1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,439 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Hoard and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: the Bengals Booth podcast The I'm Wonderin addition, as I 3 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: discussed the team's ambitious offseason goals with one of my 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: favorite Bengals analysts and content creators, Joe Goodberry, but first 5 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: punter Ryan Rico joins me to look back at his 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: record setting rookie year. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: to you by pay Corps, proud to be the Bengals 8 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 1: official HR software provider, by Ulta Fiber, future proof fiber 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: Internet designed to elevate your home, business and community to 10 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: a new level, and by Kettering Health, the best care 11 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare 12 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 1: provider of the Bengals. Now here's a quick reminder that 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered 14 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing wherever 15 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since art, 16 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: but make it sports. That's the name of a social 17 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: media account that takes still images from the world of 18 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: sports and compares them side by side to works of 19 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: art that looks similar. The person behind the account is 20 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: named l j Raider and his knack for matching current 21 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: sports photos to centuries old art without the help of 22 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: AI is nothing short of remarkable. For example, on the 23 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: Fumble in the Jungle, there's a famous image that shows 24 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: Raven's quarterback Tyler Huntley jumping up and trying to extend 25 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,759 Speaker 1: the ball over the goal line just before it's knocked 26 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: out of his hands by Logan Wilson. Raider posted it 27 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: on the Art But Make It Sports social media account 28 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: next to a painting from the early eighteen hundreds named 29 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques Louis David. The image 30 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: of Napoleon hoisting a crown above his head is eerily 31 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: similar to Huntley holding out the football. Raider is also 32 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: posted side by side comparisons of a T. Higgins catch 33 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: next to another painting by Jacques Louis David, as well 34 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: as an image of Joe Burrow entering a stadium in 35 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: a funky sweater next to a quilt made by Mary 36 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: Lee Bendolph. If you want to see what I mean, 37 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: go to Twitter or x whatever you call it these days, 38 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: and do a search for art but Make It Sports. 39 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: That's one long word and Bengals with the AT symbol 40 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,839 Speaker 1: in front of it. Again. Search for art, but make 41 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: it sports and at Bengals. Now let's get to my 42 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: first guest this week, Punter Ryan Rico made a quick 43 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: trip to Cincinnati from his home in Utah to sign 44 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,839 Speaker 1: a two year contract extension. Not bad for a guy 45 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: who wasn't even on the roster when the Bengals open 46 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: training camp last year. I talked to Ryan about that 47 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: and what turned out to be a record setting rookie year. Ryan, 48 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: after your outstanding rookie year, it's easy to forget that 49 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: you were not on the team for the first day 50 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: of training camp. You missed like the welcome speech from 51 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 1: Zach Taylor and stuff like that. As NFL training camps opened. 52 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: What was your confidence level that ultimately you would get 53 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: an opportunity? 54 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 2: Man? 55 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 3: That was that was a pretty stressful summer. And then 56 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 3: to not be on a team. You have social media, 57 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 3: you can't not see like report day everybody coming in 58 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 3: and so I remember that day was like, wow, that 59 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 3: would be nice right about now. Obviously had faith. My 60 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 3: wife just kept telling me like, no, we're We're gonna 61 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 3: be ready. There will be a call. And it took 62 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 3: a couple of days, but we did get that call 63 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 3: and it made it all worth it. After that, for sure. 64 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: You joined the Bengals on day three of training camp. 65 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: There were three punters in camp at the time. What 66 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: did you think of your odds of ultimately making the team. 67 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 3: I really at that point, I wasn't thinking about odds. 68 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 3: It was more, Wow, this is a great opportunity. I 69 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 3: knew both of the punters. I knew both Brad and 70 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 3: Austin really well, and so that was a unique dynamic 71 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 3: to come into because it's like we're all friends, we 72 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 3: all know each other, but there's only one spot. And 73 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 3: so I think for me, it was all such a 74 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 3: whirlwind that I didn't really have the chance to look 75 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 3: into the future. It's like, oh my gosh, I got 76 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 3: practiced later today, Like I just got to dial in 77 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 3: and be ready for that. 78 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: So they let Austin go after about a week, and 79 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: then Brad got injured about a week after that. What 80 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: went through your mind at that point? 81 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 3: Obviously, like you hate to see your friends not not 82 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 3: get the spot that they were wanting. And then especially 83 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 3: with Brad, I feel like, obviously injuries are part of football, 84 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 3: but in our position they're a little bit fewer, and 85 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 3: so you hate to see anybody have to deal with that, 86 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 3: and essentially for an opportunity to be taken away from 87 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 3: them because of an injury is really unfortunate. And so 88 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 3: it's definitely it causes you to take a pause and 89 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 3: just be like, Okay, I really got to make sure 90 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 3: I'm healthy because that could happen to me at any 91 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 3: point as well. But then at the same time, I 92 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 3: remember Darren coming up to me, is like, Okay, we 93 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: don't know how long Brad is gonna be out. You 94 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 3: now have to be looking at week one. We're going 95 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 3: up against this returner, We're going up against the Patriots, Like, 96 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 3: you gotta be ready like this. This shifts everything now, 97 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 3: and so it definitely it was all just a whirlwind, 98 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 3: and all of it just kind of came together of Okay, 99 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 3: take every day as it comes, and just be ready 100 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 3: for the next opportunity. 101 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: If Darren told you to be ready for week one, 102 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 1: you were ready for Week one. You probably had the 103 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: greatest punting debut in NFL history. This is not hyperbole. 104 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: You punted four times against the Patriots. Fifty seven yards 105 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: was the first, eighty was the second, that's the Bengals 106 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 1: team record, fifty one for the third, seventy for the fourth. 107 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,679 Speaker 1: It's the best average for anybody who's punted four times 108 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: in a game in NFL history. After that game, what 109 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: did that do for your confidence level and the belief that, 110 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: all right, I can be one of the thirty two? 111 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 2: Yeah? 112 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 3: I think obviously it was just really really grateful, because 113 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,679 Speaker 3: you hope going into that first game, that's like, Okay, 114 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 3: I just want to have a good game. I want 115 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 3: to show what I'm capable of, and so definitely didn't 116 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 3: picture that or imagine that, like that was just an 117 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 3: amazing blessing, and I was really grateful for all of that. 118 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 3: And then at that point, I remember I was happy, 119 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 3: but it was like you still out like seventeen weeks, 120 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 3: like I want to prove it again and again and again, 121 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 3: and so obviously really happy with the way that that went. 122 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 3: But then it was like, Okay, I got to keep 123 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 3: proving that one week doesn't make a great punter or 124 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 3: a great career, and so just kind of taking that, Okay, 125 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 3: I belong here, I know that I can, I know 126 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,679 Speaker 3: that I can do this thing. Let's just keep showing 127 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 3: what I can do. 128 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: We're visiting with Ryan Rico. In Week three, against Washington, 129 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: you didn't punt. Several weeks after that, against Philadelphia, you 130 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: didn't punt again. You shared an interesting story with me 131 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: recently that you actually had family come across the country 132 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: to see you for those two home games. They didn't 133 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: get to see you punt. 134 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, no. My dad started to make the joke. 135 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 3: He's like, Hey, tell everybody on the team, if we 136 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 3: don't want to punt a game, our family will come 137 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 3: out and it'll make it happen. So it was definitely. 138 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 3: I mean, we're never I always want to punt. I 139 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 3: always want to like contribute, but at the same time, 140 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 3: if the offense is performing so well that I don't 141 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 3: need to, then that's also a great thing. Unfortunately, we 142 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 3: didn't win either of those games, so maybe we'll find 143 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 3: a way to win without punting, and then that'll just 144 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 3: be the perfect formula for us. 145 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: You still had to do the other half of your job, 146 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: which is holding. 147 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 3: Yes, absolutely so, they at least coet have seen me 148 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 3: go on the field. They're there for warm ups, they 149 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 3: see enough kicks there. But it was definitely a unique 150 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 3: because I've never done that in high school or college, 151 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 3: and so for it to happen twice this year was like, Wow, 152 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 3: I feel like I'm not doing anything right now. 153 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: Basically, so, in your rookie year, you set the team 154 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: records for punking average forty nine point one and net 155 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: average forty two point nine. Both of those records are 156 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: previously held by Kevin Huber. Did you get to interact 157 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: with Kevin at all this year? 158 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I saw Kevin a few times. He was there 159 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 3: during training camp, I think when all three of us 160 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 3: were still there punting, and so I got to talk 161 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 3: to him a little bit again. At that point, I 162 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 3: was just like trying to keep my head above water 163 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 3: and stay stay locked in. But every time that I 164 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 3: talked to him, he was nothing but complimentary, was giving 165 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 3: me really good insights. And he's another person where, shoot, 166 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 3: you want to look at the formula for being a 167 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,319 Speaker 3: successful punter in the NFL and especially here in Cincinnati. 168 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 3: He's kind of the guy that has done it. So 169 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 3: I'm definitely looking forward to getting to interact with them 170 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 3: more and honestly just picking his brain because he's I know, 171 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 3: he's seen a lot of things. Heck, he was punting 172 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 3: in the Super Bowl so pretty much any scenario that 173 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 3: I can imagine hoping to be a part of, He's 174 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 3: already done it. And so I'm really looking forward to 175 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 3: kind of using him as a mentor and just getting 176 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 3: better based on what information he can give me. 177 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: You're both golfers, so I could see that happening down 178 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: the road. He holds nearly all of the Bengals punting 179 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: records except for the single season marks that you beat 180 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: this year. But number two on the list for a 181 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: lot of these records is Lee Johnson. Punted at Byu. 182 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: You punted at Byu. Do you have a relationship with him? 183 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 3: I absolutely do. So Ever since I got to Byu Lee, 184 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 3: I'm pretty sure Lee has been there at least for 185 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 3: the last couple of years I was, and so throughout 186 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 3: all of it, he would come out and just kind 187 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 3: of check in see what I was doing. He'd come 188 00:09:58,160 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 3: watch me punt a couple times and give me some point. 189 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 3: And so then when I was going through the combine 190 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,319 Speaker 3: and the draft and all of those things, every time 191 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 3: I was back in the facility, Lee has the most 192 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 3: energy I've ever seen out of anybody. Pretty Much, He's 193 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 3: always in the gym, working out and so we just 194 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 3: kind of talk and he's just constantly checking in seeing 195 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 3: how things are going. And so after that first game, 196 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 3: Lee was one of the first people to call and 197 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 3: just be like, really, really, you're gonna do that the 198 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 3: first game? Are you kidding me? And so he's just 199 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 3: been nothing but supportive. He's given me a lot of 200 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 3: help and insight as well, and he's someone that I 201 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 3: just I consider a really close friend and just a 202 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 3: great guy to kind of have in your corner. 203 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: It was a tremendous year, but there were some rocky moments. 204 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: There always will be during the course of an NFL season. 205 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 1: The first thing that comes to mind was the Baltimore game. 206 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: Over time, you line up to kick a game winning 207 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: field goal, the operation isn't clean, Evan McPherson misses it 208 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: wide to the left, and you guys wind up losing 209 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: the game. The replay focuses in tightly on you struggling 210 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: to catch the ball and get it down cleanly. Was 211 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: it hard to sleep that night? What was the rest 212 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: of that day like for you? 213 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 3: That was an interesting day. I don't want to say 214 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 3: it wasn't hard, because, like you never want to be 215 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 3: a part of one of those moments. Honestly, it was 216 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 3: more just kind of disbelief just because that had never 217 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 3: really happened before, like it'll happen in practice, very rarely, 218 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 3: and in fact, that was one of the things that 219 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 3: Darren told me, was like, those things happen. It stinks 220 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 3: that happened, had to happen at that moment, but it 221 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 3: does happen, and unfortunately we just have to live with 222 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 3: it and move on. And so kind of going home 223 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 3: that night, it's I got a lot of calls of support, 224 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 3: just like, hey, you still had a great game all 225 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 3: this stuff, and to me, it was like I'm not 226 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 3: going to sit here and like dwell on it or 227 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 3: focus on it. It was one game, and I hate 228 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 3: that it happened, and that's why I worked to never 229 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 3: let those kind of things happen again. But it was 230 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 3: the definitely a good learning moment, just to like, okay, 231 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 3: like you're not invincible. You have to be locked in 232 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 3: at every single moment anytime you're on the field. And 233 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 3: so again, I hate that it happened. I learned a 234 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 3: lot from it, and it's just one of those things 235 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 3: like I have to accept it and move on. I 236 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 3: can't change it. Just got to move on and work 237 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 3: to make sure that it doesn't happen again. 238 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: Later in the year, something bad happened that turned out 239 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: well for the team. The Dallas game. Two minutes to go, 240 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: the score is tied. You get a punt blocked and 241 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: it looks like that might cost the team the game, 242 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,719 Speaker 1: except that Dallas touches the ball fails to pick it up. 243 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: The Bengals recover, and three plays later, Joe Burrow too 244 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: is the game when he touched down pass to Jamar Chase. 245 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 1: Was it at all difficult to enjoy the win just 246 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: because that happened, or because it happened, Are you like, hey, 247 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: this is great? 248 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 2: Yeah? 249 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 3: There were so many mixed emotions because again, it's like 250 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 3: winning is not easy, so you're always going to be 251 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 3: happy with a win. I think I was a little 252 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 3: bit frustrated, just in the sense of, like, Okay, I 253 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 3: take pride in not allowing those things to happen, and 254 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 3: sometimes a player just makes a great play and it's 255 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 3: out of your control. So walking off the field, because 256 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 3: I didn't initially realize that they had touched it, I 257 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 3: thought that Muma was just able to recover the ball, 258 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 3: and I was like great, Okay, like that's where they 259 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 3: get the ball at and so I was really frustrated. 260 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 3: But then someone's like, no, like they touched it, we 261 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 3: got the ball back. I was like, what is going on? 262 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 3: So it was just a whirlwind, and I had no 263 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,599 Speaker 3: I really didn't have any awareness of like what that situation, 264 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 3: how it played out, and so ultimately we do get 265 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,719 Speaker 3: the win. I don't think I've ever been a part 266 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 3: of a game where the block kick on us wins 267 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 3: us the game, because then we still had to go 268 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 3: make some really great plays. But it's one of those 269 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 3: things where hate it worked out in our favor. We'll 270 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 3: take it, but you don't. You don't always get that lucky. 271 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,479 Speaker 3: Obviously we saw that this year, and so learning opportunity 272 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 3: once again. You just work and you keep pressing forward, 273 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 3: and that's all that you can do. 274 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: A couple more questions for Ryan Rico before we wrap 275 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: this up. Let's discuss your off season. You're back in 276 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: Utah where you went to college. Are you punting or 277 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: just working out? What do you do this time of year? 278 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's it's kind of a balancing act. And again, 279 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 3: this is like my first off season in the NFL 280 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 3: and so that's all just kind of a learning experience. 281 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 3: For the most part, just working out and keeping not 282 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 3: keeping busy because you do want to relax, but filling 283 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 3: your time with meaningful things that are going to be beneficial. 284 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 3: So definitely working out. I've punted a couple of times 285 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 3: just because I love to do it and it gives 286 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 3: me something to do. But you're always just kind of 287 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 3: finding that balance of Okay, I don't want to overdo 288 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 3: it because there's a lot a lot of time until 289 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 3: we actually have to start kicking meaningful punts again, and 290 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 3: so it's just kind of balancing that out of Okay, 291 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 3: I'm going to take care of my body nutrition, but 292 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 3: also I want to stay in the groove of things 293 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 3: and just kind of keep that feel. So so it's 294 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 3: mainly just a lot of working out, hanging out with 295 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 3: a wife and the family, and punting every every now 296 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 3: and then, just to just to keep keep everything feeling fresh. 297 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: What your mindset going into year two. You've signed a contract. 298 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: Let's face it, you're expected to be the Bengals punter. 299 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: Do you have to convince yourself that you are that 300 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: same guy that that joined the team on day three 301 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: of training camp? And that you're fighting for a job 302 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: this year. 303 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 3: I think for me, I've never been like fully content 304 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 3: at any point in my career, whether that was college 305 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 3: or high school or especially now in the pros, just 306 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 3: because I see how quick things can change for your 307 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 3: good and to your detriment too, and so I think 308 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 3: complacency is definitely not something that would affect me. I have. 309 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 3: I have bigger goals for this year than I did 310 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 3: last year, and I'm just excited to be able to 311 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 3: showcase what I'm capable of. Because last year it was 312 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 3: a good year and I was I was excited to 313 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 3: be a part of it, but at the same time, 314 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 3: I don't feel like I was performing at my best. 315 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 3: I feel like I was surviving week to week, and 316 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 3: so now to be able to have that under my 317 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 3: belt and be like, Okay, man, I can really do this, 318 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 3: Like let's show what we're capable of and let's show 319 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 3: how we can really be a weapon to the team. 320 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 3: And so going into year two, it's just Okay, we 321 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 3: start out good, but we can only get better. Like 322 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 3: that's that's not the peak, that's just the beginning. 323 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: Appreciate your time, Congrats on the new deal, look forward 324 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: to seeing you against. 325 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 3: Sum Thank you so much. 326 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: As a rookie, Ryan finished ninth in the NFL and 327 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: punting average and sixth in net average. Here's a quick 328 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: reminder that the Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you 329 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: by pay Core, Proud to be the Bengals official HR 330 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: software provider, by aulta Fiber future proof Fiber Internet designed 331 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: to elevate your home, business and community to a new level, 332 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fan. 333 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. 334 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: As Bengals fans, were fortunate to have some great content 335 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: creators out there, and one of the absolute best is 336 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: Joe Goodberry. He's been writing and talking about the team 337 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: for more than a decade, and if you're not already 338 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: watching his Bengals on the Brain videos on YouTube presented 339 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: by First Star Logistics, you're missing out on some tremendous content. 340 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,920 Speaker 1: With free agency and the draft approaching, it's the perfect 341 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 1: time for an in depth conversation. Joe, I have stopped 342 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 1: counting the number of times that you have written the 343 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: following on Twitter or x quote. If T Higgins sees 344 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 1: one second of free agency I'll be surprised. That certainly 345 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: suggests that you expect a contract extension to get done. 346 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 2: Explain why, Well, there's a lot of reasons. Right this 347 00:17:54,880 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 2: time feels very different than last year. Number one, the change, 348 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,960 Speaker 2: I would say because with David Mullagata last year and 349 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 2: in previous situations for the Bengals where they couldn't get 350 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 2: a deal with Jesse Bates, I think the writing was 351 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,400 Speaker 2: very clear there that there was a disconnect on how 352 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 2: the contract should be structured, how David Mullagata likes his contracts, 353 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 2: especially for his veteran free agents, with a lot of 354 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 2: guarantees and guarantees in the future years, and the Bengals 355 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 2: don't typically do that outside of Joe Burrow, right, So 356 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 2: that always seemed to be something that was never going 357 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 2: to get crossed. And then when you hear in December 358 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 2: that hey T wants to be here, Joe wants T 359 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 2: to be here, the team wants T to be here, 360 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 2: and T has changed his agent to Rocky Arsenal, who 361 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:45,360 Speaker 2: is Jamar Chase's agent. You go, oh, okay, that's a 362 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 2: move that raises flags for sure, and you say, okay, 363 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 2: both sides want it enough to change how your representation 364 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 2: wants this contract to be laid out. That's big for 365 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 2: the Bengals, and I think at that point I'm like, okay, 366 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 2: I expect an extension to happen. But then as free 367 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 2: agency starts creeping up, I say, wait a second. These 368 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,719 Speaker 2: reports that he could get thirty thirty one thirty two 369 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 2: million dollars in the open market the second tag, that 370 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 2: amount has been set as soon as the Bengals place 371 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,239 Speaker 2: the first tag. It's one hundred and twenty percent of 372 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 2: last year's tags, which makes it twenty six point one 373 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 2: eight million dollars in twenty twenty five. And if at 374 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 2: the very least that's the last play you have to 375 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 2: make as the Bengals, you would do that, Why wouldn't 376 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 2: I give him twenty six rather than what he would 377 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 2: get have thirty thirty one thirty two if those numbers 378 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 2: are correct now, I think that would be the last play. 379 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 2: And we've already heard reports that that is something the 380 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 2: Bengals will do if a deal cannot be done reached 381 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 2: by the time free agency gets here. I think it 382 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 2: makes too much sense that he never reaches the market. 383 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 2: And if you look at the top free agents typically 384 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 2: through past years, they never get a chance to hit 385 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 2: the open market. The Bengals should not allow it, and 386 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 2: I don't think they will allow it. 387 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: I've said for a long time that the big question 388 00:19:57,920 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: to me was never if the Bengals could do the 389 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: but should the Bengals do this? Should they be spending 390 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: that much money on two wide receivers? And I've said 391 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: on this podcast and elsewhere that Joe burrows comments in 392 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: early December, which he referred to alongside the news of 393 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: Tea changing agents, changed my opinion on the subject. I 394 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: think Joe's made the calculated decision in his own mind 395 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 1: that let's keep the band together on offense, guarantee virtually 396 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 1: guarantee that we're going to be one of the top 397 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: scoring teams in the NFL, and figure it out on 398 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 1: defense with younger, cheaper players. Did his comments change your 399 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,640 Speaker 1: opinion at all on the should question? 400 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 2: I was also looking at it with a football mind 401 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 2: of is it smart to spend that much? Is it smart? 402 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 2: Do I need to have two number one type receivers? 403 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 2: Isn't one of the things with your franchise quarterback when 404 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 2: he reaches that status of I know he's great. Do 405 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 2: I need to have all these weapons, or can you 406 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,640 Speaker 2: elevate average players into and to bet we see him 407 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 2: do that. We see him do it with Trenton Iruwin 408 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 2: or andre Josubash or the random tight end veteran that 409 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 2: they bring in every year. Right, they all seem to 410 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 2: look good when Joe Burrow's throwing them the ball. So 411 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 2: do I absolutely need t Higgins or would that money 412 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 2: be better spent elsewhere. It's a fine argument, but once 413 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 2: your quarterback says, no, we want this guy, well, then fine, 414 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: I've got no problem. If you're saying, our plan is 415 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 2: keep the players we know are good, that we've developed, 416 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 2: that have turned into exactly what you've wanted them to 417 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 2: turn into. And he's still young, and he's going to 418 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 2: take a Bengals friendly contract, which any you know, time 419 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 2: you twitch your agent, things happen that we've already discussed. 420 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 2: I would assume it's going to be something that the 421 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 2: Bengals are happy with or else neither side's going to 422 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 2: take this deal. If you're saying all these things or 423 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 2: what's on the table, I'm not going to argue with that. 424 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 2: I've come to the conclusion also watching these other teams 425 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,360 Speaker 2: and looking at who's coming out in free agency because 426 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 2: every year you get there, it's like, okay, this is 427 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty one draft class, right, this is the 428 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 2: free agent market, and you say, who are the guys 429 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 2: that are going to hit this last hit this free 430 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 2: agent market? And you say, well, it's guys that on 431 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 2: either teams that are up against the cap or they're 432 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,880 Speaker 2: not that good. They're yeah, they have issues, they've got 433 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 2: holes in their game, and every player does. But it 434 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 2: makes me reevaluate when I see who gets extended around 435 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 2: the league, and I say, you know what, the real 436 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 2: plan I see these successful teams do is pay your stars, 437 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 2: figure out the rest, pay your stars, and draft and 438 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 2: hope for the best and just try to find value 439 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 2: free agents out there. And if that's your plan for 440 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 2: the Bengals, and let's face it, I have questioned what 441 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 2: is the plan since twenty twenty one. It felt like 442 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:39,640 Speaker 2: let's gear up and get over the hump in twenty 443 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 2: twenty one twenty twenty two type thing, and then twenty 444 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 2: twenty three was like, yeah, we're not really sure where 445 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 2: we're kind of in between here, and then twenty twenty 446 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 2: four was well, let's keep what we have and see 447 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 2: if we can just get over there, and it's it 448 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 2: hasn't worked, So now they're at a I think this 449 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 2: is how we let off the show last year was 450 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 2: this is the most important off season in Bengals history. 451 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 2: It feels like we're going to say that for three 452 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 2: years in a row now, because it is when you 453 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 2: have Joe Burrow. But if you're saying, hey, now we 454 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 2: have a plan, and the plan is pay your stars, 455 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,400 Speaker 2: figure out the rest, I'm on board, all right. 456 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: So where do you stand on Trey Hendrickson? 457 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 2: I also pay him. I think there's been no warning 458 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 2: signs of decline. That's the thing where I would start 459 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 2: is because okay, he's the oldest of the trio that 460 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 2: they're going to try and extend this offseason, and as 461 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 2: he approaches thirty, you have to look at the history 462 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 2: of the position. You have to look at every player 463 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 2: that approaches thirty in the NFL. They're old at that point. 464 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 2: Even though that makes us feel old. If you're over 465 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 2: thirty in real life and you hear that, you're like, 466 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:44,120 Speaker 2: come on, there's got a lot of good years left 467 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 2: in him. And I agree. But when you look and 468 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 2: you say, okay, so how is how's he been trending? 469 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 2: And since he got here in twenty twenty one, Trey 470 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:54,120 Speaker 2: Henderson has been the best free agent signing in franchise 471 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 2: history and one of the best probably across the league 472 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 2: throughout history. You go to four straight Pro Bowls, you're 473 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 2: up for Defensive Player of the Year this past year, 474 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 2: first team All Pro. That is great, and he has 475 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 2: not shown signs of getting worse. And as the defensive 476 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 2: line is deteriorator around him, it really hasn't affected him 477 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 2: too much. That tells me he's a creator rather than 478 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 2: somebody who benefits from the chaos. That's that maybe a 479 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 2: star player creates. And there's a big difference there when 480 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 2: you start evaluating players, are they cornerstone players and pieces? 481 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 2: And I think Trey is The hard part is and 482 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 2: again we talked about the age and the potential for decline, 483 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 2: and I don't see signs of it yet, so we're 484 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 2: probably only talking about a two year extension, maybe it's 485 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 2: three years total. The hard part is could that money 486 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 2: be better spent? Same conversation with Ti Higgins, But could 487 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 2: the money be better spent for a defense that really 488 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 2: has invested a lot of draft picks? But hasn't gotten 489 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 2: the return yet and has tried to sign some free 490 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 2: agents that we'll see if they're here or not. You know, 491 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 2: Sheldon Rank's probably not here. Geno Stone maybe here. But 492 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 2: the idea is you need a lot on defense still Kent. 493 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 2: Do you just say, clean, clean slate, we're starting over 494 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 2: on defense, new defensive coordinator and will figure it out, 495 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,199 Speaker 2: or do you say, you know what, why would you 496 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 2: get rid of your best player on defense when you 497 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 2: don't have to. I think they should come to an agreement. 498 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 2: I think I'm not as confident that they will as 499 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 2: I am with T Higgins or Jamar Chase. Like Jamar 500 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 2: Chase a field one hundred percent, it'll happen. T Higgins, 501 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 2: if you had to ask me, I have like eighty 502 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 2: percent that it's going to happen. Trandricks and I feel 503 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 2: closer to fifty to fifty. And it's because the play 504 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 2: he put on the field the past two years warrants 505 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:39,719 Speaker 2: a huge extension. But again, in the age and the situation, 506 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 2: the Bengals are in on defense and the defense wasn't 507 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 2: good even though he was great, So really, if he's 508 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:47,400 Speaker 2: great again, that doesn't change the outcome of the defense, 509 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 2: you need all of these other parts of the defense 510 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 2: to be good. It's like if you were to say, 511 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 2: we'll sign one right guard, that should fix our offensive line. 512 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 2: No it doesn't. It takes so many pieces on the 513 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 2: offensive line in order to completely fix it. The defense 514 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:03,160 Speaker 2: is very similar. One player doesn't make your defense great, 515 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 2: as we have seen. So there's a little bit of 516 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 2: a hurle there. But at the same time, if the 517 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,920 Speaker 2: plan is keep your stars, we'll figure out the rest. 518 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 2: Hope to get lucky in free agency in the draft, 519 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 2: because let's face it, every team's hoping to get lucky 520 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:17,360 Speaker 2: in fregency in the draft anyways. So that's not too 521 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 2: crazy to say, I'm fine with it. Let's pay Trey Hendrickson. 522 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 2: Let's pay all three of these guys and figure it out. 523 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 1: You tweeted some historical data where Trey's age is concerned 524 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: recently more or less, making the case that, yes, even 525 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: if he does decline at this age, he's had such 526 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,159 Speaker 1: a stable level of production that he would still be 527 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 1: worth what they're likely to be paying him over the 528 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:42,879 Speaker 1: next couple of years. 529 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. So if you look at the data 530 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 2: and say his pass rush win rate will drop, about 531 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 2: two and a half percent per year. Well, it's so 532 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 2: good right now, and he's one of the elite players. 533 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 2: So that's the key factor there is the guys that 534 00:26:57,840 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 2: are still playing, the pass rushers that are still playing 535 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,679 Speaker 2: in years eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve around the league, 536 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 2: they were elite. It's hard to say a B level 537 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 2: player maintains that throughout his career because it's those guys 538 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 2: typically don't. It's the guys that are the top five 539 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 2: picks or the first round picks. And then Trey, who 540 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 2: is if you look at him from a draft profile, 541 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:22,360 Speaker 2: had tremendous production, elite athleticism, just went in the third 542 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 2: round because he went to a small school right and 543 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,119 Speaker 2: has outplayed that completely and they got the Cincinnati and 544 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 2: has been an elite level for pretty much all of 545 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 2: four years. Even if he drops it a two point 546 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 2: five percent password friend rate over the next three years, 547 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,919 Speaker 2: he will still be a pretty good player by that 548 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 2: last season at thirty one thirty two years old, and 549 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 2: I think you can stomach that if that's the worst 550 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 2: case scenario of an extension. 551 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 1: Joe Goodberry is our guest his Bengals on the Brain 552 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,199 Speaker 1: videos on YouTube, presented by first Star logistics must watch 553 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,120 Speaker 1: for Bengals fans. They're certainly one of my favorite things 554 00:27:57,119 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: on the internet. The NFL informed teams week that the 555 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:06,440 Speaker 1: cap is going up by an estimated twenty two million bucks. Naturally, 556 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 1: you say, okay, well that helps the Bengals. They're trying 557 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: to extend some of their best players. On the other hand, 558 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: does it hurt because teams that have less space than 559 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 1: the Bengals do now have more money to work with. 560 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. Everyone benefits from it when it goes up, right, 561 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 2: and the players benefit probably the most. I think we'll 562 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 2: see maybe we always see resets of the market. But 563 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 2: if someone like Tray Smith, who's the guard, probably sees 564 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 2: that and goes, oh, yeah, that's good, just gonna bump 565 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 2: me up even more. I think t Higgins you know 566 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 2: a similar situation, Jamar Chase. If they're looking at it like, okay, 567 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 2: Justinjefferson got thirty five million dollars a year last year. 568 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 2: He and Ceedee Lamb, what's the percentage of the cap 569 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 2: that they got last year? Because now the CAP's so 570 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 2: much bigger. If the percentage is equal, maybe I should 571 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 2: be at thirty nine, Maybe I should be at forty 572 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,120 Speaker 2: and there's arguments for that for players and teams to 573 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 2: look at percentages of the cap, and I think teams 574 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 2: do for sure. And I would say what this does 575 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 2: is teams like the Eagles who are pushing caps into 576 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 2: future years and really pushing cash over it this year 577 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 2: and you know in the past few years they have 578 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 2: but really trying to save themselves from the future that's 579 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 2: eventually coming. They when they see the cap exploding like this, 580 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 2: they go, We're gonna be fine. We're gonna be perfectly fine. 581 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 2: This this hit. Probably when it does come in twenty 582 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 2: twenty eight, twenty nine, thirty, it's probably not gonna be 583 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 2: so bad because by then I think the next TV 584 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 2: contract is twenty twenty nine. So it's just the cap 585 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 2: is going to keep exploding. It's good when you see this. 586 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 2: It means the NFL business is booming, players are going 587 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 2: to get paid a ton, and the Bengals can do 588 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 2: whatever they want. They have a ton of cap space 589 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 2: this offseason. 590 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: So the Bengals used to be criticized for not being 591 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: active in free agency. Then they signed DJ Reider, Trey Hendrickson, 592 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: Mike Hilton, Orlando Brown Junior, et cetera, and that criticism 593 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: has mostly gone away, except for a few members of 594 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: the national media who never seemed to pay attention to 595 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: what the Bengals are doing. Pat McAfee used to complain 596 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 1: about the Bengals not having an indoor facility. Now they 597 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: have one. My point is a lot has changed in 598 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 1: recent years. But what's next. What would you like to 599 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: see the Bengals do a little bit differently than they do? 600 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 2: Well, you're leading right into it, and I kind of 601 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 2: hinted at the last question. It is pushing cash overcap 602 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 2: at a more aggressive pace. This is something I've been 603 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 2: asking for since. I want to say that twenty eleven 604 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:33,880 Speaker 2: CBA started it and showed what could be done, and 605 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 2: then teams slowly got on board with it, and then 606 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 2: the last week to the Collective of Bargaining agreement you 607 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 2: saw it even more. And now the Eagles are the 608 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 2: gold standard. I was happy for them to win, not 609 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 2: just because they beat the Chiefs. I think some Bengals 610 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 2: fans may be in the same boat there with me, 611 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 2: but because the way they do things feels aggressive if 612 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 2: you don't know exactly what's going on here, But actually 613 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 2: it's just math and it makes a ton of sense. 614 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 2: Let's think of it this way. If I gave two 615 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 2: contras that we're worth, let's just say ten million dollars, Okay, 616 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 2: ten million per year. You don't have to make the 617 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 2: cap pit ten million every year, right. The cap pit 618 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 2: just has to equal at the end the amount of 619 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 2: the total deal. So if it's five years, fifty million, 620 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 2: ten million per year. The Bengals typically like to keep 621 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 2: their cappits even every year, so they may be around 622 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 2: ten every single year for five years. The Eagles will say, Okay, 623 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 2: we gave that same deal out, but we're not gonna 624 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 2: make it ten million dollars this year. We're gonna make 625 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 2: the cap pit this year as small as possible, and 626 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 2: we're gonna make the cappits in the future as big 627 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 2: as possible. And then when they get close to that 628 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 2: big cappit, they're going to restructure that player's deal, which 629 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 2: means we're gonna take your cap pit, We're gonna give 630 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 2: you a bonus that's equivalent to that cappit minus the 631 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 2: base salary, and now we're gonna spread Say so you 632 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 2: have two years left on the deal that the Eagles 633 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 2: would restructure and renegotiate, they can add three void years 634 00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:59,400 Speaker 2: at the end and spread out that signing bonus now 635 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,479 Speaker 2: over the course of five years, so they'll push that 636 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 2: cappit down. Now, think of it this way from meth perspective. 637 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 2: If the cap is three hundred million this year and 638 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 2: it goes up to three hundred and twenty five next year, 639 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:15,600 Speaker 2: well that ten million this year is in your ten 640 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 2: million in twenty twenty six. If I keep it even 641 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 2: every year, the percentage is dropping each year, right, the 642 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 2: percentage of the cap is dropping. But for the Eagles, 643 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 2: they'll keep it increasing, so that for them the percentage 644 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 2: really never changes. They're spending the same amount of money 645 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,000 Speaker 2: every year, even though the cap HiT's going up each year. 646 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 2: For them, it doesn't affect them. It doesn't bother them 647 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 2: to do that, to push a little bit of cash 648 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 2: over cap. And the Eagles, when you look at their history, 649 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 2: they've done this under Howie Roseman three times now. When 650 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 2: they went to this rule in twenty seventeen, twenty twenty two, 651 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:52,840 Speaker 2: and then this past year. It's almost three different builds 652 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 2: in three different free agent signings and waves and classes 653 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 2: that they've done. And once they do that, they packed 654 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 2: the roster full. You look, I think Saquon Barkley's The 655 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 2: best example is cap pit this year was three and 656 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:07,719 Speaker 2: a half million dollars, but yeah, he had the highest 657 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:11,600 Speaker 2: running back contract in the league. You can push it forward, 658 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:13,479 Speaker 2: you can push it to the end, and the Bengals 659 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:15,840 Speaker 2: should do it a little bit. They don't use They 660 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 2: put a little bit of void years on that to 661 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,719 Speaker 2: Joe Burrow's contract. They put a weird void year at 662 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 2: the end of Riley Reefs one year deals really didn't 663 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,720 Speaker 2: make sense. They were it looked like they were tinkering 664 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 2: with it and just seeing how it works. I would 665 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 2: love to see it. I would love to see them 666 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 2: do this more often, restructure. They never really technically restructured 667 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 2: a contract and pushed cash and converted it into a 668 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 2: signing bonus and lowered the cap pit. These are moves 669 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 2: that are going to have to make or else you're 670 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 2: trying to compete with the Eagles and these other teams. 671 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 2: With one hand behind your back, you're saying, we're not 672 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 2: maximizing the cap space and the roster the way these 673 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 2: other super aggressive teams are. And I would love to 674 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 2: just say, if I get at a moment with the Bengals, 675 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 2: I'd say Joe Burrow twenty eight. The prime is only 676 00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 2: a few more years. He should be good for a 677 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:02,479 Speaker 2: long time, right, accurately smart, Those things don't change. But 678 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,479 Speaker 2: the prime is here, your windows here. You need to 679 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 2: push this. If you're ever going to do it, it's now. 680 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:11,840 Speaker 2: And you've got three guys that want to be Bengals. 681 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,279 Speaker 2: Sign them, extend them, and if you do it the 682 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 2: right way, you can go out in a free agency 683 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:19,319 Speaker 2: and you can bring in a host of players that 684 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:21,359 Speaker 2: can help your team and push you over the top. 685 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 1: Joe Goodbarry is our guest. You can follow him on 686 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 1: Twitter or x at Joe Goodberry. You did an in 687 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 1: depth Bengals on the Brain recently where you discussed veterans 688 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: that could be or should be, in your opinion, cut 689 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:39,479 Speaker 1: to create additional cap space. What players do you think 690 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:42,719 Speaker 1: are highly likely to be cap casualties. 691 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:45,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll start from the top, and the biggest savings 692 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 2: would be Sheldon Rankins. You know, I think Rankins was 693 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 2: a fine signing at the time. I never thought of 694 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 2: him as a DJ Reader replacement. They played different positions. 695 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 2: I think they were looking for more pass rush and 696 00:34:57,080 --> 00:34:59,040 Speaker 2: I think that's going to continue this offseason. As they 697 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,560 Speaker 2: try to help out Henrickson and get more pass rushers 698 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 2: on this defensive line. It didn't work out, and whatever 699 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 2: happened at the end there towards the end of the season, 700 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 2: it is what it is. And hopefully he's healthy and 701 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,719 Speaker 2: everything's okay with Sheldon Rankins, but I believe he will 702 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:14,399 Speaker 2: be cut, and it's a pretty easy cut. They're gonna 703 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:16,759 Speaker 2: save a lot of money. I think the next one 704 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 2: is probably Alex Kappa. Not so much that Kapa has 705 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:21,799 Speaker 2: been bad. I think Kapla was a good signing from 706 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:25,359 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two to twenty twenty four. Twenty twenty two 707 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:28,400 Speaker 2: is really good, twenty three was solid, twenty four was not. 708 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:30,799 Speaker 2: For whatever reason, the guard play really took a hit 709 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 2: this past year. Even Cordo Wolson, who was solid, unspectacular, 710 00:35:34,719 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 2: maybe slightly below average this past year, was exposed more 711 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,400 Speaker 2: than more than you know he ever has been in 712 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 2: the past three years, and I was wondering what's going 713 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:44,560 Speaker 2: on with the guard play. I think Alex Capo is 714 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:47,160 Speaker 2: a good example of that. I think it's time to 715 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 2: move on there because spending eight to ten million dollars 716 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:53,439 Speaker 2: at that position, you should be getting above average play. 717 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 2: At the very least, and I think the Bengals will 718 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 2: expect that. That means you need two guards more likely 719 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 2: in free agency, maybe Freedency and the Dreas. Maybe it's 720 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:03,719 Speaker 2: three total and you figure out a battle between Cody Ford, 721 00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:06,799 Speaker 2: Corro Wolsen and a couple other guys. But they're gonna 722 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 2: have some decisions to make at that spot. The next 723 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 2: guy is Sam Hubbard, And for a lot of these guys, 724 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:14,280 Speaker 2: to be honest with you, I kind of I get 725 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 2: the fan base that it's you know, we've had good 726 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:19,320 Speaker 2: times from twenty twenty one to twenty twenty four, despite 727 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 2: not making the playoffs last year's there was a lot 728 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:23,480 Speaker 2: of fun football. They were very entertaining even the last 729 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:25,919 Speaker 2: two years. But great times in twenty twenty one twenty 730 00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:29,280 Speaker 2: two we've had. Sam Hubbard obviously has been a catalyst 731 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:32,160 Speaker 2: too many of those. But when the play drops off, 732 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:35,640 Speaker 2: when you're not staying healthy, when you're approaching that later 733 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 2: twenties to thirty years old, you have to be aware 734 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:39,480 Speaker 2: of the decline. And again, like I said, the elite 735 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:42,760 Speaker 2: players can survive that very often, but the B level 736 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:46,440 Speaker 2: players sometimes cannot, and Sam Hubbard probably falls in that category. 737 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:48,480 Speaker 2: And I still think they could bring him back, but 738 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 2: probably on a very cheap deal, on a one year deal. 739 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:52,920 Speaker 2: Maybe he's a role player, Maybe he embraces that a 740 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:54,919 Speaker 2: little bit more than being a guy who's out there 741 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:58,200 Speaker 2: seventy five percent of the time. Right, so you know, 742 00:36:58,239 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 2: we may see Sam Hubbard again. But I think that's 743 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:02,880 Speaker 2: an easy cut. And then you have to wonder Jermaine 744 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 2: Pratt asking for the trade. Requesting a trade was that 745 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 2: because he was already approached with, Hey, we either need 746 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:11,680 Speaker 2: you to take a pay cut, well, maybe we'll add 747 00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:13,799 Speaker 2: a year to it, but it's a lesser salary, or 748 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 2: we're probably going to release you. And if you want 749 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 2: to keep your five point six million dollar salary, the 750 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:19,800 Speaker 2: best way to do it is probably through a trade, 751 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:22,480 Speaker 2: right if you're Jermaine Prett. So maybe it's getting a 752 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:24,799 Speaker 2: seventh or sixth round pick and you get to keep 753 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:28,040 Speaker 2: your salary. That works for both parties. But again, that's 754 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 2: another guy. Anytime you needed a play on defense, it 755 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,879 Speaker 2: felt like Jermaine Prett made that play for He could 756 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:36,640 Speaker 2: be having a game where you're wondering what is going 757 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:38,880 Speaker 2: on with Jermaine Pratt today, And then they need to 758 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 2: stop they need someone to rip that ball out, and 759 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:44,160 Speaker 2: it was always Jermaine Pratt and he was a fun 760 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:45,920 Speaker 2: guy to root for. So it's sad to see that 761 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:48,359 Speaker 2: potentially coming to the end. I don't know that that 762 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:52,040 Speaker 2: means Genos Stone is gone after one year either, even 763 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:54,600 Speaker 2: though they can save a good chunk of money. The 764 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,560 Speaker 2: free agent class at safety is a mixed bag. I 765 00:37:57,600 --> 00:37:59,319 Speaker 2: don't know that you have to go out there and 766 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:02,759 Speaker 2: spend another chunk. Stone is still very young. I think 767 00:38:02,760 --> 00:38:04,880 Speaker 2: he's twenty five years old. He's a guy that was 768 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 2: twenty coming out of the draft, so he's got a 769 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:09,839 Speaker 2: lot of experience. Still young. I believe he can play better. 770 00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:12,360 Speaker 2: I think we have seen him play better in stretches 771 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 2: in Cincinnati, but in his career, especially the last couple 772 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:18,000 Speaker 2: of years in Baltimore. I think if the defensive staff says, 773 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:19,479 Speaker 2: I think we can get him back to that level, 774 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:21,279 Speaker 2: I think we get Jordan Battle back to the level 775 00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:23,759 Speaker 2: he looked like as a rookie. I understand why they 776 00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:27,000 Speaker 2: would continue with those two at that position and say 777 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,759 Speaker 2: we'll add a guy, whether in free agency or the draft, 778 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:31,839 Speaker 2: to be the third safety to take some of these 779 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:34,680 Speaker 2: snaps as well. But I think the first three are 780 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:37,319 Speaker 2: the core guys that save you the most money and 781 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:41,000 Speaker 2: you are likely to move on for from Kappa, Hubbard 782 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:42,640 Speaker 2: and Sheldon Rankins. 783 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,800 Speaker 1: Joe, what about some of the bengals other free agents 784 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:48,440 Speaker 1: other than T Higgins and Trey Hendrickson. So we're talking 785 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:52,560 Speaker 1: Mike Kasicki, Cody Ford, bj Hill, Mike Hilton, Joseph Osai, 786 00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:55,640 Speaker 1: a Team, Davis Gaither. There are some others as well. 787 00:38:56,360 --> 00:38:58,799 Speaker 1: Who would you like to see the Bengals keep from 788 00:38:58,800 --> 00:38:59,680 Speaker 1: that list? 789 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 2: I would like to see Mike Kaseki retained. I think 790 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:06,040 Speaker 2: Joe Burrow would as well. It sounds like he's adding 791 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:09,799 Speaker 2: him into the group of core players on offense that 792 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:12,279 Speaker 2: he'd like to retain, and I'm fine with that. I 793 00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:16,040 Speaker 2: think Kaseki, especially when see Higgins was out for those 794 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:17,840 Speaker 2: five games, I thought he stepped up in most of 795 00:39:17,880 --> 00:39:20,800 Speaker 2: those in most of those moments. There were some times 796 00:39:20,840 --> 00:39:23,680 Speaker 2: that if Kaseki probably can come down with a few 797 00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:25,520 Speaker 2: of these balls, the Bengals probably were in the playoffs. 798 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,279 Speaker 2: But overall, I thought he was very good and a 799 00:39:28,360 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 2: nice complimentary player on a great contract. It was three 800 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:33,239 Speaker 2: and a half million dollars last year. He probably gets 801 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:36,160 Speaker 2: a little bit of a raise with the comfort between 802 00:39:36,239 --> 00:39:37,840 Speaker 2: you know, the team and him now and the quarterback. 803 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:40,440 Speaker 2: So I don't see that as someone who's going to 804 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:42,600 Speaker 2: break the bank either and have a ton of interest 805 00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:44,719 Speaker 2: out there. It's I don't feel it's the same as 806 00:39:44,719 --> 00:39:47,400 Speaker 2: when Uzama hit free agency or Hayden Hurst hit free agency. 807 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:49,799 Speaker 2: I don't think there's a three year, thirty million dollar 808 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 2: deal waiting for Mike Kaseki. He's had his chances on 809 00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:55,280 Speaker 2: the open market and has never received that from anyone. 810 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,120 Speaker 2: So I think that's that's a guy you could easily 811 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:01,759 Speaker 2: retain and bring back, especially because I think he's the 812 00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:04,680 Speaker 2: default wide receiver three more than he is actually the 813 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:07,399 Speaker 2: tight end. Drew Sample actually had more snaps at tight 814 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:09,759 Speaker 2: end for the Bengals than Mikesecki did when you look 815 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:13,279 Speaker 2: at it the alignment, So you know, I think that's 816 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:16,000 Speaker 2: how you keep a trio of wide receivers together, and 817 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:19,040 Speaker 2: Koseki being the third as kind of a flex offensive 818 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:22,040 Speaker 2: weapon that can fill in a lot of places. The 819 00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:26,080 Speaker 2: other guys, I'm not sure I took. I felt one 820 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:28,960 Speaker 2: wain that Duke Tobin spoke at the Senior Bowl about 821 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,799 Speaker 2: maybe retaining these guys a little bit too long. Maybe 822 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:34,200 Speaker 2: holding onto these guys a little bit too long. The 823 00:40:34,200 --> 00:40:36,080 Speaker 2: Super Bowl team thinking of that, and I thought of 824 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:39,080 Speaker 2: BJ Hill and Mike Hilton, and I thought, are those 825 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:42,080 Speaker 2: examples of that? And now these guys are getting older, 826 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:44,840 Speaker 2: and again you have to worry about the thirty career cliff, 827 00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:47,959 Speaker 2: thirty year old career cliff. How well these guys keep going. 828 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:50,200 Speaker 2: They've been They've still been good. They really haven't shown 829 00:40:50,239 --> 00:40:52,239 Speaker 2: signs of decline. Like if another team was asking me, 830 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:54,239 Speaker 2: I'd say, yeah, go ahead and sign those guys. They 831 00:40:54,239 --> 00:40:57,080 Speaker 2: can help you. But I wonder if the Bengals want 832 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:01,000 Speaker 2: to get better at those spots. Right, if you'se retained 833 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:03,560 Speaker 2: Bj Hill, I still need a defensive tackle, you still 834 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:06,760 Speaker 2: need a DT number one. If I keep Mike Hilton, 835 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:11,280 Speaker 2: it doesn't really change the coverage issues you probably had 836 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:13,319 Speaker 2: at corner. I still want to get faster. I still 837 00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 2: want guys that can play in man coverage, especially for 838 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:18,680 Speaker 2: Al Golden's defense. I played a ton of man coverage 839 00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:20,919 Speaker 2: at Notre Dame and I expect En up tick there. 840 00:41:21,320 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 2: So is that what you want? Even though Hilton I 841 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:25,600 Speaker 2: still still think is very good, one of the best 842 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:28,279 Speaker 2: pound for pound blitzers in the NFL, one of the 843 00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:30,600 Speaker 2: best run defenders on the team, and sure tacklers, and 844 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:33,160 Speaker 2: a guy who consistently made plays when he was when 845 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:36,120 Speaker 2: you know he's going forward and it's Derrick Henry and 846 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:38,960 Speaker 2: he's knifing behind the line and making a stop. So 847 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:41,000 Speaker 2: I would like to have both those guys if the 848 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:44,160 Speaker 2: price was right. I just think they'll have markets out there. 849 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:45,799 Speaker 2: I think other teams will see it and say, you 850 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:48,359 Speaker 2: know what, we could use the veteran leadership, we could 851 00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:51,600 Speaker 2: use the steady force. We have a defensive tackle number one. 852 00:41:51,640 --> 00:41:54,040 Speaker 2: Let me put bj Hill next to that guy. So 853 00:41:54,480 --> 00:41:56,239 Speaker 2: I think it makes sense for other teams more than 854 00:41:56,239 --> 00:41:58,560 Speaker 2: it does the Bengals. There, I think the Bengals are 855 00:41:58,600 --> 00:42:01,759 Speaker 2: probably looking at a new of those guys like go 856 00:42:01,840 --> 00:42:03,960 Speaker 2: back to you mentioned twenty twenty and twenty twenty one 857 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:06,760 Speaker 2: type of free agents. They were all Tier three guys 858 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:09,600 Speaker 2: that were twenty five, twenty six years old, didn't break 859 00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:11,960 Speaker 2: the bank, didn't have a ton of guaranteed money. Perfect 860 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:14,480 Speaker 2: for the Bengals in free agency, there's a handful of 861 00:42:14,480 --> 00:42:16,440 Speaker 2: those guys available. Again, I think Bengals would love to 862 00:42:16,440 --> 00:42:19,560 Speaker 2: dip back into it and maybe get lucky again. There's 863 00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:21,720 Speaker 2: some luck involved in it. You know, you can easily 864 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:24,279 Speaker 2: have a Trey Wayne's or maybe a Geno Stone which 865 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:26,479 Speaker 2: got last year as Sheldon Rankins even though he was older. 866 00:42:26,520 --> 00:42:28,920 Speaker 2: So maybe he doesn't apply to the group I'm talking about. 867 00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:32,320 Speaker 2: But you if you get lucky again, if you find 868 00:42:32,520 --> 00:42:36,680 Speaker 2: another Chidobe, a Woozier, Mike Hilton or Trey Hendrickson, then'd 869 00:42:36,680 --> 00:42:39,520 Speaker 2: be awesome. Your defense will take a huge step forward, 870 00:42:39,520 --> 00:42:41,359 Speaker 2: and I think they'd rather play with that again. Now, 871 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:44,400 Speaker 2: maybe the one guy that's their own free agent that 872 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:48,160 Speaker 2: may qualify for that is Joseph Osai, and who's still 873 00:42:48,320 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 2: extremely young. He was a young draft prospect, great profile too. 874 00:42:52,520 --> 00:42:54,719 Speaker 2: There's some people that you know, I talk with fans 875 00:42:54,719 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 2: every day on Twitter, right and they say development has 876 00:42:57,320 --> 00:42:59,759 Speaker 2: been such a big issue for the Bengals as much 877 00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:02,520 Speaker 2: as has been and I don't know that I agree. 878 00:43:02,560 --> 00:43:04,760 Speaker 2: I have my opinions on these players when they're drafted, 879 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:07,520 Speaker 2: of what I think the upside is for these guys. 880 00:43:07,719 --> 00:43:10,400 Speaker 2: One guy I loved coming out with Joseph Osai. I 881 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:13,440 Speaker 2: thought he could have been their second best pass rusher 882 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:15,319 Speaker 2: to Trey Hendrickson. And if you look at pass rush 883 00:43:15,520 --> 00:43:17,560 Speaker 2: win rate. Over the three years he did play, he 884 00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:21,040 Speaker 2: was their second best pass rusher, but I always felt inconsistent, 885 00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:24,040 Speaker 2: spotty at times, never felt like he got that next 886 00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:28,399 Speaker 2: level despite the flashes. If I was another team, I'd 887 00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:30,719 Speaker 2: be looking my chops at Josephosai. I'd just say, and 888 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:34,040 Speaker 2: that's a twenty five year old that had had moments 889 00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:37,479 Speaker 2: of really great pass rushes and that has played left 890 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:41,400 Speaker 2: end right at defensive tackle. If the Bengals could find 891 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:43,000 Speaker 2: a way to bring him back and say, you know what, 892 00:43:43,080 --> 00:43:45,320 Speaker 2: maybe there's still more meat on this bone and we 893 00:43:45,640 --> 00:43:47,600 Speaker 2: can get it out of him, I would be in 894 00:43:47,640 --> 00:43:49,600 Speaker 2: favor of retaining him. But I think other teams are 895 00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 2: gonna look at it and say, that's a guy we want. Joe. 896 00:43:52,200 --> 00:43:56,080 Speaker 1: The Combines coming up next week. You do extensive draft 897 00:43:56,120 --> 00:43:59,280 Speaker 1: grading every year. Your stuff is awesome. You've already posted 898 00:43:59,320 --> 00:44:03,080 Speaker 1: several video with breakdowns of some of the top defensive 899 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:06,480 Speaker 1: linemen in this year's class. Did you start with defensive 900 00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:09,839 Speaker 1: line because that's the Bengals' biggest need or because it's 901 00:44:09,880 --> 00:44:11,479 Speaker 1: an especially good group this year? 902 00:44:12,880 --> 00:44:14,600 Speaker 2: You know, I don't know what groups are good until 903 00:44:14,600 --> 00:44:17,200 Speaker 2: I get there. I actually try to refrain from watching 904 00:44:18,480 --> 00:44:21,640 Speaker 2: college football throughout the season. I maybe watch five games 905 00:44:21,719 --> 00:44:24,879 Speaker 2: or so throughout the year because I spend so much 906 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:27,439 Speaker 2: time on Sunday and Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday doing 907 00:44:27,600 --> 00:44:30,680 Speaker 2: NFL stuff that I wouldn't be fair to my family 908 00:44:30,719 --> 00:44:32,760 Speaker 2: if I'd spend too much time on Saturday as well. 909 00:44:33,440 --> 00:44:36,880 Speaker 2: You understand it. But so I get to the other season. 910 00:44:36,920 --> 00:44:39,040 Speaker 2: I try to treat it like the coaches do. All right, 911 00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:41,000 Speaker 2: this is my first foray, this is my first dive 912 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:43,480 Speaker 2: in in January, and see who these guys are. So 913 00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:46,000 Speaker 2: I didn't know that the defensive tackle grouping was good. 914 00:44:46,080 --> 00:44:49,400 Speaker 2: I just thought, you know what, here's a bunch of guys. 915 00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:52,480 Speaker 2: We get the data profiles, we get the production profiles 916 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:54,680 Speaker 2: that we create on our spreadsheet every year that we 917 00:44:54,719 --> 00:44:57,879 Speaker 2: release in April, and a bunch of them were lit 918 00:44:57,960 --> 00:44:59,919 Speaker 2: up in blue, which means that's good. These are past. 919 00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:02,440 Speaker 2: Do you want these guys in the top of the draft. 920 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:05,479 Speaker 2: And there was five, six, seven of them, and I said, okay, 921 00:45:05,560 --> 00:45:07,920 Speaker 2: I'll start with defensive tackle because number one, it's a 922 00:45:08,040 --> 00:45:12,200 Speaker 2: need for the Bengals they drafted to last year. Chris Jenkins, McKinley, Jackson. 923 00:45:12,200 --> 00:45:14,359 Speaker 2: You would say, okay, that's two premium picks. Do they 924 00:45:14,360 --> 00:45:17,480 Speaker 2: really need a detackle? But even if those guys take 925 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:21,120 Speaker 2: another step in year two, they probably don't have detackle 926 00:45:21,239 --> 00:45:23,920 Speaker 2: one upside. And I've said that now a few times 927 00:45:23,920 --> 00:45:26,920 Speaker 2: about what kind of guy am I talking about potential 928 00:45:26,960 --> 00:45:29,000 Speaker 2: geno Atkins? A guy that doesn't have to come off 929 00:45:29,040 --> 00:45:32,400 Speaker 2: in the run or pass game. A guy that is explosive, 930 00:45:33,120 --> 00:45:35,719 Speaker 2: can rush the pass, or is a pain in the 931 00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:38,480 Speaker 2: butt to block. They really don't have that even if 932 00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:40,640 Speaker 2: those guys take a step. So I'm looking at this 933 00:45:40,760 --> 00:45:42,960 Speaker 2: class and I go, Okay, there's a bunch that could 934 00:45:42,960 --> 00:45:45,480 Speaker 2: be their first second round. Let me start with that. 935 00:45:45,600 --> 00:45:48,480 Speaker 2: And that's what I did, and I was pleasantly surprised 936 00:45:48,480 --> 00:45:49,239 Speaker 2: with what's out there. 937 00:45:50,040 --> 00:45:52,759 Speaker 1: Of the guys that you've already profiled and Bengals on 938 00:45:52,800 --> 00:45:56,160 Speaker 1: the brain, is there anybody that you are already thinking 939 00:45:56,200 --> 00:45:59,279 Speaker 1: this would be a great choice at seventeen overall? 940 00:45:59,520 --> 00:46:02,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, Obviously Mason Graham from Michigan will be gone, so 941 00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:04,840 Speaker 2: we're not gonna spend time talking about him on the 942 00:46:04,840 --> 00:46:07,360 Speaker 2: consensus board. He's fourth, so we don't expect him to 943 00:46:07,360 --> 00:46:10,360 Speaker 2: even get close. But from there, there's a bunch of 944 00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:12,120 Speaker 2: guys that are in the range, and two of them 945 00:46:12,200 --> 00:46:15,800 Speaker 2: right away are Walter Nolan, defensive tackle at Old Miss. 946 00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:19,760 Speaker 2: He's twenty he's eighteenth on the consensus board. And Kenneth Grant, 947 00:46:19,760 --> 00:46:22,320 Speaker 2: the other defensive tackle from Michigan, more of a big body, 948 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:24,800 Speaker 2: is twenty fifth on the consensus board as we speak 949 00:46:24,880 --> 00:46:28,080 Speaker 2: right now, so that's right in the range of seventeen. 950 00:46:28,600 --> 00:46:31,160 Speaker 2: But through our others, to me, Derek Harman from Oregon 951 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:34,200 Speaker 2: looks like Chris Jones. If you're gonna find one of 952 00:46:34,200 --> 00:46:36,760 Speaker 2: those guys that's six five, three ten, that's an athlete 953 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:38,840 Speaker 2: that's a pain in the butt as a pass rusher, 954 00:46:39,320 --> 00:46:42,920 Speaker 2: just consistently winning and getting into the backfield. His numbers 955 00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:45,920 Speaker 2: would have been crazy. If he could tackle at all. 956 00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:49,239 Speaker 2: I'd say he probably missed five sacks and another eight 957 00:46:49,280 --> 00:46:51,359 Speaker 2: tackles for a loss because he just doesn't break down 958 00:46:51,440 --> 00:46:53,600 Speaker 2: very well and tackle in space. But it was funny 959 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:56,800 Speaker 2: because Oregon's got another defensive tackle in this class, Jamary Caldwell. 960 00:46:56,840 --> 00:46:59,000 Speaker 2: It's more of a second third, fourth rounder. We'll see 961 00:46:59,000 --> 00:47:01,800 Speaker 2: where he is really steam. The production profile and numbers 962 00:47:01,800 --> 00:47:04,880 Speaker 2: look great for him as well. His tackles and his 963 00:47:04,960 --> 00:47:07,160 Speaker 2: miss tackles are at the bottom of this drivet class 964 00:47:07,160 --> 00:47:10,400 Speaker 2: as well. So maybe the D tackles in Eugene, Oregon 965 00:47:10,520 --> 00:47:12,880 Speaker 2: just do not tackle and do not practice it. And 966 00:47:12,920 --> 00:47:14,520 Speaker 2: if that's the case, that would put me on board 967 00:47:14,520 --> 00:47:17,160 Speaker 2: with Harmon a little bit more. But those three I 968 00:47:17,200 --> 00:47:22,040 Speaker 2: think Nolan and Grant and Harmon. I really like Nolan 969 00:47:22,080 --> 00:47:24,759 Speaker 2: and Harmon because of the pass rush upside, because the 970 00:47:24,800 --> 00:47:28,719 Speaker 2: athleticism that they flash on tape. Grant is different. He's 971 00:47:28,760 --> 00:47:31,440 Speaker 2: three hundred and forty pounds. He's more of the nose 972 00:47:31,520 --> 00:47:35,000 Speaker 2: tackle type, run stuffer type that has a little bit 973 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,880 Speaker 2: of a pass rush profile for that position. The standards 974 00:47:37,880 --> 00:47:40,360 Speaker 2: are different for the D tackles in the nose tackles, 975 00:47:40,440 --> 00:47:42,279 Speaker 2: so Kenneth Grant has a little bit of pass rush 976 00:47:42,280 --> 00:47:44,080 Speaker 2: for a nose tackle. If you're lining them up with 977 00:47:44,080 --> 00:47:45,560 Speaker 2: all the D tackles, you would say he's in the 978 00:47:46,239 --> 00:47:48,440 Speaker 2: average to blow average area as a pass rusher. And 979 00:47:48,480 --> 00:47:51,560 Speaker 2: you want to see those markers even for run defenders, 980 00:47:51,560 --> 00:47:53,920 Speaker 2: because it proves that they have good hands, they have 981 00:47:53,960 --> 00:47:57,520 Speaker 2: good explosiveness, right, they know what they're doing as with 982 00:47:57,560 --> 00:47:59,680 Speaker 2: their hands and with their moves, which you need to 983 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:01,439 Speaker 2: be able to do as a run defender as well. 984 00:48:01,480 --> 00:48:05,000 Speaker 2: So we're looking at seventeen. Those two first, Walter Nolan, 985 00:48:05,239 --> 00:48:08,520 Speaker 2: Derek Harrman, and then I am interested in Kenneth Grant. 986 00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:10,480 Speaker 2: There's a lot of people that are super high on him. 987 00:48:10,760 --> 00:48:11,799 Speaker 2: I'm not there right now. 988 00:48:12,520 --> 00:48:14,280 Speaker 1: I'll be at the combine for a couple of days 989 00:48:14,320 --> 00:48:17,400 Speaker 1: next week, so I'll definitely be asking questions about those guys. 990 00:48:17,840 --> 00:48:21,280 Speaker 1: The Bengals have made several coaching changes since last season, 991 00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:26,080 Speaker 1: most notably at defensive coordinator. Any thoughts on how an 992 00:48:26,239 --> 00:48:29,799 Speaker 1: l Golden defense will look different from what we've seen 993 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:33,040 Speaker 1: in recent years under Louena Robo, Yeah, I. 994 00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:36,520 Speaker 2: Start with the base in the front of the defense. 995 00:48:36,560 --> 00:48:39,799 Speaker 2: Under lou they were very multiple. They were a three 996 00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:42,440 Speaker 2: to four and a five to two principal team a lot. 997 00:48:43,480 --> 00:48:45,319 Speaker 2: I think that shocked people when I would talk about 998 00:48:45,320 --> 00:48:47,320 Speaker 2: it every once in a while. I assume people assume 999 00:48:47,360 --> 00:48:49,279 Speaker 2: we're a four to three team, or the Bengals were 1000 00:48:49,280 --> 00:48:52,680 Speaker 2: a four to three team, but they are principal wise, 1001 00:48:52,800 --> 00:48:55,200 Speaker 2: they were an odd man front and you saw that. 1002 00:48:55,200 --> 00:48:57,279 Speaker 2: That's why DJ Reader was here, That's why Reader was 1003 00:48:57,280 --> 00:48:59,800 Speaker 2: so good. He's a nose tackle right. Those are typically 1004 00:48:59,800 --> 00:49:03,560 Speaker 2: in three man or five man fronts and watching that 1005 00:49:04,360 --> 00:49:07,440 Speaker 2: the Notre Dame defense, they were multiple, but not to 1006 00:49:07,480 --> 00:49:09,880 Speaker 2: the same level everyone in college football is, but not 1007 00:49:09,920 --> 00:49:12,400 Speaker 2: to the same level that Lo's defense was. So and 1008 00:49:12,440 --> 00:49:14,560 Speaker 2: then when Golden guy here, he said, we're going to 1009 00:49:14,600 --> 00:49:17,240 Speaker 2: be a base four man front nickel, four two nickel, 1010 00:49:17,280 --> 00:49:19,719 Speaker 2: which is the base now, but if we need to, 1011 00:49:19,760 --> 00:49:21,520 Speaker 2: we'll be a four to three, you know, probably versus 1012 00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:23,520 Speaker 2: the Ravens and Browns, and when those teams are running 1013 00:49:23,560 --> 00:49:27,400 Speaker 2: the ball, so that might be their first change. Second 1014 00:49:27,520 --> 00:49:33,480 Speaker 2: change is communication. And when I watched the Albama defense 1015 00:49:33,520 --> 00:49:37,920 Speaker 2: versus the Bengals defense, and this is college players the NFL, 1016 00:49:37,920 --> 00:49:42,840 Speaker 2: I understand that, but Notre Dame, there was no motion. 1017 00:49:43,360 --> 00:49:47,839 Speaker 2: There was no uh misdirection or pre snet movement that 1018 00:49:47,960 --> 00:49:51,760 Speaker 2: confused them. They seem to pass it off incredibly well, 1019 00:49:52,239 --> 00:49:55,560 Speaker 2: very smoothly, reminiscent of how the Bengals did it when 1020 00:49:55,640 --> 00:49:58,120 Speaker 2: Jesse Bates and Von Bell were together and now Golden 1021 00:49:58,200 --> 00:50:01,120 Speaker 2: was here as well. They would pass the off post 1022 00:50:01,160 --> 00:50:03,960 Speaker 2: snap so naturally, and you could see them all point 1023 00:50:04,000 --> 00:50:06,239 Speaker 2: together and the whole defense will just rotate with it 1024 00:50:06,520 --> 00:50:09,560 Speaker 2: and form a new defense after the snap. And I 1025 00:50:09,600 --> 00:50:12,520 Speaker 2: can remember, like the twenty twenty one AFC Championship Ship game, 1026 00:50:12,760 --> 00:50:15,279 Speaker 2: and it confused the home so often that he had 1027 00:50:15,320 --> 00:50:18,120 Speaker 2: to hold the ball despite guys being open. They just 1028 00:50:18,239 --> 00:50:20,920 Speaker 2: it wasn't who he expected to be open because the 1029 00:50:20,960 --> 00:50:24,320 Speaker 2: defense changed post snap. And I'd watch Notre Dame defense 1030 00:50:24,360 --> 00:50:26,520 Speaker 2: and I'd go, there it is again. They're doing it again. 1031 00:50:26,760 --> 00:50:31,960 Speaker 2: They're they're not confused. The communication must be at an 1032 00:50:31,960 --> 00:50:35,719 Speaker 2: extremely high level. They must have answers for everything the 1033 00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:37,960 Speaker 2: offense is showing them. And then you go back and 1034 00:50:38,040 --> 00:50:39,840 Speaker 2: watch the film. I usually do for the Bengals at 1035 00:50:39,840 --> 00:50:42,600 Speaker 2: the end of the season. Now go and rewatch key 1036 00:50:42,680 --> 00:50:46,040 Speaker 2: points or third downs or big games, and I go, 1037 00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:49,440 Speaker 2: they must not have answers for certain situations here. That's 1038 00:50:49,480 --> 00:50:52,040 Speaker 2: why they must be finger pointing after this. They must 1039 00:50:52,080 --> 00:50:54,600 Speaker 2: be arguing this stuff on the sideline. It's not clear, 1040 00:50:54,640 --> 00:50:57,160 Speaker 2: concise and defined. And I think that's the first thing 1041 00:50:57,200 --> 00:50:59,319 Speaker 2: El Golden can fix and get these players to play 1042 00:50:59,360 --> 00:51:01,240 Speaker 2: a little bit better. We talked about the man coverage 1043 00:51:01,280 --> 00:51:03,080 Speaker 2: a little bit in order to tam did it at 1044 00:51:03,120 --> 00:51:07,440 Speaker 2: a high rate. NFL you do that if two things. 1045 00:51:07,480 --> 00:51:09,279 Speaker 2: If you don't think the offense has the horses to 1046 00:51:09,280 --> 00:51:11,279 Speaker 2: beat you on the outside at wide receiver or if 1047 00:51:11,280 --> 00:51:13,680 Speaker 2: you think you've got really good corners, we'll see what 1048 00:51:13,719 --> 00:51:16,080 Speaker 2: the Bengals feel about that and how and what it 1049 00:51:16,120 --> 00:51:17,719 Speaker 2: looks like when they get there, and it could be 1050 00:51:17,719 --> 00:51:20,680 Speaker 2: a game per game matchup type thing. But if you 1051 00:51:20,760 --> 00:51:25,080 Speaker 2: fix the communication that makes players play faster, play more aggressive, 1052 00:51:25,120 --> 00:51:28,160 Speaker 2: play more confidently, I think at the very least, if 1053 00:51:28,200 --> 00:51:31,640 Speaker 2: you give them that, the same players should perform at 1054 00:51:31,680 --> 00:51:32,319 Speaker 2: a higher level. 1055 00:51:33,480 --> 00:51:37,120 Speaker 1: Bengals analyst and content creator Joe Goodbarry has been our guest. 1056 00:51:37,160 --> 00:51:39,960 Speaker 1: As I mentioned earlier, you have to check out Bengals 1057 00:51:40,000 --> 00:51:43,200 Speaker 1: on the Brain on YouTube presented by First Star Logistics. 1058 00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:45,799 Speaker 1: If you're not already doing so, what do we have 1059 00:51:46,120 --> 00:51:48,160 Speaker 1: to look forward to in the weeks and months to come. 1060 00:51:48,239 --> 00:51:50,839 Speaker 2: Joe who a lot of stuff. We have a free 1061 00:51:50,840 --> 00:51:54,920 Speaker 2: agent spreadsheet that has a bunch of great analysts and 1062 00:51:54,920 --> 00:51:57,640 Speaker 2: Bengals content creators are doing this with me and we 1063 00:51:57,680 --> 00:51:59,680 Speaker 2: do it every year. We will grade these guys and 1064 00:51:59,680 --> 00:52:02,319 Speaker 2: give them a tier ranking one through five. One being 1065 00:52:02,400 --> 00:52:04,400 Speaker 2: the elite free agencies are the guys that are going 1066 00:52:04,480 --> 00:52:06,760 Speaker 2: to get paid a lot of money. Bengals typically don't 1067 00:52:06,840 --> 00:52:09,279 Speaker 2: dive into the Tier one free agents, so this is 1068 00:52:09,320 --> 00:52:13,040 Speaker 2: good to know. Tier two Tier three, Tier four. Those 1069 00:52:13,080 --> 00:52:14,520 Speaker 2: are the guys you want to target. These are the 1070 00:52:14,520 --> 00:52:16,520 Speaker 2: guys that are maybe have an issue. Maybe they're a 1071 00:52:16,520 --> 00:52:18,560 Speaker 2: little bit older, maybe they're not great against the run, 1072 00:52:18,640 --> 00:52:20,840 Speaker 2: whatever the case may be. They've got some flaws in 1073 00:52:20,880 --> 00:52:24,440 Speaker 2: their game, maybe they've had injuries. But you'll see their age, 1074 00:52:24,440 --> 00:52:27,359 Speaker 2: you'll see their project projected salary, you'll see what tier 1075 00:52:27,400 --> 00:52:30,000 Speaker 2: they fall in, You'll see how many snaps they played 1076 00:52:30,040 --> 00:52:32,120 Speaker 2: last year, all of these things, and they'll be ranked 1077 00:52:32,120 --> 00:52:33,879 Speaker 2: and you'll say, okay, great, these are the free agents 1078 00:52:33,920 --> 00:52:35,719 Speaker 2: we should start targeting. These are the guys that fit 1079 00:52:35,800 --> 00:52:38,200 Speaker 2: the mold of the Bengals. Twenty five years old, has 1080 00:52:38,239 --> 00:52:40,880 Speaker 2: played the last four years and should only get a 1081 00:52:41,000 --> 00:52:44,040 Speaker 2: modest contract, perfect for Cincinnati. We'll put them on the 1082 00:52:44,080 --> 00:52:47,440 Speaker 2: target list. And then after that, after we're looking at 1083 00:52:47,640 --> 00:52:51,439 Speaker 2: how the combine effects these prospects, and then pro days 1084 00:52:51,480 --> 00:52:54,160 Speaker 2: and all and visits for the Bengals and around the league. 1085 00:52:54,560 --> 00:52:56,600 Speaker 2: We have a draft spreadsheet coming out as well that 1086 00:52:56,680 --> 00:53:01,279 Speaker 2: has so much data in it. Evaluations. We watch the tape. 1087 00:53:01,320 --> 00:53:02,880 Speaker 2: You know, we got three guys here that are watching 1088 00:53:02,880 --> 00:53:05,319 Speaker 2: the tape putting scores on these guys. But then we 1089 00:53:05,440 --> 00:53:10,399 Speaker 2: have a production data that's adjusted for what conference they 1090 00:53:10,440 --> 00:53:12,960 Speaker 2: play in, what age they are when the production happened, 1091 00:53:13,360 --> 00:53:16,480 Speaker 2: and then performance data, which takes a lot of PFF 1092 00:53:16,719 --> 00:53:19,879 Speaker 2: data and grading and says, okay, since twenty seventeen, where 1093 00:53:19,880 --> 00:53:23,080 Speaker 2: does this guy rank? WHOA, This guy's a ninety eighth 1094 00:53:23,080 --> 00:53:26,560 Speaker 2: percentile run defender of all defensive ends since twenty seventeen. 1095 00:53:26,960 --> 00:53:29,279 Speaker 2: That is likely to carry over into the NFL. We 1096 00:53:29,320 --> 00:53:32,839 Speaker 2: have correlation stats that'll tell us this one carries over 1097 00:53:32,960 --> 00:53:35,120 Speaker 2: to the NFL. So if he's scoring well here, he 1098 00:53:35,200 --> 00:53:37,240 Speaker 2: probably will in the NFL. This is why he spits 1099 00:53:37,280 --> 00:53:40,160 Speaker 2: him out as the first round of giving you arbitrary examples. 1100 00:53:40,160 --> 00:53:42,000 Speaker 2: But it's all fun stuff for the next couple of 1101 00:53:42,040 --> 00:53:43,239 Speaker 2: months as we prepare. 1102 00:53:43,440 --> 00:53:47,000 Speaker 1: Looking forward to it, and hopefully this appearance on the 1103 00:53:47,040 --> 00:53:51,320 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth podcast helps you reach one hundred thousand followers. 1104 00:53:51,440 --> 00:53:52,200 Speaker 1: I know you're close. 1105 00:53:52,800 --> 00:53:53,399 Speaker 2: That would be great. 1106 00:53:53,400 --> 00:53:58,360 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thanks, Joe, appreciate your time. Joe is very close. 1107 00:53:58,480 --> 00:54:02,000 Speaker 1: He has ninety nine point three thousand followers on x 1108 00:54:02,440 --> 00:54:06,280 Speaker 1: so he should get to one hundred thous soon. Also, 1109 00:54:06,560 --> 00:54:09,400 Speaker 1: I need to make one quick correction. I referred to 1110 00:54:09,440 --> 00:54:12,759 Speaker 1: Trey Hendrickson as a free agent and that's obviously not 1111 00:54:12,880 --> 00:54:15,760 Speaker 1: the case. Trey has one year left on his current deal, 1112 00:54:16,280 --> 00:54:20,160 Speaker 1: a contract the Bengals are hoping to extend. That's going 1113 00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:22,719 Speaker 1: to do it for this episode of The Bengals Booth Podcast, 1114 00:54:22,800 --> 00:54:25,200 Speaker 1: brought to you by pay Core, Proud to be the 1115 00:54:25,239 --> 00:54:30,000 Speaker 1: Bengals Official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof 1116 00:54:30,040 --> 00:54:33,320 Speaker 1: fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business and community 1117 00:54:33,360 --> 00:54:37,040 Speaker 1: to a new level, and by Kettering Health the best 1118 00:54:37,040 --> 00:54:39,680 Speaker 1: care for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official 1119 00:54:39,680 --> 00:54:43,280 Speaker 1: healthcare provider of the Bengals. If you haven't done so already, 1120 00:54:43,560 --> 00:54:46,440 Speaker 1: please subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute, 1121 00:54:46,440 --> 00:54:49,320 Speaker 1: give it a rating or share a comment that helps 1122 00:54:49,440 --> 00:54:53,520 Speaker 1: more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Hord and thanks 1123 00:54:53,520 --> 00:55:06,400 Speaker 1: for listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast