WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Golden Opportunity 0:00:03.720 --> 0:00:06.439 Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:12.640 The Bengals Booth Podcast. The It's a Golden Opportunity addition 0:00:13.119 --> 0:00:15.560 as the Bengals look to reach five hundred after an 0:00:15.600 --> 0:00:19.279 zero three start as they host the Philadelphia Eagles on 0:00:19.400 --> 0:00:22.800 a white Bengal Day in the Jungle. Coming up, I'll 0:00:22.800 --> 0:00:26.360 talk to CBS sideline reporter Evan Washburn about the matchup 0:00:26.440 --> 0:00:28.800 and what it's like to be on the field for 0:00:28.840 --> 0:00:31.760 a game had sold out pay Corpse Stadium. My one 0:00:31.760 --> 0:00:35.360 on one player interview is with Charlie Jones, who explains 0:00:35.400 --> 0:00:38.199 how the heck he managed to stay in bounds on 0:00:38.200 --> 0:00:41.360 his kick return touchdown last week. And in our nother 0:00:41.440 --> 0:00:43.680 faux segment, we get an in depth look at the 0:00:43.720 --> 0:00:47.800 Eagles from their Hall of Fame radio voice Meryl Reese. 0:00:47.960 --> 0:00:50.600 The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, 0:00:50.720 --> 0:00:54.680 Proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by 0:00:54.760 --> 0:00:59.080 Alta Fiber, future proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, 0:00:59.080 --> 0:01:02.440 and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 0:01:02.760 --> 0:01:06.080 the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 0:01:06.120 --> 0:01:09.520 the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a 0:01:09.560 --> 0:01:12.160 quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 0:01:12.200 --> 0:01:15.360 this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer 0:01:15.720 --> 0:01:19.959 by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 0:01:19.959 --> 0:01:24.600 thing since Unfinished Painting. That's the name of a new 0:01:24.600 --> 0:01:28.480 book written by longtime Cincinnati sportswriter Bill Cook about the 0:01:28.520 --> 0:01:32.960 greatest what if story in Bengals history, quarterback Greg Cook. 0:01:33.520 --> 0:01:36.479 Mike Brown says that Cook was the most talented quarterback 0:01:36.520 --> 0:01:39.399 in franchise history and that the Bengals would have been 0:01:39.440 --> 0:01:42.240 the dominant team of the seventies if not for the 0:01:42.360 --> 0:01:47.000 shoulder injury that essentially ended Greg's career after one season. 0:01:47.440 --> 0:01:50.600 It was an injury that would have been easily surgically 0:01:50.680 --> 0:01:55.000 repaired if it happened now. The book is an unflinching 0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:59.200 portrait of a transcendent talent who lived a difficult life. 0:01:59.520 --> 0:02:01.560 If you're like me and have always wanted to learn 0:02:01.560 --> 0:02:05.240 more about him, just search for Unfinished Painting Greg Cook 0:02:05.600 --> 0:02:09.160 and you'll see how to buy the book. Now, let's 0:02:09.160 --> 0:02:12.000 get to my first guest. The last time the Bengals 0:02:12.040 --> 0:02:15.000 faced the Eagles was Joe Burrow's rookie year, and I 0:02:15.040 --> 0:02:17.800 don't think he's ever been hit harder or is often. 0:02:18.360 --> 0:02:22.920 Burrow was sacked eight times and hit eighteen times, but 0:02:23.520 --> 0:02:26.680 he kept getting up like sliced alone and Rocky one, 0:02:27.040 --> 0:02:30.240 which was appropriate since the game was in Philly. Burrow 0:02:30.280 --> 0:02:32.720 threw for three hundred and twelve yards with a passer 0:02:32.800 --> 0:02:35.240 rating of one oh five, and the game ended in 0:02:35.280 --> 0:02:38.720 a twenty three all tie. Both teams were building at 0:02:38.760 --> 0:02:42.040 the time, and each has been to a Super Bowl since. 0:02:42.560 --> 0:02:45.080 For more on Sunday's matchup, I caught up with a 0:02:45.120 --> 0:02:50.160 member of this week's TV crew. Our guest this week 0:02:50.280 --> 0:02:53.160 is Evan Washburn will be on the sideline for CBS 0:02:53.240 --> 0:02:57.359 this Sunday. Avenue visited training camp to check out the Bengals. 0:02:57.400 --> 0:03:01.400 Then your crew covered the season zero or against the Patriots. 0:03:01.480 --> 0:03:04.160 Were you surprised when the Bengals got off to a 0:03:04.160 --> 0:03:04.760 slow start. 0:03:05.600 --> 0:03:07.359 Surprise would be putting it lightly. Dan. 0:03:07.440 --> 0:03:10.120 I was shocked, and not just because of what I 0:03:10.160 --> 0:03:12.880 saw in training camp during a one day visit, but 0:03:13.080 --> 0:03:16.000 just what this team has been over the last few 0:03:16.080 --> 0:03:18.960 years and what they're bringing back. And I think it 0:03:19.000 --> 0:03:22.840 only further cements the idea that well, the results matter 0:03:23.040 --> 0:03:26.040 in Week one for your record and what you're trying 0:03:26.040 --> 0:03:30.600 to do when the calendar turns to January. It's not 0:03:30.720 --> 0:03:33.000 at all what a team is, and it is the 0:03:33.080 --> 0:03:37.119 greatest sort of outlier on the schedule. But the reality 0:03:37.240 --> 0:03:41.280 is this team was shocking us in week one and 0:03:41.560 --> 0:03:43.680 now seems to have found themselves, as you well know. 0:03:45.160 --> 0:03:47.280 They have right of the ship. They've won three out 0:03:47.280 --> 0:03:49.880 of four. It could be very easily a four game 0:03:49.880 --> 0:03:52.040 winning streak if they didn't botch the hold of a 0:03:52.080 --> 0:03:55.960 game winning field goal against Baltimore. What's impressed you in 0:03:56.040 --> 0:03:58.720 recent weeks? What question marks do you still have about 0:03:58.720 --> 0:03:59.280 the Bengals. 0:04:00.480 --> 0:04:02.760 I think that they've found a way, as we like 0:04:02.800 --> 0:04:06.400 to say, win ugly where it hasn't. While Joe Burrow 0:04:06.480 --> 0:04:09.600 is putting up big time numbers and Jamar Chase is 0:04:09.640 --> 0:04:13.520 on a career pace, it hasn't been winning games in 0:04:13.600 --> 0:04:18.560 the thirties and the last two weeks. The defense finding 0:04:18.640 --> 0:04:22.880 some consistency and finding themselves now that they're healthy, especially upfront, 0:04:23.279 --> 0:04:26.360 has created some balance to this team. I think, well, 0:04:26.400 --> 0:04:29.400 the numbers don't jump off the page. 0:04:29.080 --> 0:04:31.960 In the run game. I like the duo of Brown 0:04:32.040 --> 0:04:36.159 and Moss, so just how well rounded this group has 0:04:36.279 --> 0:04:39.640 found themselves and finding a way to win games, to me, 0:04:39.760 --> 0:04:41.839 is a true testament when you're not at your best 0:04:42.320 --> 0:04:43.440 of a great team. 0:04:43.920 --> 0:04:46.800 Your CBS crew with Iron Eagle and Charles Davis has 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:49.560 been assigned to quite a few Bengals games in recent years. 0:04:50.360 --> 0:04:52.359 What do you enjoy when you get assigned to a 0:04:52.360 --> 0:04:53.200 Cincinnati game? 0:04:54.520 --> 0:04:58.960 Well, I think it starts with the organization and for 0:04:59.000 --> 0:05:02.240 our purposes, specifically the head coach, the quarterback, and the 0:05:02.320 --> 0:05:04.640 number of the key players that we meet with. Our 0:05:04.680 --> 0:05:08.120 production meetings are the lifeblood of what we do. 0:05:08.360 --> 0:05:10.760 And if you can have that time be. 0:05:10.920 --> 0:05:15.800 Valuable, be enjoyable, and gain context on what's really going 0:05:15.800 --> 0:05:18.279 on with the team going into a game, you just 0:05:18.279 --> 0:05:21.840 feel like you're going to be so much more prepared 0:05:21.880 --> 0:05:25.600 to entertain and inform the fans, because that's the eventual goal. 0:05:25.680 --> 0:05:26.120 As you know. 0:05:26.200 --> 0:05:28.800 I mean, you have your audience that's listening to you 0:05:28.920 --> 0:05:31.680 on game days and they're the most passionate. We get 0:05:31.720 --> 0:05:34.640 a bit more of the broader fan base, but I 0:05:34.680 --> 0:05:37.799 still feel like we're servicing this weekend the Eagles fans 0:05:38.160 --> 0:05:41.800 and the Bengals fans. And look, we prepare Monday through 0:05:41.839 --> 0:05:45.760 Thursday and into Friday, but in those meetings is when 0:05:45.800 --> 0:05:47.640 we can kind of take things to the next level. 0:05:47.640 --> 0:05:51.200 And I always feel confident going to a Cincinnati game. 0:05:51.240 --> 0:05:53.680 We get a sign that spending time with Zach Taylor, 0:05:53.720 --> 0:05:58.000 with Joe Burrow, and whether it's Jamar t Sam Trey Logan, 0:05:59.440 --> 0:06:03.680 Mike Hilton, some of the kind of cornerstones that they're 0:06:03.680 --> 0:06:06.400 going to embrace the process. So I think that's one 0:06:06.440 --> 0:06:08.640 of the things I enjoy most. And then just to 0:06:08.680 --> 0:06:11.240 see what's happened on game days in Sincy. I mean, 0:06:11.400 --> 0:06:14.640 I've been doing this. This is my eleventh season for CBS, 0:06:14.640 --> 0:06:18.440 and then before that I worked in production for TV 0:06:18.520 --> 0:06:21.120 station in Baltimore, so we would come up to Cincinnati 0:06:21.520 --> 0:06:24.040 for games when the Ravens were playing. And I've seen 0:06:24.160 --> 0:06:28.360 this place at its zenith in big time playoff moments 0:06:28.640 --> 0:06:31.160 and big time regular season games, and then at some 0:06:31.240 --> 0:06:34.640 of its downtimes, and when this place is juiced and rocking, 0:06:35.680 --> 0:06:37.160 it's as good a game day as there is. 0:06:37.839 --> 0:06:39.760 Well, I certainly think that's going to be the case. 0:06:39.920 --> 0:06:42.840 On Sunday, it's the white Bengal game, so the Bengals 0:06:42.880 --> 0:06:45.200 will be wearing their white helmets and they're all white 0:06:45.279 --> 0:06:48.120 unis describe what it is like to be on the 0:06:48.160 --> 0:06:51.680 field for a game at pay Course Stadium when it 0:06:51.800 --> 0:06:52.320 is rocking. 0:06:53.120 --> 0:06:56.080 It's one of the stadiums and look, I get why 0:06:56.120 --> 0:06:59.400 the new ones are the shiny new toy, and some 0:06:59.440 --> 0:07:04.120 of them are incredible feats of architecture more than anything, 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:07.520 but I think that becomes more the story or the experience. 0:07:07.800 --> 0:07:10.520 Whereas the stadiums that were built in the mid to 0:07:10.600 --> 0:07:14.520 late nineties early two thousands, the star of the show 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:18.040 is the field, and they design them where the fans 0:07:18.080 --> 0:07:21.800 are right on top of the field. So I enjoy 0:07:21.920 --> 0:07:24.680 places like pay Corps on a big time game day 0:07:25.080 --> 0:07:27.960 because when I'm making my laps, and for me, it's 0:07:28.000 --> 0:07:30.840 a constant movement, I'm flipping sides to the field to 0:07:30.880 --> 0:07:33.400 make sure I'm not missing anything. When you can feel 0:07:33.400 --> 0:07:36.880 that energy, whether it's verbally at you at times because 0:07:36.920 --> 0:07:39.080 they want to feel a part of the action or 0:07:39.200 --> 0:07:41.760 just them cheering on their team. When you can feel 0:07:41.800 --> 0:07:44.480 it as you walk, that's when you know you're in 0:07:44.520 --> 0:07:46.800 a juiced environment, and you definitely get that in Sinsey. 0:07:48.200 --> 0:07:51.160 Kevin Washburnie is our guest. I imagine when you came 0:07:51.160 --> 0:07:53.640 to visit during training camp, the number one thing you 0:07:53.680 --> 0:07:56.440 wanted to check out was the status of Joe Burrow's 0:07:56.480 --> 0:07:59.040 right wrist. What do you think of the way he's 0:07:59.080 --> 0:08:01.080 played with a pass rating of one ten to this 0:08:01.160 --> 0:08:02.320 point of the season. 0:08:03.200 --> 0:08:05.600 It might be some of his best work, and that 0:08:05.640 --> 0:08:08.840 can be backed up with some of the statistical evidence. 0:08:09.080 --> 0:08:12.720 Look the record, we as a crew don't view that 0:08:12.800 --> 0:08:15.160 as something that's reflected on the quarterback. I don't like 0:08:15.240 --> 0:08:18.640 this idea of putting wins and losses on quarterbacks. So 0:08:18.640 --> 0:08:21.000 if you watch one of our games, when we put 0:08:21.080 --> 0:08:23.880 up Joe Burrow's stats, it won't have his wins and 0:08:23.960 --> 0:08:27.360 losses because it's a team sport. Yes, he's touching the 0:08:27.360 --> 0:08:30.720 ball on every Playoffensively, he has the biggest impact at 0:08:30.720 --> 0:08:34.560 times on winning and losing, but that's not necessarily all 0:08:34.600 --> 0:08:36.960 on him, and I think this season reflects that his 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:42.440 ability to maintain stability at the position deal with some 0:08:42.520 --> 0:08:45.560 of the things they've dealt with offensively, whether it's Tea's injury, 0:08:46.040 --> 0:08:49.400 Jamar's contract situation leading all the way up until Week 0:08:49.480 --> 0:08:52.920 one and now what looks like some offensive line fluctuation 0:08:53.080 --> 0:08:56.000 due to injury. He's been like this, and I think 0:08:56.360 --> 0:09:00.560 the best quarterbacks in our league, whether it's Mahomes, Burrow Jackson, 0:09:01.240 --> 0:09:06.079 they can not just survive when situations are less than ideal, 0:09:06.520 --> 0:09:09.679 they can elevate others. And that's to me, the separator 0:09:09.760 --> 0:09:13.600 from being a top five quarterback to a mid to 0:09:13.600 --> 0:09:16.840 top ten to top fifteen. So I think Joe's done 0:09:16.840 --> 0:09:19.320 that this year and he's got a big test on 0:09:19.679 --> 0:09:24.160 Sunday because the Eagles defense is similar to Cincinnati, kind 0:09:24.160 --> 0:09:27.600 of found themselves in recent weeks and there's no margin 0:09:27.640 --> 0:09:31.880 freer for the Bengals. You guys know this that they 0:09:31.960 --> 0:09:34.720 can't stumble anymore, and to get back to five hundred 0:09:35.480 --> 0:09:39.320 as we creep towards November would be huge, if not critical. 0:09:40.440 --> 0:09:43.440 Let's look a little more specifically at the matchup, beginning 0:09:43.440 --> 0:09:47.920 with the Bengals defense against Philadelphia's offense. Saquon Barkley's averaging 0:09:47.960 --> 0:09:50.959 nearly one hundred and ten rushing yards per game. What 0:09:51.160 --> 0:09:54.440 must the Bengals defense do to hold Philly in check? 0:09:54.880 --> 0:09:57.400 Well, I think it starts up front, and it's why 0:09:57.520 --> 0:10:01.760 it's exciting to see that Cincinnati has gotten healthy across 0:10:01.760 --> 0:10:04.400 that defensive line, so they now have depth to kind 0:10:04.400 --> 0:10:06.959 of come at one of the best offensive lines in 0:10:07.000 --> 0:10:10.520 football in ways. Now they're down Jordan Malatta with that 0:10:10.800 --> 0:10:14.600 hamstring injury, but Saquon was still effective as we saw 0:10:14.720 --> 0:10:17.520 last week against the Giants, So stopping the run is 0:10:17.520 --> 0:10:19.520 going to be critical. That starts up front, winning the 0:10:19.559 --> 0:10:22.120 line of scrimmage as best they can, and then Logan 0:10:22.160 --> 0:10:25.760 Wilson and Tremaine Pratt still be in those tackling machines. 0:10:25.920 --> 0:10:28.240 And look, this is where you. 0:10:28.200 --> 0:10:31.320 Can get into the Minuti ship scheme. When I watch Philly, 0:10:31.480 --> 0:10:34.400 it's not overly complex in terms of the run game. 0:10:34.760 --> 0:10:36.960 It's just that they feel like they could beat you 0:10:37.080 --> 0:10:38.880 up up front, so that that's kind of one of 0:10:38.920 --> 0:10:41.720 those things we'll see early Dan, like who's winning that 0:10:41.760 --> 0:10:44.880 line of scrimmage in terms of success in the run 0:10:44.960 --> 0:10:45.720 or stopping them run. 0:10:47.160 --> 0:10:49.320 On the other side of the ball, Philly is seventh 0:10:49.360 --> 0:10:53.320 in points allowed. They sacked the Giants eight times last week. 0:10:53.760 --> 0:10:57.040 What must Berwin company do to be successful this Sunday? 0:10:58.160 --> 0:10:59.880 I think getting the ball out quick is going to 0:10:59.880 --> 0:11:02.160 be key, and you mentioned those. 0:11:02.280 --> 0:11:03.360 Those sack totals. 0:11:03.720 --> 0:11:06.800 Similarly, the Giants were down there left tackle and Andrew 0:11:06.840 --> 0:11:10.160 Thomas and now it looks like Orlando Brown junior statuses 0:11:10.200 --> 0:11:14.079 in question. So Cody Ford, a very capable backup, former 0:11:14.120 --> 0:11:16.280 starter in this league, will step in as you know, 0:11:17.120 --> 0:11:20.080 but he's gonna have to deal with Josh sweat Huff, 0:11:20.600 --> 0:11:24.520 Brandon Graham. But it's an interesting Bengals defense because it's 0:11:24.520 --> 0:11:25.400 one in transition. 0:11:25.679 --> 0:11:29.000 They still have some of the old heads. 0:11:28.720 --> 0:11:33.600 Whether it's Darius Lay, Graham Blankenship, but they've really infused 0:11:33.600 --> 0:11:34.199 it with youth. 0:11:34.280 --> 0:11:37.120 A lot of those former Georgia Bulldogs are starting. 0:11:36.800 --> 0:11:41.880 To really find their their momentum and so this will 0:11:41.920 --> 0:11:44.760 be a test for them. I'm really excited to see 0:11:45.000 --> 0:11:47.199 you got Slay matching up. Is it going to be 0:11:47.320 --> 0:11:50.720 Chase or Tea? Then you've got the rookie and Quinnon 0:11:50.840 --> 0:11:55.000 Mitchell is Who's he? How's that gonna go? Because Chase is, 0:11:55.080 --> 0:11:57.719 as you've been able to describe, I'm sure over the 0:11:57.800 --> 0:12:01.800 last few weeks on the air, is primed as we've 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:04.600 seen them. So as much as it is about that 0:12:04.640 --> 0:12:07.840 line of scrimmage in this game on both sides, I 0:12:07.880 --> 0:12:10.120 am excited to see some of those matchups too. 0:12:10.160 --> 0:12:10.959 And then you throw in. 0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:14.520 Like a rookie at Cooper dejene as well with what 0:12:14.559 --> 0:12:16.679 he does in the nickel so it's a fun it's 0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:17.520 a fun matchup. 0:12:17.559 --> 0:12:17.719 Man. 0:12:18.000 --> 0:12:21.040 This one, as you and I talked about before we 0:12:21.080 --> 0:12:26.920 started taping the show, is that. Man, this was a 0:12:26.920 --> 0:12:29.000 four to twenty five game for a reason a few 0:12:29.000 --> 0:12:29.480 weeks ago. 0:12:30.520 --> 0:12:33.640 Final thing for Evan Washburn. If they win, the Bengals 0:12:33.640 --> 0:12:36.120 are back to five hundred after an zero to three start. 0:12:36.200 --> 0:12:38.080 How significant would that be? 0:12:38.920 --> 0:12:43.040 Look, I don't know from a statistical standpoint, and I'm 0:12:43.080 --> 0:12:45.760 sure we'll have plenty of graphics that will line up. Hey, 0:12:45.760 --> 0:12:48.400 if you're four and four as you head into we 0:12:48.679 --> 0:12:51.160 gate or nine of the season or ten, and this 0:12:51.240 --> 0:12:52.120 is what that means. 0:12:52.200 --> 0:12:55.319 This many teams are going to the playoffs, YadA, YadA, YadA. 0:12:55.559 --> 0:12:59.680 I think it's a mental hurdle to get over and 0:12:59.760 --> 0:13:02.839 to not put the pass behind you because you're still 0:13:02.840 --> 0:13:06.120 sitting at four and four heading in to week nine. 0:13:06.800 --> 0:13:09.640 But I think it will allow them to then start 0:13:09.679 --> 0:13:13.120 sort of making progress. I can't speak for how those 0:13:13.160 --> 0:13:16.040 athletes and coaches feel right now, but if I were 0:13:16.080 --> 0:13:18.040 to put myself in that position, as someone who at 0:13:18.120 --> 0:13:21.600 least played sports at a relatively high level, until you 0:13:21.679 --> 0:13:25.240 get back to neutral, you feel like you're constantly trying 0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:28.440 to grab for water or air, I should say, And 0:13:29.160 --> 0:13:32.440 so I think that would do something from a mental 0:13:32.480 --> 0:13:34.040 headspace to say, Okay. 0:13:33.840 --> 0:13:36.679 We did what we did out of the gate. We 0:13:36.800 --> 0:13:37.640 have to live with that. 0:13:37.880 --> 0:13:41.040 But now we're back to square one and we're playing 0:13:41.080 --> 0:13:43.960 our best ball and we haven't hit November yet, and 0:13:44.000 --> 0:13:46.040 that's a good place for a team as talented and 0:13:46.080 --> 0:13:47.520 as experienced as this one. 0:13:47.920 --> 0:13:50.200 I know Bengals fans look forward to it when I 0:13:50.360 --> 0:13:52.960 and Charles and you are part of the broadcast team 0:13:53.000 --> 0:13:55.800 for a Bengals game. Best of luck this week, and 0:13:55.840 --> 0:13:57.719 thanks so much for the time you too. 0:13:57.800 --> 0:14:00.360 Dan always enjoy it mentioned. 0:14:00.400 --> 0:14:02.440 The game was originally scheduled to kick off at four 0:14:02.480 --> 0:14:05.000 point fifteen, but with the first two picks in this 0:14:05.120 --> 0:14:08.520 year's draft, Caleb Williams and Jaden Daniels, off to great 0:14:08.600 --> 0:14:12.320 starts and their big market teams doing well, the NFL 0:14:12.360 --> 0:14:14.960 decided to move the Chicago Washington game to the late 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:18.319 afternoon window and make the Bengals Eagles game a one 0:14:18.360 --> 0:14:21.760 o'clock start. It's a move that might not work out 0:14:21.800 --> 0:14:25.200 as intended. Jaden Daniels is dealing with a rib injury, 0:14:25.480 --> 0:14:28.280 and his status for Sunday's game is up in the air. 0:14:28.760 --> 0:14:31.240 The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, 0:14:31.280 --> 0:14:35.000 proud to be the Bengals Official HR software provider, by 0:14:35.120 --> 0:14:39.400 Alta Fiber future proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, 0:14:39.400 --> 0:14:42.640 and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 0:14:42.920 --> 0:14:45.560 the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 0:14:45.600 --> 0:14:49.680 the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Charlie Jones was 0:14:49.760 --> 0:14:53.080 named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after 0:14:53.120 --> 0:14:56.240 returning the opening kickoff one hundred yards for a touchdown 0:14:56.560 --> 0:14:59.640 in last week's victory in Cleveland. Before we get to 0:14:59.680 --> 0:15:03.040 my com conversation with Chuck Sizzle, here's how that touchdown 0:15:03.200 --> 0:15:06.760 sounded on the radio. Here comes Hopkins, he swings the 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:11.160 leg and thlack. We are underway. Charlie Jones catches right 0:15:11.200 --> 0:15:13.720 at the goal line and runs it out far. 0:15:13.720 --> 0:15:16.640 Side Numeros to the twenty twenty five thirty. Only the 0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:17.640 kicker can tackle. 0:15:18.000 --> 0:15:18.880 He failed to do it. 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:20.320 Charlie Jones down the. 0:15:20.320 --> 0:15:27.560 Sideline twenty ten hot time from the path on touchdown. 0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:32.280 Charlie Jones, who had a putt return touchdowns a rookie 0:15:32.320 --> 0:15:37.560 last year against Baltimore, takes it one hundred yards for 0:15:37.680 --> 0:15:39.280 a game opening score. 0:15:39.960 --> 0:15:43.280 Charlie, the balance that you displayed to stay in bounds 0:15:43.280 --> 0:15:45.680 at the end of your kick return touchdown last week 0:15:45.960 --> 0:15:49.920 was unbelievable. Are you thinking about trying to stay in 0:15:50.040 --> 0:15:52.400 bounds toward the tail end of that play in real 0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:55.080 time or is that strictly pure instinct. 0:15:55.520 --> 0:15:57.000 It's probably a little bit of both. 0:15:57.160 --> 0:15:59.520 I mean, I knew as I was getting closer to 0:15:59.560 --> 0:16:03.040 the end zone on that the space was getting pretty 0:16:03.080 --> 0:16:06.280 limited over there, and I knew that I didn't want 0:16:06.320 --> 0:16:09.360 to get pushed out and come up short on this, 0:16:09.560 --> 0:16:11.880 so I knew I was going to have to do 0:16:11.960 --> 0:16:14.320 something and try to stay in bounce. So I think 0:16:14.320 --> 0:16:15.280 maybe a little bit of both. 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:18.840 I'm going to ask you to not be humble. When 0:16:18.880 --> 0:16:21.280 you saw the replay, Were you amazed that you pulled 0:16:21.280 --> 0:16:22.360 it off? I? 0:16:22.560 --> 0:16:24.440 Yeah, I mean I think. 0:16:24.640 --> 0:16:29.760 I mean, it was just like, obviously, the blocking was great, 0:16:29.880 --> 0:16:33.600 and the beginning of the play was you know, exactly 0:16:33.680 --> 0:16:38.320 how we drew it up. I remember towards the end 0:16:38.320 --> 0:16:40.360 of it though, I was like, man, I gotta do 0:16:40.400 --> 0:16:43.040 something to finish this playoff. 0:16:43.120 --> 0:16:45.400 So but no, Washington back was pretty cool. 0:16:46.040 --> 0:16:48.920 Well, as you said, it was so well blocked and 0:16:49.000 --> 0:16:52.400 well designed. I'm not sure that I've ever seen one 0:16:52.480 --> 0:16:56.080 that looked that clean. Was that unusual for you, because 0:16:56.080 --> 0:16:59.120 I know you've had a bunch of touchdown returns pro, college, 0:16:59.200 --> 0:16:59.960 high school, et cetera. 0:17:00.680 --> 0:17:03.880 Yeah, I mean on those, it's like it's it's almost 0:17:03.920 --> 0:17:06.639 so open that it's like, am I missing something? Like 0:17:06.800 --> 0:17:10.600 someone about to you know, come across the top and 0:17:10.840 --> 0:17:13.919 you know, but no, I mean it literally couldn't have 0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:17.160 been more open. And you know that started with Drew 0:17:17.280 --> 0:17:19.560 on his block and everyone else doing their job. 0:17:19.960 --> 0:17:22.960 We're visiting the Charlie Jones. Your touchdown return was the 0:17:23.000 --> 0:17:25.880 third in the NFL this season. Yours was the longest 0:17:25.880 --> 0:17:29.280 one so far. Do you think teams are figuring out 0:17:29.359 --> 0:17:32.000 how to attack the new kickoff format? 0:17:32.520 --> 0:17:33.080 I think so. 0:17:33.240 --> 0:17:38.320 I think, you know, it's still so new, and there's 0:17:38.359 --> 0:17:41.760 still like this period of time where we're trying to 0:17:41.760 --> 0:17:43.840 figure out what's gonna work and what's not gonna work. 0:17:44.760 --> 0:17:47.119 But I think, you know, as we go on, teams 0:17:47.160 --> 0:17:50.800 are gonna start really picking up on things and finding 0:17:50.840 --> 0:17:53.800 ways to really, you know, take advantage of this new rule. 0:17:54.320 --> 0:17:57.440 You've been returning punts all year. Now you are returning 0:17:57.520 --> 0:17:59.920 punts and kickoffs. Do you have a preference? 0:18:01.080 --> 0:18:05.240 M that's a good question. I think I don't know. 0:18:05.359 --> 0:18:08.560 I mean, I like them both. I think they're different 0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:13.440 in a couple of ways. I think you know before 0:18:13.560 --> 0:18:19.280 I liked returning punts more. You know something about it. 0:18:20.720 --> 0:18:23.080 But you know I do like returning kicks, and I 0:18:23.119 --> 0:18:28.360 think with this new rule, it's it's in favor I think. 0:18:28.240 --> 0:18:31.359 Of the returner if if you get a chance. 0:18:32.440 --> 0:18:34.480 So we'll see, I mean, we'll see all keeps playing out, 0:18:34.480 --> 0:18:36.720 which one Which one I'm to end up liking more. 0:18:37.080 --> 0:18:39.680 We're chatting with Charlie Jones. I thought you were having 0:18:39.720 --> 0:18:43.280 an exceptional training camp as a pass receiver, and then 0:18:43.440 --> 0:18:45.840 just before the first preseason game you suffered a pretty 0:18:45.880 --> 0:18:48.560 significant knee injury and missed a few weeks. How did 0:18:48.600 --> 0:18:51.240 that impact the early portion of your season? 0:18:51.960 --> 0:18:57.040 Yeah, I mean, I don't really know. I think obviously 0:18:57.160 --> 0:18:58.679 in preseason it affected it. 0:18:59.119 --> 0:19:02.040 I wasn't able to be out there, you know, that 0:19:02.119 --> 0:19:04.720 first week, and then the second week it was kind 0:19:04.720 --> 0:19:06.640 of iffy if I was going to be out there 0:19:06.680 --> 0:19:09.280 and ended up not being so didn't really get to 0:19:09.359 --> 0:19:13.639 get a snap till the till the third week, and 0:19:13.960 --> 0:19:16.360 I think in that sense maybe it affected a little bit. 0:19:17.840 --> 0:19:19.719 But you know, once I was back out there, I 0:19:19.760 --> 0:19:22.840 felt great and I was practicing. I think I only 0:19:22.880 --> 0:19:26.399 missed like a week of practice, so it's not that 0:19:26.440 --> 0:19:28.879 I missed very much, and once I came back, I 0:19:28.920 --> 0:19:29.400 felt great. 0:19:29.480 --> 0:19:30.479 So I don't know. 0:19:31.320 --> 0:19:33.400 The Bengals have been playing a lot of two tight 0:19:33.480 --> 0:19:35.520 end sets this year. They're right up there among the 0:19:35.640 --> 0:19:39.120 NFL leaders, which obviously means one fewer wide receiver has 0:19:39.160 --> 0:19:41.040 been on the field. And when there are two wide 0:19:41.080 --> 0:19:43.359 receivers on the field, it's almost always going to be 0:19:43.680 --> 0:19:46.800 Jamar and t for obvious reasons. Do the rest of 0:19:46.840 --> 0:19:50.440 the guys find themselves reminding themselves to stay patient because 0:19:50.480 --> 0:19:52.680 sooner or later, an opportunity is bound to come along. 0:19:52.920 --> 0:19:53.920 Yeah, definitely. 0:19:53.920 --> 0:19:58.800 I mean I think that's what's special about our room. 0:19:58.880 --> 0:20:03.560 We have guys that you know, understand how this league works, 0:20:03.600 --> 0:20:06.879 and you know sometimes you know it might take a 0:20:06.920 --> 0:20:10.879 little bit longer. I mean me specifically, you know, even 0:20:11.119 --> 0:20:12.960 even in the return game, I see that you're just 0:20:13.080 --> 0:20:15.919 patience is a big thing in this league, and just 0:20:15.960 --> 0:20:19.560 continue to come in and work and prepare like you know, 0:20:19.640 --> 0:20:21.520 you're gonna get that chance, and when you do, you 0:20:21.560 --> 0:20:23.439 take advantage of it, and you know it helps your 0:20:23.480 --> 0:20:24.560 situation moving forward. 0:20:25.000 --> 0:20:27.000 Do you feel like you're a better wide receiver than 0:20:27.040 --> 0:20:28.520 you were as a rookie? 0:20:29.240 --> 0:20:30.480 Yeah, I think it's night and day. 0:20:31.000 --> 0:20:35.760 I think, you know, I'm I'm feeling, you know, the 0:20:35.800 --> 0:20:39.720 best I've I've felt in a long time as a receiver. 0:20:39.880 --> 0:20:42.480 And uh, you know, like I said, like I just said, 0:20:43.080 --> 0:20:45.320 you know that that's just something that I'm gonna continue 0:20:45.400 --> 0:20:49.520 to work on and continue to show up every week 0:20:49.600 --> 0:20:51.920 and and and work and and just you know, have 0:20:52.280 --> 0:20:52.920 that patience. 0:20:53.240 --> 0:20:55.960 We're chatting with Charlie Jones. After a slow start, the 0:20:56.000 --> 0:20:58.520