1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: Is Tony Pike Cincy three sixty about Cincinnati. From Cincinnati. 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 1: This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. 3 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 2: It's our two Welcome in Sincy three sixty ESPN fifteen 4 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 2: thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. We had the opportunity on Thursdays 5 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 2: during the NFL season to talk to our guy, John 6 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 2: Sheeran covering the Cincinnati Bengals from made his e Sports 7 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 2: and with all the happenings going on around the NFL 8 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 2: Combine and and what the Bengals should or may look 9 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 2: to do in the upcoming NFL Draft, we thought a 10 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 2: good time to catch up with John, who is kind 11 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 2: enough to join us right now. John, what's going on? 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 3: How are you doing well? Tony? We just got the 13 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 3: actual Olympics. Now we got the under underwear Olympics. Now 14 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 3: it's a good week. 15 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 2: The underwear Olympics is a good way to put it. 16 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 2: Before we dive in, Austin said this before the break, 17 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: I have to get your your thoughts as a fellow 18 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: Bearcat fan, what do you make of the same situation 19 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 2: unfolding with Brendan Soresby in the University of Cincinnati and 20 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 2: recouping a million dollars I don't. 21 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 3: Really share my thoughts on anil and stuff like that, 22 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 3: but it is like every time we see a story 23 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 3: like this, it just feels like another pillar of the 24 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 3: college sports world that we know breaking down, and it 25 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 3: just seems like this is inevitably going to lead to 26 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 3: something that we really never really experienced for and it 27 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 3: just seems like all these you know, like legalities and 28 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 3: lawsuits and things, it's just all leading to something a 29 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 3: lot larger and at the end of the day, like 30 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 3: a million dollars and a million dollars for some institutions. 31 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 3: For some players it's not much, but for some it's 32 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 3: a lot. And yeah, yeah, like it's never good to 33 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 3: see this sort of thing happen. But I'm just I'm 34 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,559 Speaker 3: just kind of want to just send the part where 35 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 3: all this become unrecognizable. We just kind of moved to 36 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 3: to the point where we probably should and that's just 37 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 3: kind of where my head is at at this point. 38 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 2: I have to ask John because I want to get 39 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: into prospects and the combine and the draft itself. But 40 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 2: we've had the opportunity to hear from Duke Tobin, we 41 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: heard from Zach Taylor, We've heard from the coordinators, anything 42 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: that they said that that caused you to take note, 43 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 2: or maybe that you questioned what they had to say 44 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: at their time at the combine. 45 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been We've heard from Duke a couple of 46 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 3: times now the saw season, which is one more than 47 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 3: where we usually are at this point in the offseason, 48 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 3: and he's made it very clear that there will be 49 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 3: an emphasis to bolster this pass rush for the defensive 50 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 3: line specifically. We know that that's a huge weakness on 51 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 3: the team, and we also know that in free agency 52 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 3: there is a lot of edge rusher that will be 53 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 3: available and the market will be saturated, and it should 54 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 3: be a position where the Bengals should find someone that 55 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 3: they wont for a price that they that they find desirable. 56 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 3: It may not be the same at defensive tackle, which 57 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 3: is why I thought it was also interesting when dude 58 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 3: left the podium and talked to local Bengals beat writers 59 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 3: that we all know respect. He talked about Beja Hill 60 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 3: and Chris Shank and is now bullish on them? He was, 61 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 3: and that was kind of interesting to me. But I 62 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 3: kind of took it as yeah, like they recognized that 63 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 3: this free agent class may not be very strong at 64 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 3: the defensive tackle spot, but it was no surprise to 65 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 3: see them meet with the top defensive tackle prospects at 66 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 3: the Combine and they may look for answers there. So 67 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 3: I'm really interested to see how they addressed the defensive 68 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 3: line because Duke Tobin doesn't really say anything definitively when 69 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 3: he talks in these spaces, but he's made it very 70 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 3: clear that he wants a deep, incompetent pass rushing years 71 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 3: to bolster the defense. And the way to do that is, 72 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 3: you know, to utilize both RATESNCY and the draft. So 73 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 3: I'm interested to see how they actually end up doing that. 74 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: Is there a defensive tackle in this class that you 75 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: can justify taking with the tenth overall pick right now? 76 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 3: Like its so long as Peter Woods tests at his proday. 77 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 3: He's not going to test with the Combine for whatever reason. 78 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 3: But if he tests well at his pro day, I 79 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 3: would probably look to consider him there for sure, just 80 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 3: because of the player that he was in the first 81 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 3: couple of years of Clemson. A lot of stuff happened 82 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 3: there in this past year. He was kind of misused, 83 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 3: The defense around him kind of fell apart, and I 84 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: think a lot of people have questions about you know, 85 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 3: how he kind of responded and why the production dropped, 86 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 3: and that's why, you know, so many teams wanted to 87 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 3: talk to him at the Combine this week, and it 88 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 3: is a shame that he'sn't going to test in the 89 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 3: very standardized setting and a lot of that data is 90 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 3: very useful for his position specifically, and there are some 91 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 3: size concerns with him as well, but I really liked 92 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 3: what I saw from him as another classman. There's a 93 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 3: reason why he was labeled at the top ten pick 94 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 3: entrying this past season, and I don't think that player 95 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 3: necessarily went away. He's only twenty one years old, so 96 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 3: other than him, though, it's not a very promising class, 97 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 3: I'm not in on Caleb Thanks, I'd be with that pick. 98 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 3: I think the production was just very consistent. He missed 99 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 3: all of last season as well, so it's definitely not 100 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 3: a very top heavy class. But if would test like 101 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 3: a decent or good athlete, I a would feel comfortable 102 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 3: with that pick. At this point, I. 103 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 2: Want to go back one more time to Duke Tobin, 104 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 2: who spent time talking about, you know, with the local 105 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 2: media of you know, we have work to do and 106 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: we need to get to certain points. But he also 107 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: doubled down that he thinks this team can win a 108 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: Super Bowl right now, And a lot of people also 109 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: kind of had reactions to his quote of we're always 110 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: all in with the Cincinnati Bengals. Did did you take 111 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: anything away from the all in comments from Duke Tobin? 112 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 3: Not necessarily. I think his definition of all in and 113 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 3: our definition of all in or two completely definitions. I 114 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 3: think they are always all in on their own process 115 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 3: and how they believe what they believe in terms of 116 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 3: philosophy and roster building and contractual principles and all that stuff, right, 117 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 3: And I think they're always going to give what they 118 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 3: deem their best effort for what they think is the 119 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 3: right thing to do. But clearly, in almost sixty years 120 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 3: of practice there, it's not not led to Super Bowl, right, 121 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 3: So you would think that some changes could be instituted there, 122 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 3: but we're not really seeing any of those changes on 123 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 3: the horizon. So I think it's like it's hail Mary 124 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 3: at best asking Duke Hobin to sacrifice guaranteed money or 125 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 3: you know, future draft picks for the sake of making 126 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,119 Speaker 3: these aggressive moves that you feel comfortable would improve the roster. 127 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 3: But at the end of the day, the Bengals believe 128 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 3: what they believe in. It's just by attacking needs in 129 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 3: terms of volume, in terms of players and contracts that 130 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 3: they feel comfortable with. So going all in doesn't really 131 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 3: move because I know that Duke doesn't really believe that 132 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 3: the way the hood gms do. 133 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: Everyone this time of the year has multiple mock drafts, 134 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 2: and we've gone through each mock draft on every Monday, 135 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 2: and we've seen it all, from Ruben Bain to Sunny 136 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 2: Styles to Caleb Downs. We've seen the Bengals addressing corner, 137 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 2: We've seen the Bengals addressing tackle. Everyone's going to have 138 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: a name or a position to throw out there. But 139 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: as we sit here today at the end of February, 140 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 2: if you had the opportunity to make the perfect pick 141 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 2: at number ten, who would you be zeroing in on. 142 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 3: I think right now when you're looking at who's worth 143 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 3: that pick in terms of how good they are as 144 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 3: a player, the value that they would bring the to 145 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 3: the Bengals at their position, the value of the position itself, 146 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 3: because I think that's another fact that people kind of 147 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 3: overlook sometimes. But just an elite player who's worth that pick? 148 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 3: To me, it just screams Ruben Bain to me right now. 149 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 3: And this is a little bit of foresight for me, 150 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 3: just like thinking about what's going to happen in for 151 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 3: agency and what the team is going to look like 152 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 3: entering the draft. I feel a lot more comfortable about 153 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 3: the Bengals signing a veteran safety that would make taking 154 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 3: a guy like Caleb Downs a little bit less of 155 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 3: a necessity in compared to where the spots that they 156 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 3: are now. But I think Caleb Downs is just as good, 157 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 3: if not almost even even better prospect compared to Reuben Bay. 158 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 3: I would have them probably in the same bucket, the 159 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 3: same tier, if just guys that feel so comfortable of 160 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 3: being inserted into the defense and making an instant difference. 161 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 3: But I do value an edge rusher over a safety, 162 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 3: and I think it's going to be easier for the 163 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 3: Bengals to sign a competent safety and just make sure 164 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 3: that that position is still entering the draft. But I 165 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 3: think Bain is one of the top five players in 166 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 3: this class, and I think for you know, very archaic 167 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 3: reasons that in terms of arm length and wingspan, he 168 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 3: may actually be available with the tenth overall plays, so 169 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: right now, that's still my ideal pick, and I think 170 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 3: he would not only feel the biggest knee, but he 171 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 3: would also give them a truly elite player in the class. 172 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 3: And that's that's the combat that you're looking for. 173 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: We've heard that the term positional value used a lot, 174 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: especially as Caleb Downs is a safety at a number ten. 175 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: We've also heard that with Sonny style thrown around. Can 176 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,239 Speaker 1: you explain that to people specifically with the tenth overall 177 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: pick and those positions safety and linebacker, and why some 178 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: teams maybe wouldn't spend that pick on those positions. 179 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think those positions specifically, you're looking at top 180 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: of the market type of prices in terms of free agents, 181 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 3: right and for a safety and linebacker compared to pass rusher, 182 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 3: compared to off tackles, compared to wide receiver, compared to quarterback, 183 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 3: there's just a different It's in a different atmosphere in 184 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 3: terms of how much you're paying. And because draft picks 185 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 3: they get paid, like, we already know what their contracts 186 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 3: are going to look like before they're even drafted. We 187 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 3: knew what Sjamar Stewart's contract was going to look like 188 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 3: before he actually ended up signing it. Right, Like, those 189 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 3: are locked in values. So when you're talking about taking 190 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,079 Speaker 3: the tenth a player with the tenth overal pick, you 191 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 3: know exactly how much he's going to get paid. And 192 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 3: if a defense eventd like Rubin Maine fulfills his potentially 193 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:53,199 Speaker 3: he becomes a really good player by the end of 194 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 3: his rookie contract. You're getting so much value because he's 195 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 3: he plays a position that gets paid, you know, thirty 196 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 3: forty million dollars in new market for that type of player, 197 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 3: whereas compared to the guy that could kill Downs. Kill 198 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 3: Downs could be one of the best safeties in the 199 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 3: league by the time that his contract expires. Short of 200 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 3: contract expires, but you're paying a pretty premium price for 201 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,959 Speaker 3: a safety compared to maybe like a pass rusher, maybe 202 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 3: an off of the tackles. Though it's just because like 203 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:18,599 Speaker 3: what those positions get paid on the open market, you 204 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 3: have to consider the value of that. And it's not 205 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 3: like it's a bad decision, but there's other decisions that 206 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 3: can create more value in especially when you're like the 207 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 3: Bengals and you don't like to spend top of the 208 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 3: market money on freezings. 209 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: Anyway, as far as safety is concerned, there's been a 210 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: lot of love for Jordan Battle the last couple of 211 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: days from Tobin, from Taylor from Golden What do you 212 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: make of that and maybe what their plan for Jordan 213 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 1: Battle could be to continue his ascension that we saw 214 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: a little bit towards the end of last year. 215 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think because he was a full time starter 216 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 3: for the first time last year, he made a lot 217 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 3: of obviously quality plays. He had his up and downs, 218 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 3: like most players on the defense did. But I think 219 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 3: the way that he progressed and and was able to 220 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 3: position himself to make those plays, I think was a 221 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 3: big positive for them. And considering the fact that this 222 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 3: was his first year really just settling in as a 223 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 3: full time starter, they probably saw enough of him to 224 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 3: be confident and running it back with him. I think 225 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 3: there was also a hesitancy to replace both starting safeties 226 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 3: for the second time in a couple of years, you know, 227 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 3: to try to do that. Obviously back in twenty twenty 228 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 3: three and they failed miserably under Lunarumo. And obviously the 229 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 3: process of replacing those guys all the very good, but 230 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 3: I think they're very locked in on finding a new 231 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 3: partner with Battle, someone who can just do his job 232 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,079 Speaker 3: better than what Genostone did and then have Battle kind 233 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 3: of compete in a contract year try to play his best. 234 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 3: Obviously there's motivation with that factor as well, but I 235 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 3: think at the end of the day, Battle did just 236 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 3: enough to kind of secure his spot, and I think 237 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 3: them being bullish on him is a recognition that signing 238 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 3: or drafting two new safeties there to replace both Ginas 239 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 3: Stone and Jordan Battle is probably not feasible. 240 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 2: We've seen in some marked drafts the name Francis Mawiinoa 241 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: has popped up the offensive tackle from Miami. Do you 242 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 2: foresee or could you foresee a scenario where the Bengals 243 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 2: don't address defense with the number ten overall pick. 244 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think him specifically because he's got this guard 245 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 3: tackle flexibility to him, and I think teams are gonna 246 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 3: look at him in that way just because he's not 247 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 3: maybe as long as he would like a traditional offensive 248 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 3: tackle to be. I think that makes so much sense, 249 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 3: especially considered like we at this point in time, we 250 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 3: don't know if Dalton Riser is gonna be back, so 251 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 3: that they would always say a huge need at right guard, 252 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 3: like Hell we get as a refregency thinking, I'm like, damn, 253 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 3: we need to find outther guard again because he didn't 254 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 3: find rising it right, and like they could, you know, 255 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 3: theoretically fill that need with a tenth overall pick and 256 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 3: with Francis specifically he can play guard as a rookie 257 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 3: and then move out to left tackle potentially to replace ROLANDA. 258 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 3: Brown junior in twenty twenty seven. But regardless of what 259 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 3: happens at right guard, they do need a swing tackle 260 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 3: for the year. I think they need to probably move 261 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 3: on from Cody Ford and find someone better and then 262 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 3: to Grooman to eventually replaced Rolando brun junior at the Planet, 263 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 3: to let him walk in for agency next year because 264 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 3: we're going to be thirty years old. And they cost 265 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 3: a lot again to pay for left tackles, and that's 266 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 3: why selecting a future left tackle the tental rod pick, 267 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 3: there's value to that because again you're paying a fixed 268 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 3: locked in costs for that, and if he ends up 269 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 3: being as good as he wants to be in the 270 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 3: game value with that. So yeah, it makes a lot 271 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 3: of sense to me to use that ticke if there's 272 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 3: not a deepen the player. 273 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 2: That they like there, what about the scenario where let's 274 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 2: say that the four or five guys that you've highlighted 275 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,719 Speaker 2: have already been taken in the first nine picks. And 276 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 2: you know, we heard Duke Tobin kind of talk about, 277 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 2: you know, best player available versus biggest need. Do you 278 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 2: do you open the scenario of trading back if you 279 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 2: are the Cincinnati Bengals based on what happens in those 280 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 2: front nine picks ahead of you. 281 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. I actually just talked to someone else in Daisy 282 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 3: Sports who was talking about a scenario about the Tibilia 283 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 3: Buccaneers potentially moving up for guy like Sunny Styles, right, 284 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 3: and how there's been a trade in the past where 285 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 3: from moving up from fifteen to ten you get a 286 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 3: third and the fifth round pick in return. Well, the 287 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 3: Bengals don't have a fifth round pick this year. And yeah, 288 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 3: it would also it would be nice to have more swings, 289 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 3: especially in the class where at the top there's not 290 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 3: a lot of elite talents, so I think there's gonna 291 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 3: be a lot of teams picking around the Bengals. I 292 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:20,559 Speaker 3: would like to move back and just try to take 293 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 3: as many swings as possible on some risky players kind 294 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 3: of in Day two and Day three and whatnot and 295 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 3: just kind of fill out the roster that way. I 296 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 3: am interested to see though, because the Bengals are at 297 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 3: sixty five players in the roster right now. They're typically 298 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 3: around this number after frequency ends, so I don't know 299 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,679 Speaker 3: if you know nine or ten players are actually gonna 300 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 3: make the roster who are drafted from the draft class. 301 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 3: So I don't know if a volume of picks is 302 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 3: necessarily the Bengals, that's interest. But if there isn't a 303 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 3: player that's worth picking tens but overall that you feel 304 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 3: like and you can get an extra day to pick 305 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 3: in return, I don't think that's the worst snare in 306 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 3: the world at all. 307 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,719 Speaker 1: Duke Tobin described fourth round picks as geno actions. Do 308 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: you think that is kind of indicative of how they 309 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: view fourth round picks? If every fourth round pick in 310 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: their mind is Geno Atkins, do you think they'll ever 311 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:06,479 Speaker 1: trade one. 312 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 3: It's really just it sums up the Bengals a lot, 313 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 3: because they value draft picks as as potential value investments. Right, 314 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 3: a fourth round pick becoming Geno Atkins saves them so 315 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 3: much money from having to spend in free agency on 316 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 3: a player who is like half of Geno Atkins. Right. Obviously, 317 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 3: it's been sixteen freaking years since that pick was made. 318 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 3: They have done anything removing close in the fourth round 319 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 3: since then. But there's always a chance, guys, there's always 320 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 3: a chance that the mystery box becomes a boat instead 321 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 3: of pain for boats. 322 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: What do you think of the term force multipliers being 323 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: used so much. 324 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 3: I think that's another term that indicates, like, instead of 325 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 3: signing a multitude of guys to fix the problem, signing 326 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 3: one guy that makes the lives of everyone else's jobs easier. 327 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 3: This is the more efficient way of doing that. The 328 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 3: problem though, is that, like the best example of a 329 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 3: force multiplier the Bengals have is a guy like Jamar Chase, right, 330 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 3: someone who takes attention away from other defenders open up 331 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 3: opportunities for guys on offense. He was a overall pick. 332 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 3: He's the highest the offensive player in the league right now. 333 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 3: Those guys are not inexpensive. So yeah, if you find 334 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 3: value force multipliers, that is like a cheat code to 335 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 3: making your roster a lot better. So I think for 336 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 3: a team that has his belief that they are not 337 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 3: that far away from competing for a championship, adding a 338 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 3: couple of pieces to make all the other younger guys 339 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 3: on defense that need some guidance in leadership. I think 340 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 3: that is part of their mindset, is why we've heard 341 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 3: it so much. 342 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: Who's more of a force multiplier, Ruben Bain or Caleb Downs. 343 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 3: Oh, that is such a good question. I think honestly 344 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 3: that the answer might be Downs just because of him 345 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 3: being able to communicate on the back end and getting 346 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 3: people lined up. I do question how much he's going 347 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 3: to be able to do that as a rookie, But 348 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 3: I don't really have a lot of questions about Downs 349 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 3: in the first place. I just know that Ruben baines 350 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 3: like you can trust him to win a one on 351 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 3: one situation as a pass rusher, and that opens up 352 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 3: other opportunities for your other pass rusher. So I think 353 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 3: they're both. But I can see the argument for Downs 354 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 3: for sure. 355 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 2: We knew the combine was going to be a week 356 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 2: where maybe we learn more about Trey Hendrickson. Do you 357 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 2: envision anything coming from the combine with interest from another 358 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 2: team with Trey Hendrickson and perhaps how that would play out. 359 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think those talks are probably still going on. 360 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 3: It's probably leaning towards nothing's really going to happen, because, again, 361 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 3: this is very unprecedented territory when you're talking about the Bengals, 362 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 3: and tagging trade situations are pretty rare anyways. Nowadays, we 363 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 3: haven't seen one since twenty twenty four. The last team 364 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 3: to do that was the Chiefs. They're not shy doing 365 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 3: anything out of the box in that regard. I just 366 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 3: think what's working against the Bengals right now is because 367 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 3: this is such a deep and saturated market for defensive ends, 368 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 3: the market for trading for the rights to pay a 369 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 3: thirty one year old pass rusher coming out of an 370 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 3: injury pill season, they're probably not going to get the 371 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 3: pick that they want. And that was the case all 372 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 3: of last year when they were trying like hell to 373 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 3: find a first round pick for Trey and then they can 374 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 3: only get a Day two pick. Well, now they may 375 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 3: be trying for a Day two pick and maybe they 376 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 3: can only get a Day three pick in return. So 377 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 3: maybe in their minds they feel like letting him walk 378 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 3: and potentially getting a compensatory pick next year is the 379 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 3: better path to just accepting like a fifth round pick 380 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 3: this year for a tagging trade situation that again, takes 381 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 3: a lot of cooperation and communication from both sides, between 382 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 3: the team and the player, and obviously there hasn't been 383 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 3: a lot of communication between the team and Tree Henderson 384 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 3: over the course of his career. So I just don't 385 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 3: foresee that happening at this point. 386 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: What's your arm lengths, John, I. 387 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 3: Think it's I think it's more than Reuben Bain, but 388 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 3: I can't confirm that. 389 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 1: Elite measurables. 390 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: It's it's the measurables that they jump off the page. Yeah, 391 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 2: last thing I have in going back to what Duke 392 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 2: Tobin had talked about. We've talked about the draft, We've 393 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 2: talked about free agency, potential for trades out there. Uh, 394 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 2: his comments on Dalton Reisner and the decision that Dalton 395 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 2: Reisner has to make as well. Uh, do you foresee 396 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 2: something getting done sooner rather than later with Dalton Reisner. 397 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I said all that kind of in jests earlier. 398 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 3: But I do believe the Bengals will extend Don Reisner. 399 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 3: I just think because mainly because he just has never 400 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 3: signed a notable contract before in his career. He's already 401 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 3: thirty years old. There's a clear fit between the player 402 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 3: and the team and the scheme. He wants to be here. 403 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 3: He's made that very clear. And when you have that 404 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 3: sort of passion from the player's side of the negotiations, 405 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 3: especially when he's never really made a sizeable check in 406 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 3: his NFL career, that's typically when these decisions aren't able 407 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 3: to get done. Like I think it's very similar to 408 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 3: Mike Oseeki last year, who obviously played on a one 409 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 3: year deal. He expressed desires, you know, cash in free agency, 410 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 3: but he realized that his best fit was here and 411 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 3: the Bengals were able to get something done. But they're 412 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 3: able to give him the best contract of his career 413 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 3: just two days before the legal tampering window opened up. 414 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 3: So I would say that weekend before free agency is 415 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,919 Speaker 3: when this is really going to kind of come to 416 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 3: a head. And I think that's when Donald Reiser will 417 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 3: realize that his best chance of not only making money, 418 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 3: but being in a place that actually fits him is 419 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 3: with the Bengals, And I think that's ultimately when this 420 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 3: gets done. 421 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 2: I imagine John much like the Bengals and duked, but 422 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 2: you're all in on the off season as well. What's 423 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 2: the easiest way that folks can follow along with everything 424 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,400 Speaker 2: you got going on with eight of Z Sports, we. 425 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 3: Are all in with a capital A and I, and 426 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 3: we are on eight is E Sports YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, 427 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 3: Instagram for all your short term, short term content, video content, 428 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 3: and we're also on eightes sports dot com, bax Last 429 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,199 Speaker 3: Cincinnati for all your rooting content. Well, however you want 430 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 3: to consume aight is E Sports Cincinnati with me, I'm 431 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 3: available on all platforms. 432 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 2: Awesome stuff, John, thanks so much for the time today. Man, 433 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 2: Thanks man, Thanks fellas, John Shearon A to Z Sports. 434 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: How about that love that guy. 435 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 3: That's awesome stuff. 436 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 2: Uh, next your talkbacks and then we'll open up the 437 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 2: phone lines and we got Kegy nickoson coming up at 438 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 2: two o'clock as well at SINCY three sixty ESPN fifteen 439 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 2: thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. 440 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 3: Hey Alexa,