WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Who Stays And Who Goes 0:00:03.720 --> 0:00:06.600 Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.600 --> 0:00:10.400 the Bengals Booth podcast. The Who Stays and Who Goes? 0:00:10.600 --> 0:00:13.880 Edition coming up, My broadcast partner Dave Lapham joins me 0:00:14.000 --> 0:00:17.959 to discuss free agency, or specifically, on this edition of 0:00:17.960 --> 0:00:23.079 the podcast, the Bengals internal free agents, guys whose contracts 0:00:23.079 --> 0:00:26.880 are up, like Darquez, Denard, Tyler Eifert, C. J Uzama, 0:00:27.240 --> 0:00:30.240 and others. Will discuss the players that we think are 0:00:30.240 --> 0:00:34.960 the most likely and least likely to return. Plus we'll 0:00:34.960 --> 0:00:38.000 also discuss some key players going into the final year 0:00:38.000 --> 0:00:41.320 of their contracts and the likelihood that the Bengals signed 0:00:41.440 --> 0:00:45.000 them to extensions before the start of the season, most 0:00:45.040 --> 0:00:48.800 notably A. J. Greene and Tyler Boyd. And in this 0:00:48.840 --> 0:00:51.599 week's fun Facts interview, you'll get to know the Bengals 0:00:51.640 --> 0:00:55.680 Director of Player Personnel, Duke Tobin. Among other things, we'll 0:00:55.720 --> 0:00:59.440 look back at his memories of hanging around his dad's 0:00:59.440 --> 0:01:04.200 super old champion Chicago Bears, and we'll discuss Duke's career 0:01:04.560 --> 0:01:08.080 as a college and arena league quarterback. All of that 0:01:08.200 --> 0:01:10.679 is straight ahead, but first, here's a quick reminder that 0:01:10.840 --> 0:01:13.959 you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered 0:01:14.280 --> 0:01:19.240 right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, 0:01:19.600 --> 0:01:23.800 Google Play, or pod Bean. It's the greatest invention since 0:01:26.120 --> 0:01:29.840 the little indicator on the dashboard that shows what side 0:01:29.840 --> 0:01:33.279 of the car the gas tank is on. I rent 0:01:33.319 --> 0:01:35.759 cars on my travels quite a bit, and I always 0:01:35.760 --> 0:01:38.040 try to save a few bucks by refilling the tank 0:01:38.360 --> 0:01:41.360 before returning the car. It used to be a pain 0:01:41.440 --> 0:01:43.640 in the butt to pull up to the pump, get 0:01:43.640 --> 0:01:46.639 out of the car, only to discover that the tank 0:01:47.080 --> 0:01:50.040 was on the opposite side. Now you look at that 0:01:50.120 --> 0:01:54.080 little indicator and always pull up on the proper side. 0:01:54.400 --> 0:01:59.680 A simple but brilliant innovation. Time to talk football. The 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:02.800 Bank Goals announced on Friday that they have extended tender 0:02:02.840 --> 0:02:07.560 offers to five players whose contracts expire next Wednesday, when 0:02:07.680 --> 0:02:12.000 NFL free agency begins. The most interesting move involved offensive 0:02:12.040 --> 0:02:15.800 lineman Trey Hopkins, who received a second round tender and 0:02:15.960 --> 0:02:19.640 thus becomes a restricted free agent. That means that Hopkins 0:02:19.639 --> 0:02:23.280 can negotiate with other teams, but the Bengals have the 0:02:23.400 --> 0:02:26.760 right to match any offer he receives. If they elect 0:02:26.800 --> 0:02:29.720 not to match the offer, the Bengals get a second 0:02:29.800 --> 0:02:32.720 round pick in this year's draft from the team that 0:02:32.800 --> 0:02:35.839 signs him. If trade does not agree to a deal 0:02:35.880 --> 0:02:39.119 with another team, he's guaranteed a big race from the Bengals. 0:02:39.560 --> 0:02:42.880 Second round tenders get good money, a one year deal 0:02:42.919 --> 0:02:46.760 for three point one one million in Hopkins case, unless 0:02:46.760 --> 0:02:50.760 he agrees to a longer deal. The Bengals also issued 0:02:50.800 --> 0:02:55.639 tenders to cornerback Tony McCray, guard Alex Redmond, defensive tackle 0:02:55.760 --> 0:02:59.600 Josh Tupo, and safety Brandon Wilson. That means the Bengals 0:02:59.639 --> 0:03:03.880 retain their exclusive rights for the upcoming season. Now time 0:03:03.919 --> 0:03:07.320 to bring him. My broadcast partner Dave lapham Lap. The 0:03:07.320 --> 0:03:10.240 topic for this podcast his free agents. They specifically the 0:03:10.320 --> 0:03:14.760 Bengals own free agents. Guys that their contracts run out, 0:03:14.919 --> 0:03:17.000 they become free agents, well, the Bengals try to bring 0:03:17.040 --> 0:03:20.120 them back. In some cases, you've got restricted free agents, 0:03:20.120 --> 0:03:23.040 and then you've got guys that aren't free agents this year, 0:03:23.080 --> 0:03:25.839 but it's coming and they may try to extend them 0:03:25.880 --> 0:03:28.000 now before they reach that point. So let's start with 0:03:28.040 --> 0:03:32.720 the guys that are unrestricted free agents, beginning with Darkques Denard. 0:03:32.880 --> 0:03:35.800 His contract ran out last year. They gave him his 0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:38.800 fifth year option as a first round draft pick made 0:03:38.840 --> 0:03:41.400 a lot of money last year, eight point five million bucks. 0:03:41.800 --> 0:03:44.160 What do you think how likely is it that he 0:03:44.320 --> 0:03:47.200 is retained. I think there's a good chance they retained 0:03:47.280 --> 0:03:50.040 Darkues Denard. I think a lot of people thought that 0:03:50.080 --> 0:03:54.400 he may get extended, but it didn't happen. I do 0:03:54.520 --> 0:03:57.120 think you know a guy that can play slot in 0:03:57.200 --> 0:03:59.640 outside like he's shown, he's very good inside. He's an 0:03:59.640 --> 0:04:03.040 excellent tackler coming out of Michigan State with Mark D'Antonio, 0:04:03.120 --> 0:04:04.720 the guy that we know a lot about. I mean, 0:04:04.760 --> 0:04:08.560 he's he's unbelievable. He doesn't mismit very many tackles at all. 0:04:09.280 --> 0:04:11.720 But the primary thing for the guy in the back 0:04:11.840 --> 0:04:14.400 end has to do is cover people, and he's shown 0:04:14.400 --> 0:04:16.240 that he can. He can do it on the inside 0:04:16.240 --> 0:04:18.600 and the outside. And I think he's a good locker 0:04:18.640 --> 0:04:21.640 room influence. And there's a lot of reasons to sign 0:04:21.720 --> 0:04:25.240 dark Ques Denard, but sometimes you know it just doesn't fit. 0:04:25.720 --> 0:04:29.159 The player wants more than than is budgeted, and you 0:04:29.240 --> 0:04:31.920 feel like you'd better spend better off to spend your 0:04:31.920 --> 0:04:34.440 money elsewhere, and those decisions are going to be made. 0:04:34.440 --> 0:04:37.520 But my mind, Darkus Denard is a guy that I 0:04:37.520 --> 0:04:40.960 would consider, you know, signing to a new contract for sure. 0:04:41.200 --> 0:04:43.479 I would imagine he is going to get close to 0:04:43.520 --> 0:04:46.800 the top of the scale for a slot corner, which 0:04:46.920 --> 0:04:49.479 isn't the kind of money that the outside guys make. 0:04:49.560 --> 0:04:52.000 And to me, that probably makes it a little easier 0:04:52.040 --> 0:04:53.960 to bring him back. I think it does, and I 0:04:54.000 --> 0:04:57.960 think too worst case scenario, a guy like darkus Denard 0:04:58.320 --> 0:05:01.560 I think could kick inside to safety, you know, because 0:05:01.560 --> 0:05:04.360 he tackles so well and he's physical that way. I mean, 0:05:04.360 --> 0:05:07.080 he'd be a very good cover guy at the safety position. Now, 0:05:07.080 --> 0:05:09.640 you don't pay safeties like you pay cover corners like 0:05:09.680 --> 0:05:12.320 you're talking about, and if you can place a lot corner, 0:05:12.440 --> 0:05:14.760 no reason to kick him inside to safety. But if 0:05:14.760 --> 0:05:19.039 you sign him to a long term deal and toward 0:05:19.080 --> 0:05:21.040 the end of it, if it's like you know what, jeez, 0:05:21.080 --> 0:05:23.120 maybe he's going to have to go inside. That's happened 0:05:23.320 --> 0:05:25.480 many times in the NFL. You don't find in the NFL. 0:05:25.520 --> 0:05:27.960 You don't find guys going the other way. You don't 0:05:27.960 --> 0:05:30.599 find him going safety getting kicked outside the corner. But 0:05:30.800 --> 0:05:33.440 toward the end you do find them periodically going from 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:36.320 corner inside to the safety position. But it all depends 0:05:36.360 --> 0:05:38.440 how well you know stocked you are at safety. But 0:05:38.800 --> 0:05:41.040 I do think that dark Oise Denard gives you a 0:05:41.080 --> 0:05:44.040 lot of position versatility and a lot of football IQ 0:05:44.440 --> 0:05:48.080 and you know, a very tough, physical football player. The 0:05:48.160 --> 0:05:51.000 Bengals top three tight ends on the depth chart when 0:05:51.040 --> 0:05:54.360 healthy are all unrestricted free agents this year. Let's start 0:05:54.360 --> 0:05:56.560 with Tyler Eiferd. He came back last year on a 0:05:56.600 --> 0:05:59.840 heavily incentivized deal based on how healthy he could stay. 0:06:00.360 --> 0:06:03.080 Unfortunately for Tyler and the Bengals, he was not able 0:06:03.240 --> 0:06:05.960 to stay healthy. I guess he wound up making about 0:06:06.120 --> 0:06:08.120 five and a half million. He could have made eight 0:06:08.160 --> 0:06:10.920 and a half million. Does he come back to Cincinnati 0:06:10.960 --> 0:06:12.880 on a similar deal or does he go elsewhere in 0:06:12.920 --> 0:06:16.200 a similar deal? Why? I mean, I think I think 0:06:16.240 --> 0:06:18.560 it's almost going to be like hit the redo. You know, 0:06:18.920 --> 0:06:22.120 like when you're playing in your backyard and you can't 0:06:22.160 --> 0:06:24.600 decide which play which way of the place should have 0:06:24.600 --> 0:06:27.320 gone to a duover. You know, it might be a 0:06:27.360 --> 0:06:30.200 duover with the exact same structure, and I think his 0:06:30.279 --> 0:06:32.800 mindset would be the exact same. You know, there might 0:06:32.839 --> 0:06:34.839 be there were other teams that were interested in Tyler 0:06:34.880 --> 0:06:38.000 Eifford out there, and I mean he felt a sense 0:06:38.040 --> 0:06:40.719 of obligation to stay with the Bengals because you know, 0:06:40.760 --> 0:06:43.080 they've been so good to him through all of these 0:06:43.120 --> 0:06:48.400 injury issues and rehabilitations, and so I could almost see 0:06:48.440 --> 0:06:50.800 the exact same thing, bring him back again for a 0:06:50.800 --> 0:06:54.800 one year deal, highly incentivized and because man, we know 0:06:54.920 --> 0:06:58.200 Dan when he's out there, it's different. It is totally different. 0:06:58.240 --> 0:07:02.440 Every snap he took last year, they never played based defense. 0:07:02.560 --> 0:07:05.800 One time they were nickels. So you know, I mean, 0:07:05.839 --> 0:07:09.440 the Bengals offensive coaches knew when Tyler vats on the field, 0:07:09.440 --> 0:07:12.440 they knew exactly what they were facing. And he still 0:07:12.480 --> 0:07:16.400 gets favorable mismatches. He gets matchups that are you know, 0:07:16.680 --> 0:07:20.200 positive for him. So he's he's different. I mean, his 0:07:20.280 --> 0:07:23.200 injury I think was the first of the dominoes that 0:07:23.200 --> 0:07:27.440 that started a fall and really disassembled that offense. I mean, 0:07:27.480 --> 0:07:29.680 it was a shell of itself as a season unfolded. 0:07:29.720 --> 0:07:33.280 I think he was the he was the lead domino. CJ. 0:07:33.560 --> 0:07:36.120 Zama wound up being their top tight end last year, 0:07:36.160 --> 0:07:38.360 career high forty three catches for four hundred and thirty 0:07:38.440 --> 0:07:41.880 nine yards. He also played special teams. It's a late pick. 0:07:41.920 --> 0:07:43.400 So he has not made a lot of money, and 0:07:43.440 --> 0:07:45.000 this to this point of his career two and a 0:07:45.040 --> 0:07:47.560 half million dollars over four years. He's got a chance 0:07:47.560 --> 0:07:50.520 to get paid he does. And and the other thing 0:07:50.560 --> 0:07:53.440 that he did as as a former player, he played hurt. 0:07:53.720 --> 0:07:56.760 I mean at shoulder was not good and he played 0:07:57.080 --> 0:08:00.360 all but probably twelve of the sixteen games he played 0:08:00.720 --> 0:08:03.920 in pain. He played, uh, you know, sacrifice him for 0:08:03.960 --> 0:08:06.920 the better of his teammates. So I think I think 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:08.920 everybody in the locker room looked at him, and a 0:08:08.960 --> 0:08:11.440 lot of guys told both of us during the course 0:08:11.480 --> 0:08:14.160 of your Man that dude's he's a battler man, that 0:08:14.280 --> 0:08:16.800 that's one tough guy. I mean, he's sucking it up. 0:08:16.840 --> 0:08:20.040 He's doing this, you're doing it. So I think he 0:08:20.240 --> 0:08:23.880 really got a long line of admirers based on the 0:08:23.880 --> 0:08:26.120 way he performed and how he had to perform him, 0:08:26.400 --> 0:08:28.400 you know, with respect to not being one hundred percent 0:08:28.440 --> 0:08:30.800 physically for a good part of it, and still put 0:08:30.880 --> 0:08:33.000 up the numbers he put up. So I think he's 0:08:33.040 --> 0:08:35.240 going to get paid. I agree with you. Then there's 0:08:35.280 --> 0:08:38.080 Tyler Croft, third round draft picked two years ago. He 0:08:38.160 --> 0:08:40.320 was really good as a red zone weapon. This past year, 0:08:40.320 --> 0:08:42.200 he only played in five games because because of a 0:08:42.200 --> 0:08:44.880 foot injury. I don't know if he can bring them 0:08:44.880 --> 0:08:48.000 all back. Is he the odd man out? If if 0:08:48.000 --> 0:08:51.920 C j Uzama signs and maybe Eyford decides to return. 0:08:52.320 --> 0:08:56.280 I know the thing is that you're you're always because 0:08:56.280 --> 0:09:00.120 of the Tyler Eifford injury question. You're always like, how 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:01.800 many do I need? Do I need another one? As 0:09:01.840 --> 0:09:04.880 an insurance policy? But how much money can you spend 0:09:04.880 --> 0:09:07.800 at the tight end position? Um? You know, you can't 0:09:07.840 --> 0:09:09.840 pay all of them like their Pro bowlers, you know. 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:12.079 So it's it's gonna be it's gonna be interesting. They're 0:09:12.120 --> 0:09:15.520 gonna have to make make some decisions there. But it 0:09:15.600 --> 0:09:19.520 is incredible that uh, that that that that room. You know, 0:09:19.520 --> 0:09:22.360 it's like somebody, you know, some terrorists dropped a bomb 0:09:22.440 --> 0:09:25.640 in that room. I mean they're all beaten up and 0:09:25.840 --> 0:09:28.960 um and Uzami. You know, even though he played, he 0:09:29.040 --> 0:09:32.280 was another one. They didn't have very many healthy bodies 0:09:32.760 --> 0:09:35.040 uh to deal with at that position group, which is 0:09:35.080 --> 0:09:38.480 a very very key position in today's NFL, particularly in 0:09:38.520 --> 0:09:42.040 this offense that Zach wants to install. Tight End's big 0:09:42.200 --> 0:09:44.920 tight end is a big factor so you have to have, 0:09:45.200 --> 0:09:49.000 you know, multiple guys that can perform um a lot 0:09:49.040 --> 0:09:52.560 of variation in their physical abilities, you know, and doing 0:09:52.640 --> 0:09:55.320 different things. So it is a very very key position 0:09:55.360 --> 0:09:59.319 for this offense. Preston Brown came to town last year 0:09:59.360 --> 0:10:01.440 on a one year, four million dollar deal, wound up 0:10:01.440 --> 0:10:05.200 playing seven games, played okay, considering he had a bad ankle. 0:10:05.520 --> 0:10:07.560 What do you think is Preston Brown come back? Yeah, 0:10:07.600 --> 0:10:10.320 that's a that's a great question. That's going to be um. 0:10:10.360 --> 0:10:13.400 You know, obviously the linebacker position was a was a 0:10:13.440 --> 0:10:18.200 real disappointment last year. It's it's almost like Murphy's law. 0:10:18.520 --> 0:10:20.520 I mean, the guy didn't miss any games in college, 0:10:20.559 --> 0:10:23.280 doesn't miss any games in the NFL, comes to Cincinnati 0:10:23.280 --> 0:10:27.320 and barely plays, misses a bunch of games when he 0:10:27.360 --> 0:10:31.000 returns to his hometown. So I mean, yeah, they've they've 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:35.199 got they've got limited tape. I think to evaluate him 0:10:35.200 --> 0:10:37.440 on when he was healthy, he was trying to play 0:10:37.480 --> 0:10:40.400 through it through the injury, and I think it really 0:10:40.440 --> 0:10:44.720 did affect his play. Um. But but he's a he's 0:10:44.720 --> 0:10:47.800 a big body guy that runs pretty well. But you 0:10:47.840 --> 0:10:49.960 know they're going to go in other other directions, other 0:10:50.000 --> 0:10:53.240 areas at the linebacker position. His his is a difficult one. 0:10:53.280 --> 0:10:55.640 I think for this uh, for this new coaching staff 0:10:55.679 --> 0:10:58.400 to evaluate, that's going to be an interesting one. Let's 0:10:58.440 --> 0:11:01.640 go to the O line. Bobby Heart started every game 0:11:01.640 --> 0:11:06.160 a right tackle, didn't get particularly rave reviews from Pro 0:11:06.240 --> 0:11:09.520 Football Focus and others. Is he on this roster next year? 0:11:10.840 --> 0:11:13.319 I don't think so. You know, I think that I 0:11:13.920 --> 0:11:16.840 do think that that Bobby Hart gave everything he had 0:11:16.880 --> 0:11:21.120 to give. Bobby Hart maximize his abilities, and Frank Pollock 0:11:21.200 --> 0:11:26.280 helped him maximize his abilities. But I think, but man, 0:11:26.320 --> 0:11:27.920 you have to line somebody up out there at the 0:11:27.920 --> 0:11:31.360 tackle position. I mean, how many can you draft that? 0:11:31.360 --> 0:11:34.079 That's one area and free agency that you got to think, Man, 0:11:34.440 --> 0:11:38.079 if there's an and there's never any good ones out there, 0:11:38.160 --> 0:11:41.079 you know, it's always a guy just hanging on at 0:11:41.080 --> 0:11:43.079 the tail end of his career, whatever the case may be, 0:11:43.800 --> 0:11:46.080 that's out there in free agency. I mean, Andrew Worth 0:11:46.200 --> 0:11:48.760 was such a such an anomaly for him to be 0:11:48.800 --> 0:11:51.240 out there for the Rams to jump on, and they did. 0:11:51.840 --> 0:11:54.319 There's no question about it that that doesn't happen very often. 0:11:54.320 --> 0:11:57.320 A Pro Bowl caliber offensive tackle out there in free 0:11:57.320 --> 0:12:00.240 agency that you can gobble up. But man, if they 0:12:00.240 --> 0:12:02.280 can find some kind of you know, a guy in 0:12:02.320 --> 0:12:05.280 his seventh year, you know, it's still has some years 0:12:05.360 --> 0:12:07.840 left and could be a real leader of the group 0:12:07.880 --> 0:12:11.760 and stabilized, you know, the outside at that tackle position, 0:12:11.880 --> 0:12:14.320 because you know, it stands to reason that a way 0:12:14.320 --> 0:12:18.200 here and Fisher probably won't be back. So, you know, 0:12:18.480 --> 0:12:21.480 because of that reason, I guess you can't eliminate Bobby Hart, 0:12:22.000 --> 0:12:24.920 but I'm sure if they could go in another direction, 0:12:24.920 --> 0:12:28.760 they probably would. There are some restricted free agents. The 0:12:28.800 --> 0:12:32.760 most intriguing name to me, Trey Hopkins, only made half 0:12:32.760 --> 0:12:36.240 a million last year, played well. One called upon to 0:12:36.240 --> 0:12:38.480 fill in its center. He did. You know, I think 0:12:38.480 --> 0:12:41.079 that you know, center might be his best position. It 0:12:41.200 --> 0:12:43.920 really is. With those long arms. We talked about the 0:12:43.960 --> 0:12:47.000 advantage that a long arms center has at nauseum, but 0:12:47.280 --> 0:12:49.679 it is it is a point, you know, a simple 0:12:49.720 --> 0:12:51.840 thing is extending the ball out so the defensive guys 0:12:51.840 --> 0:12:53.720 and this should not under your grill and you have 0:12:53.720 --> 0:12:56.200 a little bit of separation there before you know, at 0:12:56.200 --> 0:12:59.240 the line of scrims to snap it. But he's smart, 0:13:00.480 --> 0:13:05.280 not incredibly gifted athletically, obviously, or he would have been 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:08.400 drafted higher and probably would have played sooner and all 0:13:08.400 --> 0:13:10.280 those sort of things. But when you get him in 0:13:10.320 --> 0:13:13.600 a game, he plays, he doesn't he doesn't hurt you. 0:13:14.280 --> 0:13:18.079 So it would not surprise me if they bring him 0:13:18.080 --> 0:13:22.080 back because he does have position versatility. I stink with 0:13:22.120 --> 0:13:24.480 his long arms, he could be an emergency tackle for 0:13:24.520 --> 0:13:26.920 you as well. But he's shown he can play guard, 0:13:26.960 --> 0:13:29.439 he's shown he can play center. Is he going to 0:13:29.559 --> 0:13:31.920 light it up and be a Pro Bowl candidate? No, 0:13:32.760 --> 0:13:34.599 but you know not everybody's going to be in the 0:13:34.640 --> 0:13:37.400 Pro Bowl. All right, Let's talk about a couple of 0:13:37.440 --> 0:13:40.840 guys that aren't free agents to be. They're still less 0:13:40.840 --> 0:13:44.720 signed through the coming year. Two wide receivers, starting with 0:13:44.800 --> 0:13:47.280 Tyler Boyd. Final year of his four year rookie deal 0:13:47.440 --> 0:13:49.240 coming up. He was not a first round draft pick, 0:13:49.280 --> 0:13:51.600 so they don't have the fifth year option. It's been 0:13:51.600 --> 0:13:55.440 a bargain. He'll make a nine hundred eighty thou approximately 0:13:55.600 --> 0:14:00.000 this year. Did they try to extend him before this season? 0:14:00.000 --> 0:14:04.040 And begins pay the man? Got to pay the man. 0:14:04.320 --> 0:14:06.760 He's he's earned it. Yeah. I think he's gonna try 0:14:06.760 --> 0:14:10.360 to extend them. Um, you know, in my mind, what's 0:14:10.400 --> 0:14:15.400 the priority? Deniard first, Boyd's second, other way around. You know, 0:14:15.679 --> 0:14:19.760 I think whichever whichever agent comes to the table most realistic. 0:14:19.800 --> 0:14:22.480 You know, I I'd pursue both of them almost on 0:14:22.520 --> 0:14:26.880 a simultaneous basis, and tell both representatives money's on the table, 0:14:27.000 --> 0:14:30.080 who wants it now? Boyd is signed through this year, 0:14:30.120 --> 0:14:32.800 whereas Denard you'd have to sign him to bring him back, right, 0:14:33.080 --> 0:14:37.400 That's true. So and I would. I'd probably have separate 0:14:37.440 --> 0:14:40.360 pots a little bit, but it would still be coming 0:14:40.360 --> 0:14:44.160 out of that overall, kittie, you know, So I'd i'd basically, 0:14:44.480 --> 0:14:47.440 you know, try to try to stimulate Boyd's agent too. 0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:50.880 Obviously he's going to say, look, you know if he 0:14:50.920 --> 0:14:52.840 plays this year out, you guys won't be able to 0:14:52.840 --> 0:14:55.480 afford him. Well, you know, it's going to be interesting 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:59.600 how that, how that negotiation U unfolds. I think he's 0:14:59.600 --> 0:15:02.640 going to be unbelievable fit for this offense as well. 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:07.640 I think he's gonna eat it up. And because he does. 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:12.120 He does two things well, he catches the football and 0:15:12.360 --> 0:15:16.400 he's tough. So in a crowd, I mean Andy Dalton 0:15:16.440 --> 0:15:19.760 will he's open when he's covered because he knows he'll 0:15:19.800 --> 0:15:22.360 fight for the football He's not gonna you know, he's 0:15:22.360 --> 0:15:24.280 not gonna let the other guy come down with it 0:15:24.040 --> 0:15:29.000 if it's a fifty fifty proposition. He's very physical, tremendous 0:15:29.080 --> 0:15:32.440 route runner, has a real sense for finding openings in defense. 0:15:32.520 --> 0:15:34.960 Haven't played the quarterback position. He's he's the real deal. 0:15:35.160 --> 0:15:38.440 He's a legitimate guy. But in my mind, you know, speed, 0:15:39.120 --> 0:15:42.520 all that stuff's important, But can he catch it? And 0:15:42.720 --> 0:15:45.760 is he tough? He checks both those boxes big time. 0:15:46.800 --> 0:15:49.400 Then there's a j Green turns thirty one in July. 0:15:49.560 --> 0:15:52.960 He's already received two hefty contracts from the Bengals. His 0:15:53.160 --> 0:15:55.800 four year, sixty million dollar deal runs out at the 0:15:55.880 --> 0:15:59.960 end of this year. Arguably the best player in franchise history. 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:02.440 He's right up there with Anthony Munio's. He's got a 0:16:02.440 --> 0:16:05.280 third contract coming from Cincinnati. You would think he would, 0:16:05.600 --> 0:16:08.760 I mean, not only for what he's done on the field, 0:16:08.800 --> 0:16:11.480 but the way he's comported himself off the field. The 0:16:11.560 --> 0:16:14.600 guy has been a franchise dream, you know, he really has. 0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:21.720 I mean, I think that probably every owner, general manager, 0:16:21.760 --> 0:16:25.720 head coach would like to say, here's here's an example 0:16:25.760 --> 0:16:29.440 of how to handle yourself as a as a professional 0:16:29.520 --> 0:16:32.480 in the National Football League. This guy's got all kinds 0:16:32.480 --> 0:16:35.280 of talent um. I mean, look at look at Antonio 0:16:35.360 --> 0:16:37.880 Brown and Levi and Bell. Look what happened in Pittsburgh. 0:16:37.960 --> 0:16:42.360 I mean, and the just the antithesis of that is 0:16:42.400 --> 0:16:46.520 aj Green. It's it's incredible. So he has he has 0:16:46.560 --> 0:16:48.640 that type of skill set that those guys have. He 0:16:48.680 --> 0:16:51.680 has the unbelievable like wow factor. I mean, he makes 0:16:52.000 --> 0:16:54.720 as we've seen all the years in training camp, ractice 0:16:54.760 --> 0:16:57.240 in the players say he makes catches every week. That's 0:16:57.280 --> 0:17:03.760 like what so, I mean, he hasn't any diminishing physical 0:17:03.800 --> 0:17:06.919 skill sets. You know, you can still run, jump, do 0:17:07.000 --> 0:17:09.399 everything he's done. Has been hurt though two out of 0:17:09.400 --> 0:17:11.400 the last three years. Yeah, he has had a little 0:17:11.440 --> 0:17:13.879 bit of an injury bugaboo. I don't know, maybe maybe 0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:17.760 some of it, maybe you maybe you structure it to 0:17:17.760 --> 0:17:20.480 try to try to cover yourself that way. But with 0:17:20.560 --> 0:17:23.000 a guy his caliber, that's awful tough to do. I mean, 0:17:23.080 --> 0:17:26.919 that's very, very tough to do. But yeah, he's a 0:17:26.920 --> 0:17:30.200 guy that. I mean, when Anthony Munios was holding out 0:17:31.000 --> 0:17:34.080 all of us, like what the hell they're not going 0:17:34.119 --> 0:17:35.560 to sign him? Well, how the hell are we going 0:17:35.600 --> 0:17:38.359 to sign a contract. Nobody can do anything more than 0:17:38.400 --> 0:17:40.399 he's done for this football team on and off the 0:17:40.440 --> 0:17:43.159 football field. My god. And I think that's how players 0:17:43.200 --> 0:17:46.480 would feel. You know, if a J. Green got into 0:17:46.520 --> 0:17:49.680 a contentious situation, my god, they're not going to sign him. 0:17:49.720 --> 0:17:51.280 Who are they going to sign? Yeah? I guess the 0:17:51.359 --> 0:17:54.560 question is in his case, do you get it done 0:17:54.680 --> 0:17:57.159 before this year as you did the last time he 0:17:57.240 --> 0:17:59.160 was up, or do you say, you know what, let's 0:17:59.200 --> 0:18:02.040 let this one play out. See if he's healthy still, 0:18:02.240 --> 0:18:04.560 See if he's still the aj that he's been, and 0:18:04.680 --> 0:18:08.520 if so, open the vault and pay I'm the going rate. Yeah, 0:18:08.560 --> 0:18:12.439 that that could be the way, depending. I think it's 0:18:12.520 --> 0:18:15.680 all pieces of the puzzle that will you'll put into 0:18:15.800 --> 0:18:18.520 into the bigger puzzle as it happens. I mean, I 0:18:18.520 --> 0:18:20.680 think it's all going to be all right, Well, here's 0:18:20.720 --> 0:18:24.320 here's stuff that's out there. If somebody bites and jumps 0:18:24.359 --> 0:18:26.240 on it, okay, we'll move that piece. And now we 0:18:26.280 --> 0:18:28.760 have to adjust these. There's not as much for this 0:18:28.800 --> 0:18:31.880 and much for that anymore because he took his so 0:18:32.400 --> 0:18:35.440 there is a little bit of pressure like, m Okay, 0:18:36.080 --> 0:18:39.600 do I take take this opportunity and maximize this or 0:18:39.640 --> 0:18:43.320 do I say I'm going to play it out and um, 0:18:43.800 --> 0:18:45.560 you know, because I mean it takes two to tango. 0:18:45.920 --> 0:18:49.080 The organization, you know, has has a number, the agent 0:18:49.119 --> 0:18:51.480 has a number. And if the agent says, let's play 0:18:51.520 --> 0:18:54.680 it out, I mean it could could work either way. 0:18:54.720 --> 0:18:56.480 I mean, it's it is. It's a total roll of 0:18:56.560 --> 0:18:59.080 the dice. But when you're doing salary, you have a 0:18:59.080 --> 0:19:01.040 salary cap to work with. You're trying to figure it 0:19:01.080 --> 0:19:03.959 all out. It's it's like a moving target, you know. 0:19:04.119 --> 0:19:06.960 It's it's whoever steps up and come to the comes 0:19:06.960 --> 0:19:10.200 to the plate first, and then you adjust accordingly. Before 0:19:10.200 --> 0:19:12.920 we wrap it up, congratulations are in order for Aj 0:19:13.080 --> 0:19:15.760 and Miranda Green on the birth of their second son, 0:19:16.480 --> 0:19:20.800 Gunner Blaze Green. Is that kid going to be an athlete? 0:19:21.200 --> 0:19:27.720 About that? It's got a great name, Gunner Blaze Green. Wow. Yeah, 0:19:27.800 --> 0:19:30.119 I'm just like with his first son, I want to 0:19:30.119 --> 0:19:32.520 sign up first to be representative of that young man 0:19:32.600 --> 0:19:35.679 because I'm sure he'll be He'll be as physically gifted 0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:39.399 as as as possible. That's great. What a great family 0:19:39.600 --> 0:19:42.160 that really is. I mean, AJ Green, you know they 0:19:42.160 --> 0:19:46.480 throw around that term pros pro. This guy Webster's Dictionary. 0:19:46.520 --> 0:19:49.560 If that term pros pros in there his pictures right 0:19:49.600 --> 0:19:53.240 there man, Thanks Lap, there will be tons of NFL 0:19:53.320 --> 0:19:56.679 news next week. Teams are allowed to negotiate with the 0:19:56.720 --> 0:20:01.640 agents of upcoming unrestricted free agents from Monday to Wednesday. 0:20:01.800 --> 0:20:04.800 Then at four o'clock on Wednesday, March thirteenth, the new 0:20:04.880 --> 0:20:09.680 league year officially begins. That's when last year's contracts expire, 0:20:10.040 --> 0:20:14.080 the trading period officially open, so trades we've heard about 0:20:14.119 --> 0:20:18.240 in recent days don't become official until then, and free 0:20:18.280 --> 0:20:22.720 agents can officially sign new contracts. Now. Time for this 0:20:22.760 --> 0:20:26.080 week's edition of fun Facts, and my guest is Duke Tobin, 0:20:26.400 --> 0:20:29.040 a member of the Bengals front office since nineteen ninety 0:20:29.080 --> 0:20:32.360 nine and one of the most important people in the organization. 0:20:32.840 --> 0:20:36.240 He oversees the draft, plays a key role in trades 0:20:36.280 --> 0:20:40.240 and free agency, and took part in the hiring process 0:20:40.280 --> 0:20:43.440 of new head coach Zach Taylor. Got for some fun 0:20:43.520 --> 0:20:46.240 facts for the Bengals Director of Player Personnel, Duke Tobin. 0:20:46.280 --> 0:20:48.399 And Duke, for those who don't know, your dad is 0:20:48.440 --> 0:20:51.879 a former NFL GM your uncle, Vince is a former 0:20:52.160 --> 0:20:54.360 NFL head coach, So you've been around the game your 0:20:54.359 --> 0:20:57.040 whole life as a kid, Did your dad let you 0:20:57.080 --> 0:21:00.600 hang around his teams? Oh? Absolutely, It's really all I 0:21:00.640 --> 0:21:03.439 did other than playing sports myself. And then when I 0:21:03.480 --> 0:21:06.320 had free time, I'd be up at Hollis Hall or 0:21:06.480 --> 0:21:09.439 being a ball boy, or work in security, or pulling 0:21:09.480 --> 0:21:11.919 the nuts at the games, or just hanging around the 0:21:11.960 --> 0:21:14.480 locker room. So yeah, I grew up around pro football 0:21:14.520 --> 0:21:17.160 and that's really all I've ever known. Did you realize 0:21:17.200 --> 0:21:20.800 as a kid how lucky you were? Well, I don't 0:21:20.840 --> 0:21:22.920 think you ever realized. I don't think any kid ever 0:21:22.960 --> 0:21:27.000