WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Believer 0:00:03.720 --> 0:00:06.519 Hi, Gain everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:10.440 The Bengals Booth Podcast. The You Made Me, You Made 0:00:10.480 --> 0:00:16.919 Me a Believer Believer addition, as the Bengals strengthened the 0:00:17.040 --> 0:00:20.520 roster by signing free agent tight end IRV Smith Junior, 0:00:21.120 --> 0:00:24.680 his decision came down to two teams, Miami and Cincinnati. 0:00:25.079 --> 0:00:29.440 You'll hear why he chose the Bengals instead of the Dolphins. Plus, 0:00:29.760 --> 0:00:33.080 I'll talk to Trey Hendrickson on watching his alma mater 0:00:33.320 --> 0:00:37.120 FAU make it to the Final four. And I'll chat 0:00:37.120 --> 0:00:41.440 with the retiring Cincinnati sportscaster George Vogel on forty years 0:00:41.440 --> 0:00:45.360 of covering the Bengals. Finally, it's the fifth edition of 0:00:45.360 --> 0:00:49.000 our NFL Expert Mock draft as Austin Gael from The 0:00:49.120 --> 0:00:53.440 Ringer takes his turn on the Pro Football Focus mock simulator. 0:00:53.920 --> 0:00:56.680 The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by Bengals 0:00:56.720 --> 0:01:00.240 Picks and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play with ticks 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:04.280 and signed merchandise up for grabs. Find both inside the 0:01:04.360 --> 0:01:07.679 Bengals app. Now here's a quick reminder that you can 0:01:07.720 --> 0:01:11.000 have the latest edition of this podcast delivered right to 0:01:11.040 --> 0:01:15.200 your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing wherever you get 0:01:15.240 --> 0:01:19.600 your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since new rules in 0:01:19.680 --> 0:01:25.720 Major League Baseball. Jeff Passon from ESPN calls it baseball liposuction. 0:01:26.200 --> 0:01:29.559 In other words, they are removing some of the fat. 0:01:30.360 --> 0:01:32.880 Major League Baseball is added a pitch clock to speed 0:01:32.959 --> 0:01:36.080 up play, made the base is bigger to encourage more 0:01:36.080 --> 0:01:41.400 stolen base attempts, and band lopsided in field shifts. Now 0:01:41.480 --> 0:01:45.199 teams must have two infielders on each side of second base, 0:01:45.640 --> 0:01:49.639 which will result in more hits. The sum total should 0:01:49.680 --> 0:01:54.400 mean more action in less time. Spring training games were 0:01:54.400 --> 0:01:57.600 nearly a half hour shorter this year than last year. 0:01:58.200 --> 0:02:00.920 Football remains king in this country and that's not going 0:02:00.960 --> 0:02:04.440 to change. But here's hoping baseball is more watchable than 0:02:04.480 --> 0:02:08.360 it's been for at least a decade. Now, time for 0:02:08.440 --> 0:02:11.480 my first guest. Irv Smith Junior signed a one year 0:02:11.520 --> 0:02:14.640 contract of the Bengals on Thursday and is likely to 0:02:14.680 --> 0:02:19.320 replace Haydon Hurst as Cincinnati's number one tight end depending 0:02:19.400 --> 0:02:22.560 on what happens in the draft. The New Orleans native 0:02:22.639 --> 0:02:25.960 and former Alabama standout was a second round pick by 0:02:26.000 --> 0:02:30.160 the Vikings in twenty nineteen, number fifty overall, and had 0:02:30.160 --> 0:02:34.440 two solid seasons in Minnesota before battling injuries the last 0:02:34.480 --> 0:02:37.440 two years. Erv missed all of twenty twenty one with 0:02:37.480 --> 0:02:40.640 a knee injury and missed half of last season with 0:02:40.680 --> 0:02:44.359 an ankle injury. Smith is six two two forty, so 0:02:44.440 --> 0:02:47.160 he's not as big as Hurst, but he has great 0:02:47.240 --> 0:02:50.560 speed and one of his strengths is run after catch. 0:02:50.919 --> 0:02:54.040 He'll obviously give Joe Burrow another target in the passing game, 0:02:54.160 --> 0:02:58.120 and he's five years younger than Hurst. I talked to 0:02:58.120 --> 0:03:02.000 the newest Bengal shortly after three passed his physical inside. 0:03:02.240 --> 0:03:06.360 I'm a dotted line, IRV. You are coming to a 0:03:06.400 --> 0:03:10.240 Super Bowl contender with an obvious need at your position. 0:03:10.800 --> 0:03:13.799 That seems like the ideal combination for a free agent 0:03:13.840 --> 0:03:16.480 to me. Is that the case? Yes, sir, it's UM. 0:03:16.520 --> 0:03:20.200 It's a huge blessing. I'm excited for this opportunity. UM. 0:03:20.240 --> 0:03:23.560 You know, Coach Taylor and and and the whole organization, 0:03:23.600 --> 0:03:26.919 they've been very adamant about me coming here and the 0:03:26.919 --> 0:03:29.400 things that I can do to help this offense, and 0:03:29.560 --> 0:03:32.920 UM contribute anyway I can. So I'm just excited for 0:03:32.919 --> 0:03:36.000 this opportunity and Um, you know, I'm just thankful and 0:03:36.280 --> 0:03:39.360 try to get to work. It's been reported that it 0:03:39.480 --> 0:03:44.040 came down to Bengals and Dolphins. Is that accurate? Yes, sir, 0:03:44.200 --> 0:03:46.320 Yeah it was. It was a tough you know what 0:03:46.320 --> 0:03:48.960 I'm saying. It's tough decisions kind of at the end. 0:03:49.000 --> 0:03:51.440 But um, you know, I felt like how to do 0:03:51.480 --> 0:03:54.760 its best for myself and my family, and um, you know, 0:03:54.920 --> 0:03:57.760 I'm excited to be here to a tungkle Vlo was 0:03:57.800 --> 0:04:00.640 your college quarterback at Alabama. Did he try to sway 0:04:00.680 --> 0:04:03.920 you down to South Beach? Yes, sir, Yes, sir, I 0:04:04.000 --> 0:04:06.960 talked to a great friend of mine. UM, great leader, 0:04:07.040 --> 0:04:09.560 great person, um, and you know he's going to do 0:04:09.640 --> 0:04:12.640 great things in Miami. But um, you know, I felt 0:04:12.680 --> 0:04:15.200 like this is a decision that you know, I felt 0:04:15.200 --> 0:04:17.039 like it was best for me in my situation and 0:04:17.640 --> 0:04:20.720 um for my family and uh, you know, just just 0:04:20.760 --> 0:04:24.320 following following the steps a guy. He played against Joe 0:04:24.360 --> 0:04:27.320 Burrow in college. It went well for the Crimson Tide. 0:04:27.839 --> 0:04:30.880 How big was the Borough factor in coming here? Yeah, 0:04:30.920 --> 0:04:32.800 definitely it was a It was a big factor. Um, 0:04:32.839 --> 0:04:35.640 you know, playing against Joe in college. Uh, you know, 0:04:35.839 --> 0:04:38.000 when I was at Alabama. He was at LSU and 0:04:38.200 --> 0:04:40.200 you know, competing against him and seeing the type of 0:04:40.200 --> 0:04:42.800 player he is, and um, the type of leader he is, 0:04:42.839 --> 0:04:46.320 and you know, just the the role that he that 0:04:46.400 --> 0:04:49.479 he plays, and you know, or all our aspects of 0:04:49.520 --> 0:04:51.840 the team, but especially you know the tight end position. Um, 0:04:52.160 --> 0:04:53.919 you know, just being able to you know, give me 0:04:53.960 --> 0:04:56.279 the football and make plays with the ball in my 0:04:56.320 --> 0:04:59.919 hand and um, you know, move the chains and score touchdown. 0:05:00.040 --> 0:05:03.000 So I'm excited to get to work with Joe and 0:05:03.440 --> 0:05:05.479 you know, learn more about him and you know, pick 0:05:05.520 --> 0:05:08.960 each other's brains and um, go do this thing. Your 0:05:09.040 --> 0:05:12.120 dad played in the NFL. I read that he recommended 0:05:12.320 --> 0:05:15.960 that you come to Cincinnati. It's that true, Yes, sir, Yeah, 0:05:16.080 --> 0:05:18.400 you know kind of going through this process. Um, you 0:05:18.400 --> 0:05:20.800 know my dad, he's been through it before. So it's 0:05:20.800 --> 0:05:23.599 a big blessing. Um, you know, having him on my 0:05:23.680 --> 0:05:26.560 team and just being able to lean on him for 0:05:26.960 --> 0:05:30.159 you know, different different questions and different things, uh, because 0:05:30.160 --> 0:05:33.680 he's been through this process. So UM that definitely, you know, 0:05:33.839 --> 0:05:37.120 hearing his words of assurance and um, you know, believing 0:05:37.160 --> 0:05:40.640 in me and having that confidence to make the right decision. 0:05:41.080 --> 0:05:43.680 Were chatting the Bengals tight end If Smith Junior. When 0:05:43.720 --> 0:05:46.760 the Vikings drafted you back in twenty nineteen, you were 0:05:46.880 --> 0:05:50.520 twenty You were the youngest player in the NFL. Now 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:52.160 you've been in the league for four years and you're 0:05:52.160 --> 0:05:54.240 still only twenty four. Do you feel like you're just 0:05:54.240 --> 0:05:58.760 getting started? Yes, sir, Yeah, it feels like you know, Um, 0:05:58.800 --> 0:06:01.680 it feels almost like a another like I'm going into 0:06:01.720 --> 0:06:03.839 my rookie year again, and so I'm not not rookie year, 0:06:03.880 --> 0:06:07.320 but in a sense, um, new beginnings. And you know, 0:06:07.320 --> 0:06:10.159 I've laid a lot of groundwork in the NFL so far, 0:06:10.279 --> 0:06:12.760 and you know, this is a new journey and I'm 0:06:12.760 --> 0:06:14.760 just I'm excited to get to work. I'm you know, 0:06:14.880 --> 0:06:17.480 young as well, like you said, and um, you know, 0:06:17.520 --> 0:06:19.359 I have a lot of energy, a lot of juice. Uh, 0:06:19.920 --> 0:06:21.520 I want to bring to this team in the city 0:06:21.520 --> 0:06:24.640 and this organization. Your career got off to a great start. 0:06:24.720 --> 0:06:27.359 You set the Vikings rookie record for catchers by a 0:06:27.400 --> 0:06:30.080 tight end, and then there have been some injuries since, 0:06:30.440 --> 0:06:32.440 including an injury a couple of years ago that cost 0:06:32.480 --> 0:06:34.640 you a season. How have you dealt with the ups 0:06:34.680 --> 0:06:37.400 and downs? Um, you know, I've just been leaning on, 0:06:37.520 --> 0:06:41.360 leaning on God. You know, he he'll you know, you'll 0:06:41.400 --> 0:06:44.400 go through certain situations. Um, you don't know why, but 0:06:44.760 --> 0:06:47.200 you know when you when you battle those those situations 0:06:47.200 --> 0:06:49.160 and you come out stronger as a as a man 0:06:49.200 --> 0:06:52.120 and as a person. So um, it's something that you know, 0:06:52.120 --> 0:06:56.440 it's behind me, but it's definitely uh, definitely growing me 0:06:56.440 --> 0:06:59.719 mentally as a player, physically as a player. And I'm 0:06:59.720 --> 0:07:02.920 just sided to play football and get toured. I mentioned 0:07:02.920 --> 0:07:05.720 that you're from New Orleans. What's your relationship like with 0:07:05.920 --> 0:07:08.960 Jamar Chase. Uh. Yeah, me and Jamar we actually grew 0:07:09.040 --> 0:07:11.960 up playing against each other in high school so um, 0:07:12.040 --> 0:07:14.600 which is which is pretty amazing. He was two years 0:07:14.680 --> 0:07:16.640 two years younger than me. He was two grades younger 0:07:16.640 --> 0:07:19.120 than me. Um. And he was at Rum while I 0:07:19.160 --> 0:07:22.480 was at Brother Martin. So I remember those battles us. Uh, 0:07:22.520 --> 0:07:25.280 you know up at Tag Gormley and at joe Yenni 0:07:25.400 --> 0:07:28.680 his stadium. Um. It's it's amazing, you know. And as 0:07:28.680 --> 0:07:32.160 well just training with Jamar, um with my trainer NXC 0:07:32.320 --> 0:07:35.720 training and uh and Gary and and and those guys. 0:07:35.760 --> 0:07:39.000 It's just it's just amazing to be able to reconnect 0:07:39.120 --> 0:07:41.240 and you know, at this level. You know, this is 0:07:41.320 --> 0:07:43.320 this is the highest level. It doesn't get any higher. 0:07:43.320 --> 0:07:45.720 And um, I'm decided to get to work with him 0:07:45.720 --> 0:07:48.160 for sure. When the news broke that you were going 0:07:48.200 --> 0:07:51.520 to sign with Cincinnati, he tweeted Jeff for gift fight. 0:07:51.640 --> 0:07:53.160 I never know how to pronounce it, but it was 0:07:53.200 --> 0:07:55.480 like a little kid dancing on top of the table 0:07:55.640 --> 0:07:59.280 with a one word caption mood. Did you see that? 0:07:59.400 --> 0:08:02.760 What was your action? Yeah? I definitely did. Um. We 0:08:02.840 --> 0:08:05.640 talked like kind of right after I uh, it kind 0:08:05.640 --> 0:08:07.920 of had got announced, and you know, we was just 0:08:08.000 --> 0:08:10.920 really excited. Um, you know he was. He was just 0:08:10.960 --> 0:08:13.640 telling me, you know, I'm not missing piece that they 0:08:13.640 --> 0:08:16.040 that they need to get this to get this thing done. 0:08:16.080 --> 0:08:19.440 So um, it's it's a blessing. And you know that's 0:08:19.480 --> 0:08:21.720 definitely that's definitely the mood around here. We're gonna we're 0:08:21.720 --> 0:08:23.840 gonna have a lot of fun. Uh, bring a lot 0:08:23.840 --> 0:08:26.080 of juice, a lot of energy and and win a 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:28.640 lot of games. Have a lot of guys reached out already. 0:08:28.920 --> 0:08:33.880 Oh yes, sir, Yeah, I talked to Tyler Boyd, Joe, Um, Jamaar, 0:08:34.320 --> 0:08:37.880 I've seen T and T Higgins here today. Um, so 0:08:37.920 --> 0:08:40.160 it's it's it's super cool just hearing hearing from the 0:08:40.200 --> 0:08:43.800 guys and you know, hearing their excitement and um, you 0:08:43.840 --> 0:08:45.880 know a few weeks, we're gonna we're gonna be ready 0:08:45.880 --> 0:08:48.800 to strip it up and um, you know, begin begin 0:08:48.920 --> 0:08:50.920 this process. Do you know what your number is going 0:08:50.960 --> 0:08:53.560 to be? Do you have a preference? Uh, We're gonna see. 0:08:53.640 --> 0:08:56.319 That's I had asked trade that. Um when we was 0:08:56.360 --> 0:08:58.800 coming up here in the elevator. I was like, you know, uh, 0:08:59.120 --> 0:09:01.720 I said, I said, what are the number of situations 0:09:01.720 --> 0:09:05.480 and stuff? I wear eighty two in college and eighty 0:09:05.480 --> 0:09:08.280 four in the league. So those those are two numbers 0:09:08.280 --> 0:09:11.440 that stick stick with me and h in my family. So, UM, 0:09:11.840 --> 0:09:14.400 we'll see, we'll see what happens. We're chatting with Irv 0:09:14.480 --> 0:09:19.000 Smith Junior. The Bengals recently signed Orlando Brown Junior, whose 0:09:19.080 --> 0:09:21.360 dad played the same position for a long time in 0:09:21.400 --> 0:09:23.800 the NFL, and the situation is very similar for you. 0:09:23.920 --> 0:09:27.959 Irv Smith Senior was an NFL tight end for seven years. 0:09:27.960 --> 0:09:31.400 How has that impacted your path to the NFL. It's 0:09:31.440 --> 0:09:35.160 impacted me tremendously. Um, just in terms of you know, 0:09:35.440 --> 0:09:38.960 as a young kid, Uh, seeing my dad's as helmets 0:09:38.960 --> 0:09:42.720 and jerseys and different things like that around the house. Um, 0:09:42.760 --> 0:09:47.920 you know, just subconsciously, uh, picking up you know, picking 0:09:48.000 --> 0:09:51.360 up as helmet and different things like that. Um, you 0:09:51.360 --> 0:09:54.199 know those dreams you said at a young age, and 0:09:54.360 --> 0:09:56.600 you know, by the time you know, you start getting 0:09:56.600 --> 0:09:59.400 older to play football, it becomes more and more real 0:09:59.520 --> 0:10:02.160 than you through the high school process, go through the 0:10:02.160 --> 0:10:05.320 college process, and then it's like, wow, I'm finally here 0:10:05.360 --> 0:10:08.720 in the NFL. So it's a surreal Momentum. You know, 0:10:08.760 --> 0:10:11.640 every time I get to walk into an NFL building 0:10:11.679 --> 0:10:14.839 and you know, see my name on my locker and um, 0:10:15.040 --> 0:10:17.359 you know, be able to catch the balls and touchdowns 0:10:17.440 --> 0:10:20.679 from NFL quarterbacks and you know here the fans cheer 0:10:20.800 --> 0:10:23.440 and just all of that. It's amazing. And you know, 0:10:23.440 --> 0:10:26.240 I'm still living my dreams. He didn't let you play 0:10:26.320 --> 0:10:28.440 right away though, right, Yeah, No, he didn't let me 0:10:28.440 --> 0:10:31.200 play till till eighth grade. Actually I had to fight 0:10:31.280 --> 0:10:33.840 him to let me play in eighth grade. He wasn't 0:10:33.880 --> 0:10:36.439 gonna let me play till high school. But every year 0:10:36.480 --> 0:10:38.960 for Christmas, I'd ask him to let me play football 0:10:39.840 --> 0:10:42.720 and he wouldn't let me. And then finally eighth grade, 0:10:42.720 --> 0:10:45.840 he let me play, So, UM, I just had a lot, 0:10:46.280 --> 0:10:48.680 a lot of energy and just wanted to wanted to 0:10:48.720 --> 0:10:50.320 go out there and make him proud, to make my 0:10:50.360 --> 0:10:53.120 family proud. And you know, I feel like I'm doing 0:10:53.120 --> 0:10:55.320 that and I want to continue to do that. I'm 0:10:55.320 --> 0:10:58.520 glad he caved worked out well for all. So after 0:10:58.559 --> 0:11:02.040 this steal came together several days ago, you said, quote, 0:11:02.080 --> 0:11:05.120 I feel like I'm almost the missing piece to get 0:11:05.200 --> 0:11:07.520 us that Super Bowl. What do you bring to the 0:11:07.559 --> 0:11:09.959 table for the Bengals, Um, you know I bring. I 0:11:10.080 --> 0:11:12.480 bring a lot of things I feel like, UM, you know, 0:11:12.720 --> 0:11:14.800 being a young player and it played in a lot 0:11:14.800 --> 0:11:17.880 of big games. UM throughout my career. You know, I 0:11:17.920 --> 0:11:21.160 just want to show the consistency and show you know 0:11:21.240 --> 0:11:23.800 that I'm all around tight end. UM. You know, I 0:11:23.800 --> 0:11:27.160 can make plays in all aspects of the game. UM. 0:11:27.200 --> 0:11:29.080 You know, I feel like my speed is definitely an 0:11:29.080 --> 0:11:32.400 advantage to me. UM. You know, being able to play 0:11:32.800 --> 0:11:36.800 different positions in the backfield, out wade in the slot, UM, 0:11:36.840 --> 0:11:39.959 put my hand in the dirt. UM you know, third down, 0:11:40.640 --> 0:11:44.319 red zone, the mismatch, and UM just creating those mismatches 0:11:44.320 --> 0:11:46.120 because we have a lot of weapons on this team 0:11:46.559 --> 0:11:48.160 and you know they're not gonna be able to cover 0:11:48.240 --> 0:11:51.840 us all. So I'm I'm excited. Your last catching Minnesota 0:11:51.920 --> 0:11:54.559 was a playoff touchdown last year against the Giants. Was 0:11:54.600 --> 0:11:57.720 that a special moment for you? Yes, it definitely was. Um. 0:11:58.200 --> 0:12:00.839 You know, anytime you can play in the playoffs and 0:12:01.160 --> 0:12:04.080 make an impact and help your team have a chance 0:12:04.120 --> 0:12:06.280 to win, it's it's a it's a big, big blessing. 0:12:06.360 --> 0:12:09.720 So UM, I'm excited to you know, hopefully my next 0:12:09.760 --> 0:12:13.560 catch as a Bengal as a touchdown right away. Last 0:12:13.559 --> 0:12:16.800 thing for earth Smith Junior. The dates aren't out yet, 0:12:16.840 --> 0:12:19.440 but we know the Bengals opponents and the Vikings are 0:12:19.480 --> 0:12:21.960 on the schedule, a home game at Bay Core Stadium. 0:12:22.280 --> 0:12:24.600 Were you aware of that and is that something you 0:12:24.600 --> 0:12:28.240 really look forward to? Yeah, my my aunt she actually, um, 0:12:28.280 --> 0:12:30.200 she showed me at the other day when when the 0:12:30.200 --> 0:12:33.040 schedules and stuff got released, and I've seen it was 0:12:33.120 --> 0:12:36.040 it was here in Cincinnati as well, And it's gonna 0:12:36.040 --> 0:12:37.400 be it's gonna be a lot of fun. You know, 0:12:37.520 --> 0:12:39.640 we gotta we got a long way to that to 0:12:39.800 --> 0:12:42.200 that road. Um, you know, just take to take it 0:12:42.200 --> 0:12:44.920 one day at a time. Um, you know, it starts 0:12:44.920 --> 0:12:49.560 in Otash this offseason and you know do the training 0:12:49.600 --> 0:12:51.920 and different things like that. It's a long, long process 0:12:51.960 --> 0:12:54.560 till then. But you know, when that time comes, we'll 0:12:54.600 --> 0:12:57.520 be ready. We're excited to have you here in Cincinnati. 0:12:57.559 --> 0:13:01.280 Congratulations on the deal and welcome, so thank you appreciate it. 0:13:02.600 --> 0:13:07.079 Herb Smith Senior and Orlando Browns Senior were teammates with 0:13:07.120 --> 0:13:10.920 the Cleveland Browns in nineteen ninety nine. It's pretty cool 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:14.080 that their sons are about to be teammates in Cincinnati. 0:13:14.600 --> 0:13:17.520 The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by Alta Fiber, 0:13:17.679 --> 0:13:22.200 future proof fiber Internet capable of delivering multi gigabit speeds 0:13:22.440 --> 0:13:25.360 designed to take your home, business, and community to a 0:13:25.440 --> 0:13:30.960 new level. Elevate your connection with Alta Fiber. College Basketball's 0:13:30.960 --> 0:13:33.600 Final Four is coming up this weekend in Houston, and 0:13:33.679 --> 0:13:36.840 one of the bengals best defensive players will be there. 0:13:37.320 --> 0:13:40.760 Trey Hendrickson, the two time Pro bowler, will be rooting 0:13:40.840 --> 0:13:45.840 for his alma mater, ninth seeded Florida Atlantic. The Owls 0:13:46.200 --> 0:13:52.079 are thirty five and three, including wins over Memphis, Fairleigh, Dickinson, Tennessee, 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:55.320 and Kansas State to get to the Final four. I 0:13:55.480 --> 0:13:58.880 talked to a very proud former OWL at the beginning 0:13:58.920 --> 0:14:02.920 of the week, Trey, how exciting is it for you 0:14:03.240 --> 0:14:07.800 that your alma mater, Florida Atlantic is Final four bound. Yeah? 0:14:07.840 --> 0:14:10.679 Anytime you you know, in the final four, you know, 0:14:10.760 --> 0:14:13.679 you take that Cinderella, you know, that story kind of 0:14:13.760 --> 0:14:16.360 drifts away and now it's just a good basketball team. 0:14:16.360 --> 0:14:19.600 So it's exciting to see, you know, good coaching, passionate players, 0:14:19.880 --> 0:14:22.840 and good chemistry coming together and doing something special for FAU. 0:14:23.640 --> 0:14:26.640 Your love for your alma mater was evident last weekend. 0:14:26.640 --> 0:14:28.400 You made the trip to New York, went to those 0:14:28.440 --> 0:14:31.320 games at Madison Square Garden. Why was it important for 0:14:31.360 --> 0:14:33.600 you to be there? Well, you know, I was in 0:14:33.680 --> 0:14:36.920 Columbus for their first win ever in March Madness, and 0:14:36.960 --> 0:14:40.200 then that was another one that was historical, was the 0:14:40.200 --> 0:14:44.240 first trophy that we've ever hosted or hoisted in at FAU. 0:14:44.320 --> 0:14:47.080 So it was important to me to be there support 0:14:47.120 --> 0:14:49.480 the guys. You know. Obviously my wife could make it too, 0:14:49.480 --> 0:14:52.880 which is really important. So it was just a fun atmosphere. 0:14:52.920 --> 0:14:55.720 It's hard to say no to the garden, and you know, 0:14:56.200 --> 0:14:58.880 excited to go to Houston too. So for everybody to 0:14:58.880 --> 0:15:03.360 say that's saying this is an unbelievable underdog cinderella story. 0:15:04.280 --> 0:15:07.240 Maybe you can point out how good Florida Atlantic has 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:09.880 been all year. Yeah, it's hard to call a thirty 0:15:09.880 --> 0:15:12.600 win team a cinderella story. You know, they've won, and 0:15:12.600 --> 0:15:16.600 they've won consistently. They found ways to win, special, special, 0:15:16.680 --> 0:15:19.440 passionate group. I mean, they're resilient. They were down a 0:15:19.480 --> 0:15:24.440 couple times in March, came back and beat these teams. 0:15:24.480 --> 0:15:27.480 Good discipline, making free throws in the last you know, 0:15:27.640 --> 0:15:30.680 ten twelve seconds of the game, four for four, last 0:15:30.680 --> 0:15:33.320 game in Kansas State, it seemed like it was a 0:15:33.360 --> 0:15:36.320 home game an MSG. So you know, the discipline, the 0:15:36.360 --> 0:15:39.320 attention to detail, it's the stuff that makes great teams great. 0:15:39.880 --> 0:15:42.320 So I went to Syracuse in two thousand and three 0:15:42.360 --> 0:15:45.840 they won the national championship. That was well past my graduation. 0:15:46.360 --> 0:15:48.880 I went. It was in New Orleans and it was 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:53.280 like a college reunion set in New Orleans, and my 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:56.120 team won. It was one of the greatest experiences of 0:15:56.160 --> 0:15:59.320 my sports fan life. So you are planning to go 0:15:59.360 --> 0:16:03.080 to Houston, correct, absolutely, Yeah, you know it's obviously on 0:16:03.080 --> 0:16:05.320 a weekend, and then the Championship on the weekday, So 0:16:05.360 --> 0:16:07.000 I'm going to book a one way, you know, and 0:16:07.360 --> 0:16:10.680 hang out with the guys and obviously cheer on my 0:16:10.720 --> 0:16:14.400 alma mater. And if any Bengals fans are wondering about 0:16:14.440 --> 0:16:18.280 your dedication, it's nine in the morning, the day after 0:16:18.400 --> 0:16:20.840 your team just went to the Final four, earned the 0:16:20.920 --> 0:16:22.800 right to go to the Final four, and you're here 0:16:22.840 --> 0:16:25.600 at pay coorse stating working out. Yeah, it's you know, 0:16:25.680 --> 0:16:27.120 I have a job to do and I have big 0:16:27.120 --> 0:16:30.200 goals for this season. Obviously we've we have bigger goals 0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:33.360 in the last two years, you know. So anything that 0:16:33.440 --> 0:16:35.680 I can do to improve to keep on the right track. 0:16:35.720 --> 0:16:37.480 And you know, I'm surrounded with a lot of great 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:39.520 guys in this building. I can't say enough about the 0:16:39.600 --> 0:16:44.880 coaching staff and the strength staff. So mentally ready, physically ready, 0:16:45.160 --> 0:16:48.240 emotionally ready, and you know, ready to get back after it. 0:16:48.680 --> 0:16:51.400 Best the luck to the Owls. Congratulations on making it 0:16:51.440 --> 0:16:55.000 to the final four and Joy Houston, thanks so much. FA. 0:16:55.160 --> 0:16:58.120 You will face San Diego State on Saturday night at 0:16:58.160 --> 0:17:02.920 six Trays OWLS a three point underdog. The winner will 0:17:02.960 --> 0:17:07.320 battle either Miami or Yukon for the national Championship and 0:17:07.520 --> 0:17:11.480 for what it's worth, Yukon coach Dan Hurley is one 0:17:11.520 --> 0:17:15.480 of the biggest Bengals fans I've ever met. The Bengals 0:17:15.480 --> 0:17:17.879 Booth podcast is brought to you by Kettering Health, the 0:17:17.920 --> 0:17:21.119 official healthcare provider of the Bengals. With more than one 0:17:21.200 --> 0:17:25.120 hundred twenty care facilities and fifteen hundred care providers, Kettering 0:17:25.160 --> 0:17:28.359 Health is committed to guiding you to your best health. 0:17:28.840 --> 0:17:33.159 Visit Kettering health dot org to learn more. This week, 0:17:33.400 --> 0:17:38.080 one of Cincinnati's best sportscasters is retiring after working for 0:17:38.160 --> 0:17:42.919 more than four decades at wl WT TV. My friend 0:17:43.240 --> 0:17:46.560 George Vogel I moved to Cincinnati more than twenty five 0:17:46.640 --> 0:17:50.640 years ago, and I don't recall meeting anybody who doesn't 0:17:50.680 --> 0:17:53.720 like George. I talked to him this week about his 0:17:53.800 --> 0:18:00.000 career and covering the Bengals for forty plus years. George, 0:18:00.160 --> 0:18:03.720 you realize, since you are leaving Channel five in Cincinnati 0:18:03.800 --> 0:18:06.679 and will no longer be covering the Bengals after forty 0:18:06.720 --> 0:18:10.600 plush years, you are guaranteeing that they will win the 0:18:10.680 --> 0:18:14.040 Super Bowl in the near future. That's exactly what's going 0:18:14.080 --> 0:18:15.920 to happen, and it's probably going to be next year, 0:18:15.960 --> 0:18:20.400 which is fine by me. We tried, we tried, and 0:18:20.440 --> 0:18:23.960 we tried, and almost got it done in the home stretch. 0:18:24.000 --> 0:18:28.920 But I'm very confident Bengals fans will be in jubilation 0:18:29.400 --> 0:18:34.440 in a February coming soon. You are still outstanding at 0:18:34.520 --> 0:18:39.760 anchoring and reporting. Why are you retiring, Well, it's just 0:18:39.920 --> 0:18:43.199 kind of time because priorities change, and it's got to 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:46.160 do with you know, my mom passed away last year, 0:18:46.520 --> 0:18:49.040 my father in law passed away, and my wife and 0:18:49.080 --> 0:18:52.119 I have been talking about stuff. Then she had an 0:18:52.160 --> 0:18:54.760 appidect to me in the fall and I had this 0:18:54.920 --> 0:18:57.560 kidney surgery thing flare up, and it's like, you know what, 0:18:58.400 --> 0:18:59.800 we haven't had a lot of time to do a 0:19:00.040 --> 0:19:02.320 lot of things we talk about doing, and we always 0:19:02.400 --> 0:19:06.560 talk about doing them. Someday will do this, Someday we'll 0:19:06.600 --> 0:19:09.840 do that, and even it may just be like long weekends, 0:19:09.880 --> 0:19:12.359 you know, leave on a Friday, come back on a Monday. 0:19:12.400 --> 0:19:14.639 That kind is It's hard for both of us with 0:19:14.680 --> 0:19:18.000 our schedules to arrange that. And she's going to continue 0:19:18.000 --> 0:19:20.879 to work, but with me having free reign, we'll be 0:19:20.920 --> 0:19:24.240 able to do that. I have two grandkids, four and 0:19:24.400 --> 0:19:26.959 one and I want to do stuff with them before 0:19:27.520 --> 0:19:31.200 it's too late. You know, I've got another surgery coming 0:19:31.280 --> 0:19:34.760 up next week for next fusion for the second time. 0:19:35.080 --> 0:19:37.440 So I've got a numb right arm and numb right 0:19:37.560 --> 0:19:41.159 leg and it's like before it's numb permanently. Time to 0:19:41.840 --> 0:19:44.600 smell the roses and do some stuff we talk about doing. 0:19:44.960 --> 0:19:47.560 And fortunately I'm going to be able to do that. What, 0:19:47.720 --> 0:19:51.240 if anything, do you think you'll miss? Oh, my gosh, 0:19:51.280 --> 0:19:54.680 First of all, being around the games, because I've been 0:19:54.720 --> 0:19:57.240 too married to this desk over the past ten years. 0:19:57.280 --> 0:20:00.719 Probably a lot of that's my fault because I I 0:20:00.760 --> 0:20:03.280 can't get used to the concept that I can do 0:20:03.359 --> 0:20:06.439 all this stuff in the field with the graphics and 0:20:06.480 --> 0:20:08.639 the rundowns and you know what I'm talking about with 0:20:08.760 --> 0:20:12.360 the computer driven stuff, Well you can, and I probably 0:20:12.359 --> 0:20:15.480 should have been a little better about doing that. And 0:20:16.280 --> 0:20:19.760 so when I went to Kansas City last week and 0:20:19.920 --> 0:20:23.200 was around that environment and the NC Double A Tournament, 0:20:23.320 --> 0:20:26.400 and you know, I got to go to the Bengals 0:20:26.440 --> 0:20:29.159 playoff games and I was at the Super Bowl of 0:20:29.359 --> 0:20:33.040 the previous year. Being around that stuff and especially being 0:20:33.080 --> 0:20:36.240 around it and it's not on your dime I mean, 0:20:36.320 --> 0:20:38.960 that's even better. And it's like to go to a 0:20:39.000 --> 0:20:41.600 Super Bowl cost an arm and a leg and to 0:20:41.680 --> 0:20:43.600 be able to do that and be paid to do 0:20:43.680 --> 0:20:47.639 it and just be just being there. And I'm going 0:20:47.720 --> 0:20:49.480 to go to games, but I'm gonna be sitting in 0:20:49.520 --> 0:20:52.000 the stands, and I mean I'll be going to games 0:20:52.040 --> 0:20:55.320 all the time. But being in those locker rooms talking 0:20:55.359 --> 0:20:57.879 to those kids last week, and you know, you do 0:20:57.920 --> 0:20:59.760 it with the Bengals and what a group they have 0:20:59.840 --> 0:21:02.359 to deal with. I mean, that stuff is so fun, 0:21:02.760 --> 0:21:08.760 dealing with those personalities and the youthful enthusiasm that you 0:21:08.920 --> 0:21:11.840 kind of forget about if you're away from it at all, 0:21:11.840 --> 0:21:14.000 and you're in there. You know, I'm talking with those 0:21:14.040 --> 0:21:18.640 Xavier players last week and just the fun they were 0:21:18.680 --> 0:21:21.399 having being a part of the NCUBA tournament. Something they 0:21:21.400 --> 0:21:24.080 always dreamed of doing. Now they're doing it and it's 0:21:24.160 --> 0:21:27.200 living up to their expectations. Being around that I think 0:21:27.280 --> 0:21:29.240 keeps you young, and that worries me. That's why when 0:21:29.240 --> 0:21:31.320 I have to be around those grandkids a lot, because 0:21:31.760 --> 0:21:34.800 that stuff keeps you young, I think, no question. Now. 0:21:34.800 --> 0:21:36.760 One of the things I admire about you, and I've 0:21:36.760 --> 0:21:39.800 always admired about you is that you are honest and 0:21:39.920 --> 0:21:42.120 you can be critical on the air, but the coaches 0:21:42.160 --> 0:21:48.119 and players respect you and never seem to take offense 0:21:48.640 --> 0:21:51.399 when you were being honest and sometimes critical. Did you 0:21:51.480 --> 0:21:53.680 feel that way and if so, how did you pull 0:21:53.680 --> 0:21:59.320 it off? Well? Sometimes it wasn't that way. I mean, well, 0:21:59.359 --> 0:22:01.760 I try to treat them like I want to be treated. Look, 0:22:01.840 --> 0:22:05.240 I know, uh, they're hurting after a bad loss and 0:22:05.320 --> 0:22:07.480 a bad play and a bad and I don't want 0:22:07.480 --> 0:22:09.840 to go busting right in their face with this stuff. 0:22:09.920 --> 0:22:12.680 And you know, I've seen people do that and they 0:22:12.720 --> 0:22:15.879 probably get the reaction that that I wouldn't want, but 0:22:15.960 --> 0:22:18.320 maybe they want it. I just want to know how 0:22:18.320 --> 0:22:20.320 the guys feel about it. I want to do it 0:22:20.359 --> 0:22:25.399 in a way that that isn't rude. I guess. I 0:22:25.480 --> 0:22:27.000 just try to treat them the way I want to 0:22:27.000 --> 0:22:29.800 be treated, and I know how I would feel. And 0:22:29.840 --> 0:22:31.880 it didn't always work that way. I mean I've I've 0:22:31.880 --> 0:22:35.680 been you know, barked at more than once, and that's 0:22:35.760 --> 0:22:39.080 part of it. It's gonna happen. It happens, you know, 0:22:39.560 --> 0:22:42.040 it happens here at work with co workers. It's just 0:22:42.280 --> 0:22:44.440 when you're around people a lot, there's gonna you're gonna 0:22:44.480 --> 0:22:47.199 rub somebody the wrong way. They're gonna react, maybe the 0:22:47.240 --> 0:22:50.440 way they wish they hadn't down the road. Uh, it happens. 0:22:50.480 --> 0:22:52.639 But I just think you treat them the way you 0:22:52.640 --> 0:22:55.040 would want to be treated, and you respect them. You 0:22:55.080 --> 0:22:58.000 don't act like, hey, you did this and you're just 0:22:58.119 --> 0:23:03.000 a miserable football player. No, They're out there doing their best, 0:23:03.520 --> 0:23:05.880 and I just want to treat them the way I 0:23:05.920 --> 0:23:08.320 think anyone would want to be treated, and that's in 0:23:08.359 --> 0:23:11.080 a respectful way. I'm glad you said that, because one 0:23:11.119 --> 0:23:13.920 thing that I've always said is the worst player who 0:23:13.920 --> 0:23:17.200 has ever put on a uniform is infinitely better than 0:23:17.240 --> 0:23:22.480 I ever dreamed of being. So they deserve our respect. Yes, 0:23:22.600 --> 0:23:25.399 And I was just down at the red scrimmage a 0:23:25.440 --> 0:23:28.399 little bit ago watching that, and I'm just thinking about 0:23:28.680 --> 0:23:30.760 the stuff they hear. And you know, they had a 0:23:30.880 --> 0:23:34.639 hundred losses last year, terrible season for the Reds. But again, 0:23:34.680 --> 0:23:37.840 the worst player on that team is a darn good 0:23:37.880 --> 0:23:42.000 athlete and a darn goood baseball player. And to navigate 0:23:42.040 --> 0:23:46.080 your way through you know, high school sports, college sports, 0:23:46.440 --> 0:23:49.000 minor leagues and you get to the major league level, 0:23:49.840 --> 0:23:53.400 you're pretty darn good. Yeah, you know, you can say, oh, 0:23:53.480 --> 0:23:56.680 come on, and there's gonna be frustrations and booze. But 0:23:56.760 --> 0:23:59.520 to to ride a guy in a way that's just, 0:24:00.680 --> 0:24:02.800 you know, not the way you would ever want to 0:24:02.840 --> 0:24:06.000 be treated. I think it's just wrong. And I hate 0:24:06.000 --> 0:24:08.920 to see these athletes when they have to snap back, 0:24:08.920 --> 0:24:10.879 and you see it a lot in basketball because the 0:24:10.920 --> 0:24:13.600 crowd's on top of them where they're throwing drinks at 0:24:13.640 --> 0:24:17.199 them and that. But I understand their frustration hearing that 0:24:17.320 --> 0:24:20.480 from some guy who you know, couldn't make a free 0:24:20.480 --> 0:24:24.400 throw if you gave him a hundred tries. George, will 0:24:24.440 --> 0:24:29.040 you dabble in broadcasting in some way, shape or form. 0:24:29.080 --> 0:24:31.520 I don't know, And people have asked me that, and 0:24:31.560 --> 0:24:34.400 I don't know. I'm gonna, you know, I'm gonna get 0:24:34.400 --> 0:24:38.159 through this surgery kind of clear my head for a 0:24:38.200 --> 0:24:42.760 few months and then see what is out there, what 0:24:42.840 --> 0:24:46.639 would interest me. I wouldn't be shocked. I'm not saying, 0:24:46.720 --> 0:24:49.080 you know, I'm not shutting the door to everything forever. 0:24:49.119 --> 0:24:51.240 In fact, I've told him here, you know, if they 0:24:51.280 --> 0:24:54.600 need help down the road or something happens, and it's 0:24:54.640 --> 0:24:57.919 just like, you know, what's going on WCPO having Popovich 0:24:57.920 --> 0:25:01.920 help out on the opening day parade. I could see 0:25:01.960 --> 0:25:04.280 myself doing things like that if they ever wanted me 0:25:04.359 --> 0:25:09.480 to do it. And you know, I certainly still enjoy it. 0:25:09.520 --> 0:25:14.680 In fact, you know, it seems like since I set 0:25:14.720 --> 0:25:17.280 a date to retire, it's almost like I've been enjoying 0:25:17.280 --> 0:25:20.959 it more sometimes. And I've just been able to loosen 0:25:21.080 --> 0:25:23.440 up a little bit, I guess because you know, you 0:25:23.840 --> 0:25:27.480 know that, you know, not that I'm saying, hey, what 0:25:27.560 --> 0:25:29.439 are they gonna do? Fire me? But yeah, it's just 0:25:29.480 --> 0:25:33.439 been a lot more enjoyable knowing that, um, you know 0:25:33.520 --> 0:25:36.720 that I can, I can maybe be myself a little more. 0:25:36.760 --> 0:25:38.639 I tried to be that way all the way through, 0:25:38.800 --> 0:25:41.960 but um, I really am enjoying it. And maybe it's 0:25:42.000 --> 0:25:44.480 just because I know that there's little time left and 0:25:44.800 --> 0:25:47.320 I better enjoy it if I like and I do, 0:25:47.480 --> 0:25:50.479 I like it. We are visiting with George Vogel winding 0:25:50.560 --> 0:25:54.240 up a great career at WLWT TV here in Cincinnati. 0:25:54.440 --> 0:25:56.840 This is a Bengals podcast, so let's hit on some 0:25:56.960 --> 0:26:00.720 Bengals topics. You are from the small town and Georgetown, 0:26:00.880 --> 0:26:04.480 Ohio populatian. I think a little less than five thousand. 0:26:04.960 --> 0:26:07.800 What was it like for you to meet and get 0:26:07.840 --> 0:26:10.880 to know Paul Brown? Oh my gosh, that's like one 0:26:10.880 --> 0:26:14.240 of the best things ever. I you know, you grow 0:26:14.320 --> 0:26:17.840 up knowing about the Cleveland Browns and him what happened there? 0:26:17.960 --> 0:26:22.120 He comes to Cincinnati with the team starting in nineteen 0:26:22.200 --> 0:26:24.480 sixty eight, and I was the first kid in Georgetown 0:26:24.480 --> 0:26:27.200 with a Bengal sweatshirt. By the way, it was so funny. 0:26:27.280 --> 0:26:30.040 My mom buys his staying and brings it home. And 0:26:30.080 --> 0:26:33.840 this was like maybe summer of sixty seven, I can't remember, 0:26:33.880 --> 0:26:37.720 but I'm wearing this Bengal sweatshirt at the We had 0:26:37.760 --> 0:26:41.600 these nighttime softball games, adult softball games at the local school, 0:26:42.000 --> 0:26:45.520 the local playground, and I'm up there and kids are 0:26:45.520 --> 0:26:48.679 going Cincinnati Bengals. What is that? You know? I was 0:26:48.720 --> 0:26:51.160 more than happy to tell hey, it's a football team 0:26:51.520 --> 0:26:55.920 govern to Cincinnati. And then to see Paul Brown when 0:26:55.960 --> 0:26:59.480 I got to meet him, and you know, he Paul 0:26:59.600 --> 0:27:02.000 was in his later years and probably a lot more 0:27:02.119 --> 0:27:04.879 mellow than he was. You know, some of the players 0:27:04.920 --> 0:27:07.520 who had told me about him and how rough and 0:27:07.560 --> 0:27:10.920 gruffy could be in demanding he was, but man, What 0:27:11.080 --> 0:27:14.359 a gentleman and what a great guy. And he would 0:27:14.400 --> 0:27:18.040 stand over there at Spinney Field and he knew me 0:27:18.240 --> 0:27:21.400 from doing these high school football reports and he would 0:27:21.400 --> 0:27:24.080 be asking me like, who's gonna win the Madara Indian 0:27:24.160 --> 0:27:27.520 Hill game this week and be laughing and then asking 0:27:27.560 --> 0:27:31.240 about another team that he was familiar with. And that 0:27:31.320 --> 0:27:35.720 was the thing that I mean he was. He was knowledgeable, funny, 0:27:35.960 --> 0:27:39.960 funny as all get out, interesting but all you know, 0:27:40.000 --> 0:27:42.359 he liked to have fun and he joked around about that. 0:27:42.400 --> 0:27:45.639 I remember another time a local reporter was doing a 0:27:45.720 --> 0:27:48.880 stand up over there, and this guy kind of screamed 0:27:48.920 --> 0:27:50.600 a little bit when he did his stand ups. I 0:27:50.680 --> 0:27:54.680 remember Paul stopping and looking at me and my photographer 0:27:54.680 --> 0:27:57.960 and he's like, who is he talking to? Whoever it 0:27:58.080 --> 0:28:00.919 is they could hear him from here. It was so funny. 0:28:00.920 --> 0:28:03.879 He was just it was amazing, like how you know, 0:28:03.920 --> 0:28:08.359 it's this football legend and for him to be that 0:28:08.600 --> 0:28:10.800 human and interact with us because he didn't have to 0:28:10.800 --> 0:28:13.960 give us the time of day. It was interesting and 0:28:14.000 --> 0:28:16.720 it was special and I got to do a probably 0:28:16.760 --> 0:28:19.560 about two years before he passed away, I sat down 0:28:19.640 --> 0:28:23.320 with him for a long interview inside Old Riverfront Stadium, 0:28:23.359 --> 0:28:27.080 and he talked about everything his high school days and 0:28:27.440 --> 0:28:30.320 you know, he was a high school high jump champion 0:28:30.359 --> 0:28:33.320 in Ohio and and telling me things that I had 0:28:33.440 --> 0:28:38.200 no idea. And boy, he loved his sports. He loved 0:28:38.240 --> 0:28:41.120 all of it, but football. He was a specially good at. 0:28:41.800 --> 0:28:44.120 One of my regrets is that I got to Cincinnati 0:28:44.160 --> 0:28:47.000 after he had passed away. I've read every book ever 0:28:47.040 --> 0:28:49.160 written about him. I wish I could have met him, 0:28:49.200 --> 0:28:51.680 But it's great to hear stories like that from you. 0:28:51.960 --> 0:28:54.720 What kind of relationship do you have with Mike? It 0:28:54.800 --> 0:28:59.040 seems pretty good, I think, I think. I mean, the 0:28:59.120 --> 0:29:01.680 last time I talked with him, it was good. And 0:29:01.760 --> 0:29:05.480 that's another guy that's funny that people wouldn't realize unless 0:29:05.480 --> 0:29:07.800 you get a chance to talk to him like we 0:29:07.880 --> 0:29:11.280 have that. That sense of humor is amazing, and he's sharp. 0:29:11.400 --> 0:29:13.160 Oh my god, I do not want to try to 0:29:13.160 --> 0:29:15.880 match wits with him every time I think I got 0:29:15.960 --> 0:29:19.040 him on something. I remember asking him about not having 0:29:19.040 --> 0:29:22.440 a general manager once and he pretty much knifed me 0:29:23.400 --> 0:29:26.080 in a nice way. But it's like, oh my god, 0:29:26.160 --> 0:29:28.600 I should have been ready for that. I mean, it 0:29:28.680 --> 0:29:31.200 came out of nowhere. With a machete, and he was right. 0:29:31.760 --> 0:29:35.160 And he's a sharp guy. He is a sharp guy. 0:29:35.760 --> 0:29:40.240 And yeah, our relationship is good. I thought he wouldn't 0:29:40.280 --> 0:29:44.000 want to do this. We did a Bengals Brown special. 0:29:44.120 --> 0:29:47.600 This is probably about six years ago, seven years ago, 0:29:48.360 --> 0:29:51.560 and I asked if I could talk with Mike and 0:29:51.600 --> 0:29:54.360 just talk about the old because you know, Mike really 0:29:54.400 --> 0:29:57.440 only does his one thing on television, which is at 0:29:57.480 --> 0:30:00.800 the pre training camp luncheon, and he he agreed to 0:30:00.840 --> 0:30:02.560 do it. It was all about the history of the 0:30:02.600 --> 0:30:06.560 Bengals and Browns that he was amazing in that interview 0:30:06.640 --> 0:30:09.840 talking about those old days and him remember and being 0:30:09.880 --> 0:30:12.960 like a ball boy at training camp for the Browns 0:30:13.000 --> 0:30:16.240 and you know Maryon Motley and Otto Graham and all 0:30:16.280 --> 0:30:19.560 these old time greats that he was hanging out with 0:30:19.640 --> 0:30:22.040 as a kid, and the influence that had on him 0:30:22.160 --> 0:30:27.680 and boy, and he did not hold back on the 0:30:27.720 --> 0:30:31.880 whole Art Model fire and his father situation at all. 0:30:32.000 --> 0:30:35.320 He talked about how bitter it was, how much the 0:30:35.480 --> 0:30:39.640 Bengals when Paul was alive, how much they enjoyed beating 0:30:39.680 --> 0:30:42.560 the Browns and what it meant to them and everybody 0:30:42.560 --> 0:30:45.400 in that organization knew it. Everyone the players knew it. 0:30:45.640 --> 0:30:48.320 Paul used to have that talk with him even when 0:30:48.360 --> 0:30:51.239 he wasn't coaching, about how big of a deal it 0:30:51.320 --> 0:30:54.959 was to beat the Cleveland Browns. And and you know, 0:30:55.120 --> 0:30:57.080 Mike was so good in that interview. So I think 0:30:57.080 --> 0:31:00.920 our relationships pretty good. I don't ain't good enough, you know, 0:31:00.960 --> 0:31:03.560 he would want me over for dinner, but I think 0:31:03.560 --> 0:31:07.320 it's good. Who have been some of your favorite players 0:31:07.320 --> 0:31:10.720 and coaches to interact with over the years. Oh gosh, 0:31:10.760 --> 0:31:13.400 I gotta tell you, Zach right now is awesome. And 0:31:14.880 --> 0:31:16.960 you know I haven't been able to do a whole 0:31:16.960 --> 0:31:20.200 lot with him, but just right away, his positive attitude 0:31:20.280 --> 0:31:23.560 is unbelievable. I try to be optimistic that guy, you know, 0:31:23.640 --> 0:31:25.680 he makes me look like schlep Ross. I mean, he 0:31:25.800 --> 0:31:28.720 is so optimistic. And the first time I did a 0:31:28.760 --> 0:31:31.920 one on one with him and he's given me these answers. 0:31:31.960 --> 0:31:34.400 And you know, the Bengals were kind of in a 0:31:34.440 --> 0:31:37.080 bad way and we're off to a bad start that season, 0:31:37.440 --> 0:31:39.880 and he's given me all this positive stuff. So finally, 0:31:39.880 --> 0:31:43.400 I'm like, you're a half glass full guy. Right He's 0:31:43.440 --> 0:31:46.080 like from the get go, I am total half class full. 0:31:46.280 --> 0:31:48.680 It's like, Okay, I get that, and I love that 0:31:48.760 --> 0:31:53.560 about him. He's been great. Sam Weish was probably I 0:31:53.600 --> 0:31:55.760 would have to say he would be the favorite because 0:31:55.960 --> 0:32:00.160 he you know, he understood the media. He knew what 0:32:00.200 --> 0:32:02.560 we had to do. When we had this Sunday night 0:32:02.600 --> 0:32:04.520 show back in the eighties, and this is when I 0:32:04.600 --> 0:32:07.040 was still working in the news department, but the sports 0:32:07.080 --> 0:32:10.480 guys had this Sunday Night Bengal show during the season. 0:32:10.840 --> 0:32:13.440 Sam did magic tricks on that show, like they would 0:32:13.480 --> 0:32:16.600 go down and record a segment with him at Spinney Field. 0:32:16.880 --> 0:32:20.400 Then later in the eighties are the this would have 0:32:20.400 --> 0:32:23.840 been yeah, right, late eighties, early nineties, we did this 0:32:23.920 --> 0:32:27.000 segment with him called Hey Sam, where we would go 0:32:27.120 --> 0:32:30.800 get these questions on Mondays from fans about the previous 0:32:30.880 --> 0:32:34.080 day's game. Then we would give him the questions on Wednesday. 0:32:34.080 --> 0:32:36.000 He would answer and we would marry it up. It 0:32:36.120 --> 0:32:38.760 looked like, you know, he was answering the fans question 0:32:38.880 --> 0:32:41.440 right away. It was a fun segment. It was a 0:32:41.480 --> 0:32:44.960 good segment. He was open to do it, and you know, 0:32:45.480 --> 0:32:49.200 he did some crazy stuff, but he was I mean 0:32:49.280 --> 0:32:52.120 he did on and off the field. I mean, there 0:32:52.160 --> 0:32:54.320 was one time we went to his house for an interview, 0:32:55.200 --> 0:32:58.520 and his whole living room is full of these boxes 0:32:58.880 --> 0:33:00.920 and he's like, hey, to see what's in here. He 0:33:00.960 --> 0:33:03.880 pulls out and it's like this green Army surplus underwear 0:33:03.920 --> 0:33:06.040 or something that he had gotten a hold of a 0:33:06.080 --> 0:33:09.040 shipment somewhere that they were gonna throw away, and he 0:33:09.160 --> 0:33:11.640 got it for the homeless shelter here in Cincinnati. And 0:33:11.680 --> 0:33:14.960 he was always doing stuff like that that people didn't 0:33:14.960 --> 0:33:19.200 know about, always helping, you know, people who were struggling, 0:33:19.320 --> 0:33:24.960 helping with the food Bank, the Goodwill and doing charity 0:33:25.000 --> 0:33:27.880 things like that that I don't think anybody ever knew 0:33:27.920 --> 0:33:30.120 about that. He was a lot, a lot of fun. 0:33:30.240 --> 0:33:32.880 I mean when he closed that locker room that time 0:33:32.920 --> 0:33:36.720 after the game, he did some stuff that it's even 0:33:36.760 --> 0:33:39.480 the players are like sorry, guys were not allowed to 0:33:39.520 --> 0:33:41.720 talk because they him, And it was so I remember 0:33:41.760 --> 0:33:45.480 Boomer coming out after that game saying that basically, and 0:33:46.920 --> 0:33:49.400 he would laugh at some of the stuff Sam tried 0:33:49.440 --> 0:33:52.160 to pull and did pull. So he was he was 0:33:52.200 --> 0:33:55.600 a laugh riot. How about players, I imagine Boomer had 0:33:55.640 --> 0:33:57.440 to be pretty high on the list. Oh yeah, you 0:33:57.520 --> 0:33:59.840 know what he did. I was telling somebody this, Yes, 0:34:00.000 --> 0:34:02.560 today we're talking about the super Bowl at eighty eight 0:34:02.600 --> 0:34:06.320 and down to Miami, and Boomer would come through the 0:34:06.360 --> 0:34:08.160 lobby because we were allowed to hang out in the 0:34:08.160 --> 0:34:12.440 lobby at to play the team hotel and we were 0:34:12.440 --> 0:34:14.399 doing live shots there and stuff. But he would come 0:34:14.400 --> 0:34:17.440 through every night and ask all the local stations if 0:34:17.440 --> 0:34:19.919 they needed him for anything, if they needed any more 0:34:20.280 --> 0:34:24.040 of an interview or whatever. And you know, like the 0:34:24.080 --> 0:34:26.200 second night, I'm like, Boomer, what are you doing? What? 0:34:26.280 --> 0:34:29.080 He goes, you guys have covered us the entire season. 0:34:29.480 --> 0:34:31.320 I just want to make sure you guys are taken 0:34:31.360 --> 0:34:34.399 care of. And I appreciate everything you guys did during 0:34:34.400 --> 0:34:36.360 the season. I want to make sure you get what 0:34:36.440 --> 0:34:38.759 you need here. You came down to Miami to cover us. 0:34:39.120 --> 0:34:41.040 I just want to do what's right by you guys. 0:34:41.080 --> 0:34:43.919 I was impressive. People you know, wouldn't think he would 0:34:43.960 --> 0:34:47.600 do that. But he was a sports intern at a 0:34:47.680 --> 0:34:51.080 TV station and it may have been DC or Baltimore. 0:34:51.120 --> 0:34:53.879 He worked with Gail Seens. He said back in the day, 0:34:53.960 --> 0:34:56.480 I think it was Baltimore, so he kind of understood 0:34:56.480 --> 0:35:00.520 the business. But he was great. That whole team was great. Um, 0:35:00.560 --> 0:35:04.960 But you know, Chad Ojosinko my god, when when he 0:35:05.000 --> 0:35:07.000 had that list and I had to go in there 0:35:07.040 --> 0:35:10.400 every Wednesday, and I'm like, every Wedn's gonna be like, 0:35:10.440 --> 0:35:13.239 oh God, not this list again. We're gonna do this, 0:35:13.560 --> 0:35:16.240 and that would be the funniest darn thing. He would 0:35:16.239 --> 0:35:19.799 come up with some new angle on it. Um, So 0:35:20.040 --> 0:35:24.720 he was. He was delightful. And TJ right next locker 0:35:24.800 --> 0:35:28.879 by him, was great to deal with. Those guys were great. Um, 0:35:29.800 --> 0:35:32.520 there's been mostly good ones with the Bengals. I mean 0:35:32.840 --> 0:35:36.080 that whole eighty eight team and that team. Now, I 0:35:36.200 --> 0:35:39.719 listened those interviews you do with those guys. I listened that. 0:35:39.840 --> 0:35:41.799 I mean I look forward to that every Sunday on 0:35:41.840 --> 0:35:45.160 the pregame show, and that those those kids are amazing. 0:35:45.239 --> 0:35:48.520 They have right now. Just you know the one and 0:35:48.560 --> 0:35:51.000 I told you about this last year, the one you 0:35:51.000 --> 0:35:53.799 did about the kid in Columbus who didn't make the 0:35:53.840 --> 0:35:57.400 team but was talking about listening to the super Bowl 0:35:57.400 --> 0:36:00.520 on the radio and he's delivering pizzas at that time, 0:36:00.520 --> 0:36:02.600 and he get what an amazing story and what a 0:36:02.640 --> 0:36:05.359 good young man. And I hope he's doing well. I'm 0:36:05.360 --> 0:36:07.799 sure he is, because he certainly has a head on 0:36:07.880 --> 0:36:13.000 his shoulders on the flip side. Who gave you trouble? Well, 0:36:13.040 --> 0:36:16.160 Oliver Gibson did that one time back in it was 0:36:16.280 --> 0:36:20.560 early two thousands. But that was a bad situation and 0:36:20.640 --> 0:36:23.360 it wasn't it wasn't personal at me, but it was. 0:36:23.640 --> 0:36:26.600 It was at our station because of the story we 0:36:26.680 --> 0:36:30.840 did on Tremaine back and you know, he wasn't supposed 0:36:30.840 --> 0:36:34.200 to be driving. He was driving the practice. Somehow I 0:36:34.239 --> 0:36:36.280 get elected to be the first guy in the locker 0:36:36.360 --> 0:36:40.719 room with a Channel five microphone flag after that whole fiasco, 0:36:40.880 --> 0:36:43.920 So I kind of knew it was probably coming. I 0:36:43.920 --> 0:36:45.920 didn't know it was going to be that bad because 0:36:45.920 --> 0:36:49.160 I'd been in there all season. I thought, well, they'll 0:36:49.239 --> 0:36:52.439 go easy on poor old George. No, there was no 0:36:52.520 --> 0:36:56.279 such thing as easy. That was bad. And I give 0:36:57.120 --> 0:36:59.000 you know, I give Jack Brennan a lot of credit 0:36:59.040 --> 0:37:01.360 because he told how they're like, get him out of 0:37:01.400 --> 0:37:04.640 here now, and he's like, look, he's got an NFL credential. 0:37:04.680 --> 0:37:06.200 He has every right to be in here. If you 0:37:06.200 --> 0:37:07.960 don't want to talk to him, you don't have to. 0:37:08.360 --> 0:37:10.040 And I said the same, Bay, I'm like, you know, 0:37:10.120 --> 0:37:12.440 I don't. So I stood there and they're like, well, 0:37:12.440 --> 0:37:14.759 we're not talking to anybody until he's out of here. 0:37:14.840 --> 0:37:17.600 So I stood there for about a minute, you know, 0:37:17.840 --> 0:37:20.759 maybe two minutes, got some bad stares, and I see 0:37:20.800 --> 0:37:24.160 all my poor you know, media buddies from Cincinnati getting nothing, 0:37:24.520 --> 0:37:27.800 and I'm like, dah, this isn't productive. So I walked 0:37:27.800 --> 0:37:30.759 out and then lo and behold, we walk into an 0:37:30.760 --> 0:37:32.799 interview with Scott Mitchell and he didn't know what the 0:37:32.840 --> 0:37:35.160 heck was going on, so he talked all day to us. 0:37:35.640 --> 0:37:39.880 That was so fun. I don't want to knock on Scott, 0:37:39.920 --> 0:37:41.839 but that might be the only thing he did right 0:37:41.960 --> 0:37:47.640 that season. Not one of the more successful quarterbacks in 0:37:47.680 --> 0:37:50.440 Bengals history now, but he tried and he was a 0:37:50.520 --> 0:37:53.359 stand up dude. And you know what, what can you do. 0:37:53.400 --> 0:37:56.439 Not everyone's cut out to be an NFL quarterback. That's 0:37:56.480 --> 0:37:59.080 that's for sure, hardest job in the world. We're chatting. 0:37:59.239 --> 0:38:02.600 We're chatting the large Vogel. Do you have a most 0:38:02.640 --> 0:38:07.800 memorable moment or moments from the Super Bowl trips? Oh? Gosh, 0:38:07.800 --> 0:38:12.400 in eighty eight, there was so much because the riots 0:38:12.440 --> 0:38:15.279 broke out down there like on Monday or Tuesday, I 0:38:15.280 --> 0:38:18.160 think it was Monday night, And that was crazy because 0:38:18.640 --> 0:38:22.600 there was there was a spot like four blocks from 0:38:22.600 --> 0:38:25.520 the hotel where you could enter Overtown and they had 0:38:25.560 --> 0:38:28.520 all that blocked off. You couldn't go in, you weren't allowed. 0:38:28.840 --> 0:38:31.319 There were like guards there. It was the craziest thing 0:38:31.360 --> 0:38:34.719 I've seen. But what I took away from that game, 0:38:34.760 --> 0:38:36.640 you know, you think about the crumb right thing and 0:38:36.719 --> 0:38:41.040 the Stanley Wilson situation, but when Stanford Jennings returned that 0:38:41.280 --> 0:38:45.440 kickoff for a touchdown and the jubilation in there, and 0:38:45.480 --> 0:38:47.880 I'm sitting around a bunch of Bengals fans because we 0:38:47.760 --> 0:38:50.680 were in what was called media overflow, which turned out 0:38:50.680 --> 0:38:54.000 to be great seats in the club level. It was 0:38:54.080 --> 0:38:56.600 awesome padded seats, which was a big deal back in 0:38:56.680 --> 0:39:00.080 that time, and people were going crazy. It was like, 0:39:00.160 --> 0:39:03.480 it's gonna happen. Yes, they're gonna win the Super Bowl. 0:39:03.960 --> 0:39:08.160 And you know, I don't think anyone doubted until Taylor 0:39:08.200 --> 0:39:11.120 caught that touchdown pass late that the Bengals were gonna 0:39:11.160 --> 0:39:14.520 somehow find a way to win that ballgame. It didn't happen, 0:39:14.600 --> 0:39:17.160 but that moment was unbelievable. And then you throw in 0:39:17.640 --> 0:39:20.480 that Stanford's wife had a child the day before, a 0:39:20.560 --> 0:39:22.759 baby girl, and it was just it's like, this can't 0:39:22.760 --> 0:39:27.799 be happening. What a storybook. That was cool, the one 0:39:27.840 --> 0:39:31.600 in La I just remember the heartbreak from that. And 0:39:31.760 --> 0:39:34.480 so I'm sitting next to Mike Dardis, our news anchor, 0:39:34.520 --> 0:39:37.480 in the press box and the Rams come out for 0:39:37.560 --> 0:39:40.239 that last drive and I'm like, I don't want to 0:39:40.280 --> 0:39:43.719 say this, but I've been here before and it was 0:39:43.760 --> 0:39:47.920 in Miami. I'm like, there's too much time, and gosh, 0:39:48.000 --> 0:39:50.480 that fourth down play still and then of course the 0:39:50.600 --> 0:39:53.960 call at the end, that was a tough one. That 0:39:54.080 --> 0:39:57.480 was a tough one, and I it's but boy, the 0:39:57.560 --> 0:40:00.480 Bengals coming out at halftime, at second half and that 0:40:00.640 --> 0:40:04.360 bomb that Tee Higgins caught. What an amazing moment that was. 0:40:04.840 --> 0:40:08.560 That's when I thought they're gonna do this, especially since 0:40:08.600 --> 0:40:10.560 he grabbed the guy's face mask and got away with 0:40:10.920 --> 0:40:13.799 No that's the thing. And I look at the play 0:40:13.840 --> 0:40:16.280 at the end of the game and it's like, well, 0:40:16.480 --> 0:40:18.719 they got away with that one, so maybe it makes 0:40:18.800 --> 0:40:21.680 up for it, but boy, that's still a heartbreaker all 0:40:21.719 --> 0:40:23.759 the way through. And that fourth down play was at 0:40:23.760 --> 0:40:26.640 Cooper Cup took that little inside hand off and got 0:40:26.640 --> 0:40:30.240 the first down that That's why I'm like, oh my god, 0:40:30.280 --> 0:40:32.719 they had him right where they wanted him. But yeah, 0:40:32.719 --> 0:40:36.080 I just remember mostly that heartbreak and that sick feeling. 0:40:36.600 --> 0:40:38.799 You don't that feeling where like your mouth you's got 0:40:38.960 --> 0:40:42.800 just got this metallic taste in there because everything drains, 0:40:42.840 --> 0:40:44.960 and it's like that's what it was walking out there, 0:40:44.960 --> 0:40:47.520 and it's like, here I go again, out to talk 0:40:47.560 --> 0:40:52.480 to Cincinnati about another heartbreaking sports moment. That metallic taste 0:40:52.600 --> 0:40:55.799 is going to be gone soon with this. Yeah, I'll 0:40:55.800 --> 0:40:58.160 say this. Whether this team wins a Super Bowl or not, 0:40:58.200 --> 0:41:01.400 and I feel they will, they have been amazing and 0:41:01.480 --> 0:41:04.520 it has turned the whole city around when it comes 0:41:04.520 --> 0:41:08.320 to attitude towards sports. I know the Reds are struggling, 0:41:08.680 --> 0:41:11.400 but you know, FC Cincinnati off to a hot start 0:41:11.400 --> 0:41:15.239 and the Bengals really captured this city and I do 0:41:15.280 --> 0:41:18.520 believe they'll win one. But whether they do or not, 0:41:18.640 --> 0:41:22.439 they've they've done a magnificent job of getting this fan 0:41:22.520 --> 0:41:26.240 base fired up, no question about it. Obviously it begins 0:41:26.280 --> 0:41:29.000 with Burrow, but beyond that, they've been one of the 0:41:29.000 --> 0:41:32.440 biggest spenders in free agency over the past few years. 0:41:32.880 --> 0:41:34.799 It seems like all the things they used to be 0:41:34.840 --> 0:41:38.760 criticized for no longer apply. You've been covering this team 0:41:38.760 --> 0:41:42.919 for four decades roughly, what's your reaction to it. It's 0:41:43.040 --> 0:41:46.080 stunning and it's great to see. It is stunning because 0:41:46.520 --> 0:41:48.719 they were getting and when Marvin came, they had a 0:41:48.719 --> 0:41:51.640 pretty good free agent hall his first year, he thought, Okay, 0:41:51.680 --> 0:41:54.440 they're gonna turn this corner. Then that seemed like it 0:41:54.640 --> 0:41:59.000 started fading away a little bit this time. You know, 0:41:59.040 --> 0:42:01.920 when they got DJ Reader, I'm thinking, Wow, that's a 0:42:01.960 --> 0:42:04.680 great signing, But what's going on here, Like, are they 0:42:04.719 --> 0:42:07.680 really going to start doing this? And then you know, 0:42:07.719 --> 0:42:10.839 they come out of the gates last year when they 0:42:10.840 --> 0:42:14.920 pick up the offensive lineman Carris and Kappa on day one, 0:42:15.000 --> 0:42:18.399 and it's like, my goodness. You know. Then they find 0:42:18.400 --> 0:42:20.879 a way to get Lyell Collins and you're like, they're 0:42:20.880 --> 0:42:24.960 really doing this and they have been, they've they've you know, 0:42:25.000 --> 0:42:28.400 and and the Trey Wayne's thing didn't work out, but 0:42:28.480 --> 0:42:30.520 they took a stab they you know, that was a 0:42:30.520 --> 0:42:32.919 big signing at the time and I thought it would help. 0:42:32.960 --> 0:42:36.040 It didn't because of injuries. But yeah, it's night and 0:42:36.160 --> 0:42:39.800 day and hopefully that continues. I don't see why it 0:42:39.880 --> 0:42:42.560 Walt it's happened this cycle. I mean they've gone out. 0:42:42.600 --> 0:42:45.600 I mean, you know when they get Orlando Brown Junior, 0:42:45.719 --> 0:42:48.359 because everyone's like, oh my god, they lost the tight 0:42:48.480 --> 0:42:50.920 end and they lost the starting safeties, and that was 0:42:50.960 --> 0:42:53.640 You're like, and I'm thinking to myself, there's no way 0:42:53.680 --> 0:42:55.799 they're sliding back into what they used to do. There's 0:42:55.880 --> 0:42:59.719 no way. They saw what worked. They saw how you know, 0:43:00.000 --> 0:43:03.400 Paul Brown Stadium now pay Course Stadium came alive with 0:43:03.760 --> 0:43:07.120 just energy plus down there. There's no way they're gonna 0:43:07.160 --> 0:43:09.799 let this slide back. And thankfully they haven't. I mean, 0:43:10.120 --> 0:43:13.000 they got Orlando Brown and then just kept adding from 0:43:13.040 --> 0:43:15.680 there and and here they are. They seem to be 0:43:15.719 --> 0:43:19.800 in great position again heading into the draft, which is beautiful. 0:43:20.600 --> 0:43:23.239 Do you have a player or a position that you 0:43:23.280 --> 0:43:25.799 would like to see them target in the draft, particularly 0:43:26.000 --> 0:43:29.640 with the twenty eight pick, Yeah, boy, that's you know, 0:43:30.080 --> 0:43:32.799 I'm gonna say the obvious Michael Mayer at twenty eight 0:43:33.120 --> 0:43:35.680 and if they don't get him, then maybe a couple 0:43:35.800 --> 0:43:40.080 rounds later. Josh Wiley, that's what I'm That's what I'm 0:43:40.120 --> 0:43:43.360 such a homer. It's it's just I can't help it. 0:43:43.480 --> 0:43:46.719 But I've seen a lot of mocks with with with 0:43:46.840 --> 0:43:50.120 Meyer fall into their position and them taking him, and 0:43:50.480 --> 0:43:53.320 he would fit, you know, I mean it. There's a 0:43:53.400 --> 0:43:55.319 lot of ways they can go now, though, which is 0:43:55.640 --> 0:43:58.680 which is good because of the tight end signing earlier 0:43:58.719 --> 0:44:01.319 this week, you know, that buys him a little bit 0:44:01.360 --> 0:44:03.440 of time maybe to find the right guy they want 0:44:03.520 --> 0:44:06.000 long term, and maybe it's him. Maybe it is him, 0:44:06.040 --> 0:44:08.480 But I would not be shocked if they do draft 0:44:08.520 --> 0:44:11.360 a tight end and draft one early in this draft 0:44:12.280 --> 0:44:15.080 instead of being in the press box. Do you anticipate 0:44:15.160 --> 0:44:19.280 being in the stands this fall? Beer in hand? Absolutely, 0:44:19.600 --> 0:44:22.680 That's a no doubt or no brainer. There will be 0:44:22.719 --> 0:44:25.680 many weekends. I'm probably at Nippert on a Saturday and 0:44:25.719 --> 0:44:30.560 then I'm rolling in and I probably won't have my 0:44:30.640 --> 0:44:33.120 face painted, but I'll probably have a Bengal's hat on, 0:44:33.760 --> 0:44:38.600 maybe a Bengals golf shirt and you know, be out there. 0:44:39.680 --> 0:44:43.719 That's I love watching games with the crowd. I mean, 0:44:43.760 --> 0:44:46.719 I've had so much fun at games doing that. And 0:44:46.840 --> 0:44:48.520 you know how it is when we do what we do, 0:44:48.560 --> 0:44:51.080 you don't get to do that very often. And you're 0:44:51.080 --> 0:44:56.280 also kind of trying to maintain some impartiality for your job. 0:44:57.600 --> 0:44:59.359 It's going to be kind of nice to throw those 0:44:59.360 --> 0:45:02.759 shackles all completely. Well, that's a good segue to my 0:45:02.880 --> 0:45:05.000 last question for you, because it seems to me you 0:45:05.080 --> 0:45:09.160 have always walked the tightrope well of being a fan. 0:45:09.600 --> 0:45:14.520 I mean, we can understand that you root for the Bengals, Reds, Bearcats, whatever, 0:45:15.160 --> 0:45:20.359 but yet maintain your objectivity on the air. Well, I'll 0:45:20.400 --> 0:45:23.400 tell you what. It helps being around the fans because 0:45:23.719 --> 0:45:27.520 they're as critical as anybody. You can't fool him. I 0:45:27.560 --> 0:45:30.480 can't say here and say, oh my gosh, you know 0:45:30.880 --> 0:45:33.880 this player. Yeah, he had a bad game, but you know, 0:45:33.960 --> 0:45:36.120 give him a break. He's been pretty good. You know, 0:45:36.200 --> 0:45:39.040 if if a guy's not getting it done, they know it, 0:45:39.080 --> 0:45:43.279 and they're harsher than anybody. And I've actually got a 0:45:43.320 --> 0:45:46.440 couple of good friend fan friends here at the station 0:45:47.040 --> 0:45:50.800 that if they'll keep me in check if I don't 0:45:50.800 --> 0:45:54.440 do that. It's kind of funny. It's like you kind 0:45:54.440 --> 0:45:56.839 of gave him a pass on that. It's like, you 0:45:56.880 --> 0:45:59.440 know what I probably did, and that's because I know 0:45:59.480 --> 0:46:02.400 he's a good dude. But you're right, Um, I gotta 0:46:02.600 --> 0:46:05.759 and they do they keep me in check. Um, you 0:46:05.880 --> 0:46:08.960 probably know both of them. Uh and people and up 0:46:09.160 --> 0:46:11.880 you know, people in other stations too that we both 0:46:12.040 --> 0:46:16.840 have worked with might say something someone like rufus. So 0:46:17.800 --> 0:46:20.759 it's it's so that that has helped. But you can't 0:46:20.760 --> 0:46:23.719 fool fans. They've got eyes, they've got to ears, they 0:46:23.760 --> 0:46:27.120 see and hear what's going on, and uh, so you can't. 0:46:27.800 --> 0:46:30.839 You can't fool them, and so I don't try. It's like, 0:46:30.920 --> 0:46:33.480 this is what we saw, this is what it is, 0:46:34.120 --> 0:46:37.839 and you know, sometimes it's tough, but you gotta do it. 0:46:37.920 --> 0:46:40.759 And you're not always you know, you're not going to 0:46:40.800 --> 0:46:44.439 be best buds with everybody. You try, but you can't 0:46:44.440 --> 0:46:48.600 always be, especially in these jobs. George, I sent it 0:46:48.600 --> 0:46:51.040 to you privately when you announced your retirement. Let me 0:46:51.080 --> 0:46:53.640 say it publicly now. I am such a big fan, 0:46:53.800 --> 0:46:55.839 not only of your work, but the way that you've 0:46:55.840 --> 0:46:59.279 conducted yourself while doing that work over the years. It's 0:46:59.320 --> 0:47:02.560 been a real inspiration to those of us who have 0:47:02.640 --> 0:47:07.000 been in broadcasting in this town. Congratulations on a tremendous career. 0:47:07.320 --> 0:47:10.800 I hope you continue to do some stuff in the media, 0:47:10.920 --> 0:47:13.720 because I'll be watching and listening if you do. Thanks 0:47:13.719 --> 0:47:16.160 for your time, today, Dan, thanks so much, and come 0:47:16.200 --> 0:47:18.960 from you, that means a lot because I feel the 0:47:19.000 --> 0:47:20.839 same way about you and the way you've done it. 0:47:21.120 --> 0:47:23.040 And I almost said, when you ask me that question, 0:47:23.040 --> 0:47:25.319 it's like you've done a heck of a job of 0:47:25.320 --> 0:47:28.239 that as well, and telling it like it is, but 0:47:28.400 --> 0:47:31.600 not going overboard and being you know, mister harshaw on 0:47:31.719 --> 0:47:35.839 people and able to maintain those relationships and treat people 0:47:35.880 --> 0:47:38.960 with respect. So coming from you, that means everything, and 0:47:39.000 --> 0:47:41.560 I appreciate you having me. I hope there's some golf 0:47:41.600 --> 0:47:45.600 in our future. There will be Thank thos. Both podcasts 0:47:45.719 --> 0:47:48.120 is brought to you by Paycorps. More than twenty nine 0:47:48.200 --> 0:47:53.279 thousand customers trust Paycorps to help them recruit, pay, engage, 0:47:53.320 --> 0:47:58.520 and retain employees. Learn more at paycorps dot com. Now 0:47:59.000 --> 0:48:02.120 time for our fifth edition of the three round mock 0:48:02.239 --> 0:48:06.360 Draft with an NFL Expert. Here's the concept. When I 0:48:06.400 --> 0:48:09.360 attended the NFL Combine several weeks ago, I had the 0:48:09.440 --> 0:48:13.040 Pro Football Focus mock Draft simulator set up on my 0:48:13.160 --> 0:48:17.080 laptop and invited several NFL experts to make the Bengals 0:48:17.120 --> 0:48:20.440 picks in the first three rounds. If you've never tried 0:48:20.480 --> 0:48:23.160 a mock Draft simulator before it allows you to play 0:48:23.200 --> 0:48:26.439 Bengals GM for as many rounds of the draft as 0:48:26.440 --> 0:48:30.640 you want. The simulator begins making picks in order, and 0:48:30.680 --> 0:48:33.360 then when it's your turn, you can make trades or 0:48:33.440 --> 0:48:35.799 go ahead and pick. It's a good way to get 0:48:35.800 --> 0:48:38.920 to know the players who might be available when the 0:48:38.920 --> 0:48:42.920 Bengals are on the clock. In late April, Dane Brugler 0:48:43.000 --> 0:48:47.160 from The Athletic chose Maryland cornerback Deante Banks in the 0:48:47.239 --> 0:48:51.640 first round, Northwestern defensive lineman at A Tommy wah at 0:48:51.640 --> 0:48:55.080 A Barre in the second, and Iowa tight end Sam 0:48:55.200 --> 0:48:58.800 Laporta in the third. He received an A minus grade 0:48:59.040 --> 0:49:03.600 from Pro Football Focus. Pete Prisco from CBS Sports chose 0:49:03.760 --> 0:49:08.200 Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid in round one, Washington State 0:49:08.239 --> 0:49:12.080 linebacker day On Henley in round two, and by U 0:49:12.200 --> 0:49:16.800 offensive tackle Blake Freeland in round three. He received a b. 0:49:17.840 --> 0:49:21.359 Ryan Fowler from The Draft Network chose Oregon State tight 0:49:21.480 --> 0:49:26.600 end Luke Musgraven round one, Syracuse offensive tackle Matthew Bergerroud 0:49:26.640 --> 0:49:31.919 in round two, and Maryland cornerback Jacorean Bennett in round three. 0:49:31.960 --> 0:49:36.239 He received a B minus and Charles Davis from CBS 0:49:36.360 --> 0:49:40.040 picked Kincaid in round one, Illinois safety Sydney Brown and 0:49:40.160 --> 0:49:43.719 round two, and u AB running back Dwayne McBride in 0:49:43.800 --> 0:49:47.000 round three. He was a good sport when his second 0:49:47.040 --> 0:49:51.320 and third round grades got C minus and D minus grades. 0:49:51.920 --> 0:49:57.440 Now time four contestant number five. It is great to 0:49:57.480 --> 0:49:59.680 be joined by my guy, Austin Gale, now with the 0:49:59.760 --> 0:50:02.640 ring formerly of PF back on the West coast. We 0:50:02.719 --> 0:50:05.320 mission Cincinnati. But in any case, kind of you to 0:50:05.400 --> 0:50:07.680 join me here at the NFL Scouting Combine to do 0:50:07.840 --> 0:50:12.560 a three round Bengals mock draft trades allowed, so we 0:50:12.600 --> 0:50:16.719 are making picks twenty eight, sixty and ninety two. You 0:50:16.800 --> 0:50:19.439 worked at PF, so you know how this works. I'm 0:50:19.440 --> 0:50:22.600 about to hit start draft on the mock simulators. So 0:50:22.800 --> 0:50:26.439 borderbacks are going. I've seen three quarterbacks go already. Oh 0:50:26.520 --> 0:50:28.759 Michael Mayer. Bengals fans are gonna wish he was still 0:50:28.800 --> 0:50:32.080 around at twenty eight. He is not. We have reached 0:50:32.280 --> 0:50:34.680 the twenty eighth pick in the first round. I'm going 0:50:34.719 --> 0:50:37.120 to scroll back a little bit on this screen so 0:50:37.160 --> 0:50:39.360 you can see the guys that were just taken. What 0:50:39.440 --> 0:50:40.920 do you think of some of those guys that just 0:50:40.960 --> 0:50:44.360 went off the board. Immediately, my eyes go to Jacksville Jaguars. 0:50:44.400 --> 0:50:47.919 At twenty four, they take Osiris Torrance, the offensive guard. 0:50:47.960 --> 0:50:49.440 I think he can play, he can play center. I 0:50:49.480 --> 0:50:51.440 think he's going to be a guard in the NFL. Literally, 0:50:51.480 --> 0:50:54.479 if you built an NFL guard in a lab, he'll 0:50:54.480 --> 0:50:57.480 look like Osiris Torrance. And I know that the since 0:50:57.719 --> 0:51:00.440 Mangal specifically have more needs at tack gold than they 0:51:00.440 --> 0:51:02.600 do into your offensive line, but that is such a 0:51:02.719 --> 0:51:05.120 value if they can get him, indeed at twenty eight. 0:51:05.160 --> 0:51:07.080 So see him come off the board right at twenty four. 0:51:07.239 --> 0:51:09.080 I think he's a bit tough to see us a 0:51:09.120 --> 0:51:11.080 bank if you are a Bengals fan. I also like 0:51:11.120 --> 0:51:13.040 Tyry Stevenson. I think he's a quarterback with long arms 0:51:13.040 --> 0:51:15.120 coming out of a Miami cornerback. I think is a 0:51:15.200 --> 0:51:17.799 very big value pick in this draft, specifically in the 0:51:17.800 --> 0:51:20.440 first round. Bengals picking at twenty eight, I think should 0:51:20.480 --> 0:51:22.160 be looking at cornerback. There were going to be a 0:51:22.160 --> 0:51:24.480 lot of guys. Joey Porter Junior just measured in here 0:51:24.520 --> 0:51:27.520 at the Indianapolis Combine with thirty four inch arms, eighty 0:51:27.560 --> 0:51:29.520 five inch wingspan or whatever it is. You also have 0:51:29.600 --> 0:51:32.200 Julius Brands out of Kent State, who has some big arms, Like, 0:51:32.280 --> 0:51:34.399 there is some really really talented you talking about built 0:51:34.400 --> 0:51:37.000 in the lab, really talented cornerback prospects here. So seeing 0:51:37.360 --> 0:51:40.000 Tyr Stevenson off the board, Osiris Torrans off the board, 0:51:40.120 --> 0:51:42.200 Michael Mayor, obviously I know the Bengals want a tight end. 0:51:43.040 --> 0:51:44.960 I'm interesting to see who we have available, all right, 0:51:45.000 --> 0:51:47.320 So we moved to the guys there are still available 0:51:47.360 --> 0:51:49.839 list and you can discuss some of these guys as 0:51:49.840 --> 0:51:52.040 I scrolled out. So Klajia Cancy is going to be, 0:51:52.080 --> 0:51:54.320 you know, PF's top guy available here. I think p 0:51:54.400 --> 0:51:56.080 F is a lot higher on can't see the Pittsburgh 0:51:56.120 --> 0:51:59.000 defensive tackle then the league will be He did run 0:51:59.040 --> 0:52:02.520 a blazing forty time. However, under thirty one inch arms. 0:52:02.560 --> 0:52:05.120 There hasn't been a single defensive lineman in the NFL 0:52:05.200 --> 0:52:07.120 over the last ten years to play more than six 0:52:07.200 --> 0:52:09.640 hundred snaps in the single season with other under thirty 0:52:09.640 --> 0:52:12.040 one inch arms. So he's a legitimate outlier. And normally 0:52:12.280 --> 0:52:14.320 you don't see those guys really come off the board 0:52:14.520 --> 0:52:16.359 in the top thirty, top forty picks. I think he's 0:52:16.400 --> 0:52:18.120 more of a top of Day two, guy still ranked 0:52:18.120 --> 0:52:20.480 fourteenth on PFF's board, so one of the top available. 0:52:20.480 --> 0:52:22.839 You also have Andre Carter, the edge defender out of Army. 0:52:22.880 --> 0:52:25.920 I don't think he's had a really great combine thus far. 0:52:26.000 --> 0:52:28.600 So that's a little bit concerning Dalton Kincaide, someone that 0:52:28.640 --> 0:52:30.160 I think a lot of people like, the tight end 0:52:30.160 --> 0:52:33.080 out of Utah. My buddy at the Ringer, Danny Kelly, 0:52:33.280 --> 0:52:36.040 compared him to Travis Kelsey, so a lot of people 0:52:36.160 --> 0:52:38.239 really like him. Obviously Cincinnati fans there as well. But 0:52:38.280 --> 0:52:41.600 if you scroll back up here, Deontay Banks cornerback in Maryland, 0:52:41.640 --> 0:52:43.600 you know I said I want corner. I value corner 0:52:43.600 --> 0:52:47.000 in this draft. Deontay Banks just leaped broad jumped eleven 0:52:47.160 --> 0:52:50.880 feet four inches for one second. That was the second 0:52:50.920 --> 0:52:53.440 best time or second best jump of any cornerback or 0:52:53.480 --> 0:52:55.440 any player in the NFL, behind Byron Jones. And then 0:52:55.520 --> 0:52:57.800 right after that you have Julius Brent of ken staatego 0:52:57.840 --> 0:53:01.240 eleven six but still really impressive for John Tay Banks, 0:53:01.239 --> 0:53:03.839 extremely explosive, extremely fast to getting phase. I think he's 0:53:03.840 --> 0:53:04.880 going to be a guy at the back end the 0:53:04.880 --> 0:53:06.719 first round everyone should look for. I think I'm going 0:53:06.760 --> 0:53:10.400 Banks here at twenty eight. Well, Banks be there at 0:53:10.440 --> 0:53:14.680 number twenty eight. It's looking iffy. In their latest mock drafts, 0:53:15.040 --> 0:53:18.879 mel Kiper has him going seventeenth to the Steelers, Todd 0:53:18.960 --> 0:53:22.520 McShay says twenty third to the Vikings, and Daniel Jeremiah 0:53:22.560 --> 0:53:26.240 goes with number twenty four to the Jaguars. It sounds 0:53:26.280 --> 0:53:28.799 like it could be. Don't get your hopes up pick 0:53:29.160 --> 0:53:33.840 for the Bengals. Now time for Austin Gaels second round selection. 0:53:35.200 --> 0:53:38.960 We're up to pick number fifty five. Darnell Washington, the 0:53:39.000 --> 0:53:41.040 big tight end, just went to the Lions. I think 0:53:41.040 --> 0:53:43.399 a lot of people expect him to go higher than that. 0:53:43.480 --> 0:53:45.360 But in any case, let's take a look at some 0:53:45.400 --> 0:53:48.000 of the guys that just went before the Bengals pick 0:53:48.040 --> 0:53:51.600 at number sixty, so Moredy having some buyer's remorse seeing 0:53:51.600 --> 0:53:54.720 the pick after we went Banks, Nolan Smith, the Georgia 0:53:54.760 --> 0:53:57.479 defensive end that literally broke the combine record for forty 0:53:57.560 --> 0:54:01.520 yard dash at defensive defensive line. Washington off the board 0:54:01.520 --> 0:54:03.560 at fifty five. Little bit like a little bit rough 0:54:03.560 --> 0:54:04.799 to see. Like there's a lot of talent I think 0:54:04.800 --> 0:54:06.680 in the second round. I've talked to a lot of 0:54:06.760 --> 0:54:09.719 draft media and also even scouts that mentioned, hey, this 0:54:09.840 --> 0:54:11.719 class isn't that good, right, This class isn't that good 0:54:11.719 --> 0:54:13.480 at the top. But the depth in this class is 0:54:13.520 --> 0:54:14.880 I think where people are going to have value. I 0:54:14.880 --> 0:54:17.480 wouldn't be surprised too, even just a tangent off this 0:54:17.680 --> 0:54:20.200 to see people trade back into this round, specifically trade 0:54:20.200 --> 0:54:21.759 out of the first into the second round to pick 0:54:21.840 --> 0:54:24.120 up picks to go attack the depth in this class. 0:54:24.239 --> 0:54:26.640 So a little bit concerning, not concerning, but sucks to 0:54:26.680 --> 0:54:28.239 see so many good players come off the board, but 0:54:28.280 --> 0:54:31.920 looking at a midst to see who have available. Andre 0:54:32.040 --> 0:54:34.279 Carter again still available for whatever reason, it may be 0:54:34.440 --> 0:54:37.040 Nathaniel dell if the Bengals did have a need at 0:54:37.080 --> 0:54:38.800 receiver and wanted to bring in a guy that I 0:54:39.120 --> 0:54:41.920 comed into a more polished Marquise Brown. And I know 0:54:42.120 --> 0:54:45.320 Marquise Brown hasn't been overly successful in the league's injuries 0:54:45.360 --> 0:54:47.200 have been a part of that. He obviously has flipped 0:54:47.239 --> 0:54:49.360 teams as well. I think Nathaniel Dell Man because it 0:54:49.480 --> 0:54:51.360 immediately a guy that steps into the slot and is 0:54:51.360 --> 0:54:54.160 super productive. I already see my guys though. Dayon Henley, 0:54:54.360 --> 0:54:57.480 the Washington State off ball linebacker, extremely explosive, extremely fast. 0:54:57.560 --> 0:54:59.440 Henley's a guy like and then I don't even know 0:54:59.440 --> 0:55:01.080 how to pronounce this guy's full name, but I call 0:55:01.160 --> 0:55:04.280 him Ada. Ada the guy at a Northwestern who everyone 0:55:04.320 --> 0:55:06.160 made this big deal of cancy running the time that 0:55:06.200 --> 0:55:07.719 he did at two or eighty one pounds, and he 0:55:07.719 --> 0:55:10.000 was in the four six seven range ade ade at 0:55:10.000 --> 0:55:12.320 a Northwestern beat his time at the same way and 0:55:12.520 --> 0:55:15.040 had better jumps and all that stuff. This guy is 0:55:15.080 --> 0:55:17.560 a freak of nature. I think getting him at this 0:55:17.640 --> 0:55:20.360 value is the way to go. I know that's attacking 0:55:20.360 --> 0:55:22.280 defensive line to have a lot of studds in Cincinnati, 0:55:22.320 --> 0:55:24.640 but I think that's a position to premium position that 0:55:24.680 --> 0:55:27.239 you constantly need to restock with athletes. I think the 0:55:27.320 --> 0:55:32.759 Northwestern Ada is who I go here at sixty is 0:55:32.880 --> 0:55:35.560 at a Tommy wa At a bare who ran an 0:55:35.560 --> 0:55:39.719 insane four four nine forty yard dash at the combine, 0:55:40.080 --> 0:55:43.480 a record for anybody at or above two hundred and 0:55:43.520 --> 0:55:47.279 eighty pounds. He's ranked number forty one overall on the 0:55:47.400 --> 0:55:52.360 PF Big Board. So a cornerback in round one and 0:55:52.520 --> 0:55:56.320 an edge rusher in round two. Time for Austin Gals. 0:55:56.400 --> 0:56:01.560 Third and final pick. It is number ninety two overall, 0:56:02.040 --> 0:56:04.719 and we are seeing names go off the board. Rashi Rice, 0:56:04.840 --> 0:56:07.840 a speedy wide receiver from SMU, has just selected Eli 0:56:08.000 --> 0:56:10.600 Ricks out of Alabama just went off the board. We 0:56:10.719 --> 0:56:14.680 have reached the Bengals third round pick pick number ninety two. 0:56:15.120 --> 0:56:16.680 Take a look at some of the guys that just went. 0:56:17.040 --> 0:56:18.680 You see some of the receivers come off the board 0:56:18.719 --> 0:56:21.200 in this round. I think are a little small, right 0:56:21.239 --> 0:56:24.040 like Jaden Reid, small but fast, Nathaniel Dell, small but 0:56:24.120 --> 0:56:25.879 fast and get open. I think that's where you're gonna 0:56:25.880 --> 0:56:28.640 see those types come off the board in this class. 0:56:28.680 --> 0:56:30.719 Guys that man, I don't think he'll ever be an 0:56:30.800 --> 0:56:32.480 x orra Z at the NFL level, but in the 0:56:32.520 --> 0:56:34.600 slot I think he can do some damage other players 0:56:34.600 --> 0:56:36.439 coming off the board in this range. He saw Hendon 0:56:36.480 --> 0:56:39.239 Hooker come off the board in this round three. I 0:56:39.239 --> 0:56:41.040 think he is a round three round four player. Despite 0:56:41.080 --> 0:56:42.799 the age. Everyone talks about the age. He was also 0:56:42.840 --> 0:56:44.719 one one of the most absurd college offenses that I 0:56:44.719 --> 0:56:46.480 think I've ever seen. They line up their receivers that 0:56:46.600 --> 0:56:49.040 like far far far along the sideline of vanc can 0:56:49.040 --> 0:56:51.319 see how Hooker adapts the NFL looking at who we 0:56:51.320 --> 0:56:54.920 have available. Carl Brooks, the Bowling Green defensive lineman I know, 0:56:55.040 --> 0:56:57.359 is someone that went to the Senior Bowl and lit 0:56:57.400 --> 0:56:59.719 it on fire. So everyone is high on Carl Brooks 0:56:59.760 --> 0:57:01.040 coming at the Senior Bowl. I don't think a lot 0:57:01.040 --> 0:57:03.640 of people were going into the week. Nick Herbig, the 0:57:03.680 --> 0:57:06.360 edge defender out of Wisconsin, undersized. I don't really know 0:57:06.360 --> 0:57:07.920 where to play him right. I don't think I'll play 0:57:08.000 --> 0:57:09.440 him on the edge, a pollowing play him at off 0:57:09.440 --> 0:57:12.399 ball linebacker. I know we already took Audia auDA out 0:57:12.400 --> 0:57:14.200 of Northwestern. We could have took day On Henley there. 0:57:14.480 --> 0:57:16.240 Sam Laporta is a tight end. I think a lot 0:57:16.280 --> 0:57:18.960 of people like in a deep deep tight end class. However, 0:57:19.440 --> 0:57:21.320 they need a pass catching tight end. Man. I don't 0:57:21.360 --> 0:57:23.040 think you want to bring in the guy similar with 0:57:23.040 --> 0:57:24.439 what they have with Drew Sample and that he's gonna 0:57:24.440 --> 0:57:25.800 come in and block, and they want someone who's gonna 0:57:25.840 --> 0:57:28.840 go get catches for this offense. Sidney Brown one of 0:57:28.840 --> 0:57:30.960 the most Maybe this isn't the best word to us, 0:57:31.000 --> 0:57:33.760 but the most jacked players in this class. Sydney Brown 0:57:33.880 --> 0:57:35.760 is a monster dude, like a workout warrior. So is 0:57:35.800 --> 0:57:37.760 his brother. He also played for Illinois, the running back 0:57:38.360 --> 0:57:42.040 Chase Brown. Now we're looking at Trevias Hodges Tomlinson, who 0:57:42.120 --> 0:57:46.280 I think has potential to be a legitimate, legitimate slot 0:57:46.320 --> 0:57:48.320 cornerback in the NFL. I think he had just under 0:57:48.600 --> 0:57:51.600 thirty inch arms when he measured in here at the combine. 0:57:51.840 --> 0:57:54.880 For me, one of the best football players in this class, 0:57:55.000 --> 0:57:57.360 one of the best slots in this class, after Devin Witherspoon. 0:57:57.400 --> 0:57:59.080 I know we already picked corner, but that's a position 0:57:59.080 --> 0:58:01.880 where I like to really double down. I'm tempted. But 0:58:01.960 --> 0:58:03.959 then I see right here, right now, we just heard, 0:58:04.000 --> 0:58:06.400 we already have heard how the Bengals are looking at 0:58:06.440 --> 0:58:08.480 Joe Mixon. I think there's been some conversation around maybe 0:58:08.480 --> 0:58:11.080 he isn't back next year. Devin A. Chain out of 0:58:11.120 --> 0:58:13.560 Texas A and M is a firework man. This guy 0:58:13.560 --> 0:58:15.040 has some of the best speed in the draft class. 0:58:15.160 --> 0:58:16.479 I think he's going to be one of the best 0:58:16.520 --> 0:58:18.880 like risers out of this class. I'm I'm gonna take 0:58:18.960 --> 0:58:20.480 him now before the hype comes up. I'm taking Devon 0:58:20.520 --> 0:58:22.560 to Chain out of Texas at m here in the 0:58:22.600 --> 0:58:26.760 third d Von A Chain from Texas A and m 0:58:26.880 --> 0:58:29.320 is one of the top running back prospects in this 0:58:29.400 --> 0:58:32.880 draft after rushing for more than eleven hundred yards last year. 0:58:33.160 --> 0:58:35.320 He's not very big at five eight and a half 0:58:35.320 --> 0:58:38.160 and one hundred eighty eight pounds, but he can fly. 0:58:38.960 --> 0:58:42.160 His four three two forty yard dash at the combine 0:58:42.640 --> 0:58:46.000 was the fourth fastest ever for a running back. A 0:58:46.240 --> 0:58:49.200 Chain average six point four yards per carry in his 0:58:49.280 --> 0:58:54.120 three college seasons and had a pair of kick return touchdowns. 0:58:54.680 --> 0:59:01.200 Now let's find out how PF graded those picks. It's 0:59:01.240 --> 0:59:03.640 looking pretty good. What do you think we got a 0:59:03.680 --> 0:59:05.880 B plus for a running back pick in the top 0:59:05.880 --> 0:59:08.280 one hundred from PF. I think that's a pretty big 0:59:08.280 --> 0:59:11.320 win obviously, and then getting Deonte Banks. Are always gonna 0:59:11.320 --> 0:59:13.360 love taking corner rain like that's a premium position in 0:59:13.360 --> 0:59:15.280 the first round. Like I worked at PFF, I know 0:59:15.280 --> 0:59:18.240 how this simulator works taking premium positions early. So getting 0:59:18.360 --> 0:59:20.400 a corner and an edge defender. I think Ada could 0:59:20.400 --> 0:59:22.480 play on the inside, who knows, but getting a corner 0:59:22.480 --> 0:59:24.360 and edge offender, those are always going to be highly graded. 0:59:24.640 --> 0:59:27.080 Seeing the B plus on the running back pick of 0:59:27.160 --> 0:59:28.840 Devin to Chain, I think that's the biggest win of 0:59:28.880 --> 0:59:30.520 this draft man. We picked a running back inside the 0:59:30.560 --> 0:59:32.600 top one hundred, and we're still getting good grades. Overall 0:59:32.640 --> 0:59:34.680 draft grade and a minus. I'll take it. You have 0:59:34.840 --> 0:59:38.080 tied for the highest overall draft grade thus far with 0:59:38.200 --> 0:59:41.640 Dame Brougler from The Athletic. Congratulations on a great three 0:59:41.720 --> 0:59:43.760 round mock draft. I appreciate it. If I'm in the 0:59:43.800 --> 0:59:45.640 same sentence as Dame Brugler of The Athletic, I feel 0:59:45.640 --> 0:59:47.840 pretty good. Austin Gale, always great to speak with you. 0:59:47.880 --> 0:59:50.720 Thanks for the time, of course, thank you. That's going 0:59:50.760 --> 0:59:53.000 to do it for this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast, 0:59:53.040 --> 0:59:56.560 brought to you by Kettering Health, the official healthcare provider 0:59:56.640 --> 1:00:00.480 of the Bengals, by Bengals Picks and Ultimate Bengal. They're 1:00:00.480 --> 1:00:03.360 free to play with tickets and signed merchandise up for 1:00:03.440 --> 1:00:07.920 grabs by pay Corps, the official HR software provider of 1:00:08.000 --> 1:00:12.800 the Bengals, and by Alta Fiber future Proof Fiber Internet 1:00:13.040 --> 1:00:16.560 elevate your connection with Alta Fiber. If you haven't done 1:00:16.560 --> 1:00:19.320 so already, please subscribe to this podcast and if you 1:00:19.360 --> 1:00:21.360 have a minute, give it a rating or share a 1:00:21.400 --> 1:00:26.320 comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Horde, 1:00:26.320 --> 1:00:29.560 and thanks for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast