1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody on Dan Horden. Thanks for downloading the 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth Podcast. The Are You Ready addition as we 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: review the Bengals preseason finale against the Indianapolis Coles. Coming 4 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: up radio replays, locker room comments, and postgame analysis from 5 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: Dave Lapham. Then, in this week's fun Facts Conversation, we'll 6 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: meet the Bengal who is childhood friends with Patrick Mahomes. 7 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: Don't hold it against him. The Bengals Booth Podcast is 8 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:35,559 Speaker 1: brought to you by pay Corps, proud to be the 9 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 1: Bengals official HR software provider, by Ulta Fiber future proof 10 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, and community 11 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: to a new level, and by Kettering Health the best 12 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: care for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official 13 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 1: healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a quick reminder 14 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: that you can have the latest edition of this podcast 15 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing 16 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since 17 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: the body's internal clock. About a week ago, I woke 18 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: up in the middle of the night and wondered, what 19 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: time is it. It feels like it's about three point fifteen. 20 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: So I looked at a clock next to the bed, 21 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: and sure enough, it was three point fifteen. I went 22 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: back to sleep, woke up again and thought, now it 23 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: feels like it's four thirty. So I looked at the clock, 24 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: and this time I was about a minute or two off. 25 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: An hour later, same thing, felt like five point forty two. 26 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: Looked at the clock and it might have been five 27 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: forty three. I thought I had strange magical powers until 28 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: I mentioned this to a couple of friends and they 29 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: said they do the exact same thing, especially if they 30 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: have an early morning flight. So I guess my internal 31 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: clock is not unique, but I still find it to 32 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: be kind of cool. Now let's get to Saturday's preseason finale. 33 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: Neither team played at starters in a game that the 34 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: Colts won forty one to fourteen. I'm not going to 35 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: give it the full highlights treatment this week, but we 36 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: will listen back to a few noteworthy plays. The Bengals 37 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: quarterback for most of the game was the number three 38 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: guy on the depth chart, Desmond Ritter. He's had a 39 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: solid camp and a bid to be Cincinnati's practice squad quarterback. 40 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,239 Speaker 1: Since the team is likely to only have Joe Burrow 41 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 1: and Jake Browning on the active roster. Unfortunately, it was 42 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: not a good afternoon for one of the winningest quarterbacks 43 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,959 Speaker 1: in college football history. Second and five, Ritter stumbles while 44 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: going back to passes throw intercepted. The Colts are running 45 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: it back at the twenty fifteen ten cut back to 46 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: the five and a touchdown for safety Daniel Scott's. The 47 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: former UC star finished eight for twenty for seventy five 48 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: yards with no touchdown passes and that pick six. But 49 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: Zach Taylor says Ritter's overall body of work at training 50 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: camp has been good. 51 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: I was pleased with how he came in, you know, 52 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 2: a day before training camp picked up. The offense, did 53 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,399 Speaker 2: a great job trying to affect his teammates, winning into 54 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 2: the quarterback room. Appreciate all that about him, you know, 55 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: I know today you'd like it to be a little 56 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 2: bit cleaner in some areas, but appreciate his work that 57 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 2: they appreciate his attitude, Appreciate how he fit in as 58 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 2: a Cincinnati Bengal. And again we'll continue to move on 59 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: with him and everybody else. 60 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: While it wasn't a good day for Daz, it could 61 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: not have gone much better for running back Kendall Milton, 62 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: who spent last season on the Bengals practice squad. Bengals 63 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: have it second down and five in Colts territory at 64 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: the forty six ridder waiting for a shotgun snap. Desmond 65 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: Catches sticks it in the belly of Milton. 66 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 3: He's off to the races, eats a safety toward the 67 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 3: far sideline to the tail the five, and he gets 68 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 3: dragged out of bounds near the five by Rodney Thomas. 69 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: A big run for Kendall Milton. 70 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 4: Man. 71 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 5: I'll tell you what offensive line did an unbelievable job 72 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 5: right there oft finishing blocks. And the guy who finished 73 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 5: his block the best was Caleb atm and he did 74 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 5: a job at the left tackle position, and Milton abused 75 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 5: the hole that he formed for him and created off 76 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 5: to the races. He went just not fast enough to 77 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 5: take it to the house. 78 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 1: That was a forty one yard run, and Milton finished 79 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: with seventy two yards on eight carries. He also had 80 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: a thirteen yard run wiped out by a penalty. The 81 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: former Georgia Bulldog, who was the Orange Bowl MVP a 82 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 1: few years ago, made a strong case to be the 83 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: fourth running back, which will probably be a practice squad position. 84 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: I spoke to Milton after the game. Kendall eight carries, 85 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: seventy two yards, including a forty one yard run. How 86 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: did you feel about your performance and how important was 87 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: it for you to put a good game on tape. 88 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 6: You know, I felt pretty good about my performance, you know, 89 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 6: being able to look at the iPads on the sideline, 90 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 6: you know, I was able to see that there was 91 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 6: still some you know, more yards out there. Given I 92 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 6: would hit all the right holes every play, I probably 93 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 6: would have been over one hundred. But you know, all 94 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 6: the credit for that really goes towards a line because 95 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 6: the running back nose out of line can't get too 96 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 6: much done. But you know, especially missing the first game, 97 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 6: I knew that on the back end, you know, I 98 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 6: had to, you know, do something. So I've just been 99 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 6: trying to take as many mental reps as possible during camp, 100 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 6: just making sure that when I have the opportunity that 101 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 6: you know, I'm prepared and you know I'm ready to 102 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 6: where it. There's no type of second thoughts or anything 103 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 6: like that. So you know, I feel like the preparation 104 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 6: kind of just led to this moment. 105 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 1: I think you caught a lot of people's eyes last week. 106 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: You didn't have that many carries, but when you did 107 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 1: carry it, your physical running style really stood out. Is 108 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: that's something you pride yourself on. 109 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 6: It definitely is. I like to say, I don't like 110 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 6: the first man to be the tackler, So you know, 111 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 6: I try to approach every run just you know, as 112 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 6: long as we you know, move the chains, make a 113 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 6: positive game, that's all that matters. 114 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: Describe the forty one yard run and almost taking it 115 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: to the house. 116 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,239 Speaker 6: Oh, I thought I was gone. I saw the end zone. 117 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 6: I just felt a hand on my back, you know. 118 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 6: But like I said, without the line, without the receivers 119 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 6: doing the extra blocking downfield, you know, that's what really 120 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 6: makes those big runs, those open holes, you know what 121 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 6: I mean. So all their credit for that gift to 122 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 6: the five upfront. 123 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 1: Describe what this camp has been like for you in 124 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 1: a deep and talented room. Chase Brown has obviously emerged 125 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: as a great back, so my JP run's got a 126 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: proven track record. Taj Brooks is a talented rookie. What's 127 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 1: the competition been like for you? 128 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 6: You know, when you have guys like Chase who you know, 129 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,359 Speaker 6: played a full starting season. You have guys like somej 130 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 6: that has years and years in the league under their belt. 131 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 6: You just have to be a sponge in that room 132 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 6: and just take as many, you know, as many tricks 133 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 6: and as many tools that you can put in your 134 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 6: in your toolbox. 135 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 4: You just have to apply it. 136 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 6: And I feel like, you know, spending the time with them, 137 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 6: they taught me a lot. They taught me a lot 138 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 6: of different things about the game, you know, especially mentally, 139 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 6: because that's what a lot of the game is. So 140 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 6: it's been a you know, it's been a really good camp. 141 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 6: There's definitely been moments, you know, where you wish you 142 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 6: had more, you wish you know, you wish this, you 143 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 6: wish that. But you know, at the end of the day, 144 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 6: God's gonna push you in the position when it's when 145 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 6: time's right. So that's what I try to live by. 146 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: I don't know what the mix will be between the 147 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: fifty three three man roster in the practice squad, but 148 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: they're certainly going to be at least four running backs 149 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: between the practice squad and the roster. How do you 150 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: feel about the case that you've made to remain part 151 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: of the team. 152 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 6: You know, I feel good about about my performance. But 153 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 6: you know, at the end of the day, all you 154 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 6: could do is control. You would control, So you know, 155 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 6: I'm leaving in God's hands. You know, I put the 156 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 6: work in. I just let the rest play this off out. 157 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: Excellent final game today. Congratulations, thank you, thank you. Getting 158 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: back to that forty one yard run, it gave the 159 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: Bengals first and goal at the five and set up 160 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: their first touchdown. Ridder is going to be under center. 161 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: We'll see if they try a quarterback sneak On fourth 162 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: and less than a yard, Ridder follows Matt Lee straight ahead. Yeah, 163 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: and there's the signal. It's a touchdown for Desmond Ridder 164 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: as he scores on the quarterback sneak behind his center 165 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: Matt Lee. At that point, it was a close game, 166 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: as the Bengals trailed ten to seven, and that was 167 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: still the score with less than two minutes to go 168 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: in the half. But the Colts controlled the rest of 169 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: the game, and this play in the fourth quarter basically 170 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: sums up how things went for Cincinnati. Shotgun snap on 171 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: third and fifteen. Here comes the rush. Bean begins scrambling. 172 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 3: Right, his pass tipped on the air, intercepted Howard Cross 173 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 3: about grabbing the ricochet after was tipped up in the 174 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 3: air by Isaiah Thomas and the Bengals get a takeaway. 175 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 3: They'll have the ball at the twenty seven of Indianapolis. 176 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 5: Howard Cross did he hold onto the football? He lost 177 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 5: the ball? I guess at the end, but he was 178 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 5: already downs. 179 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: He or do the Colts recover his fumble after the interception? 180 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: The offense is still on the. 181 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 5: Field, they're staying around there, and the officials are green, 182 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 5: the officials saying first and ten for Indy. So he 183 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 5: did not. He lost the football before his knee hit 184 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 5: the ground. 185 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: So an interception and a fumble on the same play. 186 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: The Colts had the ball for six minutes and eight 187 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: seconds before that play, got a fresh set of downs 188 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: after recovering the fumble, and kept the ball for another 189 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: four minutes in fifteen seconds. When the Bengals finally got 190 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 1: the ball back with about six minutes left in the game, 191 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: fourth string quarterback Peyton Thorn led them on a thirteen 192 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: play sixty nine yard touchdown drive or just In Grandy 193 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 1: out to the left, Moore and Owen's out to the right, 194 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: shotgun snap back to Thorn hands it off Conley into 195 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: the end zone for a Bengals touchdown with thirteen seconds 196 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: to go. Rookie Quali Conley with the touchdown run that 197 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: made the final score forty one fourteen in favor of 198 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: the Colts. Here's Zach Taylor with an overview of training 199 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: camp and the preseason. 200 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 2: I thought we got all the work done that we 201 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 2: need to get done. I really feel good. I like 202 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 2: where we're at from a health standpoint. I like where 203 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 2: we're at from an install standpoint, our key guys understanding 204 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 2: what we're trying to get, what our ten is. And 205 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 2: so I feel really good as a football team where 206 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:54,599 Speaker 2: we're at right now. And so now we'll get a 207 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: chance next week with a bonus week to get ahead, 208 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 2: start on Cleveland, and then next week really get after it. 209 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: The Bengals have until Tuesday at four o'clock to cut 210 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: the roster down to fifty three players. The guys that 211 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: don't make it can be claimed by other teams. Then 212 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: the following day, the Bengals can name a sixteen man 213 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: practice squad. Coach Taylor says the tape from that final 214 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: preseason game can impact decisions. 215 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, today's meaningful, you know, And so again we'll sess 216 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 2: the tape, we'll have final conversations tomorrow Monday on where 217 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: we want to go. And there's probably been a lot 218 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 2: of moments in my career where a guy has made 219 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 2: a solidifying impression on the final preseason game or maybe 220 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 2: your decisions going the other way. So again, we'll just 221 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 2: watch it all, evaluate it and see if any of 222 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 2: that happened for us. 223 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: A year ago, Muma johng Meta made the team as 224 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: an undrafted free agent after a stellar preseason. Now he's 225 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: looking to stay on the roster or at least the 226 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:55,439 Speaker 1: practice squad and led the team with eleven tackles against Indianapolis. 227 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: Score obviously was not what you guys were hoping for, 228 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: But you had eleven tackles. How did you feel about 229 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: your performance and how important did you feel the game 230 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 1: was for you today? 231 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:06,679 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean there's a lot of guys out there 232 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 7: find for a roster spot, myself included, and for me, 233 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 7: it was just about going out there competing with the guys, 234 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 7: having you know, competing with great technique, great eyes, and 235 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 7: executing my job at a high level. You know, the 236 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 7: satelline is deceiving. I know I had eleven tackles, but 237 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 7: I think there's a lot that I have to grow 238 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 7: from and kind of lost my conditioning towards the end, 239 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 7: and there I was exhausted. So I just got to 240 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 7: work on that. But you know, felt like I got 241 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 7: better today as a player and as a leader, and 242 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 7: that's that's all you can ask for. 243 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 1: There was a stretch where they had a thirteen play drive. 244 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: You guys had an interception and unfortunately fumbled it back 245 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,559 Speaker 1: and then they had another time consuming drive. Is that 246 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: when it was really taxing physically. 247 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,319 Speaker 7: Now, I wasn't. 248 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: Disbelieved when I saw that. 249 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 7: I've never seen that my life. I mean, that was 250 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 7: that was just that's just the game. And you just 251 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 7: you know, you know, it's one of those like you 252 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 7: pray for reps and then boom, guys like now you 253 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 7: see me now you don't so uh when it rains 254 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,439 Speaker 7: a poor So it was a lot of rap f 255 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 7: for it was good. It was really fun out there 256 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 7: and just you know, anytime you'll get an opportunity to 257 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 7: play in the uniform, in the for the shield, you know, 258 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 7: it's a great It's a great day. 259 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 1: So we're visiting with moment. John Matta, the linebacking crew 260 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: has performed very well this training camp. It's a deep 261 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: group and it seems like one guy after another has 262 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 1: had a good camp. Yourself included. 263 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 7: Yeah, you know, I'm just honored to be in a 264 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 7: room like this. From the top down, guys like Logan, 265 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 7: ob Joe Giles, Harris, they kind of set the tempos 266 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 7: as vets and they set the standard. And honestly, credit 267 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 7: to the rookies for rising to that standard. Credit to 268 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 7: coach Hodges who's been coaching his butt off, Credit to 269 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 7: guys like Shaka shown. 270 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: Up and and just improving. 271 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 7: It's been really fun. It's been a fun room to 272 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 7: be a part of. It was a really fun camp 273 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 7: for me. I felt like I grew a lot as 274 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 7: a person, a lot as a player. 275 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: It was. 276 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 7: It is a really deep room. It's and honestly rising ties, lifts, 277 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 7: all boats and iron sharpman's iron. I feel like I 278 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 7: got better just being in a room with people that good. 279 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:07,559 Speaker 5: So there's a real. 280 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: Honor from me. You had a great preseason last year, 281 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: second in the NFL and tackles made the team, played 282 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: in every game, big role on special teams. How stressful 283 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 1: will the next few days be for you. 284 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 7: Uh, you know, at this point it's already written. I've 285 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 7: done what I could control and told myself, hey, I'm 286 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 7: gonna get better every day in camp. I'm gonna, you know, 287 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 7: the playbook, and now I'm improve my technique. I'm gonna 288 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 7: prove my eyes and I'm gonna work on the part 289 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 7: that I can work on. I'm gonna continue to contribute 290 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 7: on special teams and we'll just see what happens after that. 291 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 7: So not much stress, as much of just you know, 292 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 7: letting letting God do what he does, and just a 293 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:46,959 Speaker 7: lot of gratitude to even be here, have this opportunity. 294 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: So season begins two weeks from tomorrow. How eager is 295 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: the defense to show what it can do in games 296 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: that count? 297 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 4: Uh? 298 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 7: Very eager, I think, uh people people are on Twitter 299 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 7: with a lot of opinions, and it'll be interesting to 300 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,599 Speaker 7: really show people what we can do. It's been a 301 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 7: great camp. I'll see what the guys can do and 302 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 7: so I'm excited for. 303 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: That at the moment, I appreciate your time, best of luck, 304 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: Thank you, appreciation. John Metta is an easy guy to 305 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 1: root for and a tough name to spell. The Bengals 306 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Core, Proud 307 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta 308 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: Fiber future Proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, 309 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 310 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 311 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now time for 312 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: the radio guys recap, no sugarcoating it. Final score is 313 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: disappointing forty one fourteen. The starters didn't play. I'm not 314 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: going to overreact, but it's one of those things where 315 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: the players always talk about you are what you put 316 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: on tape, and unfortunately the second and third string guys 317 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: did not put very much good tape out there for 318 00:14:59,000 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: others to see. 319 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 5: I think they're very disappointed, Dan, I know I would 320 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,479 Speaker 5: be if I'm a rookie player and getting an opportunity 321 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 5: in that third preseason game to show my best, to 322 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 5: show what I got going against whoever the Colts put 323 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 5: out there. It's my opportunity to show that I belong 324 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 5: in the National Football League and I can be a 325 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 5: player in the National Football League, and you should want 326 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 5: to work with me and develop me into a player 327 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 5: in the National Football League. You know, my grass going up. 328 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 5: I'm getting better every week. You know, I haven't plateaued 329 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 5: or I'm not falling off a cliff like you don't 330 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 5: want to have happened. And for a lot of those 331 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 5: young guys, the performance they put on tape didn't equate 332 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 5: to that. I mean, I just did not play very well. 333 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 5: I don't think it was for lack of effort or 334 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 5: you know, lack of want to. I think they probably 335 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 5: maybe want to do a little bit more than they 336 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 5: actually performed. And that's an obvious statement. I mean, they 337 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 5: just they weren't where they were supposed to be when 338 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 5: they were supposed to be. They're doing what they're supposed 339 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 5: to do. And when you know that happens in the 340 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 5: National Football League, you can be taking advantage of a 341 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 5: big time In some instance, his guys were. 342 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: I was hoping that Desmond Ritter would have a great 343 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: game lock up his status as the number three quarterback 344 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: on this roster. I get the sense that they're really 345 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: happy with what he's done in training camp. I don't 346 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: think eight for twenty for seventy five yards and a 347 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: pick six is really going to count that much against them, 348 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: But it would have been nice for him to go 349 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: out there getting to play quite a bit and really perform. Well. 350 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think he could have slammed the door on 351 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 5: any question about it, and so now you know, maybe 352 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 5: the door's like, really, do you think? I'm with you? 353 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 5: I think he should be a Cincinnati Bengals With the 354 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 5: Cincinnati Bengals, I think that it's something that he would 355 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 5: he has probably aspired to be for a while. I 356 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 5: think if there's a team in the National Football League 357 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 5: that he would want to be a part of, Cincinnati 358 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 5: would be right up there. In terms of being able 359 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 5: to play in front of people that he knows, family, friends, 360 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,919 Speaker 5: you know, that's always big, particularly to a young player. 361 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 5: To be able to have that kind of support system, 362 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 5: I think is a big factor. I think he comes 363 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 5: from a good family. I know he's a great kid. 364 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 5: I know you know a lot about him, and I 365 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 5: know you're extremely high on him as a person. So 366 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 5: that's good enough for me. If somebody, if Dan Horde 367 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 5: says somebody is the real deal and legit, I'm all in, 368 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 5: I'm right with you. So yeah, hopefully he has done 369 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 5: enough to make the football team because I think that 370 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 5: guys respect him. I think he's earned and generated some 371 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 5: respect already, and it's impossible not to like the guy. 372 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 5: I mean, all he does is go out and do 373 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:43,439 Speaker 5: what he's supposed to do, when he's supposed to do it, 374 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 5: how he's supposed to do it. He's one of those 375 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 5: great guys that from a personality standpoint and the way 376 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 5: he carries himself, it would be a phenomenal teammate. 377 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: I think if anybody really helped himself in the game today, 378 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 1: it would be running back Kendall Milton. I think that 379 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: Kendall Milton and Gary Brightwell were probably running neck and 380 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: neck to be the number four running back on the roster. 381 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: Gary gives you a little more kick return, so that 382 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 1: helps him a little more in the special teams area. 383 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: But Kendall Milton looked terrific running the ball. 384 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 5: He did Dan. I mean, it looks like the best 385 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 5: running back on the field and it's including everybody. And 386 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 5: I think he also does a good job as a receiver. 387 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 5: Runs good routes, can make violent cuts, get separation, cast 388 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 5: the football, secure it, put it away, get yards after catch, 389 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 5: sticks his nose in there and blitz pick up. Not 390 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 5: the least a bit bashful of shy about that kind 391 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 5: of contact. So this guy, I mean, I think he's 392 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 5: a weapon. He's a tool short yard his goal line. 393 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,680 Speaker 5: That's a guy that has a nose for getting north 394 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 5: and south and finding where he needs to get to. 395 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 5: I could see him having a role in that alone. 396 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 5: Not to say the others can't and the others won't, 397 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 5: but I think I think Milton makes the football team. 398 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 5: I agree with you. 399 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:08,160 Speaker 1: Dejon Anthony exited with what appeared to be a sore hamstring. 400 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 1: He was holding the back of his right leg when 401 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,479 Speaker 1: he walked toward the locker room. Safety depth was already 402 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: a bit of an issue now Gino Stone started practicing 403 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: again this week, so that's good. I think he'll be 404 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: fine for the Cleveland game. But if Dejon Anthony is out, 405 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: then PJ. Jewles probably steps into one of the spots. 406 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: Is one of the primary backup safeties right along with 407 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 1: Tyson Anderson. 408 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 5: Yeah, I agree with you. I think those two guys 409 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 5: are I think you've hit right on two guys that 410 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 5: may in the early stages of the season, particularly in 411 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 5: the opener, they have a bigger role than they thought 412 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 5: they might have, you know, and so it's up to 413 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 5: everybody involved to get them ready themselves most importantly, and coaches, 414 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 5: head coach, position, coach, organizationally, everybody you know, get get 415 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 5: behind him and you know, kind of boy, you know, 416 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,919 Speaker 5: lift him up a little bit so he feels like, 417 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 5: you know, people trust him, respect him, think he can 418 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 5: do a job, and kind of ease his mind where 419 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,919 Speaker 5: he can put forth the type of forms you're going 420 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 5: to need in that opener. So it's going to be 421 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 5: interesting to see, you know, in week one, how offenses 422 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 5: how quickly they adjust to what Al Golden might be doing. 423 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 5: Because Al Golden me runs something out there that he 424 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 5: hasn't shown yet, there's a good ship. I would not 425 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 5: be shocked. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised. He runs 426 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 5: a couple of three things out there package wise that 427 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 5: he hasn't shown yet from a personnel standpoint and a 428 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 5: configuration alignment and all that. So opening a regular season 429 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 5: game could be a totally different dynamic than what we've 430 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 5: seen so far in the preseason. 431 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: Defensively, it's fifteen days away. I'm excited. I'm eager to 432 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: see if the defense looks as good in a regular game. 433 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: With what you were just talking about, with Al Golden 434 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 1: having the full bag of tricks at his disposal. It's 435 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: looked for the most part in practice. 436 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 5: I agree in practice. I mean, you look at this 437 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 5: defense in practice and you say, I don't know about 438 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 5: top ten, but top twelve to top fifteen. I could 439 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 5: see that. I could see this defense putting up those 440 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,959 Speaker 5: kind of numbers and playing to that level where there 441 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 5: are top twelve defense in the National Football League. And 442 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 5: if they play like that, if they show that right 443 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 5: away in the early stages of the NFL season, Ben's 444 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 5: gonna win and run away and hide from everybody. 445 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 4: Man. 446 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 5: I think when the division and the landslide, I don't 447 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:35,680 Speaker 5: think anybody anybody challenges them. 448 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,199 Speaker 1: The Ravens might have something to say about that, but 449 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,439 Speaker 1: I agree with Lapp's premise. If the defense looks as 450 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: good as it did on most days at training camp, 451 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,400 Speaker 1: it should be a great season that puts a rap 452 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: on the Indianapolis game. Now time for this week's fun 453 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 1: fact segment. Nate Brooks is a study in perseverance. He's 454 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: been cut thirteen times by eight different NFL teams, bouncing 455 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: from training camps to practice squads while also playing in 456 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 1: the USFL and the UFL. But the twenty eight year 457 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: old cornerback is still playing and was on the Bengals 458 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 1: practice squad all of last year. Let's get to know 459 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 1: the person under the pads. Time for some fun facts 460 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: with cornerback Nate Brooks from White House, Texas, which is 461 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: the hometown of Patrick Mahomes. You two guys were buddies 462 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 1: growing up. Correct, Yeah, we we were. 463 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 4: We went to school for he was a year older 464 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,160 Speaker 4: than me, so we were in school for about three 465 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 4: years ago. 466 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 1: When you signed with the Bengals prior to last year, 467 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: he tweeted, let's go with a couple of flexing biceps. 468 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: What's it been like for you to see this childhood 469 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: buddy win three Super Bowls and a couple of MVPs. 470 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 4: Uh, It's kind of surreal just seeing where he came from. 471 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 4: We came from the same spot, very low recruited, and 472 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,880 Speaker 4: to see how his career elevated is kind of crazy. 473 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 4: But very proud of them, just like everybody else back home. 474 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 4: Very proud to have known him, played with him, and 475 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 4: then see what he's doing. Now. 476 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: Does Joe Burrow know about this connection? 477 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 4: I don't know. I kind of keep it low key, 478 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 4: so I don't really tell anybody until someone finds out. 479 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: But I don't know. I hope not. I'm ruining a secret. Yeah, 480 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 1: we're doing fun facts with Nate Brooks. Tell me a 481 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 1: little bit about growing up in white House. What was 482 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: your childhood like. 483 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 4: So white Houses in East Texas very I'd say more 484 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 4: country than what people would think. Grew up outside, just 485 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 4: playing sports all around. Small city, so you know everybody, 486 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:52,400 Speaker 4: everybody knows everybody. I would say it's a football town, 487 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 4: but we're more of a baseball, basketball town, you know 488 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 4: what I mean. But we did pack out some of 489 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 4: those games in high school for sure. But it was 490 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 4: a great experience. Like I said, every time I go home, 491 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 4: it's always support from everybody. Everybody's hitting me up on 492 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 4: Instagram and stuff, always showing support. But it's always love 493 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 4: when we go back home. 494 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: After graduating from white House High you went to the 495 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: University of North Texas playing for the Me and Green 496 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: for four years. You had ten interceptions while you were there. 497 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: When did you start thinking that a career in pro 498 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: football was a realistic possibility. 499 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 4: I wouldn't say I was thinking it was realistic, but 500 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 4: my freshman year I had to coach give a pregame speech. 501 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 4: We were playing like some SEC team. They were paying 502 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 4: us to come play, but he gave a pregame speech 503 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 4: that kind of just changed my own mentality. I didn't 504 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 4: play a lick that game at all, but he just 505 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 4: gave me just the chills and what he was saying, 506 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 4: how I could change my life, change my family's life. 507 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 4: And I think from that point on my freshman year, 508 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 4: I was like, I want to go to the NFL. 509 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:55,679 Speaker 4: And then after my sophomore year, I think I had 510 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 4: a great season. I was actually trying to come out 511 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 4: my junior year and then ended up battling some injuries 512 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:02,640 Speaker 4: my junior year and had to stay my senior year. 513 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 4: But it ended up perfectly. 514 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: Honestly. It must have been a powerful speech. Yeah, it was. 515 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 4: It was coach Perry Carter. I think he's coaching in 516 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,360 Speaker 4: the league. Actually he actually coached fig in college two 517 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 4: so yeah, great man. I mean, he played in the league, 518 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 4: he was All American at his college, and just he 519 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 4: poured into us that pregame speech. And I mean, I'll 520 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 4: never forget that. 521 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: We're visiting with Nate Brooks. You went to your first 522 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 1: NFL training camp with the Cardinals in twenty nineteen. Then 523 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: you spent time on the Patriots practice squad that year, 524 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:39,880 Speaker 1: and then in December of your rookie year, Miami snatched 525 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: you off the Patriots practice squad and you started less 526 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,400 Speaker 1: than a week later. How big were the Butterflies? 527 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 4: Uh? I don't think the butterflies really hit until maybe 528 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 4: pre game. So they brought me in and they were like, oh, yeah, 529 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 4: we're just gonna give you maybe twenty snaps this game, 530 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 4: just to get your feet wet, and then next week 531 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 4: we'll throw you in there. But pregame, coach Chuck, who's 532 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 4: actually Coach Burks, he came to be pregame tap me 533 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 4: and was like, oh, yeah, you're starting, And that's when 534 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 4: stuff kind of kind of got a little surreal. I 535 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:13,439 Speaker 4: was like, Okay, now I'm a little nervous now going 536 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:15,680 Speaker 4: against Eli. I think it was Eli's last home game 537 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:19,680 Speaker 4: in New York. Yeah, but I was definitely a legitary 538 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 4: and it kind of showed a little bit in a play, 539 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 4: but we calmed down those next two games. 540 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 1: So You've had a long connection with Coach Burks. 541 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 4: Coach Burks is a great man on and off the field, 542 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 4: somebody I could come to with anything. Football wise or 543 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 4: anything off the field wise, just sit down and have 544 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 4: fellowship and talk about life. So he's a great leader 545 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 4: of men, somebody I respect very well and I'm thankful 546 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 4: to be here with him. 547 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: We're trying to with Nate Brooks. He played in three 548 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,439 Speaker 1: games for the Dolphins your rookie year and then in 549 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 1: a game for Baltimore the following year, and that game 550 00:26:57,600 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: was here. It was in Cincinnati final game of the 551 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 1: regular season. It was a lopsided Baltimore win, unfortunately. But 552 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,679 Speaker 1: does anything stand out about that experience of playing here 553 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: back in twenty twenty. 554 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 4: I remember being here. I also remember it was the 555 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 4: COVID year, so there weren't many fans. So last year 556 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:18,879 Speaker 4: when I actually got to walk out into the stadium 557 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,400 Speaker 4: like first home game and actually experience I was like, Wow, 558 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 4: I've never I guess I've never played here before. It 559 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 4: felt completely different. But yeah, just being on that field again, 560 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 4: it kind of feels comfortable. I've played here. I played 561 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 4: very well here when I played with Baltimore, but yeah, 562 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 4: it feels comfortable here. 563 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 1: You've been with a few different NFL teams since on 564 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,520 Speaker 1: practice squads, including the Bengals last year, but you also 565 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: played in the USFL with Birmingham in twenty twenty three, 566 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: in the UFL with Michigan in twenty twenty four. That 567 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: Birmingham team won the championship. It's not the super Bowl, 568 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,360 Speaker 1: but it's still a big deal. What did that experience 569 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: mean to you? 570 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,399 Speaker 4: Just where I was in my career, where I was 571 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,679 Speaker 4: in my my journey, Uh, it meant a lot. I 572 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 4: actually got to play some what I what I consider 573 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 4: meaningful ball, meaningful snaps, got to be a part of 574 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 4: game planning every week, and then just becoming like that 575 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,199 Speaker 4: team number one corner. It meant a lot to me 576 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,360 Speaker 4: and it's kind of built up my confidence to get 577 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 4: me back to where I am today back in the league. 578 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,159 Speaker 4: So being with that that Birmingham team I made, I 579 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,120 Speaker 4: made a lot of a lot of friends, a lot 580 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 4: of lifelong friends I still talk to today. I still connect 581 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,679 Speaker 4: with the coaches that were there. But yeah, that that 582 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 4: championship meant a lot to me and meant a lot 583 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 4: to my my pops and my family. 584 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: By NFL accounting purposes, you're listed as having one year experience, 585 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: but you've been playing pro football now for seven years. 586 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: What's been the key to your perseverance. 587 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 4: I think I've been doubted all my life. So I 588 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 4: just wake up every day and say, I know, I 589 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 4: know what I'm supposed to be doing. I feel like 590 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 4: I'm supposed to be an NFL player, not feel like 591 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 4: I know I'm supposed to be a NFL player. So 592 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 4: just waking up with that confidence every day, looks myself 593 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 4: in the mirror, knowing I can't play at this level, 594 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 4: that I can do this, I can play with anybody 595 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 4: at this level. That's been the main thing. I mean. 596 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 4: I've had some low points, obviously when teams aren't calling 597 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 4: and I had to go play Spring League. But just 598 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 4: waking up and telling myself that every morning has been 599 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 4: the key to my persevering. 600 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: You were with this team all of last year, practicing 601 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: every day. You're one of the guys, you're part of 602 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,440 Speaker 1: the team. What have you enjoyed about being a Cincinnati 603 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: Bengal Ah. 604 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 4: It's a lot of love here within the locker room, 605 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 4: within the city. Wherever you go in the city, somebody's 606 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 4: gonna hood ay you, you know what I mean. And 607 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 4: then the locker room, it's just a band of brothers. 608 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 4: My dB group, we're pretty close knit. We joke around. 609 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: Laugh. 610 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 4: They made a joke recently that I as soon as 611 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 4: I joined the team, I just came right in and 612 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 4: acted like I've been here before for years. So they 613 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 4: made it very welcoming for me to be here. And 614 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 4: even Coach Taylor and all the other coaches just very welcoming. 615 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 4: They come to me, you know, fill you with confidence. 616 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 4: They ask you questions. I can pick their brands and 617 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 4: stuff like that. Even with Jamar and t and m 618 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 4: I'm asking them what they see why they do this, 619 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 4: And that is just very welcoming, and I mean it's 620 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 4: it's helped me developing the last year for sure. 621 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: All Right, a few wild card topics to wrap things 622 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 1: up with Bengals cornerback Nate Brooks. Has anybody ever told 623 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,479 Speaker 1: you that you look a bit like Tyler Boyd? 624 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 4: I've gotten a couple of looking lives. I think that's 625 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 4: the first Tyler Boyd for sure. I've gotten a couple 626 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 4: of look a likes. 627 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: Who do other people say? 628 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 4: Last week somebody said I looked like Jamar. I've gotten 629 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 4: like one of the Wayne's brothers. I've got I've gotten 630 00:30:59,280 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 4: a couple of look. 631 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 1: At all right, So I've thrown Tyler a boyd into 632 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 1: the mix. You're about to become a dad for the 633 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: second time, correct. 634 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 4: Yes, sir, Yes, sir. I think we're doing September around 635 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 4: the second game another boy. So we're just adding to 636 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:15,479 Speaker 4: the roster right now. 637 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 1: Based on your Instagram profile, you're involved in a clothing line. 638 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 4: Is that the case? 639 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 1: Yeah? 640 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 4: I just did some modeling for one of the guys 641 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,040 Speaker 4: I used to train with, Shout out Colin and Nameless. 642 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 5: Yeah. 643 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 4: I did a little model a little random modeling gig 644 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 4: and just trying to help him get some exposure with 645 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 4: his brand. I mean, it's a great brands brand, Nameless, 646 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 4: Nameless Gallery. So just trying to help him out with 647 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 4: whatever I can. 648 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: All right, So if Nameless sells a bunch of stuff, 649 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: model Nate Brooks is going to get some of the credit. 650 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 1: Aside from football, Do you have any talents? 651 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 4: I'm alright at golf. I did one dabble there, but 652 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 4: all I do is football and be a dad and husband. 653 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 1: That's the most important job of all right, right, all right, 654 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:08,240 Speaker 1: final fun fact for Nate Brooks. This one's kind of deep. 655 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: If you could meet anyone in history, living or deceased, 656 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 1: who would that person be. 657 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 4: I think because this is on the top of my brain. 658 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 4: We talked about this in the cafeteria Michael Jackson. Just 659 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 4: because the stories I've heard of people feigning when they 660 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 4: see him, or he just standing there and people falling out. 661 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 4: I think I would like to meet him. 662 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 1: It's amazing, isn't it. When his music comes on, you 663 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 1: still instantaneously like get into the groove. His talent was unbelievable, timeless, timeless. 664 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 4: I mean I wasn't. That wasn't even my era growing up, 665 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 4: but we grew up playing the little Wei game that 666 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 4: Michael Jackson experience. And then of course all of my 667 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 4: aunts said, mom, they loved him. So I'd like to 668 00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 4: meet Michael Jackson. 669 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 1: I'd say that, all right, you're off the hot seat. 670 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 1: That's the fluck going forward. Appreciate your time, thank you, 671 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 1: thank you. That's going to do it for this episode 672 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 1: of the Bengals Booth podcast, brought to you by pay Core, 673 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:10,840 Speaker 1: Proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider by 674 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: Alta Fiber future Proof Fiber Internet designed elevate your home, 675 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,760 Speaker 1: business and community to a new level, and by kettering 676 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health 677 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 1: is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. If you 678 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 1: haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and 679 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 1: if you have a minute, give it a rating or 680 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 1: share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. 681 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: I'm Dan Horn, and thanks for listening to the Bengals 682 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 1: Booth podcast