 6: you know, take a hard look at because I mean, 278 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 6: his dad's name and now it's pay Court. I get it, 279 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 6: but that was his dad's name, family legacy. 280 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 5: He was gift wrapped. 281 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 6: Hey and Katie Blackburn and everybody, they were gift wrapped. 282 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 6: This team, they were just it was just given to them. 283 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 6: They didn't have to work for it. So do they 284 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 6: really appreciate anything they have? And it's hard to believe 285 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 6: that they actually do. What's your thoughts on that? 286 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, Steve, thank you for the phone call. The the thing, 287 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 2: the idea of selling the naming rights to the stadium. 288 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 2: I have no problem with that. I think that's a 289 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 2: smart business decision. His his dad's name is still on 290 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 2: the stadium and they and created the Ring of honor 291 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 2: and he was the first name and that is never 292 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 2: going to to go away as far as the Bengals 293 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 2: are concerned, and as long as they exist. That was 294 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 2: a smart business decision and it made sense, So I 295 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 2: don't care about that. I also think that the way 296 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 2: that Paul Brown in his life and his legacy went, 297 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 2: everything that happened in Cleveland and how that affected him, 298 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 2: that had a profound impact on Mike Brown, and I 299 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 2: don't think he takes that lightly. And I don't think 300 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 2: he sold the naming right to the stadium, which he 301 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 2: could have done from the very beginning. I don't think 302 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 2: he took that lightly. So to say that they don't 303 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 2: care and that they've never had to work for it 304 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 2: and bubble, I don't really agree with that statement. I 305 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 2: don't agree with that sentiment whatsoever. This is their family business, 306 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 2: This is all they've ever known, and I think they care. 307 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 2: But I think they have a process that they have 308 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 2: not been willing enough to change. There have been sprinkles, 309 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 2: there have been little things here and there, but not 310 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 2: quite enough. And I would like to see that, you know, 311 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 2: finally final push over the top to fix it. Let's 312 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 2: go to Brian and for Thomas. What's up Brian? 313 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 7: Oh, not too much, DAUTI I appreciate the I don't 314 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 7: know what that was, Yes, coentification. So, first off, a 315 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 7: guy just touched on the rads about Chase Burns that 316 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 7: he looked absolutely nasty last night, that slider is unhittable. 317 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 7: And South Stewart after that ball he took on opening day, 318 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 7: I thought, oh my lord, he broke his wrist. And 319 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,199 Speaker 7: if you don't like him after that, he's like, oh, 320 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 7: I'm good. You watch him go the dugout and he's 321 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 7: just like he he looks at ything. I'm fine, don't 322 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 7: worry about it. And if you don't like him after 323 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 7: that situation and after the way he plays, he's fantastic. 324 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 7: So in regards to the Mangal situation, I mean their 325 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 7: answer is very clear. They care much more about the 326 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 7: bottom line than they do winning. I mean there's things 327 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 7: that look at first off, the bubble, I mean, the 328 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 7: five billion dollar organization, and they can't build a permanent 329 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:05,919 Speaker 7: practice facility and they put that monstrosity. The health and 330 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 7: wellness stuff they haven't improved on in years. I mean, 331 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 7: it's clear that don't even like a big time verization 332 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 7: isn't their priority. It's it's it they just don't spend 333 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 7: the money the way other NFL teams do. I I 334 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 7: really doubt the l A Rams have a bubble day practicing. 335 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 7: I would I would just bet they don't. And do 336 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 7: you think do you think there do you think their 337 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 7: fans ever question if they're dedicated to winning? Do you 338 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,239 Speaker 7: think that they're thinking, Man, we don't know if they 339 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 7: really want to win, like we are answers. We already 340 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 7: know all these answers. It's it's clear. And I'm you know, 341 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 7: I'm like everybody else. If if Joe leaves without a 342 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 7: Super Bowl, I leave and I just can never This 343 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 7: is you know, this is our opportunity, and I just 344 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 7: feel like, as a fan, will it's just getting wasted. 345 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm right there. I hear you, and I know 346 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 2: a lot of Bengals fans that feel the same way. 347 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 2: And thank you for the phone call. Yeah, I mean again, 348 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 2: they have done things that they have improved on. The 349 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 2: bubble is the bare minimum and it took them way 350 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 2: too long. And they like having all their operations basically centralized. 351 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 2: And you know, I don't know that I necessarily agree 352 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 2: with that. I see where they are coming from. They 353 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 2: have completely redone their training room, they have invested in 354 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 2: They've redone the locker room, they've invested in a lot 355 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 2: of that stuff, they've gotten better, but then they don't 356 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,440 Speaker 2: treat the families correctly, or they don't have good enough nutrition, 357 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 2: like there's always something else that feels like holds them back. 358 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 2: And is that a prerequisite for being a super Bowl 359 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 2: caliber team? No, it's not being a prerequisite to The 360 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 2: prerequisite is getting the right players in and building around 361 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 2: them the correct way. But the little stuff around it 362 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 2: doesn't help to acquire those players and get people to 363 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 2: be there and all that. So I certainly get where 364 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 2: you're coming from from, and it does feel like in 365 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 2: some of those categories they're lagging behind. I think they 366 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 2: were twenty seventh overall ranking in the NFLPA report cards. 367 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 2: By the way, John Lynch said this week that after 368 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 2: those report cards came out, they met with players and 369 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 2: they said, what do you want us to do? And 370 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 2: how do you want us to fix it? And they're 371 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 2: fixing it. That's the point of the NFLPA cards. I 372 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 2: would love to know if the Bengals had any similar conversations. 373 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 2: Let's go to Dave in Florida. What's up, Dave? 374 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 8: Hey, HOI how you doing today? 375 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 3: Good man? 376 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 8: So I agree with what you just said. Okay, but 377 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 8: I've been a fan. I've been I'm fifty six years old, 378 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 8: so I go back. You know, i was ten years 379 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 8: old when they went to their first Super Bowl, all 380 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 8: right in nineteen eighty. So I've seen this organization say 381 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 8: the same stuff that you're wanting them to say, over 382 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 8: and over and over again. They come out, we're unacceptable. 383 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 8: I've seen Mike Brown do it in a press efforts 384 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 8: with Marvin Lewis sitting right next to him. I've seen 385 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 8: Mike Brown do it at mock turtle Soup. I've seen 386 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 8: Duke Tobin come out say the same stuff, and it's 387 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,120 Speaker 8: just it's just lip service. 388 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 5: They never change. 389 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 8: They're never going to change. 390 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 7: You know. 391 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 8: Everybody wants, you know, and everybody wants to put a 392 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,919 Speaker 8: lot of this on Duke, and I'm I'm you know, 393 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 8: I I'm not defending him in any way, but he's 394 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 8: not the one that writes the checks, you know, if 395 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 8: you had, I mean, Howie Roseman has more autonomy with 396 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 8: the Eagles than Duke Cobin does in his little finger, 397 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 8: you know, so anytime Duke wants a player, he's still 398 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 8: got to go to Mike and say this is what 399 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 8: we need, and Mike's got to write the checks, and 400 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 8: that's never going to change. And until you know, and 401 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 8: we've seen this book written a lot on what happens 402 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 8: is every time they get to the mountaintop. Okay, they 403 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 8: go to a super Bowl, or they go to make 404 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 8: five straight playoff appearances or do whatever, then they fall 405 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,719 Speaker 8: off the cliff until seats start being empty. And then 406 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 8: all of a sudden, we go out and we sign players, 407 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 8: we bring this guy in, and all of a sudden 408 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 8: we get back to the playoffs and we reach the 409 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 8: mountaintop again, and then we're gonna fall off the cliff. 410 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 8: It's the same book every time, and nothing's ever gonna 411 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 8: change with this organization. Unfortunately, and even and I'm not 412 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 8: trying to be Mormon or you know anything, but when 413 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 8: Mike goes, nothing's gonna change. When Katie takes over, the 414 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 8: only way anything ever changes is they give up the organization. 415 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 8: And so until we all as fans, and you know, 416 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 8: I live down in Florida, and I go, I spend 417 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 8: a ton of money on DirecTV and the NFL network 418 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,199 Speaker 8: and or the NFL ticket and I buy all the gear, 419 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,640 Speaker 8: and I you know, I got my grandson, buy all 420 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 8: his stuff, and I travel to certain civil way. So 421 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 8: I spent a lot of money myself. And it's frustrating 422 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 8: as a fan. Yeah, you know, but I'm gonna, you know, 423 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 8: and I'm guilty as everybody else's. I keep following them, 424 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 8: but I will say this, and if they don't make 425 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 8: it back to a super Bowl before Joe's contracts up, 426 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 8: Joe's gone and Jamar's right out the door with him. 427 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 8: And like you said, if that happens, and I've said 428 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 8: it before, I've said it too, this organization is done. 429 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 8: They might as well just sell it. 430 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, Dave, thank you for the phone call, and I 431 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 2: understand your frustrations, and a lot of Bengals fans would 432 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 2: agree with you. And you know, I think there was 433 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 2: when Burrow got here. I think there was a hope 434 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 2: that came across the fan base, especially after the Super 435 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 2: Bowl run, where it's like, Okay, this dude might be 436 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 2: enough to get them to change. They also were as 437 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 2: aggressive as they had ever been in free agency prior 438 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 2: to that, and so there was this belief that Okay, 439 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 2: this is a new era of being football. They were 440 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 2: aggressive in free agency. They've got this franchise quarterback. Now 441 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 2: they can this is their chance. The window is now here. 442 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 2: And they were very good in twenty twenty two. They've 443 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 2: missed three in the last three seasons, and now the 444 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 2: pressure is mounting. And not enough was done over the 445 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 2: last few seasons in the off season to maintain the 446 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:26,640 Speaker 2: level of play that you need to and they obviously 447 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 2: got unlucky with the injuries, and that has not helped 448 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 2: by any stretch of the imagination. But I think there 449 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 2: is there was this hope maybe that we didn't even 450 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 2: realize we had for a lot of Bengals fans that 451 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 2: Burrow's arrival would elicit change, and especially early on, you 452 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 2: saw some of that which made you believe that even more. 453 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 2: And for the last couple of years you haven't seen 454 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 2: it as much. While the losses pile up and the 455 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 2: playoff appearances dwindle, and the frustration within the organization and 456 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 2: the understanding of Burrow and all that is starting to 457 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,199 Speaker 2: be stoked that flame a little bit. It makes you 458 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 2: wonder what is the end game it really is and 459 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 2: and yeah, it's it's a tough pill to swallow at times. 460 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 2: Let's go to College Hill and talk to Brian what's up, Brian. 461 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 5: Hey, what's up? Already done? You're doing a great job. 462 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 3: Thank you. 463 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 5: I'm glad. I loved your dissertation. Man, that was great. 464 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 5: Thank I mean, you hit every point and it's exactly 465 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 5: how I've been building for for years. You know, we 466 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 5: used to go down there. You know, my cousin had 467 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 5: season tickets and we would just we'd be down there 468 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 5: every year. But I'm want to ask you a couple 469 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:50,360 Speaker 5: of questions, like when the Beagles were really successful back 470 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 5: in their heyday in the eighties, did Mike Brown, did 471 00:26:55,840 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 5: Paul Brown have a larger scouting department or where they like, 472 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 5: really what what they got like six or seven of 473 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 5: them right now? 474 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 3: You know, I don't know what it is. 475 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 2: I don't I don't know the answer to that question. 476 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 2: To be honest, I would assume that it was probably 477 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 2: similar in size as to what it is now. I 478 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 2: don't know, to be honest. 479 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:22,679 Speaker 5: I mean, because they really they they went to a 480 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 5: lot of HBCUs. They feel like they branched out a 481 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 5: lot more back in those days, and they hit on 482 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 5: some really good players. But my thing is, like the 483 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 5: Bengals just want to do things their way, yep, because 484 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 5: every every other NFL team has a different style of 485 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 5: scouting of uh you know, uh, you know, bringing players 486 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 5: into their organizations and they develop them. 487 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 8: Uh. 488 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 5: The facilities are better. I mean a lot of things 489 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 5: are a lot better. I had a cotin that played 490 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 5: for the Bengels, so he taught me a lot of 491 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 5: stuff about them that you know, I was. I was 492 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 5: blown away. But I'm just wondering if Mike Brown will 493 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 5: be how much day to day will he be into 494 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 5: like in the near future, because the guys like almost 495 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 5: ninety years old, so I don't I don't know how 496 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,640 Speaker 5: much longer he would be there. And then another question 497 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:19,959 Speaker 5: to answered all this when I hang up is do 498 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 5: they have the cap space to spend money to get 499 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:25,879 Speaker 5: to get these players? I mean, because Max Crossey is 500 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 5: sitting right there. Man, I would make I would shake 501 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 5: the NFL world and I would go get Max Crossey 502 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 5: even though they knew like he was only halfway through 503 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 5: his rehab, you know, and the Ravens you know, said 504 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 5: he didn't pass physical. I would make a stab. I 505 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 5: would at least kick the tires on him. 506 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 3: Sure, And. 507 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 5: I just feel like, you know, to see other teams 508 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 5: being successful, being conclustian. Why don't you follow suit like 509 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 5: I adopt some of these some of these changes man 510 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 5: that other teams are making. And lastly, do you feel 511 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 5: like I mean your heart of hearts, I don't notice, 512 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 5: you know people say this all the time. Do you 513 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 5: think the Bengals really, in their heart of hearts want 514 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 5: to win a Super Bowl? Or do they just of course, 515 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 5: you know, you got Joe Burrow. I mean that's that's 516 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:20,400 Speaker 5: a good chance you might make it through the super Bowl. 517 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 5: And you know, but he got sacked a thousand times. 518 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 5: They still made it. But do you think in their 519 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 5: heart of hearts, in your heart of hearts, do you 520 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 5: think the Bengals want to win a Super Bowl? And 521 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 5: do they want to just want to do it their way? 522 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 2: That's exactly it, Brian, And thank you. And yes, I 523 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 2: do think they want to win a super Bowl. I 524 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 2: think they want to win a super Bowl badly. But 525 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 2: I don't know if they are willing to change fully, 526 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 2: to completely evolve, to bring in somebody who can help 527 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 2: them circumvent and navigate the cap in different ways, like 528 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:59,239 Speaker 2: from a cap space perspective. Just flat out no, they 529 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 2: don't have the space for Max Crosby, but they do 530 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 2: have the ability to get him if they want to 531 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 2: move things around and restructure contracts and like do all 532 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 2: those other things that winning teams do to acquire their players, 533 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 2: to keep their talent together, to build their roster. 534 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 3: Mike is is. 535 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 2: Flirting with ninety, yes, but he's still very sharp, and 536 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 2: he's still in good shape, and he's still very much involved. 537 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 2: And I don't see that changing anytime soon. And when 538 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 2: the day comes that he isn't involved, I don't know 539 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 2: that much is going to change either, which is obviously 540 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 2: a frustrating and concerning part. I've talked to some people 541 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 2: who would describe that period of time and the upcoming 542 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 2: Bengals history is going to get worse. And I don't 543 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 2: know if I'm willing to say that, because I don't know. 544 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,200 Speaker 2: There's a lot I don't know, and there's a lot 545 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 2: that will be restructured and changed around. 546 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 7: But but. 547 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 2: Mike's still very much involved. He's a little bit more 548 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 2: open minded than he has been in the past, and 549 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 2: you have seen the remnants of that increasing in the 550 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 2: resources in the scouting department, in the bubble and the 551 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 2: naming rights and all this stuff like there has been 552 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 2: some progress made, but I still think there's a long 553 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:19,320 Speaker 2: way to go. So they answer your question, Mike still 554 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 2: involved and will continue to be involved. They could get 555 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 2: Max Crosby, but they don't take swings like that, which 556 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 2: is part of the problem with them trying to do 557 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 2: things their way, which they want to do things their 558 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 2: way and they want to win. By doing it their 559 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 2: way makes it harder to win. Take a break, we'll 560 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 2: come back. This is ESPN fifteen thirty. 561 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 9: Get the fastest local Alerts Back in the action. 562 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: Tony Pike since three sixty is back now on ESPN 563 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: fifteen thirty. 564 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 2: Tony Pike since three sixty, ESPN fifteen thirty. I'm Austin Elmore. 565 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 2: Twenty minutes remaining in the show The Chickster from three 566 00:31:55,360 --> 00:32:01,040 Speaker 2: to six This afternoon, chick Ludwig in four. It's time 567 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 2: for today's O'Connor, a, Chani and Levy injury Report, brought 568 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 2: to you by O'Connor, Achani and Levy attorneys. You know 569 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 2: attorneys you trust. Visit OA l dash Law dot com. 570 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 2: We did get an update on Nicklodolo yesterday, coming back 571 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 2: from that blister on his left index finger. He is 572 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 2: scheduled to throw a side session today. If that goes well, 573 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 2: Lodolo would make a rehab assignment at Single A Daytona 574 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 2: on Thursday. That would be April the second. He could 575 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 2: then rejoin the club for a start during its series 576 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 2: in Miami. The Reds are in Miami between from April 577 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:45,840 Speaker 2: sixth through the ninth. They have a four game set 578 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 2: against the Fish down there, so that would be the 579 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 2: expected return date for Nicklodolo sometime in that series. If 580 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 2: things go well with his side session today and rehab 581 00:32:57,320 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 2: start in Daytona. He was originally I believe you're supposed 582 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 2: to to pitch tomorrow in Louisville, but because of the 583 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 2: weather down there, they didn't want to take any chances, 584 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:09,720 Speaker 2: so they're going down to Florida. He'll pitch in Daytona 585 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 2: and then rejoin the team in. 586 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 3: Miami. 587 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 2: So long as everything goes well, and as I said, 588 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 2: he's supposed to be throwing a side session today for Ladoldo, 589 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:22,440 Speaker 2: that's pretty much it as far as updates are concerned. 590 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 2: That's our o'connie, O'Connor, a Shawnee and Levy injury report 591 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:33,479 Speaker 2: visit OAO dash law dot com. As far as that's concerned. 592 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:35,719 Speaker 2: Coming up in quick hits, I'll give you the latest 593 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 2: as far as the pitching matchup is concerned for tonight 594 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:43,080 Speaker 2: and what to expect from the Pirates. I do think 595 00:33:43,120 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 2: the Reds should be a little more aggressive tonight because 596 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:50,560 Speaker 2: Paul Skins is looming tomorrow. Got a chance to win 597 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 2: a series. And I'll tell you four and one or 598 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 2: four and two feels a whole lot different than three 599 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:57,240 Speaker 2: and three. And I know there's a lot of games left, 600 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 2: but damn it, they all count the same. So let's 601 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 2: treat him as such. Got a second for a phone call. 602 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:07,800 Speaker 2: Let's talk to Dick in Dayton. Hello, Richard, Hello, how 603 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 2: are you there, mister Austin? 604 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 3: I'm good. What's on your mind today, Dick? 605 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:15,879 Speaker 10: I like what you said, you know about last year 606 00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 10: in the beginning of Super Bowl, and yet the loss 607 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 10: of Joe Burrow, you know, made this. But I'm like you, 608 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 10: I'm like you, well, Austin, I just think they got 609 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 10: to build on, you know, the offense and not the defense. 610 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:37,879 Speaker 10: The defense has to play well this year twenty twenty six. 611 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 10: You know what I'm saying that not in Burrows out. 612 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:43,320 Speaker 10: We just we lost it, didn't we? 613 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 5: Yeah? 614 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:45,719 Speaker 3: Yeah, I know that that makes a lot of sense. Dick, 615 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:46,759 Speaker 3: thank you for the phone call. 616 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:49,440 Speaker 5: Okay, you're welcome, all right. 617 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:53,719 Speaker 3: That is Dick in Dayton. We'll take a break on 618 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:55,520 Speaker 3: ESPN fifteen thirty. 619 00:34:56,640 --> 00:35:04,160 Speaker 9: Wk Y Cincinnati and Iheartradios Guaranteed Human ESPN fifteen thirty 620 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 9: I heard radio. The record high for Cincinnati today is 621 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 9: eighty four and we'll come close to it around eighty two. 622 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,000 Speaker 9: Also going to be windy with the mix of sun 623 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,880 Speaker 9: and clouds overnight tonight. We dropped down to sixty two 624 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 9: for your Wednesday morning and then showers and storms moving 625 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,640 Speaker 9: from the north late in the morning and continuing into 626 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:27,320 Speaker 9: the afternoon with a high year seventy five. That's the forecast. 627 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,800 Speaker 9: I'm nine first warning Mead religious Mark Stitz. 628 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:34,840 Speaker 3: This report is sponsored by Progressive Insurance. Keep your career 629 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 3: moving forward with. 630 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:39,240 Speaker 1: Me and for a quick hits on Tony Pikes sixty 631 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:40,560 Speaker 1: three sixty. 632 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 3: Was looking for Mo. No Mo today. 633 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 2: It'll be the Chickster Chick Ludwicks going to be in 634 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 2: for Moe this afternoon from three to six. He's got 635 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 2: a full lineup for you, including the conversation with Mike 636 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:55,279 Speaker 2: Petralia from CLNS media is also going to talk to 637 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:59,319 Speaker 2: Tom Nichols, Tom Brenneman, Dan Horde, Steve Grody, a whole 638 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:03,520 Speaker 2: bunch of people coming up this afternoon. Dan, that Chick 639 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 2: Ludwig is gonna have for you in for Moegger today. Reminder, 640 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:11,480 Speaker 2: I am in from O. Tomorrow we'll be talking to 641 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:13,839 Speaker 2: Paul Danner Junior out in Phoenix from the latest from 642 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:18,880 Speaker 2: the NFL Annual meetings. So Chick coming up at three 643 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:23,960 Speaker 2: ZHO five today. Let's talk about tonight pitching matchup for 644 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:27,440 Speaker 2: the Old Red Legs. It'll be Brandon Williamson, the left 645 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:30,800 Speaker 2: hander on the mound for Cincinnati. Last time he pitched 646 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:36,240 Speaker 2: September seventeenth, twenty twenty four. He pitched just fourteen innings 647 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,319 Speaker 2: in the twenty four season, missed all of last year 648 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 2: with Tommy John surgery. Back in twenty twenty three, pitch 649 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 2: pretty good for the Reds. Had one hundred and seventeen 650 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:48,240 Speaker 2: innings and at four point four to six earned run average. 651 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 2: He has faced just four of the current Pirates hitters. 652 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:54,680 Speaker 2: He's allowed three hits in eleven at bats. He'll be 653 00:36:54,719 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 2: opposed by a young right hander for Pittsburgh by the 654 00:36:57,360 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 2: name of Bubba Bubba Chandler had a four point two 655 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:07,080 Speaker 2: ERA in thirty one innings. Last season, he struck out 656 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:10,319 Speaker 2: thirty one batters in thirty one innings. He has never 657 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:13,880 Speaker 2: faced the Reds. That is a six to forty start 658 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 2: on seven hundred WL WI am checking right now to 659 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 2: see if the lineup has yet to come out, and 660 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:25,359 Speaker 2: I do not see a lineup yet to come out 661 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:28,120 Speaker 2: for the Red Legs. We typically get it right around 662 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:31,480 Speaker 2: this time. By the way, Reds did announce earlier today 663 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:36,400 Speaker 2: that catcher Alfredo Duno has been promoted from Single A 664 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 2: Daytona to High A dayton So the Reds top catching prospect, 665 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 2: Alfredo Duno, still just a young man, is moving up 666 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:49,480 Speaker 2: to dayton He will play for the Dragons this season. 667 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:52,800 Speaker 2: Some news coming out of the NFL annual meetings. Five 668 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:58,960 Speaker 2: rule changes have been voted through here. They are the 669 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:02,919 Speaker 2: kicking team can declare an on side kick at any 670 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:05,320 Speaker 2: time during the game. So it used to be you 671 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:06,879 Speaker 2: can only do it if you're trailing in the fourth 672 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:09,440 Speaker 2: quarter and blah blah blah blah blah. Now you can 673 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:11,799 Speaker 2: kick an on side kick anytime you want. You still 674 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:17,719 Speaker 2: have to declare. The Competition Committee also approved to eliminate 675 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 2: the team's incentive to kick the ball out of bounds 676 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:25,320 Speaker 2: intentionally from kicking off from the fifty yard line. So 677 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:29,120 Speaker 2: if there was a penalty on the extra point, you 678 00:38:29,239 --> 00:38:32,960 Speaker 2: could take that penalty on the kickoff and kick off 679 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:35,560 Speaker 2: from the fifty and then kick off out of bounds 680 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,600 Speaker 2: and you'd pin the team inside the twenty. It was 681 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:40,839 Speaker 2: a loophole in the rule by the Competition Committee. They've 682 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:44,480 Speaker 2: also voted to modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the 683 00:38:44,560 --> 00:38:47,359 Speaker 2: receiving team players in the setup zone. 684 00:38:47,560 --> 00:38:49,120 Speaker 3: We'll see exactly what that means. 685 00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:53,600 Speaker 2: By the Competition Committee to allow league personnel to consult 686 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 2: with on field officials when considering disqualifications for both flagrant 687 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:02,759 Speaker 2: football acts and non football acts without being called on 688 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:06,719 Speaker 2: the field. Basically, this means that New York can chime 689 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:10,160 Speaker 2: in and throw a player out for something that they did. 690 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 2: I think a good example for this might have been 691 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:16,439 Speaker 2: Jamar Chase last year. They could have buzzed in and said, 692 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:19,279 Speaker 2: Jamar Chase spit on Jalen Ramsey, throw them out of 693 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:23,239 Speaker 2: the game, that sort of thing. And finally, for one year, 694 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 2: only for one year only, to allow the National Football 695 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:31,879 Speaker 2: League officiating Department to correct clear and obvious misses made 696 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:35,480 Speaker 2: by on field officials that impact the game in the 697 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:39,160 Speaker 2: event that there is a work stoppage involving the game 698 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:43,160 Speaker 2: officials represented by the NFL Referees Association. This is a 699 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:46,200 Speaker 2: huge story that isn't getting a ton of pub and 700 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:47,960 Speaker 2: I want to dive a little bit more into it. 701 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:50,719 Speaker 2: I might have the chance to do that tomorrow, but 702 00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:55,319 Speaker 2: from my understanding, the negotiations between the NFL Referees Association 703 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:59,919 Speaker 2: and the league are very far apart, based mainly on money. 704 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:03,719 Speaker 2: In the NFL is offering a big raise every year 705 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:08,000 Speaker 2: performance based assignments, not based on seniority. They're giving them 706 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:10,480 Speaker 2: more tools to be good at their job in the 707 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:13,719 Speaker 2: NFL Referees Association wants nothing to do with it. So 708 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:16,360 Speaker 2: for years we've pounded the drum and begged for the 709 00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:18,759 Speaker 2: league to get better in full time officials and this 710 00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:21,880 Speaker 2: and this and this, but the NFLRA doesn't seem to 711 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:25,400 Speaker 2: want that. That's not good for the game. I have 712 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:27,879 Speaker 2: a hard time siding with the officials on this. From 713 00:40:27,960 --> 00:40:32,600 Speaker 2: everything I've read, it makes the most sense what the 714 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:36,399 Speaker 2: NFL is offering to the NFLRA, and I don't quite 715 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:39,520 Speaker 2: understand why they are not as receptive to that. To 716 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 2: be completely honest with you, I'm struggling to get that. 717 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 2: So what this does, So the NFL is trying to 718 00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:48,080 Speaker 2: hire replacement officials and they want to have them hired 719 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:52,440 Speaker 2: by May first. When this happened previously, the NFL is 720 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:55,120 Speaker 2: not prepared for it. They had those guys hired like 721 00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:58,440 Speaker 2: July first or early July and had to kind of 722 00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:00,879 Speaker 2: try to train them throughout training camp and be ready 723 00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:03,719 Speaker 2: for the season in August and September. This year, they 724 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:06,960 Speaker 2: won an extra two month head start to get those guys, 725 00:41:07,239 --> 00:41:08,960 Speaker 2: and they're going to be D one, D two, D 726 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:12,960 Speaker 2: three college football officials. Bring them in, train them, get 727 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:15,440 Speaker 2: them adjusted to the speed of the NFL game, send 728 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:17,440 Speaker 2: them out the training camps, and have them ready to 729 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 2: go by the time the season starts. In the event 730 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:23,520 Speaker 2: that these two sides, the NFL and the NFLRA do 731 00:41:23,719 --> 00:41:28,600 Speaker 2: not come to an agreement on a new deal. So 732 00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:32,719 Speaker 2: because of that, this voting today allows the NFL in 733 00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:36,880 Speaker 2: New York, the officiating department to correct clear and obvious 734 00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:40,680 Speaker 2: misses made by the on field officials that impact the game. 735 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:45,080 Speaker 2: I also think that this will be a one year 736 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:51,360 Speaker 2: trial and ultimately voted in at all times because I 737 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:54,200 Speaker 2: think there have been so many issues in the past. 738 00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:57,320 Speaker 2: You have the technology, you have the resources to be 739 00:41:57,360 --> 00:42:00,239 Speaker 2: able to do this. Why not have a ski guy 740 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:04,120 Speaker 2: judge that can quickly determine what was right and what 741 00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:06,719 Speaker 2: was wrong. How many times have you been watching an 742 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:10,000 Speaker 2: NFL game you see one replay and you know, Okay, yeah, 743 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:11,839 Speaker 2: they got that wrong. This should be the case, Bob, 744 00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:15,600 Speaker 2: whatever this situation might be. This allows New York to 745 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:18,040 Speaker 2: basically step in and correct those and keep the game moving. 746 00:42:18,760 --> 00:42:20,359 Speaker 2: I think they're going to test it out this year, 747 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:23,800 Speaker 2: especially if they don't have the NFL referees, and I 748 00:42:23,840 --> 00:42:25,319 Speaker 2: think they're going to try to put that in all 749 00:42:25,360 --> 00:42:27,120 Speaker 2: the time. I think they would be smart to put 750 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:29,640 Speaker 2: that in all the time, at least that's what I think. 751 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:32,759 Speaker 2: Anything else I missed, I didn't get a chance to 752 00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:35,120 Speaker 2: talk about the Red City connect Jerseys. Maybe I'll talk 753 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:40,560 Speaker 2: about that tomorrow on Moe's show, But I think that 754 00:42:40,840 --> 00:42:43,400 Speaker 2: pretty much is it. Red's go for a series win tonight. 755 00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:45,920 Speaker 2: Still haven't seen a lineup and we're pretty much out 756 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:49,719 Speaker 2: of time, so I will see it and turn things 757 00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:51,920 Speaker 2: over to Chick Ludwick. If you liked what you heard today, 758 00:42:52,280 --> 00:42:54,719 Speaker 2: you know where to find me at audiomoor au t 759 00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:58,640 Speaker 2: y E lmr E also be doing extra innings this 760 00:42:58,719 --> 00:43:01,840 Speaker 2: weekend on seven hundred WLW. And I have a podcast. 761 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:04,640 Speaker 2: It's called Ball Don't Lie. It's available wherever you get 762 00:43:04,680 --> 00:43:08,360 Speaker 2: your podcasts, including the iHeartRadio app. It's a Bengals podcast. 763 00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:12,960 Speaker 2: New episode coming out tomorrow. Thanks so much for listening. 764 00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:17,160 Speaker 2: Chick Ludwig is next. This has been Tony Pikes since 765 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:19,720 Speaker 2: e three sixty, right here on the home of the Bengals, 766 00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:22,560 Speaker 2: Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty. 767 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:45,680 Speaker 8: Ucky Cincinnati, make us the number one preset on your 768 00:43:45,719 --> 00:43:48,799 Speaker 8: car radio and on the free, new and improved iHeartRadio app. 769 00:43:48,920 --> 00:43:52,360 Speaker 4: Free never sounded so good, ESPN fifteen thirty