WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Black and Yellow 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.359 I get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.360 --> 0:00:10.800 The Bengals Booth Podcast. The Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow, 0:00:10.840 --> 0:00:14.760 Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow Audition as the Bengals 0:00:14.760 --> 0:00:17.639 look for a road win against the dreaded, hated, but 0:00:17.800 --> 0:00:22.560 always respected black and yellow wearing Pittsburgh Steelers. Coming up, 0:00:22.600 --> 0:00:25.640 i'll talk to the senior NFL reporter for Sports Illustrated's 0:00:25.800 --> 0:00:29.760 MMQB website, Albert Breer. In May, he wrote a great 0:00:29.840 --> 0:00:33.000 behind the scenes story about Joe Burrow's comeback, and we'll 0:00:33.040 --> 0:00:35.720 get his thoughts on the Bengals QB after the first 0:00:35.760 --> 0:00:38.639 two games of the season and much more. My one 0:00:38.680 --> 0:00:42.240 on one player conversation this week is actually one on two, 0:00:42.680 --> 0:00:46.400 as I talked to former NC State roommates Jermaine Pratt 0:00:46.400 --> 0:00:50.479 and b J Hill about being reunited in Cincinnati. Dave 0:00:50.600 --> 0:00:53.400 Lapham joins me to discuss the latest Bengals news and 0:00:53.520 --> 0:00:56.360 share some keys to beating Pittsburgh. And finally, it's our 0:00:56.480 --> 0:00:59.040 no the faux segment, as we discussed the Steelers with 0:00:59.120 --> 0:01:02.400 a guy who has the team for more than three decades, 0:01:02.960 --> 0:01:07.280 Ed Bouchett. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by bud Light, 0:01:07.440 --> 0:01:10.800 Seltzer refreshed the game. And here's a quick reminder that 0:01:10.840 --> 0:01:13.560 you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered 0:01:13.880 --> 0:01:17.840 right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, 0:01:17.920 --> 0:01:21.600 Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing 0:01:21.720 --> 0:01:26.160 since the Bengals fans who regularly turn out for our 0:01:26.280 --> 0:01:29.800 radio shows. Dave Lappleman I host the Bengals Game Plan 0:01:29.880 --> 0:01:33.160 Show at a different Cincinnati area sports bar every Wednesday 0:01:33.200 --> 0:01:35.440 night from six to eight, and there are quite a 0:01:35.440 --> 0:01:38.759 few loyal fans who never miss a show. Of course, 0:01:38.800 --> 0:01:42.200 it helps that we're usually joined by former Bengal standouts 0:01:42.400 --> 0:01:46.080 and have giveaways during the commercial breaks. But regardless of 0:01:46.120 --> 0:01:48.640 the location, or the weather or how the team played 0:01:48.680 --> 0:01:51.720 the previous week, we know that our loyal crew will 0:01:51.760 --> 0:01:55.760 be there. Having said that, the More the Merrier will 0:01:55.800 --> 0:01:58.640 be at the Holy Grail across from Great American Ballpark 0:01:58.720 --> 0:02:01.919 next Wednesday night, and expect to be joined by Kenny 0:02:01.960 --> 0:02:06.200 Anderson one night before he enters the Bengals Ring of Honor. 0:02:06.720 --> 0:02:10.120 Now let's get to my guests, beginning with Albert Brier 0:02:10.280 --> 0:02:15.040 from Sports Illustrated and it's MMQB website Albert. You have 0:02:15.080 --> 0:02:16.880 written a lot about Joe Burrow in the last couple 0:02:16.919 --> 0:02:19.720 of years, including a great behind the scenes look at 0:02:19.760 --> 0:02:22.720 his comeback from knee surgery. As you talked to Joe 0:02:22.800 --> 0:02:25.600 and his parents and Bengals coaches for that story, what 0:02:25.720 --> 0:02:28.240 stood out the most of you. I think it was 0:02:28.280 --> 0:02:30.960 sort of how he attacked the rehab and you know 0:02:30.960 --> 0:02:34.320 how aggressive he was about it. And you know that 0:02:34.480 --> 0:02:37.600 first offseason for a lot of guys coming into the 0:02:37.680 --> 0:02:40.640 NFL is sort of one where you decompress, you know, 0:02:40.680 --> 0:02:42.880 and you think about the way guys come into the 0:02:42.960 --> 0:02:46.040 league and you go from your final college season, then 0:02:46.120 --> 0:02:48.560 usually to a college All Star game, then usually to 0:02:48.639 --> 0:02:53.080 the Combine. Then you have your visits, your your interviews, 0:02:53.120 --> 0:02:54.919 you have all of that different stuff leading into the draft, 0:02:55.000 --> 0:02:56.800 and you get drafted. Then you go to OTAs, then 0:02:56.840 --> 0:02:58.600 you go to mini camp, then you have a little 0:02:58.600 --> 0:03:01.040 bit of a break there, then you come back for 0:03:01.120 --> 0:03:03.120 training camp and it's onto the season and really what 0:03:03.240 --> 0:03:05.520 it winds up atting up to his eighteen months, you 0:03:05.560 --> 0:03:08.359 know where you're just sort of in this meat grinder, 0:03:08.520 --> 0:03:12.240 and you know, I think the fact that Joe was 0:03:12.280 --> 0:03:14.560 so aggressive and attacking this being on the back end 0:03:14.560 --> 0:03:17.600 of that period as a player, I think sort of 0:03:17.600 --> 0:03:19.520 shows how motivated he was to get back. The fact 0:03:19.560 --> 0:03:21.800 that he stayed in Cincinnati and worked with his trainer 0:03:21.840 --> 0:03:25.080 there exclusively, didn't take vacations really, I mean, he went 0:03:25.080 --> 0:03:26.880 to Florida with his parents for a little while, I 0:03:26.919 --> 0:03:29.560 think for a week or so or whatever it was. 0:03:29.639 --> 0:03:31.680 But you know, even that, like he was taking his 0:03:31.720 --> 0:03:34.440 work with him, and so I think, you know, as 0:03:34.480 --> 0:03:36.840 much as anything else, Dan, it was the sort of 0:03:37.760 --> 0:03:40.920 I think, constant focus on I need to get myself back. 0:03:40.920 --> 0:03:43.080 And I even think that that played into some of 0:03:43.080 --> 0:03:45.280 the struggles early in camp because I know, you know, 0:03:45.320 --> 0:03:48.040 just having talked to him, he wanted to go through 0:03:48.080 --> 0:03:51.280 the whole process of feeling comfortable with people around his 0:03:51.400 --> 0:03:54.120 legs before he saw it in game action, and I 0:03:54.120 --> 0:03:56.880 think that was sort of why things were interpreted as, oh, 0:03:56.920 --> 0:03:59.320 you know, he hit a real roadblock like here in 0:03:59.320 --> 0:04:02.040 the first or set week at camp, whereas he was 0:04:02.320 --> 0:04:05.560 really trying to just just generate and fast track generate 0:04:05.600 --> 0:04:09.120 situations in fast track his recovery. So you know, I've 0:04:09.200 --> 0:04:12.400 just sort of been impressed with the think intention, attention 0:04:12.440 --> 0:04:16.360 to detail, and also like how he's really stayed on 0:04:16.440 --> 0:04:19.839 it as much as anything else. You know, at a 0:04:19.880 --> 0:04:22.880 period of time when most guys that age coming into 0:04:22.920 --> 0:04:25.440 the NFL are pretty worn out and need a break. 0:04:26.279 --> 0:04:28.960 So Joe was tremendous in Week one against the Vikings, 0:04:28.960 --> 0:04:31.480 had a tougher time obviously last week against the Bears. 0:04:31.480 --> 0:04:34.080 How do you think he looks through two games? Great 0:04:34.080 --> 0:04:36.600 and week one? Not as good in Week two? And 0:04:36.680 --> 0:04:38.680 I think that's part of it too. You know, there's 0:04:38.720 --> 0:04:41.680 gonna be the back and forth, I think a little bit. 0:04:42.640 --> 0:04:44.200 I mean, look, they need to play better in front 0:04:44.200 --> 0:04:46.440 of upfront. Two. Um, you know, I think with the 0:04:46.520 --> 0:04:48.839 defense looking a little better through two weeks, that's really 0:04:48.839 --> 0:04:50.120 going to be the story of the season. It's what 0:04:50.160 --> 0:04:52.120 the offensive line looks like. Not that I need to 0:04:52.160 --> 0:04:54.200 tell you that, because I know you guys have been 0:04:54.240 --> 0:04:57.880 talking about that for over a year now. So you know, 0:04:57.920 --> 0:04:59.840 I think the things around him were better and we 0:05:00.040 --> 0:05:01.559 one than they were in Week two, and that played 0:05:01.560 --> 0:05:03.800 into it, you know. But I did like the way 0:05:03.800 --> 0:05:05.640 that you know, he kind of kept swinging at the 0:05:05.760 --> 0:05:09.240 end and the Bengals had a chance there. Now, obviously 0:05:09.240 --> 0:05:11.080 the Bears plows him out in the end, but they're 0:05:11.120 --> 0:05:13.960 able to take advantage of the turnover and he throws 0:05:13.960 --> 0:05:15.760 a touchdown passed so quickly to Tea. I think a 0:05:15.800 --> 0:05:18.599 couple of plays after that, you know. I like the 0:05:18.640 --> 0:05:21.280 resiliency in week two and then the overall game operation 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:24.159 in week one, and you know what he was able 0:05:24.200 --> 0:05:26.320 to do down the stretch in that game, and you know, 0:05:26.400 --> 0:05:28.560 changing the play in overtime and getting the ball to 0:05:28.600 --> 0:05:31.799 CJ and um, you know, sort of his command overall 0:05:31.800 --> 0:05:33.680 of the offense. I think it's really impressive for a 0:05:33.760 --> 0:05:35.919 guy in his second year. And again, there are going 0:05:36.000 --> 0:05:38.480 to be some ups and down still because he's only 0:05:38.480 --> 0:05:41.960 in his second year, you know, but I think right 0:05:42.000 --> 0:05:43.919 now he's got the Bengals in a chance, in a 0:05:43.960 --> 0:05:46.560 position to be competitive every week. And I think he 0:05:46.600 --> 0:05:49.440 even saw it last week in a game where you know, 0:05:49.800 --> 0:05:52.440 quite honestly, like most quarterbacks play like that, yere out 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:54.919 of the game and they're able to put him in 0:05:54.920 --> 0:05:57.320 a position to to to kind of compete in the end. 0:05:57.360 --> 0:05:59.279 And so it was encouraging to me the way he 0:05:59.360 --> 0:06:01.120 kept swinging in that game. And I think you see 0:06:01.160 --> 0:06:03.600 too some of the belief that the other players and 0:06:03.640 --> 0:06:05.800 the team having him and that they were in that 0:06:05.880 --> 0:06:08.039 situation at the end of the game, even though it 0:06:08.120 --> 0:06:09.960 was as sloppy as it had been for three hours 0:06:09.960 --> 0:06:12.840 out there. Our guest is Albert Breer. You can follow 0:06:12.960 --> 0:06:15.800 him on Twitter at Albert Breer. You made a trip 0:06:15.839 --> 0:06:18.720 to Cincinnati for training camp in early August. Aside from 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:20.760 watching Joe Burrow, What were some of the things that 0:06:20.800 --> 0:06:23.159 caught your eye. I think one of the things that 0:06:23.240 --> 0:06:25.920 sort of come up big for the Bengals early in 0:06:25.960 --> 0:06:28.279 the season. This is something that actually Joe point out 0:06:28.279 --> 0:06:33.120 to me, you know, last week was just and this 0:06:33.200 --> 0:06:35.520 is something the coaches talked about back in the summer 0:06:35.600 --> 0:06:38.880 too when I was there, is sort of how the 0:06:39.000 --> 0:06:42.280 secondary is having an effect on the entire team and 0:06:42.680 --> 0:06:44.920 how they focused in the offseason. I'm bringing in and 0:06:45.000 --> 0:06:48.120 guys from winning programs, and so you know, you gotta 0:06:48.320 --> 0:06:50.800 at Adobie Woozy who's coming over from Dallas. You have 0:06:50.800 --> 0:06:53.120 a Mike Hilton who's coming over from Pittsburgh. You know, 0:06:53.120 --> 0:06:54.960 you have a Von Bell who played in New Orleans. 0:06:55.000 --> 0:06:56.960 Trey Hendrickson, of course he's not in the secondary, but 0:06:57.000 --> 0:06:59.279 he played in New Orleans as well. And so you've 0:06:59.279 --> 0:07:01.640 got all of these guys now on the roster, who've 0:07:01.640 --> 0:07:05.000 been in winning programs, who've been in playoff games, and 0:07:05.600 --> 0:07:08.560 you know, I think the way the secondary is sort 0:07:08.560 --> 0:07:11.520 of coming together now and the way you're seeing the 0:07:11.560 --> 0:07:15.000 experience that they've injected in the secondary, you know, through 0:07:15.040 --> 0:07:18.440 being aggressive in free agency, the way that that's sort 0:07:18.440 --> 0:07:20.480 of paying dividends. That's one of the things that's really 0:07:20.520 --> 0:07:23.200 stuck out to me. And I think when you look 0:07:23.240 --> 0:07:25.360 at some of the things that the coaches are a 0:07:25.440 --> 0:07:28.000 staff are talking about over the summer, and then through 0:07:28.040 --> 0:07:30.520 two weeks you see those things sort of coming to life. 0:07:30.880 --> 0:07:33.360 It's an encouraging sign. At least the vision that they 0:07:33.400 --> 0:07:36.320 have for the team is working, you know. And so 0:07:36.840 --> 0:07:39.400 I think, you know, having guys like you know, again 0:07:39.640 --> 0:07:43.320 like Cheeto, like Mike Hilton in the building, you know, 0:07:43.440 --> 0:07:45.640 like Avon Bell in the building, and I know he 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:47.960 was acquired a couple of years ago, not this offseason. 0:07:48.960 --> 0:07:51.320 You know, I think you're actually seeing some of the 0:07:51.720 --> 0:07:54.040 beliefs that they're able to inject into the program. And 0:07:54.320 --> 0:07:56.560 you know, I think the communication on defense has been 0:07:56.600 --> 0:07:58.720 better on a micro level of the communication on defense 0:07:58.720 --> 0:08:01.200 has been better. This is a result of having those 0:08:01.280 --> 0:08:04.280 veteran players in the equation. But I think overall, just 0:08:04.360 --> 0:08:06.880 as far as you know, trying to, you know, make 0:08:06.920 --> 0:08:09.560 the team believe that that that they've got a chance 0:08:09.600 --> 0:08:11.920 in every game and that they can be a playoff contender. 0:08:12.200 --> 0:08:14.680 I think bringing in all these guys from winning programs 0:08:14.720 --> 0:08:16.720 has really helped for a team that hasn't been in 0:08:16.760 --> 0:08:19.840 the playoffs the last five years. Albert Breer from Sports 0:08:19.840 --> 0:08:23.120 Illustrated is our guest, what does success look like for 0:08:23.160 --> 0:08:26.400 the Bengals this year in your opinion, being in the 0:08:27.040 --> 0:08:30.040 running until the end, you know, and in December having 0:08:30.040 --> 0:08:33.800 a chance entering that month with you know, an opportunity 0:08:33.800 --> 0:08:36.400 to compete for a playoff spot. And then I think 0:08:36.400 --> 0:08:38.480 player developments the other big part of it, you know. 0:08:38.559 --> 0:08:41.719 So do these players look like they're ascending at the 0:08:41.800 --> 0:08:43.640 end of the year. Does Joe Burrow look like he's 0:08:43.640 --> 0:08:45.600 ascending at the end of the year. Do Jamar Chase 0:08:45.640 --> 0:08:47.600 and Tee Higgins look like they're ascending at the end 0:08:47.640 --> 0:08:50.600 of the year. How's Jonah Williams holding up at left tackle? 0:08:51.440 --> 0:08:53.599 You know? On the defensive side, you know, how have 0:08:53.679 --> 0:08:56.560 the veteran players come together and maybe elevated some of 0:08:56.600 --> 0:09:00.080 the young guys They have on the roster there. I 0:09:00.080 --> 0:09:02.360 think this year in a lot of different ways, is 0:09:02.360 --> 0:09:04.480 going to be about, you know, taking another step in 0:09:04.600 --> 0:09:07.040 Zach Taylor's third year and competing for a playoff spot. 0:09:07.559 --> 0:09:09.960 But I also look at like the players they've invested 0:09:10.000 --> 0:09:13.240 in and young players they've invested in in the draft, 0:09:13.800 --> 0:09:15.839 and I think so much of it's going to kind 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:18.760 of come down to what this looks like when we 0:09:18.800 --> 0:09:21.120 get to the end of the year and whether or not, 0:09:21.440 --> 0:09:24.160 you know, you're in December and you're saying, God, these 0:09:24.200 --> 0:09:27.640 guys like this Jonah Williams, this Jamar Chase, this Tee Higgins, 0:09:27.640 --> 0:09:30.880 this Joe Burrow, like these guys look really good now, 0:09:31.280 --> 0:09:32.880 but man, what are they going to be in twenty 0:09:32.960 --> 0:09:35.320 twenty two? Like that, to me is going to have 0:09:35.360 --> 0:09:36.880 to be a big part of the success of this 0:09:36.920 --> 0:09:40.160 season is that, from you know, a player development standpoint, 0:09:40.720 --> 0:09:43.480 they're getting back to where they were in like twenty 0:09:43.679 --> 0:09:46.000 eleven and twenty and twelve, when you started to see 0:09:46.040 --> 0:09:48.240 some young players in the who had been in the 0:09:48.240 --> 0:09:52.160 pipeline for a while starting to turn corners. The Bengals 0:09:52.160 --> 0:09:55.360 and Steelers renew their rivalry this weekend. Pittsburgh got off 0:09:55.400 --> 0:09:57.440 to a great start with a win at Buffalo in 0:09:57.480 --> 0:09:59.880 Week one, then lost at home to the Raiders last week. 0:10:00.200 --> 0:10:03.240 What's your take on Pittsburgh this year? It's like a 0:10:03.240 --> 0:10:05.160 lot of teams. You know, you read a lot into 0:10:05.160 --> 0:10:07.600 Week one and then you find out maybe week one 0:10:07.640 --> 0:10:10.320 didn't mean as much as as you thought it did. Uh. 0:10:10.679 --> 0:10:13.800 It feels like halfsolute. I mean, it feels like like 0:10:13.920 --> 0:10:15.760 I don't know what the count is, but it feels 0:10:15.760 --> 0:10:17.280 like there are a lot of one and one teams 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:20.760 right now, So you know, I think you know, my 0:10:21.040 --> 0:10:23.240 overall feeling on the Steelers is actually sort of mirrors 0:10:23.240 --> 0:10:25.040 what we've just been talking about with the Bengals, which 0:10:25.080 --> 0:10:27.800 is that the offensive line it's going to dictate a 0:10:27.800 --> 0:10:31.079 lot as far as how far the team can go. Defensively, 0:10:31.120 --> 0:10:33.360 I think they'd be really good. Now that's pending t J. 0:10:33.520 --> 0:10:36.520 Watt's injury and um, you know how quickly they can 0:10:36.559 --> 0:10:40.080 get them back and all of that. But defensively, I 0:10:40.120 --> 0:10:42.800 think against Buffalo you saw what they're capable of, and 0:10:43.440 --> 0:10:46.079 I think they have a front that's capable of being 0:10:46.080 --> 0:10:49.040 the best in football. And if you start there and 0:10:49.280 --> 0:10:51.040 you're better in the secondary, and I think they believe 0:10:51.040 --> 0:10:52.960 they're better in their second than the secondary than they 0:10:53.000 --> 0:10:56.000 have been. Like now, all of a sudden, you know, 0:10:56.040 --> 0:10:57.839 I think you're talking about a defense that maybe you 0:10:57.880 --> 0:11:00.840 can get back to the level that they were at, 0:11:00.880 --> 0:11:03.520 you know, ten fifteen years ago with the Troy Palomalos 0:11:03.520 --> 0:11:05.920 and the James Ferriers and the James Harrisons and the 0:11:06.040 --> 0:11:10.240 Lamar Woodleys. So like, I think the defense is capable 0:11:10.240 --> 0:11:12.800 of being at that level of TJ's, you know, if 0:11:12.840 --> 0:11:16.400 he's healthy and right. And I think for a little 0:11:16.440 --> 0:11:18.480 while at least, that defense is going to have to 0:11:18.520 --> 0:11:21.360 carry the offense because they are going to be figuring 0:11:21.360 --> 0:11:23.320 out some things now. Naji Harris looks like he's a 0:11:23.360 --> 0:11:26.319 real player, and they've got a couple of rookies starting 0:11:26.360 --> 0:11:29.160 on their offensive line, and so I think, you know, 0:11:29.280 --> 0:11:32.120 their ability to kind of develop an identity offensively over 0:11:32.160 --> 0:11:35.000 the next i'd say two months is I think going 0:11:35.040 --> 0:11:36.800 to dictate how far they can go, And so much 0:11:36.840 --> 0:11:40.160 of that is gonna ride on how an offensive line 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:42.839 plays and a group that lost all at once. Now 0:11:43.360 --> 0:11:47.640 Alandro Villanueva, David de Castro, and Marquis Pouncy, who have 0:11:47.679 --> 0:11:51.080 been foundation pieces for them for quite some time, So 0:11:51.960 --> 0:11:54.160 I'd tell you right now, Dan, you know, I think 0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:56.440 a team is capable as long as t J. Watt 0:11:56.520 --> 0:12:00.120 is healthy of being elite on defense, a team and 0:12:00.160 --> 0:12:04.560 it's got good skill and a team ultimately that's going 0:12:04.640 --> 0:12:06.480 to you know, a lot is going to ride on 0:12:06.520 --> 0:12:09.760 their ability to develop that offensive line and bring that 0:12:09.800 --> 0:12:12.959 offensive line along. Well. As for t J. Watt, I 0:12:13.000 --> 0:12:15.360 think he needs to think big picture and take a 0:12:15.400 --> 0:12:18.000 week off. That's just me, but I think that that 0:12:18.000 --> 0:12:21.200 would be good for his long term prognosis. Final question 0:12:21.280 --> 0:12:25.280 for Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Am I correct in thinking 0:12:25.679 --> 0:12:28.400 that you are a big fan of the Bengals new uniforms. 0:12:29.080 --> 0:12:31.360 I love them? Yeah, I mean I thought the last 0:12:31.559 --> 0:12:33.360 I had, the last set like had a little too 0:12:33.440 --> 0:12:36.560 much going on, you know. And I mean, I don't know, 0:12:36.600 --> 0:12:39.120 I'm old school, so I guess you'd call me minimalist, 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:43.400 right like where I think less is more and uh yeah, 0:12:43.440 --> 0:12:45.680 so I think like the fact that they're just and 0:12:45.800 --> 0:12:48.000 I don't know, I'm like, I mean, like, look at 0:12:48.000 --> 0:12:50.240 how I'm dressed right now. I don't know if if 0:12:50.280 --> 0:12:52.800 anybody should be taking fashion advice for me, but m 0:12:53.360 --> 0:12:56.120 I H yeah, I mean I like the fact they 0:12:56.120 --> 0:12:58.800 look cleaner to me, and I like the fact that 0:12:58.840 --> 0:13:02.640 they're a little simpler. And I actually made this comment 0:13:02.679 --> 0:13:04.400 a couple of years ago, like, I thought their color 0:13:04.520 --> 0:13:07.679 Rush uniforms were awesome, and these feel like kind of 0:13:07.720 --> 0:13:11.360 like a I would say, uh like, kind of like 0:13:11.360 --> 0:13:15.040 a continuation of those. Now. The one thing I would 0:13:15.080 --> 0:13:17.240 have done differently, I would have gone with a I'm 0:13:17.280 --> 0:13:19.400 a big fan of the block letters. I think block letters, 0:13:19.480 --> 0:13:21.600 like are the block numbers like the block numbers I 0:13:21.600 --> 0:13:24.840 think look great on football uniforms. But other than that, 0:13:24.920 --> 0:13:26.920 I think they did. They did a really nice job. 0:13:26.960 --> 0:13:30.920 It's a much much cleaner look. And that's I think 0:13:30.920 --> 0:13:34.800 about as much fashionate analysis as anybody wants from me. 0:13:35.880 --> 0:13:38.880 By the way, Albert is a proud Ohio State grad, 0:13:38.960 --> 0:13:41.280 and if you see him on TV or YouTube while 0:13:41.280 --> 0:13:44.480 he's being interviewed from home, you'll notice an Ohio State 0:13:44.559 --> 0:13:48.760 helmet over his shoulder. It's game used and belong to 0:13:48.920 --> 0:13:52.880 current Bengal Eli Apple when he was a Buckeye. The 0:13:52.920 --> 0:13:56.600 Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Bud Light Seltzer. It's 0:13:56.720 --> 0:14:00.319 light and refreshing with a hint of fruit flavor. When 0:14:00.320 --> 0:14:02.800 the Bengals traded Billy Price for b J. Hill just 0:14:02.840 --> 0:14:05.600 before the start of the season. They not only acquired 0:14:05.640 --> 0:14:09.640 a solid defensive tackle, they added one of Jermaine Pratt's 0:14:09.679 --> 0:14:12.960 closest friends. I sat down with the two of them 0:14:13.000 --> 0:14:17.280 this week. They have been reunited in Cincinnati, four years 0:14:17.280 --> 0:14:21.000 after they were roommates at NC State linebacker Jermaine Pratt 0:14:21.280 --> 0:14:24.920 and defensive lineman b J. Hill. Jermaine, how did you 0:14:24.960 --> 0:14:28.480 two guys wind up rooming together in college? They sep 0:14:28.680 --> 0:14:32.360 their roommates. We was early in rodies, so I guess 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:34.920 they put us together. You know, I don't know. I 0:14:34.960 --> 0:14:38.080 don't know why. I really don't DJ. Did you two 0:14:38.120 --> 0:14:40.560 hit it off right off the bat? He was kind 0:14:40.600 --> 0:14:43.680 of to hisself at first, being a little a little awkward, 0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:47.560 But then we all, you know, that close. So you 0:14:47.640 --> 0:14:50.360 two guys are too young to remember the TV show 0:14:50.400 --> 0:14:52.760 The Odd Couple, But when I was a kid, there 0:14:52.800 --> 0:14:56.160 was a show about these two roommates. Oscar was a 0:14:56.240 --> 0:15:01.040 total slob, Felix was a neat freak. Jermaine, does that 0:15:01.120 --> 0:15:04.520 describe you two guys living together in college? Pretty much? 0:15:04.560 --> 0:15:08.440 I'm neat for you? He told us, law I would 0:15:08.480 --> 0:15:11.880 like but I think for the most part, the house 0:15:11.960 --> 0:15:15.240 is clean. It'sill like we had like game the season started, 0:15:15.280 --> 0:15:17.640 get hited, you know, it started being like a lot 0:15:17.640 --> 0:15:20.080 of decent stuff, but it was covering my other roommate. 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:22.800 He was just terrible. It's terrible. We did this is 0:15:22.840 --> 0:15:24.880 and stuff. He always out to play with other days, 0:15:25.280 --> 0:15:28.680 but it was my other roommate, So BJ. I've been 0:15:28.720 --> 0:15:30.720 out of college for more than thirty years now, but 0:15:30.800 --> 0:15:33.840 I still talk to my roommate every few days or 0:15:33.880 --> 0:15:36.880 text him every few days. Have you guys stayed in 0:15:36.960 --> 0:15:39.280 regular contact while you were playing for the Giants and 0:15:39.320 --> 0:15:41.280 he was playing for the Bengals. Oh? Yeah, we talked 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:45.080 perby every other day every day. We always shooting till 0:15:45.120 --> 0:15:49.920 the text message, FaceTime or some Instagram, So we always talking. 0:15:50.240 --> 0:15:52.720 And we also lived near each other during the offseason. 0:15:52.760 --> 0:15:57.480 So yeah, he can't get away from both North Carolina guys. 0:15:57.480 --> 0:16:00.480 We're talking to Jermaine Pratt and BJ Hill. So this year, 0:16:00.560 --> 0:16:02.840 just before the start of the regular season, the Bengals 0:16:02.840 --> 0:16:05.320 pull off a trade. They send Billy Price to the 0:16:05.320 --> 0:16:09.560 Giants for BJ Hill and now you guys are reunited. Germaine. 0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:14.480 What was your reaction to that? Trade from like a player. 0:16:14.480 --> 0:16:16.840 At standpoint, I was like inside of you know, getting 0:16:16.840 --> 0:16:18.920 a new addition on the defensive line. You know what 0:16:19.160 --> 0:16:21.520 kind of player he is, you know, hard, hard working 0:16:21.840 --> 0:16:25.200 and like take take home blocks to keep the linebackers free. 0:16:25.360 --> 0:16:26.880 So I thought it was a great opportunity for him 0:16:26.920 --> 0:16:29.640 to come play and be better, and then as a 0:16:29.640 --> 0:16:32.000 friend being a friend with him, it's a new new 0:16:32.000 --> 0:16:34.000 start for him, you know, new challenges in the NFL, 0:16:34.280 --> 0:16:37.520 new opportunity for him to showcase his talent, and whatever 0:16:37.760 --> 0:16:42.120 happens after this happens. BJ. When the trade went down, 0:16:42.640 --> 0:16:45.000 was your friendship with Germaine? One of the first things 0:16:45.000 --> 0:16:47.120 you thought of, Oh, yeah, that's the first person I 0:16:47.280 --> 0:16:51.560 called crazy little story. Um, I called him. I knew 0:16:51.880 --> 0:16:54.240 that Sunday I was gonna get traded. I called him like, 0:16:54.440 --> 0:16:57.080 I'm coming to sense. He was like, now you just playing. 0:16:57.360 --> 0:16:59.400 Then the day later I called him back, I would 0:16:59.400 --> 0:17:02.280 saying I'm really come to sense, and he's like, man, 0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:04.720 why are you playing? Did he call coach or whatever 0:17:04.720 --> 0:17:06.360 and ask him? I was like, I told him coming. 0:17:06.880 --> 0:17:09.639 So it was I was excited just knowing that he's here. Um. 0:17:10.080 --> 0:17:12.600 He made it easy on that, you know, just coming 0:17:12.600 --> 0:17:15.640 over here and making you know me field. We're talking 0:17:15.680 --> 0:17:17.560 to Jermaine Pratt and b J Hill. So in your 0:17:17.600 --> 0:17:21.760 first NFL game as teammates, you forced the fumble and 0:17:21.760 --> 0:17:24.040 then recovered the fumble in overtime that led to the 0:17:24.080 --> 0:17:27.480 game winning field goal. BJ had two sacks of Kirk 0:17:27.480 --> 0:17:30.520 Cousins in that win. I want each of you guys 0:17:30.880 --> 0:17:33.960 to describe the other one as a football player and 0:17:34.080 --> 0:17:36.760 as a person and what you admire and respect about him. 0:17:36.760 --> 0:17:39.080 So Jermaine, you go first talking about your friend b 0:17:39.200 --> 0:17:44.879 J Hill. I would say I forgot the question. I 0:17:45.040 --> 0:17:47.520 was stuck out. To be honest, I would say, like, 0:17:47.880 --> 0:17:51.240 he just a hard nosed player. You know, a guy 0:17:51.280 --> 0:17:53.880 that get outrever, he athletic, three tait and eat whatever. 0:17:53.880 --> 0:17:55.760 He could play all over the the line. So he 0:17:55.840 --> 0:18:00.199 was athletic, big, strong, physical guy they can thinking is 0:18:00.200 --> 0:18:03.239 not bagging dead, getting the rusting and like create hit 0:18:03.440 --> 0:18:06.800 in bedfield. And as a person. As a person, he's 0:18:06.840 --> 0:18:11.119 a chill, laid back guy, goofy guy. I say, like, 0:18:11.600 --> 0:18:15.520 but here, cool guy. All right, BJ, here's your chance 0:18:15.600 --> 0:18:18.320 to talk about Jermaine Pratt as a linebacker and as 0:18:18.359 --> 0:18:21.320 a friend. Uh a line becker he knows what he's doing, 0:18:21.760 --> 0:18:24.560 um all the time. He knows what play's about to come, 0:18:24.600 --> 0:18:27.199 he knows what the formations, the they're about to line up. 0:18:27.280 --> 0:18:31.880 He just he just you know, think ahead. And he's 0:18:32.040 --> 0:18:34.560 very smart as a friend, you know, one of my 0:18:34.640 --> 0:18:40.639 best friends. Uh routerda No matter what, by you do 0:18:40.760 --> 0:18:43.520 it all all right. So your two games into the season, 0:18:43.560 --> 0:18:45.959 the defense has played extremely well so far this year. 0:18:46.000 --> 0:18:48.720 You got the Steelers coming up on Sunday, Jermaine, Let's 0:18:48.760 --> 0:18:50.960 start with stopping the run, because you guys have done 0:18:50.960 --> 0:18:53.919 a great job against Dalvin Cook and David Montgomery in 0:18:53.920 --> 0:18:55.720 the first couple of weeks. Three and a half yards 0:18:55.720 --> 0:18:58.320 to carry for those guys. What is the biggest key 0:18:58.400 --> 0:19:02.359 to playing great Runde defense. Everybody just doing their job. 0:19:02.600 --> 0:19:05.080 You know, everybody had that mentality stopping the run, trying 0:19:05.119 --> 0:19:09.040 to eliminate exposal plays and everybody just doing their job 0:19:09.119 --> 0:19:13.640 and trying to eliminate trying to one dimension on offense. 0:19:13.760 --> 0:19:16.199 It's hard for a team to really attack you if 0:19:16.200 --> 0:19:18.200 you didn't stop the run game. You know, the ring 0:19:18.200 --> 0:19:20.960 games started. They got to start throwing the ball or 0:19:20.960 --> 0:19:23.160 spreading out, you know what they're doing. And then now 0:19:23.200 --> 0:19:25.360 that you got d line ask head that you got 0:19:25.920 --> 0:19:28.840 interior guys that can get to them to the quarterback, 0:19:28.880 --> 0:19:31.440 yet outside the guys can't get the ball. So it's 0:19:31.560 --> 0:19:35.120 really showing showcasing what we brought here over the last 0:19:35.200 --> 0:19:37.920 year or so, showing how elite we working and trying 0:19:37.960 --> 0:19:40.680