1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:05,439 Speaker 1: Tony Pike since he three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,960 Speaker 1: sponsored in part by Cincy Shirts. Cincy Shirts all sincey 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: all day. This is ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station. 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 2: All right, welcome in. It's our number two since he 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 2: three sixty the Tuesday edition, thanks to our friends here 6 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: at Cincy Shirts. Tuesday our number two. Let's get right 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 2: to it. From Fox nineteen, our good friend Joe Danaman 8 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 2: joining us right now. 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 3: Hi, Joe, Tony, Tony Tony and Audie E. How about 10 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 3: the Burrow bomb man on Monday. 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: Unbelievable, Dana, Boy, unbelievable. That Yeah, that is where we start. 12 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 2: Joe Burrow is back. Joe Burrow wants to play. He 13 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: circled Thanksgiving. Austin and I were just talking about it. 14 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 2: Wouldn't surprise us if he tried to play against the 15 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 2: New England Patriots next week. All of that being said, 16 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: if they don't take care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, 17 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: should he be playing? 18 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 3: Boy, this is the best talk radio sports debate material 19 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 3: you can come up with. I think they've got a 20 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 3: two week window here to win one of these two 21 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 3: games for Joe Burrow to come back on Thanksgiving. I 22 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 3: don't think there's a scenario where he plays against the 23 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 3: Patriots and you can clip this and rewind it and 24 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 3: tell me I'm an idiot this time next week. But 25 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 3: for a guy right now who's just throwing routes on air, 26 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 3: is not doing the full practice, full go running, cutting, start, stop, 27 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 3: that kind of stuff just yet, I have a hard 28 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 3: time believing in ten days you can start to game 29 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 3: plan for this guy to be your starting quarterback. In 30 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 3: what would be twelve days, So I think the New 31 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 3: England game is out, but again, tell me I'm wrong. 32 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 3: In twelve days, so that gives the Bengals two weeks 33 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 3: to win one game to feel like they've got a 34 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 3: shot in the final six games. So that's the runway 35 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 3: for this team is to either upset Pittsburgh or beat 36 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 3: New England here in Cincinnati to get Joe Burrow back 37 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 3: on the field. And I think if they go zero 38 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 3: to two, my personal opinion is, don't play him if 39 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 3: they lose both of these next two games. 40 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 2: You know, as someone who's there a lot, as someone 41 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: who's around this team, and I know bie weeks are 42 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 2: a little bit different. Was this something that was on 43 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 2: your radar? Or did this take you by surprise? 44 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 3: Yesterday as well, very much by surprise. I kind of 45 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 3: had it in the back of my mind that a 46 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 3: mid December return to games was on the table for 47 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 3: him and that meant maybe opening the twenty one day 48 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 3: window in about two weeks. So when we were setting 49 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,959 Speaker 3: up for Zach Taylor yesterday in our weekly interview as 50 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 3: being the TV partners with the Bengals, the Bengals media 51 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 3: relations director came in and said, did you see the news? 52 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 3: And in my mind, the news went about ten different directions. 53 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 3: What could this be? I hadn't opened my email yet 54 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 3: to see the Bengals had released that Joe Burrow was 55 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 3: opening his practice when so that was dropped right on 56 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 3: me right before we talked to Zach, and that changed 57 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 3: that conversation pretty quickly. So, yeah, he didn't see it 58 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 3: coming this soon. You know, we watched the progression of 59 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 3: Joe inside the locker room. Every week. We would see 60 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 3: him make progress. Was it was the scooter, that it 61 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 3: was the hard cast, then it was the walking boot, 62 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,359 Speaker 3: and then the last couple of weeks he saw him 63 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 3: walking around in normal walking shoes and he looked fine walking. 64 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 3: But you know, it's a different thing from walking to 65 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 3: playing football. So to see that timeline as accelerated as 66 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 3: it is, what fifty two days since the surgery to 67 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 3: getting back on the practice field and throwing passes, it's 68 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 3: pretty remarkable. I think it speaks to who Joe Burrow 69 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 3: is and what he's about. And not only obviously the 70 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 3: talents and the ability on the field why the Bengals 71 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 3: invested in this guy, is also the character and the 72 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 3: makeup and everything he's about. So we shouldn't be surprised 73 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 3: how quickly he got back, but just to see it 74 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 3: and to think about the timeline, certainly, I thought this 75 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 3: was a good two weeks away before we'd see this. 76 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: We had the conversation on the show yesterday about just 77 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: setting tangible goals for the second half, and yes, you 78 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 2: want to come out and say, yeah, there's still a 79 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 2: chance to make the playoffs, and I hope, I hope 80 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 2: they make a run. I hope they get into the playoffs. 81 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 2: I hope they become what they were last year in 82 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 2: a dangerous team that you don't want to see in 83 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 2: the playoffs. If that's not the case, what do you 84 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 2: look at as tangible goals, especially on the defensive side 85 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 2: of the ball going into the second half of the year. 86 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 3: Well, it's interesting because now they do have a tangible 87 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 3: goal winning one of these next two games to get 88 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 3: your quarterback back and maybe try to recreate some of 89 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 3: the magic they had last year when they won all 90 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 3: those games down the stretch. So that's tangible goal number one. 91 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 3: Because when you come back from the bye week and 92 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 3: you have eight games left and you aren't sure when 93 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: your quarterback's coming back, and you have these really five 94 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 3: hard games against good be playoff teams in a row, 95 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 3: it kind of feels daunting. It kind of feels like 96 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,799 Speaker 3: it's you know, where do I even begin to try 97 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 3: to to show some kind of improvement. Well, now you 98 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 3: have a tangible goal of either beating Pittsburgh or beating 99 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 3: New England to get your quarterback back. And look, this 100 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 3: isn't for sure Joe's coming back on Thanksgiving. I think 101 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: we're all reading between the lines. And the long pause 102 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 3: that Joe had yesterday would ask if that's the target date, 103 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 3: and he paused, and he paused and he said, we'll see. 104 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 3: And I think we could all kind of read between 105 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 3: the lines on that one. So that's tangible goal number one, 106 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 3: Tangible goal number two for me is just establishing some 107 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 3: roles here, right Because the Bengals cleared house in their 108 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 3: linebacker room. Logan Wilson has now gone. They went to 109 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 3: Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight several weeks ago. But now 110 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 3: it feels like that the deck is cleared for these 111 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 3: guys to take a next step and they're development not 112 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 3: only as players, but maybe development as leaders on that defense. 113 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 3: Because we've heard multiple times from people inside that room 114 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 3: it doesn't matter if you're a guy or an older guy. 115 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 3: They just need people who step up and kind of 116 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 3: fit the mold of what they're looking for. But it's 117 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 3: not easy to do when a guy like Logan and 118 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 3: that shadow is in the room. Even though he was 119 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 3: supportive to those two players, just his presence, I think 120 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 3: sometimes it inhibits a guy from stepping outside and trying 121 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 3: to take on that role. So establishing roles in the 122 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 3: second half of the season, I look to those two players. 123 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 3: They also look to Shamar Stewart establishing himself as a 124 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 3: difference maker. We haven't seen it yet from him, but 125 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 3: if those three guys can start to take steps and 126 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 3: you start looking to the offseason, building towards next season 127 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 3: and having maybe some building blocks and stepping stones for 128 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 3: this defense to rebuild itself. Those are the three players 129 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 3: I'm circling in the second half of the season to 130 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 3: see some flashes, to see some developments, to see their 131 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 3: roles start to be formed, so the Bengals have a 132 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 3: better idea what they're building around in the offseason as 133 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 3: they try to rebuild this defense again in another offseason. 134 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 4: Has there been any indication Joe about what could change 135 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 4: or what maybe the Bengals learned about themselves during the 136 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 4: bye week that they feel like they can turn this 137 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 4: thing around, maybe from a defensive standpoint or from a 138 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 4: coaching standpoint. Has there anything kind of been uncovered that 139 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 4: you've been able to get a gauge on. 140 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 3: So yesterday was kind of hijacked by the Joe Burrow news, 141 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 3: So all the conversations we had inside the locker room 142 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 3: were with players about Joe, And it was a limited 143 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 3: time in there because Joe ate up most of our time, 144 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 3: so we only had about twenty twenty five minutes in there. 145 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 3: So those conversations I think will start to happen tomorrow 146 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 3: when we're back at it. And the Bengals start their 147 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 3: work for the Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Sunday. So I 148 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 3: think it's an interesting question about what can change. Certainly, 149 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 3: you know, Zach Taylor has said multiple times over his 150 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 3: career that the bye week is used by them to 151 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 3: look internally to see what they can improve on as 152 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 3: a coaching staff, what they can do to better themselves, 153 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 3: and not necessarily looking forward to what opponent's coming up 154 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 3: in the week and a half that they have in 155 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 3: between a bye week. So certainly there have to be changes. 156 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 3: What those changes are, I think we'll start to figure 157 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 3: more about those tomorrow when we start to ask those questions, 158 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 3: just because it felt like yesterday was just what was 159 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 3: just hijacked by the burrow bomb that was dropped on 160 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 3: pay Course Stadium, and all the conversations were centered around that. 161 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 2: We found out as well kind of got a little 162 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 2: peek into the trade deadline, and it doesn't sound like 163 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 2: the Bengals received anything higher than a fourth round pick 164 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 2: for Trey Hendrickson. Hearing those reports and knowing that there 165 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: just wasn't a lot out there for Trey Hendrickson, do 166 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 2: you agree with now with that understanding the decision to 167 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 2: keep Trey Hendrickson and not move him for a fourth 168 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 2: round pick, even though you know the injury and the 169 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 2: conversation of him being doubtful this week, continues to linger. 170 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 2: Do you think the Bengals did right by holding on 171 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 2: to him if the offer was just a fourth rounder? 172 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so. I don't think you can give 173 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 3: up an asset like that for a return as low 174 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 3: as a fourth rounder. He's worth more than that. The 175 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 3: asset itself is worth more than that. And plus at 176 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 3: the Bengals truly are having this window and this timeline 177 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 3: of perhaps Joe Burrow returning on Thanksgiving, you still need 178 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 3: a good players, and especially your best defensive player to 179 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 3: have a shot for this thing to look anything like 180 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 3: it did last year down the stretch. The Bengals traditionally 181 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 3: don't like to wave a white flag, especially midway through 182 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 3: a season and at three and six, and even though 183 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 3: the record looks like it does right now, technically and 184 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 3: you know, just statistically, they are still very much in it. 185 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 3: I understand saying that, you know, comes with a grain 186 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 3: of salt, but they are very much in it in 187 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 3: the AFC North with the shot to do it. So 188 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 3: to give up Trey Hendrickson would have felt like waving 189 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 3: a white flag on the season, saying they're done, because 190 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 3: I would argue, if they had Trey Hendrickson on the 191 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 3: field for the Jets and the Bears game in the 192 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 3: fourth quarter, the Bengals likely had a great shot of 193 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 3: winning both of those games. And where would they be 194 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 3: right now? And I understand that doesn't fix all the 195 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 3: problems their defense has, and it doesn't help them win 196 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,959 Speaker 3: this really hard five game stretch they have coming up, 197 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 3: but it does give them more cushion if they were 198 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 3: to win those games. So having Trey Hendrickson still on 199 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 3: the roster speaks to me about the understanding this franchise 200 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 3: probably had in the back of its mind of the 201 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 3: Joe Burrow window being available perhaps on Thanksgiving and not 202 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 3: waving the white flag right now. Plus a fourth rounder 203 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 3: just isn't enough. He's worth more than that in any 204 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:01,680 Speaker 3: kind of return. So I wouldn't do that trade just 205 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 3: based on the asset that Trey Hendrickson is giving him 206 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 3: up for a fourth rounder, to me, would seem like 207 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 3: just bad business. 208 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 2: The vibe, the feel around a team, obviously, you want 209 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 2: to be better than what the record shows at the buy. 210 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 2: But the jolt in the arm of Joe Burrow back 211 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 2: on the practice field, being in the locker room, being 212 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 2: around there yesterday, does it feel like this team believes 213 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 2: they have a run in him. 214 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, we'll see. I mean, certainly the jolt 215 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 3: was real inside the locker room. I mean it was 216 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 3: kind of similar to what we felt when the Bengals 217 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 3: made the trade for Joe Flacco. There was this belief, like, Okay, 218 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 3: shot in the arm, a little bit of energy when 219 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 3: they got Joe Flacco. The team's trying to go for 220 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 3: the organizations, trying to give us somebody to win with. 221 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 3: But also in the back of the mind, it has 222 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 3: to be that the offense has not been the problem 223 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 3: here even with Joe Burrow out. Now I understand what 224 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 3: Joe Burrow means to this team, not just physically tangibly, 225 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 3: but also what he means to them in the psyche 226 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 3: of the team. That he can help buoy this team 227 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 3: a little bit more just by his presence on the 228 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 3: field and give them a better shot of winning even 229 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 3: if the offense hasn't been a problem. So yeah, I 230 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 3: think there's life. I think there's a jolt. It's to 231 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 3: be seen how much difference that makes against good teams. 232 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,439 Speaker 3: I don't know if that helps him come one o'clock 233 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 3: in Pittsburgh. I don't know if that helps him come 234 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 3: next Sunday when they play Drake May and the New 235 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 3: England Patriots here at Pai Corpse Stadium. But if you 236 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 3: go back to what we were saying earlier, and I 237 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 3: think both of you guys agree with me on this one, 238 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 3: that the Bengals have to win one of the next 239 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 3: two for Joe Burrow to have any kind of reason 240 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 3: to come back and play this year. And to me 241 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 3: not to steer the conversation back to Burrow, but I 242 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 3: do want to make one more point here on the 243 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 3: Joe Burrow debate whether he should or should not come back. 244 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 3: And people can argue, and I'll listen to the argument 245 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 3: that you know, these guys are paid a lot of 246 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 3: money to play football, that's their livelihood that they're living. 247 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:06,439 Speaker 3: And people can argue, Listen, if he's healthy, the Bengals 248 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 3: are paying this guy to play football, he should go 249 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 3: play football. And I'll hear that. But for a team 250 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 3: with so many questions they have to answer in the 251 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 3: offseason about their defense, about possibly the leadership of the team. 252 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 3: The last thing they need is questions about the health 253 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 3: of their quarterback and putting their quarterback back out there 254 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 3: the final five or six weeks for a season that 255 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 3: if they were to lose these next two games is 256 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 3: most likely too far gone. The risk of putting him 257 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 3: back out there to get him hurt again and then 258 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,719 Speaker 3: have another off season of questions and they've done this 259 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 3: multiple times now with Joe Burrow. That's another question they 260 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 3: don't need to pile on for a team that already 261 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 3: has so many to figure out this offseason. That's why, 262 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 3: in the back of my mind is win one of 263 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 3: the two next games or bust. But that's coming from me. 264 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 3: I'm not in the organization. I'm not making these decisions. 265 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 3: That's made by you know, the people who are writing 266 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 3: the checks and the people who are coaching this team. 267 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 3: But that's why to me, it feels like, look, got 268 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 3: to win one of the next two to even entertain 269 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 3: the idea of having Joe Burrow. 270 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 4: Well, we talked about how they traditionally don't wave the 271 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 4: white flag. That would be a waving of the white 272 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 4: flag more than any other time. Is just the enormity 273 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 4: of Burrow and that potential enough to make them fully 274 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 4: wave it. 275 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 3: But that's waving the white flag, Austin. At three and eight, right, 276 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 3: you know, that's eleven games into a season, and if 277 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 3: you have three wins, I think it's time then to 278 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 3: understand where you are and be smart about Yeah, three 279 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 3: and six, halfway through the season, I think it's too early, 280 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 3: at least their mind to wave it. But I think 281 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 3: if you get to three and eight, eleven weeks into it, 282 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 3: and then you're looking with the bye week, you're looking 283 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 3: at week thirteen, I think at that point you've had 284 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 3: enough time to try to show that you're good enough 285 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 3: to make a playoff run, and you're good enough to 286 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 3: support Joe Burrow being back on the field and make 287 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 3: that decision to put him out there as opposed to 288 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 3: taking the decision out of his hands and doing right 289 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 3: by him and by doing right by him or doing 290 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 3: right by the organization of the future of this team. 291 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 3: And you've made the point to Austin, and I think 292 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 3: smartly on your podcast of talking about that the first 293 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 3: window of Joe Burrow's Super Bowl window, that that one's closed. 294 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 3: They have to now transition into another window of building 295 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 3: around Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase and T Higgins and 296 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 3: looking to retool this team. And whether that means more 297 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 3: massive changes on defense or changes in leadership, that's to 298 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 3: be seen. But I think if you get to three 299 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 3: and eight, it's time it's time to waive the white 300 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 3: flag and call the season. 301 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 2: Joe to switch for just a moment, you know, a 302 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 2: bye weekend for the Bearcats and for the Bengals. FC 303 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 2: Cincinnati got a huge win. High school playoffs in full 304 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 2: swing NBA action. We also welcome back college basketball. What 305 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 2: went down at the Cintas Center last night was not great. 306 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: That was a thirty point game with just over two 307 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 2: minutes remaining. Xavier went on a run to make it 308 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 2: a nineteen point loss. But what's your take right now 309 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 2: on that team playing at the Cintas Center currently? 310 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 3: Boy? Oh boy? Okay, So I've lived in Cincinnati for 311 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 3: most of my life. I've covered this Xavier program for 312 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 3: more than twenty years, and from what I've seen through 313 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 3: three games, it's the worst Xavier team I can remember. 314 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 4: Wow. 315 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 3: And you know, you can go back and you look 316 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 3: at numbers and it's you know, like, okay, you're you're 317 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 3: not making that bold of the statement, and I get 318 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 3: that they haven't. They I went back and looked they 319 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 3: haven't had a season with less than ten wins since 320 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 3: like the early eighties. And you know, I was alive 321 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 3: but wasn't watching college basketball at the time. So as 322 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 3: long as I've been watching college basketball just to see 323 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,479 Speaker 3: where this program is, and I think there has to 324 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 3: be there has to be a little bit of a 325 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 3: grace period, right with a news coach, with Sean Miller leaving. 326 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 3: But at the same time, it's not like Richard Patino 327 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 3: got the job super late and couldn't go out and 328 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 3: find talent. You know, I get it. It's one of 329 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 3: those things. I had a conversation today with someone and 330 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 3: it was but both things can be true that, yes, 331 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 3: Richard Patino got into this, you know, in a situation 332 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,679 Speaker 3: where maybe one hand was tied behind his back. But 333 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 3: also it's true that he had time to go out 334 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 3: and find players. So it's trying to figure out is 335 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 3: it because of the coaching change, or is it because 336 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 3: in the NIL era, Xavier basketball might be in a 337 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 3: position where it's a bit of an uphill battle going 338 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 3: against some of these other teams and Power four conferences. 339 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 3: Where where Xavier just doesn't have the same kind of 340 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 3: playing field that these other teams have. And we're so 341 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 3: early now in the nil Era that that's something that 342 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 3: remains to be seen. Because you look at what David 343 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 3: did last year. They went to the into the Big 344 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 3: Tournament and they won a game. So it's not like 345 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 3: they can't compete in the nil Era. But what you're 346 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 3: seeing now is what I believe is a team that 347 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 3: I'm not sure can win three or four games in 348 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 3: the Big East. I'm not sure it can win ten 349 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 3: games on the season. And then you juxtaposed that and 350 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 3: everything done here in Cincinnati is juxtaposed against the rival, 351 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 3: and what you see God and what you see has 352 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 3: put on the floor so far this year looks like 353 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 3: a team that should be in the mix for an 354 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 3: at large bid this year, should be able to come 355 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 3: to Sintas Center and beat Xavier this year in the 356 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 3: Crosstown shootout, has a chance tonight to get to three 357 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 3: and zero with a good win against the Dayton team 358 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 3: who's also two and zero. So what I've all last 359 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:05,679 Speaker 3: night was the worst Davor team that I've seen. I 360 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 3: can say that confidently. And then you look at what 361 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 3: it looked like in the final ten minutes that the 362 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 3: crowd size people had left. It got ugly, and there's 363 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,159 Speaker 3: a chance they could get even more ugly as the 364 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,360 Speaker 3: season goes on. You look at their schedule in at 365 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 3: Iowa on Friday night, that that's not a good place 366 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 3: for Davor to be after coming off an embarrassing loss 367 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 3: against Santa Clara on their home floor. 368 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 2: I do have to ask in rebuttal. After the first 369 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 2: two wins of the season, we saw Richard Patino take 370 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 2: to a social media and give postgame grades great a 371 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 2: the anthem, the student section, the uniforms, the offense, the defense, 372 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 2: the rebounding. We've yet to see that today from coach Patino. 373 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 2: Do you expect a report card even after losses? Because 374 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 2: when you open the door, you gotta handle things the 375 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 2: same way. You can't just give report cards after wins. 376 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 2: Do you expect a grade sheet from Richard Patino today? 377 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 3: I think Richard Pritino's reading the room a little bit, 378 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 3: understanding that tweet might not play well today after the 379 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 3: way his team played last night. Yeah, I don't expect one. 380 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,120 Speaker 3: To your point, yeah, man, right, you gotta be able 381 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 3: to go through it and the good times and the 382 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 3: bad times. But uh, that little that little spot right 383 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 3: there on X where you can push the button and 384 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 3: you can write a reply. It just writing those mentions. 385 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 3: I don't think he wants to deal with that today. 386 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:27,959 Speaker 3: It's very dangerous. 387 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 4: Have you considered maybe doing something like that for Fox nineteen. 388 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 2: Or maybe your appearances on this show? 389 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 3: Listen, I've said many times, how great would it be? 390 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 3: How great of a bit would it be if if 391 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 3: Jeremy and I after like a final quarter did like 392 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 3: the postgame interview. Yeah, my read on the Redding game 393 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 3: was it was awesome. You know, I think I referenced 394 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 3: Tony Pike two or three times. I went back to 395 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 3: the augiest joke. I got to get some new material. Yeah, 396 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 3: it would be amazing. I'm afraid of what I would 397 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 3: would say in a postgame interview. So that's why I 398 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 3: don't blame some of the Bengals defensive players from walking 399 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 3: away from the TV cameras after that performance against the 400 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 3: Chicago Bears, because I think about some of the stuff 401 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:15,439 Speaker 3: I would say about myself after shows Sometimes. Yeah, I 402 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 3: kind of get rare athletes are coming from. 403 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 2: You guys are back at it this week. What do 404 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 2: you got coming up with Fox nineteen. 405 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 3: Let's go Bengals now Newport on the levee tomorrow night, 406 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 3: six o'clock. We have Jalen Rivers locked in trying to 407 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 3: get his fellow rookie guard Dylan Fairchild to come with. 408 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 3: Still working on Dylan to see if he can make 409 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 3: it tomorrow night. So you guys are going to kick 410 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 3: out of this. So I'd been working on Joe Flacco 411 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 3: and trying to get Joe Flaka on the show. And listen, man, 412 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 3: when you're in the quarterback, you know, life's busy. I 413 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 3: know the guy talks about eating alone and you know, 414 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 3: being lonely here in a city without his family. But 415 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 3: life's busy, especially when you're trying to play catch up 416 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 3: on a team you've only been around for a month. 417 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 3: So I came to him yesterday. You should have seen 418 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 3: the poor look on the guy's face when he realized 419 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 3: he had to let me down. He's like, listen, man, 420 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 3: I'm like, Joe, I get it. It's cool. You don't 421 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 3: have to do it. You've got things to do. And 422 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 3: he's like, yeah, I know. I put out the persona 423 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 3: I'm the lonely guy and I should need things to do. 424 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 3: I'm like, it's cool man, the way he left it. 425 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 3: He said, listen, if I changed my mind, I'll let 426 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 3: you know. 427 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 2: I'm like, okay, it deal. 428 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 3: I'll put that on my calendar as a reminder to 429 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 3: check you through with you in about three weeks. 430 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 2: I'll take it. Dann Wan, you're the best man. Thanks 431 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 2: as always for your time, and we'll catch up again 432 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 2: next week. Ydee Boy Joe Daniman, Fox nineteen The best 433 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:41,359 Speaker 2: this is since he three to sixty hour number two 434 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:43,719 Speaker 2: thanks to Cincy Shirt Your talkbacks next on the Home 435 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 2: of the Bengals, ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station Now