1 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth podcast. The What About Now addition, as 3 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: I discuss a possible Joe Burrow contract extension and other 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: offseason priorities with Brad Spielberger, the salary cap expert from 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: Pro Football Focus. And speaking of Joe Burrow, there's a 6 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: book coming out soon that details his life story to 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:34,160 Speaker 1: date from Athens to Ohio State, to LSU and ultimately 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: to Cincinnati. I'll talk to author Scott Person. The Bengals 9 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,279 Speaker 1: Booth Podcast is brought to you by Paycorps. More than 10 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:45,639 Speaker 1: twenty nine thousand customers trust Paycorps to help them recruit, 11 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: pay engage and retain employees. Learn more at paycorp dot 12 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: com and buy Bengals Picks and Ultimate Bengals. They're free 13 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: to play with tickets and signed merchandise up for grabs. 14 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: Find both inside the Bengals Half Now. Here's a quick 15 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: reminder that you can add the latest edition of this 16 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer by 17 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing 18 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: since Peter King recognizing my hometown prior to the last 19 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: six Super Bowl sportswriter Peter King has driven to work 20 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: with one of the two head coaches about a week 21 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: before the game. He did it with Zach Taylor last 22 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: year and Philadelphia's Nick Sirianni this year. After reading about 23 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: his ride with coach Sirianni, I shared with Peter the 24 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: Knick's dad was my high school track coach and science teacher, 25 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: and that commissioner Roger Goodell was also born in our 26 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: hometown of Jamestown, New York. Peter took it from there 27 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: and did some research before listing the most famous people 28 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: born in Jamestown in his Football Morning in America column 29 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: the day after the Super Bowl. He correctly had Lucy 30 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: o Ball ranked number one. He had me way too 31 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: high at number eight. But in any case, my friends 32 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: and family got a big kick out of it, and 33 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: it's always nice to see Jamestown, with its population of 34 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: roughly twenty eight thousand, get a little publicity. Now let's 35 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: get to this week's guests. Brad Spielberger, who has a 36 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: law degree from Tulane University, is the salary cap expert 37 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: for Pro Football Focus. Right now on PF you can 38 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: find his list of the top one hundred players set 39 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: to enter free agency. Jesse Bates his number four on 40 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: his list, Von Bell forty six, Jermaine Pratt fifty second, 41 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: and Hayden Hurst is seventy fifth. Brad joined me to 42 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: discuss those players, as well as possible replacements if they 43 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: don't return. But we start with the most important offseason 44 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 1: issue for the Bengals, and it's possible ramifications. Brad, let's 45 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: get right into the topic of Joe Burrows contract. He's 46 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: not a free agent. There's a year left on his deal. 47 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: The Bengals have a fifth year option the following year. 48 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: They could franchise tag him multiple times after that if needed. 49 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: So other than never wanting him to reach free agency, 50 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: what are the practical reasons to get this done now? Yeah, so, 51 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: first and foremost, obviously you want to keep your franchise 52 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: player happy, but that is, you know, more of a 53 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: non football related, non financial related reason. The big reason 54 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: from a salary cap and contract and cash flow standpoint is, 55 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: we know this market at quarterback is always going to 56 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: grow and grow and grow. So the earlier you can 57 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: get these deals done, Yes, it's gonna look massive when 58 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: you first do it, but then a couple of years 59 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: down the line. You know, Josh Allen making forty three 60 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: million dollars a year now is gonna look like pennies 61 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: when when Joe Boyle gets his deal done. So you 62 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: just get it done. And look the twenty twenty one class. 63 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: They've got Trevor Lawrence, these guys coming up right behind him. 64 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: So you want to get it done early because that 65 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: market's never gonna stop growing. At the Super Bowl, Jamar 66 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: Chase said, and I'm paraphrasing a little bit, Joe wants 67 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: to sign a contract that allows him to keep his weapons. 68 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: Nobody expects Joe Burrow to take a quote unquote hometown discount. 69 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: So how did the Bengals pay him roughly fifty million 70 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: dollars a year and still have room for others? Yeah? 71 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: I don't expect him to either, and he has no 72 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: reason to. You know, Frankly, I get that you want 73 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: to keep winning and all these things, but he is 74 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: an upper echelon quarterback that deserves the money. That reflects that. 75 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: I think the way you can do it, though, structure 76 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: is always super important. So you know, we talked a 77 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: lot about Patrick mahomes is ten year, four hundred and 78 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: fifty ye or whatever number you get seen him thrown 79 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: out there, that doesn't really matter. You know, his cash 80 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: flows were very weak in the early years. He was 81 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: willing to do that in part because of this rolling 82 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: guarantee structure where he was protected through many, many years 83 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: of the deal because essentially each year, each off season 84 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: money for him two years down the road becomes fully guaranteed. 85 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: So the cash flows early on enabled them to keep 86 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: Chris Jones, to keep a bunch of players they obviously 87 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: trained Tiree kill, but they could have fit that if 88 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: they wanted to. They're actually twentieth in cash spending this 89 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: past season, so that's a burrow could do it is 90 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: you in theory you keep smaller cash flows up front 91 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: and in turn smaller cap hits up front. But the 92 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: Bengals had this rolling guarantee structure to say, you're protected 93 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: for four or five years down the road. We're just 94 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: not going to get to that money right away. B 95 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: All again, it doesn't have to say yes that, but 96 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: that is the way that they could keep spending on 97 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: other players around him in the interim. So did the 98 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: Chiefs provide a blueprint by winning the Super Bowl for 99 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: how you can pay a quarterback and still keep good 100 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: players around him. Yeah, to a degree, I think they did. 101 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: You know, this year was the first year where Mahomes 102 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: had that kind of really big cap hit and a 103 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: larger cash outlay than the early years the deal. They 104 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: kind of kept it, you know, near his fifth year option, 105 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: you know, kind of reflect what that would have looked 106 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: like if they had gone that route, which a lot 107 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 1: of teams have done. The bills kind of the same thing. 108 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 1: And they also just were able to push money down 109 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: the line cat money that is with option bonuses and 110 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: restructures of roster bonus and all these things. So yes, 111 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: that they did show the blueprint. Like I said, I mean, 112 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: you're keeping a twenty million per year defensive lineman and 113 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: Chris Jones and all these guys that you want to keep. 114 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 1: Frank Clark made a good amount of money in the 115 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 1: last couple of years as well, because, you know, because 116 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: Mahomes conceded on you know, how he received his money. 117 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 1: We are chatting with Brad Spielberger, the salary cap analyst 118 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: for Pro Football Focus, how realistic is it to extend 119 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: Burrow and still have room for both Tee Haggens and 120 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: Jamar Chase. You know, I know this answer is not 121 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 1: going to be super well received, but I'm less bullish 122 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: and less optimistic that all three of those guys are 123 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: going to sign veteran contracts in Cincinnati. I mean, realistically, 124 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: we're talking about probably one hundred million dollars for three players. 125 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: So like, once you get into it, because I think 126 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: Burrow's gonna get fifty plus, I think this offseason, Haggens 127 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: is looking at over twenty million dollars per year. And 128 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: then by the time Jamar Chase is up, and unlike Burrow, 129 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: you've realistically more often seen every other position, the teams 130 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 1: will let the guy I get into that fourth year 131 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: going into the fifth year option, so Chase, there is 132 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 1: still some time left. But you know, nevertheless, by the 133 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: time he signs, he might be signing a thirty million 134 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: per year contract. I think he's playing the way he's 135 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: been playing. So again, I'm not saying this is some 136 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: definitive thing. I don't know anything about it. I think 137 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: Tee Higgins is going to be a very very interesting 138 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: storyline this offseason, and maybe it does get done, but 139 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: I don't think it's gonna get done anytime soon. I'm 140 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: like burrow T was a second round pick, so they 141 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: don't have the fifth year option with him. The same 142 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: is true for Logan Wilson. We know the Bengals would 143 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: love to extend all three of those guys if they could. 144 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: What would a market look like for Logan Wilson. Yeah, 145 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: and so I think he is why I've kind of 146 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: convinced myself we're not going to see Jermaine Pratt back 147 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: and some of the other defendencive players, bon Bell, Jesse Bates, 148 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: you know, because I do think they want to keep 149 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: Logan Wilson in the fold. Look, I think he's one 150 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: of the better off ball linebackers the NFL. I'm a 151 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: very good coverage player and a good in areas that 152 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: matter in today's NFL. I don't think the top of 153 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: the market the rukuand spent twenty million per year range, 154 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: but I think he's looking, you know, in the fifteen 155 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: to eighteen million per year range. He is one of 156 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: the better players at the position, has been largely durable 157 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: over his career, and I think also they've shown, you know, 158 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: they trust him in every scenario. I know Prett was 159 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: getting upset on Twitter and you know about not playing 160 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: on third downs and things of that nature. Levand Wilson's 161 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: their guy that they clearly show he's their number one 162 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: guy defense, So you know, are they going to go 163 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: there and extend him early is probably a different question, 164 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: but he's in that kind of second tier of off 165 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: ball linebacker contracts. In my opinion, the Bengals do have 166 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: pending free agents five starters from the end of last 167 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: season on offense, Hayden Hurst on defense, Jesse Bates, Von Bell, 168 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: Jermaine Pratt, and Eli Apple. Who would you extend and 169 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 1: how much would it cost? Well, my guess is miss 170 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 1: would be like missing my choice. But my guess is 171 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: that neither safety is back. Maybe von Bell I would 172 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: be shocked if Jesse Bates is a Bengal next year. Um, 173 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: Jermaine Pratt I think is not going to be there, 174 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: like I mentioned, and then Apple, I mean, if he 175 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: signs another one year, three or four million dollars deal, 176 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: you probably can make that work. Hurst is interesting, right, 177 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: So the tight end market is very strange right now, 178 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: where the top of the market is kind of capped 179 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,599 Speaker 1: by George Kittle and Travis Kelsey and Darren Waller to 180 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: a degree, but all these second tier guys that are, 181 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: you know, not the caliver of that player, are getting 182 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: twelve thirteen million dollars a year. If Hurst wants that, 183 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: they're not going to give it to him. But I 184 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: think if he's willing to settle for I don't know, 185 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: maybe not you know, three years, twenty seven millions something 186 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: like that, which is even below the market I kind 187 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: of projected for him on our offseason projections. But I 188 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: think maybe you can make that work. But even that 189 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: seems like a stretch. Realistically, I think it's possible we 190 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: see none of those guys back next year if they 191 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: don't resign Hayden Hurst. This is considered to be a 192 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: very strong tight end draft, so that's obviously an option. 193 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: But what about other free agent tight ends that they 194 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 1: might be able to get a little bit cheaper. Yeah, 195 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: and so I think that is part of it. Ay, 196 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 1: the draft class is very strong, and it'd be there 197 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: is some depth there. I got like Foster Moreau with 198 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: the Las Vegas Raiders this past year. I think is 199 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 1: a younger and potentially cheaper version of a Hayden Hurst. 200 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: So he's a name if you want to go real cheap. 201 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 1: I think a guy like irb Smith is interesting, you know, 202 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 1: been heard a bunch with the Minnesota Vikings, but is 203 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: a good player when he's healthy, and you kind of, 204 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: you know, just like Hayden Hurst, maybe you bring him 205 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 1: in on that one year, three and a half of 206 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: whatever it was millions flyer and then see where you 207 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: can go from there. I think they're probably in that 208 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: kind of bargain bid market, but which can work out 209 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: a lot at tight end. We are talking to Brad 210 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: Spielberger from Pro Football Focus. You can follow him on 211 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: Twitter at PFF Underscore. Brad. I think all of us 212 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: agree with you that Jesse Bates is almost certainly not 213 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: going to be back. What's he going to get? Is 214 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: he going to be one of the NFL's highest paid safeties. 215 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: I think I would look at the Marcus Williams deal 216 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: with the Baltimore Ravens, so he got five years seventy 217 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: million for fourteen million per year. I think Bates will 218 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: get a little bit more than that. So you know, 219 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: I had five years, seventy five million from fifteen million 220 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,719 Speaker 1: dollars a year. I don't think he's going to get 221 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: anywhere near that. You know, Derwin Jane and make if 222 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: Fitzpatrick market. The baits is a very good player, but 223 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: I think those guys offer more versatility. They're able to 224 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: actually cover, I think in more like true man covers 225 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 1: snaps in the slot. They can take on tight ends, 226 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: and it came to the number three receiver, they can 227 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, I think are more effected down in the box, 228 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: making plays, rushing the pass or things like that. Um 229 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: of course, you know, maybe we don't know if Batsis 230 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: wasn't used in those ways. But he's a good player. 231 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: He's a good run deepender. He's delivered some some crushing 232 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: hits in his time. But I think he is viewed 233 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: as more of a kind of true deep third free safety, 234 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: and those guys are just not getting paid right now 235 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: as much as your jackknife kind of versatile guys like 236 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,559 Speaker 1: a Derwin and like a make a Fitzpatrick. We might 237 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: disagree on whether they keep von Bell. I think I 238 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: think it's more likely than you do. But let's say 239 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: that they don't if they lose Bits and Bell. They 240 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: do have Dax Hill waiting in the wings. They drafted 241 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: him in the first round last year for that reason. 242 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: But how is that mid range free agent market at 243 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: safety if they need to add a starter out of 244 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: those guys. I think Bell maybe he is most likely, 245 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: but he would have to take it. I think a 246 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: deal kind of in the similar range of the one 247 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: he signed, and that is the mid tier at safety, 248 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: there's there's always so many options. It's such a deep 249 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: position right now, where outside of that top tier you 250 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: can find a lot of mid range players, you know, 251 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: good solid safeties life around Bell the first time he signed. Frankly, 252 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: there's always that level of guys. So I think it's 253 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: looking at you know, six to eight million per year 254 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,959 Speaker 1: for a lot of those guys. And I think if 255 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:27,839 Speaker 1: Bell is willing to sign for a deal similar to 256 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: the one he's on right now, that I think since 257 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 1: he should be open to doing that have him play 258 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: opposite deck. So I think they're different players that bring 259 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: different skill sets to the table, and Belle is very solid, 260 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: just like good all around player that I think would 261 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: be a benefit to that defense going forward. We are 262 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: talking to Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus. Right tackle 263 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: L Collins ended the season with a torn ACL He 264 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 1: dealt with back problems before that, never practiced on Wednesday. 265 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: How costly would it be to move on and how 266 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: is the market for a starting right tackle if they 267 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: had to go on that direction. Yeah, he's an interesting one. 268 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: They obviously structure that deal with a lot of team 269 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 1: protection with all these per game roster bonuses, which of 270 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: course you don't earn if you're not playing. Um, they 271 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: would save six million dollars if they called him, they'd 272 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: have three point three three I'm in dead cap, which 273 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 1: is not that at all. You know, it's certainly you 274 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: can stomach that for trying to replace a right tackle. 275 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: There are a handful of really good players coming up. 276 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: You know, if you want to get into the Mike 277 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,719 Speaker 1: McGlinchey and Caleb McGarry and Juan Taylor conversation, I think 278 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: you're looking at fourteen to sixteen million dollars a year, 279 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:33,839 Speaker 1: give or take. If you're looking at kind of the 280 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: next tier of players. There's a handful of guys that 281 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: are kind of swing guys. You know, Jermaine a Luminoire 282 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: with the Las Vegas Raiders. You can look at Isaiah 283 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: Win with the New England Patriots, who has now kind 284 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: of been shuffled around, played on both sides of the line. 285 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: Those guys, I think you maybe get a shorter term deal, 286 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: one or two year deal for maybe four or five 287 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: million a year. But of course, you know a lot 288 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: of the time you are getting what you pay for. 289 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: But yeah, the Collins injuries really are stacking up, and 290 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: I would not be surprised if they try to address tackle. 291 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: And I think those swing options I mentioned are intriguing. 292 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: With Jonah going into his fifth year option, obviously he's 293 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: had injury issues his whole career. You bring in a 294 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 1: guy that does have experienced, you know, George Fant another 295 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: one with the New York Jets who's played both sides 296 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: of the line. Maybe that's intriguing because you think, hey, 297 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: this guy might have to start at left tackle for 298 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: a couple of games for US next year as well. 299 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: So everybody listening to this knows there's been a ton 300 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: of speculation about Joe Mixon. Is it time to move 301 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: on from Joe to clear up cap space? Make the 302 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: case for why that would make sense, and are there 303 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: other ways to keep him but still save money against 304 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: the cap. Well that the timing for that question is perfect, 305 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: because if anyone hasn't seen Aaron Jones with the Green 306 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: Bay Packers agreed to a pay cut this morning, and 307 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: I think you're going to see Cincinnati with Joe Mixon, 308 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: probably Minnesota with Dalvin Cook, probably the Cowboys with Ezekiel Elliott. 309 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: Point to that and say, hey, Aaron Jones a very 310 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: good player on a deal that's very similar to you guys, 311 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: and he just agreed to a pay cut. So I 312 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: think that is what you do with mix And look, 313 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: I think he's a very good player. I know he 314 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: had ups and downs here, some games where he really 315 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: splashed somewhere he'd kind of disappeared into a degree obviously, 316 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: you know, not in legal trouble now, it sounds like, 317 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: but who knows what's going on there? And of course, 318 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: just you know, people will love to talk about saving 319 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: money and not spending a lot of this position. But 320 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: in my opinion, I'd rather try to negotiate a pack 321 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: up with him, chop off three four million dollars from 322 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: his nine point four million dollars salary. I think cutting 323 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: him and trying to go out in the market and 324 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: get a player or drafting early is probably not the 325 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: better approach. So that's what I would do there. It's 326 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: trying to chop a couple million off that deal. Big 327 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: picture are the Bengals in good shape to be able 328 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: to retain at least the bulk of one of the 329 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: league's best rosters. They're in phenomenal shape. I mean, they 330 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: are looking at how good their rosters and their sixth 331 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: right now in projected cap space. A lot of their 332 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: veterans are, you know, set right now. Obviously we're talking 333 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: about a ton of free agents and a ton of 334 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: good young players coming up, but it's not likely they 335 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: have a bunch of you know, Markie, you know, you know, 336 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: Trey Hendrickson's not a free agent, or you know, you 337 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, Like a lot of their elite, 338 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: elite players that they view as the foundational core pieces 339 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: for the next couple of years are under contracts. So 340 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: they're in their phenomenal shape. I don't think it's a 341 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: question of whether they can do it um. I think 342 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: it's a question of whether they want to go there 343 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: and really kind of load up on this roster um. 344 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: You know, they obviously that they they've been successful. But 345 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: the question I think in their mind is if we 346 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: go out and spend you know, just on Teagans and 347 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: Jibburrow alone, we go spend seventy five million dollars a 348 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: year on those two guys. Can we keep contending? And 349 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 1: I'm wondering what you know if they think the answer 350 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: to that question is yes. As I've said, you are 351 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: listed as the salary cap expert at Pro Football Focus. 352 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: But obviously you put a ton of time into free 353 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: agency and studying the market. How good have the Bengals 354 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: fared in free agency in recent years in your opinion? Phenomenally? Yeah, 355 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: they've been on a heater a million roster construction across 356 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: the board. I mean, yeah, I mentioned Trey Hendrickson's actually 357 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: kind of a funny anecdote. He was projected a little 358 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: bit lower on my board that offseason. He got the 359 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: better deal, and then immediately I've played that deal, um, 360 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: and I you know, I got poked fun a little 361 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: bit for that saying you were low on him and 362 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: he even better than the deal he already already got. 363 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: So But no, I mean going back to like von 364 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: Villin coming through now, I mean just it's all about 365 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: these smart, smaller signings, these mid tier deals. I love 366 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 1: the Mike Hilton deal, one of the best lack corners 367 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 1: in the NFL, you know, just just being calculated with it. 368 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 1: You'd never You rarely win when you make that big 369 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: splash and bring in the top free agent that everyone 370 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: wants to know, the name recognition guy. It's more of 371 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: those mid tier deals and you add, you know, the 372 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,679 Speaker 1: interior offensive line moves. I love bringing Carris and Kappa. 373 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: I mentioned Hendrickson for him, a great deal. Mike Hilton, like, 374 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 1: none of these guys are top of market, but they're 375 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,479 Speaker 1: really really valuable to since Nati Bengals right now and 376 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: it's they've been great the last couple of years. All right, 377 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,199 Speaker 1: final thing we started with Joe Burrow. I'm going to 378 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: end with Joe Burrow. If they get this done, what's 379 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 1: it look like? How many years, how much per year, 380 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: how much of a guarantee? What do you think? So 381 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 1: I'll say this, I think his side is probably pushing 382 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: for four because that was the standard in the past 383 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: before Patrick Mahomes kind of complicated that for everybody, and 384 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure the team is trying to say, Okay, let's 385 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: go to six. So I'll guess they meet in the 386 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: middle at five. And I'm thinking it's you know, it 387 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: does depend if he goes first or justin Herbert, all 388 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: those things, but I'll stop hedging it and give an 389 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 1: answer here. So I'll say five years at fifty two 390 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: and a half million per year, So do that quick 391 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: mental math. But whatever that comes out to in a total, 392 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 1: and then I mean, the guarantee of the thing is, 393 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 1: I just don't think Cincinnati's going to totally give in 394 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,680 Speaker 1: on their structure and their ability to guarantee beyond year one. 395 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: So my guess is we'll see, just like you know, 396 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: a Kyler Murray lest year in Arizona and a couple 397 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: of the recent deals, Josh Allen around one hundred million 398 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: dollars fully guaranteed it's signing, but a lot of the 399 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: guarantees going through the course of the deal are going 400 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: to you know, vest later. Basically they're gonna kick in 401 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: down the road and this rolling structure I mentioned, so, 402 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: you know, and we'll see how his camp wants to 403 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 1: you know, go about that. But that would be my 404 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: guess is they try to get into that one hundred 405 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 1: range and the guarantees and then it's yeah, about what 406 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 1: I say, twenty two and a half times five would 407 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: be the overall deal. As little early to do that 408 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,959 Speaker 1: mental math right now, I guess, but two sixty two 409 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: and a half, two sixty two and a half. There 410 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: you go. Worth every petty Bengals fans say, get out 411 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: the pen and sign it now, Joe sounds good. Hey, Brad, 412 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: this has been great. Appreciate your time, Appreciate your expertise. 413 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,440 Speaker 1: Keep up the great work. Thank you so much. There's 414 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: a bunch of great stuff on Pro Football Focus dot 415 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: com right now, including a really fast mock draft simulator 416 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: that then grade your picks. I used it to do 417 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: the first of many three round mock drafts that I 418 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: will do between now in late April. I got a 419 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: B minus for taking Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid in 420 00:19:55,920 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: round one, a B plus for selecting Alabama cornerback Ricks 421 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: in round two, and a C for grabbing Tulane running 422 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: back Taje Spears in round three. My overall grade was 423 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: a bus I'll see if I can get that grade 424 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: up after spending a couple of days at the NFL 425 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: Scouting Combine. The Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you 426 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: by Alta Fiber future proof fiber internet capable of delivering 427 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: multi gigabit speeds designed to take your home, business, and 428 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: community to a new level. Elevate your connection with Alta 429 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: Fiber and by Kettering Health, the official healthcare provider of 430 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: the Bengals. With more than one hundred twenty care facilities 431 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 1: and fifteen hundred care providers, Kettering Health is committed to 432 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: guiding you to your best health. Visit Kettering health dot 433 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: org to learn more. If you're like me, you can't 434 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 1: get enough information about Joe Burrow and his rise to 435 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: NFL stardom. Well, Scott Person and Sam Smathers have literally 436 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: written the book about him. It's called From Bulldog to Bengal, 437 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: The Joe Burrow Story through the Eyes of his Hometown, 438 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: and it will be available soon. Scott burst and join 439 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: me this week to discuss the book. Scott, explain your 440 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 1: connection to Athens, Ohio and why you chose to write 441 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 1: about Joe Burrows upbringing. So. I grew up in Athens 442 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: and I'm an Athens High school graduate. I've been following 443 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 1: Joe on a granular level since high school. I mean, 444 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,479 Speaker 1: the story almost writes itself, doesn't it. I mean, it's 445 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: an amazing story. I decided to co author it with 446 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,919 Speaker 1: Sam Smathers. Sam was Joe's first football coach, so he 447 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: coached Joe from third through sixth grade, and he has many, 448 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 1: many stories to tell, so I thought we were a 449 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: good combination. One of the many things I learned from 450 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: reading the book is how good the other members of 451 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: the Borough family were as players. I think people know 452 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: that his dad, Jimmy, played in the Canadian Football League. 453 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: Maybe they know he had a few games of experience 454 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: in the NFL, but they probably don't know that he 455 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: was an All league cornerback at Nebraska. He won the 456 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: Cotton Bowl, he won the Sugar Bowl. Joe's half brother Jamie, 457 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: started on a national championship contending team at Nebraska. They're 458 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,400 Speaker 1: not the Manning brothers maybe, but Joe was pretty much 459 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: born to do this. He what he was, and his 460 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: other brother Dan also played at Nebraska's so Robin grew 461 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 1: up in Nebraska. That was their hope from the beginning 462 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,199 Speaker 1: that Joe would play at Nebraska, but it wasn't in 463 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: the cards. He really didn't get a lot of attention 464 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: from Nebraska, which Ohio state. Of course, he transferred and 465 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: they went back to Nebraska again they weren't interested. It 466 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: all played out that he was going to go to 467 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: either UC or LSU, and again he went to LSU 468 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:48,239 Speaker 1: and won the national title. During that process where he 469 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: was deciding whether he would go to Cincinnati or LSU, 470 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: I was speaking to Cincinnati's head coach at the time, 471 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,719 Speaker 1: Luke Fickle, regularly getting updates on Joe Burrow, and I 472 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 1: learned from reading your book that his brother Dan played 473 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,479 Speaker 1: a pivotal role in Joe ultimately deciding to go to 474 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: LSU instead. Yeah. So yeah, Dan and Coachoe down at 475 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: LSU really have a bond. They really developed a bond. 476 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: Joe does not like being recruited, and so he wouldn't 477 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 1: answer the phone calls from Coachoe, and so Coachoe would 478 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: just call Dan every night. So Dan was the one 479 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 1: ultimately who I think convinced Joe that this was the 480 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: place if you want to win a national title, I 481 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: want to play at the highest level than LSU as 482 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: your place. We are visiting with Scott Burson. He has 483 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: written From Bulldog to Bengal, The Joe Burrows Story with 484 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 1: Sam Smathers, one of Joe's youth coaches. People say that 485 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 1: Joe has helped put Athens on the map. How did 486 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 1: Athens and the athletes that Joe grew up with help 487 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,679 Speaker 1: Joe become what he is. This class that he happened 488 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 1: to be in is the most athletic class ever to 489 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: go through Athens High School, not only the boys but 490 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: the girls. So I think there were twenty one twenty 491 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: two that got sports athletic scholarship to college. So they 492 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 1: were a remarkable class for such a small town. And 493 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: so it wasn't just Joe. I mean he had a 494 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: lot of compliments. The Lorman Twins played at Ohio University, 495 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,640 Speaker 1: he had a running back he ended up going to Northwestern, 496 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: So I mean he was surrounded by a really strong cast. 497 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: Joe has been the leader of the Bengals franchise almost 498 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,679 Speaker 1: from day one. When did those leadership traits start to 499 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,920 Speaker 1: stand out in Athens? That's interesting. I mean I think 500 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 1: everyone recognized him as a leader from the very beginning. 501 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,399 Speaker 1: I mean when Sam Smathers met him when he was 502 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: a third grader, he immediately said, He's going to be 503 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,399 Speaker 1: my quarterback, just because he has those leadership skills. He 504 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: can understand the offense. His dad was a defensive coordinator, 505 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: and so he learned how defenders think very very early, 506 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: and so he was very good as as a quarterback. 507 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,920 Speaker 1: Zakaia Saltzman, one of his best friends, told me when 508 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: I was writing the book that he thought that growing 509 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,199 Speaker 1: up in Athens. Athens is such a diverse place. Got 510 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,640 Speaker 1: country folk, you've got city folk, You've got Ohio University, 511 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 1: one hundred and twenty different countries represented there. You know, 512 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,439 Speaker 1: growing up in a diverse place, you learn how to 513 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 1: relate to different people in the locker room. And so 514 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 1: Joe is really good at relating to everybody in the 515 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: locker room. And I think Athens had a role to 516 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: play in that. So anybody familiar with my work knows 517 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: that I love anecdotes. I love nuggets, and your book 518 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: is full of them. And I'm not going to spoil 519 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:29,439 Speaker 1: the book by bringing up too many, but I do 520 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 1: want to spotlight a few. We all remember Joe's Heisman's 521 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: speech where he raised awareness of people dealing with poverty 522 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 1: and hunger in the Athens area. This wasn't something that 523 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: Joe worked on for weeks. He basically scribbled that on 524 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: a note card that day. Correct. Yeah, So Robin, his 525 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 1: mother said to Jimmy his dad, about an hour before 526 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: they were supposed to be over at the venue, Hey, 527 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: do you think Joe has anything written down. He said, 528 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:00,959 Speaker 1: you better go check on him. So Jimmy went and 529 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: he was he just put a couple and he was 530 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: putting a couple notes on a note card. Jimmy's not 531 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: sure if he even used the note card. So that 532 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,399 Speaker 1: was very much. You know, I think a speech that 533 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: came from the heart. You can see it. It's it's 534 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 1: hard for Athenians like me to watch it without tearing up. 535 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: You know, I've seen it many many times and writing 536 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:22,399 Speaker 1: this book, and it's still it still touches me. Jimmy 537 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:25,120 Speaker 1: has the note card, correct, Jimmy does have the note card, 538 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: Yes he does. That would be a valuable piece of memorabilia, 539 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: that's for sure. Yeah. So Joe has his Heisman trophy. 540 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: He also has a trophy for winning Mister Football in Ohio, 541 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: even though that trophy does not exist. Share that story. Yeah. 542 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: So he won Mister Football his senior year and he 543 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 1: was being interviewed and he just very casually said, so 544 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: when do I get the trophy? And the guy said, well, 545 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:54,439 Speaker 1: there is no trophy, and Joe was like, what do 546 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: you what do you mean there's no trophy? You know 547 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: this is you know, so at any rate, he went 548 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 1: home and Robin and Jimmy had a trophy made for him. 549 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: They went down to Zones, which is a place on 550 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,400 Speaker 1: Eastate Street in Athens, and they just had a mister 551 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: mister football, mister Ohiward football trophy made and they put 552 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:14,159 Speaker 1: it on their mantle. I love that We are chatting 553 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 1: with Scott Person who has written from Bulldog to Bengal, 554 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: the Joe Burrows story through the eyes of his hometown, 555 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: along with Sam Smathers. Going back to the draft, the 556 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty draft conducted from Roger Goodell's basement. At least 557 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 1: in the first couple of rounds. We all saw Joe 558 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 1: get that call in his living room. One thing I 559 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: never heard about was the scene outside the Borough home 560 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 1: when that happened. And you have a great anecdote about that. Yeah, 561 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: So the high school organized a bit of a caravan 562 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 1: after he was draft at number one, and they kind 563 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: of snaked cars, just snaked through the neighborhood. They're in 564 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 1: the plains and they were honking their horns and they 565 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: were very excited and Robin and Jimmy waved from the window, 566 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: but Joe was doing interviews, so it might have interrupted 567 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: his was a little bit, but he wasn't able to 568 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,679 Speaker 1: go outside and say hi, but his parents did. So 569 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 1: I'm picturing the scene from Field of Dreams at the 570 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,120 Speaker 1: end of the movie where you just see the headlights 571 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 1: stretch for as far as the eye can see. It 572 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 1: was similar to that. Yeah, yeah, something like that. At 573 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: the time of the NFL Draft, there was rampant speculation 574 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 1: on the NFL network and elsewhere that Joe didn't want 575 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: to come to Cincinnati. He might pull a quote unquote 576 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,360 Speaker 1: Eli Manning and force his way out. His parents make 577 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 1: it pretty clear in your book that that was never 578 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: the case. Yeah, that was a narrative that they're not 579 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: really sure how it started. I think it started when 580 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 1: Joe just didn't want to be over confident, you know, 581 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 1: he didn't he didn't want to just assume that the 582 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: Bengals were going to take him, even though they'd had conversations. 583 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 1: So I think it was just this humility that kind 584 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 1: of led to some of his comments that he didn't 585 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,239 Speaker 1: want to be over confident. Somebody picked up on it 586 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 1: and just ran with it, but it really didn't have 587 00:28:56,280 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: any merit. Who was most helpful to you and writing 588 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: this book, um, certainly Sam Smathers, my co author. I 589 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: mean he arranged interviews, he was a fact checker for me. 590 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 1: He gave me anecdotes. So Sam is amazing. He has 591 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:16,120 Speaker 1: a garage. His house is adjacent to the Athans High 592 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: School football field. A garage is called the Dog Pound 593 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: because of the bulldogs Athens High School Bulldogs. It may 594 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: be the top Joe Burrow museum in the world. He 595 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: does have people that stop by from out of state 596 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: from time to time and knock on the door. But 597 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: it's it's a lot of fun. It's certain certainly is 598 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: maybe the best. I don't know, maybe maybe Jimmy and 599 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,719 Speaker 1: Robin's basement would certainly be up there too with Eisman Trophy. 600 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: What does Joe mean to Athens and the surrounding communities. Yeah, 601 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: I think Joe means a lot. I mean, it's a 602 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: it's a it's an area that has struggled with poverty. 603 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: It's an area that has needed hope, and I think 604 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 1: Joe has provided that that hope in many ways, whether 605 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: it's through his high st and speech, through his philanthropic efforts, 606 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: through the Joe Burrow Foundation, which by the way, there 607 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 1: is a portion of the proceeds in this book, they 608 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 1: go to the foundation, you know, or it's on field 609 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: effort you know that he puts in. I mean, I 610 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: think he inspires people to be their best. Not Everyone's 611 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:19,719 Speaker 1: going to be a Joe Burrow and play in the NFL. 612 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 1: But I know Sam Smathers says he's just as proud 613 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 1: as of the kid you know who gets up every 614 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: day doesn't allow his challenges to overtake him, gets up 615 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: every day and goes down there and drives the forklift 616 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 1: as he is of Joey. What did you learn in 617 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 1: studying Joe and talking to all of these people that 618 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: you had no idea about going in m You know, 619 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 1: I would have to say I wasn't fully aware of 620 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: how deeply embedded many of the people I went to 621 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 1: high school are in Joe's life. So his basketball coach 622 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 1: is somebody I grew up playing against. One of the 623 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 1: guys I grew up with coach Joe four hundred, four 624 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: hundred games in basketball and baseball. In when he was 625 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 1: playing youth sports. There was another lady who got him 626 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: addicted to carmel apples suckers that I went to high 627 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: school with Joe, and I had the same lament elementary 628 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 1: school principle, we were separated by thirty five years. So 629 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 1: again just seeing how many people that I grew up 630 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: with are a major influence on Joe's life. Another of 631 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: the anecdotes that's in your book that I didn't know 632 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: about comes from the National Championship game at LSU. We 633 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 1: remember the performance, it was magnificent. We remember the cigar 634 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 1: smoking after the game. I didn't realize he suffered a 635 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 1: pretty significant injury in that game. Yeah, he did to 636 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 1: his ribs. You know, he played the second half, just 637 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: gutted it out. And that's Joe, though, you know it's you. 638 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: You're gonna have to drag him off the field, you know. 639 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 1: You know everyone's looking at what Patrick Mahones did and 640 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: we should give him kudos for playing with the ankle 641 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 1: way he did. But I mean, Joe would never come 642 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: out of a game either. So the book ends kind 643 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 1: of with what I think a lot of Bengals fans 644 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: are feeling that it is inevitable that someday Cincinnati will 645 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 1: be hoisting a Lombardi Trophy. Clearly, you believe that from 646 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: the time you've spent learning about Joe and talking to 647 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: the major influences in his life. Yeah, I don't think 648 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: Joe's going to be satisfied. To me, he has that trophy. 649 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: One of the anecdotes in the book, if you don't 650 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:29,200 Speaker 1: mind me sharing, this is youth baseball. They were in 651 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:33,040 Speaker 1: elementary school. They got a second place trophy at in 652 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: a nearby tournament. They felt that they had been completely 653 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 1: cheated out of the championship. One of the players immediately 654 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 1: through the trophy in the trash can another one broke 655 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 1: it over his knee. Joe was just very stoic, you know. 656 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:47,960 Speaker 1: And Robin ended up calling the coach later on that 657 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 1: night and says, I don't know if I should be 658 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 1: proud of Joe or if I should be disturbed. But 659 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 1: he's been in his room for the last two hours 660 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 1: dissecting that trophy piece by piece by piece, and then 661 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: he tossed it in the trash. I thought that was 662 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: a great story, and it started very early that second 663 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 1: place is not good enough for Joe, and he has 664 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 1: a winner's attitude. He's not going to be satisfied until 665 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 1: he's at the top of the mountain and the Bengals 666 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:13,600 Speaker 1: are at the top of the mountain. Scott. This is 667 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: an audio podcast but we are doing it via zoom 668 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: and you are wearing Bengals Super Bowl gear. Were you 669 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 1: a Bengals fan or have you become one because of 670 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:26,959 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow? I have been a Bengals fan since nineteen 671 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 1: sixty eight, So you know, most of us, Dan, I think, 672 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:34,720 Speaker 1: adopt the teams that our dad or our mother root for, 673 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 1: and that was certainly case for me. I mean, Athens 674 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:39,600 Speaker 1: County tends to be split between the Browns and the 675 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: Steelers and the Bengals, but I can say with all 676 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: integrity that I've been there since the beginning, So certainly 677 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: the stars have aligned perfectly for people like me from 678 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 1: Athens when Joe was drafted by the Bengals. So you 679 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 1: were kind enough to share an advanced copy of the 680 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 1: book with me. But it's going to be available soon. 681 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: Do you know when it will be available and where 682 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:03,280 Speaker 1: people will be able to purchase it? Yeah, people can 683 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 1: pre order the book right now at Orange Frasier dot com. 684 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:14,279 Speaker 1: So it's Orange Frasier Press, so Orange fr azear dot com. 685 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: It'll be available likely in mid April, all right, so 686 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:21,359 Speaker 1: we've got about a month and a half to wait 687 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:24,600 Speaker 1: and then everybody can join me in reading from Bulldog 688 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 1: to Bengal, the Joe Burrows story through the eyes of 689 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,920 Speaker 1: his hometown. It's a very enjoyable read. I mentioned a 690 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 1: few of the anecdotes in it, but there are dozens 691 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 1: and dozens of them that I will be sharing going 692 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: forward on my broadcasts. Thank you so much for your 693 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:41,839 Speaker 1: time today and best of luck with a book. Yeah, 694 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 1: thanks so much, Dan, that's going to do it for 695 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 1: this episode of The Bengals Booth Podcast, presented by Cattering Health, 696 00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 1: the official healthcare provider of the Bengals, by Bengals Picks 697 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 1: and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play with tickets and 698 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:58,960 Speaker 1: signed merchandise up for grabs by pay Corps, the official 699 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 1: HR software provider of the Bengals, and by Alta Fiber 700 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:08,360 Speaker 1: future Proof Fiber Internet elevate your connection with Alta Fiber. 701 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 1: If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this 702 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 1: podcast and if you have a minute, give it a 703 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 1: rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans 704 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:21,319 Speaker 1: find us. I'm Dan Horde, and thanks for listening to 705 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:23,239 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast.