1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Hi, Get everybody. I'm Dan Horden. This is the Bengals 2 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: Booth Podcast, the Safety Dance Edition, as we analyze the 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: Bengals decision to release veteran safety George I Loca following 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: a preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys. Coming up, my 5 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: broadcast partner Dave Lappom will join me to discuss that move, 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: as well as the players that stood out to him 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: in the Dallas game. I will also ask Lap if 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: his confidence in the offensive line took a hit from 9 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: what he saw in the first half at at and 10 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: T Stadium aka Jerry World aka the Palace in Dallas. 11 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: The next time you're in Dallas, by the way, you 12 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: can take a guided tour of the stadium and have 13 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 1: your picture taken on the start the fifty yard line 14 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: for a mere thirty two bucks plus. In this week's 15 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: fun Fact segment, you'll get to know German born tight 16 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: end Moretz bo Ringer, who made NFL history a couple 17 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: of years ago when he became the first player ever 18 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: drafted straight out of Europe without playing college football in 19 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: the US. First, he has a remarkable story and a 20 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: cool accent. All of that is straight ahead, but first 21 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: Here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest 22 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 23 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play. 24 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: It's the greatest invention since pie. When it comes to dessert, 25 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 1: some people like cake, others like pudding or chocolate mouse. 26 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: But I am a pie guy. And I mentioned it 27 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: now because there is an apple pie a few feet 28 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: away as I record this, and I will be crushing 29 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: a slice as soon as I finish. Now, time to 30 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: bringing my broadcast partner Dave Lapham to discuss the Iloca 31 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: news and the standouts in Saturday's twenty one to thirteen 32 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: win in Dallas. Lap Let's start with Sunday's big news, 33 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: the release of George Iloca. Some people were shocked. I 34 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: would say I was mildly surprised. How about you, Yeah, 35 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: I'd say that maybe the timing, you know, a little bit. 36 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: I think a lot of his teammates were surprised because 37 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: of the timing. But when you look at it, I mean, 38 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: Jesse Bates has shown that he can play. I thought 39 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: he you know, I thought he made a lot of 40 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 1: good plays in the game against Dallas. The one on 41 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: one in space, he's hitting people and they're getting nothing. 42 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: I mean, the journey is over. And that was the 43 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: question about him, you know, coming in, Uh, you know, 44 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: great guy tracking the football, interceptions, making players in the football, 45 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: but would he tackle? And he's to me, he's answered 46 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: that question with flying colors. So I think, um, you know, 47 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: the fact that they have a belief in him, and 48 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: you know, I think they're trying to clear some some 49 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: cap space to sign extend the contracts of either Geno Atkins, 50 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: Carlos Dunlapper both. So you know, when you look at 51 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: the two moves they made with older players, there were, uh, 52 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: there was money to be had for salary cap purposes. 53 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,239 Speaker 1: Though that that kind of makes you think the timing 54 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: is coming sooner rather than later to have one of 55 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: those guys extended potentially. So I mean, when you add 56 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: it all, added it all up and thought about it, 57 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: not really a shock, but I guess the timing may 58 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: have been maybe a little surprising. I wasn't shocked for 59 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: a couple of reasons. Number One, the Bengals made it 60 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: abundantly clear in the offseason they wanted upgrade the safety position. 61 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: They talked to Kurt Colem and he wind up signing 62 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: with the Saints instead of the Bengals. They talked to 63 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: Eric Reid, who still hasn't signed with anybody, and then 64 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: they drafted a safety in the second round. So clearly 65 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: they weren't thrilled with the play at least last year. 66 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: If Sean Williams and George Iloka, and then secondly to me, 67 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: Sean Williams and George Iloka are kind of the same guy, 68 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: good tackling, solid, very solid players, but neither one is 69 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: a center field type that's going to get a lot 70 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: of picks. Sean Williams is a year younger, quite a 71 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: bit cheaper. Seems to make sense to me. If you've 72 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: got two guys that are more or less the same, 73 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: keep the younger, less expensive guy. Yeah. And I think also, um, 74 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: when when Jesse Bates showed that he could be the 75 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: quarterback of the defense, because that's what George was. George 76 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,119 Speaker 1: was like a coach on the field, getting everybody lined up. Um, 77 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: he's the guy that makes the calls and then makes 78 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: the adjustments and coverages, you know, based on what the 79 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: offense is doing, and that that's going to be a 80 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: big responsibility. There's going to be some pressure quote Une 81 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: Air quotes on on Bates to get that done. He'll 82 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: make some mistakes. You know, he's a younger player. George 83 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: was remarkable in that way though he had tremendous has 84 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: tremendous football LIKEQ and I think they feel like Bates 85 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: does as well. And and let's face it, you know 86 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: what George Alka is, Bates is ceiling. You have no 87 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: clue yet. And if they're close right now, why not 88 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: go with the younger, less expensive guy that has a 89 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: bigger upside. So from the business standpoint, you know, it 90 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: makes it makes sense for a lot of the reasons 91 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: that you know you mentioned earlier as well, and um, 92 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: you know, it's just that's just the way it is 93 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: in the national football A good example this week's opponent, 94 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: the Buffalo Bills. They get ten interceptions out of their 95 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: starting safeties, five apiece, one made the Pro BOL, the 96 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: other one probably should have. Bengals got two out of 97 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: their starting safety. So what they want is they want 98 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: more plays like Buffalo has given them given that defensive 99 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: football team on the back end, and they're hoping that, 100 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: you know, Bates could be a big contributor to that. 101 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: Let's follow up on the timing slash salary aspect of this, 102 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: because George was in the third year of a five year, 103 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: thirty million dollar deal. It reportedly frees up about five 104 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: million bucks against the salary cap. Do you think that 105 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: this is pointing toward a deal with Geno, Carlos or both. Yeah, 106 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: you'd have to assume that. You'd have to think that 107 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: that it's it's eminent, you know, it's they saved saved 108 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: money by waving a veteran receiver, save money by veteran 109 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: waving a veteran safety. It just, you know, it makes 110 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: sense that they're on the customer getting something done with 111 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: one of them, hopefully both, but at least one of them. 112 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: And the timing is about when it has happened, you know, 113 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: right right before the season starts, So it would not 114 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: be a surprise at all if in the next few 115 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: days or the next week or so, there's some kind 116 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: of some kind of deal that's going to be announced 117 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: and hopefully they're just thought in the eyes and crossing 118 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: the tees. Let's face it, if they extend Geno Atkins, 119 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: it all makes sense, absolutely, yeah, no question about it. 120 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: And players we were talking about that you know Dre 121 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: in conversation with Dre today, you know that's that's the business. 122 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: And you know he said, I know there's guy's going 123 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: to be making a pile of money on this football 124 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: team here shortly. So it's it's no mystery. It's no secret. 125 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: It's just life in the National Football League, in today's economy, 126 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 1: in the UNFL, for sure. All right, Let's go back 127 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: to Saturday's win in Dallas. Bengals win at twenty one thirteen, 128 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: but the starters were outperformed by the Cowboys in the 129 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: first half when Dallas led ten nothing. Let's specifically talk 130 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: about the offensive line. Are you more concerned about the 131 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: O line coming out of that game than you were 132 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 1: going in? Yeah, I mean questions weren't answered, you know 133 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: that that you were hoping might be. In looking at 134 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 1: it a little bit, I thought that the running game 135 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: wasn't as bad as my initial reaction was. It was 136 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: a twofold thing. It certainly needs to be better than 137 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: it was upfront, But I thought the running backs were 138 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: trying to do too much, making cuts that they didn't 139 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: have to make. They weren't running attack the tracks as 140 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: tightly as they could have, and they were trying to 141 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: create a home run and doing a little bit too much. 142 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: So I think it's just a matter of you know, 143 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: settling on whoever it is in the offensive line with 144 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: the running backs and getting that rhythm and timing. I mean, 145 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: you know, the relationship between your blockers and your running 146 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: back is something that just comes with repetition, and repetition 147 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,239 Speaker 1: breeds comfort level and breeds excellence. And they're not there 148 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: at this point in time. It's just it's just not 149 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: in sync. It's not you know, they all talked about, 150 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: like AJ talked about being off a tick after the 151 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: game offensively with the passing game. Well they're off a tick, 152 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: maybe a tick and a half in the running game. 153 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: And it is it's all just a timing thing that 154 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: you can only get done when you're at full speed. 155 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: You know, in game conditions, you can rep it and 156 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: practice all you want, but until you get out there 157 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: and it's it's the real speed, the real deal, you know, 158 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: things are a lot different for sure. Let's get to 159 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: the positive. Let's pass out some game balls after the 160 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: victory in Dallas. Give me a few guys that stood 161 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: out to you on both sides of the ball. Well, 162 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: I tell you. I thought that offensively, you know, you 163 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: look at you look at Brian Hill. He took advantage 164 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: of his opportunities fully. You know, he averaged twenty three 165 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: and a half yards of catch and he averaged six 166 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: yards of rush, so you know, that's pretty pretty proficient, 167 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: pretty efficient. He had his four play fifty nine yard 168 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: drive that was all him. So guys like Trey Carson, 169 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 1: who I thought stepped up as well. Trey Carson and 170 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: Brian Hill are saying, don't forget me. You know, I'm 171 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: here here, I am I'm out here performing. And if 172 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,199 Speaker 1: it's not the Bengals that are going to answer the 173 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 1: raised hand, it might be another team in the NFL, 174 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: or it might be a team in Canada or these 175 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: new leagues, or what these guys are doing in these 176 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: preseason games is trying to extend their football life, trying 177 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: to extend their football career. So they know that they're 178 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: not putting tape down just to be evaluated by the 179 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: Cincinnati Bengals organization. It's being looked at by everybody, and 180 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: everybody is looking at every every single bit of tape 181 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: that they possibly can from every single football team in 182 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: the National Football League. So it's competitive to make that 183 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: fifty three man roster, but there are other opportunities. You know. 184 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: It's it's maybe you don't hit a home run, but 185 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: why not hit a ground rule double. You know, if 186 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: you if you can stay alive and you might score, 187 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: somebody might knock in, you know. So it's the same 188 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: same type of thing. You just you're scratching and clawed 189 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: to continue your your career. And I thought, you know, 190 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: those two guys stepped up, I thought, on the on 191 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: the offensive side of the football, and then defensively, Nick Vigil, 192 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: I mean Vigil. Vigil was strong. I think he had 193 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: feign assisted tackles and a couple of assists, and he 194 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: had the quarterback sack, one of the five sacks. The 195 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: Bengals did have five sacks on the day and Dallas 196 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: only had one. And I thought Bates, Jesse Bates, with 197 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: feign assisted tackles. We saw him hit his game responsibilities 198 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: properly and make plays, and I thought, that's the so 199 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: we talked about earlier. That was the big plus. He's 200 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: done it in a couple of games now, and you know, 201 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: two preseason games does not a career make or a 202 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: season make by any stretch. But it's encouraging to see 203 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: him doing that, you know, that type of thing. And 204 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: I thought Billings, you know, we talked about it before 205 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 1: the game. Have they solved the nose tackle position. We 206 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: thought maybe that's the closest one to be insolved. He 207 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,719 Speaker 1: took another step. I thought it wasn't Travis Frederick, but 208 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: it was a good offensive line still in there when 209 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: he was playing, and he had three unassisted tackles and 210 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: as an interior guy, and that's not counting the disruptions 211 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: that he took back to somebody else. One of his 212 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: tackles was a tackle for lost four yard loss on 213 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:41,439 Speaker 1: his own, but then there were other plays that were 214 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: negative plays because he made that back make his first 215 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: cut and teammates were there to finish it up. So 216 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: I thought, I thought Billings really showed up. And then 217 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: you know the young guys, Jordan Willis with a couple 218 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: of sacks and Sam hovered with the strip sacks. So 219 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: defensively I thought they did. I thought they miss misfit 220 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: one gap responsibility that hurt him in the running game, 221 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: but overall, I thought they played the run decently against 222 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: a pretty good, you know, offensive line. So you know 223 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 1: even though they were they get outplayed. I agree with you, Dan, 224 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 1: meaning in the football game, it wasn't like they were 225 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 1: totally embarrassed and dominated. When when you look at it, 226 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: it's never as bad as you think, and it's never 227 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: as good as you think. You know once you really 228 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 1: take a look at it. So I think you know 229 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 1: you can work from it and build off it, that's 230 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: for sure. Are you ready for my game ball? What's 231 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: your game ball? I am giving it to Bengals head 232 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: coach Marvin Lewis for the following reason, going for two 233 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: with a minute to go in the third quarter to 234 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: more or less guarantee that that game would not go 235 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: to overtime. And of course it worked on a nice 236 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,439 Speaker 1: catch by John Ross half a fastball from Jeff driscoll. 237 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: But you know what, we need to turn the clock 238 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: back to the first preseason game because we did not 239 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: kill Bears coach Matt Naggey nearly enough for attempting a 240 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: game tying fifty two yard field goal with less than 241 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: a minute to go that would have forced overtime. And 242 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: there is over time in preseason games. Brook, you mistake 243 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: I head coach, for I bet his teammates said, you 244 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: make it, you're walking home, You're not flying. I mean 245 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: that that was that was kind of nuts. And speaking 246 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 1: of kickers, what about Brown? How about him getting the 247 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: game ball fifty five yard or I honestly, I wonder 248 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: if he was supposed to do all that kicking. I 249 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: haven't asked the coaches yet, but because you know, he 250 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: didn't have the opening kickoff right, that was the only 251 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 1: time we saw a kitching right right and uh in 252 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: the opening kickoff, and then after that when he made 253 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: that fifty five yard or maybe you know, Darren says 254 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: to Marvin, let's let's let's take a look at let's 255 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: you know, let him can he deserves to continue here? 256 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: He made that. Who knows, maybe it was planned. I've 257 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:43,839 Speaker 1: not checked that out. I don't know if it was 258 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: planned that way or not, or if he just kind 259 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: of kicked himself into additional opportunities and continued to shine. 260 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: I mean, that kickoff goes through the end zone, hits 261 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: the crossbar. That would have been at least another ten 262 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: yards past the back line of the end zone. This 263 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: that's that's twenty yard. It's you know, out of out 264 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 1: of bounds, almost to the seats. I mean, the guy 265 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: has a kin and a howitzer hanging off that right hip, 266 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 1: and uh, the hang time he gets with it not 267 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 1: only distance, but I mean that's a big parabola. Well 268 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: that's that's in that dome. To get it was like 269 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 1: an Adam upper deck home run, majestic trajectory on his kicks. Man, 270 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: it's crazy. Marvin said after the game that it's not 271 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: an open competition. It's still Mike Nugent's and not Mike 272 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: Nugent Randy Bullock's job. And let's you know, give credit 273 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 1: to Randy Bullock. He made ninety percent of his field 274 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: goals last year. He hasn't missed a kick in a 275 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: game so far this year. But I will say this, 276 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: I used to think that if Randy Bullock went down, 277 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 1: they would not have the nerve to go to John 278 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: Brown just because he's never done it in a game before. 279 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: I figured, well, if Randy tweaked something, they would do 280 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: what they did last year. They would go find another 281 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: Marshal Kane to kick in a game or two. John 282 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: Brown is changing my mind about that. I think that 283 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,319 Speaker 1: if Randy Bullock were to suffer an injury, I think 284 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: John Brown is showing them enough that they would say, 285 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: you know what, let's give him a shot. And I 286 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: think that's the reason they let him do the additional 287 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 1: kicking is to build a resume that not only the 288 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: Bengals have that opinion, but other teams in the league 289 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: look at it and say, man, he's on my short list. 290 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: You know, I'm gonna I'm gonna bring him in for 291 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: at least a tryout where he wouldn't have been on 292 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: on the tryout list. When kickers either you know, lose 293 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: their opportunity due to ineffectiveness or injury and then they're 294 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: looking for somebody else. He might be on a few 295 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: people's list by the time this preseasons are what then, 296 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 1: like we said again, Canadian football, these new leagues, he's 297 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: trying to extend his career. I mean he is. He 298 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: is a neophyte for sure. So every every opportunity he 299 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: gets is going to be it's like gold. It's like 300 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: a gold bar for him to have kicks that kind 301 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: of magnitude and that kind of opportunity. So and he responded, 302 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: so I think he is. You know, he's gonna he's 303 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: gonna make his mark and make some lists. For sure. 304 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: It seems like every year, or maybe every couple of years, 305 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: somebody makes this team based on returns. In the preseason. 306 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: It was Dane Sonzenbacher. A few years ago, it was 307 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: Alex Ericson two years ago. Is Darius Phillips becoming that 308 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: guy this year? Maybe he would have made it anyway? 309 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: Fifth round draft, picked to play quarterback, But he had 310 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: a forty four yard kick return. He had a twenty 311 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: four yard punt return. He was very successful as a 312 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: kick returner in college, and I'm wondering if he is 313 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: showing them enough as a return man to more or 314 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: less guarantee that he's going to stick around on the 315 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: fifty three. I mean, he's he's making a making a 316 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: statement for sure. He's shown up twice in both games. 317 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: He showed the wiggle of short space quickness. He definitely 318 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: has an innatability. Those return guys. Some of the things 319 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: that they do you can't really coach. It's instinct, it's feel, 320 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: it's knack. Guys have a knack for it and other 321 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: guys don't. You know. That's why it's like, well, John Ross, 322 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: why you know, why isn't he returning? Well, you saw 323 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: in that punt he wasn't really too sure about messing 324 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: with it, said he lost in the lights. Okay, that's happens. 325 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: It happens. It definitely happens. And if you feel like 326 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: you have you don't want to, you know, stab at 327 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: it and cause cause issues. But I mean he is, 328 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: he's totally comfortable back there. You know, when when guys 329 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: are running down at you like they are in the 330 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: National Football League on special teams, it's a it's a 331 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: very very unique feeling. And he has to come and 332 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: the composure to handle it and deal with it, make 333 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: good decisions in the return game. And he has shown 334 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: Darren Simmons the first thing you have to do is 335 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: secure the football, and he's done a good job at 336 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: catching the football. So and that's what Alex Erickson was 337 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 1: all about. He was very very sure back there, as 338 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: well as his ability to return it. But you know, 339 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: now you look at it and you say, okay, well, 340 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: alex Erickson and Phillips. So they in a battle because 341 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: you're not just fighting all the wide receivers. If you've 342 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: got a defensive back trying to make the back end 343 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: of that roster and he can return kicks and you're 344 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: a receiver trying to make the back end of the 345 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: roster and you can return kicks. You're going against each other. 346 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: You're not going against Auton Tat or whoever else, Cody Corps. 347 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: You're going against those guys and a guy from an 348 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: the position group. And that's that's the life in the 349 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: NFL from a roster standpoint. But if both of them 350 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: make it, Darren Simmons even in a better situation because 351 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: one gets nicked up, you just tossed the other one 352 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: in there. And he had that with Adam Jones. Now 353 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: with Adam Jones, you know, not on the football team. 354 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: You know, Phillips might be a guy that would be 355 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: you know, potentially at some point in time and some 356 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: of the sub packages if he works his way up 357 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: to that. Plus he could provide a return opportunity if 358 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: Ericson gets knicked up. I guess the good news for 359 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: Alex Rickson is he's having excellent camp as a wide receiver. 360 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: Made a tremendous toe tap catch on third and eleven 361 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: for a twenty eight yard gain, drew a key pass 362 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: interference penalty in the Dallas wins, so he doesn't necessarily 363 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: have to hold on to his job as a return man. 364 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: Because I think he's one of their top five wide receivers. 365 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: I think he's one of their you know, if you 366 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: look at the fifty three men roster, he's not He's 367 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 1: not like number you know, forty six, the last guy. 368 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: To me, he's a solid member of the football team. 369 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: I was just pointing out. You know, it's like the competition. 370 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: You can't have television just oh, I'm competing with these 371 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: cornerbacks or you're competing with a lot of people when 372 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 1: you're not, you know, one of the top twenty two 373 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: guys on the football team. So it becomes the more 374 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 1: you can do. And yeah, to me, Alex Erritson, it's 375 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: it's it's gold stamp. I mean, he's he's on my 376 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: football team and he will be as long as he 377 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: can probably play. I love the kid. I love everything 378 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: he gives to uh you on the football field, in 379 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,920 Speaker 1: the locker room. You know, he's a he's a great 380 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: member of the organization. But that's uh you know, Phillips. 381 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 1: Phillips is making showing it, showing that he can h 382 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: It's all based on number of snaps you can provide, 383 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: you know, and he's showing he could be maybe a 384 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: factor in the sub packages. If if he's if he 385 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: continues to improve and progress with what they want systematically here, 386 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: and then with his natural gift of a return guy 387 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: like you mentioned a few times. Anybody at any level 388 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: that returns as many balls or scores as many touchdowns 389 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: as that kid did, as many different ways as he did, 390 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: he's got to be a football player, and he is. 391 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 1: He's a good football player. Five kick return touchdowns, one 392 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: punt return touchdown in college for Darius Phillips. Final topic 393 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: is John Ross had a twenty nine yard catch, excellent 394 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 1: play on the two point conversion to hold on to 395 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,160 Speaker 1: that throw from Driscoll before getting popped, and then early 396 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: in the game failed to catch a punt that cost 397 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: the Bengals field position. They had to start their first 398 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: drive of the game from the four yard line as 399 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: a result, I feel like in the first two weeks 400 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: we have seen what the Bengals are going to get 401 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: out of John Ross as a rookie. Knock on wood, 402 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: that he stays healthy, they're going to be some mess ups. 403 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,360 Speaker 1: He didn't play last year. In Game one, he fell 404 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: down it led to the pick six. In Game two, 405 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: he fails to catch the punt but he is going 406 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: to provide that big play element that they have sore 407 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: so sorely lacked. Twenty yard catch in game one, twenty 408 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: nine yard catch in game two. Maybe he doesn't catch 409 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: sixty balls this year, but when he makes plays, they're 410 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: going to be for big games. He may average twenty 411 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: yards to catch or eighteen or more, you know, and 412 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: that that's the kind of thing he can do. Like 413 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: you said, he's gonna be um, he's gonna pop off 414 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: the tape both ways, you know, potentially, and hopefully it's 415 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: a heck of a lot more from a positive standpoint 416 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: with him, you're gonna maybe look at some train wrecks, 417 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: like we talked about. You hate to see train wrecks, 418 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: you know, you don't want to steve penalties. You don't 419 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 1: want to see turnovers, you want to see drops, You 420 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: don't want to see any of those kind of things. 421 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: But then when he gives a guy a little bit 422 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: of shake you know, in space on like a little 423 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,640 Speaker 1: bubble screen and takes it sixty yards like, oh my gosh, 424 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: not many guys in this world can do that, or 425 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: just flat runs by somebody you know and secure as 426 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 1: the football in a big play that way, he does provide, 427 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: you know, what they've been looking for since Marvin Jones, 428 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 1: a guy on the other side of the field to 429 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 1: stretch the field opposite AJ, so you know, can't always 430 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: tilt it and roll it toward AJ. You have to 431 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: think about the other guy and hopefully he his biggest thing. 432 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: Just like a lot of football players, strive for his consistency. 433 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: And his graph is too you know, there's too many 434 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: peaks and valleys in it. And if he can, if 435 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: he can keep the keep the needle up toward that 436 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: high end of his graph. He's not going to be 437 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 1: there every snap do something like oh my god, I mean, 438 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: nobody does that. But if he can get there a 439 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: higher percentage of the time than he's doing now, he 440 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: could be something special. We are off to Buffalo on Saturday. 441 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: Will you join me again at my favorite chicken wing 442 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: place in the city of Buffalo. As a native of 443 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: that area, Dan, your your opinion proved to be solid gold. 444 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 1: I think a return trip is in order. Brow Gabriel's 445 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: Gate is the place and Horden Lapham will be crushing 446 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: it on Saturday night. Look forward to it. Same here, 447 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 1: Buffalo's most famous chicken wing establishment is the anchor bar 448 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 1: where buffalo style wings were supposedly invented. But as Lap mentioned, 449 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: I grew up in Western New York and I swear 450 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:02,200 Speaker 1: by Gabriel's Gate on Allen Street Intown Buffalo. They are awesome. 451 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 1: Next Sunday's game in Buffalo starts at four o'clock. And 452 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 1: if you missed the news, the Bengals will not be 453 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: facing aj mccaron, who suffered his shoulder injury last week. 454 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:15,160 Speaker 1: The Bills have announced that rookie Josh Allen, the seventh 455 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: pick and this year's draft, will get his first preseason 456 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: start at quarterback. Now time for this week's fun facts segment, 457 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: as we get to know the person under the pads, 458 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 1: in this case, twenty four year old Moritz bo Ringer, 459 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: a six four, two hundred forty three pound tight end 460 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: who is a sixth round draft pick by the Minnesota 461 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 1: Vikings in twenty sixteen, when he made history by becoming 462 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 1: the first European player to be drafted without playing any 463 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: college football in the US. Time for some fun facts 464 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: with Bengals tight end Moritz bo Ringer, a native of Stuttgart, Germany, 465 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: who is with the Bengals this year as part of 466 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:58,160 Speaker 1: the NFL's International Player Pathway program. Let's turn the clock back, Moritz, 467 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 1: how does a kid growing up in Germany become interested 468 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: in American football? I played soccer growing up, like most 469 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: guys in Germany do, and then at some point I 470 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: just saw a random video on YouTube by Adrian Peterson 471 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: and I kind of liked what I saw and I 472 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 1: just looked at what it is, and yeah, try to 473 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 1: find a club in Germany. And luckily we had football 474 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: in Germany, so I just joining the club in my 475 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: hometown and yeah, basically that's where it all started. What 476 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 1: was that club team? Like, how often did you practice? 477 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 1: And how sophisticated was it in comparison to what kids 478 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 1: are exposed to here? We have like we had like 479 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: a chowing team with another city because we just didn't 480 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: have enough guys. So we just like practiced, I don't know, 481 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,400 Speaker 1: like once or toys a week and then maybe two 482 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 1: times a month we drove to the other city and 483 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 1: practice with them. So it was hard in the beginning. 484 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: We're doing fun facts with Bengals tight end Morris Bowringer. 485 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: You eventually played in the German Football League for this 486 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 1: Wabbish Hall Unicorns, if I'm saying that correctly. How popular 487 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 1: is that league? Are the games televised? Did they get spectators? 488 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:09,639 Speaker 1: Tell me a little bit about the German Football League. 489 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: I don't know, like the games get like around two 490 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: three thousand people. It's not on TV now, but they're 491 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: trying to get at least the highlights of the games 492 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: on TV and then the final to Jane Bowl, that's 493 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 1: what that's on TV. So it's kind of if you 494 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: want to get in the game, so you give me 495 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: on TV. And you played in the German Bowl, kind 496 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: of the Super Bowl of European football. Yeah, exactly, it's 497 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 1: that's a big, bigger game. It's probably like twelve thousand 498 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 1: people come to that game and it's in Bolin in 499 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: the Capitol. So that was a nice experience. We're visiting 500 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 1: with Mart's bow ringer. NFL teams are always looking for 501 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 1: undiscovered talent, and after you had great statistics in the 502 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 1: German Football League, you got an invitation to come to 503 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: the US and go through a pro day where you 504 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 1: work out in front of NFL scouts. What was it 505 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: like to you getting that call, getting that invitation to 506 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: go through a pro day? Yeah, at first I didn't 507 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: really believe it because the guy who contacted me first 508 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: roll me on Facebook and ask me for my number 509 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: and then just call into you want to come to 510 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 1: the United States, And I was like, Okay, I'm not 511 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 1: sure if that's like good joke or something, but in 512 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,679 Speaker 1: the end it was all real. So you come to 513 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 1: the US. You did a workout at Florida University and 514 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: you had great numbers of four four and the forty 515 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: yard dash, a thirty nine in vertical leap, and you're 516 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 1: a big guy. Your life changed from that workout, didn't it. Yeah, 517 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 1: it was pretty crazy off of that, like especially all 518 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: the media coverage I got, and it was just almost overwhelming. 519 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: But it was also good because I wanted to play 520 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 1: football in the highest level and that gave me a 521 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 1: chance to do it. Teams got interested as a result 522 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 1: of that workout, and you eventually got drafted in the 523 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 1: sixth round two years ago by the Minnesota Vikings. Did 524 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: that make you a big celebrity back in Germany? I 525 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: get recognized from time to time, but it's not like 526 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: I can't go outside and do anything. It's like I 527 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: still can do what I normally do. You're drafted by 528 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: the Vikings. You go to their camp and I can 529 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:22,640 Speaker 1: only imagine how intimidating it must have been where you're 530 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,640 Speaker 1: one of ninety guys, but they've been playing American style 531 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: football their whole lives and you have very limited exposure 532 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: to it back in Germany. Was it a little bit scary? 533 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:35,880 Speaker 1: I wasn't used to like a professional sport. I think 534 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,919 Speaker 1: that was the biggest challenge. Like people who grow up 535 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: like go through the whole system and they like get 536 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: slowly introduced to the whole what it takes to be 537 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 1: an NFL professional player, And yeah, I just got thrown 538 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: in there and I had to learn everything real fast. 539 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: Were there really basic football terms or what we would 540 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 1: consider to be basic football terms that you had never 541 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,119 Speaker 1: heard before and you're trying to pick it up in 542 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 1: the NFL. No, it was more than like the complexity 543 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 1: of the playbook. It was just more than I was 544 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: used to and there was more details on everything in 545 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,439 Speaker 1: the roads had to be really clean. In Germany, I 546 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: just could use the way Atlantics and just dominated with that. 547 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:20,439 Speaker 1: So in twenty sixteen, you spent a year on the 548 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: Vikings practice squad, playing for Mike Zimmer, a former Bengals 549 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 1: assistant coach. What was that year like? How much did 550 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: you learn in that year on the practice squad? It 551 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 1: was definitely a great chance to learn a lot about 552 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 1: football and how the NFL works too. I just enjoyed 553 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: being there and just experienced the whole thing. A few 554 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: more fun facts with Bengals tight end more its bow ringer. 555 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:47,640 Speaker 1: So the NFL has started this International Players Pathway program, 556 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: and basically the way it works just by random the 557 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 1: four teams in the AFC North were selected. Each team 558 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 1: was assigned an international player and that player could possibly 559 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: make the fifty three man roster or if not, the 560 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 1: team's get an exemption so that that player can stay 561 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,719 Speaker 1: on the practice squad for the year. So you are 562 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,640 Speaker 1: more or less assured of being with the Bengals for 563 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 1: the upcoming year. What do you hope to get out 564 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,640 Speaker 1: of this season because I changed pocisions, I just try 565 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: to get the whole tight end thing and yeah, just 566 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: get better at that, get better at blocking, and just 567 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: try to learn as much as they can. Yeah. I 568 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 1: don't know if I even mentioned it. You are a 569 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 1: wide receiver back home in Germany. That's what you played 570 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,679 Speaker 1: with the Vikings and now the Bengals are converting you 571 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 1: to tight end. Yeah, it was just new in the beginning, 572 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: and the whole terminology too, like the whole blocking schemes. 573 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: But yeah, I'm getting used to it. So it's not 574 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: rocket science. It's just got to block the right guy. 575 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: It might be tougher than rocket science. Weren't you studying 576 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 1: mechanical engineering back home exactly, so you're obviously a good 577 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 1: student in addition to being an excellent athlete. Yeah, that's 578 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: what I did most of the time. I was studying 579 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: first and football was just on the side for fun. 580 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 1: So okay, final fun fact for Moretz Bowringer, the Bengals 581 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 1: tight end. Cincinnati has a great German heritage. We have 582 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: an October Fest every year. There's a popular German language school. 583 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 1: The over the Rhine neighborhood was built by German immigrants. 584 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: Have you become familiar with all of these German ties 585 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: in the city of Cincinnati. Yeah, I've seen some stuff, 586 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 1: and I've seen the Hope Boy host in Newport and 587 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: I went to the see Cincinnati game and had like 588 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 1: some fang club in him stud that was a fang club. 589 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: So yeah, there's a Lofer Jone stuff you should fit 590 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: right in. Yeah, very good. We appreciate your time. Best 591 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 1: of luck this year. I hope to make some catches 592 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 1: in the preseason. Yeah, thank you. Bo Ringer had one 593 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: catch for four yards in the Dallas game, and while 594 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: he won't make the fifty three man roster to begin 595 00:29:57,680 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 1: this season, he is sure to be on the prac 596 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 1: to squad since all four teams in the AFC North 597 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 1: get to carry an extra practice squad player this year 598 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: as part of the new International Player Pathway program. That's 599 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: going to do it for this edition of the podcast. 600 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:17,959 Speaker 1: If you haven't done so already, don't forget to subscribe 601 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 1: on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and give it a 602 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 1: rating or leave a comment. Your feedback has been great 603 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: and five star ratings help more Bengals fans find this podcast. 604 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to The Bengals 605 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: Booth podcast