WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Unwritten 0:00:03.600 --> 0:00:06.439 Hi, get everybody on Dan Hord and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.640 --> 0:00:08.480 the Bengals Booth Podcast. 0:00:08.920 --> 0:00:10.600 The rest is still unwritten. 0:00:10.640 --> 0:00:15.640 On addition, as we discuss a crucial off season for 0:00:15.680 --> 0:00:19.000 the Bengals with draft guru Dane Brugler from The Athletic 0:00:19.440 --> 0:00:23.880 and NFL analyst Pete Prisco from CBS Sports. The Bengals 0:00:23.920 --> 0:00:26.760 Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, Proud 0:00:26.760 --> 0:00:31.240 to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber, 0:00:31.280 --> 0:00:34.520 future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business 0:00:34.600 --> 0:00:38.080 and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health, 0:00:38.320 --> 0:00:41.040 the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 0:00:41.080 --> 0:00:44.720 the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a 0:00:44.800 --> 0:00:47.519 quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 0:00:47.560 --> 0:00:50.800 this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer 0:00:51.159 --> 0:00:55.400 by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 0:00:55.480 --> 0:01:00.240 thing since. Sam Hubbard, the Bengals defensive end, announced his 0:01:00.280 --> 0:01:03.720 retirement on Wednesday after a great seven year run with 0:01:03.760 --> 0:01:07.160 his hometown team. The Bengals struck gold when they drafted 0:01:07.240 --> 0:01:11.200 him in the third round in twenty eighteen. Sam was 0:01:11.240 --> 0:01:16.040 a productive and durable player, a universally respected team leader 0:01:16.440 --> 0:01:20.560 and a tremendous ambassador for the franchise, twice, being nominated 0:01:20.800 --> 0:01:23.520 for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award 0:01:23.840 --> 0:01:27.199 for his charitable efforts in the community. Sam is also 0:01:27.280 --> 0:01:33.240 responsible for two of the most important plays in franchise history. First, 0:01:33.720 --> 0:01:37.200 a red zone sack of Patrick Mahomes in the final 0:01:37.240 --> 0:01:40.640 minute of regulation in the AFC Championship game that forced 0:01:40.720 --> 0:01:44.360 Kansas City to settle for an overtime forcing field goal. 0:01:44.760 --> 0:01:47.800 The Bengals then won the game in ot to advance 0:01:47.840 --> 0:01:50.880 to the Super Bowl, and one year later, what I 0:01:50.880 --> 0:01:55.320 would consider to be the most iconic play in Bengals history, 0:01:55.840 --> 0:01:59.600 the fumble in the Jungle. Here's how those plays sounded 0:01:59.640 --> 0:02:03.640 on the race, plus a memorable moment that happened ten 0:02:03.720 --> 0:02:05.920 days before Christmas last year. 0:02:06.200 --> 0:02:07.280 On third and goal from. 0:02:07.200 --> 0:02:10.440 The nile, Mahomes catches the shotgun snap, retreats back to 0:02:10.480 --> 0:02:13.520 the eighteen. Looking around in the end zone, nobody opened, 0:02:13.560 --> 0:02:16.320 yet no pressure at all. Now Here comes the rush 0:02:16.480 --> 0:02:17.520 Mahomes way back at. 0:02:17.400 --> 0:02:19.160 The twenty times they lose it at all. 0:02:19.480 --> 0:02:22.840 The Chiefs fall on it at the twenty six, and 0:02:22.960 --> 0:02:26.200 this makes it a much more difficult field goal try. 0:02:26.240 --> 0:02:29.440 It will be a forty four yarder with all sorts 0:02:29.480 --> 0:02:31.160 of pressure on Harrison. 0:02:31.240 --> 0:02:34.200 Butker, I'll tell you what. They rushed three and dropped eight. 0:02:34.520 --> 0:02:37.880 They blanketed everybody. Sam Hubbard forced the funnel. 0:02:38.160 --> 0:02:41.000 Jane Tooney recovered it. Huber loss of seventeen. 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:44.280 How about back to back snaps by Sam Hubbard. I 0:02:44.320 --> 0:02:48.120 mean he makes the play on second down, makes the 0:02:48.160 --> 0:02:52.280 play on third down. About the Moller High School house, 0:02:52.280 --> 0:02:56.880 state product, local kid in just making huge. 0:02:56.560 --> 0:03:02.240 Plays third down and goal. The line hand sticks the 0:03:02.280 --> 0:03:05.280 ball out. The Bengals have the ball. They are running 0:03:05.320 --> 0:03:06.919 it back, Sam Hubbard. 0:03:07.200 --> 0:03:10.720 We had blockers behind him, Hubbard of the Ravens forty, 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:17.960 the thirty, the twenty, the ten, the Bob touchdown Bengals 0:03:18.120 --> 0:03:22.919 who Tyler Hunley tried to extend the ball over the 0:03:22.919 --> 0:03:23.560 goal line. 0:03:23.919 --> 0:03:25.160 It got poked away. 0:03:25.800 --> 0:03:29.520 Sam Hubbard scooped it up and ran the length of 0:03:29.560 --> 0:03:33.320 the field for a go ahead Bengals touchdown. 0:03:33.680 --> 0:03:36.840 He tried to pull at Trevor Lawrence and the Bengals 0:03:36.880 --> 0:03:37.400 said no. 0:03:37.840 --> 0:03:38.720 They slapped it. 0:03:38.680 --> 0:03:39.200 Out of there. 0:03:39.440 --> 0:03:42.800 Logan Wilson punched the ball out of the hands of 0:03:42.920 --> 0:03:44.120 Tyler Huntley. 0:03:43.880 --> 0:03:47.000 And right into the hands of Sam Hubbard and boy 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:48.720 Logan Wilson others. 0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:50.520 Everybody was swarming it at at. 0:03:50.440 --> 0:03:53.560 That football and Sam Hubbard says, I'll take it to 0:03:53.640 --> 0:03:56.520 the house. And boy who threw the block for Sam 0:03:56.640 --> 0:04:00.800 Hubbard down the football field his escorts service. Final block 0:04:00.960 --> 0:04:04.280 was necessary and it was made for him. 0:04:04.440 --> 0:04:07.720 Burrow fakes a handoff, throws a pass Sam. 0:04:07.440 --> 0:04:12.160 Hubbard fake with the catch, Saton touchdown Bengals. 0:04:12.840 --> 0:04:15.120 Sam Hubbard raising. 0:04:14.720 --> 0:04:18.560 The football over his head and spiking at Gronk style 0:04:19.040 --> 0:04:21.880 after the first catch of his NFL career. 0:04:22.160 --> 0:04:24.440 Sam Hubbard started his career at Mowler High School. 0:04:24.520 --> 0:04:28.640 Is a tight end, Sam Hubbard is an athlete, Sam Hubbard. 0:04:28.800 --> 0:04:30.640 That's a great fingertip catch. 0:04:31.560 --> 0:04:34.679 Sam actually suffered a season ending knee injury on that play, 0:04:34.720 --> 0:04:37.880 so on the final snap of his NFL career, he 0:04:37.960 --> 0:04:41.200 caught a touchdown pass from an old college buddy who 0:04:41.240 --> 0:04:44.880 became one of his closest friends, Joe Burrow. It's kind 0:04:44.880 --> 0:04:47.359 of like Ted Williams hitting a home run in his 0:04:47.440 --> 0:04:51.000 final at bat. Coming up later on the podcast of 0:04:51.040 --> 0:04:55.560 fun Facts Flashback, as Sam discusses the thrill of playing 0:04:55.680 --> 0:04:59.640 for his hometown team. Now, let's get to my first guest. 0:05:00.360 --> 0:05:03.679 If ESPN's mel Kiper was the first person to become 0:05:03.720 --> 0:05:07.080 famous for being an NFL draft expert, the best guy 0:05:07.160 --> 0:05:09.880 doing it now, in my opinion, is Dane Brugler from 0:05:09.880 --> 0:05:15.200 The Athletic. His annual draft guide, The Beast, annually contains 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:19.839 more than four hundred in depth player profiles. I caught 0:05:19.920 --> 0:05:24.400 up with Dane at the NFL Scouting Combine dayan. The 0:05:24.440 --> 0:05:28.440 Bengals need to address their defensive line. I keep hearing 0:05:28.480 --> 0:05:31.680 from various draft gurus, and I have you at the 0:05:31.680 --> 0:05:35.200 top of the list that it's a good defensive line draft. 0:05:35.760 --> 0:05:38.480 Is that the case, There's no doubt, and I think 0:05:38.520 --> 0:05:40.880 it's true in the first round, it's true once you 0:05:40.880 --> 0:05:42.839 get to Day two and then even into Day three, 0:05:43.200 --> 0:05:46.159 both on the edge and on the interior. So and 0:05:46.200 --> 0:05:49.839 there's different styles, different types, different sizes. Like I think 0:05:49.839 --> 0:05:53.160 there is a little bit of everything depending on what 0:05:53.200 --> 0:05:55.080 you really want. If you're looking for more of the 0:05:55.160 --> 0:05:58.279 proven production, you know, there's that guy in this draft. 0:05:58.320 --> 0:05:59.320 If you want someone. 0:05:59.120 --> 0:06:03.320 That's got all the time cools, that's in this draft 0:06:03.360 --> 0:06:06.640 as well. So I think it depends on It'll be interesting. 0:06:06.720 --> 0:06:08.359 Every team's going to stack their boards a little bit 0:06:08.360 --> 0:06:11.040 differently with this defensive line class, where some teams are 0:06:11.040 --> 0:06:13.920 gonna look at the promise of a Michel Williams from 0:06:13.920 --> 0:06:16.400 Georgia and say they they don't make them like that 0:06:16.520 --> 0:06:19.200 very often, and so let's get that, let's coach him up, 0:06:19.279 --> 0:06:22.160 and we've got something where other teams might look at 0:06:22.160 --> 0:06:23.039 it and say. 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:24.640 You know, like that, we like him. 0:06:24.680 --> 0:06:26.640 That's a little rich for us because he's a little 0:06:26.640 --> 0:06:28.120 bit of a project. He's a little bit more of 0:06:28.120 --> 0:06:30.960 an idea than a polished player at this point. So 0:06:31.360 --> 0:06:33.120 I think teams are going to be all over the 0:06:33.160 --> 0:06:36.159 map with how they stack these the defensive linemen this year. 0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:37.920 And part of it is because of what I just said. 0:06:37.920 --> 0:06:39.719 There's so many of them, there's so many different types. 0:06:40.320 --> 0:06:43.560 Glad you mentioned Williams because on your first mock draft 0:06:43.600 --> 0:06:48.240 you had Cincinnati selecting him number seventeen overall, so obviously 0:06:48.279 --> 0:06:50.599 would be a good match. They need somebody to rush 0:06:50.640 --> 0:06:54.520 the quarterback other than Trey Hendrickson, and clearly you think 0:06:54.520 --> 0:06:56.120 there's a chance he'll be there at seventeen. 0:06:56.960 --> 0:06:58.240 Yeah, I mean, he could go top ten. 0:06:58.279 --> 0:07:00.320 I wouldn't be surprised, because again, he's just a freaky, 0:07:00.360 --> 0:07:03.279 freaky dude. But if he did fall a little bit 0:07:03.839 --> 0:07:06.640 into the mid first, I think that that would make sense. 0:07:06.680 --> 0:07:08.080 And I don't want to make it sound like he's 0:07:08.120 --> 0:07:09.840 a true project that he's not going to see the 0:07:09.840 --> 0:07:12.520 field right away, because I think obviously Bengals fans they 0:07:12.560 --> 0:07:15.400 want some help right away. They don't want someone to 0:07:15.520 --> 0:07:18.680 have to sit. And you know, they've seen that from 0:07:18.680 --> 0:07:20.920 a few other draft picks recently, where you know, they 0:07:20.920 --> 0:07:22.120 want someone that's going to be able to come in 0:07:22.160 --> 0:07:24.520 and impact the team, and I think Became Williams could 0:07:24.560 --> 0:07:24.720 do that. 0:07:24.760 --> 0:07:26.760 He just he was hurt. He was banged up this year. 0:07:26.840 --> 0:07:29.560 You know, he the ankle injury played him throughout the 0:07:29.720 --> 0:07:32.320 entire year. But I would say, just watch the Texas tape. 0:07:32.440 --> 0:07:35.120 Watch what he does against a pretty good offensive line, 0:07:35.440 --> 0:07:38.480 and you see the talent and it's not just I'm bigger, 0:07:38.840 --> 0:07:39.560 longer than you. 0:07:40.080 --> 0:07:42.120 I'm just it's not just quicker than you. 0:07:42.640 --> 0:07:45.280 He showed a better understanding this year of you know, 0:07:45.480 --> 0:07:48.280 using the length of his advantage. So he's leveraging the 0:07:48.280 --> 0:07:52.679 point of attack, plays very well against the run, different 0:07:53.000 --> 0:07:55.680 euro steps and the ways that he can win the corner. 0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:59.440 So he's you know there's progression there. It's not just 0:07:59.560 --> 0:08:03.160 a ball of clay that you're trying to mold into something. 0:08:03.800 --> 0:08:06.000 So I think with Michel Williams, it's a little bit 0:08:06.000 --> 0:08:07.800 of both, where you have a guy who's gonna come 0:08:07.840 --> 0:08:10.520 in and help out right away as a part of 0:08:10.520 --> 0:08:13.560 that rotation, but also someone that you'll love the upside 0:08:13.640 --> 0:08:16.000 and say, yeah, he's good now, but he has a 0:08:16.080 --> 0:08:18.520 chance to be truly a difference maker down the road. 0:08:19.560 --> 0:08:22.680 We're talking draft with Dame Bugler from the Athletic let's 0:08:22.680 --> 0:08:25.480 focus in on the defensive tackles a little bit. I 0:08:25.560 --> 0:08:27.960 assume Mason Graham will be long gone by the time 0:08:28.000 --> 0:08:30.920 the Bengals select, even if they had thoughts of trading up. 0:08:31.160 --> 0:08:33.200 But let's talk about some of the other guys that 0:08:33.280 --> 0:08:38.520 could be there. Walter Nolan from Ole miss Tyleek Williams 0:08:38.520 --> 0:08:43.079 from Ohio State, Kenneth Grant from Michigan, Derek Harmon from 0:08:43.200 --> 0:08:47.280 Oregon who stands out in that group from guys that 0:08:47.880 --> 0:08:50.000 you think would have a chance to be there at seventeen. 0:08:50.679 --> 0:08:53.520 I really like Derek Harmon, you know, Michigan State transfer 0:08:53.520 --> 0:08:58.640 went to Oregon. He's he's really disruptive. I mean you 0:08:58.679 --> 0:09:05.160 think about interior pressure. Nobody pressured created more pressure from 0:09:05.200 --> 0:09:07.720 the interior of the defensive line this year in college 0:09:07.720 --> 0:09:11.520 football than Derek Harmon, and that translates last year, the 0:09:11.520 --> 0:09:13.320 guy that did that the most was Byron Murphy and 0:09:13.320 --> 0:09:15.560 he was the first defensive tackle drafted last year. I think, 0:09:15.679 --> 0:09:19.079 what's sixteen overall by the Seahawks. So Harmon is kind 0:09:19.120 --> 0:09:23.520 of in that, in that mold where he can disrupt 0:09:23.559 --> 0:09:26.160 what the offense wants to do, and he does it 0:09:26.160 --> 0:09:29.079 with power. He can win with his quickness through the gaps. 0:09:30.040 --> 0:09:32.120 You know, there's there's a lot to like there with Harmon, 0:09:32.200 --> 0:09:34.440 and especially as a guy that's still figuring things out, 0:09:34.520 --> 0:09:37.520 another guy that you know, he's not a finished product 0:09:37.559 --> 0:09:40.120 by any means, but he's still able to be productive 0:09:40.160 --> 0:09:42.160 with what he knows right now. So I really like 0:09:42.200 --> 0:09:45.320 Derek Carmon in that mix. I'm a big Tyley Williams 0:09:45.320 --> 0:09:47.520 fan too, especially against a run. He's one of the 0:09:47.520 --> 0:09:49.839 best run defending defensive tackles in his class, and he 0:09:49.840 --> 0:09:51.720 doesn't necessarily look like it, you know, like he doesn't 0:09:51.720 --> 0:09:54.520 look like a hulking nose tackle, but he's so good 0:09:54.559 --> 0:09:58.880 with the stack shed I'm not going to lose the runner, 0:09:58.920 --> 0:10:00.000 which he's so good with his eye. 0:10:01.440 --> 0:10:02.760 And you know there's a lot of those guys in 0:10:02.800 --> 0:10:03.120 this drive. 0:10:03.200 --> 0:10:05.160 And Alfred Collins from Texas I would throw in that 0:10:05.200 --> 0:10:08.240 mix as well. He's gigantic and he's six five over 0:10:08.280 --> 0:10:12.240 six five thirty five inch arms and he's another one 0:10:12.240 --> 0:10:14.600 that controls the point of attack and he's going to 0:10:14.800 --> 0:10:16.600 good luck running at him because he is going to 0:10:16.640 --> 0:10:19.720 clog things up, just like you know, Tallier Williams does 0:10:19.720 --> 0:10:21.520 the same thing. TALLI Williams a little bit smaller, has 0:10:21.559 --> 0:10:26.200 better range. Walter Nolan, he's your one gap penetrator, classic, 0:10:27.240 --> 0:10:30.360 gonna win with quickness. Some stuff that he's you know, 0:10:30.400 --> 0:10:32.319 they need to figure out with him, just making sure 0:10:32.320 --> 0:10:35.320 they get the best version of him. It's, you know, 0:10:35.360 --> 0:10:38.000 the nicest way to say it, but you know, he's 0:10:38.040 --> 0:10:40.000 there's a lot to like about him because again he 0:10:40.000 --> 0:10:42.559 can create that interior disruption and it's it's harder to 0:10:42.600 --> 0:10:43.240 find those guys. 0:10:43.880 --> 0:10:46.800 Let's move to edge guys that could be there. 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:50.480 Mike Green from Marshall, Shamar Stewart from Texas A and 0:10:50.600 --> 0:10:55.959 m James Pierce from Tennessee. The Boston College Kid as 0:10:56.000 --> 0:10:58.000 a root as a. I don't know how much print 0:10:58.040 --> 0:10:59.760 out you can tell me, but in any case, how 0:10:59.760 --> 0:11:02.160 about that group and and how you feel about them? 0:11:02.280 --> 0:11:02.439 Yeah? 0:11:02.480 --> 0:11:05.079 As a rock who is Yeah, he's he's a lot 0:11:05.080 --> 0:11:09.000 of fun to watch. He's he's longer, like he doesn't 0:11:09.040 --> 0:11:11.040 look very big, but he's really long, and he uses 0:11:11.080 --> 0:11:13.480 that well. He's a two way go guy where he 0:11:13.480 --> 0:11:16.280 can win with speed, but he can also, uh you know, 0:11:16.360 --> 0:11:17.520 win with counters inside. 0:11:17.640 --> 0:11:19.959 He can go right at you and and go speed 0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:20.440 to power. 0:11:21.080 --> 0:11:22.640 As a rock who can win in different ways, and 0:11:22.640 --> 0:11:25.920 I think that's you know, the the production really stands out. 0:11:26.080 --> 0:11:29.559 So you know, teams draft trades over production, but when 0:11:29.559 --> 0:11:32.040 you have both, it's like, okay, that's even better. And 0:11:32.040 --> 0:11:33.680 that's the same thing with Mike Green. Mike Green leadon 0:11:33.960 --> 0:11:37.520 FBS and sacks this year. I think the biggest knock 0:11:37.559 --> 0:11:41.000 on him will be he did it against Sunbelt competition, 0:11:41.120 --> 0:11:43.720 you know, playing up Marshall and playing that schedule. 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:45.679 But you throw onto Ohio State tape and you see 0:11:45.760 --> 0:11:46.079 him win. 0:11:46.640 --> 0:11:51.360 So his game is built all on violence and play speed. 0:11:51.440 --> 0:11:54.640 I just NonStop and versus the run and versus pass. 0:11:55.000 --> 0:11:59.960 So Mike Green is a fun player. Yeah, with James Pierce. 0:12:00.120 --> 0:12:03.439 He's he's still very much learning. I think he is 0:12:03.480 --> 0:12:06.920 a guy that the talent is tremendous, but you need 0:12:06.960 --> 0:12:10.560 to figure out, Okay, what makes him tick? How long 0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:12.480 does it take before we get him to a point 0:12:12.520 --> 0:12:16.880 where you know, we trust him setting an edge, you know, 0:12:17.040 --> 0:12:20.160 being a true three down player. But the talent is 0:12:20.160 --> 0:12:23.440 so exceptional that he still is very much and it 0:12:23.480 --> 0:12:25.480 has a chance to go top twenty. So he's gonna 0:12:25.480 --> 0:12:28.079 be one of the teams really spend a lot of 0:12:28.120 --> 0:12:29.720 time with to figure him out. 0:12:31.120 --> 0:12:31.880 What was the fourth one? 0:12:31.880 --> 0:12:34.840 You said, Stewart from Texas, I am. 0:12:34.880 --> 0:12:37.000 That's just wait till he works out today. 0:12:37.440 --> 0:12:41.000 He's the freakiest of the freaks, two six and eighty 0:12:41.040 --> 0:12:45.160 pounds and I mean maybe runs in the four fives. 0:12:45.600 --> 0:12:46.679 It's gonna be crazy. 0:12:46.480 --> 0:12:48.880 I think his ten yards split, like his burst is 0:12:48.880 --> 0:12:50.640 so great, the ten yard split could be in the 0:12:50.640 --> 0:12:53.400 one fives. And to put that in the context, Von 0:12:53.440 --> 0:12:55.880 Miller is a one five to nine ten yards split, 0:12:56.120 --> 0:12:59.679 so wouldn't be shocked at all. I mentioned trades over 0:12:59.679 --> 0:13:02.640 product Schmar Stewart, I want to have sacks this year. 0:13:02.880 --> 0:13:04.160 But when you watch. 0:13:03.920 --> 0:13:07.000 His film, you're like, Okay, he's getting home like he's 0:13:07.200 --> 0:13:07.840 he's winning. 0:13:08.200 --> 0:13:10.000 He actually led Texas a and. 0:13:09.960 --> 0:13:12.800 Him and pressures, so even though he was farther down 0:13:13.120 --> 0:13:15.400 the list on sacks, he led the team in pressure. 0:13:15.520 --> 0:13:17.000 So he is getting there. He just needs to be 0:13:17.000 --> 0:13:19.400 a better finisher. And ideally, yes, you want him to 0:13:19.400 --> 0:13:22.360 get the sacks. But if I'm making the quarterback move 0:13:22.440 --> 0:13:24.840 his feet, I'm doing my job. You know, I'm creating 0:13:24.840 --> 0:13:27.640 that disruption. And so Schmart Stewart, I think I think 0:13:27.640 --> 0:13:29.520 he was number eight on my top one hundred. Like 0:13:29.520 --> 0:13:31.760 I'm already I'm already factoring in the fact that he's 0:13:31.800 --> 0:13:33.880 a freak athlete, and I think I'll show it here 0:13:33.880 --> 0:13:37.360 at the combine. And you know, the lack of reduction 0:13:37.480 --> 0:13:40.360 isn't ideal, but I'm not as much worried about it 0:13:40.400 --> 0:13:41.160 as other people are. 0:13:41.760 --> 0:13:44.640 Dan Brugler is our guest. His draft guide, the beast 0:13:44.880 --> 0:13:47.240 that you can get if you are a subscriber to 0:13:47.280 --> 0:13:51.040 The Athletic is unlike anything else for people that are 0:13:51.080 --> 0:13:53.320 interested in the draft. It is really must reading if 0:13:53.360 --> 0:13:55.600 you were interested in the players that the Bengals are 0:13:55.600 --> 0:13:57.320 going to be looking at in the draft this year. 0:13:57.960 --> 0:14:00.199 The Bengals are in the market for a guard. I'd 0:14:00.240 --> 0:14:02.600 be surprised if they took one in the first round. 0:14:02.600 --> 0:14:05.040 It's not out of the question. They've done it once 0:14:05.160 --> 0:14:08.200 before with Kevin Zeitler, but that's the only time in 0:14:08.240 --> 0:14:11.360 franchise history they've taken a guard in round one. Can 0:14:11.400 --> 0:14:15.040 you give me a Day two and a Day three 0:14:15.679 --> 0:14:17.760 guard or a couple of them that you like? 0:14:17.920 --> 0:14:20.680 Yeah, I think on Day two Tate Ratlie from from 0:14:20.720 --> 0:14:24.640 Georgia's he fits the bill. He's ready to go strong 0:14:24.680 --> 0:14:26.840 at the point of attack, he can win with torque. 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:30.440 And I really Miles Fraser from LSU. Both these guys 0:14:30.480 --> 0:14:31.280 are right guards. 0:14:32.120 --> 0:14:36.400 Fraser he's maybe the nastiest lineman in this draft. You 0:14:36.440 --> 0:14:39.160 can make that argument where the competitive toughness is off 0:14:39.160 --> 0:14:42.240 the charts. Maybe not the best athlete of the group, 0:14:42.560 --> 0:14:45.960 but he's not deficient in that area and he wins with. 0:14:46.960 --> 0:14:49.040 Just the physicality, the competitiveness. 0:14:49.080 --> 0:14:50.680 And so Miles Fraser, he had a good week at 0:14:50.680 --> 0:14:53.000 the Senior Bowl kind of helped himself as well. He's 0:14:53.040 --> 0:14:54.800 gonna be right there in that Day two mix as well. 0:14:54.960 --> 0:14:59.400 It's a good, pretty good guard group. A couple will 0:14:59.400 --> 0:15:03.400 go in the first round. Tyler Booker and I think. 0:15:03.280 --> 0:15:04.880 Kelvin Banks from Texas is a guard. 0:15:05.160 --> 0:15:07.880 And then on day two it's there's gonna be more 0:15:07.920 --> 0:15:09.720 than a handful of names that I think will be 0:15:09.760 --> 0:15:10.800 in play for the Bengals. 0:15:11.200 --> 0:15:15.480 And on day three Anthony Belton from Enci State. 0:15:15.720 --> 0:15:18.400 He's a college left tackle who I think is going 0:15:18.480 --> 0:15:24.080 to be better moved inside. Gigantic guy, mammoth guy, and 0:15:24.520 --> 0:15:26.480 getting him away from having to play on an island, 0:15:26.520 --> 0:15:28.840 I think will help him and just help him with 0:15:28.880 --> 0:15:31.000 his timing, with a setup, the ability to use his hands. 0:15:31.200 --> 0:15:33.600 But I think Anthey Belton for you know, fourth fifth round, 0:15:33.640 --> 0:15:34.200 he would make. 0:15:34.120 --> 0:15:37.400 Some soundse Have you studied Luke Candra from the University 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:41.000 of Cincinnati as Cincinnati kid as a possible third a 0:15:41.080 --> 0:15:43.440 third day guard prospect, Yeah. 0:15:43.280 --> 0:15:45.960 No doubt, And I think he should do pretty well 0:15:45.960 --> 0:15:48.880 for himself here. Like I, not the best athlete, but 0:15:48.920 --> 0:15:53.040 a good athlete. And you know, seeing his background by 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:57.280 Louisville and then going to Cincinnati, you know he's he's 0:15:57.280 --> 0:15:59.560 played a lot of football. You know, he's a experienced guy, 0:15:59.720 --> 0:16:02.200 and you know, I was impressed with him this year. 0:16:02.360 --> 0:16:06.120 I think he's he's a guy that technically is a. 0:16:06.400 --> 0:16:09.520 Further along than some of these other players and might 0:16:09.520 --> 0:16:11.480 give you a little bit of versatility on the interior. 0:16:12.200 --> 0:16:13.360 Let's talk tight ends. 0:16:13.400 --> 0:16:16.480 It sounds like people are enthused about this group. The 0:16:16.520 --> 0:16:19.600 Bengals have Mike Kasicki as a free agent, not sure 0:16:19.600 --> 0:16:22.160 if he'll be back. Unfortunately, Eric All, who is so 0:16:22.240 --> 0:16:24.600 impressive before he got hurt last year, is likely to 0:16:24.640 --> 0:16:28.040 miss the entire season. What about this tight end group 0:16:28.080 --> 0:16:29.960 and some of the guys you like is loaded? 0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:32.400 Absolutely, And if you want to go that direction in 0:16:32.400 --> 0:16:35.360 the first round, you know, to Tyler Warren or Colson Lovelin, 0:16:35.400 --> 0:16:38.480 are they still available for you in the first Possibly, 0:16:40.080 --> 0:16:43.080 But it's not like it's you know, you're worried if 0:16:43.080 --> 0:16:47.040 they're not. Because on Day two, Mason Taylor from LSU, 0:16:47.240 --> 0:16:50.440 Elijah Royo from Miami, I'm a big fan of Gunner 0:16:50.440 --> 0:16:52.920 Helm from Texas. I think that, you know, that'd be 0:16:52.960 --> 0:16:55.360 a nice fit on day two in the second round 0:16:55.520 --> 0:16:58.040 for the Bengals. He can be kind of that mismatched 0:16:58.080 --> 0:17:01.360 weapon where yeah he'll block a little bit, but his 0:17:01.560 --> 0:17:04.680 ability to win down the field at the catch point. 0:17:04.760 --> 0:17:08.040 He's a good athlete. He stands out and and then 0:17:08.119 --> 0:17:09.800 even in the Day three there's name. So I think 0:17:09.800 --> 0:17:12.880 this is a tight end class that it's it's good 0:17:12.880 --> 0:17:14.639 in the first round with those top two guys, but 0:17:14.680 --> 0:17:16.040 then it stretches. 0:17:15.960 --> 0:17:16.920 Day two, day three. 0:17:17.480 --> 0:17:20.080 Plenty of guys that you see can or can come 0:17:20.119 --> 0:17:22.840 in and compete for jobs and try to make something. 0:17:23.440 --> 0:17:25.240 A year ago, at this time, I was asking you 0:17:25.280 --> 0:17:28.359 about offensive tackles. The Bengals obviously took one an a 0:17:28.440 --> 0:17:29.360 Marius Mims. 0:17:29.760 --> 0:17:30.960 I believe your quote. 0:17:30.760 --> 0:17:32.600 At the time was looks like he was built in 0:17:32.680 --> 0:17:34.320 a lab to play right tackle. 0:17:34.520 --> 0:17:36.480 What'd you think of his play as a rookie. 0:17:36.680 --> 0:17:39.600 Yeah, you know, and maybe even a little bit better 0:17:39.600 --> 0:17:42.679 than I expected, because he was, you know, he had 0:17:42.720 --> 0:17:44.320 missed so much time with the injury. 0:17:45.359 --> 0:17:47.400 You know, he was so good the year before. 0:17:47.359 --> 0:17:49.760 Against Ohio State in that playoff game, and it was 0:17:49.800 --> 0:17:52.800 just like, oh wow, this guy is for real. And 0:17:52.840 --> 0:17:55.639 then he missed time the next year because of the 0:17:55.880 --> 0:17:58.200 ankle injury, and so you just weren't sure, like you 0:17:58.280 --> 0:18:02.760 knew the size, strength, the ability, but just mindset wise, 0:18:02.760 --> 0:18:03.600 where was he going to be? 0:18:03.880 --> 0:18:05.560 Technique wise? Where would he be? 0:18:05.920 --> 0:18:08.400 And I thought he was even a little bit He's 0:18:08.400 --> 0:18:11.399 still raw in areas, still green in areas but I 0:18:11.400 --> 0:18:14.679 thought he was further along than what most people expected, 0:18:14.800 --> 0:18:17.040 and he held his own for a good chunk of 0:18:17.040 --> 0:18:18.960 when he was out there, which was awesome to see, 0:18:19.040 --> 0:18:22.320 especially you know, in the AFC North. So I think 0:18:22.400 --> 0:18:24.400 if you're a Bengals fan, you have to be encouraged 0:18:24.440 --> 0:18:26.679 by the what you saw in year one and then 0:18:26.720 --> 0:18:27.800 what's to come in year two. 0:18:28.400 --> 0:18:31.119 On the flip side, there were concerns character wise with 0:18:31.200 --> 0:18:31.959 Jermaine Burton. 0:18:32.080 --> 0:18:32.960 The Bengals rolled the. 0:18:32.960 --> 0:18:36.080 Dice in the third round, at least so far, it 0:18:36.119 --> 0:18:39.160 hasn't worked out when that happens. 0:18:39.200 --> 0:18:42.400 Do you think that a team is really. 0:18:42.000 --> 0:18:45.160 Reluctant to take any risks in the near future. 0:18:46.160 --> 0:18:49.120 Well, the Bengals haven't been scared off of those guys, 0:18:49.320 --> 0:18:52.679 So I don't you know, you have to have a 0:18:52.720 --> 0:18:56.040 process when you're talking about you know, because all these 0:18:56.040 --> 0:19:00.000 guys aren't choir boys, you know, and that doesn't mean 0:19:00.040 --> 0:19:00.800 you don't draft them. 0:19:00.840 --> 0:19:00.960 You know. 0:19:01.040 --> 0:19:03.919 There have been plenty of guys with issues that have 0:19:04.480 --> 0:19:07.480 turned out to be really solid pros and haven't been 0:19:07.480 --> 0:19:10.280 issues behind the scenes, and so you just have to 0:19:10.359 --> 0:19:13.000 understand what makes him tick, you know, how big is 0:19:13.040 --> 0:19:16.960 this an issue that's gonna come with them, or is 0:19:16.960 --> 0:19:19.480 this something where we give him structure, we give him 0:19:20.200 --> 0:19:22.439 the support that he needs. All of a sudden, you know, 0:19:22.520 --> 0:19:24.760 we have a what's a locker room, like we have 0:19:24.840 --> 0:19:26.959 the veteran locker room that's gonna be able to take 0:19:27.040 --> 0:19:27.800 him under their wing. 0:19:28.200 --> 0:19:29.560 So every case is different. 0:19:29.600 --> 0:19:31.000 You know, I don't want to paint a broad brush 0:19:31.080 --> 0:19:36.200 because every case is so unique, and it no different 0:19:36.200 --> 0:19:39.399 than last year with Burton. You know, there the character 0:19:39.480 --> 0:19:41.280 was definitely a question mark and a lot of teams. 0:19:41.280 --> 0:19:42.719 He was off the board for a lot of teams 0:19:43.520 --> 0:19:47.920 and Bengals rolled the dice and. 0:19:46.760 --> 0:19:47.720 You know it didn't work out. 0:19:47.720 --> 0:19:49.879 But you know, you don't you know, you're not throwing 0:19:49.920 --> 0:19:51.640 dirt on the on the coffin just yet. 0:19:51.760 --> 0:19:52.600 You know, we'll see. 0:19:54.000 --> 0:19:57.200 They have made it known exactly where they stand with 0:19:57.280 --> 0:19:58.719 them and what they need to see from him if 0:19:58.720 --> 0:20:01.280 you want to stay on the roster. And so hopefully 0:20:01.280 --> 0:20:02.800 this is kind of the wake up call and say, 0:20:02.800 --> 0:20:06.119 all right, we'll be better this year. 0:20:06.119 --> 0:20:06.920 We'll show improvement. 0:20:07.680 --> 0:20:10.919 Your description of the process was perfect for what the 0:20:10.920 --> 0:20:13.240 Bengals were thinking of with Jermaine Burton. 0:20:13.760 --> 0:20:17.359 A group of hard working, talented players like Jamar Chase 0:20:17.400 --> 0:20:18.240 and t Higgins. 0:20:18.440 --> 0:20:21.440 They thought that the group and the coach would elevate 0:20:21.520 --> 0:20:24.200 him and unfortunately, at least there's a rookie, it didn't 0:20:24.240 --> 0:20:24.920 pan out. 0:20:25.119 --> 0:20:27.520 Yeah, and that's why the draft is always going to 0:20:27.560 --> 0:20:28.959 be more of an earth than a science. You know, 0:20:29.040 --> 0:20:32.440 you can't you can like the fact that he had 0:20:32.800 --> 0:20:35.520 he struggled is not a huge surprise because of the 0:20:35.800 --> 0:20:38.879 warning signs and the red flags. But at the same time, 0:20:39.040 --> 0:20:42.320 you know, Devandre Sweat was had all these types of 0:20:42.359 --> 0:20:46.040 issues and the Titans shocked a lot of people and 0:20:46.040 --> 0:20:48.520 they drafted him top forty. Still, you know that some 0:20:48.520 --> 0:20:50.320 teams took him off the board. Some team said, well, 0:20:50.359 --> 0:20:52.080 maybe if he's there in the third or the fourth, 0:20:52.680 --> 0:20:54.520 Titan said, you know, no, we're going to take a 0:20:54.600 --> 0:20:57.760 chance here. And Sweat was awesome as a rookie, and 0:20:58.040 --> 0:21:00.960 at least at this point, nothing's popped up, you know, 0:21:01.040 --> 0:21:03.480 as being an issue for him. So you know, there's 0:21:03.760 --> 0:21:06.320 examples on both sides of guys that had some red 0:21:06.320 --> 0:21:10.960 flags character wise who were able to mature and work out. 0:21:11.160 --> 0:21:14.199 And I mean your point is I think dead on. 0:21:14.320 --> 0:21:15.960 When you drop the player like that, you feel like, 0:21:15.960 --> 0:21:17.680 all right, we're bringing him to a wide receiver room 0:21:17.720 --> 0:21:21.439 that has some proven guys that you know are prime 0:21:21.480 --> 0:21:23.879 examples of Hey, if I have the talent, if I 0:21:23.960 --> 0:21:26.680 work and I do what's needed of me was asked 0:21:26.680 --> 0:21:29.160 to me, and I listened to the coaching, maybe I could. 0:21:28.960 --> 0:21:30.280 Be on their level someday. 0:21:30.400 --> 0:21:34.159 And so I think you understand the reasoning, but you 0:21:34.200 --> 0:21:36.640 also understand maybe why it hasn't worked out yet. 0:21:37.119 --> 0:21:40.680 Visiting with Dame Brugler from the Athletic I mentioned defensive tackles, 0:21:40.720 --> 0:21:43.600 defensive ends, guards, and tight ends. 0:21:43.920 --> 0:21:45.200 Let's talk running back. 0:21:45.560 --> 0:21:50.480 Chase Brown is emerging as perfect fit for the Bengals offense, 0:21:50.520 --> 0:21:52.760 but we don't know about the future of Zach Moss. 0:21:53.359 --> 0:21:55.960 I suspect they're probably going to add to that group 0:21:56.000 --> 0:21:59.280 at some point. What do you think about guys after 0:22:00.080 --> 0:22:01.920 round one? And they wouldn't take one that early, but 0:22:02.840 --> 0:22:04.440 day two, Day three, at running. 0:22:04.119 --> 0:22:06.080 Back, it's a loaded position this year. 0:22:06.080 --> 0:22:08.360 I mean, you you feel really good about who's gonna 0:22:08.359 --> 0:22:11.280 be available round two, round three, round four. I think 0:22:11.280 --> 0:22:13.600 I gave draft well grades to thirty two running backs. 0:22:13.760 --> 0:22:16.320 I mean, there's just a lot of them, and they're 0:22:16.320 --> 0:22:18.560 gonna go. They're all probably gonna go later than they should, 0:22:18.800 --> 0:22:20.520 you know, just because there's only so many teams that 0:22:20.560 --> 0:22:22.920 are gonna consider a running back in a second round 0:22:23.000 --> 0:22:25.040 or the third round, and so it just pushes everybody 0:22:25.040 --> 0:22:27.919 back a little bit. But you know, it depends what 0:22:27.960 --> 0:22:31.240 type of runner they want. They want, you know, someone 0:22:31.280 --> 0:22:33.520 that can come in and be a more of a 0:22:33.560 --> 0:22:35.600 three down guy, or not three but like a third 0:22:35.640 --> 0:22:37.800 down type of back. Then you're looking at like a 0:22:37.840 --> 0:22:40.320 LeQuinn Allen out of Syracuse, who is a really good 0:22:40.359 --> 0:22:43.080 pass catcher, He blocks well, he can play on special teams. 0:22:43.600 --> 0:22:44.640 If you want someone that's. 0:22:44.480 --> 0:22:48.280 More of an early down guy, like a Damien Martinez 0:22:48.320 --> 0:22:51.600 from Miami who is gonna run with power and violence 0:22:51.600 --> 0:22:54.119 and try to run over you, that would fit. So 0:22:54.359 --> 0:22:56.560 there's just there's so many running backs in his class 0:22:56.560 --> 0:22:58.879 that I think would fit my One of my favorites 0:22:59.440 --> 0:23:02.720 probably around three for the Bengals, Jordan James from Oregon, 0:23:03.040 --> 0:23:04.000 who is. 0:23:03.920 --> 0:23:06.639 Not a home run hitter, but he's going to lead 0:23:06.640 --> 0:23:07.400 the league of doubles. 0:23:07.520 --> 0:23:07.720 You know. 0:23:07.840 --> 0:23:11.440 He's that type of guy where thirty five point six 0:23:11.520 --> 0:23:15.720 percent of his carries last year resulted in a first 0:23:15.760 --> 0:23:18.040 down or a touchdown, so he might not rip off 0:23:18.040 --> 0:23:20.920 a sixty yarder, but he's going to get six consistently, 0:23:21.119 --> 0:23:24.119 and so I think Jordan James, he's going to be 0:23:24.160 --> 0:23:27.280 a steal at wherever the third round, fourth round Rover 0:23:27.359 --> 0:23:27.880 ends up going. 0:23:28.040 --> 0:23:29.400 He's one of my favorite backs this year. 0:23:29.840 --> 0:23:33.199 There's another since he Cincinnati kid at the combine, Corey Kiner. 0:23:33.359 --> 0:23:35.760 He started his college career at LSU, wound up back 0:23:35.760 --> 0:23:39.040 home in Cincinnati, Cincinnati high school kid. Is he one 0:23:39.080 --> 0:23:40.880 of your running backs with a draftable great? 0:23:41.080 --> 0:23:46.359 Yeah, Roger Bacon, right, Yeah, Yeah, he's he's honestly, he's 0:23:46.440 --> 0:23:48.920 right on the cusp. He's like, I could see why 0:23:48.920 --> 0:23:50.840 he would go in the sixth, seventh round, or I 0:23:50.840 --> 0:23:51.919 could see why he'd be a PFA. 0:23:52.000 --> 0:23:55.400 He's one of the borderline guys. But you know he's here. 0:23:55.480 --> 0:23:57.439 You know he's he was at the Shrine Bowl too, 0:23:57.520 --> 0:23:59.439 got you to see him there. He'll be here at 0:23:59.480 --> 0:24:02.240 the combine a chance to you know, is he gonna 0:24:02.240 --> 0:24:02.800 be a. 0:24:02.600 --> 0:24:04.800 Four to four guy, four or five guy in the 0:24:04.840 --> 0:24:05.520 four yeard dash. 0:24:05.560 --> 0:24:07.080 You'll have a chance to kind of make his statement 0:24:07.080 --> 0:24:09.720 why he should be drafted. And it's tough class because 0:24:09.720 --> 0:24:12.639 it's so loaded, so many names, so anything you do 0:24:12.720 --> 0:24:13.320 to stand out. 0:24:13.440 --> 0:24:14.879 That'll be key for these guys. 0:24:15.240 --> 0:24:17.639 We've got a couple more minutes with Dame Brugler. The 0:24:17.640 --> 0:24:21.280 Bengals only have six picks. I think they would love 0:24:21.359 --> 0:24:23.480 to trade down at some point to get more. 0:24:24.119 --> 0:24:25.560 What would be a good time to do. 0:24:25.440 --> 0:24:29.160 That, Yeah, and I think it's you have to see 0:24:29.160 --> 0:24:31.159 ow the first what sixteen picks play out in the 0:24:31.160 --> 0:24:31.640 first round. 0:24:31.760 --> 0:24:33.720 If they would do that, entertain that in the first round. 0:24:34.160 --> 0:24:35.719 This is also a draft where I'm just I'm not 0:24:35.840 --> 0:24:37.920 confident how many teams are gonna want to trade up, 0:24:38.160 --> 0:24:39.800 you know, like you have to have a dance partner 0:24:39.880 --> 0:24:43.440 in order to get those extra picks, and in this class, 0:24:43.560 --> 0:24:46.080 I'm just not sold that. You know, we see trades 0:24:46.119 --> 0:24:47.320 every year, so it's not like we're not going to 0:24:47.400 --> 0:24:50.199 have any trades. Of course we will, but I'm not 0:24:50.240 --> 0:24:52.600 sure that the phone will be ringing maybe as much 0:24:52.800 --> 0:24:54.359 as in past years. 0:24:55.320 --> 0:24:56.560 And it's interesting. 0:24:56.240 --> 0:25:01.160 Because there's I think players thirteen team to forty five 0:25:01.680 --> 0:25:04.440 in this draft. Like there's for one team, a player 0:25:04.520 --> 0:25:06.560 might be fifteen. That same player might be fifty for 0:25:06.600 --> 0:25:09.240 a different team. I think the grades are very similar 0:25:09.520 --> 0:25:12.119 in that range, which means the boards are going to 0:25:12.160 --> 0:25:14.600 look wildly different, and so I don't know that we'll 0:25:14.640 --> 0:25:16.639 have teams maybe clamoring the hey, we got to go 0:25:16.720 --> 0:25:17.320 up and get this guy. 0:25:17.359 --> 0:25:18.120 We have a trade up. 0:25:18.359 --> 0:25:20.960 They might be feel fine saying and we probably like 0:25:21.160 --> 0:25:23.320 more than other people, will stay put and be able 0:25:23.320 --> 0:25:25.879 to get our guys. So ideally, yeah, I think that 0:25:25.920 --> 0:25:28.120 makes sense. You trade back, you get an extra third 0:25:28.200 --> 0:25:30.560 round pick, fourth round pick. You know, those are so 0:25:30.760 --> 0:25:33.399 valuable in terms of filling out your roster and adding depth. 0:25:33.760 --> 0:25:35.080 I just think it might be a little bit tougher 0:25:35.119 --> 0:25:35.840 to do that this year. 0:25:36.400 --> 0:25:39.720 Final question, Really appreciate your time. We assume the Bengals 0:25:39.720 --> 0:25:41.879 are going to have one of the top offenses in 0:25:41.920 --> 0:25:44.160 the NFL. As long as you've got a healthy Joe Burrow, 0:25:44.240 --> 0:25:47.280 Jamar Chase, et cetera, you should be able to score points. 0:25:47.600 --> 0:25:50.920 They didn't make the playoffs because their defense wasn't good enough. 0:25:51.560 --> 0:25:54.080 Between the draft and what they might be able to 0:25:54.119 --> 0:25:57.720 do in free agency, can they improve the defense enough 0:25:58.040 --> 0:26:00.600 in one year to be back in the is a 0:26:00.640 --> 0:26:01.560 Super Bowl contender? 0:26:02.880 --> 0:26:04.600 There's no doubt because the offense is that good. 0:26:04.760 --> 0:26:09.400 I mean, you don't have to be tremendous on defense 0:26:09.440 --> 0:26:11.080 for this team to make the playoffs, you have to 0:26:11.080 --> 0:26:15.760 be passable, you have to be average, and I think 0:26:15.800 --> 0:26:18.680 they can get there. It's just, yeah, you have to 0:26:18.720 --> 0:26:21.919 make a few key decisions, and it's getting better on 0:26:21.960 --> 0:26:24.640 the defensive line. It's getting better on the back end 0:26:24.960 --> 0:26:27.000 and being more consistent the linebacker level. 0:26:27.040 --> 0:26:28.160 And I'm not. 0:26:28.119 --> 0:26:31.280 Saying it's easy to do that, but I think it's 0:26:31.880 --> 0:26:34.960 definitely possible that they can get there this offseason through 0:26:35.000 --> 0:26:39.240 the draft, making some key moves in free agency, as 0:26:39.280 --> 0:26:42.080 long as you have borrow quarterback and the offense that 0:26:42.119 --> 0:26:45.120 they have, because it's not like they went five and 0:26:45.880 --> 0:26:46.560 twelve this year. 0:26:46.600 --> 0:26:49.159 They were right there knocking on the door of the playoffs. 0:26:49.359 --> 0:26:52.800 So you make a few key adjustments on defense and 0:26:53.359 --> 0:26:56.120 get close to average, I think they'll be right back 0:26:56.119 --> 0:26:57.600 in the mix and have a chance to knock down 0:26:57.600 --> 0:26:57.960 that door. 0:26:58.560 --> 0:27:00.760 I enjoy coming to the Combine every year, and one 0:27:00.760 --> 0:27:03.320 of the biggest reasons is the opportunity to pick your brain. 0:27:03.440 --> 0:27:05.160 Thank you so much for the time. And I can't 0:27:05.160 --> 0:27:06.280 wait for the beast. 0:27:06.280 --> 0:27:07.280 Any Tom can't wait. 0:27:07.320 --> 0:27:09.480 I look forward to it too. It's like, Okay, I know, 0:27:09.520 --> 0:27:12.920 I gotta talk to Dan. That's part of my process 0:27:12.920 --> 0:27:14.120 of coming to the combine every year. 0:27:14.920 --> 0:27:17.800 By the way, since our conversation, Dane has come out 0:27:17.840 --> 0:27:21.959 with a new mock draft. Michel Williams, the edge rusher 0:27:22.000 --> 0:27:23.840 he had going to the Bengals in his first mock 0:27:24.400 --> 0:27:27.280 was gone this time around, going to San Francisco at 0:27:27.359 --> 0:27:33.280 number eleven Overall. Dane now has Cincinnati selecting Michigan cornerback 0:27:33.480 --> 0:27:37.800 Will Johnson with a seventeenth pick. Johnson is generally considered 0:27:37.840 --> 0:27:40.760 to be one of the top two cornerbacks in this draft, 0:27:40.760 --> 0:27:45.000 along with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, the cornerback slash 0:27:45.200 --> 0:27:48.520 wide receiver. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you 0:27:48.560 --> 0:27:51.560 by pay Corps, proud to be the Bengals official HR 0:27:51.680 --> 0:27:55.879 software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed 0:27:55.880 --> 0:27:58.920 to elevate your home, business, and community to a new level, 0:27:59.320 --> 0:28:03.119 and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. 0:28:03.200 --> 0:28:06.879 Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. 0:28:07.520 --> 0:28:11.680 Up next, a national NFL reporter who is never shy 0:28:12.080 --> 0:28:16.320 about expressing his opinions. Great to catch up at the 0:28:16.359 --> 0:28:19.960 combine with Pete Prisco from CBS Sports. Duke Tobin spoke 0:28:20.000 --> 0:28:22.160 to the media on Tuesday, he referred to the Bengals 0:28:22.200 --> 0:28:27.000 as quote a championship caliber team. They missed the playoffs 0:28:27.000 --> 0:28:28.760 the last couple of years. Do you agree with Duke? 0:28:28.760 --> 0:28:32.040 Are the Bengals a championship caliber team or close to it? 0:28:32.520 --> 0:28:34.800 Well, they can be a championship caliber offense. I wouldn't 0:28:34.800 --> 0:28:36.840 call their defense a championship caliber defense. 0:28:36.920 --> 0:28:37.760 So they have work to. 0:28:37.680 --> 0:28:38.680 Do on that side of the ball. 0:28:38.720 --> 0:28:41.960 But obviously, when Joe Burrow's playing like he's playing, they're 0:28:41.960 --> 0:28:43.320 going to stay in a lot of games and win 0:28:43.360 --> 0:28:44.080 a lot of games. 0:28:44.400 --> 0:28:45.880 But they have to fix that defense. 0:28:46.480 --> 0:28:49.719 Is it fixable in one off season between the draft 0:28:49.760 --> 0:28:52.560 and whatever room they have left over in free agency 0:28:52.600 --> 0:28:55.080 after they try to extend t Higgins, Jamar Chase, and 0:28:55.120 --> 0:28:56.320 Trey Hendrickson, If they can do. 0:28:56.280 --> 0:28:58.920 It well, I think that's the biggest challenge first, and look, 0:28:58.920 --> 0:29:00.480 I would do everything I could to try and keep all. 0:29:00.440 --> 0:29:01.200 Three of those players. 0:29:01.240 --> 0:29:03.040 I think if you take Higgins out of the lineup, 0:29:03.040 --> 0:29:05.240 it changes the dynamic of the offense. If you take 0:29:05.240 --> 0:29:07.720 Hendris out of the lineup, it changes the defense in 0:29:07.760 --> 0:29:10.920 a big way. So that's number one priority for me. 0:29:11.160 --> 0:29:13.360 And then because you can only there's only so many 0:29:13.400 --> 0:29:15.680 stars that you could have, and if you have those guys, 0:29:15.680 --> 0:29:16.320 you have stars. 0:29:16.320 --> 0:29:18.320 So I would say, get those. 0:29:18.080 --> 0:29:20.640 Guys signed, then use the draft to fix the try 0:29:20.680 --> 0:29:22.920 and fix the defense, and whatever money you have left over, 0:29:23.240 --> 0:29:25.360 depending on how you structure the contracts, maybe aut. 0:29:25.240 --> 0:29:26.880 A guy in free agency, Pete. 0:29:26.920 --> 0:29:29.920 I think a year ago, a lot of people, myself included, said, 0:29:29.960 --> 0:29:31.800 all right, T Higgins will be a Bengal for one 0:29:31.840 --> 0:29:34.680 more year in the franchise tag. It's tough to pay 0:29:34.760 --> 0:29:38.960 two receivers that kind of money. They'll move on after that. Then, 0:29:39.000 --> 0:29:40.760 with about five weeks to go in the season, Joe 0:29:40.800 --> 0:29:42.920 Burrow very publicly said, we need to do it. I 0:29:42.960 --> 0:29:45.240 think we can do it, and it changed to a 0:29:45.240 --> 0:29:49.240 lot of people's opinion, including my own. Did Joe Burrow's 0:29:49.720 --> 0:29:53.200 talk of the importance of keeping both change your opinion 0:29:53.200 --> 0:29:54.080 on the subject at all? 0:29:54.360 --> 0:29:56.440 You know what changed my opinion on it is the. 0:29:56.360 --> 0:29:59.160 Way they play together, and when one's not there, it's different. 0:29:59.280 --> 0:30:02.440 It's Higgins adds a different dimension of the offense. You know, 0:30:02.440 --> 0:30:04.760 when you have Chase and you don't have Higgins, it's 0:30:04.840 --> 0:30:05.880 not the same offense. 0:30:05.920 --> 0:30:08.120 So I think that's what Joe Burrow. 0:30:07.840 --> 0:30:09.440 Came out and said it, and that's I kind of 0:30:09.520 --> 0:30:11.280 changed my mind, and not based on what he said, 0:30:11.440 --> 0:30:13.120 just on what I saw when they're on the field together. 0:30:14.120 --> 0:30:16.720 Trey Hendrickson has led the NFL led the NFL in 0:30:16.800 --> 0:30:18.880 sacks with seventeen and a half this year. He also 0:30:18.920 --> 0:30:21.880 had seventeen and a half the year before. He's got 0:30:21.880 --> 0:30:25.000 one year left on his deal. As you've already said, 0:30:25.040 --> 0:30:27.120 you think the Bengals should try to extend him. Do 0:30:27.160 --> 0:30:31.000 you view Trey as one of the best overall defensive 0:30:31.080 --> 0:30:33.640 ends in the league or just an elite pass rusher. 0:30:34.000 --> 0:30:35.840 No, He's one of the best overall defensive ends in 0:30:35.840 --> 0:30:39.120 the league, and for whatever reason, he doesn't get the 0:30:39.160 --> 0:30:41.800 credit he deserves for being such a really good player 0:30:41.960 --> 0:30:44.600 and he plays hard all the time. Yeah, I think 0:30:44.600 --> 0:30:46.080 he's a great player. I think they have to do 0:30:46.160 --> 0:30:49.400 everything they can to extend him, get that contract done, 0:30:49.680 --> 0:30:51.200 make him the priority on defense. 0:30:51.640 --> 0:30:54.520 The Bengals have the seventeenth pick in the first round. 0:30:55.040 --> 0:30:58.400 I think most people would consider defensive line to be 0:30:58.520 --> 0:31:02.640 their biggest need. Keep hearing from Draft Guru's great year. 0:31:02.880 --> 0:31:05.479 If you need a defensive lineman, is that your belief? 0:31:06.400 --> 0:31:07.440 I think it's a great. 0:31:07.280 --> 0:31:09.760 Year for interior defensive lineman, which they you know, they 0:31:09.800 --> 0:31:11.200 could use a big body in there. 0:31:11.240 --> 0:31:12.520 And and yeah, you could. 0:31:12.320 --> 0:31:14.560 Get a guy like Grant from Michigan down there. 0:31:14.600 --> 0:31:17.719 I think he'd be a possibility, but they you know, 0:31:17.800 --> 0:31:20.560 it's it's funny because how cyclical this league is. Everybody 0:31:20.600 --> 0:31:23.040 watched the Eagles and they win the Super Bowl? And 0:31:23.080 --> 0:31:24.840 how do they win the Super Bowl with the great 0:31:24.840 --> 0:31:27.880 offensive line and the great defensive line and a defensive 0:31:27.920 --> 0:31:30.040 line that can get after the quarterback and have a 0:31:30.080 --> 0:31:33.720 dominant interior player like Carter and then build it around 0:31:33.760 --> 0:31:35.200 him and then they're a great offensive line. 0:31:35.240 --> 0:31:36.520 So now what's everybody trying to do? 0:31:36.720 --> 0:31:39.720 Look for interior defensive linemen and great offensive lineman. 0:31:39.760 --> 0:31:42.240 So yeah, they can get a guy at that spot. 0:31:42.240 --> 0:31:42.880 In this draft. 0:31:43.400 --> 0:31:46.840 They probably need a guard. They probably need a tight end. 0:31:47.320 --> 0:31:49.840 Are those guys out there in this draft? 0:31:49.880 --> 0:31:52.720 The tight end class is actually pretty good. There are 0:31:52.760 --> 0:31:54.320 some guards, but I think there are some guards in 0:31:54.360 --> 0:31:57.080 free agency, veteran guys that might not cost a lot 0:31:57.120 --> 0:31:59.160 of money that you can plug in and play for 0:31:59.200 --> 0:32:02.560 a year or two. You know, Daniels from Pittsburgh, he's 0:32:02.560 --> 0:32:05.720 coming off an injury, but a good player, relatively young. 0:32:05.920 --> 0:32:10.120 You might be able to Will Fries from Indianapolis. 0:32:09.600 --> 0:32:11.360 You know, relatively young coming off an injury. 0:32:11.360 --> 0:32:14.120 Maybe you get those guys on a team friendly deal 0:32:14.280 --> 0:32:15.440 and plug them in and play. 0:32:15.720 --> 0:32:17.000 Pete Prisco is our guest. 0:32:17.160 --> 0:32:20.600 Any thoughts on the hiring of l Golden, bringing him 0:32:20.600 --> 0:32:22.880 back from Notre Dame, the former linebackers coach, to be 0:32:22.920 --> 0:32:26.320 their defensive coordinator following Luanna Roumo. 0:32:26.480 --> 0:32:28.480 Yeah, I think it needed a fresh set of eyes 0:32:28.520 --> 0:32:28.920 over there. 0:32:29.200 --> 0:32:30.880 It kind of got a little stale, I think, and 0:32:32.080 --> 0:32:34.320 sometimes when it gets that way, players kind of tune 0:32:34.360 --> 0:32:36.600 it out, and so you get a new guy in there. 0:32:36.640 --> 0:32:39.600 He's been there, but you get a new guy calling 0:32:39.640 --> 0:32:42.360 the defense, and I think that changes the outlook as 0:32:42.400 --> 0:32:42.800 a unit. 0:32:42.840 --> 0:32:44.800 So yeah, I think that's a good move on their part. 0:32:45.080 --> 0:32:47.200 The Bengals were four and eight with five games to go, 0:32:47.800 --> 0:32:50.400 ran the table, needed a little help on the final 0:32:50.440 --> 0:32:52.520 Sunday to get into the playoffs, and didn't get it 0:32:52.680 --> 0:32:54.200 when Denver beat Kansas City. 0:32:54.640 --> 0:32:56.760 Were you of the belief that had they. 0:32:56.640 --> 0:32:58.960 Snuck in, they were going to be a problem for 0:32:59.000 --> 0:33:00.000 other teams in the AFA? 0:33:00.280 --> 0:33:03.000 I said for the last four weeks of the season, 0:33:03.440 --> 0:33:05.960 nobody wants to see the Bengals in Everybody in the 0:33:06.000 --> 0:33:09.040 AFC was rooting against the Bengals getting. 0:33:08.760 --> 0:33:09.600 Into the playoffs. 0:33:09.600 --> 0:33:12.320 They really were because Joe Burrow is Joe Burrow. He's 0:33:12.360 --> 0:33:15.440 so dangerous, that offense is so dynamic. Nobody wanted to 0:33:15.440 --> 0:33:16.480 see them in the playoffs. 0:33:16.720 --> 0:33:20.160 Here at the combine where everybody's evaluating prospects, and that 0:33:20.560 --> 0:33:24.120 generally begins with quarterbacks. Has Joe kind of become the 0:33:24.200 --> 0:33:28.640 benchmark in how you evaluate some of these prospects coming along. 0:33:28.840 --> 0:33:31.440 Well, it's interesting because he was such a late bloomer, 0:33:31.680 --> 0:33:35.600 you know, and then exploded that last year and everybody said, well, 0:33:35.600 --> 0:33:37.120 where'd he come from? Well, where he came from. He 0:33:37.120 --> 0:33:39.120 should have been playing probably before that. That's where he 0:33:39.160 --> 0:33:43.200 came from. Joe Burrow makes it look so easy, and 0:33:43.400 --> 0:33:45.640 we always look for quarterbacks to make it look easy. 0:33:46.080 --> 0:33:48.240 You know who else made it look easy? Jayden Daniels 0:33:48.240 --> 0:33:49.160 makes it look easy. 0:33:49.240 --> 0:33:51.000 He should have been the number one pick last year. 0:33:51.000 --> 0:33:52.440 I thought he was the best quarterback in the draft 0:33:52.520 --> 0:33:54.600 last year. So we got to look at these guys who. 0:33:54.440 --> 0:33:56.680 Makes it look easy And the answer to that is 0:33:56.920 --> 0:33:59.240 neither one of them. At the top two and that's 0:33:59.280 --> 0:34:02.040 always a concern to me. You know, there's a lot 0:34:02.040 --> 0:34:04.080 to like about camp Mord. He can whip it around, 0:34:04.440 --> 0:34:07.760 but doesn't make it look easy. Shador Sanders doesn't make 0:34:07.760 --> 0:34:11.120 it look easy. So I always gauge my quarterback play 0:34:11.200 --> 0:34:12.200 by who makes it look easy. 0:34:12.239 --> 0:34:13.640 Joe Burrow came out. He made it look easy. He 0:34:13.680 --> 0:34:14.319 makes it look easy. 0:34:14.360 --> 0:34:17.600 Now it's almost like they're you know, like what Joe cool, 0:34:17.640 --> 0:34:18.480 He's cool doing it. 0:34:18.560 --> 0:34:19.960 Jay Daniels is the same way. 0:34:20.239 --> 0:34:21.839 That's what I look for my quarterbacks. 0:34:22.040 --> 0:34:24.840 It's really interesting you would say that because I chatted 0:34:24.840 --> 0:34:27.440 with Greg Cosell earlier today and he was talking about 0:34:27.440 --> 0:34:30.440 the same thing, and he shared an anecdote that Kurt 0:34:30.440 --> 0:34:35.120 Warner said, that is the best compliment a quarterback. 0:34:34.560 --> 0:34:36.400 Can receive because it's so hard. 0:34:36.760 --> 0:34:40.400 If somebody tells you you make it look easy, that 0:34:40.600 --> 0:34:42.920 is the kindest thing you can say to a quarterback. 0:34:43.160 --> 0:34:44.040 And indeed it is. 0:34:44.080 --> 0:34:46.120 And Kurt Warner made it look easy at times. 0:34:45.920 --> 0:34:47.200 So he knows what that's like. 0:34:47.280 --> 0:34:49.880 But yeah, I think you know, Bengal fans and I 0:34:49.880 --> 0:34:51.400 know there was a lot of concern about the defense 0:34:51.440 --> 0:34:53.719 and everything, but you have that guy throwing the football around. 0:34:53.760 --> 0:34:56.560 If he's healthy, you're going to be in the division race. 0:34:56.600 --> 0:34:58.600 You're going to be considered a threat in the AMC 0:34:59.200 --> 0:35:01.560 and with that, which is why I think it's important 0:35:01.600 --> 0:35:04.319 to keep t Higgins. You are always going to be 0:35:04.760 --> 0:35:07.000 in games because teams can't put you away. 0:35:07.719 --> 0:35:10.839 The Bengals had a long stretch of successful drafts that 0:35:10.960 --> 0:35:13.640 really fueled that stretch of five straight years where they 0:35:13.719 --> 0:35:16.520 made the playoffs under Marvin Lewis. In recent years, it's 0:35:16.560 --> 0:35:18.839 been a little more hit and miss. I think last 0:35:18.920 --> 0:35:20.680 year they actually did pretty well, but there were some 0:35:20.800 --> 0:35:23.759 drafts before that that haven't been all that productive. Is 0:35:23.800 --> 0:35:26.920 that just the nature of the draft or is there 0:35:26.960 --> 0:35:30.359 anything about what Cincinnati has done in recent years that's 0:35:30.360 --> 0:35:31.600 been a bit of a red flag for you? 0:35:31.640 --> 0:35:33.160 Well, I think one of the things that they've done 0:35:33.160 --> 0:35:36.280 a little bit of is you chase your mistakes. Sometimes 0:35:36.320 --> 0:35:39.120 in defensive line, they've kind of chased their mistakes. 0:35:38.680 --> 0:35:39.120 A little bit. 0:35:39.120 --> 0:35:41.960 When you chase your mistakes, you tend to overdraft the position. 0:35:42.080 --> 0:35:45.160 Maybe in some of those scenarios, they've overdrafted some of 0:35:45.160 --> 0:35:45.640 those guys. 0:35:45.760 --> 0:35:47.640 So where are they right now? They're still looking for 0:35:47.680 --> 0:35:48.719 some of those guys. 0:35:48.480 --> 0:35:51.560 So I think that gets teams. That catches up with 0:35:51.600 --> 0:35:52.239 you a little bit. 0:35:52.320 --> 0:35:55.480 If you make a mistake, you're apt to go back 0:35:55.520 --> 0:35:57.640 and try and fill it, and then you overdraft the 0:35:57.680 --> 0:36:00.960 guy maybe you know a rounder or you know fifteen 0:36:01.000 --> 0:36:02.839 spots higher than he should go, and that comes back 0:36:02.840 --> 0:36:05.640 and hurt you. So I think they've been guilty of 0:36:05.640 --> 0:36:06.279 that a little bit. 0:36:06.760 --> 0:36:08.879 Last thing for Pete Prisco. We are a long way 0:36:08.920 --> 0:36:11.080 from week one of the season. We got free agency 0:36:11.120 --> 0:36:13.439 in the draft to look forward to. But what does 0:36:13.480 --> 0:36:16.560 your gut tell you at this early stage about the 0:36:16.560 --> 0:36:17.919 Bengals in twenty twenty five. 0:36:18.080 --> 0:36:20.040 They'll be back in the mix in the division. I 0:36:20.040 --> 0:36:22.440 don't think there's any question about that. I think it's 0:36:22.440 --> 0:36:24.880 a two team division. Look, the Steelers have major questions 0:36:24.880 --> 0:36:25.560 at quarterback. 0:36:25.920 --> 0:36:26.480 I think they have. 0:36:26.480 --> 0:36:27.440 Questions at other spots. 0:36:27.440 --> 0:36:29.200 They were kind of steel. 0:36:28.920 --> 0:36:30.239 Fans don't like hearing this, but they were kind of 0:36:30.239 --> 0:36:32.040 a mirage less if you could look inside their numbers. 0:36:32.040 --> 0:36:33.520 They didn't run the ball very well, they didn't stop 0:36:33.560 --> 0:36:34.160 the run very. 0:36:34.080 --> 0:36:36.360 Well, they didn't get after the quarterback very well, and 0:36:36.400 --> 0:36:37.960 somehow they were there at the end. 0:36:37.960 --> 0:36:40.239 I don't have no idea. It's a tribute to Mike 0:36:40.280 --> 0:36:41.640 Tomlin as a football. 0:36:41.239 --> 0:36:43.359 Coach because a quarterback play wasn't very good. 0:36:43.440 --> 0:36:45.200 So I think it's a two team division. I think 0:36:45.239 --> 0:36:47.840 it'll be the Ravens and the Bengals in the division. 0:36:48.120 --> 0:36:50.400 Always a treat to pick your brain. Really happy. I 0:36:50.480 --> 0:36:52.600 ran India here in Indy. Thanks so much, Pete got it. 0:36:52.640 --> 0:36:53.080 You got it. 0:36:54.040 --> 0:36:56.279 It's one of my favorites. You can follow him on 0:36:56.719 --> 0:37:03.960 x at Prisco CBS. That's p Isco CBS. We end 0:37:03.960 --> 0:37:07.759 this episode by turning the clock back to twenty eighteen 0:37:08.040 --> 0:37:10.960 and a conversation I had with a twenty three year 0:37:10.960 --> 0:37:15.200 old rookie out of Ohio State. Time for some fun 0:37:15.239 --> 0:37:18.160 facts with defensive ends, Sam Hubbard from Ohio State by 0:37:18.160 --> 0:37:21.440 way of Mohler High School. According to your bio, Sam 0:37:21.920 --> 0:37:26.759 Buckeye's coach Urban Meyer, first notice you playing dodgeball in 0:37:26.880 --> 0:37:30.320 gym class. True story or Urban myth. 0:37:31.200 --> 0:37:31.880 True story. 0:37:32.040 --> 0:37:35.400 So my high school football coach was our gym teacher 0:37:35.440 --> 0:37:38.719 as well, and coach Meyern Kerry Combs came in one 0:37:38.800 --> 0:37:41.840 day to visit him and you see the town at 0:37:41.920 --> 0:37:43.640 Moller and I happened to be in the gym class 0:37:43.640 --> 0:37:47.200 when he walked in the building and got introduced to 0:37:47.320 --> 0:37:49.400 him after playing a game of dodgeball, and that's how 0:37:49.440 --> 0:37:50.120 it all started. 0:37:50.320 --> 0:37:52.839 Were you just like drilling kids on the opposite side 0:37:52.880 --> 0:37:53.320 of the court. 0:37:53.640 --> 0:37:55.640 Yeah, I mean the last person you expect to walk 0:37:55.680 --> 0:37:58.440 into your gym class is Urban Meyer, but once you 0:37:58.480 --> 0:38:01.360 see him, you expect to go a little bit harder. 0:38:01.800 --> 0:38:04.600 Sam, five years ago, you're sitting in class at Moeller 0:38:04.680 --> 0:38:07.759 High School. Now you're playing for your hometown NFL team. 0:38:07.840 --> 0:38:11.000 How surreal is that. 0:38:10.080 --> 0:38:12.920 That first home game on that Thursday night was a 0:38:13.000 --> 0:38:16.240 special moment, especially looking up into the stands and seeing 0:38:16.320 --> 0:38:19.239 my family and friends in my jersey. All I wanted 0:38:19.280 --> 0:38:20.759 to do was just make him proud, and that was 0:38:20.800 --> 0:38:24.319 a special moment. And I'm gonna continue to represent and 0:38:24.320 --> 0:38:26.600 do what i can to make the city proud. 0:38:26.880 --> 0:38:29.520 We're doing fun facts with Sam Hubbard. You're a great 0:38:29.560 --> 0:38:32.800 athlete in high school. But what else were you interested 0:38:32.880 --> 0:38:33.760 in as a kid. 0:38:34.640 --> 0:38:36.560 There's a lot of things, you know. I was always 0:38:36.880 --> 0:38:40.360 interested in history. You know, my dad's a history buffs. 0:38:40.520 --> 0:38:43.640 He knows everything Roman Empire, all that stuff. And eventually 0:38:44.440 --> 0:38:46.480 I came out of college with a minor in history, 0:38:46.880 --> 0:38:50.960 you know, taking EP classes in history in high school. 0:38:51.600 --> 0:38:55.960 I was interested in sports obviously, and hanging out with 0:38:55.960 --> 0:38:57.360 friends and having a good time. 0:38:57.600 --> 0:38:59.600 You also earned a finance degree in three and a 0:38:59.640 --> 0:39:02.920 half years at Ohio State. How did you juggle football 0:39:03.120 --> 0:39:03.600 in school? 0:39:04.440 --> 0:39:05.040 It was tough. 0:39:05.440 --> 0:39:07.919 I think I was raised very well by my mom 0:39:07.960 --> 0:39:11.920 and dad, learning time management and you know, how to 0:39:11.960 --> 0:39:15.080 be successful, working hard and doing all the right things 0:39:15.120 --> 0:39:17.240 all the time. I think I had a great foundation 0:39:18.280 --> 0:39:20.359 from them, and then I got to Moeller learned how 0:39:20.400 --> 0:39:23.400 to do stuff right in the classroom and on the field, 0:39:23.440 --> 0:39:25.560 and just enhance it once I got to Ohio State. 0:39:25.600 --> 0:39:28.120 So I was very fortunate with the people around me 0:39:28.200 --> 0:39:30.160 that showed me the right way to do things. 0:39:30.400 --> 0:39:32.719 We're doing fun facts with Sam Hubburn. We're going all 0:39:32.719 --> 0:39:35.360 over the map. Tell me the story of getting Rudy 0:39:35.440 --> 0:39:37.799 Johnson's autograph at a Cincinnati mall. 0:39:38.800 --> 0:39:41.799 Yeah, me and my friends. I can't even remember what 0:39:41.960 --> 0:39:45.919 grade we're in, but it was around Halloween and we're 0:39:46.000 --> 0:39:50.080 going to Halloween Express got dropped off by our parents 0:39:50.080 --> 0:39:53.640 to get a costume and ran into Rudy Johnson. I 0:39:53.760 --> 0:39:56.920 forget who who he was with, but we ran inside, 0:39:56.960 --> 0:39:59.840 got a piece of paper, asked them to sign I 0:40:00.040 --> 0:40:01.680 so got to hang in my room to this day. 0:40:02.560 --> 0:40:06.520 Nice choice, Rudy, great player in his Bengals days. You 0:40:06.520 --> 0:40:09.359 were a great lacrosse player at Moler. You almost went 0:40:09.400 --> 0:40:12.040 to Notre Dame to play lacrosse before playing college football 0:40:12.080 --> 0:40:12.880 at Ohio State. 0:40:13.040 --> 0:40:14.520 Was it hard to give up lacrosse? 0:40:15.200 --> 0:40:15.680 It was hard. 0:40:15.719 --> 0:40:17.600 I think the hardest thing was not playing lacrosse my 0:40:17.640 --> 0:40:20.040 senior year of high school. I didn't play so that 0:40:20.120 --> 0:40:22.840 I could spend extra time in the weight room gaining 0:40:22.880 --> 0:40:25.680 weight and getting ready to play college football. But you know, 0:40:25.719 --> 0:40:28.480 I love the sport equally as much as I loved football, 0:40:29.000 --> 0:40:32.080 and you know, it's a sacrifice I had to make. 0:40:32.200 --> 0:40:34.120 But I really like where I'm at now and what 0:40:34.160 --> 0:40:35.680 I'm doing, so I can't complain. 0:40:36.000 --> 0:40:39.480 There's footage of you playing lacrosse on YouTube. You're about 0:40:39.680 --> 0:40:41.880 six inches taller than most of the other guys on 0:40:41.920 --> 0:40:44.320 the field. Did you scare opponents in that sport? 0:40:45.520 --> 0:40:48.160 Yeah, one on YouTube's my freshman year. If you want 0:40:48.160 --> 0:40:51.840 to see my real highlights, watch the junior ones on huddle. 0:40:51.840 --> 0:40:54.399 Those are more fun. But yeah, I was bigger than 0:40:54.600 --> 0:40:55.880 most of the guys I played against. 0:40:55.920 --> 0:40:57.759 There's just that's how lacrosse is. 0:40:58.239 --> 0:41:00.560 When you got to Ohio State, put on a lot 0:41:00.560 --> 0:41:02.839 of muscle to go from being a safety to being 0:41:02.880 --> 0:41:06.000 a defensive end. How much did you eat and what 0:41:06.120 --> 0:41:06.680 did you eat? 0:41:07.400 --> 0:41:08.320 It was a process. 0:41:08.440 --> 0:41:12.320 I you know, first I was eating anything inside I could, 0:41:12.520 --> 0:41:14.080 just to get the weight on me so I could 0:41:14.120 --> 0:41:16.840 compete at the high level. And over the years, especially 0:41:16.880 --> 0:41:19.720 now I've learned how to eat right, how to eat properly, 0:41:20.239 --> 0:41:22.319 and really you know, gain the right kind of weight, 0:41:22.480 --> 0:41:26.680 replace that whatever it was fat with muscle. 0:41:26.880 --> 0:41:27.880 Just try to lean out. 0:41:27.960 --> 0:41:31.840 But I till I felt sick every meal for six 0:41:31.880 --> 0:41:35.160 months until I gained forty pounds and then ever since then, 0:41:35.280 --> 0:41:38.319 just trying to maintain and stay stay in the weight 0:41:38.400 --> 0:41:38.920 room extra. 0:41:39.360 --> 0:41:42.400 You never lost to Michigan in four years at Ohio State. 0:41:42.560 --> 0:41:45.440 How obnoxious are you when you are around Michigan people? 0:41:47.400 --> 0:41:48.319 Pretty obnoxious? 0:41:48.360 --> 0:41:51.120 Rightfully, So we uh we don't have any love for 0:41:51.160 --> 0:41:53.799 that stayed up north, but uh, you know, I can 0:41:54.440 --> 0:41:57.160 I feel like I can say whatever I want because 0:41:57.160 --> 0:41:58.320 they got no bragging rights. 0:41:58.960 --> 0:42:00.640 We're doing fun facts. That's Sam Hubbard. 0:42:00.680 --> 0:42:03.279 I mentioned your finance degree from Ohio State. You had 0:42:03.320 --> 0:42:06.879 internships at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan in New York. 0:42:06.880 --> 0:42:07.480 What'd you learn? 0:42:08.200 --> 0:42:08.799 I learned a lot. 0:42:08.840 --> 0:42:11.960 I learned how you know, how competitive the business world is. 0:42:12.000 --> 0:42:14.799 It's just as competitive as a football field. You know, 0:42:14.840 --> 0:42:19.400 there's a special type of you know, people that are successful. 0:42:19.440 --> 0:42:23.319 You know, they're determined, they're driven, and they're experts in 0:42:23.400 --> 0:42:26.400 their field. And if I want to be successful one 0:42:26.480 --> 0:42:29.239 day when I'm done with football in the business world, 0:42:29.280 --> 0:42:31.840 I got to take the same approach I took with football. 0:42:31.880 --> 0:42:33.680 And that's really the biggest thing I took away from it. 0:42:34.000 --> 0:42:37.239 We're talking to Sam Hubbard after you got drafted your 0:42:37.239 --> 0:42:40.400 family and friends about one hundred and sixty four customized 0:42:40.640 --> 0:42:44.120 Hubbard number ninety four jerseys from the Bengals Pro Shop. 0:42:44.480 --> 0:42:46.560 I know you love them to death, but was it 0:42:46.560 --> 0:42:47.400 a little embarrassing? 0:42:47.880 --> 0:42:49.800 Oh no, not at all. That was awesome. 0:42:49.880 --> 0:42:53.799 I thank my aunt Emily and my sister Madison that 0:42:54.360 --> 0:42:57.880 organized the whole thing, and everyone just wanted to be 0:42:58.000 --> 0:42:59.320 involved and be supportive. 0:43:00.000 --> 0:43:01.160 I'm so thankful for it. 0:43:01.200 --> 0:43:04.200 Sounds like the tailgates are pretty legendary in the Hubbard family. 0:43:04.400 --> 0:43:06.160 Yeah, well, no, I've never been to one. 0:43:07.239 --> 0:43:09.400 Even postgame. Don't you get to go over there and 0:43:09.400 --> 0:43:10.479 say hello? When you're done. 0:43:10.600 --> 0:43:13.040 Oh yeah, but the party usually is died down by then. 0:43:13.120 --> 0:43:16.600 But now they they have my friends go. People that 0:43:16.680 --> 0:43:19.680 have never been to a House State or Bengals game 0:43:19.800 --> 0:43:22.120 go and they tell me that it's the best fun 0:43:22.120 --> 0:43:24.560 they've had in the life. So shout out to my 0:43:24.600 --> 0:43:27.040 parents for bringing their a game every week. 0:43:27.200 --> 0:43:27.480 Nice. 0:43:27.600 --> 0:43:28.799 What are you do when you have free time? 0:43:29.719 --> 0:43:30.319 A lot of things? 0:43:30.360 --> 0:43:30.480 You know. 0:43:30.520 --> 0:43:33.960 I like to watch movies. I'm gonna consider myself a 0:43:34.000 --> 0:43:40.600 movie critic. I like to cook, go out to eat, relaxed, swim, fish, 0:43:40.719 --> 0:43:43.080 play golf. I got a lot of hobbies, but pretty 0:43:43.120 --> 0:43:44.120 much whatever I'm feeling. 0:43:44.400 --> 0:43:46.440 Does the movie buff have an all time favorite? 0:43:47.080 --> 0:43:49.120 I got a couple of all time favorites. I don't 0:43:49.120 --> 0:43:50.520 think I can pick one off the top of my 0:43:50.560 --> 0:43:53.440 head right now. Maybe Good Fellas, Oh good choice? 0:43:53.520 --> 0:43:53.880 All right? 0:43:54.000 --> 0:43:54.560 Final thing? 0:43:55.400 --> 0:44:00.799 Great athlete, great student, but nobody's perfect. What do you 0:44:00.880 --> 0:44:03.080 stink at basketball? 0:44:03.400 --> 0:44:04.800 Really can't shoot. 0:44:05.000 --> 0:44:07.080 All I can do is rebound and pass it off. 0:44:08.040 --> 0:44:11.360 That's always been My uncle played basketball at Michigan. You know, 0:44:11.400 --> 0:44:14.360 I've always wanted to be good at basketball, but just 0:44:14.480 --> 0:44:15.240 wasn't my sport. 0:44:15.680 --> 0:44:18.759 Can't be good at everything, right, Appreciate the time, best 0:44:18.760 --> 0:44:19.480 of luck this year. 0:44:19.560 --> 0:44:20.600 Nope, thanks for having me. 0:44:20.800 --> 0:44:21.600 That's Sam Hubbard. 0:44:22.600 --> 0:44:25.439 Sam plans to continue his work in the community through 0:44:25.440 --> 0:44:29.840 the Sam Hubbard Foundation and his annual Fowling tournament featuring 0:44:29.880 --> 0:44:33.360 current and former Bengals, is coming up on May fifteenth. 0:44:33.719 --> 0:44:40.719 Registration opens tomorrow, Friday, March seventh, at nine am. That's 0:44:40.719 --> 0:44:42.360 going to do it for this episode of the Bengals 0:44:42.360 --> 0:44:44.640 Booth Podcast, brought to you by pay Corp. Proud to 0:44:44.640 --> 0:44:48.560 be the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber, 0:44:48.640 --> 0:44:51.440 future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business 0:44:51.440 --> 0:44:54.560 and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 0:44:54.600 --> 0:44:57.040 the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 0:44:57.080 --> 0:45:00.560 the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. If you haven't 0:45:00.560 --> 0:45:03.960 done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and if 0:45:03.960 --> 0:45:05.640 you have them in it, give it a rating or 0:45:05.680 --> 0:45:09.399 share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. 0:45:09.840 --> 0:45:13.239 I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to The Bengals 0:45:13.239 --> 0:45:14.480 Booth Podcast.