1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,279 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horne and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast. The I Can Go the Distance addition, 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: as the Bengals look to end their season with a 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: three game winning streak, beginning with a road win at 5 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: Miami coming up, tight End Tanner Hudson tells us why 6 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: he thinks it's important that the Bengals that is strong. 7 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: Robert Weintraub from the FTN Football Almanac tells us what 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: the Bengals need to do to be back in championship 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: contention next year, and you'll hear a fun facts interview 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: that has not been on the podcast this year as 11 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: we get to know tight End No Offense. The Bengals 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, proud 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta 14 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed elevate your home, business, 15 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 17 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a 18 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 19 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: this podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet, or computer 20 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 21 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: thing since a coffee Advent calendar. We've had some fun 22 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: advent calendars in our house over the years, counting down 23 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: the days to Christmas with such things as pieces of 24 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,119 Speaker 1: candy or when our sun was young, little Star Wars figures. Well, 25 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: this year my wife got something called the Roasters Pack 26 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: Coffee Advent Calendar. You get a small batch of premium 27 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: coffee from different roasters every day, featuring light, medium, and 28 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: dark roasts, along with a description of what you're drinking. Now, 29 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: to be clear, I love my morning cup of coffee 30 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: more than life itself, and this has been a fun adventure. 31 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: So if you're a coffee drinker and would like a 32 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: caffeinated Christmas next year, search for the Roasters Pack Advent Calendar. 33 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: It's a fun way to start the day during the holiday. Now, 34 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: let's get to football. When Joe Burrow expressed frustration last 35 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: week over the way this season has gone for himself 36 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: and the team, and his desire for it to be 37 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: fun again, it sent the national media into the usual 38 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: anti Bengals feeding frenzy you'll recall before the draft in 39 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: twenty twenty there was rampant speculation, treated as if it 40 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: were fact that Joe would refuse to play in Cincinnati. 41 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: And no matter how many times he talks about how 42 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: much he enjoys it here or how much he likes 43 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: and respects the coaching staff, some people jump at any 44 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: opportunity to express their opinion that he's unhappy here, again, 45 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: often treating their opinion as fact. Joe's not unhappy here. 46 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: He's unhappy losing. So is Mike Brown and Zach Taylor 47 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: and Duke Tobin and you and me. Losing sucks. But 48 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, and t Higgins are signed for 49 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: the next seasons. And if we know anything about the NFL, 50 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 1: quick turnarounds happen every year, especially if you have a 51 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: great quarterback. The Bengals won six games in nineteen eighty 52 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,399 Speaker 1: and went to the Super Bowl the following year. They 53 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: won four games in eighty seven and went to the 54 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: Super Bowl in eighty eight. They won four again in 55 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, and well, you know what happened in twenty 56 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: twenty one. Here are Zach Taylor and Joe Burrow. 57 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 2: I'm confident that we're going to make the best decisions 58 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 2: for the organization. It's I got a ton of belief 59 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 2: in our coaching staff, our scouting department, our ownership that 60 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 2: we are very much in alignment with every decision we've 61 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: ever made here, and so again, when things haven't been 62 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: good enough over the course of this season, there's really 63 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 2: no one to blame other than me, truthfully, and so 64 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: I know we all play a piece of this, but 65 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: I'm the guy to get to sit there and talk 66 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 2: to the team every single week and present plans and 67 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: make in game decisions, and so frustrating that I haven't 68 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 2: done any job this year, but of confidence, and maybe 69 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: it rings hollow to everyone listening, but I know that 70 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 2: we've been here before and I've seen how we can 71 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: get out the other side. I'm very confident we're gonna 72 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 2: get the next I think. 73 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 3: We have great coaches. I think we're consistently put in 74 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 3: good positions to make plays and do our best. Obviously, 75 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 3: those good games and bad games, just like players have 76 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 3: good games in bad games. But I have a lot 77 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 3: of confidence and everybody that's putting together the plans for 78 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 3: us week in and week out. That's not to say 79 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 3: that changes don't need to be made, not saying personnel 80 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 3: or people. 81 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 4: I'm just saying, you know. 82 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 3: What we've been doing hasn't worked the last couple of years, 83 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 3: So you know, we have to think outside the box 84 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 3: and get creative about where we go from here. 85 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: All we want to do is win and bring championships 86 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 2: here to Cincinnati, and we'll do whatever it takes to 87 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 2: put it specific words on how that's going to look. 88 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 2: That's all for us behind the scenes to work through 89 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 2: it and make sure we do all that. But I 90 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 2: have absolute confidence that we have the right people and 91 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,119 Speaker 2: the right setups to make this happen because we've proven 92 00:04:58,160 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 2: it and we'll prove it again. 93 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,119 Speaker 3: We haven't been where we want to be the last 94 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 3: three years. A big part of that is degrees. On 95 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 3: my end, I've played one full season. I've played four 96 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 3: games this year. It's hard to make an impact on 97 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 3: a season when you play four games, So that's an emphasis. Obviously, 98 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 3: you need to figure out a way to be available 99 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 3: for everybody here, and so as far as what I 100 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 3: can control, that's something that is on top of mind 101 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 3: for me. 102 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 1: The Bengals best players on offense are all under contract 103 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: for next year. It's the defense that needs reinforcements. The 104 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: Bengals are in good salary cap shape and haven't traded 105 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: away any high draft picks, so they have resources. There's 106 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: no reason why this team can't be right back in 107 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: the hunt next year. Now for more on the Bengals 108 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: present and future, I caught up this week with my 109 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: friend Robert Wintrob, who writes about the Bengals for Cincinnati 110 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: Magazine and the FTN Football Almanac. All right, Robert, from 111 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: an analytical standpoint, what are some of the biggest things 112 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: that have gone wrong for the Bengals in twenty twenty five. 113 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 5: Well, I don't think you need to be an analytical 114 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 5: nerd to know the big issues with the team this year. 115 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 5: Where the fact that Joe Burrow didn't play for the 116 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 5: large majority of the season, and the defense went from 117 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 5: merely bad in twenty twenty four to historically bad for 118 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 5: most of twenty twenty five. And you know, it's hard 119 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 5: to win games, as you can probably understand, when you 120 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 5: don't have your franchise quarterback playing and your defense can't 121 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 5: stop anybody. 122 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 6: So you know, there's a handful of slightly less. 123 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 5: Important things that we can look at from an analytical standpoint, 124 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 5: but really those are the two big things and they 125 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 5: were just impossible to overcome for Cincinnati this season, Robert. 126 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 1: The defense has gotten somewhat better, how much and in 127 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: what areas. 128 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 5: We've seen kind of bright spots Individually, I think over 129 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 5: the last three or four weeks. DJ Turner has really 130 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 5: played great all season. He's the lone island in an 131 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 5: otherwise ocean of despair on that side of the ball. 132 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 5: And you've seen guys like Demetrius and I I think 133 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 5: had his best game as a pro thus far against Baltimore. 134 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 5: Miles Murphy's had a nice little month along stretch now 135 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 5: of play, and it's important to see progress, and especially 136 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 5: young guys. When you have so many young players on 137 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 5: the side of the ball, you know, it's difficult because 138 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 5: you're asking them all to sort of come of age 139 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 5: together and that rarely happens in the NFL. So, you know, 140 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,119 Speaker 5: the more individual success stories you can have, that only 141 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 5: can give you something to build off for the rest 142 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 5: of the season and then going into twenty twenty six. Overall, 143 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 5: those we've seen in the last couple of games, though, 144 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 5: they still struggle to stop teams, you know, unless they 145 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 5: force turnovers, and that's really the key element when they've 146 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 5: won games this season, it's because they got the ball 147 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 5: from takeaways and when they don't do that. And that's 148 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 5: not just Cincinnati, that's a lot of teams, but it 149 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 5: really was exacerbated this season by the bengals inefficiency to 150 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 5: stop teams, you know, in just sort of down to 151 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 5: down situations unless they took the ball away. 152 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 6: That's what they'll have to really concentrate on going forward 153 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 6: and into next season, for sure. 154 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow is not happy with his own play last week, 155 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: but I'd have to say overall, his first three games 156 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: back have been pretty remarkable. What's impressed you most about 157 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: his comeback after missing two and a half months. 158 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, well, just that really it's the fact that he's 159 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 5: come back, came back at all, and came back for 160 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 5: the most part as the same old Joe Burrow. You know, 161 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 5: he you know, I think part of the sort of 162 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 5: existential crisis I guess he'd say he's had over the 163 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 5: last week when he talked about it, and also from 164 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,559 Speaker 5: his play on Sunday, was a large part relay to 165 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 5: the fact that he you know, he came back so 166 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 5: quickly and thought it was so important even though he's 167 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 5: talked about in the past. 168 00:08:58,200 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 6: You know, he came back too quickly. 169 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 5: Maybe he has to learn as a player to maybe 170 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 5: take a step back and see the big picture. But 171 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 5: he didn't do that, and he came back and seemed 172 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 5: to be, at least for one game, the savior that 173 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 5: we were all looking for. 174 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 6: And the fact that it, you know, just didn't work 175 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 6: out over. 176 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 5: The last couple of weeks, I think, really you got 177 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 5: him to a place where he hasn't really been before 178 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 5: in his NFL career thus far, and that's obviously unfortunate. 179 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 5: I think he needs a real kind of mojo reset 180 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 5: almost and you know that's why you'll see him, I think, 181 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 5: play out the season, even though it's you know, ordinarily 182 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 5: you'd say to yourself, the risk versus reward is really 183 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 5: not worth it, you know, if the game's not meaning anything, 184 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 5: all you're doing is worsening your draft position by winning 185 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 5: those games, right, But I think in this situation, it's different. 186 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 5: I think Barow needs to realize he came back for 187 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 5: a reason. 188 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 6: He's still the guy. You know, we've talked about it before. 189 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 5: I've always called him at LISS he is the weight 190 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 5: of the franchise. In a lot of ways the city 191 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 5: on his shoulders, and you know, for the first time 192 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 5: that weight seems to have gotten to him a little bit. 193 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 5: So I think in this case it might be important 194 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,079 Speaker 5: for him to play out and show he's still the same. 195 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 6: Old Joe Burrow and you know, win games. 196 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 5: There's not generally a connection between winning games at the 197 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 5: end of the season and how you do the following season, 198 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 5: but I think internally there's definitely a need for, you know, 199 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 5: to cleanse the palette, if you will, a little bit, 200 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 5: and to come out victorious and show that this was 201 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 5: just a little hiccup and the fact that you know, Burrow, 202 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 5: maybe you know, had this momentary bout of crisis mode, 203 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:36,559 Speaker 5: was just a blip and he'll be the same old 204 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 5: Joe Burrow going into next season. 205 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: We're chatting with Robert Weintraub from the FTN Football Almanac 206 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: in Cincinnati Magazine. Should we be encouraged by the play 207 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: of the offensive line? 208 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 6: Sure? 209 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 5: I mean, why not in the season where a lot 210 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 5: of things have gone wrong, that's one that whereas in 211 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 5: past seasons it's gone very wrong, this year, he can't 212 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 5: really point to it as being a detriment. Maybe not 213 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 5: a top five in the league by any stretch. But 214 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 5: they've played well. Anytime you start a rookie at one 215 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 5: of the five positions and he not only keeps his 216 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 5: head above water but actually plays well in Dylan fairschild 217 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 5: at left guard, that's. 218 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 6: A success story. 219 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 5: Marius Mims taking the next step forward playing well and 220 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 5: not being injured and actually playing for the most part 221 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,199 Speaker 5: of full season was a huge success story in his development. 222 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 5: And importantly, obviously they're going to have to devote a 223 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 5: lot of resources again to the defensive side of the 224 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,839 Speaker 5: ball in the off season. That would look different if 225 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 5: you were going into this year having to also devote 226 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 5: resources to trying to fix several positions on the offensive line. 227 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,719 Speaker 5: I think they've stabilized that unit at least for the 228 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 5: time being. They certainly looked to maybe making changes going 229 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 5: down the line with some of the veterans, maybe at 230 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 5: center and at left tackle, but I think they feel 231 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 5: comfortable going into at least twenty twenty six that they're 232 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 5: in decent shape on the offensive line and it's not 233 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:58,959 Speaker 5: holding the team back as it had in a lot 234 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 5: of ways. Really the entirety of burrows career to this point. 235 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: The Bengals unfortunately are going to miss the playoffs. The 236 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: Chiefs are going to miss the playoffs. The Ravens have 237 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: about a one to three chance of making it at 238 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: this point. What do you make of the AFC in 239 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five. 240 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, a great man once said, chaos is a letder right. 241 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 5: I think it might have been from a TV show 242 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 5: actually even not a great fan. 243 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 6: But still that's basically the thrust of this year. 244 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 5: You know, a lot of it tied to the quarterback health, 245 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 5: certainly in Cincinnati and in Baltimore. Kansas City obviously just 246 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 5: had a season from hell in a lot of ways, and. 247 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 6: Maybe they were overdue for that. 248 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,319 Speaker 5: So I think, you know, that's not a huge surprise, 249 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 5: but you know, it's just one of those years you 250 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 5: get them from time to time. You see teams that 251 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 5: are you know, on the drag old side and not 252 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 5: expected much, but they have soft schedules and they come 253 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 5: together at you know, the kind of all coalesces, whether 254 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 5: it's coaching or quarterback play, as we see in Denver 255 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 5: and New England specifically this year. You know, there's still 256 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,199 Speaker 5: the chance for the old guard in Buffalo to make 257 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 5: a run and you know kind of put an end 258 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 5: to the chaotic nature of the AFC this season, I 259 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 5: guess he'd say, but you know, we've seen it, and 260 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 5: in a lot of ways, I think in a lot 261 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 5: of fans Mines probably not in Cincinnati, but a lot 262 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 5: of fans around the country are thinking, it's good, let's 263 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 5: get some new blood in there. Something different happening other 264 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 5: than the you know, the Burrows, the Jackson's and the 265 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 5: and the Mahomes leading their team deep in the playoffs 266 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 5: every single year this decade. 267 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 6: So you know, overall, it's probably a good thing, But 268 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 6: we don't. 269 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 5: Really necessarily feel that way because with the season with 270 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 5: such chaos, the door was wide open for the Bengals 271 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 5: to be right there at the end, and it just 272 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 5: didn't happen for the reasons we've talked about before. 273 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: Up next the six and eight Dolphins, and as we 274 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: have this conversation, they might be making a change at 275 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: quarterback to a Toungo. Volo performed poorly on Monday night 276 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: and I lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. What are some 277 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: keys to coming away with a win this Sunday in Miami. 278 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 5: Yeah, as you mentioned, it looks like Quinnviewers, the rookie 279 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 5: will get the start. You know, he's obviously doesn't how 280 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 5: much Pedigree wasn't a high draft pick, had kind of 281 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 5: a middling college career, but at one point he was 282 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 5: the number one overall recruit coming out of high school. 283 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 5: He's got a lot of physical talent, and you know, 284 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 5: the Bengals do have a history of making rookies and 285 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 5: backups look like all pros for one brief Sunday before 286 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,479 Speaker 5: they return to their natural level, so obviously over confidence 287 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 5: in that sense will be something the Bengals will need 288 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 5: to avoid. There's a potential mismatch in terms of Miami's 289 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 5: running game, which has been solid this season top six 290 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 5: in terms of efficiency overall despite Monday Night's game, And 291 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 5: obviously the Bengals have a bottom three rush defense, so 292 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 5: you know they'll at the same time not want to 293 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 5: give youers any opportunity to beat them downfield, and they'll 294 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 5: feel more comfortable about devoting more players into the box 295 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 5: and shutting down that Miami running game. If you can 296 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 5: do that, you go a long way toward beating them, 297 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 5: and it'll be interesting. See both Miami and Cincinnati kind 298 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 5: of felt the effects of the deep freeze. I felt 299 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 5: like last week had nothing new for Miami. Certainly for 300 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 5: Cincinnati it was. And now they turn around and play 301 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 5: in the high heat and humidity of South Beach, So 302 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 5: you know, you wonder if everything will break free and 303 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 5: the players will feel liberated. 304 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 6: By that temperature change and we'll see a shootout. That'd 305 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 6: be interesting. 306 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 5: And as I said before, obviously the Bengals are looking 307 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 5: to erase the you know, the I feel like the 308 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 5: Buffalo defeat and the way that happened really lingered into 309 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 5: Sunday against Baltimore. There's no question that they were just 310 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 5: not mentally there for the game. They're going to want 311 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 5: to erase that. In the NFL, teams that you know, 312 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 5: put on a performance like the Bengals did last week 313 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 5: tend to erase that the following week. 314 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 6: These are all professionals, and I think the Bengals. 315 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 5: Will be certainly looking to be doing that and show 316 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 5: that's not who they really are on Sunday against Miami. 317 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: Robert I want to reach out a year from now 318 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: to record one of these interviews and we'll be talking 319 00:15:55,840 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: about playoff seeding and the possibility of benching stars in 320 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: the final game of the regular season, because the Bengals 321 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: are on the verge of clinching the AFC North. What 322 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: are some of the things that they should do in 323 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: the offseason to get back to that position. 324 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 5: Well, I mean they have to figure out from an 325 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 5: organizational standpoint, first and foremost, assuming that you know, all 326 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 5: the personnel doesn't change, what are the procedural changes that 327 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 5: haven't worked over these last three years. I mean, obviously 328 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 5: the main thing is that Burrow has been injured, and 329 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 5: you know, in a lot of ways, that's just the 330 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 5: nature of the league to a point, and it's a 331 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 5: bit of a freak occurrence. You know, they can't it 332 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 5: can't prepare against it. But also you have to be 333 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 5: in a situation where you can withstand it if it's 334 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 5: not a season long thing. And obviously that begins and 335 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 5: ends with improvements on the defensive side of the ball. 336 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 5: I think it's been proven that no matter how great 337 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 5: the offense is, no matter how many resources you devote 338 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 5: to that side of the ball, it's just impossible to 339 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 5: go forward winning thirty five thirty four shoot us week 340 00:16:58,120 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 5: in and week out. 341 00:16:58,720 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 4: In the NFL. 342 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 5: You have to be able to, you know, as we 343 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 5: talked about before, not have Joe Burrow b Atlas every 344 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 5: single week not have so much rest on his plate. 345 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 5: You know, the key to the Super Bowl run and 346 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 5: even in twenty twenty two is the fact that they 347 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 5: were so much more of a balanced team and Burrow 348 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 5: was heroic when he had to be, of course, and 349 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 5: did so many great things, but also could rely on 350 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 5: on a defense and the special teams that could win 351 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 5: games for them if they needed to. And you know, 352 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 5: they've gotten away from that the last three seasons, not 353 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 5: as a strategy, but just because of the way things 354 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 5: have played out, and you know, they just really have to, 355 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 5: you know, kind of look at themselves in the mirror. 356 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 6: As we said, it can kind of do a reset 357 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 6: from an. 358 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 5: Overall franchise kind of how do we want to proceed 359 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 5: forward now that we're paying so much money to you know, 360 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 5: kind of the big three on offense. How are we 361 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 5: going to be able to build the rest of the 362 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 5: team so that we can be competitive and not and 363 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 5: not waste those salaries that were paying to Burrow and 364 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,640 Speaker 5: Jamar Chase and t Higgins and and you know, there's 365 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 5: no reason why if those guys remain healthy, we can 366 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 5: still win games offensively. 367 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 6: But they just have to find a way that they 368 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 6: can win games. 369 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 5: And other ways besides, you know, just scoring thirty thirty 370 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 5: five points every week. 371 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 6: It's just not sustainable. 372 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: Robert Wintrob writes about the Bengals for Cincinnati Magazine and 373 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: the FTN Football Almanac. He is also on a quest 374 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: to write about the top one thousand sporting events to 375 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 1: take place in the New York City area. Where are 376 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: we in the NYC one thousand? 377 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 6: Boy? 378 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 5: Oh boy, We're at about the six hundred and seventy 379 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 5: five marks somewhere in there. Still long, long way. The journey, 380 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 5: as you know, of a thousand miles, begins with a 381 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 5: single step. I'm well into that particular process, but there's 382 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 5: a lot of great stuff ahead. I would need to 383 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 5: thank you for being not just a devoted reader, but 384 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 5: a constant promoter of my insane side projects. I have 385 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 5: a second one if I can give a quick plug 386 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 5: for that there key book that I put. 387 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 6: Out there called The Max Mercy Reader. Quickly. 388 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 5: The conceit of that is that you have the sports 389 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 5: writer from the movie The Natural Max Mercy, played by 390 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 5: Robert Duvall, essentially covering all sports throughout sports movie history. 391 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 5: So he writes about Rocky Balboa and about various other 392 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 5: Johnny Utah from point break and on down the line 393 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 5: in various ways. 394 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 6: It's a goof. 395 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:32,400 Speaker 5: It's a crazy little thing, but highly enjoyable to those 396 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:34,959 Speaker 5: of you out there who like sports and sports movies, 397 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 5: which I would assume would be most people listening and 398 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 5: watching at the moment. So if you want a little 399 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 5: lin Yap on your Christmas gift list, I would highly recommend. 400 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 5: It's just two ninety nine on Amazon. The Max Mercy 401 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 5: Reader available now. Thanks so much for letting me promote. 402 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 1: That, Robert, appreciate your time as always. Happy holidays and 403 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: go Bengals in the final three games of the year. 404 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 5: Two things I often say at this time year, not 405 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 5: necessarily in that order. Go Bengals and happy holidays to you, 406 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 5: Dan and to everybody out there. 407 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 6: Thanks so much. 408 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, 409 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: Proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by 410 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: Alta Fiber, future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, 411 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: business and community to a new level, and by Kettering 412 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 1: Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health 413 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. In Joe 414 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: Burrow's first two games back, the Bengals scored thirty two 415 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: points at Baltimore and thirty four at Buffalo, so it 416 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: was hard to believe it when they got shut out 417 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 1: last week at home by the Ravens. Tanner Hudson had 418 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,439 Speaker 1: three catches in the loss, and I spoke to the 419 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: thirty one year old tight end this week about trying 420 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 1: to bounce back against the Dolphins on Sunday, Tanner. Prior 421 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: to last week, the offensive scored thirty plus in five 422 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: of the previous seven games. How shocking was it to 423 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: have a game where you guys got shut out? 424 00:20:58,520 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 7: Yeah? 425 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 8: I mean anytime you get shut out out, uh, in 426 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 8: a big game like that, you definitely go back to 427 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 8: the drawing board a little bit kind of see what 428 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 8: went what went wrong, uh, and where it went wrong. 429 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 8: So yeah, I think I think for all those guys, 430 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 8: especially with the talent that we have in the room, 431 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 8: putting up zero points, it's just it's unacceptable for us. 432 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: We learned after the fact that Joe Burrow addressed you 433 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: guys in the locker room after the game. You've been 434 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: his teammate for three years. Did you see a different 435 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 1: side of him, and what was your reaction. 436 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 8: I think that's just Joe, you know, being accountable. He's 437 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:35,120 Speaker 8: a realistic person. He he understands the game. He understands 438 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 8: his ability and our ability. So I think that's just 439 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 8: that's just him. I think that's just uh, like I said, 440 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 8: that's just him being honest with himself. And if that's 441 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 8: how he feels, and that's how he feels, and uh, 442 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,360 Speaker 8: you know, kudos for him for for sharing that with us, 443 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 8: and you know we're we're always gonna have his back. 444 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 8: I still believe he's the best quarterback in the league. 445 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 8: So I mean, as long as he plays with that confidence, 446 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 8: I think I think will be just fun. 447 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: What did he show you by coming at several weeks 448 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: ahead of schedule. 449 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:05,439 Speaker 8: It's just dedication to his craft, to his game, to us, 450 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 8: to this, to this organization. I think I think it 451 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 8: just shows the the love of the game that he loved, 452 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 8: for the game that he has and you know how 453 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 8: much it really means to him, and yeah, just just 454 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 8: him wanted to get back like that. 455 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 7: It showed a lot of character. 456 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 1: We're visiting with Tanner Hudson. You won a Super Bowl 457 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: ring with Tampa Bay. You've been on some really good 458 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 1: teams in your NFL career. How difficult has this season 459 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: been for you personally? 460 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 8: As my whole career has went on. I just take 461 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 8: it year by year, which is, you know what I've 462 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 8: had to do, uh in my career. So yeah, just 463 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 8: just going through a year. Obviously, we've had our ups 464 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:48,400 Speaker 8: and downs. Anytime anyone loses their starting quarterback, much less 465 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 8: a number number one quarterback in the league, you know 466 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 8: you're gonna have your struggles. So yeah, I think it's 467 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 8: all of us just kind of taking accountability for what's 468 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:00,639 Speaker 8: happened and trying to press forward. And yeah, I mean 469 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,360 Speaker 8: it's it's definitely been an up and down year, but uh, 470 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 8: just looking at the big picture, you just got to 471 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 8: try to keep getting better every day, try to fix 472 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 8: your flaws, and you know, go out there and put 473 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 8: your best foot forward. 474 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: One of the good moments was on Thanksgiving night when 475 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: you made your one handed touchdown catch in Baltimore. More 476 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: than twenty eight million people watch that game on TV. 477 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: What was the response like for you over the next 478 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 1: day or two. 479 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 4: That was awesome. 480 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 8: I Mean, I you know, got so much encouragement, so 481 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 8: much you know, great job. Proud of you and a 482 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 8: lot of it from my hometown just because you know 483 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 8: they they mean so much to me, and I hope 484 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 8: I mean a. 485 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 7: Lot to them. 486 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 8: And I try to try to set a good standard 487 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 8: and a good be a have good character out there 488 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 8: and represent for for my hometown and to be out 489 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 8: there and you know, have that moment on Thanksgiving, no 490 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 8: one everyone's watching it, It meant a lot. 491 00:23:58,080 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: Did you get some turn duckin? 492 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 7: Yeah, I got a leg. 493 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:03,160 Speaker 4: I think. 494 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 7: It was actually pretty good. 495 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: I got a lot, So Tanner. The Bengals tight ends 496 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 1: as a group have eighty catches and that's despite the 497 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: fact that Mikeasicky was out for several weeks due to injury. 498 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: What are you guys proud of? As a position group? 499 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 8: This tight end room is very special, I think just 500 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:27,400 Speaker 8: because we are a bunch of older, older guys, Cam 501 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 8: being the youngest obviously, but so and kudos to James 502 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 8: for how he runs his meetings and how he runs 503 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:40,399 Speaker 8: coaching us. Nobody wants to do nobody wants to go 504 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 8: out there and play bad, and he understands that, and 505 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 8: he understands that if we do mess up, we're more 506 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 8: mad at ourselves than he could ever be at us. 507 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 8: So yeah, this room, you know, we're very unselfish. Everybody 508 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 8: wants everybody to make the play. We all want to 509 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,360 Speaker 8: be in there to make the play, but we're we're 510 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 8: very proud of you each other when. 511 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 7: One of us does. 512 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 8: And yeah, I think it's it's been one of the 513 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 8: best best rooms I've been a part of, especially talent 514 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 8: wise too. 515 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 1: If anybody doesn't know who James is, that your position 516 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: group coach James Casey, who I say is like the 517 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: most interesting man in the world. It's a minor league 518 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: baseball pitcher for three years that didn't work out, went 519 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: back to college, eventually wound up playing tight end in 520 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: the NFL, and and now he's considered to be one 521 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: of the better tight end coaches in the league. How 522 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: would you describe James Casey? 523 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 7: That's a great question. 524 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:39,840 Speaker 8: James, I would say he has incredible character. He is 525 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 8: one of the most dedicated coaches to his craft, to 526 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 8: the knowledge of tight end, and just to the knowledge 527 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 8: of the full game of football in general that I've 528 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 8: ever been around. He loves to watch ball, loves to 529 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:57,679 Speaker 8: coach ball, He loves being around the guys there's just 530 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 8: not I mean, there's not a bad thing you can 531 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 8: really say about him, especially when it comes to to 532 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 8: loving the game of football, and I think he comes 533 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 8: out he shows that every day. He proves that to 534 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 8: us every day with just his knowledge and his whatever 535 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 8: whatever we're going into that week, his coaching points throughout 536 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:23,399 Speaker 8: that week or suggestions. He doesn't he doesn't try to 537 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:27,919 Speaker 8: force anything on you. It's all subjective and what he 538 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 8: thinks would be best for us. And so it's just 539 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:32,719 Speaker 8: it's incredible to be around a coach like that that 540 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 8: understands his players the way he does and lets us 541 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 8: succeed in the. 542 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 7: Way that we do. 543 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: He's such a fan of a position too. He says, 544 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 1: if I were running a company, I'd hire a tight 545 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: end because they have to do a little bit of everything. 546 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 1: It's probably cool for you as a tight end to 547 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:51,239 Speaker 1: play for somebody who's such an advocate of what you 548 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: guys have to do. 549 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,400 Speaker 8: Yeah, one percent, having you know, not that you have 550 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 8: to play the game of football to be a coach. 551 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 7: I don't think that's the case at all. 552 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 8: But to have someone that played the position at a 553 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 8: high level for multiple years, it just he knows the 554 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 8: little things, the ins and outs of like if something happens, 555 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 8: it's not like that that will happen. 556 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 7: So it's very It's incredible to have. 557 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 8: Someone like that in the position that he's in to 558 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 8: and I'd like to think we all take advantage of 559 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:29,439 Speaker 8: that and asking questions and he gives us suggestions whenever 560 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 8: we need it. 561 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: We're chatting with Tanner Hudson. You've had a pretty remarkable career. 562 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 1: In your college career. You played quarterback, you punted for 563 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: four years, you played wide receiver, you played tight end. 564 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: You didn't get drafted coming out of a Division two school. 565 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: But now here you are in your eighth NFL season, 566 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: do you ever stop and just think about how remarkable 567 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:51,360 Speaker 1: really this path has been. 568 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 8: Yeah, every once in a while, you got to step 569 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 8: back from the game and look at your path as 570 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 8: a whole and kind of what you put into it, 571 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 8: the ups and downs of each and every year. Because 572 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 8: you know, I've never never signed a multiple year contract, never, 573 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 8: you know, had anything like that happen. Had to grind 574 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 8: for a spot every year in camp. So and I 575 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 8: don't take that for granted, like I enjoy I would 576 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:17,640 Speaker 8: come out and grind whether I was on a five 577 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 8: year contract or whether I'm on one. I just I 578 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 8: want to be I want to be really good and 579 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 8: I want to be one of the best. And yeah, 580 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 8: I think just going out there and trying to perfect 581 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 8: that each and every day, each and every year, wherever, 582 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 8: whatever staff, you know, I'm a whatever coaching staff that 583 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 8: I'm a part of, trying to show what I'm what 584 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 8: I'm great at. And uh, yeah, it's definitely definitely been 585 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 8: a journey. It's fun to fun to sit back with 586 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 8: my wife and just kind of go through the years 587 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 8: of the ups and downs, the movings, the just just 588 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 8: everything that goes with it. 589 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: After playing in single digit temperatures last week, how much 590 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: are you and your teammates looking forward to what's expected 591 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 1: to be an eighty degree day on Sunday in Miami? 592 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 4: Very much? 593 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 8: Gonna drink a lot of water, gotta say, hy dated, Yeah, 594 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 8: I mean, and we've had some cold ones which we 595 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 8: played for the Bengals. You know, we know that cold 596 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 8: comes with this territory. So yeah, it can be unfun 597 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 8: at times to play in some cold weather, but we 598 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 8: understand that's what comes with it. 599 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 7: But yeah, it's definitely a blessing. 600 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,000 Speaker 8: To be able to go to Miami get a nice 601 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 8: little eighty degree game. See it feel some sunshine? Yeah, 602 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 8: I feel good. Might have to wear some sunscreen, might 603 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 8: get some burned out there. 604 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 1: I'll keep that in mind in the booth. What would 605 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: a strong finish mean to you in the final three 606 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: weeks of the year. 607 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 8: I think it would just me this team. I think 608 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 8: it would show the character of this team that Zach 609 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 8: has talked about the entire year. 610 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 7: Like I agree with him completely. 611 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 8: We've never showed any kind of doubt in ourselves or 612 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 8: took a practice off or anything like that. The defense, offense, 613 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 8: everybody comes to work to get better each and every day, 614 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:02,000 Speaker 8: just like Zach says, and you know it doesn't doesn't 615 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 8: always worked out work out for us like we've seen 616 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 8: this year. 617 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 7: But I see no quitting this team. 618 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 8: I see us going out there and trying to prove 619 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 8: a point that yes we're out of it, but this 620 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 8: team is still together, this team still wants to win. 621 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 7: We still love being out there. 622 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 8: So uh yeah, I think I think it's a good, 623 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 8: a good bounce back week for us to come out 624 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:25,680 Speaker 8: and show what we're about. 625 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 1: Appreciate your time as always, best to luck the rest 626 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 1: of the year. 627 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 7: Good deal. Appreciate it. 628 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 1: Finally, time to hear from another tight End as we 629 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 1: get to know the person under the pads. Time for 630 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 1: some fun facts with tight End. Noah fan from Omaha, Nebraska, 631 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 1: the biggest city in Nebraska, the home of the College 632 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: World Series. Noah, Based on what I've read, you're the 633 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: youngest of six kids. Is that accurate? And what was 634 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: that like? 635 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 9: Yeah, I'm definitely definitely the youngest of six, three brothers 636 00:30:55,360 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 9: and two sisters, and there was a great, great upbringing. Definitely, 637 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 9: my siblings thought I was a little bit spoiled, but 638 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 9: it was great. I have great relationships with all of them, 639 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:08,479 Speaker 9: so couldn't complain. 640 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: It's funny you say that because I'm the fourth of five, 641 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: and my older siblings always said, You've got it so easy. 642 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: Mom and dad have just kind of given up. They're 643 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 1: letting you do whatever you want. 644 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 4: Yeah. 645 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 9: No, I definitely definitely think there's some of the same. 646 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 9: But my parents were tough on me growing up, but 647 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 9: in a good way, so I was blessed to have them. 648 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 1: One of your older brothers was your high school coach. 649 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 1: Was he tough on you? 650 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 4: Uh? Yeah, I think so. 651 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 9: I think my brother just wanted the best for me, 652 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:39,800 Speaker 9: wanted me to achieve greatness. And yeah, he was a 653 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 9: big part of my development early on growing up, as 654 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 9: with my dad and my mom. 655 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:46,480 Speaker 4: But yeah, he was. He was a big part of that. 656 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: You attended Almaha South High School but also took classes 657 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 1: at the University of Nebraska Medical Center while you were 658 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: in high school. Tell me about that. 659 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 9: Yeah, the un m C High School Alliance was kind 660 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 9: of a pro for high school students to kind of 661 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 9: get a fast track to any any medical profession that 662 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,320 Speaker 9: they wanted to get into going into college. So it 663 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 9: was taking college classes out of college at a college 664 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:16,160 Speaker 9: campus and uh, you know, kind of working in and 665 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 9: seeing what path we wanted to take when we got 666 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 9: into college. 667 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 4: So it was a great experience. 668 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,120 Speaker 9: And I still keep in touch with some of the 669 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 9: people that run that program and have gone back to 670 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 9: visit before. 671 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 4: And yeah, I'm just. 672 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 9: Super fortunate to be able to partake in that. You 673 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:33,800 Speaker 9: dealt with Kidavers, Yeah, what was that like? You know, 674 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 9: it's definitely a unique experience, not something that I thought 675 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 9: that I would have been doing that young, but uh man, 676 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 9: what a cool like a like a cool experience and 677 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 9: a blessing for me to be able to do that 678 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 9: at such. 679 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 4: A young age and really learn. 680 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 9: I learned so much in that in that program and 681 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 9: the classes that I took, so I was super fortunate 682 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 9: to be able to be a part of that. 683 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 1: In your scouting report coming out of college on NFL 684 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 1: dot Com said you had an idea of possibly being 685 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 1: a surgeon after playing football. Is that still a remote 686 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:07,960 Speaker 1: possibility in your mind? 687 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 9: I'm not so sure yet. It's a lot of schooling 688 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 9: that I'd have to go through after playing football in 689 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 9: year seven, so we'll see how it plays out. But 690 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 9: not shutting in any doors. 691 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 1: We're visiting with Noah Fat. When it came time to 692 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: pick a college, you chose the school with a reputation 693 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: of being tight end you Iowa, Dallas Clark, George kittle, TJ. Hockinson, 694 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:33,240 Speaker 1: Sam Laporta, Eric Golf from the Bengals, and others. How 695 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: do you explain that lineage of great tight ends? 696 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 4: Yeah? 697 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 9: I think that just like when I was going to Iowa, 698 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 9: the guys that were kind of there before me were 699 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 9: like Dallas car Tony Mulaki, I think, Scott Chandler, guys 700 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:53,760 Speaker 9: of that nature that had been there before and had 701 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 9: made it to the NFL, and it was just kind 702 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 9: of one of those things that was that was a 703 00:33:57,920 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 9: selling point that if I wanted to play tight end 704 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 9: in an offense that used the tight end quite often, 705 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 9: that I wanted to be able to do that and 706 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 9: go there. And obviously my freshman year was Georgia's senior year, 707 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:12,239 Speaker 9: and then after that it's just been pumping out tight 708 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 9: ends definitely more frequently ever since. So it's it's been 709 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 9: a really cool experience to be a part of. 710 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 4: For sure. 711 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,759 Speaker 1: Is it almost like a self fulfilling prophecy where the 712 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: best high school tight ends in the country gravitate to 713 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 1: Iowa and then it's almost destiny that they're going to 714 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 1: turn out to be pros. 715 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:31,879 Speaker 9: You know, Honestly, I think that I wouldn't necessarily say 716 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,279 Speaker 9: the best, like the best top recruits that tight end 717 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 9: really go to Iowa. I think Iwoa does a really 718 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:40,319 Speaker 9: good job of identifying guys that have the trades and 719 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:42,200 Speaker 9: then developing them. Like when I was coming out of 720 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 9: high school, I was a three star athlete out of Nebraska. 721 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 9: I had like fifteen offers from different schools, but wasn't 722 00:34:49,160 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 9: like a top recruited five star tight end coming out 723 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 9: of out of high school, so they do a great 724 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:58,799 Speaker 9: job of identifying guys with those traits and developing them 725 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:02,880 Speaker 9: into a all around tight end. So that was something 726 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 9: I was I was really proud of going there and 727 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 9: being a part of. 728 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 1: After three years with the Hawkeyes, you entered the draft 729 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: and were selected in the first round twentieth overall by Denver. 730 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 1: Describe your draft night experience. 731 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was a great experience. 732 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:18,960 Speaker 9: I mean, obviously it was waiting a little bit twenty 733 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,360 Speaker 9: picks in, but it wasn't complaining at all. It was 734 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:24,239 Speaker 9: just a very like, a very stressful situation. But what 735 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:27,240 Speaker 9: a cool experience for me and my family being there 736 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 9: all together in the green room and getting that call 737 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 9: from Denver at the time, and it was it was 738 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:36,239 Speaker 9: a surreal moment, So really cool experience for me and 739 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:36,720 Speaker 9: my family. 740 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 1: You had three good years in Denver, you probably expected 741 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:41,839 Speaker 1: to be there for a long long time, and then 742 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:45,240 Speaker 1: the Broncos pulled off a blockbuster trade for Russell Wilson, 743 00:35:45,239 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: giving up multiple high draft picks and yourself in that deal. 744 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:52,800 Speaker 1: Did you have any inkling that you might be traded 745 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:54,239 Speaker 1: or was it a total shock. 746 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:54,680 Speaker 4: No, I was. 747 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 9: I was pretty shocked, to be honest with you, Hindsight 748 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:00,919 Speaker 9: twenty twenty. Obviously, I'll understand, right, It's like you get 749 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 9: your shot at a franchise quarterback at the time that 750 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 9: you think it is your franchise quarterback, and you're gonna 751 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:08,879 Speaker 9: do whatever. You know, you're not going to hold back 752 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:11,680 Speaker 9: a tight end for that deal, you know what I'm saying. 753 00:36:11,719 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 9: So I understood, I understood it. I was definitely shocked 754 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:18,279 Speaker 9: and taken it back by it. Some would say blindsided, 755 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:23,120 Speaker 9: but like, man, it was such crazy experience, and obviously 756 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:26,720 Speaker 9: was traded to Seattle and had some good years there, 757 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:29,320 Speaker 9: but uh, yeah, it was. It was definitely wild, a 758 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:30,439 Speaker 9: wild experience for sure. 759 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:33,200 Speaker 1: So three years in Denver, three years in Seattle, and 760 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:36,000 Speaker 1: then earlier this year they let you go kind of 761 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: in a salary cap dump type situation. But it did 762 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,680 Speaker 1: give you the opportunity to choose for the first time 763 00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:42,800 Speaker 1: since you were in high school. 764 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 4: Did you enjoy that? 765 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 9: It was a very interesting experience because it was I 766 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:52,439 Speaker 9: supposed choosing, but at a time that was very late 767 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:56,280 Speaker 9: in the process, and you know, got people had already 768 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:58,560 Speaker 9: really had the roster set and things of that nature. 769 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:01,280 Speaker 9: So yeah, it was I used to choose, I suppose, 770 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 9: but like wasn't an ideal situation that late in the game, 771 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 9: which was kind of a little frustrating. But yeah, so 772 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 9: I was happy to be able to land in Cincinnati. 773 00:37:12,239 --> 00:37:14,839 Speaker 9: What a great place for me to land at with 774 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 9: with coach Taylor and and pitch and and James Casey 775 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 9: is a great, great Titans coach. I've been really really 776 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:25,920 Speaker 9: fortunate to be able to work with them and be 777 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,919 Speaker 9: in a good situation here. So it ended up working out, 778 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:32,439 Speaker 9: But obviously it was definitely a process to get there 779 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:32,880 Speaker 9: for sure. 780 00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:35,640 Speaker 1: All Right, a few wild card topics now for Bengals 781 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 1: tight end Noah Fan who is your all time favorite 782 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:41,240 Speaker 1: athlete in any sport? 783 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:44,520 Speaker 9: I would say you Michael Jordan. I wasn't old enough 784 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:46,719 Speaker 9: to like see him in his prime, but just like 785 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 9: the greatness of him and the championships that he's won, 786 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:52,680 Speaker 9: that his all of his highlights. He's just an iconic player. 787 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:57,080 Speaker 9: Whenever someone mentions like a goat of a sport, it's 788 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:00,480 Speaker 9: like he automatically comes up. He's definitely a polarizer player 789 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:03,880 Speaker 9: that not only changed the game but changed really just 790 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:07,120 Speaker 9: like the world kind of honestly, he's like he was 791 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 9: a world known athlete. So it was like, what a 792 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:13,120 Speaker 9: cool what a cool experience, like experience to be able 793 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:15,200 Speaker 9: to see but unfortunately I wasn't able to see it, 794 00:38:15,239 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 9: But what a cool experience to like be able to 795 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:20,320 Speaker 9: go back and watch those highlights and experience that greatness. 796 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 1: So and he made it okay for people like me 797 00:38:22,719 --> 00:38:27,000 Speaker 1: to be bald. Yeah, you've spent seven years in the NFL, 798 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:30,000 Speaker 1: You've done well financially. What do you like to splur John? 799 00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:31,560 Speaker 4: Food? 800 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 9: That's like, that's one of the things that I'll like 801 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:36,920 Speaker 9: pay a good a good dollar for, is like a 802 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:40,480 Speaker 9: just a really good meal, especially like with friends and families, 803 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:42,480 Speaker 9: which is which is one of the things that I 804 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:43,399 Speaker 9: value very much. 805 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:45,080 Speaker 4: So food is definitely one of those things. 806 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:50,560 Speaker 1: Big fancy steakhouse are something more eclectic and foodie either one. 807 00:38:50,719 --> 00:38:53,799 Speaker 9: I'm I'm a pretty wide range guy that'll that'll like 808 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:57,799 Speaker 9: have anything to eat, And honestly, it's a it's just 809 00:38:57,920 --> 00:38:59,920 Speaker 9: a what's the choice of the day, honestly. 810 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 1: So other than sports, do you have any hidden talents? 811 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:07,400 Speaker 4: I don't know about hidden talents. 812 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:10,160 Speaker 9: I just kind of trying to view myself as like 813 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:13,360 Speaker 9: a like a pretty multi faceted guy. Like I just 814 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:16,040 Speaker 9: like a lot of different things. I do a lot 815 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:18,439 Speaker 9: of different things, and I don't think there's just one 816 00:39:18,760 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 9: one singular thing that I'm like super talented at though. 817 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:24,680 Speaker 1: All right, final fun fact for Noah f This one's 818 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: kind of deep. If you could meet anybody in history, 819 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:32,279 Speaker 1: living or deceased, who would that person be. 820 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:39,799 Speaker 9: I would want to meet my my Dad's my dad's dad. 821 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:42,920 Speaker 9: He passed away when my dad was very young, so 822 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:44,799 Speaker 9: it'd have been my grandpa. But I never got to 823 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:47,200 Speaker 9: meet him. But I definitely would have want to met 824 00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:51,279 Speaker 9: him and just kind of talk to him and see 825 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:53,920 Speaker 9: what he see how he viewed life, see how he 826 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:58,719 Speaker 9: viewed everything. Obviously my dad didn't I wasn't able to 827 00:39:58,800 --> 00:40:02,960 Speaker 9: have those those mo was within very long, but yeah, 828 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 9: I think those would be some really cool conversations and 829 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:06,319 Speaker 9: see what he thought. 830 00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:08,680 Speaker 1: No doubt about it. No, I appreciate your time, Best 831 00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:09,560 Speaker 1: of luck the rest of the year. 832 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:10,560 Speaker 4: Thank you appreciate it. 833 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,160 Speaker 1: Here's a quick invitation to join Dave Lapham and me 834 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:16,600 Speaker 1: for the Bengals pep Rally show this week. We'll be 835 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 1: at the on the Rhine Eatery. The food Hall on 836 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:23,279 Speaker 1: the second floor above the downtown Kroger on Friday from 837 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:26,120 Speaker 1: three to six and our scheduled guest in the final 838 00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:30,080 Speaker 1: hour will be Bengals legend Sam Hubbard. Not for nothing 839 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:33,040 Speaker 1: but an autographed item for the Bengals fan on your 840 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:36,480 Speaker 1: Christmas list would make a great gift and Sam will 841 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:39,719 Speaker 1: be signing during the commercial breaks. That's going to do 842 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:42,000 Speaker 1: it for this episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast, brought 843 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 1: to you by pay Corp. Proud to be the Bengals 844 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:48,080 Speaker 1: official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber, future proof fiber 845 00:40:48,080 --> 00:40:51,000 Speaker 1: Internet designed to elevate your home, business and community to 846 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:54,160 Speaker 1: a new level, and by Kettering Health the best care 847 00:40:54,239 --> 00:40:57,200 Speaker 1: for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare 848 00:40:57,239 --> 00:41:00,160 Speaker 1: provider of the Bengals. If you haven't done so already, 849 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,160 Speaker 1: please subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute, 850 00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:05,880 Speaker 1: give it a rating or share a comment that helps 851 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:10,000 Speaker 1: or Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Horde and thank 852 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:13,120 Speaker 1: you for listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast.