1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,279 Speaker 1: Hike and everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast the how Do You Believe In Magic? Addition, 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: as the super Bowl bound Cincinnati Bengals get ready to 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: face the Los Angeles Rams next week at the five 5 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: billion dollar palace known as Sofi Stadium, coming up, we'll 6 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: hear from a Hall of fame coach who will be 7 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: part of NBC's broadcast team next week. Former Indianapolis and 8 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay head coach Tony Dungee. My broadcast partner Dave 9 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: Lapham joins me to discuss Bengals coach Zach Taylor and 10 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: team president Mike Brown, and in Our Know the Faux segment, 11 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: we'll catch up with a radio voice of the Rams, JB. Law. 12 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals, the 13 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: free to play Next Level Fantasy football game downloaded now 14 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: from the App Store and Google Play and by on Location, 15 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: the official hospitality partner of the NFL. Visit on Location 16 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: exp dot com for exclusive access to the biggest events 17 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: in the NFL, including Super Bowl fifty six. Here's a 18 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 19 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer 20 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 21 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: thing since people who don't recline on airplanes. I'm six two, 22 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: so perhaps I'm more sensitive to this than others. But 23 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: when the person in front of me on a plane 24 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: reclines way back, it's brutal. That seat is right in 25 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: my lap. I know it's every passenger's right to recline, 26 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: so I don't complain or shove the seat. But if 27 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 1: you have to recline, how about just going back a little? 28 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: The person behind you will appreciate it. Now, let's get 29 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: to my guests, beginning with Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungee. 30 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: He'll be part of NBC's Super Bowl pregame, halftime and 31 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: postgame coverage, and he joined lapping me this week. I'm 32 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: the Bengals pep rally show. They great to be with you, 33 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: Dan and Dave. And I don't know if I've talked 34 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: to Dave since he gave me so many headaches when 35 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: I was back coaching with the Steelers long ago. Yeah, 36 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: that's a long time ago, coach, that's a long time ago. 37 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: Great to hear your voice, and I want to because 38 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: you are a guy that every player of yours that 39 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: I've ever talked to loves you, not just respects and 40 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: like you, I mean loves you as a person, as 41 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: a human being. So you know, people throw the term 42 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: culture around so loosely, but you always established an unbelievable 43 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: culture with your football team. Your locker rooms are always 44 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: dynamic that way. What's more important? Culture? Are the equally 45 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: important culture or xs and os? I think the culture 46 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: is more important because you can have all the x 47 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: and os you want in the world and it's not 48 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: going to get you anywhere if you don't have that 49 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: locker room together. And I'd say I was there Wednesday 50 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: doing interviews in Cincinnati Bengal players and coaches for our 51 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: pregame show, and I sensed it. I felt it. I 52 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 1: felt the same thing four years ago when we had 53 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,239 Speaker 1: the Eagles. I was at the Eagles for four days 54 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: and I said, then, these guys, this is a different vibe. 55 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: And I really came away in press with Philadelphia and 56 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: I had the same impression with these young men. All 57 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: they talked about was coach Taylor and how he had established, 58 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: how he brought winners in, how he brought unselfish guys 59 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: in and I'll tell you what, in that day, I 60 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: really really felt that there is a strong winning culture 61 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: there in Cincinnati. How about Joe Burrow in particular, Coach, 62 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: anything stand out from your interactions with Joe? I actually 63 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: didn't talk to Joe. Drew Brees did that interview, you know, 64 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: I watched it from AFAR and I watched him, But 65 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: just in talking to other players, I asked DJ Reader, 66 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: what in the world, how could you be a free 67 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: agent and decide to come to a two win team 68 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: when you had to switch the point anywhere? And he said, Hey, 69 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: I wanted to play with Joe Burrow. I knew they 70 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: were going to be good when they got this guy, 71 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: and he wasn't even there yet, I don't think, but 72 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,160 Speaker 1: just you know the fact that he was going to 73 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: be there, so many players talking about his impact, his leadership. 74 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: It was just it was great to hear it. Really 75 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: that it reminded me of our guys talking about Peyton Manning. 76 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: It really did. Yeah, that's what I was going to 77 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 1: ask you about, Coach. When you got a guy like 78 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: Peyton Manning, who's football menza, I mean, he has a 79 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: beautiful mind. For the game. It's just it's incredible how 80 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: much information he can absorb and be able to sort 81 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: through it at the most opportune time to answer a 82 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: problem that a defense is presenting. Whatever. And do you 83 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: think if you felt like Joe Burrow, I'm not staying 84 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: he's Peyton Manning. I mean that that would be very 85 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: premature obviously, But do you think he could track along 86 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: those ways with that mind that he has football wise? 87 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: I do, and I think his players since that it's 88 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: the poise, is the confidence. It's not getting rattled when 89 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 1: I have a couple of bad series, We're going to 90 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: have the answer. When it's that third and man critical 91 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: third down in the Kansas City game and Chris Jones 92 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: comes almost untouched yea, and some way just able to 93 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: get away, keep his wits, make the first down and 94 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: not you know, oh, how did we blow this blocking assignment? 95 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: But no, I'm going to make something happen. And I 96 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: think that's what the players since, you know, no matter 97 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: what happens, Joe's in control. He's going to make something 98 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: good out of it, and we're going to move forward. 99 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: And when you had that type of confidence in your leader, 100 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: it impacts everyone Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungee is 101 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: our guests. Before being a great head coach, you are 102 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: highly successful for your work as a defensive coach. And 103 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: let's talk about the Bengals defensive performance last week. Seven 104 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: possessions in the second half of the Chiefs without scoring 105 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: a touchdown. How remarkable was that in your opinion? Well, 106 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: it was really remarkable, especially after the first half where 107 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: in the first half there were four drives that went 108 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: right up and down the field and the fourth one 109 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: stopped at the one yard line. But everything Kansas City 110 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 1: seemed to do was working, and they made some adjustments, 111 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 1: they kept their poise and came back with a confidence 112 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: And you don't normally see that. I mean sometimes you 113 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: see people come in and hey, we blanketed the Chiefs 114 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: and we had a great game plan. But to do 115 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: it after being struck so quickly that that was very 116 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: impressive to me. Coach, How big a deal is position versatility? 117 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: You have a Swiss army knife like Sam Hubbard, who 118 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: you know, in his high school days at Mulla High School, 119 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: a very successful program here in Cincinnati, was a safety 120 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: and then ended up getting bigger and strong, moved to linebacker. 121 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: Ohiose State went from linebacker to defensive lineman. So he's 122 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: got some athleticism. So they plant linebacker or some spying 123 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: and you know, and then the late rush. To have 124 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: a guy like that or guys like that on your 125 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: defensive football team, How does that What kind of an 126 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: edge does that give you? To have that athletic versatility? Well, 127 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: that versatility helps, and you always want athletes, But what 128 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: I love is the guys who understand what's going on. 129 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: So Sam is able to play in different spots but 130 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: know what to do right. And I was speaking to 131 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: Von Bell and hey, we've got a couple of things 132 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: going on here and we had to make some changes 133 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: and we had to show this. But look like this 134 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: because this is what Mahomes was seeing. And Jesse Bates, 135 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: you know on the big interception, Well here's what was 136 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: going on. We had a double on Tyreek Hill, but 137 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: I knew that's where Mahomes was going, so I just 138 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: was able to come out of center field and shift 139 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: over that way a little bit. Guys who understand the game, 140 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: it makes such a difference. Tony Dungee is our guest. 141 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: A lot of US coach look at this matchup and think, 142 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: all right, if we've got to pick out a specific 143 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: positional battle, it's the Bengals offensive line trying to block 144 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: Aaron Donald, von Miller, Leonard Floyd, etc. Is that the 145 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: matchup that you kind of have your eyes on at 146 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: this stage. It absolutely is that, David, I know you 147 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: got to relate to this, But they're evenly match across 148 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: the board. You know, the Rams has some really really 149 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: good receivers, well, so so do the Bengals. The Bengals 150 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: have a great quarterback who's playing well and playing hot, 151 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: well so do the Rams. And you can go up 152 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: and down the line. The one difference seems to be 153 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: here's a team that creates a lot of pressure with 154 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: their front, the Rams, and a team that struggled in 155 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: pass protection, Cincinnati. And that's where it's going to be 156 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: one or loss to me. If Cincinnati gives Joe Burrow 157 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: time to throw, they're gonna move the ball. These guys 158 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 1: are gonna get open, he's gonna throw it accurately, and 159 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: they're gonna make plays. And I think if I was 160 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: sitting in the Rams seat, if I'm Raheem Morris, I 161 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: would say, you know what, the one chance we had 162 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: you guys up front. You have to dominate the game. 163 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: You have to get pressure. That's the way we're going 164 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 1: to win the game. And if Cincinnati can come up 165 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: with a way to protect, I think they will move 166 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: the ball and score and win the ball game. So 167 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: special teams the all important third phase, you know, the 168 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: hidden yards, And I think there's only been one punt 169 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: return touchdown in Super Bowl history. I believe so there 170 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: haven't been, you know, those unscripted, unconventional scores as such. 171 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: But field position is always a huge factor. The bigger 172 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: the game, the bigger the hidden yards are you see 173 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: it that way in this one? Yeah, that's always important. 174 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 1: And you've got to catch the ball in your punt returns. 175 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: A kickoff game in today's game is pretty much neutralized. 176 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: You're getting the ball at the twenty five most of 177 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: the time. So how is it going to change decision 178 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: making by your coaches? Who's going to be aggressive? Hey, 179 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 1: we're going for it on fourth down rather than punt him, 180 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: but rather than punt him in there, And so coaching 181 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: decisions can make that difference. Hunting the football one or 182 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 1: two opportunities to pin people down and close. Don't let 183 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: the ball, bounce as a return man, don't fumble a 184 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 1: return and change the field positions. But I think the 185 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: field position will be turnovers and takeaways, and I think 186 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: it'll be pretty balanced if neither team turns the ball over. 187 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: Final question, coach, and we appreciate you so much for 188 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: carbon time out of your schedule. I know it must 189 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: be crazy busy. If you as a Hall of Fame coach, 190 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: super Bowl winning coach, what would your piece of advice 191 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 1: be if you could sit down with Zach Taylor and 192 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: McVeigh Sean McVeagh the day before the game and say, 193 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,839 Speaker 1: I'd like you to say this to your football team 194 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: before the Super Bowl. I would go back to something 195 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: my coach, Chuck Mole used to tell us when I 196 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: was with the Steelers every game and it didn't matter 197 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: for the first preseason game or the Super Bowl. He 198 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: would say, you win with fundamentals. You don't have the 199 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: bigger the games get. You don't have to up your production, 200 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 1: you don't have to raise your level of play. You 201 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,479 Speaker 1: have to do what you always do in crucial situation. 202 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,199 Speaker 1: So to me, the team that can play their game 203 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: not worry that it's the super Bowl and not I 204 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: think they have to do something special or something spectacular, 205 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: but do what they do, play in and play out. 206 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: That's who's going to win the game. Coach Dungee, you 207 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: are a Hall of Famer in every sense of that expression. 208 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,439 Speaker 1: Congratulations on a remarkable career, and thank you so much 209 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: for joining us on our show today. We really appreciate it. Hey, 210 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,319 Speaker 1: thank you. Looking forward to sending the game and very 211 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: very excited, and I was, I'll tell you what, just 212 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: coming into Cincinnati and seeing the excitement there, it really 213 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: made me feel good. The flight attendance on the flight 214 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: coming in, Hey are you going to cover up Bengals? 215 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: The rental car plays everywhere, was just excited and you'd 216 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: love to see that. And you know what, let me 217 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: say one more thing too. I really have to commend 218 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: Mike Brown in this day and age, he hired a 219 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: coach he believed in. The coach. The first year they 220 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: won two games, the second year they won four games. 221 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: How many other places of the other thirty two teams 222 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 1: when the head coach won six games in two years 223 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: do they make a change. And Mike Brown said, no, 224 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: this is the staff I believe in. And it paid off. 225 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: And I think that's a message to the rest of 226 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: the league. Stick with your guys and have confidence, have 227 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: faith in the choices that you've made. And I just 228 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: there's a part of me I want the Bengals to 229 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: win just for that. So that makes the rest of 230 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 1: the league get that message. Here here, coach, you're the best, sir. 231 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: Thank you all right. Thanks. Guys's comments about the Bengals 232 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: sticking with Zach Taylor are the perfect segue to our 233 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: next topic, because Friday mark the three year anniversary of 234 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: the Bengals naming him head coach. Before I discuss Zach 235 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: with Dave Lapham, here's what team president Mike Brown had 236 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 1: to say about coach Taylor just before his first season 237 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 1: got underway. You're getting ready to start a new season 238 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: with a new head coach. What about Zach Taylor impresses you. Oh, 239 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: he's a great young guy. He's dedicated coaching. He is 240 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: offensive oriented. I like that. I think my father was 241 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: that way. I have never been a coach, but I 242 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: like to think in those terms, and I focus on 243 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: the offense first and foremost too. It'll be interesting to 244 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 1: see if we can get things together and be the 245 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: kind of team we want to be in. We'll see 246 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:00,439 Speaker 1: how quickly that can come about, but I think has 247 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: write ingredients. Well how quickly part turned out to be 248 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: three years. But interesting to hear Mike at the time 249 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: talk about his feelings for why the Bengals chose Zach 250 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,239 Speaker 1: Taylor as the head coach. Yeah, and you know, obviously 251 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: the head coach prior was defensive oriented with Marvin Lewis, 252 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: there was some success there, but Mike Brown is predisposed 253 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: to the offensive side of football. I think he feels 254 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: more comfortable, you know, in dialogue on that side of 255 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: the football from a philosophical standpoint, And there's there's no 256 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: question whenever anybody spends time was Zach Taylor and does 257 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: a deep dive into what his mind is like from 258 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: an offensive standpoint, This guy's you know, we talked about 259 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow all the time, you know, being a football sumount. 260 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: Zach Taylor has a reliant offensive mind. I mean, he 261 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: knows his offensive football, there's no question about it. And 262 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: you know, other coaches on the staff, I mean, Brian Callahan, 263 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: there's these guys are all you know, and Pitcher just 264 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: go right down the line. Frank Pollock. The coaching staff 265 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: has jelled, and that's important. Everybody knows their role, everybody 266 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: knows their lane, everybody knows what they're responsible for. Nobody, 267 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: you know, tries to step on another guy's territory, another 268 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: guy's toes, and it is clicking right now. And that's 269 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: what that's what Paul Brown was so good at. Paul 270 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: Brown was like, I know what I want, I know 271 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: what I'm doing, and I'm gonna hire guys and designate 272 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: them with responsibilities and if they can't do it, I'll 273 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: fire them. But once I hire them, I'm gonna let 274 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: them do it. But if they prove to me they can't, 275 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 1: they're gone. So that's that's what I think. They've found 276 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: a combination of guys that just jelled and hit it 277 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: off in terms of the coaching staff and then the 278 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: players as well. As we talked about, you know, it's 279 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: it's like it's like one big we are family. That's 280 00:15:54,560 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: what it is. It's like another another redo of that lyric, 281 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: we are a family. Darren Simmons has been the Bengal 282 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: Special teams coordinator now for nineteen years, the first sixteen 283 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: under Marvin Lewis, the last three under Zach Taylor. So 284 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: He's got an interesting perspective about the two most recent 285 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: Cincinnati Bengals head coaches haven't been with coach Lewis and 286 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: Zach that they have very different styles. You know, Marvin's 287 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: probably more of an old school guy. Zach is more 288 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: new school. So it's been I say new school. It's 289 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: been great to be a part of seeing uh, you know, 290 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: how you deal with players. Um, it's been different in 291 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: the fact that you know, Marvin was more of a 292 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: head coach. I mean he you know, he really managed 293 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: the whole team. He didn't really call defenses that much. 294 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: You know, he had a defensive background. He didn't call 295 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: a lot of defense except for you know, a couple 296 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: of spots that he did. But you know, Zach has 297 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: to deal with with calling offensive plays, trying to manage 298 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: the in game situations, and trying to manage the whole team. 299 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: It's it's unbelievable how he can manage all that and 300 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: shows his capacity and it's it's been really neat to 301 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: be a part and see all that. But it's unbelievable 302 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: the way that he deals of the players, that the 303 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:05,479 Speaker 1: level of confidence that he brings to our guys. I 304 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: think our guys trust him, our guys believe in him, 305 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, he's really made great strides, you know, 306 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: from twenty nineteen so now, it's been really an unbelievable 307 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: credit to him, how he's really evolved and developed. And 308 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: I've learned a ton from that too. Well, Darren Simmons 309 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: used the term great strides. Do you see any obvious 310 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 1: ways that Zach Taylor improved in his three years as 311 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: the Bengals head coach? I think that the log that 312 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,959 Speaker 1: he keeps, I think it's served him well. You know, 313 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: he has a journal like a football diary as such, 314 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 1: that he keeps on a daily basis, and it's pretty 315 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,919 Speaker 1: extensive and it's all handwritten and it's his reference, you know. 316 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: And I think you know, as the old saying goes, 317 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: make make them stake once. You know, shame on you 318 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: make the mistake twice, shame on me. It's he's not 319 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 1: gonna He's not gonna make the same mistake multiple times. 320 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: And that's all you can ask for. You know, you grow, 321 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:07,719 Speaker 1: you learn, you grow from your experiences. And honestly, on 322 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: the one franchise that Zach Taylor could have survived six 323 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: twenty five and one in the first two years is 324 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: Mike Brown and Cincinnati Bengals. And I think Zach is 325 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: acutely aware of that, and they just feel, I think, 326 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 1: at this stage now with a payoff, the greatest turnaround 327 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: in NFL history, no question, the greatest turnaround in NFL history. 328 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,920 Speaker 1: They feel comfortable with each other right now. And and 329 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: but the thing that was very, very a credit to 330 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: all even when they were struggling and going through the 331 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 1: tough times, they had the same vision and they're like, 332 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,959 Speaker 1: you know, let's just keep plugging. Let's just keep plugging 333 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: and try to get there. And the patients that everybody 334 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: showed with each other and the persistence that everybody showed 335 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: with each other, it paid off. And you got to 336 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: tip your cap to them. I mean, there there really 337 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: isn't It would not take long to call roll on 338 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: other owners and franchises in the National Football League. They 339 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: would have gone through six, twenty five and one in 340 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: a two years stretch and said we're good. Let's take 341 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: that a step further. Because there were a lot of 342 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: people at the end of last year that said, well, 343 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: if they're going to keep Zach Taylor, at least they've 344 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 1: got to change defensive coordinators right, and when the Bengals 345 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 1: did not make changes either with the OC Brian Callahan 346 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: or the DC lou Ana Rumo, there are plenty of 347 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: people that said, well, that's you know, that's just a joke. 348 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: Well you're happy you have lou Anna Rumo now, because 349 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: last week was his ultimate masterpiece, the second half performance 350 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 1: against Kansas City in a year where the Bengals defense 351 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,159 Speaker 1: has consistently performed well, and I think that's a tribute 352 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,439 Speaker 1: to Zach, because you know, Zach in the meetings with 353 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: the family said he stood up on the table for 354 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 1: his coordinators. He said, if you're gonna, if you're gonna 355 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,479 Speaker 1: be patient with me, please. You know, I'm working with 356 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: these guys every day. I know what I see, I 357 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: know what's happening. I know all the ins and out, 358 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: so why things are happening. Some things are beyond a 359 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: lot of things are beyond these guys control. You know, 360 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: let's just let's just let it play out. And uh, 361 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: and they did. And sometimes the best decision you can 362 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: make is to not make a decision like that. You know, 363 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: it's it's like, uh, stay status quo sometimes can be 364 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:23,959 Speaker 1: the best decision. It'll it'll frustrate people, There's no question. 365 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:29,679 Speaker 1: I mean, human nature is quick change, you know, move on, 366 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: move on, and get away from that. That's we don't 367 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: want to have. If you're having success over and over 368 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 1: and over again, obviously that's that's great. But if you're struggling, 369 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: you know, multiple consecutive years or whatever or whatever it 370 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:43,920 Speaker 1: is in your workplace, I mean, you feel like you're 371 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: gonna get fired or if you're a manager, you're going 372 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:50,400 Speaker 1: to fire somebody. It's it's very rare to do what 373 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: the Bengals and Mike Brown decided to do. It really is, 374 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: particularly in this era of football, and it paid huge 375 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: dividends going to the Super Bowl, and if they can 376 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: win this Super Bowl, oh my god, it would be unbelieving. 377 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: It really would be unbelievable. From two and fourteen and 378 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: four eleven and one to a super Bowl trophy, a 379 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:18,479 Speaker 1: Lombardi Trophy is sticking in the lobby. What it's crazy. 380 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: I mean about flying back from the Super Bowl with 381 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:25,479 Speaker 1: a Lombardi Trophy and flash back to that first year, 382 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: how many road games in a row. It was just like, 383 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you were you were getting on a plane 384 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: and flying to you know, hell basically, you know, I 385 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: mean it was it was just there was no pleasure 386 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: in those road trips. It's fly back, you know, just 387 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: kind of shaking your head again, scratching your head and 388 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,239 Speaker 1: shaking it. And I can't imagine what the coaches were 389 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: going through. I mean, it's Zach. How about how about 390 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 1: the story he told when he and brianon Callahan when 391 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: they played the Rams the first time and they said, 392 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: you know, let's just figure out how we can get 393 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 1: a yard against Aaron Donald and they're having trouble even 394 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: figuring that out. I mean, you talk about coming a 395 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: long way, baby, that's that's a man, That's that's memories 396 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,479 Speaker 1: where all those building blocks, all those foundational building blocks 397 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: that you had to you had to put in place 398 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: in the right way before the thing would wouldn't be 399 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: able to be built upon. And that's that was a long, long, 400 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: arduous process. More from Lap in a moment, but first, 401 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: here's a quick reminder that the Bengals Booth podcast is 402 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 1: presented by Ultimate Bengals, the free to play fantasy football game. 403 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 1: This year, Ultimate Bengals awarded a weekly winner during the 404 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 1: course of the season with tickets, autograph, merchandise, and money 405 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: can't buy experiences all up for grabs. Find Ultimate Bengals 406 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: in the App Store and Google Play. Imagine this one 407 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 1: week from Sunday. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell lifts the Lombardi Trophy, 408 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: turns to his right, and hands it to Mike Brown. 409 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: What a moment that would be. Here are Tyler Boyd 410 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: and Zach Taylor sharing their thoughts. I'm the Bengals owner. 411 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: I think the good thing about Mike is I think 412 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: he's one of the few owners in this league that 413 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: actually comes to every practice, every walkthrough, and just they're 414 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 1: supporting a team no matter what the conditions are, you know, cold, hot, 415 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 1: you know, he's always out there and every time, you know, 416 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: I'll go over there and chop it up with him 417 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,399 Speaker 1: and just talk football, you know, like like like we're friends, 418 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: you know. And and he's always been a good guy 419 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 1: and always respectful, and um, I'm very appreciptive of the 420 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: opportunity he gave me. He's been tremendous. You know, I've 421 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,439 Speaker 1: been here for three years now. You know, he's one 422 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: of the most genuine people I've ever been around. He's supportive, understanding, realistic, 423 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 1: and so again we've gotten a support from ownership. Everything 424 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: that we've needed to discuss and talked through, They've been 425 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: nothing but supportive. They've given everything we've eat it since 426 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: I've been here, and so certainly they are. They're as 427 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: valuable as anything and where we're at today. In the 428 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: last two off seasons, the Bengals have spent more than 429 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 1: two hundred and fifty million dollars on free agents, most 430 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: of them on the defensive side of the ball. That 431 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 1: has completely turned the defense around. They have added a 432 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: ring of honor and in talking about what Tyler Boyd 433 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: was mentioning, how Mike Brown is there for every practice, 434 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: every day, regardless of the weather conditions or whatever. I 435 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 1: asked Mike about that once. Why he feels that it's, 436 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: you know, so important to be there, Why he enjoys 437 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: that so much? And he said, there's literally nothing I 438 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: would rather do. I would rather sit in my cart 439 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: watching a practice than be on a beach in some 440 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 1: spectacular location. It is what fascinates him more than anything 441 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,239 Speaker 1: else every day of his life. It's it's he's not 442 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:52,959 Speaker 1: the typical owner, and that he has other business interests 443 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: and ventures and just it's a little hobbied, little side 444 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: like a little way to entertain your rich buddies. You know, 445 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,919 Speaker 1: this is his life, it's his business, it's his life. 446 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 1: And how great at the age of eighty six to 447 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 1: have your daughter, your son in law, your son, their children. 448 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:15,479 Speaker 1: I mean, he's got three generations that are experiencing this, 449 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: and they're experiencing together. I mean, to be blessed at 450 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 1: the age of eighty six to see it happen with 451 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 1: the franchise when you know it's truly a family organization 452 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: and it is everything to them, and you know, people, 453 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: you know, people are gonna be like, ah, yeah, whatever, 454 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 1: I'm serious. Now, this is as important to him as 455 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 1: anything is to anybody. I'm not kidding you. It is. 456 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,640 Speaker 1: It's it's that big of a deal. And I'm sure 457 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 1: he's uh, I'm sure he's thinking about his father quite 458 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 1: a bit at this stage. There's no question about it. 459 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 1: All the all the time he spent with him, and 460 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: all the lessons learned and everything else, and his brother Pete, 461 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: who had a big, big impact on the organization from 462 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: a personnel standpoint for many, many years. I mean, it's 463 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: all about Mike Brown is fiercely loyal to family. I mean, 464 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 1: family is first and foremost a number one, no questions asked. 465 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 1: I mean number two is a long way down from 466 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: that number one. On the list of being family. There 467 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,199 Speaker 1: are twelve NFL franchises who are yet to win a 468 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 1: Super Bowl. The Bengals obviously are on the list. They've 469 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: been twice nineteen eighty one and nineteen eighty eight. They've 470 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: been close. We'll see if the third trip to the 471 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: Super Bowl is the charm. In previous conversations with Mike Brown, 472 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: we have discussed the Bengals two previous Super Bowl trips. 473 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: You went to your first Super Bowl in nineteen eighty one, 474 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 1: and you've told me in the past that the loss 475 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 1: to the forty nine Ers was the most painful one 476 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,919 Speaker 1: in Bengals history because you thought Cincinnati had the better team. 477 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 1: Aside from the game, what stands out about that first 478 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:55,959 Speaker 1: Super Bowl experience, Well, it was bitterly cold. We were 479 00:26:56,040 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: up in Detroit, and the day of the game, I 480 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 1: remember a story about that. Jerry Richardson, who went on 481 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: later to buy the Carolina team, came to the game 482 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: with his two sons. He told the story how they 483 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 1: got there before the gates open. They had to stand 484 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 1: out in the cold, and it was so cold and 485 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 1: so bitterly cold with the wind that they all got 486 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: into garbage camps to shout at himself for the wind. 487 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: There was literally three inches of ice in the parking lot. 488 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 1: But the game came on and we just couldn't hang 489 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: on to the ball. I don't mean to say they 490 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 1: weren't a good team. They were fine team, a great team. 491 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: I think in my heart that if we hadn't stubbed 492 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: our toe, we would have won. But we didn't, that's 493 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: for sure. And then afterwards, Vice President Bush was right 494 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: next to where we were and they had to get 495 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,919 Speaker 1: him out of the stadium. That meant that all the 496 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: rest of us had to sit there and wait for 497 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,160 Speaker 1: about a half an hour before we were allowed to move. 498 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: We went down to the locker room, and this had 499 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 1: been a season of celebration and jubulation, and I walked 500 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: into our locker room and it was just quiet as 501 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,880 Speaker 1: a tomb. There wasn't anybody in there. The media wasn't 502 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: in there. They were all across the hall in the 503 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: forty nine ers locker room. That made an impression on me. 504 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:35,879 Speaker 1: Driving back to the hotel, I had a headache like 505 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 1: I have never had since. It got me to the 506 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: core that one. The second one, we weren't the better team, 507 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: but we hung in there and we had a chance 508 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: to win. At the end, Louis Phillips had an opportunity 509 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:57,480 Speaker 1: to intercept the ball in the end zone. It went 510 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: right into his stomach and he didn't catch it. We 511 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 1: dropped it and we lost the game, but we fought 512 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: hard in that game. Both teams were memorable teams to me, 513 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: and I have wonderful memories about both of them. We 514 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: might not have won our chances at the super Bowl, 515 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 1: but those teams were special and there's still that in 516 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: my mind. I love talking about Bengals history and football 517 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 1: history with Mike Brown, like you, he is a great storyteller. 518 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: I love being a fly on the wall when you 519 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 1: two guys go back and forth through their stories that 520 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: we've enjoyed at breakfast on road trips over the years. 521 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: And I really hope that this is the year that 522 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: he gets to hoist a Lombardi Trophy. So do I. 523 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: It would be awesome. It would be great. And one 524 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: quick thing about when you mentioned George Bush when we 525 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: were going to the Super Bowl, they were escorting him 526 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: to the state. It took us forever to get there. 527 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, the the police escorts and all that. 528 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 1: I mean, we're like, what the hell's going on? Oh 529 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 1: the President, Oh my gosh, Canny go at a different time. 530 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: I took forever. But you know, those are the things 531 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 1: you deal with for sure. But yeah, I would like 532 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: to see Mike Brown have that that moment of pure, 533 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: unadulterated joy of winning a world championship, being a Super 534 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: Bowl champion. That would be incredible. I had the opportunity 535 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,600 Speaker 1: to do a one on one interview with Mike this week, 536 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: and you will hear it on this podcast later in 537 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: the week. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by on Location, 538 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 1: the official hospitality partner of the NFL. Visit on location 539 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 1: exp dot com for exclusive access to the biggest events 540 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: all season long, including next week Super Bowl. Now time 541 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: for our Know the Faux segment as Lap and I 542 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: visit with the voice of the Rams, JB. Long. Our 543 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: first topic, Andrew Whitworth. He spent his first eleven NFL 544 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 1: seasons in Cincinnati before spending the last five with the Rams. Now, 545 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 1: I was just kind of updating my Pro Football Focus 546 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 1: rankings by player by position as I do as part 547 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 1: of my weekly game prep, and it continues to baffle 548 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: me that even at the right page of forty and 549 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 1: I think, giving pretty clear signs that this is going 550 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: to be his last professional football game, he was a 551 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 1: top five tackle, and I think that speaks to Andrew's diligence, 552 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 1: the way that he's taken care of his mind and body, 553 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 1: and the way he's kind of reinvented himself with each 554 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: season of his career. The years that he's given the Rams, 555 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 1: I think have been the underpinning for almost all of 556 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 1: their success, Protecting Jared Goff, protecting Matthew Stafford, but also 557 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: leading an offensive line that in many instances was cobbled 558 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: together and didn't have a ton of resources devoted to it. 559 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: Other than his free agent signing. He's been a pleasure 560 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 1: to be around. I don't have to tell you or 561 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: this audience what a great person he used with a 562 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 1: great family man. And how on the Whitworths are I 563 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 1: think as much as anything, when we look at why 564 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: the Rams and the Bengals are going to be playing 565 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 1: the final game of this season, the commonality is Andrew 566 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 1: Whitworth and it's poetic in so many ways. Stafford obviously 567 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: put all the chips on the table, but slid all 568 00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 1: the chips to the middle of the table. They wanted 569 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: to be not only good at the quarterback position, they 570 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 1: wanted to be great. Are they great at the quarterback position? 571 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 1: I think they are, especially down the stretch and especially 572 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: when it matters most. I mean, if I'm ever going 573 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:33,440 Speaker 1: to come around and believe in the so called clutch gene, 574 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: these are two of the quarterbacks that would have me believing. 575 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: Like what they do on third and fourth down, what 576 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 1: they do in the fourth quarter really has me convinced. 577 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 1: I go back to a late game Week seventeen in 578 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:48,239 Speaker 1: Baltimore when the Rams division hopes and two seed were 579 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 1: really on the line, and I think that was the 580 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: moment more than any other. Matthew Stafford overcame a handful 581 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 1: of turnovers, led them down the field sound Odell Beckham 582 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 1: Junior on fourth down and then subsequently the game when 583 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 1: he down and that was really felt his Detroit Lions magic. 584 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 1: But I here to point out the Rams kind of 585 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 1: put their chips in the build of the table, and 586 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,480 Speaker 1: I tried to level up at the most influential position 587 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 1: in sports. But I'm cognizant of reminding all audiences that 588 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:20,920 Speaker 1: Matthew Stafford really put this in motion, right Like, after 589 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: a dozen seasons in Detroit, where he was beloved and 590 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:27,640 Speaker 1: he's a record setting quarterback, he asked to move to 591 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: a different venue, in a different franchise so that what 592 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 1: was left of his prime could be spent pursuing championships. 593 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: And he did so respectfully and in a way that 594 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 1: I think maintained his great relationships in the Motor City. 595 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:43,240 Speaker 1: But he was the first mover here, and I think 596 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:47,280 Speaker 1: while he has been everything that the Rams had hoped 597 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: he would be, Sean McVay and the Rams on offense 598 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 1: and defense and special teams have also been everything that 599 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: he could have been looking for in his second NFL franchise. 600 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 1: I thank JB. Long and that's going to do it 601 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 1: for this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast, brought to 602 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 1: you by Ultimate Bengals, the free to play next level 603 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:10,360 Speaker 1: fantasy football game, and by on Location, the official hospitality 604 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 1: partner of the NFL. If you haven't done so already, 605 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: please subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute, 606 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:19,360 Speaker 1: give it a rating or share a comment that helps 607 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:23,440 Speaker 1: more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Horde and thanks 608 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 1: for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast