1 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Hi again everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: the Bengals Booth Podcast. The I'll simply say it's on again. 3 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 1: It's on again. Woo. Addition, as I get you set 4 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: for the start of training camp on looking at some 5 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: of the key storylines before getting to my two guests, 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: team president Mike Brown and my broadcast partner Dave Lapham. 7 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: Ultimate Bengals ahead of the twenty twenty two season, gets 9 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: free to play next level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. 10 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 1: Get it now on the App Store and Google Play. 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: And here's a quick reminder that you can have the 12 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: or computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's 14 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: the greatest thing since Devin Young's sneakers old, twenty years 15 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: younger and at least eighty seven percent cooler after getting 16 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: a pair of custom design sneakers that were done by 17 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 1: a young man named Devin Young. He does amazing work 18 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: and has designed shoes for current and former Bengals players 19 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: along with some Bengals fans. I can't speak for them, 20 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: but I feel like I'll be wearing works of art 21 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: on my feet and my size thirteens provide a big canvas. 22 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: But don't take my word for it. If you would 23 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: like to see what I mean, go to Instagram and 24 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: search for d S Heat Customs Again, that's d S 25 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: Heat Customs. In the words of Mars Blackman, it must 26 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: be the shoes. Now, let's look ahead to the start 27 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: of training camp, beginning with some of the most important storylines. 28 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: As you probably know by now, the news broke on 29 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: Tuesday that Joe Burrow needs surgery to remove his appendix. 30 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: It sucks for Joe. Appendectomies are considered to be routine 31 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: procedures and he should be able to practice within a 32 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. For the sake of comparison, the UC 33 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: Bearcats had a long snapper back in twenty eighteen named 34 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: Zach Wood out of McNicholas High School, Kevin Huber's alma mater, 35 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: who played in a game nine days after an appendectomy. 36 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: Then there's the status of Jesse Bates. He has not 37 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: signed the twelve point nine million dollar franchise tag yet 38 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: and did not report on time for the beginning of 39 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: training camp, but Duke Tobin and Zach Taylor expect him 40 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: to eventually sign the tag and be ready to go. Well, 41 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: we trust Jesse's going to be in shape. That's just 42 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: who Jesse is, and Jesse will be ready to go. 43 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: We have high hopes to have a great year together 44 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: with Jesse again and to be right back where we 45 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: were with him. We tried for a couple of years. 46 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 1: It didn't come together. There's no hard feelings there. It's 47 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,399 Speaker 1: got to work for us and it has to work 48 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: for him, and some times things don't come together. Maybe 49 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: there'll be a chance in the future that something comes 50 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: comes together in a way that we all feel good about. 51 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: But you know, at this point we're we're focused on 52 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: having the best possible year we can and Jesse's a 53 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: part of that and a big part of it. Got 54 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: nothing but love for Jesse's a He is a success story. 55 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: You know, he's a draft choice here that's developed and 56 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: become an outstanding football player. When he comes, we'll be 57 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: excited to have him. He's a great person, great player, 58 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: a great leader for us, and when he shows up, 59 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: we know that he'll be in shape and ready hit 60 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: the ground. Running and I'm not going to predict a 61 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: timeline and when he shows up, that's up to him. 62 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: But again, he's I know Jesse, I know he's working 63 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: and he's prepared himself to again have a great season. 64 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: So just look forward to when he comes. We'll be 65 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: ready for him. On the injury front, we knew that 66 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: right guard Alex Kappa might miss the start of camp 67 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: since he had surgery to repair a core muscle injury, 68 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: and he is on the physically unable to perform list 69 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: of the pup list, along with Joe Bacci, College, Kareem 70 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: so I, JP Ryan, and Brandon Wilson. But we got 71 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: a little bit of a surprise over the weekend when 72 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: the team announced that right tackle l Collins would begin 73 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: camp on the non football injury list. That's for players 74 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,239 Speaker 1: whose injuries did not occur during practices or games. Here's 75 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: coach Taylor, he's dealing with an issue with his back, 76 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: you know, and it's something he's experienced before and him 77 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: and vets that kind of go through this stuff. On 78 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: the coaching side of the medical side, we want to 79 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: be slow to to get those guys back into the mix. 80 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: We know it's long training camp, he's got a lot 81 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: of Repsomer's belt. He feels good about where he's at 82 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: and we do two and so we'll be slow to 83 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: go with him and Alex, But there's good news on 84 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: the injury front as well. Te Higgins and Joseph Osi, 85 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: who did not practice during OTA's are good to go 86 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: for the start of training camp. Osi was the star 87 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: of the Bengals preseason opener last year, with seven quarterback 88 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: pressures and a sack of Tom Brady before he heard 89 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: his wrist and knee in that game. Duke Tobin is 90 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: eager to see him back on the practice field. We'll 91 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: work him back in and and the coaches will be 92 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: cognizant of the fact that he's been out for quite 93 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: a while, so we'll work him back in at his 94 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: speed and hopefully he'll show what he showed down to 95 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: Tampa last year. You know, he was going to be 96 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: Bruce Smith there for for a very short period of time, 97 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: so maybe that'll evolve. All the Bengals are hoping that 98 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: Osai can boost their pass rush, especially on third down. 99 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: The biggest battle for a starting spotted training camp is 100 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: it left guard, where the leading candidates are Jackson Carmen 101 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: and rookie fourth round draft pick Cordell Volson. Once again, 102 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: here's Duke. We think we've got pretty talented guys that 103 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: will be competing and it'll be good when when the 104 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: whole the group of five actually solidifies and and kind 105 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: of gets confidence in each other. But yeah, we'll see. 106 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna make any predictions. I think it's uh, 107 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: it is what it is, and we'll we'll see who 108 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: who's the best five, you know, to start the season. 109 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: But I know one thing, You're gonna need more than 110 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: five as the year goes on. You never only get 111 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 1: through with five. You're gonna need six, seven, eight, nine 112 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: and two practice squad guys that are ready to play 113 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: at a moment's notice. Regardless of who wins that left 114 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 1: guard spot. Mike Brown expects the old line to be 115 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: vastly improved. We've tried our best to add people there, Keis, 116 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: Kappa Collins, they're veteran players. They should come in and 117 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:41,559 Speaker 1: be able to shore up our performance make us better. 118 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 1: I want to see how it comes together. I'm hopeful 119 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: that it'll turn the trick and give us better protection 120 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: for Joe. We're aware of the shortfall there last year, 121 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: believe me. And we'll see if this can help. I 122 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: think it ken I wanted to, but the proof is 123 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: in the pudding well. With Mike Brown coming up shortly, 124 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: but first a brief visit with Special Teams coordinator Darren Simmons, 125 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: who will oversee a training camp battle at punter between 126 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: thirty seven year old Kevin Huber and twenty five year 127 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: old Drew Chrissman. You know, I think it was unique. 128 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: I told Kevin and Drew that the competition really wouldn't 129 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: start until training camp comes around, and I think that 130 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: affords Kevin the best opportunity, you know, to not pun 131 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: himself out and hern OTAs and I think it's the 132 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: right way to go about it. And so we'll see 133 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: what kind of shape he's he is coming back into it. 134 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: You know, Drew's had the opportunity to punt here for 135 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: a couple of days with the rookies and to kind 136 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: of get him his feet underneath him a little bit. 137 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: But yeah, it'll be unique for Kevin. It'll be the 138 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: first time that he's been pushed. He's a competitive guy. 139 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: He knows how this league works, and you know, I 140 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: expect nothing but his best shot, and it'll take Drew's 141 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: best shot to unseat him, you know, quite frankly and um, 142 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: but I think that's what you want. I think you want. 143 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: You want to keep the best guy and the guy 144 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: who's going to give our team the best opportunity to 145 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: you know, not only exchange field position in the punning game, 146 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: but also to score points in the field goal portion 147 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: of it too. So the field goal the holding will 148 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: have you know, an effect on that as well. How 149 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: big of an effect Kevin estimated to me that holding 150 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: is sixty percent of the job. Now, yeah, well I 151 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: kind of gave him that assessment, you know, at the 152 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: end of the year. You know, I would tell you 153 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: it was probably flipped before that, you know, with the 154 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 1: advent of and the way that we use analytics now 155 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: to we go for it so much more in fourth down, 156 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: and with the weapon we have is you know, at 157 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: the kicker position now it really expands the field for 158 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: So I would have said before that probably sixty percent 159 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: of the punters job was punning and forty percent was holding, 160 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 1: and I think I probably flipped that, and now I 161 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 1: would probably think that fifty five percent of his job 162 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: is holding and forty five percent is actually punning and 163 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: that's a good thing. You know, what means we're getting 164 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: an opportunity to score points. Uh So I think that's 165 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 1: pretty accurate. You were able to sign the highest rated 166 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: long snapper in college football last year as an undrafted 167 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: free agent. Is that competition similar to the punting competition? Yeah? 168 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: I think way, Why the hell not get him getting Kevin? 169 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: Kevin's getting pushed, so why not push Clark too? Now, 170 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: I think that at some point here that the uh, 171 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: you know, if other time is going to catch up 172 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: with those two guys and it's going to be up 173 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: to them when that time is this year, is it 174 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: next year? Is it three years? So now I don't know, 175 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: but but I think I owe it to our team 176 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: to uh push those two positions and push those two 177 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: players specifically as hard as I can because it's it, 178 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 1: uh you know, it's it's it's that important for where 179 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 1: we're at as a team. Um. And I think, you know, 180 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: I think they both need to keep working to improve. 181 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: Kevin Clark, I mean, um, you know, on the deficiency 182 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: deficiencies that they had. I don't think Kevin punted his 183 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: best down the stretch last year. I think he struggled 184 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: down the stretch in this pieway or even having this conversation. UM, 185 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: and so he knows that, he feels that, and I 186 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: think he's uh uh, you know, on board. I think 187 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: he's probably excited about having competition. It's it's be the 188 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: first time he's had that. Who are your top candidates 189 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: to return kicks and punts? Well, you know, with the uncertainty, 190 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: probably Brandon Wilson, you know, and certainly what his injury brings, uh, 191 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: you know, it really opens that spot up. UM, A 192 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: couple of candidates saying, Chris Evans will well, we'll get 193 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: a shot in there. You know, he was somebody who 194 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: did that for the first time in the Cleveland game, 195 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: you know, and then ultimately did it throughout the playoffs 196 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: and handled handled the position well enough. But but I 197 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 1: think what he lacks obviously his experience. UM. I think 198 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: Puka Williams get a crack at that, and I think 199 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: Kami last we'll get a crack at that too. I mean, 200 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 1: those are you know, a couple of three guys. It's 201 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: at the kick return spots and you know, the pump 202 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: return spot. I think it'll you know, Trent Tail will 203 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 1: be the first guy that trots out there, um as 204 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: the incoment, but he'll be pushed hard by Poking and 205 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: Kwammie also, um, you know, I've told Kwammie and Puka 206 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: both that I mean, the only, the only opportunity to 207 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: make our team is to be the pump return, and 208 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,599 Speaker 1: I think they both understand how critical that spot is 209 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: going to be for them. That's that's only they're going 210 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: to seat Trent or truly, only who they're gonna be 211 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: on the forty six man rosters is to be the 212 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: starting return, starting pulp return specifically. So those are a 213 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: couple of guys that, you know, three guys related each 214 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: spot that it was pretty wide open, honestly. Before we 215 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: get to my one on one conversation with Mike Brown, 216 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: here's a reminder that the Bengals Booth podcast is presented 217 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: by Ultimate Bengals, the free to play fantasy football game. 218 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: This past season, Ultimate Bengals awarded a weekly winner during 219 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 1: the course of the year with tickets, autographed merchandise, and 220 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: money can buy experiences all up for grabs. Find Ultimate 221 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: Bengals in the App Store and Google Play. We recently 222 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: learned that the Bengals have been negotiating with local companies 223 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: about selling naming rights to Paul Brown Stadium. That was 224 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: one of the topics I discussed with team president Mike 225 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: Brown when I had the opportunity to spend about ten 226 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: minutes with him on Monday twenty twenty one. Was one 227 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: of the most successful seasons in franchise history. How did 228 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: you sell them? Rate the big postseason wins? Do you 229 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: save a special bottle of wine? Do you and Nancy 230 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,719 Speaker 1: go out for dinner? Do you do anything after those 231 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: big victories? No? I just sit and feel pretty good. 232 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: And that's the extent of celebration for me. I'm an 233 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: old man now and those games are night games. I'm 234 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: not looking to jump up in the air and click 235 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: my heels. It was a great run, though. It was 236 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: exciting a playoff run as you're ever gonna see, and 237 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: I just couldn't have felt happier about how all that went. 238 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: It was a good year. What sticks with you more 239 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: an exhilarating win or a heartbreaking loss? Oh? I probably 240 00:12:52,760 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: remember the losses. They stick in your crow. You remember 241 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: Super Bowl losses more than others. Were here with Dave 242 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: Lapham and were you in one of those games? A 243 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: second game or the first game, first one, super Bowl sixteen. Yeah, 244 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: and I don't care. That was a close game when 245 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: we could have won that game, and you just don't 246 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: get it out of your mind. Has a little spot 247 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: back there then it pops up every once in a while. 248 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: He told me once that that first Super Bowl, super 249 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: Bowl sixteen was the loss that hurts the most because 250 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: you thought that the Bengals were the better team. Do 251 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: you still feel that way? Is that the one that 252 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: stands out most of all? Well, I have to confess 253 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: I did think we were the better team. You can't 254 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: win when you turn the bowl over like we did 255 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: in that game, But I would have liked to have 256 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: had another chance at it. Of course, you don't get 257 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: but one chance, and we came up short. To their credit, 258 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: they played well. I thought that Kenny Anderson out played 259 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: Montana in that game, and I remember afterwards having the 260 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: worst headache I've ever had in my life. It was 261 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: what you get when you lose. It was recently announced 262 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: that the Bengals are negotiating to possibly sell naming rights 263 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: to Paul Brown Stadium. Why is that important to the 264 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: long term health of the franchise and how difficulty is 265 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: that for you personally? Well, I think my dad would 266 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: have understood. I think he would even have approved it 267 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: in his mind. What mattered most was the team. This 268 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: gives us a revenue stream if we go forward with it, 269 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: and we need that for doing things such as the 270 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: indoor facility we're building to help us when we get 271 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: to signing some of our headline players. That's going to 272 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: be a real challenge. We have things to spend that 273 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: money on, believe me, and it will help us. We 274 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: need some help because we're a small market team and 275 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: our revenues don't normally match up with the large revenue teams. 276 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: We have to do with less, and this will give 277 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: us a little more to work with. Last year, Joe 278 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: Burrow became just the seventh quarterback to start a Super 279 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: Bowl in his second season, joining names like Dan Marino, 280 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and other all time greats. Of 281 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: Joe's many great qualities, what stands out most to you, oh, 282 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: probably is poise. He can see the field, He has 283 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: a sense of the rush, he never flusters, is accurate. 284 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: Of course as a passer, he can move and run 285 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: a little bit, but when you get down to it. 286 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: It's the way he thinks that is most impressive. He's 287 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: got a quick mind, a good football mind. Let's moved 288 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: to Jamar Chase. He had a record setting rookie year. 289 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: He was spectacular, but in training camp in the preseason, 290 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: he struggled. He couldn't catch a cold for a while. 291 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: There were you worried at all? Or did history tell 292 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: you that Jamar Chase was going to be fine? Well? 293 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: What told me Jamar Chase was going to be fine? 294 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: When Jamar Chase was fine and he was fine in 295 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: capital letters, we all saw it was unbelievable. He had 296 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: a great, great season. He's a tremendous talent, and he 297 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: now has to face a new season and they'll be 298 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: looking at him more than ever, and he'll have to 299 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: be ready for it and keep the ball rolling. I 300 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: think he will. What did you think of Zach Taylor's 301 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: idea to hand out game balls to fans at local 302 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: bars and restaurants after the playoff wins. Well, I thought 303 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 1: it was nice. So he has a mindset to him. 304 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: He thinks about other people, and I was appreciative of 305 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: that and some of the other things he does. He's 306 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: a good ambassador for the Bengals off the field, and 307 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: that's just his nature. He seems to come by it naturally. 308 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: I don't think anything galvanizes a city quite like a 309 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: successful championship level NFL team. What did you think of 310 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: the way Bengals fans responded the last season. I thought 311 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: it was wonderful. I thought at the game when we 312 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: beat the Raiders here that you couldn't have had a 313 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: stadium more live than that one was. And then our 314 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 1: fans were so pleased with how it went. It was 315 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: coming out of the COVID time, and this was a 316 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: moment when they could get involved publicly again with each other, 317 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 1: and it just caught fire. It was as exciting time 318 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 1: for our pro football team in Cincinnati as any that 319 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: I remember. We had good times in eighty two and 320 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: eighty eight, but I'd have to say this last one 321 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: probably it was the most exciting UH season. The fan 322 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: base is very excited about the white alternate helmet that 323 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: is coming in twenty twenty two. What was your reaction 324 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: You saw that it's a white alternate helmet with black stripes, 325 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: and I the women are excited about it, and my 326 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: family and my end daughters and my daughter and my wife. 327 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 1: You know, they just tell me I don't know what 328 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: I'm doing. So they like it a lot, and I 329 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: think I'll like it too. You joke, when your granddaughters 330 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: ask you to do something where the franchise is concerned, 331 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: you typically say yes. But in all seriousness, Elizabeth and 332 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 1: Caroline have had a pretty remarkable impact on the franchise 333 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: in the last year or so. You know, they got 334 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 1: some things straightened out. They are in a way inside 335 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: and outside. They had time to look at it from 336 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: the outside. And let's face it, we were going through 337 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: some tough years and we needed a boost. We needed 338 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: to do a few things that got the public behind 339 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: us better. The Ring of Honor certainly is one of those. 340 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:02,439 Speaker 1: For some reason, the public see seems to insist on 341 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: a indoor facility. They'll never be in there. Why do 342 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 1: they insistent? But we're going to have it for the 343 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: players now, and I think they'll like it. It'll be 344 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: a warmer spot to practice. I always felt that your 345 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: NFL player a little cold and snow, what the heck? 346 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: But now we'll be a little bit warmer and it'll 347 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: be easier for them. Paul Docherty recently retired from the Enquirer, 348 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: and when asked about you, he said one of the 349 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: things he admired most was that, no matter how harshly 350 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: he criticized you, you never seemed to take it personally. 351 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: Is he right about that? Or how do you handle that? Well? 352 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: I know I shouldn't. Probably there's an occasion or two 353 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: when I might, but not for long. The writers are 354 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:58,360 Speaker 1: doing a task, They're doing what they do, and the 355 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: TV guys the same thing. All of this is just opinion, 356 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: and it's fleeting. It's on to the next day very quickly. 357 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: I like Paul Docherty as a person. He's a very 358 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: bright guy, and I find him an interesting person to 359 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: talk to. I wish him well in retirement, whatever he's 360 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: going to do with it. John Madden passed away this 361 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: past year. What was your relationship like with John Madden. Well, 362 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: he was not too far off my age, and we 363 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: were sort of friendly. I knew him mainly after he 364 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: was let go or rather retired as a football coach, 365 00:21:52,840 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: and before he became a big time telecaster, and we 366 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: were just aware of each other. We would talk. I 367 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 1: would say we were the kind of people that were 368 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: on a first name basis and friendly to each other, 369 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 1: interested in the others views on the different subjects that 370 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: came up to h came in front of the NFL 371 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: and I liked him. He was easy to like, a 372 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:35,400 Speaker 1: nice guy, and I think he did an amazing dual performance. 373 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: A great coach and just as good announcer as well. 374 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: This will be the Bengals fifty fifth season. Do you 375 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: get as excited for the start of training camp as 376 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: you did now all of the previous fifty four? I 377 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 1: don't know that excited is the word for me? Probably concerned. 378 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: Do I get concerned more? Yes? It just is what 379 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:07,479 Speaker 1: I do, and I am conditioned to believe it's the 380 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: natural way, and I look forward to it. I like 381 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: being around the players and coaches. Feel very lucky at 382 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: my stage of life to be able to do that. 383 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 1: And here we go again. I find it hard to 384 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 1: believe that I have grown to be so old. But 385 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: as long as I can hang on, I'll probably hang on. 386 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: I always appreciate your time. Thank you so much, good 387 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: to be with you. Find late time for an in 388 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: depth training camp preview with my broadcast partner Dave Lapham Lap. 389 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: There a lot of intriguing storylines going into this training camp, 390 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: the improvements on the offensive line, the status of Jesse Bates, etc. 391 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: What are the things that are the top of your 392 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: list that you're looking forward to watching when camp gets underway. Yeah, 393 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 1: I mean, I think you've hit on a couple of 394 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: big ones, you know. I think offensively, the offensive line 395 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 1: player is going to be huge. I'd expected to be 396 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: much improved. I think it's going to ease a big 397 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: burden on the offensive coaching staff. To me, in hindsight, 398 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:18,920 Speaker 1: reflecting on last year, the game planning that they had 399 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 1: to do is five times harder than it should have 400 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,679 Speaker 1: been because they were trying to figure out how to 401 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: cover up a weakness here or a problem there, and 402 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: instead of just game planning and attacking areas of the field, 403 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,360 Speaker 1: they had to cover things up and maybe not attack 404 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:33,679 Speaker 1: areas of the field the way they wanted to with 405 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,919 Speaker 1: route combinations and all that sort of thing, because they 406 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:39,199 Speaker 1: just didn't have the protection ability. And unless you go 407 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,640 Speaker 1: six men protection all the time, you know, to block 408 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: four guys, which is tough. You're eliminating another one of 409 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: your receivers. So at some point you have to line 410 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 1: up and handle one on one situations. And I think 411 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 1: this group would be able to handle that better. And 412 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: I expect Joe to even perform at a higher level. 413 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: You know, I think he's going to see the field easier. 414 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: I think he's gonna, you know, be able to attack 415 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: areas of the field that he wasn't thinking about attacking 416 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 1: last year. From the game plan. He's got the answers 417 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,679 Speaker 1: to everything from a test standpoint, He's a quick study, 418 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,640 Speaker 1: understands things so quickly. I mean, I just think they're 419 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: going to be even better. I really do. And it 420 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,640 Speaker 1: starts with the with the running game. You know, they'll 421 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:23,920 Speaker 1: be able to control the line of scrimmage instead of 422 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,919 Speaker 1: Joe Nixon seeing numbers being pushed back at him. You know, 423 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: they'll hopefully get a push at the line of scrimmage. 424 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 1: He'll be able to make a cut at or beyond 425 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: the line of scrimmage instead of making his first cutting 426 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: his own backfield as many times as he had to. So, 427 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,160 Speaker 1: you know, I think I think it starts there. And 428 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: when it does start there, there'll be more you know, 429 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 1: second and fours, third and twos and down a distance 430 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: being control of where you can run or throw the football, 431 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: play action pass it, you know, drop back when when 432 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 1: you feel like dropping back, dropping back to pass because 433 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,200 Speaker 1: you want to, not because you have to. And that's 434 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: a big big For instance, it's much here to pass 435 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:03,919 Speaker 1: protect when you're dropping back because you want to instead 436 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: of because you have to because your running game is 437 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 1: good enough. So I think the offensive line is a 438 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: huge story. It's a it's a big deal. And you know, 439 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 1: as far as Jesse Bates is concerned, you know, I'd 440 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,879 Speaker 1: love to see him come in and play, and I 441 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 1: hope he does. Whatever the number is, fourteen, fifteen, whatever 442 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,959 Speaker 1: the dollar figure is actually as a tag player, as 443 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 1: a franchise tag player, it's what thirteen, twelve point nine whatever? 444 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: Why not come in and play because if you trade him, 445 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: he has to play for that amount as well that 446 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: year he's locked now no matter who he's playing for. 447 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: At twelve point nine, why not come back to the 448 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: defending AFC Championship football team where you know guys, where 449 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:52,159 Speaker 1: guys respect you, you respect them, and go out and 450 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:57,640 Speaker 1: play your tail off and then okay, you're bet on yourself. 451 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: Let the chips fall, and then after that decide what's 452 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 1: gonna what's gonna go down. I just can't fathom him 453 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: not playing. I just I just can't comprehend that one. 454 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: So to me, it's a matter of I don't I 455 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:15,959 Speaker 1: don't see I don't see the line in the sand 456 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: having been drawn. You know, I think it's a difficult situation. 457 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 1: It's a it's a business scenario. It's the it's probably 458 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 1: the ugly part of the business and the national as 459 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: far as the National Football League is concerned. But you 460 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: can still handle it civilly on both sides. And I 461 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 1: think they have to as good a point as you 462 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,959 Speaker 1: can in this situation. And I expect him to uh 463 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:41,879 Speaker 1: to come and play, and I expect the coaches to 464 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 1: I'm not saying protect him as such, because football is 465 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 1: a violent game, but I don't think they're gonna wear 466 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 1: them out. And you know, I think there's gonna you know, 467 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,680 Speaker 1: there'll probably be an understanding there that you come in 468 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: and you play for us, we're going to take care 469 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 1: of you as well, and that's the way it should be. 470 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 1: And you play for that almost thirteen million dollars a 471 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: year and let the chips fall as they may. Afterwards, 472 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 1: have to go out and have the greatest year you've 473 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 1: ever had, and hopefully your team wins the Super Bowl 474 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: I'm with you. He's made a total of about six 475 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: million dollars in the first four years of his NFL career, 476 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: so he stands to make more than twice that this year, 477 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 1: twelve point nine mill. I find it hard to believe 478 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 1: he would leave that on the table. Secondly, if he 479 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:27,679 Speaker 1: wants to get a contract that pays him as one 480 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: of the top safeties in the NFL, he's not going 481 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:32,480 Speaker 1: to get that by sitting out. He's going to get 482 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:35,400 Speaker 1: that by playing and playing well. Playing and playing well, 483 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: have a five six interception year and playing the Pro Bowl. 484 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 1: You know, I think he everage is about three interceptions 485 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 1: a year, maybe as a career player. Have a career year, 486 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 1: go out and double that, go out and have six interceptions, 487 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: maybe five interceptions, whatever, and have the best year you've had, 488 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 1: go to the Pro Bowl, and make yourself as marketable 489 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: as possible. If you don't play, I mean, how are 490 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: you helping your marketability? You're not. You're just not. You know, now, 491 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 1: in the beginning of the prime seasons of your career, 492 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: you're not doing anything. You're not on the football field playing. 493 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: I just don't fathom it. I mean, to me, it's 494 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 1: just it doesn't make any kind of sense. And then 495 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 1: how are you going to make up the twelve point 496 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: nine million? I mean, how do you make good on that? 497 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 1: I mean what kind of salary are you gonna are 498 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: you're gonna, you know, ask for to make up for 499 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: not only the twelve point nine but maybe the years 500 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: that you could have been making a heck of a 501 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: lot more than you were making the numbers you just 502 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: are out there. You could have been, you know, doubling 503 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: down on that for a while. So I don't know, 504 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 1: it's to me. To me, I don't dig myself a 505 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: deeper hole to have to try to make good on 506 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: and make up for. I go play in H thirteen 507 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: million a year. That's not an embarrassment. That'll that'll that'll 508 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: buy a lot of groceries, There's no question about that. 509 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: It'll pay pay a bunch of bills. So the Bengals 510 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 1: go out and sang three veteran offensive linemen, rebuild the 511 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: offensive line, and two of the three will not be 512 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: able to practice to begin training camp. Alex Kappa and L. L. Collins, 513 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: how serious do you think these things are and how 514 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: quickly do they need to be back in order to 515 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,480 Speaker 1: develop that kind of offensive line chemistry you're trying to develop. Yeah, 516 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 1: I think I think that's the that's the thing, um, 517 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: is that they can't be part of the UH. I 518 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:24,960 Speaker 1: think it'd be part of the meetings. But beyond the 519 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: field where you're even even in drills that aren't live 520 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: you know, just half speed drills or whatever the case 521 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,960 Speaker 1: may be, you're starting to coordinate the steps between each other. 522 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: You're starting to coordinate the depth of the pass protection sets. 523 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 1: You know, Oh boy, I better, I better take my 524 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: set a little bit deeper or they'll be stunting to death. 525 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: They'll penetrate that end and pick me off, and that 526 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 1: my tack will be looping. And you just start to 527 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: get a feel for everything. Um and also the all 528 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 1: important communication. You know, sometimes it gets to a point 529 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: where when you feel really comfortable with a guy, it's unspoken. 530 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: You know, there's a blink of an eye, not a 531 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 1: wink um, any kind of body language thing that you 532 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: work out. It's like you'll be in the huddling and say, Okay, 533 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna be this is the call unless if I 534 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 1: if I blink, I'm calling it off or I'm doing whatever. 535 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:15,480 Speaker 1: All of that stuff needs to take place a little bit, 536 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,800 Speaker 1: and it doesn't have to you want it to take 537 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 1: place some in the game. But the repetitions are practice, 538 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: is they're very important for that. Honestly, I wouldn't. I 539 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: wouldn't necessarily play a whole lot of veterans a whole 540 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 1: lot of playing time in any of the preseason games. 541 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 1: I just wouldn't. I mean, you've got you've got something 542 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: good going on here, and uh, you know, these guys 543 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:37,720 Speaker 1: all take care of themselves, they all work out hard, 544 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: They're all going to be ready to play. I'm not 545 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,600 Speaker 1: saying to you know, to just let them all sit 546 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: out training camp. You're gonna have to do uh, you 547 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 1: know that that portion of things gets yourself physically and 548 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 1: mentally ready. But in my mind, the two most important 549 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,760 Speaker 1: days of training camp are going to be the two 550 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: days that they practice against the Rams, because that'll be 551 00:31:57,600 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 1: a controlled environment where things will be, you know, pretty 552 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 1: frisky and but not not a game situation where you're 553 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: risking serious injury or whatever. But you can time things out, 554 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's okay, it's live in the in 555 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 1: the offensive and defensive line, but no tackling, you know, 556 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: or it's live here, but we're not going to take 557 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,880 Speaker 1: it to the very end in terms of finishing plays. 558 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: That's where I think those two days are going to 559 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: be probably unbelievably important getting the team ready for the season, 560 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: because it's against a really good team with really good 561 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: people who won a Super Bowl. You know you played 562 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:32,680 Speaker 1: against them, you know how good they are. I think 563 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 1: I think that those two days are proud. I don't 564 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: think any of the veterans I need the team are 565 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: going to play in that preseason, and I don't think 566 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: anybody will see the field, so national television is going 567 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 1: to have a little interesting story to tell there. But 568 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:46,959 Speaker 1: I do think that those workouts are going to be 569 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: must see. I think those are going to be pretty 570 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 1: pretty good. I think that's going to be a big, 571 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: big barometer to the coaches seeing how ready the team 572 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: is to start the season. So the big position battle 573 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:03,920 Speaker 1: going into training camp is left guard. Who will be 574 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 1: the starting left guard? In your mind, is it Jackson 575 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:10,600 Speaker 1: Carmen's job to lose or is it more wide open 576 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: than that. I mean, you have to have somebody, you 577 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: have to line them up somehow, and I don't I 578 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 1: don't think that it's necessarily his job to lose. I 579 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 1: think it is pretty wide open. But but I think 580 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 1: when whenever, if I'm in the situation that they're all 581 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 1: in as a competitor, I want to have that first 582 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 1: opportunity and not give it up, you know, to me 583 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: defending that that spot it Okay, I'm lining up with 584 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: the first group, I want to stay there. To me, 585 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: that's a I'm not saying, an easier task, but mentally, 586 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 1: I'd be feeling like I just need to do my job, 587 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 1: and I need to do my job well. I don't 588 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 1: need to try to do too much. I just need 589 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 1: to do my job well. I think it's going to 590 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 1: be very interesting. I'm impressed with Volson because I think 591 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:08,759 Speaker 1: he has the physical stuff, and he seems like he's 592 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:12,680 Speaker 1: a quick study. He seems like he's he's getting it 593 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:14,839 Speaker 1: picking him up pretty darn quickly. From what I can 594 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 1: see out in the football field, It's like when when 595 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:19,719 Speaker 1: a coach tells a player or something, you know, you 596 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:21,839 Speaker 1: can you can tell if players are, you know, really 597 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:24,920 Speaker 1: kind of grasping it or hot by body language sometimes 598 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:27,640 Speaker 1: and then the very next snap, okay, did they make 599 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 1: an adjustment. He's all that, I think, So I think 600 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,359 Speaker 1: it's going to be a very competitive situation. I think 601 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:38,720 Speaker 1: between between those two guys, you know, the real intriguing 602 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,200 Speaker 1: guy for me is Ben Brown because I think he 603 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 1: showed that he's got the feet, he's got the hands, 604 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:46,719 Speaker 1: and those are the two things you have to have 605 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:50,360 Speaker 1: to compete athletically in anything. And good footwork to start 606 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 1: you off, in hands to finish, and a lot of 607 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,799 Speaker 1: things in sports. And I think that's the case with 608 00:34:55,880 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 1: him in his situation. I want to see shoulder pads 609 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:03,720 Speaker 1: and helmet. I want to see how he adapts mentally, 610 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:07,239 Speaker 1: how quick a study he is, all those all those 611 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:10,839 Speaker 1: kind of all those kind of variables will keep up, 612 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:14,759 Speaker 1: will Lee lag behind. It's going to be interesting to tell. 613 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 1: He's a very interesting guy to me. I'm not sure 614 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:22,200 Speaker 1: they're looking at him necessarily to be a guard. I 615 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:24,880 Speaker 1: think he and Trey Hill are having a training camp battle. 616 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:28,600 Speaker 1: He and Trey Hill are basically backup center swing guard, 617 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:30,800 Speaker 1: you know, and which guy's going to be able to 618 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: handle it. So if I'm Ben Brown, I'm trying to 619 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 1: unsee Trey Hill. That's that's the first thing on my agenda. 620 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: And if you continue to ascend and continue to show 621 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,640 Speaker 1: you can play. You know, who knows, maybe you do 622 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 1: get an opportunity for more than that, but that that 623 00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 1: one is going to be a very good training camp 624 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 1: battle in my mind to watch those two guys, and 625 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:53,279 Speaker 1: I don't project either one of them to be in 626 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 1: the starting five. But you have to have versatility, you 627 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:00,319 Speaker 1: have to have position versatility, and who's going to show 628 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:02,600 Speaker 1: the most of that? I think a lot of us 629 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 1: were surprised to see La L. Collins begin training camp 630 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 1: on the non football injury list. Hopefully this back problem 631 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 1: that he has is not too serious. But I was 632 00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:14,520 Speaker 1: pleasantly surprised that Joseph Osai was not on the pop list. 633 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 1: He's good to go. The knee is better, the rist 634 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 1: is now better. That's very encouraging because he's a guy 635 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:25,280 Speaker 1: that potentially could have a huge impact now that he's healthy. Yeah, 636 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:29,240 Speaker 1: and and Dan, I mean they got so many younger guys. 637 00:36:29,239 --> 00:36:31,279 Speaker 1: I mean, Collins is the old guy. Collins is going 638 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:35,320 Speaker 1: into his eighth year and he's had lower back problems before, 639 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,920 Speaker 1: So you know, is it an issue? Is it a 640 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:43,560 Speaker 1: congenital degenerative thing. I don't think they think it is um. 641 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 1: I don't think they think it's anything major. I think 642 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 1: they expect him to be back fairly quickly. But I think, 643 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: quite honestly, if he weren't on that active, you know, 644 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:57,440 Speaker 1: pup list, I think that he would they would be 645 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 1: treating him with veteran gloves. I think he'd be ta 646 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 1: doing much anyway. So I don't think he's going to 647 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:06,919 Speaker 1: necessarily fall behind, um if he misses a day or two. 648 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 1: But like we talked about before, lining up next to 649 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:11,759 Speaker 1: a guy and getting all the communication, all those kind 650 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:14,919 Speaker 1: of things is some is a plus. And if you're 651 00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:18,600 Speaker 1: on those lists, you can't do that. So, um, you know, 652 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:21,120 Speaker 1: at some point in time you'd like to see him 653 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:23,880 Speaker 1: come back and start to be in the mix and 654 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:26,920 Speaker 1: that and that part of the process getting ready for 655 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 1: the regular season. Um, but yeah, right now, UM, it's 656 00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:37,719 Speaker 1: it's it's it's very very wise to play everything with 657 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:40,640 Speaker 1: him on the safe side right now and don't push anything. 658 00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:45,680 Speaker 1: But when you start talking about back issues, those those 659 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:48,560 Speaker 1: things are are they can be very very tricky. So 660 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:50,239 Speaker 1: you want to curb it. You want to nip it 661 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: in the BT as quickly as you possibly can. I 662 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,200 Speaker 1: want to circle back to Jesse Bates for a second. 663 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:57,879 Speaker 1: You played professionally for twelve years, so you went through 664 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 1: contract negotiations, you had any of teammates obviously that had 665 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:06,239 Speaker 1: difficult contract negotiations. Are you all concerned about kind of 666 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:09,360 Speaker 1: a ripple effect among the locker room of a popular 667 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:13,439 Speaker 1: player who the Bengals were not able to extend That 668 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:15,400 Speaker 1: that can be an issue. I mean, you know a 669 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:18,680 Speaker 1: guy like Jesse Bates who's held in such high regard 670 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 1: by his team, not only his teammates, to coaches and 671 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:26,000 Speaker 1: the organization, front office, management, everybody. And you know it's 672 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:30,719 Speaker 1: like Anthony Munos for example, when when Anthony Munos had 673 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 1: made I don't know how many consecutive you know, Pro 674 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:41,000 Speaker 1: Bowl appearances and all pro recognitions, he had to hold 675 00:38:41,040 --> 00:38:43,360 Speaker 1: out to get a contract done. And the feeling in 676 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:46,360 Speaker 1: the locker room was, man, if Anthony's holding out, what 677 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:48,239 Speaker 1: chance do I ever have of getting a second or 678 00:38:48,239 --> 00:38:50,640 Speaker 1: a third contract. So there is a little bit of that, 679 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:53,759 Speaker 1: But you know, then the other business side of it is, 680 00:38:54,239 --> 00:38:58,920 Speaker 1: you know, you can't overpay anywhere because there are other 681 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:01,040 Speaker 1: guys you have to sign as well. So it's it's 682 00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:05,120 Speaker 1: a it's a tough balancing act, but there is I think, ah, 683 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:09,319 Speaker 1: that's real that's that's not imaginary, that's that's real. I mean, 684 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:12,200 Speaker 1: you're gonna hear guys saying Jesse needs to be here. 685 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: You've already heard guys saying it, and I think I 686 00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:18,359 Speaker 1: think that that's going to go more and more as 687 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 1: time wears on if Jesse's not in camp. So I 688 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:24,839 Speaker 1: do think that's, uh, that's that's a little bit of 689 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:27,560 Speaker 1: you know, something that that needs to be handled. But 690 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:31,520 Speaker 1: I do also feel that this football team, even though 691 00:39:31,520 --> 00:39:35,040 Speaker 1: it's young in terms of years service, it's very mature, 692 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:40,440 Speaker 1: you know, in terms of their cohesiveness and understanding you know, um, 693 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:42,839 Speaker 1: the chemistry or what it takes to put a team 694 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:45,200 Speaker 1: together in the business aspect of it. When you you know, 695 00:39:45,239 --> 00:39:47,680 Speaker 1: you kind of filter that into it as well. So 696 00:39:48,360 --> 00:39:50,359 Speaker 1: I don't I don't think there's going to be any 697 00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:52,799 Speaker 1: mutiny or you know, anything close to that. I don't. 698 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:54,640 Speaker 1: I don't think looking at anything like that. I don't 699 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 1: think it's going to get contentious like that. But uh, 700 00:39:58,719 --> 00:40:01,480 Speaker 1: you know, it's always it's always something that you have 701 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:06,120 Speaker 1: to address because you know, if you ignore it, the 702 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:10,040 Speaker 1: infection starts to spread. I know training camp was brutal 703 00:40:10,239 --> 00:40:13,160 Speaker 1: back when you played for as Greg was tough seven 704 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:17,120 Speaker 1: preseason games one year. But having said that, do you 705 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:22,200 Speaker 1: miss it? Yeah? I do. I mean, um, this time 706 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:24,360 Speaker 1: of year. I always felt like when I was a 707 00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:27,680 Speaker 1: player that I was so fortunate to be able to 708 00:40:27,719 --> 00:40:29,600 Speaker 1: do what I was about to embark on, you know. 709 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:34,040 Speaker 1: And and it's like they can't they can't ask me 710 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:37,600 Speaker 1: to do anything that I wouldn't. I'd be like, I'm 711 00:40:37,680 --> 00:40:40,719 Speaker 1: definitely doing this. I think back to when you was six, seven, 712 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:42,520 Speaker 1: eight years old, you kide me you would have done 713 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:45,120 Speaker 1: you would have run through, you know, a house on 714 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:48,560 Speaker 1: fire to in a gasoline suit to play in the 715 00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:52,200 Speaker 1: National Football League. And I always looked at it that way. Um, 716 00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:54,000 Speaker 1: but there were there were some challenges, there were some 717 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:57,919 Speaker 1: some trying times, There's there's no question about it. And 718 00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:04,239 Speaker 1: were there difficult periods, Yeah, for sure. Would would you 719 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:06,760 Speaker 1: do them all over again? Hell? Yeah, I do it again, 720 00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:09,040 Speaker 1: and I do it again, and I do it again. Um. 721 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: I guess that's just the nature of the beast. And 722 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:14,359 Speaker 1: I think I think that's what uh, you know, Zach 723 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:19,080 Speaker 1: and the organization's talking about. Where football there's a lot 724 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:22,239 Speaker 1: of things that you get. You're treated well as a 725 00:41:22,239 --> 00:41:25,680 Speaker 1: professional football player, you're compensated well as a professional football player, 726 00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:28,480 Speaker 1: but you've got to love the game. You got to 727 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:30,160 Speaker 1: love the grind of the game. You got to love 728 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:33,160 Speaker 1: the preparation you'd have to have for the game, both mentally, 729 00:41:33,160 --> 00:41:36,400 Speaker 1: physically and all that. And I'll say that that time 730 00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:41,200 Speaker 1: period there was most joyous time in my life. And 731 00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:44,480 Speaker 1: even though training camp at the end of the at 732 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:46,040 Speaker 1: the end of the some of those days of training 733 00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:48,319 Speaker 1: camp before you close your eyes because you sleep like 734 00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:51,000 Speaker 1: a log. But I'd say, you know what, this is tough. 735 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:54,000 Speaker 1: This is a challenge, there's no doubt about. But there's 736 00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:57,399 Speaker 1: no place ouse I'd rather be right now. That's going 737 00:41:57,440 --> 00:41:59,360 Speaker 1: to do it. For this episode of The Bengals Booth 738 00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:04,000 Speaker 1: podcast presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download Ultimate Bengals ahead of 739 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:06,799 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty two season. It's free to play next 740 00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:11,839 Speaker 1: level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. Get it now 741 00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:14,719 Speaker 1: on the App Store and Google Play, And if you 742 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:17,719 Speaker 1: haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and 743 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:19,160 Speaker 1: if you have a minute, give it a rating or 744 00:42:19,160 --> 00:42:22,960 Speaker 1: share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. 745 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:26,280 Speaker 1: I'm Dan Horde, and thanks for listening to The Bengals 746 00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:27,480 Speaker 1: Booth Podcast