WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Can't We Just Talk 0:00:03.640 --> 0:00:06.560 Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.600 --> 0:00:12.280 the Bengals Booth Podcast. Uh can't we just talk? Edition 0:00:12.560 --> 0:00:14.600 as I sit down for a series of one on 0:00:14.600 --> 0:00:18.959 one conversations with five different players, including two guys that 0:00:19.000 --> 0:00:22.680 I think Bengals fans are especially eager to hear from, 0:00:22.800 --> 0:00:27.479 Joseph Osai and Jackson Carmen. The Bengals Booth Podcast is 0:00:27.520 --> 0:00:31.840 presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download Ultimate Bengals ahead of the 0:00:31.880 --> 0:00:35.280 twenty twenty two season. It's free to play next level 0:00:35.320 --> 0:00:39.760 fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. Get it now on 0:00:39.800 --> 0:00:42.600 the App Store and Google Play. And here's a quick 0:00:42.600 --> 0:00:44.959 reminder that you can have the latest edition of this 0:00:45.040 --> 0:00:48.800 podcast delivered rite to your phone, tablet, or computer by 0:00:48.840 --> 0:00:53.040 subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing 0:00:53.200 --> 0:00:58.480 since Barry So. I've become a little bit obsessed lately 0:00:58.560 --> 0:01:02.160 with the TV show Bear on HBO. It's in its 0:01:02.200 --> 0:01:04.959 third season and if you've never watched it, it's a 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:09.120 half hour comedy slash drama about a hit man who 0:01:09.200 --> 0:01:13.680 joins an acting class. Former Saturday Night Live cast member 0:01:13.680 --> 0:01:17.120 Bill Hayter co created the show and plays Barry, and 0:01:17.240 --> 0:01:22.880 the cast includes Henry Winkler aka the Fons. If you're 0:01:22.920 --> 0:01:26.400 old enough to remember happy days in any case, there's 0:01:26.480 --> 0:01:30.120 nothing quite like it on TV. It's very funny, but 0:01:30.280 --> 0:01:34.959 also dark and twisted. So check out Barry on HBO 0:01:35.319 --> 0:01:39.840 or for a small fee on the various streaming services. Now, 0:01:40.319 --> 0:01:44.600 let's get to football. Remember last year's preseason opener. The 0:01:44.680 --> 0:01:48.200 Bengals faced the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 0:01:48.320 --> 0:01:51.960 who surprised many of us by starting Tom Brady at 0:01:52.040 --> 0:01:56.000 quarterback in the preseason opener. Here's how the Bucks opening 0:01:56.080 --> 0:02:00.480 series ended. Rookies Joseph Osai and Cam Sample are both 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:02.720 in to rush Tom Brady on third down and ten. 0:02:02.840 --> 0:02:05.560 Giovanni Bernhardt pack in and running back lines up to 0:02:05.600 --> 0:02:08.240 the right of Brady, catches a high shotgun snap, looking 0:02:08.560 --> 0:02:13.960 scrambling and sacked. Brady brought down at the thirteen yard line, 0:02:14.040 --> 0:02:16.400 and as the Bengals sack them on third and ten, 0:02:16.880 --> 0:02:20.120 that sack went to rookie Joseph Osi, who had seven 0:02:20.240 --> 0:02:24.679 quarterback pressures on only twenty three pass rushing snaps. According 0:02:24.680 --> 0:02:27.440 to Pro Football Focus. He was the star of a 0:02:27.520 --> 0:02:31.160 nineteen to fourteen win and I spoke to Osi right 0:02:31.200 --> 0:02:34.320 after the game. We're in the locker room with rookie 0:02:34.400 --> 0:02:38.120 Joseph Osai. Part of the Bengals excellent performance in the 0:02:38.160 --> 0:02:41.680 preseason opener and in your case, a sack of Tom 0:02:41.760 --> 0:02:45.560 Brady on the Patriots opening drive. Look how big of 0:02:45.560 --> 0:02:47.640 a throw was that? It was awesome. You know, I 0:02:47.680 --> 0:02:51.320 grew up watching him play before Robin Harkhouse. He was 0:02:51.360 --> 0:02:54.920 lined up against me, So it was definitely dope seeing 0:02:54.960 --> 0:02:58.080 those guys and living a dream. But I just know 0:02:58.120 --> 0:03:01.480 we got to get back to work, so it'll be dope. 0:03:01.360 --> 0:03:04.600 We got great guys on that line all over. You know, 0:03:04.680 --> 0:03:06.880 for him to get moved, it was it was a 0:03:06.880 --> 0:03:08.480 team effort for him to get moved to me. I 0:03:08.560 --> 0:03:10.240 just happen to be in the right place at the 0:03:10.280 --> 0:03:12.840 right time, so you know, it was a great effort. 0:03:12.919 --> 0:03:14.280 I can't wait to see how he'd grow as a 0:03:14.280 --> 0:03:17.160 team throughout the season. You're being modest. I admire that 0:03:17.440 --> 0:03:20.640 technically a combined sack between you and Trey Hendrickson, But 0:03:20.800 --> 0:03:23.919 was it surreal to look down and see the goat 0:03:24.120 --> 0:03:27.400 after your first preseason sack? It was definitely dope, man, 0:03:27.440 --> 0:03:30.400 it was awesome. I looked before the place started. I 0:03:30.440 --> 0:03:32.080 looked back and I saw him and I was like, mine, 0:03:32.360 --> 0:03:35.720 that's that's Tom Brady. So it was definitely dope. But 0:03:35.840 --> 0:03:38.520 um yeah, i'd be just hopefully there's many more dose 0:03:38.600 --> 0:03:41.680 to come, you know. But as it turned out, there 0:03:41.720 --> 0:03:44.600 weren't more to come. Oh side did that interview with 0:03:44.680 --> 0:03:48.040 his right wrist wrapped up. It turned out to be broken. 0:03:48.480 --> 0:03:52.080 In the days that followed, Joseph experienced pain in his 0:03:52.240 --> 0:03:55.640 left knee that turned out to be a meniscus injury 0:03:55.960 --> 0:04:00.119 that required surgery. Joseph did not play again as a rookie, 0:04:00.320 --> 0:04:02.800 but the Bengals are hoping that he can have a 0:04:02.800 --> 0:04:07.119 big impact this year, particularly it's a pass rusher. So far, 0:04:07.200 --> 0:04:09.760 in the offseason practices, he's been working off to the 0:04:09.800 --> 0:04:13.640 side with several teammates who are recovering from injuries. I 0:04:13.720 --> 0:04:17.160 spoke to the twenty two year old this week. Joseph, 0:04:17.240 --> 0:04:19.039 Right now, we see a working out on the rehab 0:04:19.120 --> 0:04:23.880 field with Nick Cosgray. How are you doing physically physically 0:04:25.000 --> 0:04:27.919 little body wise, doing great upple body wise. We're getting 0:04:27.920 --> 0:04:30.640 there gradually, you know what I mean. I'll let you 0:04:31.720 --> 0:04:34.120 ask Nick how my progress is. But we're getting a 0:04:34.160 --> 0:04:36.520 lot of strength back, and that's one of the things 0:04:36.520 --> 0:04:38.960 we wanted to do. So a lot of progress for sure. 0:04:39.320 --> 0:04:43.440 So knee okay, risks still coming along, risk still coming along, knees, 0:04:43.520 --> 0:04:47.080 knees ready to go. What was last year like for you? 0:04:47.160 --> 0:04:49.120 I would see you come in here from time to time, 0:04:49.160 --> 0:04:53.279 going through rehab, meeting with the medical staff. Was it difficult? Yeah, 0:04:53.279 --> 0:04:56.440 it definitely was, especially I think I've said this plenty 0:04:56.480 --> 0:05:00.560 times that being the first football season I've ever missed 0:05:01.000 --> 0:05:03.560 since I started playing, it was definitely tough. But like 0:05:03.680 --> 0:05:06.680 I said, I had great people around me to keep 0:05:06.680 --> 0:05:09.080 my head up. You know. It Definitely it was tough, 0:05:09.800 --> 0:05:12.280 even with the people around me at a certain point. 0:05:12.400 --> 0:05:14.680 But you know, having those people around me and then 0:05:14.720 --> 0:05:16.719 seeing the success of the team, you know, you always 0:05:16.720 --> 0:05:19.000 want to I could see that some of these guys brothers, 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:21.760 so um, you always want your brothers to win. You 0:05:21.800 --> 0:05:24.080 always want your your your family, your people to win. 0:05:24.160 --> 0:05:26.479 So seeing them succeed and have a lot of success 0:05:26.560 --> 0:05:28.680 definitely kept my spirit up for sure. Where were you 0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:30.719 for the Super Bowl? Super Bowl? I was right on 0:05:30.720 --> 0:05:33.360 the sideline, Yes, sir, it was it was. It was, 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:35.200 it was, it was. It was a bit of sweet 0:05:35.200 --> 0:05:36.919 for sure. It was awesome seeing them ball out and 0:05:36.960 --> 0:05:40.120 then for us to fall short, um and see a 0:05:40.160 --> 0:05:42.640 lot of those guys shed tears. It definitely hurt, you know, 0:05:42.680 --> 0:05:44.400 and it made me want to get back even faster 0:05:44.520 --> 0:05:46.840 to try and help and and see what I could 0:05:46.880 --> 0:05:48.760 have done to to you know, give a lot of 0:05:48.920 --> 0:05:50.440 put a smile on a lot of those guys faces. 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:52.679 So uh, it was. It was a bit of sweet 0:05:52.680 --> 0:05:55.520 for sure. We're visiting the Joseph as I. I interviewed 0:05:55.560 --> 0:05:57.880 you in the locker room after the Tampa Bay preseason 0:05:57.920 --> 0:06:00.280 game where you made that that was me. He made 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:04.840 a great splash. And I mean I obviously had no 0:06:05.000 --> 0:06:07.440 idea that you were hurt. That was the last game 0:06:07.480 --> 0:06:11.400 he would play. What about you? Yeah, it was. I 0:06:11.440 --> 0:06:15.599 had no idea about the knee, but um, the rest 0:06:15.720 --> 0:06:17.920 we at first they thought it was a broken fracture 0:06:18.000 --> 0:06:21.200 skate forward bone when I went in during the fourth 0:06:21.320 --> 0:06:23.359 or the third quarter, I don't remember. I think it 0:06:23.440 --> 0:06:26.839 was third. So um, they would say, and I would 0:06:26.880 --> 0:06:28.960 miss three four games. And I was even crying about 0:06:28.960 --> 0:06:30.520 that because I didn't want to miss any games. I 0:06:30.520 --> 0:06:33.400 had never missed any games ever. So they come to 0:06:33.440 --> 0:06:35.960 find out, you know, with the with the X rays 0:06:36.000 --> 0:06:38.160 and you know, mriyes and stuff, that I was gonna 0:06:38.160 --> 0:06:39.640 be out for the whole season. So it was definitely 0:06:39.800 --> 0:06:42.360 a gut punch. But you know, I'm glad I did 0:06:42.720 --> 0:06:45.000 get to play in that game and enjoy the moment, 0:06:45.440 --> 0:06:48.279 you know, getting getting even though it was preseason, getting 0:06:48.520 --> 0:06:50.479 getting to be out there with those boys and play 0:06:50.640 --> 0:06:54.800 was truly enjoyed and zac break. Yes, yes, hopefully we 0:06:54.839 --> 0:06:56.559 can do it again this year. Man, that'd be dope. 0:06:57.279 --> 0:07:01.680 Did you gain anything last year just in terms of, 0:07:01.760 --> 0:07:05.400 you know, being around the team, watching the Bengals defense 0:07:05.920 --> 0:07:10.640 and the way that it operates, Sir, I learned what 0:07:10.760 --> 0:07:13.000 it takes to win. I saw how hard these guys 0:07:13.000 --> 0:07:16.120 worked and how focused they were, how locked and they 0:07:16.120 --> 0:07:19.160 were in meetings, how detailed they were even in walk 0:07:19.160 --> 0:07:22.679 croughs and on a practice field, you know, how detailed 0:07:22.720 --> 0:07:29.000 Coach Hobby was, Coach Lou and it laid the blueprint 0:07:29.040 --> 0:07:31.760 for me. So now coming in almost as a rookie, 0:07:32.080 --> 0:07:34.040 you know what I mean. I'm not a rookie, thank god, 0:07:34.120 --> 0:07:36.640 but almost as I have that one game under my 0:07:36.640 --> 0:07:39.320 belt to kind of help my confidence. But coming in 0:07:39.400 --> 0:07:41.440 as a rookie, I kind of have that blueprint. I 0:07:41.480 --> 0:07:44.000 got to witness it firsthand, so I know where it takes. 0:07:44.000 --> 0:07:46.520 So if i'm if I'm ever not at that standard, 0:07:47.000 --> 0:07:49.240 I can look back and say it's not gonna cut it. 0:07:49.280 --> 0:07:50.760 We're not gonna get back to where we need to 0:07:50.760 --> 0:07:54.120 be if you're not at this standard. So that's what 0:07:54.160 --> 0:07:57.320 I gained from. Sure, your debut was so impressive. I 0:07:57.360 --> 0:07:59.360 think a lot of us feel like, man, we got 0:07:59.440 --> 0:08:02.000 a taste of what this guy is capable of. It 0:08:02.360 --> 0:08:05.480 was it similar for you? Um? For me, to be honest, 0:08:05.480 --> 0:08:07.600 it was just I was just out there playing, you know, 0:08:07.640 --> 0:08:10.760 I was out there having fun and it was It 0:08:10.800 --> 0:08:13.480 wasn't until afterwards that I realized. I looked at the 0:08:13.520 --> 0:08:15.640 stat stat line and I saw what I did, and 0:08:15.680 --> 0:08:18.320 I remember after I generaline had worn off a little bit, 0:08:18.320 --> 0:08:20.800 I remember what happened. So UM, for me, it was 0:08:20.840 --> 0:08:24.080 just playing. UM moving forward. That's when I'm gonna try 0:08:24.080 --> 0:08:27.200 to keep it. Like. I know, there's all these expectations 0:08:27.200 --> 0:08:29.960 and that could create pressure, but UM, at the end 0:08:29.960 --> 0:08:31.920 of the day, I'm trying to win, so all that 0:08:32.080 --> 0:08:34.880 stats and the pressure shouldn't bother me. I won't let 0:08:34.880 --> 0:08:36.920 it bother me. You know, that's my goal going in, 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:38.959 but um, I just have to keep working in it 0:08:39.000 --> 0:08:41.480 to come. What are you looking forward to the most 0:08:41.679 --> 0:08:46.679 when you're back out there just playing, just playing? You know, UM, 0:08:46.880 --> 0:08:48.800 when you when you play this game for so long 0:08:49.080 --> 0:08:52.520 as I had, UM, you almost forget that it's actually 0:08:52.559 --> 0:08:54.760 a blessing to be out there on the field. You 0:08:54.800 --> 0:08:57.319 forget that people get hurt left and right every day, 0:08:57.559 --> 0:09:00.720 you know what I mean, and people careers get cut short. 0:09:00.760 --> 0:09:04.959 So I'm just gonna be blessed and super thankful, thankful 0:09:05.000 --> 0:09:08.240 to God, Thankful the opportunity to just be out there. Now, 0:09:08.600 --> 0:09:10.400 that's the most important thing. I'm looking forward to, just 0:09:10.480 --> 0:09:14.360 being able to be out there with the boys playing, competing, fighting, sweating, 0:09:14.800 --> 0:09:18.000 you know what I mean. And that's really it. All 0:09:18.040 --> 0:09:20.120 the other things would come. I feel like, do you 0:09:20.160 --> 0:09:22.120 have a target in terms of being back because at 0:09:22.120 --> 0:09:24.079 the beginning of training camp, beginning of the season, what 0:09:24.640 --> 0:09:27.640 is your nick? Nick has said the beginning of training camp, 0:09:27.720 --> 0:09:29.560 and that's what we're aiming for. And I think right 0:09:29.559 --> 0:09:32.160 now we're all chat well, we look forward to it. 0:09:32.200 --> 0:09:35.320 Hopefully that is the case. Great to chat again. I 0:09:35.360 --> 0:09:37.800 look forward to doing it after great performances. Again, Sarah, 0:09:37.840 --> 0:09:41.280 thank you so much. I appreciate that Josi was the 0:09:41.280 --> 0:09:44.680 Bengals third round draft pick. Last year. In the second round, 0:09:44.760 --> 0:09:48.839 they selected offensive lineman Jackson Carmen, who started six games 0:09:48.880 --> 0:09:51.559 as a rookie as he made the transition from playing 0:09:51.679 --> 0:09:55.440 left tackle at Clemson to mostly playing right guard in 0:09:55.480 --> 0:09:58.920 the NFL. This year, he's among the leading contenders to 0:09:59.000 --> 0:10:02.040 start at left guard, and he's looking to show offensive 0:10:02.080 --> 0:10:04.880 line coach Frank Pollock that he's ready to live up 0:10:04.920 --> 0:10:09.720 to his massive potential in his second NFL season. Jackson, 0:10:09.720 --> 0:10:12.600 We've heard a lot about year two in the NFL, 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:16.560 particularly for an offensive lineman, being much easier than year one. 0:10:17.040 --> 0:10:19.120 I know we haven't hit training camp for the season yet, 0:10:19.160 --> 0:10:21.240 but in general terms, do you feel like that's going 0:10:21.280 --> 0:10:24.440 to be the case for you? Definitely? I feel like 0:10:24.160 --> 0:10:27.040 I learned a lot from my first year. I'm I'm 0:10:27.080 --> 0:10:29.439 ready to apply everything I'll learned in my second year. 0:10:30.280 --> 0:10:32.599 The left guard job, as far as we know, is 0:10:32.679 --> 0:10:35.839 up for grabs. Is that the target for you? I'm 0:10:35.880 --> 0:10:39.600 just compete as hard as I can every aspect. I'm 0:10:39.600 --> 0:10:43.280 doing whatever my coach is asking me. You'll look good physically. 0:10:43.440 --> 0:10:45.679 How have things like that done for you this offseason? 0:10:45.920 --> 0:10:49.479 Thos are going great. I had really good training this offseason, 0:10:50.080 --> 0:10:53.679 and I feel really good. My body feels good. I 0:10:53.760 --> 0:10:57.240 feel like I'm making a lot of progress, and I'm 0:10:57.280 --> 0:10:59.560 happy I feel this way, you know what I mean, 0:11:00.000 --> 0:11:03.880 Probably that my body's feeling good and functionally all those things, 0:11:04.320 --> 0:11:07.120 or visiting the Jackson Carmen. The Bengals obviously brought in 0:11:07.200 --> 0:11:10.600 some great vets to add to the offensive line. Tell 0:11:10.600 --> 0:11:13.160 me about your interaction with those guys and if you've 0:11:13.200 --> 0:11:16.440 already started learning learning things from being around them. Yeah, 0:11:16.480 --> 0:11:21.360 interacting with Ted and Alex and Leo. It's so funny 0:11:21.360 --> 0:11:24.000 because like I used to watch these guys way before 0:11:24.080 --> 0:11:25.560 I ever, you know what I'm saying, got to this 0:11:25.679 --> 0:11:28.880 level and being able to, like, you know what I'm saying, 0:11:28.920 --> 0:11:32.400 to be teammates and friends and learn like with people 0:11:32.440 --> 0:11:35.800 that like I used to watch Leo in high school, 0:11:35.880 --> 0:11:37.840 you know what I'm saying, And being able to be 0:11:37.960 --> 0:11:41.240 locker room Mexicans super cool for me. So definitely I've 0:11:41.320 --> 0:11:43.520 learning a lot from these guys already. They're great guys. 0:11:44.160 --> 0:11:48.240 Even mentioning those guys, your face lit up. It seems 0:11:48.280 --> 0:11:50.840 like that's something that you look at is a huge 0:11:50.880 --> 0:11:54.520 positive for yourself and for the team. Most definitely huge positive. 0:11:55.120 --> 0:11:57.160 And you know what I'm saying, I'm looking forward to 0:11:57.200 --> 0:11:59.120 see what he's going to be coming into the season. 0:12:00.000 --> 0:12:02.040 How did you feel about your rookie year? How would 0:12:02.040 --> 0:12:05.440 you classify it? I felt like I learned a lot. 0:12:05.600 --> 0:12:07.920 It's a great learning experience. I had a lot of 0:12:07.920 --> 0:12:09.800 fun I had I was able to do, like be 0:12:09.840 --> 0:12:12.240 a part of something I was greater than myself and 0:12:12.280 --> 0:12:13.840 do things that a lot of people can't say they've 0:12:13.840 --> 0:12:16.559 done in their rookie year collectively as a team. So 0:12:17.120 --> 0:12:19.079 I was just really grateful, you know what I mean. 0:12:19.120 --> 0:12:21.560 Bless So I feel about my rookie year. You're coming 0:12:21.559 --> 0:12:24.720 out back surgery going into your first year, you don't 0:12:24.720 --> 0:12:27.080 have to deal with anything like that going into year two. 0:12:27.120 --> 0:12:29.160 Does that make a big difference. I mean, whenever you 0:12:29.200 --> 0:12:31.240 have back surgery, you're always going to have to deal 0:12:31.280 --> 0:12:33.600 with like upkeep and maintenance stuff like that, and something 0:12:33.640 --> 0:12:36.920 that is a part of my regular root team. So 0:12:37.280 --> 0:12:40.760 this team went to the super Bowl exceeded pretty much 0:12:40.800 --> 0:12:46.080 everybody's expectations. What was that experience like for you? It 0:12:46.200 --> 0:12:48.640 was amazing, you know what I mean, to be able 0:12:48.679 --> 0:12:51.240 to be a part of something so like special and 0:12:51.360 --> 0:12:52.840 how because at the beginning of the year no one 0:12:52.880 --> 0:12:55.240 really expected us to do anything, and then for us 0:12:55.280 --> 0:12:58.040 to all, you know what I'm saying, come together do 0:12:58.160 --> 0:13:00.480 what we did, even though we didn't complete the end goals. 0:13:00.480 --> 0:13:03.600 Still it was really amazing. So I'm grateful for all that. 0:13:04.000 --> 0:13:06.160 So locking at some of the offensive line drills today, 0:13:06.240 --> 0:13:09.480 you and Cordell Volson we're doing some stuff together. How 0:13:09.520 --> 0:13:13.040 does that situation or you know, that vibe work for 0:13:13.080 --> 0:13:16.160 you where you're working every day with somebody where it 0:13:16.160 --> 0:13:18.120 looks like you're going to compete, be competing with that 0:13:18.160 --> 0:13:21.800 guy for the job. Yeah, man, I love it. Cordell's 0:13:21.840 --> 0:13:24.840 awesome because we look at him and looks like brown man, bodies, 0:13:24.880 --> 0:13:28.760 cut up, smart shart, all those things, and really nice 0:13:28.800 --> 0:13:31.800 guy too. So I've been really enjoying my time getting 0:13:31.840 --> 0:13:36.679 no Cordell and also likes NFL. Everything you do is competition. 0:13:37.160 --> 0:13:39.000 I'm saying, how early you show up to the building 0:13:39.040 --> 0:13:41.439 as a competition. How how well you're eating on the 0:13:41.480 --> 0:13:44.040 weekends as a competition. So everything we do is competence, 0:13:44.080 --> 0:13:46.160 says is the nature of the game, so just part 0:13:46.200 --> 0:13:48.600 of it could cut you out. Appreciate your time, Appreciate 0:13:48.640 --> 0:13:52.199 you Now. I've said it elsewhere and I will reiterate 0:13:52.200 --> 0:13:54.560 it here that I still have really high hopes for 0:13:54.679 --> 0:13:58.200 Jackson Carmen. He showed me something during training camp last 0:13:58.240 --> 0:14:01.040 year when he did extra work on his own after 0:14:01.160 --> 0:14:04.640 nearly every practice and was usually among the last players 0:14:04.640 --> 0:14:07.320 to leave the field. I'll be eager to watch him 0:14:07.720 --> 0:14:11.520 fourth round pick Cordell Volson, and perhaps others as they 0:14:11.559 --> 0:14:14.240 battle it out for that starting left guard spot in 0:14:14.320 --> 0:14:19.000 training camp. The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals, 0:14:19.000 --> 0:14:22.200 the free to play fantasy football game. This past season, 0:14:22.320 --> 0:14:24.840 Ultimate Bengals awarded a weekly winner during the course of 0:14:24.880 --> 0:14:28.520 the year with tickets, autograph merchandise, and money can't buy 0:14:28.560 --> 0:14:32.280 experiences all up for grabs. Find Ultimate Bengals in the 0:14:32.320 --> 0:14:36.360 app Store and Google Play Up. Next, a visit with 0:14:36.440 --> 0:14:40.640 one of the Bengals' biggest stars, wide receiver t Higgins. 0:14:40.760 --> 0:14:45.520 Burrow now scrambling fires deep down field for Higgins push 0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:48.480 it over as defender catches the ball runs it into 0:14:48.480 --> 0:14:53.040 the end zone. There's no a seventy five yard touchdown. 0:14:53.560 --> 0:14:58.200 Burrow two Higgins as he knocked over jail Raps and 0:14:58.440 --> 0:15:00.920 ran it into the end zone to get the Bengals 0:15:00.960 --> 0:15:04.560 the lead. The six foot four inch receiver wrote one 0:15:04.720 --> 0:15:07.880 K on his mirror prior to last season and reach 0:15:08.000 --> 0:15:11.720 that goal with one ninety one yards during the regular 0:15:11.760 --> 0:15:15.320 season before adding three hundred and nine more in the playoffs. 0:15:15.880 --> 0:15:18.840 T had surgery on his left shoulder after the Super Bowl, 0:15:18.920 --> 0:15:21.840 so he's not practicing right now, but he expects to 0:15:21.840 --> 0:15:25.040 be ready to go for training camp. As I was 0:15:25.080 --> 0:15:27.840 watching practice today, just seeing you standing by some of 0:15:27.840 --> 0:15:30.600 the other wide receivers and dvs and so forth, you 0:15:30.720 --> 0:15:35.000 look taller to me. Are you still growing? Oh? That's 0:15:35.000 --> 0:15:38.680 crazy because everybody, every time I'm away for a few 0:15:39.000 --> 0:15:41.320 and I come back, everybody say that I looked taller. 0:15:41.800 --> 0:15:44.160 I don't know what it is, or what I'm wearing 0:15:44.280 --> 0:15:47.200 on my feet or I don't know. Everybody says I'm 0:15:47.480 --> 0:15:50.480 taller soon. Well, you did enter the NFL at a 0:15:50.480 --> 0:15:52.480 really young age, so it's not out of the question 0:15:52.520 --> 0:15:55.360 that you're still growing. Very true, Very true. It could 0:15:55.360 --> 0:15:58.600 be a possibility, But I don't know. How are you 0:15:58.640 --> 0:16:02.400 doing physically? Physically? All I'm doing well, You know, obviously 0:16:02.640 --> 0:16:04.680 a lot of people have questions about my shoulder. Um, 0:16:05.000 --> 0:16:06.720 so I'm gonna go ahead and get it straight to 0:16:06.760 --> 0:16:09.720 the point. My shoulder. I have full range of motion 0:16:09.920 --> 0:16:12.760 back and right now I'm just working on strengthening it. 0:16:12.920 --> 0:16:15.960 I'm not rushing anything. I'm being patient and you know, 0:16:16.080 --> 0:16:18.040 just taking my time with this. It's something you have 0:16:18.080 --> 0:16:20.680 to take your time with and so I can be 0:16:20.720 --> 0:16:22.720 one hundred percent. But a lot of times the season starts, 0:16:23.360 --> 0:16:26.520 you're really good as a rookie, you're outstanding in year two. 0:16:27.200 --> 0:16:31.480 What's up for year three? Um, just another another you know, 0:16:31.560 --> 0:16:35.560 good season for me. Um. Like I was saying, um earlier, 0:16:35.720 --> 0:16:37.800 I just got to be consistent. That's that was my 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:41.120 main thing. Um. My rookie year, I wasn't consistent. And 0:16:41.560 --> 0:16:44.320 I mean I had a great season whatever, But you know, 0:16:44.520 --> 0:16:47.200 my jumping into my second year, I was more consistent 0:16:47.240 --> 0:16:50.320 with my play. And that's that's one thing I want 0:16:50.360 --> 0:16:52.440 to keep keep doing, you know, throughout my career. It's 0:16:52.480 --> 0:16:56.040 being consistent stacking games on type of games. So that's 0:16:56.040 --> 0:16:59.200 the biggest thing. So you're gonna post any numbers on 0:16:59.360 --> 0:17:02.120 a mirror anything like that again this year, Um, probably 0:17:02.120 --> 0:17:05.080 around training camp. I don't know yet. Um, I hit 0:17:05.080 --> 0:17:08.240 that thousand mark, so that's that's the standard now. Um, 0:17:08.280 --> 0:17:11.560 but I don't know yet. Maybe I'll try to do 0:17:11.600 --> 0:17:16.160 touchdowns this year. So yeah, I usually make my goals 0:17:16.200 --> 0:17:20.119 around training camp. So the salary market for wide receivers 0:17:20.119 --> 0:17:24.639 has exploded this offseason. A year from now, they'll be 0:17:24.680 --> 0:17:26.960 talking to you about that. Is that started to enter 0:17:27.000 --> 0:17:31.080 your mind? Um? Obviously I've been hearing, you know, seeing 0:17:31.080 --> 0:17:33.560 I've been seeing a whole bunch of things. Um. But 0:17:33.680 --> 0:17:35.199 you know, me and my agent has and I've been 0:17:35.240 --> 0:17:37.560 talking about none of that. I don't talk to really 0:17:38.040 --> 0:17:40.480 anybody about you know what what's to come in in 0:17:40.520 --> 0:17:42.640 the future. All I can do is focus on now 0:17:42.960 --> 0:17:45.760 rehabbing my shoulder and just just being the best version 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:47.280 of me being the best team and that could be. 0:17:47.640 --> 0:17:50.120 You know. So did it take a while to get 0:17:50.119 --> 0:17:52.119 over the Super Bowl loss for you or did you 0:17:52.160 --> 0:17:56.760 move on pretty quickly? Obviously? You know it took me 0:17:56.840 --> 0:17:59.000 like two days. I'm like, dang, you know what, what 0:17:59.000 --> 0:18:00.920 what could I have done? What could we have done 0:18:00.920 --> 0:18:05.560 another team? Um to have a different outcome. But I 0:18:05.560 --> 0:18:07.480 mean it's just one of those that you know, you're 0:18:07.480 --> 0:18:09.720 blessed to playing one of those games. You know. So 0:18:10.359 --> 0:18:12.000 you know a lot of people don't get to play 0:18:12.000 --> 0:18:15.320 in that game. You never know. Um, the goal is 0:18:15.359 --> 0:18:19.840 to get back, but you never know. And um, but man, 0:18:19.880 --> 0:18:21.480 it's just gotta let it go out. It's just gotta 0:18:21.520 --> 0:18:24.080 let it go. Man, it's just another loss. You caught 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:26.560 two touchdown passes in your first Super Bowl. That's a 0:18:26.600 --> 0:18:30.280 big deal. Yeah, yeah, that's crazy. That's crazy. It's like 0:18:30.320 --> 0:18:31.879 it's like it's like it's a step up. You know, 0:18:32.280 --> 0:18:34.560 my first national championship in college, I call one and 0:18:34.600 --> 0:18:38.320 then my second Nation championship, I only had one touchdown. 0:18:38.440 --> 0:18:41.199 But you know, going to the league, you know, just 0:18:41.280 --> 0:18:44.040 two touchdowns in the biggest game in my in my 0:18:44.040 --> 0:18:48.240 retired football career, and um, you know, I'm just blessed. Man. 0:18:48.280 --> 0:18:50.960 That was that was a blessing. Um. I still look 0:18:51.000 --> 0:18:54.040 back at those two those two players. Yeah, I'm yeah, 0:18:54.040 --> 0:18:56.400 I grabbed this face mask, but they didn't call it 0:18:56.480 --> 0:18:59.919 so but man, yeah, man, it was just a blessing. 0:19:00.440 --> 0:19:02.800 I didn't have to bring it up. I knew I knew, 0:19:02.800 --> 0:19:04.480 I knew it was coming. I knew it was coming. 0:19:04.520 --> 0:19:07.120 So I have a lot of people mentioned that like, hey, 0:19:07.160 --> 0:19:09.560 you should have been Oh yeah, I'm like, but they didn't. 0:19:09.760 --> 0:19:11.760 So at the end of the day, I scored twice, 0:19:11.840 --> 0:19:15.720 So this's whatever. The first touchdown pass came from Joe Mixon. 0:19:15.800 --> 0:19:18.760 That'll be a trivia question someday. How much fun was 0:19:18.800 --> 0:19:22.159 that play? Knowing that that was coming, It was a 0:19:22.160 --> 0:19:23.840 lot of fun. It's crazy we put we had put 0:19:23.840 --> 0:19:27.800 it in that week. Um, we didn't really show their practice, 0:19:27.840 --> 0:19:30.159 you know, because the media. You know, it was just 0:19:30.680 --> 0:19:32.520 the kind of like walked through it a little bit, 0:19:32.760 --> 0:19:38.040 and man, we called it. I knew what I had 0:19:38.080 --> 0:19:40.480 to do. Joe told me that how he wanted me 0:19:40.520 --> 0:19:42.479 to run that, how quick he wanted me to be, 0:19:42.520 --> 0:19:45.720 and it all worked out. Joe Mixon told you that, 0:19:45.800 --> 0:19:47.720 or Joe Burrow told you. Mixon told me that. Yeah, 0:19:47.840 --> 0:19:51.000 he was being a quarterback. How it was his throat. 0:19:51.240 --> 0:19:54.119 It was actually perfect. It was a tight spiral on 0:19:54.240 --> 0:19:57.399 the run. I'm like, okay, it was just high and 0:19:57.640 --> 0:19:59.439 to where I was the only way they can get it. 0:20:00.160 --> 0:20:02.840 Should do anything fun yet this offseason? Or will you 0:20:03.200 --> 0:20:09.560 In early July? Um, I I went to Mexico. That's 0:20:09.600 --> 0:20:13.159 pretty fun. None because he just went out there, you know, 0:20:13.280 --> 0:20:15.800 just foot, the vibe, you know, being next to some 0:20:15.840 --> 0:20:18.440 blue water, you know, just having a good time. Man. 0:20:18.600 --> 0:20:23.000 So it's fun. Well deserved. Congratulations and a great year. 0:20:23.040 --> 0:20:26.080 Look forward to year three. Thank you, thank you. And 0:20:26.320 --> 0:20:28.639 for the record, I wasn't joking with Tea at the 0:20:28.640 --> 0:20:32.040 beginning of that interview. I think he's grown. It wouldn't 0:20:32.040 --> 0:20:35.520 surprise me if he's up to six five. There are 0:20:35.520 --> 0:20:40.120 two conversations remaining up next. A cornerback who made one 0:20:40.119 --> 0:20:43.040 of the biggest tackles of the season in the AFC 0:20:43.240 --> 0:20:46.200