1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody, I'm Dan Horden. Thanks for downloading the 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth Podcast. Ba A Lift or the Aplause her 3 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: Blaus Herplause. Addition, as we hear from the two legends 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: selected by season ticket holders this year to join the 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: Bengals Ring of Honor, Boomer Asiasin and Chad Johnson. The 6 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by Alta Fiber, 7 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: future proof fiber Internet capable of delivering multi gigabit speeds 8 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: designed to take your home, business and community to a 9 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: new level. Elevate your connection with Alta Fiber and by 10 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: Bengals Picks and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play with 11 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: tickets and side merchandise up for grabs. Find both inside 12 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: the Bengals app. Now here's a quick reminder that you 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered write 14 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: to your phone, tablet or computer by subscribing wherever you 15 00:00:54,360 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since dodgeball our Yes, 16 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: you heard me correctly, dodgeball archery. It's just like dodgeball, 17 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: but instead of firing big rubber balls at your opponents, 18 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: you try to shoot them with a bow and arrow. 19 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: Don't worry, the arrows have big spongy tips and don't hurt. Recently, 20 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: me and five of my buddies gave it a shot, 21 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: no pun intended. There's a dodgeball archery arena north of 22 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: Cincinnati and Westchester Township, and according to their website, they 23 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 1: also have locations in Denver, Omaha, and Ottawa. So if 24 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: you're looking to try something new and you live near 25 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: one of those locations, I can personally recommend dodgeball archery. 26 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: And remember the five d's of dodgeball still apply dodge, duck, dip, dive, 27 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: and dodge. Now let's get to our first guest. Two 28 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: players in Bengals history have won the NFL MVP Award, 29 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: Ken Anderson in nineteen eighty one and Boomerisiasin in nineteen 30 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: eighty eight. Each quarterback led the Bengals to the Super 31 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: Bowl in his MVP season, and now they are both 32 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: members of the Bengals Ring of Honor. Boomer ranks in 33 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: the top three in team history in passing yards, touchdown passes, 34 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: and yards per attempt, and the final pass of his 35 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: career was a seventy seven yard touchdown strike to Darnay 36 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 1: Scott but Boomer's impact went far beyond the stats. He is, 37 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: without question, one of the most charismatic leaders in team history. 38 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: Here's my conversation with the Blonde Bomber, Norman Julius assiasin Boomer, 39 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: you are a former MVP, you won the Walter Payton 40 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: Man of the Year Award, you are in the University 41 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: of Maryland Hall of Fame, and now the fans have 42 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: selected you for the Bengals Ring of Honor. What does 43 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,679 Speaker 1: this particular honor mean to you? 44 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: Well, it's pretty cool, Dan to say, at least, you know, 45 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: for twenty years, I was doing Monday Night football and 46 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: I would go to these stadiums and I had watched 47 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: the home teams all celebrate their past. I mean, the 48 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 2: Jacksonville Jaguars, the Carolina Panthers, all these new teams had 49 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: rings of Honor, and I always wondered why the Bengals 50 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 2: chose not to do that. And I think that was 51 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 2: at a difference to the great Paul Brown. I think, 52 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: you know, he was the one that brought the team there. 53 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 2: He was the one with one of the greatest coaches 54 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 2: in the history of the league, if not the greatest coach. 55 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 2: So in my eyes always felt like it was it 56 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: was Paul Brown's team, it was Paul Brown's legacy. And 57 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 2: then really, when you think about his grant granddaughters coming 58 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 2: back to work for the franchise and being exposed to 59 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: everything else that was going on around in the NFL, 60 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: you know, why don't we celebrate our history? And that 61 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: took place three years ago with obviously the inaugural class 62 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 2: of Paul Brown and Anthony Munos and the great Kenny Anderson. 63 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,119 Speaker 2: So I have to say it's taken a while, It's 64 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 2: finally happening, and I'm great. I'm very grateful to our fans, 65 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: our season ticket holders for voting me in this time around. 66 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: I can't wait to get there that Monday night to celebrate. 67 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: I asked Mike Brown about you. Here's what he had 68 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: to say. I'm going to read this off my notepad. 69 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: Boomer was tough. He could play under harsh conditions that 70 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: could be physical injuries or whatever else, but he was 71 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: not deterred. The players liked him. He was a leader 72 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: that they all respected for his abilities as a player, 73 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: and it went beyond that. He had a way of 74 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: talking to them and they acknowledged him as the first 75 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: among equals, if you will, they listened to him. What 76 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: do you think of Mike's quote? 77 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 2: It's pretty special. Actually, it means that he noticed he 78 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 2: noticed me in college. I know that he scouted me 79 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 2: in college I think six or seven of my games, 80 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 2: and he was one of the reasons why they ended 81 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 2: up selecting me. I wish they would have selected me 82 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 2: a little bit earlier. That would have been nice. But 83 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 2: I always knew that he liked me as a player. 84 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: I think he respected me in the locker room, the 85 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 2: way that I treated my teammates, the way that I 86 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 2: was one of the guys, but also the way that 87 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 2: I carried myself in the meeting rooms and on the 88 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: practice field and then ultimately out to the game onto 89 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 2: the game field. And you know, nothing is more satisfying 90 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 2: and more fulfilling than watching a young player that you 91 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 2: can impact. And that's why my final five games in 92 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety seven were some of the best games that 93 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: I've ever been a part of, not only because we 94 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 2: were scoring a lot of points, but because I saw 95 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 2: the impact that an old geezer like me could have 96 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: on young players. With just a little bit of direction, 97 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 2: they could find their game and find out truly how 98 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: great they were, and I think that's really what Mike 99 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 2: is talking about. 100 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 1: You mentioned the eighty fourth draft. Let's go back. You 101 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: were the first quarterbacks selected, but it did come in 102 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,559 Speaker 1: the second round, number thirty eight overall to this day, 103 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 1: do you have any idea why you lasted until the 104 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: second round. 105 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 2: I probably was perceived to be a pain in the neck, 106 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: which I probably turned out to be for Sam Wish 107 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: a few times, I was not afraid to voice my opinion. 108 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,239 Speaker 2: I think that's probably another reason why. But I also 109 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: know that there was a bidding war going on for 110 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 2: quarterbacks in the USFL, and I do believe that the 111 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 2: Bengals would have taken Steve Young had they held on 112 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: to the number one pick. But Steve Young decided to 113 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: go to the USFL and go play with the La Express, 114 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: So that left me as the next quarterback. So you 115 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 2: would think, Okay, maybe they'll take me number one. But 116 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 2: you know, I don't really know the true story as 117 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: to why they traded that number one pick and ended 118 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 2: up with three picks in the top twenty eight in 119 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: that particular draft and didn't select me with any of 120 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 2: those picks either. So I was wondering if maybe my 121 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: name had fallen off the board or something, or somebody 122 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 2: had forgotten about me. But when Sam Weisch did call, 123 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 2: he said, you know, do you want to be a Bengal? 124 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: I said, are you sure you want me? So our 125 00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 2: relationship started off very uniquely at that on that particular day. 126 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: But I don't know why. You know, there's a lot 127 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 2: of reasons why things happen in life that you can't 128 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: really control, and I just think that, you know, it 129 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 2: was out of my hands, and I knew this that 130 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 2: prior to that draft, I did say that I wanted 131 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 2: to be an NFL player, that I did not want 132 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: to go play for the Washington fed Erroles or the 133 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: Memphis show Boats. I mean, I wanted to be in 134 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 2: the NFL. So I remember my agent telling me, you 135 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: should have never said that, because that's going to take 136 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 2: away any bargaining that we have. But you know, to 137 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: the Bengals credit, people don't realize this. They gave me 138 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 2: the largest contract that a second round draft pick had 139 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 2: ever received in the NFL, and they did it really 140 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 2: quickly with me. I wasn't holding out or any of 141 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 2: that stuff, and we came to an agreement relatively quick. 142 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: So your rookie year was Sam's rookie year as well. 143 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: Kenny was still around as the starting quarterback, although you 144 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: did start four games that rookie year and went three 145 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: and one. What stands out about those early beginnings in Cincinnati. 146 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 2: I remember the first time I walked I walked into 147 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: the offensive meeting room, and I mean I felt like 148 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: I was the dumbest guy on the earth. You know, 149 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: we had guys in there, Chris collins Worth, Anthony Munos, 150 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: Max Montoya, Dave Remington, Pat Mcanalie, Steve Krider. I mean, 151 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 2: they just had traded for James Brooks. I believe Rodney 152 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: Holman was in there. mL Harris was in there. I mean, 153 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 2: I was just overwhelmed. I couldn't believe all that you 154 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 2: had to learn, and they were talking a foreign language. 155 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 2: I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. 156 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: And quite frankly, I think if I went back and 157 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,559 Speaker 2: asked those players whether or not they thought I was 158 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 2: going to turn out to be anything, I guarantee you 159 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 2: every single one of them would say, there's no way 160 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 2: this guy's ever going to make it. And I'll never 161 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: forget playing in those four games, I really had no 162 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: idea what I was doing. This is why Chris collins 163 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 2: Worth I think his career was shortened because my rookie 164 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 2: year I almost got him killed. And I remember my 165 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 2: first touchdown pass was to all people, a tackle that 166 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 2: was playing right tight end on the goal line in Cleveland, 167 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 2: to Anthony Multios. I mean, it was just it was crazy. 168 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 2: So but I was blessed when I really think back 169 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 2: to it, to have a coach like Sam, an offensive 170 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 2: coordinator like Bruce Coslet, an offensive line coach like Jimmy McNally, 171 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 2: a great running back coach and Jimmy Anderson, and a 172 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 2: tight end coach and Tiger Johnson along with all of 173 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 2: those great players. I finally figured it out in year 174 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 2: two and from that point on it was just like, 175 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: let's go. The more we can do, the better we're 176 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 2: going to be. 177 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: So all of that is really interesting to me because 178 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 1: together you and Sam helped change NFL history really by 179 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: pioneering the no huddle offense. And this is before helmet radios. 180 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 1: So Sam isn't telling you what you can do. I mean, 181 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: you're running the whole show. You made it look easy, 182 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: but how hard was it Yeah. 183 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 2: In the beginning, it was pretty tough. Know, my rookie year, 184 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 2: I really struggled. I mean I would go home at 185 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 2: the playbook and my wife Cheryl will be sitting there 186 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: and I'd be trying to memorize it like it was 187 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: like you know, lines in a movie or something, and 188 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: it was not easy. But the more once it clicked 189 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 2: for me and I started to understand how they were 190 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 2: describing defenses, how we were calling plays, and our personnel 191 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: groupings and why certain past protections didn't work with certain 192 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 2: personnel on the field, it really started to come easy 193 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 2: to me. And I think Sam and Bruce saw me 194 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 2: as a guy that needed more, that I needed to 195 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 2: be challenged, that I needed to be challenged mentally, that 196 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 2: I needed to be challenged physically, and Bruce was great 197 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 2: at that. Bruce would really, I mean, you'd get on 198 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 2: my ass like you wouldn't believe in practice, and I 199 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 2: could take it. And I love being coached hard like that. 200 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 2: My high school coach coached me hard, my college coaches 201 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 2: coached me hard, and Bruce Cooset was really the hammer. 202 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 2: Sam was, you know, he was the brains behind a 203 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 2: lot of this, but Bruce was the one that you know, 204 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 2: after every practice I would watch film with and he'd 205 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 2: be like, you gotta hold your arm up, you gotta 206 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 2: do this. Look at your footwork is terrible. And Sam 207 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: would put me through all the drills. So I don't know, 208 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 2: I just I just felt like the more I got, 209 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 2: the easier became. And you know, we just had so 210 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 2: many different aspects to it, and I know that a 211 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,559 Speaker 2: lot of guys had trouble with it, but at the 212 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 2: end of the day, I would always make sure that 213 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 2: everybody knew what was going on on the field because 214 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 2: my life depended on it. 215 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: So you're the MVP in eighty eight, you lead the 216 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: Bengals to the Super Bowl. That team still holds the 217 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: franchise record for most points scored per game in a season. 218 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 1: When you remember eighty eight, what's the most vivid part 219 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:48,119 Speaker 1: of that season that stands out? 220 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 2: So I guess you're just going to pass over eighty 221 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 2: seven half. 222 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 1: Well, if you want to talk about laying down in 223 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: front of a bus, that's fine with me. 224 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 2: Hey, you know, this is the thing, This is maybe 225 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: why I dropped in the draft, right. You got to 226 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 2: think maybe these are the things that they projected could 227 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 2: have happened if they would have drafted me. But I mean, 228 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 2: eighty seven is a part of eighty eight. It's a 229 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 2: part of me as a player. And eighty seven, you know, 230 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: I stood up for our players rights. I believed I 231 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: was making the most money in the NFL at the time, 232 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 2: so I was losing the most money as we sat out. 233 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 2: I think it was seventy five thousand dollars a week. 234 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 2: And you know, while I'm not proud of some of 235 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 2: the things that went on during that time, I am 236 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,199 Speaker 2: proud that that was the impetus to where we are 237 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 2: today in the NFL some forty years later, with the 238 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 2: NFL players, you know, making it, at least at my position, 239 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 2: forty million dollars a year. So who would have ever 240 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 2: thought that would have been the case. So maybe something 241 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: good did come out of eighty seven. And I remember 242 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 2: I was booed, and I can't imagine what it would 243 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 2: have been. Had social media been around. I probably would 244 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 2: have been run out of town. I was this close 245 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 2: to being run out of town. I'm sure instead of 246 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 2: running me out of town, they ran Dave Remington out 247 00:12:55,240 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 2: of town because he was the assistant players representative along 248 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 2: with me. So eighty eight, I did have a chip 249 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 2: on my shoulder because I lost my best friend. He 250 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 2: ended up ended up in Philadelphia. And we had a 251 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 2: good team, you know. Eighty six we were really a 252 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 2: good team. We were very close. We were ten and 253 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 2: six and didn't make the playoffs. And eighty seven we 254 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 2: got off to a really unique start by losing our 255 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 2: second game to the forty nine ers. We should have 256 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 2: never lost. And then we lost so many games in 257 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 2: the fourth quarter when we came back from the strike 258 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:31,959 Speaker 2: and it was just a killer. It killed all of us. 259 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: So eighty eight was great. We got off to that 260 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 2: seven and zero start, and I think I threw like 261 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 2: four or five interceptions in New England, and interestingly enough, 262 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 2: you know the Bengals. We created a lot of rules 263 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:44,719 Speaker 2: in the NFL. A lot of people don't realize this, 264 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,079 Speaker 2: and one of the rules that we created was the 265 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 2: double catch rule, meaning where the receiver and the defensive 266 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 2: back both had their hands on the ball, tie goes 267 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 2: to the offense these days. Back in those days, ties 268 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 2: would go to whoever the official thought control the ball. 269 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 2: I'll never forget throwing what I thought was a touchdown 270 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 2: pass to Chris collins Worth and he coming down with it, 271 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 2: and the dB was draped all over and I forget 272 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 2: who it was, and they gave the ball to the 273 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 2: New England Patriots in the end zone. This is a 274 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: game we should have been eight and oh and we 275 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 2: were so ticked off. And I think it was either 276 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 2: the next year or the year after that they amended 277 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 2: the rule saying that if two guys do come down 278 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 2: with it, the offense is going to get the ball. 279 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 2: So a lot of great things happened in eighty eight 280 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 2: of a lot of fun stuff and a lot of 281 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 2: crazy stuff. At the end of the year with whether 282 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 2: or not we're going to be able to run the 283 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: no huddle in the AFC Championship game, I think Marvel 284 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 2: Levy did a really good job trying to get into 285 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 2: our heads and distract us from, you know, what was 286 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: the most important thing, and that was winning that game. 287 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: So the simultaneous catch rule should be the Assias and 288 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: collins Worth rule. 289 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 2: I think it is. I mean, you know, there were 290 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 2: a lot of things that we did that pushed the 291 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 2: envelope on the field, and I think that was one 292 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 2: of them. 293 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: So it's been thirty four and a half years since 294 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: Montana to Taylor. What about that game gets under your 295 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: skin to this day. 296 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 2: Third down, I think we had a lot of third 297 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 2: and shorts, and unfortunately, you know, we lost one of 298 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 2: our best players the night before and Stanley Wilson, and 299 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 2: everybody who is a Bengal fan obviously knows the story 300 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 2: about Stanley. What a lot of people don't realize was 301 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 2: just how valuable Stanley was to our team and all 302 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 2: the little things that he would do on third down 303 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 2: and special teams, and he was a virtual lock to 304 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 2: get a third and one or fourth and one, and 305 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 2: we would go for it when Stanley was on the field. 306 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 2: You know, Sam made this fateful decision to basically suspense 307 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 2: Stanley from the super Bowl the night before the game 308 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 2: because of drug use, which he had already been suspended 309 00:15:55,040 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 2: I think three times for. And we were angry meeting 310 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 2: that night that Stanley did this, you know, I remember 311 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 2: Chris Collins were getting up into a meeting, said we 312 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 2: got to win the game for Stanley. And I don't 313 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 2: think any of us thought that. I think all of 314 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 2: us thought like, we cannot believe that this is going 315 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 2: on right now, and we need to win this for us. 316 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 2: I mean, we've all, you know, tried to help Stanley 317 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 2: in so many different ways and support him and love 318 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 2: him and give him all the support that he needed. 319 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 2: And here we are, the biggest day of all of 320 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 2: our lives, and unfortunately he could not resist. And we 321 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 2: understand that drug addiction is very strong, and it showed 322 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 2: itself in that regard. But you know, the next day, 323 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 2: we woke up and we played well. Our defense played outstanding, 324 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 2: especially after losing Tim Krumry in the first quarter to 325 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 2: a broken leg. And I'll never forget David Grant and 326 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 2: Skip McClendon and Jim Scale and Jason Buck those guys 327 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 2: played great and they held down one of the greatest 328 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 2: offenses the NFL had ever seen until, of course, the 329 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 2: last drive and we just could not score a touchdown 330 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: and we could not convert on third down. And thankfully 331 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 2: we had what I consider one of the great big 332 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 2: game kickers of all time in Jim Breach, and he 333 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 2: would miss. I think he probably would have been the 334 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 2: MVP had we won the game because he was so good. 335 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 1: I know your shoulder wasn't one hundred percent down the 336 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: stretch that year. You downplayed it super Bowl Week and 337 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 1: at the time and immediately afterward. How bad was it? 338 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 2: I don't remember. I mean, I just it doesn't really matter. 339 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 2: You're on the field. You're on the field, you know. 340 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 2: And I say the same thing today about today's acts. 341 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:32,479 Speaker 2: If you're good enough to be out there and playing, 342 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 2: then you then that means the guy behind you isn't 343 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 2: good enough to beat you. So I was on the 344 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 2: field and I never make any bones or excuses about 345 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 2: any of it. We had our chances to win, and 346 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 2: I'll never forget walking off, you know, with about three 347 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 2: fourteen or so to go in the game, and Sam 348 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 2: actually said, I think we might have left too much 349 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 2: time on the clock. And I think back some of 350 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 2: the decisions that we made. We meaning we all had input, 351 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,479 Speaker 2: and Sam was great that way. He would always ask us, 352 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 2: the players, what do you think? What do you want 353 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 2: to do? You know, most coaches nowadays are so much 354 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 2: more aggressive on third and fourth down, especially if you're 355 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 2: playing against great quarterbacks, which we obviously were. And you know, 356 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 2: we played it close to the best, and we played 357 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 2: it by the book, and that book ended up kicking 358 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: us right in the ascid at the end, at the 359 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 2: end of the game, because what we should have done 360 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 2: has been more aggressive, probably on third and fourth down, 361 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 2: and gone for it and tried to keep the ball 362 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 2: away from the great Joe Montana and score touchdowns ourselves, 363 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 2: which we are unable to do. 364 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: Earlier in the conversation, you mentioned the final five games 365 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: of your NFL career. I had just moved to Cincinnati. 366 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: That was the first year I covered the team for 367 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: Fox nineteen. To this day, I say it might have 368 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,719 Speaker 1: been the coolest thing that I've ever covered because your 369 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 1: kids were there. I don't know how much they remember it. 370 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: They were really young at the time, but obviously we're 371 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: all familiar with Gunner's story at that point, and you 372 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: were spectacular in those games. Statistically, it was the best 373 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: you ever played. What was it like as a professional 374 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: athlete to go out that way? 375 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 2: It was remarkable. I often think of Peyton Manning winning 376 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 2: Super Bowl fifty and walking off into the sunset knowing 377 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 2: that was his final game, and how lucky and how 378 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 2: fortunate he was to be able to have that. But 379 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 2: I had six weeks where I was a part of 380 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 2: something that I don't think anybody expected. I certainly knew 381 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 2: we had a good team. I knew we had a 382 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 2: really good young, aggressive, young team, especially on offense that 383 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 2: just needed a little direction. And unfortunately Jeff Blake was 384 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 2: struggling and he got hurt and things weren't working out, 385 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 2: and there was a lot of like I think distain 386 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 2: in the locker room, and I hate that kind of stuff. 387 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 2: And I'd been through losing before, so I knew that. 388 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 2: When Bruce came to me and said you're going to 389 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 2: be the guy going against Jacksonville, I was like, okay, 390 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 2: and I just told our guys that look, man, you 391 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 2: better be awake because if somebody is not open on 392 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,160 Speaker 2: a particular play, that doesn't mean I'm throwing it to him. 393 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 2: You know, if I call seventy eight X hook and 394 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: Carl Pickens is the number one receiver, if he's not open, Darnay, 395 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 2: you better get your ass where it's supposed to be 396 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 2: because I'm throwing the ball to you, and I'll never forget. 397 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 2: We called that play and I came back to Darnay 398 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 2: and I threw it the Darnay and he caught it, 399 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 2: and he came back to the hoddle and he was 400 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 2: smiling like, oh my god, this really does work. And 401 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 2: that was some of the most fulfilling football that I 402 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 2: had ever played, because I had a young offensive line. 403 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 2: Willie Anderson was a part of that offensive line. My 404 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 2: center Derek Brills used to get mad at me because 405 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 2: I was going so fast, like before he could even 406 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,439 Speaker 2: get his hands on the ball. I was calling for it, 407 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 2: and I was doing that in practice too, because I 408 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 2: wanted those guys to think fast. I wanted everybody to 409 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 2: think fast because I wasn't the athlete that I once was, 410 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 2: but up top I could think better to end faster 411 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,680 Speaker 2: than anybody on the field. And I knew that if 412 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 2: I could just get like Corey Dillon and Kajanna and 413 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 2: Eric b Enemy and James Hundon and David Dunn and 414 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 2: Darnay and Carl Pickens and Marco Battaglia and all those 415 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,640 Speaker 2: guys on the same page. Man, we had a lot 416 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 2: of talent, and all I did was provide a roadmap 417 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 2: and they all bought into it. And you saw just 418 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 2: how explosive that offense could be. So like I said, 419 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 2: it was fulfilling for me. It was heartwarming because my 420 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 2: kids really started to understand what I was doing, and 421 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 2: they were at most of the games. Gunner was six 422 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 2: and Sydney was five, and I'll never forget walking off 423 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 2: of that field for the last time against the Ravens, 424 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 2: wondering if I was ever going to come back again 425 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:42,919 Speaker 2: as a player, because I knew I had in my 426 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 2: back pocket one of the best broadcasting offers a player 427 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 2: had ever been offered. At that point. 428 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: You would have been thirty seven the next year. Tom 429 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 1: Brady played for nine more years after he turned thirty seven. 430 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 1: But you elected to take that Monday night football broadcasting job. 431 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 1: Any regrets, you know? 432 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 2: I remember sitting in Mike Brown's office talking about contract extension, 433 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: and the Browns wanted me back. Don't think that they 434 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 2: you know, they did, and they made what I consider 435 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 2: a legitimate, significant contract offer. But I also remember Mike saying, 436 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 2: you know, this is a pretty damn good job that 437 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 2: maybe you'll have for the next twenty five years, and 438 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 2: it is an unprecedented offer. And I'm like, well, maybe 439 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 2: he wants me to go. 440 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 3: I don't know. 441 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 2: I'm not really sure. But in my heart, and I've 442 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 2: said this before, I don't know if I could have 443 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 2: given them thirty two games, meaning two more years of football, 444 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 2: like I had just given them the last five weeks 445 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 2: of that season. I don't know in my heart that 446 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 2: I could have. And remember that it was still different 447 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 2: back then. We were still getting hit. We were still 448 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 2: getting you know, hit around the ankles and the knees, 449 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 2: and you know, we were playing on just awful fields. 450 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 2: You know, Riverfront Stadium was one of the worst fields 451 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:59,679 Speaker 2: in the NFL. It was hard, and you know, you 452 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 2: all always came out of those games banged up and bruised. 453 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: And that's why I said, I think Chris Collinsworth probably 454 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 2: could have played an extra three years if you would 455 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 2: have played on grass this entire career as opposed to 456 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 2: the rock that we were playing on in the Riverfront 457 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 2: and three River Stadium. 458 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: So it was. 459 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 2: A tough decision. I don't regret it, but I also 460 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 2: understood why I did what I did, and I never 461 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 2: really looked back. 462 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 1: Final thing, and I'll let you go. For most professional 463 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: football players, a fourteen year career would have been the peak, 464 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: followed by a highly successful broadcasting career, but not in 465 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 1: your case. The Boomerasiasin Foundation has raised more than one 466 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty million dollars towards cystic fibrosis and the 467 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: research and trying to find a cure. Your son, Gunners 468 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: in his thirties. He's a dad, he's thriving. Do you 469 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: ever think about just how remarkable a life you have lived? 470 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 2: You put it that way, and it kind of makes 471 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 2: me feel a little melancholy. I will say that. You know, 472 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 2: one of the reasons we are fighting this fight was 473 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 2: because of people like Frank the Ford and all the 474 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,400 Speaker 2: parents that lost children to CF well before I ever 475 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 2: even got involved in this, And I was exposed assistic 476 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 2: bibrosis well before Gunner was born because of the Cincinnti 477 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 2: Children's Hospitalistic Bibrosis Wing and hearing Frank the Ford's story 478 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,479 Speaker 2: about losing his daughter Alex, so I just picked up 479 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: where he left off. And I remember calling him when 480 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 2: Gunnar was diagnosed in nineteen ninety three, and at that 481 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 2: time I had just become the quarterback of the New 482 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 2: York Jets. The Bengals had traded me there to them, 483 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 2: And there was a thirty second kind of pregnant pause, 484 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 2: and then we were both kind of crying, and he 485 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 2: was saying, you know, my prayers have been answered, not 486 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 2: meaning that he wanted somebody to have seet, but somebody 487 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: with some stature, somebody with a platform that could go 488 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,360 Speaker 2: out there and fight for people to listen to if 489 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 2: we were willing to share the diagnosis. And we really 490 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 2: had no choice, and we took that and we ran 491 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,159 Speaker 2: with it. And I often say that, you know, Gunner 492 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: is my hero personally, and his son Casper is our 493 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 2: miracle collectively, and that miracle has been passed on or 494 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 2: will be passed on to generations to come because of 495 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 2: the fight that Gunner fought, the fight that Frank the 496 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 2: Ford has fought, and the fight that all other CF 497 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 2: families and patients have fought. So I'm just kind of 498 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:33,160 Speaker 2: like the guys that's part of the quarterback, if you will, 499 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 2: that has the football card that everybody seems to want. 500 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 2: But at the end of the day, it's truly a 501 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 2: team effort and that's what it has been for the 502 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 2: last thirty years. 503 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: Congratulations on this honor. Thank you for all you've done. 504 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:49,919 Speaker 1: We look forward to seeing you at the ceremony this season. 505 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 2: Thanks Dan, I appreciate it. Good to see again. 506 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,639 Speaker 1: The Thing of Honor ceremony this year will be in 507 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: week three, September twenty fifth, when the Bengals host the 508 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: Rams on Monday Football. The Bengals booth podcast is brought 509 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:05,199 Speaker 1: to you by Kettering Health, the official healthcare provider of 510 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,400 Speaker 1: the Bengals. With more than one hundred and twenty care 511 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: facilities and fifteen hundred care providers. Kettering Health is committed 512 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: to guiding you to your best health. Visit ketteringhealth dot 513 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 1: org to learn more, and by pay Corps. More than 514 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 1: twenty nine thousand customers trust Paycorp to help them recruit, pay, engage, 515 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: and retain employees. Learn more at paycorp dot com. The 516 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: second player selected by the fans to join the Ring 517 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: of Honor this year is Chad Johnson, who joins another 518 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:38,439 Speaker 1: number eighty five, Isaac Curtis, as the second wide receiver 519 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 1: to be honored. Chad holds the franchise records for career catches, yards, 520 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: and touchdown grabs. But it's not just what he did, 521 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: it's how he did it. Chad's fun loving persona and 522 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: elaborate touchdown celebrations made him one of the NFL's biggest 523 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: stars and one of the most popular players in team history. 524 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:07,360 Speaker 1: Here's my conversation with o Cho Senko Chad Johnson. Chad, congratulations, 525 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: you have been selected by the fans for the Bengals 526 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: Ring of honor. You are one of the first eight members. 527 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: Can you articulate what this honor means to you? 528 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:19,679 Speaker 4: It means Oh my goodness, listen, it means everything. It 529 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 4: means everything. The fact that everything has come full circle. 530 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 4: Everything is come full circle, from getting that phone call 531 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 4: from Dick Lebow in two thousand and one to talking 532 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 4: to Mike Brown to being a part of the organization 533 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 4: and coming in there. And my whole thing was, how 534 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 4: can I make everyone's job around meetings? How can I 535 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 4: make football and Cincinnati fun again. I'd like to believe 536 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 4: at some point I made it okay to wear Bengals gear. 537 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 3: Outside of Cincinnati. 538 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 2: You know. 539 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 3: I just wanted to be a breath of fresh air 540 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:53,640 Speaker 3: do all I could. 541 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,440 Speaker 4: Obviously, the Lombardi Trophy is always always an end goal, 542 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 4: but I wasn't able to tieve that it's a a 543 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 4: team effort, you know, on that matter. But from an 544 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 4: individual standpoint, I just wanted to make it fun for 545 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 4: Cincinnati and man and and put that that team and 546 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 4: that city back on the map in a respectable manner. 547 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 3: I think I did that. 548 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 4: I did that just to some degree and to you know, 549 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 4: be shown appreciation for all the years of hard work 550 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,120 Speaker 4: in tears. 551 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 3: It's awesome, It's it's a great honor. I'm very appreciative. 552 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:28,479 Speaker 3: You know. 553 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 4: I'm getting my flowers now while I can smell them, 554 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 4: which which is a good thing. And to me, I 555 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 4: think this honor means much more than that gold jacket, honestly, 556 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 4: because this is home. This, this is home for me. 557 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 4: This is this is this is home. People have played 558 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 4: for throughout the years, fans that are voting, that understand 559 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 4: what I went through, the good times, the bad times, 560 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 4: ups and downs, and they accepted me as my true 561 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 4: authentic self, you know, myself. So I think this to me, 562 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 4: it means much more. No, I didn't have to beg 563 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 4: I didn't have to knock on the door. I didn't 564 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 4: have to cry about being in This is This was 565 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 4: this was a welcome home. 566 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 3: You know, you will always be a part of us. 567 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 3: And this means a lot to me, a lot. 568 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: I asked Mike Brown about you. Here's what he said. 569 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: Chad was a splendid player, but he was even greater 570 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: as a performer. He was fun, He made the people smile. 571 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 1: What does that quote mean to you and what's your 572 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: relationship like with Mike and the Brown family. 573 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 4: Listen my relationship with Mike and the Brown family. I 574 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 4: will always be indebted to him. I will always be 575 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 4: indebted to him. I have a special, a special place 576 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 4: at my heart of Mike Brown, obviously, Dick lebo Uh, 577 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 4: Barbara Calse who was still on the table for me 578 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 4: when his draft time. And to think about the day 579 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 4: you get drafted, and I everybody cries on drafting, and 580 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 4: I don't think understand, well, why why does everybody always cry? 581 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 4: It's really not the feeling of getting drafted. It's all 582 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 4: the work and preparation and all the ups and the 583 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 4: downs and the obstacles that you went through that play 584 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 4: through your mind and it's sort of an exhale moment, 585 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 4: Oh my god, I finally made it, not on to 586 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 4: the next hurt. And that's where the tears come from, 587 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 4: all the hard work and the fact that Mike Brown 588 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 4: gave me the opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream of mine, 589 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 4: even through all I've been through all those years and 590 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 4: never never almost not even making it, never really getting 591 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 4: the opportunity, you know, bounce from college to college, and 592 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 4: just him giving me a chance. I will always be 593 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:41,959 Speaker 4: thankful and grateful to mister Brown and that and that family. 594 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 1: You've brought up the draft a couple of times. So 595 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 1: let's go back to two thousand and one. Michael Vick 596 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,760 Speaker 1: was the first pick, Drew Brees was the first pick 597 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:51,480 Speaker 1: of the second round. You were the fifth pick of 598 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: the second round, skinny wide receiver out of Oregon State. 599 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 1: You'd only been there for one season, and the Bengals 600 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 1: obviously had been struggling. How did you feel about it 601 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: at the time. Did you have any reservations about coming 602 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: to Cincinnati considering how the team had performed. 603 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 4: Listen, I don't think people understood back then. It wasn't 604 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 4: about where you went. It's not where you go. And 605 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 4: I ap preached this all the time even today. It's 606 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 4: not where you go, it's what you do when you 607 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 4: get there. I wouldn't care how bad they were at 608 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 4: that time, and people in Miami at my little draft 609 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:24,000 Speaker 4: party were saying, oh, man, listen, look where you're going. 610 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 4: You're going to Cincinnati. They're not really good. You know 611 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 4: the joke of that, I said, listen, give me a 612 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 4: year or two. Just give me a year or two. 613 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 4: Let me get in my first year, let me get 614 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 4: an understanding of the game. 615 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 3: Let me get my. 616 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 4: Feet wet, give me a year or two and watch 617 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 4: how I turn things around. I will try to get 618 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 4: as many wins as possible, but I will turn things 619 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 4: around and get us back in a respective light nationally 620 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 4: and publicly. I guarantee you I will be able to 621 00:31:55,120 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 4: do this all by myself. And I did just that 622 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 4: that because it doesn't matter. I want to tell people 623 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 4: all the time they were about even even commits come 624 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,720 Speaker 4: out of college, out of high school, my four star, 625 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 4: three star, five star, or I go to Alabama, I 626 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:14,200 Speaker 4: go to Florida. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. It's 627 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 4: what you do once you get there. If you can 628 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:19,320 Speaker 4: play the game, the product will show on the field. 629 00:32:19,560 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 4: And dude, I was excited. I did listen. I exhausted 630 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 4: all possibility to do all I can to make the 631 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 4: game fun again. And I chose not to conform to wait. 632 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 4: Not the higher up in Cincinnati, but the higher ups 633 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 4: around the NFL. They feel, once you get to a 634 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 4: certain level NFL, for that matter, you're supposed to change 635 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 4: the way you play, you supposed to carry yourself a 636 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:46,239 Speaker 4: certain way. And I refuse the change who I was, 637 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 4: and Cincinnati accepted me for being me. The Brown family, 638 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,840 Speaker 4: my coaches and players accepted me for my physical self, 639 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 4: and that's what you got, cure entertainment weekend and week out. 640 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:01,240 Speaker 1: When players and coaches talk about what made you great, 641 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 1: they always start with your lightning quick feet and your 642 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: ability to stop and start. When I went back to 643 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 1: your draft profile, I saw that four five seven time 644 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:15,360 Speaker 1: in the forty Yeah, what happened? I mean, that's not 645 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 1: extraordinarily fast. 646 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 3: No, it's not. 647 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 4: It's I think for being in that situation in Indianapolis. 648 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 4: The nerves, my nerves got me. My nerves got the 649 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 4: best of me, and I wasn't four or five. When 650 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 4: you turn on the film, you obviously see I play 651 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 4: as if I'm four to three. I play as if 652 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 4: I'm four or five. I mean, not play if if 653 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,239 Speaker 4: I'm four to four. But I play fast, which is 654 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,120 Speaker 4: not Which is one of the reasons why I'm not 655 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:44,800 Speaker 4: sure why we dictate so much about running in a 656 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 4: straight line when the game of football is not played 657 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,720 Speaker 4: in a straight line. I'm four to left and right 658 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 4: stopping a dying red accelerate. You know I'm four too 659 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 4: all around as a football player, if that makes sense. 660 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 4: You know, as opposed to running in a straight line. Listen, 661 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 4: I don't run track. I'm not a track runner, you know, 662 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 4: So if I was the track runner, I'd probably come 663 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 4: and last. But when it comes to playing the game 664 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:07,520 Speaker 4: of football and get an open, creating separation, that's my 665 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:09,280 Speaker 4: cup of team. 666 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:12,359 Speaker 1: So the franchise really turned the corner in your third year, 667 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,680 Speaker 1: the Bengals hired Marvin Lewis. They drafted Carson Palmer. Of course, 668 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:18,279 Speaker 1: Carson didn't play that first year. But let's talk a 669 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 1: little bit about your Yeah, let's talk a little bit 670 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 1: about your relationship with Marvin. As an observer. At the time, 671 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:27,839 Speaker 1: it seemed like he mostly let you do your thing 672 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,680 Speaker 1: and understood that was important for you to be great 673 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:32,359 Speaker 1: on the field, right. 674 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 4: I think Marvin and I we were always on the 675 00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:38,720 Speaker 4: same page. I didn't do anything malicious for one. Nothing 676 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:40,799 Speaker 4: I ever did with malicious. It was always in a fun, 677 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:45,360 Speaker 4: loving nature, adding pressure to myself and taking the pressure 678 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:47,120 Speaker 4: off everyone else. So all they had to do is 679 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 4: go out there and play. I will provide the entertainment 680 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:53,280 Speaker 4: I need to make sure I play at the highest level. 681 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:58,839 Speaker 4: And I enjoyed welcoming that pressure, and it's it's what 682 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:01,600 Speaker 4: I did. I think, as I'm sure you will be 683 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 4: able to remember, on the back end of my career, 684 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:09,440 Speaker 4: some of the fun was kind of misfreud and that 685 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:12,239 Speaker 4: was why, Okay, we're losing because he's doing this. But 686 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:14,759 Speaker 4: I mean that's really not the case, you know. But 687 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 4: there had to be a story had to be written. 688 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 4: And that's when Marvin kind of kind of tightened the 689 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 4: bolt and said this is just the stop. 690 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 3: Just go play ball and understood that. 691 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: So in two thousand and five you had the list. 692 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:35,440 Speaker 1: You sent pepto bismal to the Browns. Yeah, the weekly 693 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 1: celebration was a national obsession, but opponents never seemed to mind. 694 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: They could find that balance of not offending the people 695 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:48,240 Speaker 1: that you were beating. 696 00:35:48,719 --> 00:35:51,759 Speaker 4: The funny The funny thing about it is is I 697 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 4: am so likable. I am so likable, whether it be 698 00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 4: the referees, whether it be the opponents we were playing 699 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:00,640 Speaker 4: the following week. I was a very like the bulletponent 700 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:03,560 Speaker 4: regardless of where I was playing. The fans even within 701 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 4: the division the Browns and seeing that they're supposed to 702 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:10,319 Speaker 4: hate me, but there was a love for me regardless 703 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:12,799 Speaker 4: because of the fun and entertainment aspect. That I brought 704 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 4: to the game, whether I was playing home or way, 705 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:18,759 Speaker 4: and the balance would just how can you hate me 706 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:21,759 Speaker 4: when I'm doing nothing but making the game fun and 707 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:24,080 Speaker 4: challenging those I'm playing week to week. 708 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:25,920 Speaker 3: That's it. It was merely a challenge. 709 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 4: It was a friendly challenge, and they never had any 710 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:31,520 Speaker 4: issues to the point where people in pregame. 711 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:33,959 Speaker 3: As far as players, what you got for us this week? 712 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:35,080 Speaker 3: What do you mean? What do I have? 713 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:38,920 Speaker 4: You're supposed to stop me? You know, the referees every 714 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,560 Speaker 4: game for like three years straight. Referees would always catch 715 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:44,880 Speaker 4: me at the fifty. I can't wait to see what 716 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 4: you have for us today, And like everybody became somewhat 717 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:53,880 Speaker 4: of an excitement to where I had eyes watching everywhere, 718 00:36:53,960 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 4: just not in Cincinnati. 719 00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:58,880 Speaker 1: So in two thousand and four, Carson takes overs the 720 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:01,759 Speaker 1: starting quarterback and you two take off as one of 721 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:05,240 Speaker 1: the great quarterback to wide receiver combos in NFL history. 722 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:08,759 Speaker 1: Do you put yourselves right up there with Montana to 723 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 1: Rice Manning to Harrison whatever QB wide receiver combo you 724 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 1: want to name. 725 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 3: I mean, I would like to, I would like to. 726 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:18,319 Speaker 4: I'm not I'm not a I'm not a numbers guy, 727 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 4: but I think we had a consistent run. Carson is 728 00:37:22,239 --> 00:37:24,640 Speaker 4: one that I always say is responsible for my success, 729 00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:26,799 Speaker 4: being the person at the helm for most of my 730 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:31,799 Speaker 4: most of my numbers in touchdowns. We did it consistently 731 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:33,719 Speaker 4: for a very long time, which is hard to which 732 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:37,160 Speaker 4: is hard to do. You know, I was healthy really 733 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:39,480 Speaker 4: really all of my career. I don't really didn't really 734 00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:42,399 Speaker 4: get hurt. So I would like to put us up there. 735 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:46,759 Speaker 1: Tell me about the time you two guys drove to 736 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:51,919 Speaker 1: Indy Indy P and mar I do did you the stands? 737 00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 2: Uh? 738 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,600 Speaker 3: Huh, yeah, we said, we said in the stands? What 739 00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:56,239 Speaker 3: year was this? Two thousand and four? We did that. 740 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:58,120 Speaker 3: I forgot what year was. 741 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: It in the two thousand and four to two thousand 742 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 1: and six window. I don't remember the exact year. 743 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:05,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, we we just we just wanted to watch them 744 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:10,279 Speaker 4: operate from the stands, not TV, to see how they 745 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 4: communicated with each other on the field, the chemistry that 746 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:15,399 Speaker 4: they had. That is something that Carson and I really 747 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:19,560 Speaker 4: wanted to harp on and build on and being something 748 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:21,880 Speaker 4: like Marvin and Peyton to where there was a certain 749 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:24,880 Speaker 4: we got to the point where there was eye contact, 750 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 4: eye contact. 751 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:28,719 Speaker 3: There was no signal needed, and based on what we 752 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:30,719 Speaker 3: saw defensively, we already. 753 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:33,439 Speaker 4: Knew what to do and we felt that was something 754 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:36,800 Speaker 4: that Marvin and Peyton had because we had seen it 755 00:38:36,880 --> 00:38:39,480 Speaker 4: numerous times on TV and announced that we'll try to 756 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:41,880 Speaker 4: break it down based on the chemistry they had in 757 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:44,520 Speaker 4: the eye contact, not giving anything way to the defense, 758 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:46,280 Speaker 4: but like, you know what, we need to go watch 759 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:48,440 Speaker 4: them and see what we can take from that and 760 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 4: implement it, you know, to our own our own union 761 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:51,880 Speaker 4: here in Cincinnati. 762 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:56,000 Speaker 1: There are a million memorable moments and games. There were 763 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:58,720 Speaker 1: the two hundred and sixty yard game against San Diego. 764 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:01,319 Speaker 1: There were several games of three touchdown catches. Do you 765 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:04,680 Speaker 1: have a favorite moment, a favorite game, a favorite catch, 766 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:06,200 Speaker 1: anything along those lines. 767 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:16,680 Speaker 4: Oh? Man, No, not really, not really, because I think 768 00:39:16,719 --> 00:39:20,080 Speaker 4: my favorite moment would have would have had to be obviously, 769 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:22,320 Speaker 4: I wasn't able to win a win a Super Bowl. 770 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:26,160 Speaker 4: I mean, all those moments are great to me, man, 771 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:30,200 Speaker 4: but nothing, nothing beats that phone call drafting. You know, 772 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:32,399 Speaker 4: I wasn't even on the field for my best moment. 773 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:36,360 Speaker 4: I'm just gonna be honest that nothing can replicate or 774 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:40,280 Speaker 4: duplicate or emulate that feeling man like my heart. 775 00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:43,880 Speaker 3: Don't do if I cry, just make sure you edit that. 776 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:46,600 Speaker 4: But when you get that up here, when you get 777 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:51,840 Speaker 4: that phone call, damn nothing not one catch, no touchdown, 778 00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 4: nothing beats that. 779 00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:55,279 Speaker 3: Nothing beats that. 780 00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 1: I'm guessing the low moment is easier to remember, and 781 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: that's probably when Carson hurt his knee in the playoff 782 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:05,400 Speaker 1: loss to the Steelers. Pittsburgh went on to win the 783 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,839 Speaker 1: Super Bowl that year. If Carson doesn't get hurt in 784 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:10,400 Speaker 1: your heart of hearts, do you believe you have a 785 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:11,120 Speaker 1: ring right now? 786 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:14,400 Speaker 3: Absolutely? Easily, easily. 787 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:16,560 Speaker 4: No disrespect to the teams that were planning that year, 788 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,480 Speaker 4: but we were doing offensively, but we were doing decently 789 00:40:19,520 --> 00:40:21,839 Speaker 4: with the takeaways and giving us the ball, allowing us 790 00:40:21,840 --> 00:40:25,319 Speaker 4: to outscore opponents, and then allowing the defense just to 791 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:29,360 Speaker 4: play with everything in front of you. Easily, easily. We 792 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:32,640 Speaker 4: had a crazy number of takeaways that year. If I'm 793 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:37,160 Speaker 4: not mistaken, defensively and offensively, it was we were jugging out. 794 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:38,839 Speaker 4: We were jugging out. 795 00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 1: I think I would lose my reporter card if I 796 00:40:43,480 --> 00:40:46,560 Speaker 1: didn't ask you some question about celebrations during the course 797 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:50,520 Speaker 1: of an interview. Did you have like a list did 798 00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:55,480 Speaker 1: you take requests back at the height of the celebration mania. No, 799 00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:58,920 Speaker 1: it seemed to me that like everybody in town was 800 00:40:58,960 --> 00:41:00,960 Speaker 1: trying to predict what was me next. 801 00:41:01,239 --> 00:41:04,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, I just I just as as things went at 802 00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:05,600 Speaker 3: what I think about. 803 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:07,760 Speaker 4: I would see something on a on a on a Saturday, 804 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:09,319 Speaker 4: I'd be like, you know what, I'm gonna do that, 805 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:14,560 Speaker 4: like the river dance, the Lord of something, whatever the 806 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:17,399 Speaker 4: stage player musical was. It was in Chicago at the time, 807 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 4: and the commercial came on in the hotel and so 808 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 4: you know what, if I score, I'm gonna try to 809 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:23,759 Speaker 4: do the river dance. 810 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:26,640 Speaker 3: And that's where they came from. Tiger Woods. 811 00:41:26,800 --> 00:41:30,000 Speaker 4: Tiger Woods had won something either Friday or Saturday, and 812 00:41:30,040 --> 00:41:31,919 Speaker 4: I remember him doing doing the fist. 813 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:34,080 Speaker 3: I like, you know what I'm gonna try. I'm gonna 814 00:41:34,080 --> 00:41:35,040 Speaker 3: try that when I score. 815 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:40,480 Speaker 4: And the proposal when I when we played Indy, a 816 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:43,239 Speaker 4: friend of mine has got married, So you know what 817 00:41:43,640 --> 00:41:46,800 Speaker 4: I'm gonna listen, I'm gonna redo your proposal on the field, 818 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:49,279 Speaker 4: and the cheerleaders knew exactly what to do. Everything like 819 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:51,719 Speaker 4: its just it was further moments stuff. It was never 820 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:55,480 Speaker 4: it was never thought out. Well, the dollar bribe. It's 821 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:57,799 Speaker 4: not a celebration, but trying to bribe the red for 822 00:41:57,840 --> 00:41:59,720 Speaker 4: the dollar, like, just that's it in the moment. 823 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:02,280 Speaker 3: You know, I got in trouble for it, but it's 824 00:42:02,360 --> 00:42:06,520 Speaker 3: so memorable and so fun and just I don't know. 825 00:42:06,560 --> 00:42:09,120 Speaker 4: I just kept the tension at ease if there was 826 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:11,239 Speaker 4: any I just kept it lighthearted and fun. 827 00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:14,160 Speaker 1: Do you like Jamar doing the gritty or do you 828 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:15,080 Speaker 1: need more variety? 829 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:17,239 Speaker 3: I mean the gritty is him. 830 00:42:17,480 --> 00:42:19,600 Speaker 4: I think I think it's very fitting for him, is 831 00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:21,680 Speaker 4: fitting for this style of this era that we're in 832 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:22,200 Speaker 4: right now. 833 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:25,640 Speaker 3: I don't think I. 834 00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:30,360 Speaker 4: Was more creative in an entertaining fashion purposely adding pressure 835 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:34,080 Speaker 4: to myself. I don't think that's in the player's DNA 836 00:42:34,280 --> 00:42:36,839 Speaker 4: in this day and age, because it forces you. I 837 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:39,160 Speaker 4: put all this pressure on myself now I have to 838 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:42,560 Speaker 4: go out and perform like I was the complete opposite. 839 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:45,600 Speaker 1: So one of the things I admire about you is 840 00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:50,680 Speaker 1: your willingness to try anything. You box, Yeah, not on 841 00:42:50,719 --> 00:42:53,680 Speaker 1: a bull one time, you're a bull rider. You famously 842 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:56,320 Speaker 1: raised a horse. I mean, you name it, You're willing 843 00:42:56,320 --> 00:42:59,520 Speaker 1: to try it. You've played professional soccer. Is there something 844 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:02,560 Speaker 1: on your plucket list still? That you are eager to try. 845 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:05,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm going I'm swimming with killer whales in the wild. 846 00:43:07,840 --> 00:43:09,120 Speaker 4: You're laughing, I'm serious, I'm serious. 847 00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:11,280 Speaker 1: That's serious. You're gonna swim with killer whales. 848 00:43:11,560 --> 00:43:13,640 Speaker 4: From swim with killer whales in the wild. Listen to 849 00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:16,480 Speaker 4: the people in Norway, the people that live in New Zealand. 850 00:43:17,120 --> 00:43:22,120 Speaker 4: They have the luxury of actually doing so just on 851 00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:24,200 Speaker 4: a whim. It's like it's normal. It's like it's normal 852 00:43:24,200 --> 00:43:28,680 Speaker 4: there and that. And obviously if the NFL didn't pan out, 853 00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:30,680 Speaker 4: you know, I always wanted to be a marine biologist 854 00:43:30,960 --> 00:43:31,799 Speaker 4: and a veterinarian. 855 00:43:31,920 --> 00:43:35,440 Speaker 3: I'm a huge dog lover and a huge killer whale lover. 856 00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:38,359 Speaker 4: For those that don't know, my entire right leg from 857 00:43:38,360 --> 00:43:41,279 Speaker 4: my waist all the way to my my ankle is 858 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:44,800 Speaker 4: orca theme. I'm tattooed with orcas. So I'm a huge 859 00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:47,520 Speaker 4: fan of them. Know everything there is about killer whales, 860 00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:51,759 Speaker 4: and my dream is to swim with them in the wild. 861 00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:54,640 Speaker 4: It's gonna happen, and I'm going to create a YouTube channel, 862 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:56,680 Speaker 4: and that's going to be my first and could be 863 00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:59,400 Speaker 4: very well be my last video. But if I do 864 00:43:59,520 --> 00:44:02,000 Speaker 4: go out, I'm going to go out the way I want. 865 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:04,920 Speaker 1: To all right, Just if you're going to do this, 866 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:07,320 Speaker 1: go with somebody that knows how to do it safely. 867 00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:09,920 Speaker 1: Please on behalf of all Bengals fans. They want to 868 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:13,760 Speaker 1: see you, you know, represent this franchise into old age. 869 00:44:15,040 --> 00:44:17,359 Speaker 3: I got you, I got you, all right. 870 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:22,880 Speaker 1: On one hand, you describe yourself as frugal very you know, 871 00:44:23,040 --> 00:44:27,640 Speaker 1: get imitation jewelry. You don't go crazy on things that 872 00:44:27,680 --> 00:44:31,080 Speaker 1: other people splurge on. On the other hand, you're the 873 00:44:31,120 --> 00:44:34,560 Speaker 1: most generous tipper of anybody I've ever met. You will 874 00:44:35,600 --> 00:44:38,640 Speaker 1: leave a thousand dollars tips on bills of less than 875 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:39,520 Speaker 1: one hundred dollars. 876 00:44:39,920 --> 00:44:40,680 Speaker 2: Why do you do that? 877 00:44:42,760 --> 00:44:43,120 Speaker 3: I just. 878 00:44:45,160 --> 00:44:47,560 Speaker 4: It's my version of always giving it back. Especially in 879 00:44:47,560 --> 00:44:51,040 Speaker 4: the service industry, you know they need it. I have 880 00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:54,880 Speaker 4: a great understanding of what they go through. Always had 881 00:44:54,880 --> 00:44:57,960 Speaker 4: that understanding. So this is something that I've always been doing, 882 00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:01,360 Speaker 4: even before social media came. When I was in Cincinnati. 883 00:45:01,880 --> 00:45:05,759 Speaker 4: People gonna test to be tipping in that manner, and 884 00:45:05,800 --> 00:45:07,960 Speaker 4: it's something I've been doing the past twenty some years. 885 00:45:08,239 --> 00:45:10,040 Speaker 4: Anytime I go out to eat, I just want to 886 00:45:10,040 --> 00:45:13,000 Speaker 4: make sure I have no idea how your day's going, 887 00:45:13,120 --> 00:45:17,799 Speaker 4: But I noticed like dealing with multiple personallets, attitudes, having 888 00:45:17,840 --> 00:45:20,880 Speaker 4: a bad day and really nobody give me your break. 889 00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:23,320 Speaker 3: So any I always want to be that shining. 890 00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:25,400 Speaker 4: Like for people in the service industry, if you know, 891 00:45:25,480 --> 00:45:30,879 Speaker 4: I'm coming in from traveling and just always making sure 892 00:45:30,920 --> 00:45:33,040 Speaker 4: their day is okay, no matter what, no matter who 893 00:45:33,120 --> 00:45:34,640 Speaker 4: they had to wait on throughout that day. 894 00:45:35,640 --> 00:45:37,560 Speaker 1: It gets back to what Mike Brown said, you make 895 00:45:37,600 --> 00:45:38,280 Speaker 1: people smile. 896 00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:40,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm trying. I'm trying to. 897 00:45:40,120 --> 00:45:42,879 Speaker 4: If I could just it'd be even better if at 898 00:45:43,040 --> 00:45:46,600 Speaker 4: some way, shape or form of fashion, I get lucky 899 00:45:47,560 --> 00:45:51,360 Speaker 4: and end up with like Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos or 900 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:55,040 Speaker 4: Elon Musk type money, those thousand dollar tips, I would 901 00:45:55,080 --> 00:45:56,840 Speaker 4: add a zero. 902 00:45:57,040 --> 00:45:59,120 Speaker 3: So then you know that's that's the way I think. 903 00:45:59,280 --> 00:45:59,960 Speaker 3: You know, you know what I mean. 904 00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:04,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, So, I mean, we'll see what happened from my mouth. 905 00:46:04,080 --> 00:46:06,600 Speaker 4: At God's ears, all tips would be ten thousand from 906 00:46:06,600 --> 00:46:06,920 Speaker 4: now on. 907 00:46:08,680 --> 00:46:12,640 Speaker 1: Recently, your daughter Shielle committed to the University of Kentucky 908 00:46:12,760 --> 00:46:16,040 Speaker 1: to run track, which is awesome. She has won multiple 909 00:46:16,120 --> 00:46:19,840 Speaker 1: Junior Olympic championships. Is your daughter going to be an Olympian? 910 00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:23,719 Speaker 4: I hope so, I hope so, And it's all on her, 911 00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:25,200 Speaker 4: you know, it's all on her. 912 00:46:25,239 --> 00:46:27,160 Speaker 3: It's about putting the work. She knows I mean to 913 00:46:27,200 --> 00:46:27,919 Speaker 3: get to this point. 914 00:46:28,120 --> 00:46:32,000 Speaker 4: You know what it took to get to this point. 915 00:46:31,719 --> 00:46:34,239 Speaker 4: You gotta put in the work. Again, It's not where 916 00:46:34,280 --> 00:46:36,200 Speaker 4: you go, it's what you do once you get there. 917 00:46:36,239 --> 00:46:38,680 Speaker 4: They get my kids to get the same message that 918 00:46:38,760 --> 00:46:40,759 Speaker 4: I tell everyone else. You know, you have to put 919 00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:42,319 Speaker 4: the work in, and you put in the work, you 920 00:46:42,360 --> 00:46:46,239 Speaker 4: put the time, and it's going to show up. There 921 00:46:46,320 --> 00:46:48,120 Speaker 4: was also going to show up regardless, no matter what. 922 00:46:49,360 --> 00:46:52,360 Speaker 1: How does watching your kids compete in sports compared to 923 00:46:52,440 --> 00:46:53,320 Speaker 1: doing it yourself. 924 00:46:54,840 --> 00:46:56,840 Speaker 3: I like it. I like it a lot. I like 925 00:46:56,880 --> 00:46:57,400 Speaker 3: it a lot. 926 00:46:57,560 --> 00:47:00,880 Speaker 4: But I still work out in train with all of 927 00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:03,439 Speaker 4: them in their respective crafts to make sure they can't 928 00:47:03,480 --> 00:47:08,480 Speaker 4: beat me. That's that's the scary part. So I'm still 929 00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:12,640 Speaker 4: very active. Since I have stopped playing. I try to 930 00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:14,279 Speaker 4: train with my son. I train with my daughter. When 931 00:47:14,280 --> 00:47:16,280 Speaker 4: it comes to track, I do all the drill she does, 932 00:47:16,760 --> 00:47:19,560 Speaker 4: and I make sure I'm always on points. So if 933 00:47:19,560 --> 00:47:23,840 Speaker 4: at any point I need to show how it should 934 00:47:23,840 --> 00:47:26,640 Speaker 4: be done or how it should look, I'm still in 935 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:29,839 Speaker 4: elite shape to be able to do so. So it's 936 00:47:29,880 --> 00:47:32,480 Speaker 4: not just me talking it. I can actually walk it too. 937 00:47:33,000 --> 00:47:33,960 Speaker 4: On what it should look like. 938 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,840 Speaker 1: Most physically fit forty five year old man in the world, 939 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:40,919 Speaker 1: fifty five fifty five year old man. 940 00:47:41,040 --> 00:47:42,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, that's that's how. 941 00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:43,080 Speaker 1: Fit you are. 942 00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:46,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, hey, listen, I call it the wear and tear 943 00:47:46,200 --> 00:47:48,600 Speaker 4: from the from the from the NFL. It aasts ten 944 00:47:48,680 --> 00:47:51,400 Speaker 4: years on the body, even though I had no injuries. 945 00:47:52,680 --> 00:47:55,759 Speaker 1: All right, A few questions about the current Bengals. What 946 00:47:55,800 --> 00:47:57,640 Speaker 1: do you admire and respect about Joe Burrow? 947 00:48:00,120 --> 00:48:04,040 Speaker 4: His ability to stay calm under pressure. He's always I 948 00:48:04,040 --> 00:48:08,200 Speaker 4: think that's obviously the name Joe Cool is. It's therefore 949 00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:12,319 Speaker 4: a reason he's always cool under pressure. And how most 950 00:48:12,320 --> 00:48:16,640 Speaker 4: of the time for a quarterback that's young. When you content, 951 00:48:16,760 --> 00:48:19,920 Speaker 4: when you consistently get hit, you get rattled. It's just 952 00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:21,760 Speaker 4: it's just the nature of the besis. You get rattled 953 00:48:21,960 --> 00:48:24,080 Speaker 4: and for some reason, I don't know who, or or 954 00:48:24,760 --> 00:48:28,000 Speaker 4: or where it came about. Usually over time with repetition 955 00:48:28,400 --> 00:48:31,479 Speaker 4: at the highest level, then you become cool and calm 956 00:48:31,560 --> 00:48:34,239 Speaker 4: under pressure. But he came out the gate just that way, 957 00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:38,239 Speaker 4: and I think he's the reason for you know, their success. 958 00:48:39,320 --> 00:48:43,480 Speaker 1: Chase Higgins or Boyd or excuse me, Chase Higgins and 959 00:48:43,480 --> 00:48:46,720 Speaker 1: Boyd or Johnson, Hushman, Zada and Henry. 960 00:48:47,320 --> 00:48:50,040 Speaker 3: That's a good one. That's a good one. That's a 961 00:48:50,080 --> 00:48:50,920 Speaker 3: good one. I'm gonna have. 962 00:48:50,920 --> 00:48:52,600 Speaker 4: I'm gonna have to go with us, even though I 963 00:48:52,640 --> 00:48:54,839 Speaker 4: have an appreciation for all three of those dudes. Man, 964 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:57,959 Speaker 4: Chase is special, Higgins obviously a special and Tyler Boyd 965 00:48:58,040 --> 00:49:01,760 Speaker 4: is misterconsistency, you know, throughout the years. But I obviously 966 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:03,480 Speaker 4: I'm gonna have to go with us. You know, Chris 967 00:49:03,640 --> 00:49:06,400 Speaker 4: was special. Chris was special. 968 00:49:06,440 --> 00:49:06,799 Speaker 3: And TJ. 969 00:49:07,200 --> 00:49:10,000 Speaker 4: TJ can do it all. He can do everything under 970 00:49:10,040 --> 00:49:13,000 Speaker 4: the sun, short Entermedya, he can go along, he can 971 00:49:13,040 --> 00:49:15,799 Speaker 4: beat you underneath, I mean just all around. And then 972 00:49:15,840 --> 00:49:19,040 Speaker 4: obviously myself was just just pure entertainment. 973 00:49:19,600 --> 00:49:23,320 Speaker 3: But I don't have to go with us regardless. 974 00:49:24,640 --> 00:49:27,080 Speaker 1: All right, A couple more questions for you. You spent 975 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:30,040 Speaker 1: ten years in Cincinnati. You're still the all time franchise 976 00:49:30,160 --> 00:49:34,000 Speaker 1: leader in catches, receiving yards, touchdown catches. What do you 977 00:49:34,120 --> 00:49:37,520 Speaker 1: think is your Bengals legacy? Oh? 978 00:49:37,680 --> 00:49:41,200 Speaker 3: Man, I would I would. I would say making it 979 00:49:41,320 --> 00:49:43,000 Speaker 3: fun and entertaining. 980 00:49:43,400 --> 00:49:45,319 Speaker 4: And then the funny thing about it is I made 981 00:49:45,360 --> 00:49:49,240 Speaker 4: it so fun and entertaining with what most were called antics. 982 00:49:49,440 --> 00:49:51,719 Speaker 4: I don't think people even realize how really good I was. 983 00:49:52,440 --> 00:49:54,400 Speaker 4: You know that they do. 984 00:49:54,480 --> 00:49:54,840 Speaker 3: I don't know. 985 00:49:54,880 --> 00:49:58,759 Speaker 4: I think outside of the game, like because I made 986 00:49:58,800 --> 00:50:01,000 Speaker 4: so much noise in other areas, I don't think people 987 00:50:01,120 --> 00:50:03,319 Speaker 4: understand how good I really was. 988 00:50:03,719 --> 00:50:05,839 Speaker 3: As far as like. 989 00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:07,839 Speaker 4: If you if you break it down and think about it, 990 00:50:08,680 --> 00:50:12,239 Speaker 4: to be able to talk trash through the week and 991 00:50:12,239 --> 00:50:14,439 Speaker 4: then still go out there and execute, knowing everyone trying 992 00:50:14,440 --> 00:50:16,680 Speaker 4: to knock your head off, to have a have a 993 00:50:16,760 --> 00:50:19,400 Speaker 4: list of dvs in your locker before the season starts, 994 00:50:19,800 --> 00:50:22,640 Speaker 4: and still go out week the week and beat everybody. 995 00:50:23,480 --> 00:50:25,560 Speaker 3: Like I don't. I don't think people understand. 996 00:50:25,280 --> 00:50:28,640 Speaker 4: To lead the AFC and receiving yards what four years 997 00:50:28,680 --> 00:50:33,279 Speaker 4: in a row, while all while entertaining and talking trash 998 00:50:33,360 --> 00:50:36,439 Speaker 4: week three, I don't. I don't think people understand how 999 00:50:36,680 --> 00:50:40,040 Speaker 4: difficult I made the game. And remember the climate that 1000 00:50:40,120 --> 00:50:43,680 Speaker 4: in the era I played in, defensively, remember the division 1001 00:50:43,719 --> 00:50:48,600 Speaker 4: I'm in defensively, it's it's it's it was very difficult. 1002 00:50:48,640 --> 00:50:51,200 Speaker 4: Like a lot of people play Madden, the video game Madden, 1003 00:50:51,840 --> 00:50:54,320 Speaker 4: and its hardest feature is being as playing it on 1004 00:50:54,480 --> 00:50:58,000 Speaker 4: all Madden All Madden's very difficult. I always love to 1005 00:50:58,040 --> 00:51:00,239 Speaker 4: say I played the game of football, and if feel 1006 00:51:00,320 --> 00:51:02,400 Speaker 4: on old man because I made it that much more. 1007 00:51:02,239 --> 00:51:04,640 Speaker 3: Difficult and was able to get away with it. 1008 00:51:05,200 --> 00:51:11,799 Speaker 1: Because yeah, yeah, yeah, I like a degree of difficulty. 1009 00:51:12,520 --> 00:51:13,799 Speaker 3: Yes, I needed it. 1010 00:51:13,920 --> 00:51:17,840 Speaker 4: I needed because if I didn't force the difficulty on myself, 1011 00:51:17,840 --> 00:51:20,319 Speaker 4: I don't think I would have performed to the best 1012 00:51:20,320 --> 00:51:20,960 Speaker 4: of my ability. 1013 00:51:22,040 --> 00:51:24,279 Speaker 1: Final thing, and I'll let you go. Last year, when 1014 00:51:24,280 --> 00:51:27,560 Speaker 1: Willie Anderson joined the Ring of Honor, several of his 1015 00:51:27,719 --> 00:51:30,319 Speaker 1: former teammates made it back to Cincinnati to be there 1016 00:51:30,320 --> 00:51:34,160 Speaker 1: for the celebration. If possible, Who are a few guys 1017 00:51:34,680 --> 00:51:37,960 Speaker 1: that you would really like to attend your Ring of 1018 00:51:38,000 --> 00:51:38,920 Speaker 1: Honor ceremony? 1019 00:51:39,400 --> 00:51:41,120 Speaker 3: All of them? All of them? 1020 00:51:41,160 --> 00:51:45,080 Speaker 4: But I definitely want who's there. I definitely need Big 1021 00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:47,560 Speaker 4: Willie because Big Willy and I have some some great 1022 00:51:47,560 --> 00:51:50,279 Speaker 4: memories of me bothering the defensive lineman and will you 1023 00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:51,520 Speaker 4: telling me to shut up and huddle. 1024 00:51:51,640 --> 00:51:53,319 Speaker 3: We gotta we got to bring those memories up. 1025 00:51:53,960 --> 00:52:02,360 Speaker 4: And Carson TJ, Big Willie, who else man the DB's 1026 00:52:03,120 --> 00:52:07,120 Speaker 4: Roddneny Heath Tory, James delt O'Neil. Some of those dudes 1027 00:52:07,800 --> 00:52:10,200 Speaker 4: that I battle with, you know, throughout those days. 1028 00:52:10,600 --> 00:52:13,080 Speaker 3: I mean just it's meaning as possible, it's meani as possible. 1029 00:52:13,080 --> 00:52:16,280 Speaker 4: But those three, you know, Big Willie, TJ and Carson, 1030 00:52:16,840 --> 00:52:18,359 Speaker 4: it would be it would be a joy to see 1031 00:52:18,360 --> 00:52:18,680 Speaker 4: them there. 1032 00:52:20,160 --> 00:52:20,480 Speaker 2: Well. 1033 00:52:20,520 --> 00:52:23,279 Speaker 1: As you say to others on a daily basis, I 1034 00:52:23,360 --> 00:52:28,520 Speaker 1: love you, I love you. Congratulations on this well deserved honor. 1035 00:52:28,640 --> 00:52:32,200 Speaker 1: Thank you for ten magnificent seasons in Cincinnati. Thank you 1036 00:52:32,239 --> 00:52:36,000 Speaker 1: for making it fun and for making Cincinnati cool. You'll 1037 00:52:36,000 --> 00:52:37,200 Speaker 1: always have a place in our heart. 1038 00:52:37,880 --> 00:52:39,040 Speaker 3: Thank you, appreciate it. 1039 00:52:40,239 --> 00:52:41,840 Speaker 1: That's going to do it for this episode of the 1040 00:52:41,840 --> 00:52:44,520 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth podcast, brought to you by Kettering Health, the 1041 00:52:44,520 --> 00:52:47,719 Speaker 1: official healthcare provider of the Bengals, by Bengals Picks and 1042 00:52:47,800 --> 00:52:50,240 Speaker 1: Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play with tickets and signed 1043 00:52:50,239 --> 00:52:54,480 Speaker 1: merchandise up for grabs by pay Corps, the official HR 1044 00:52:54,600 --> 00:52:59,000 Speaker 1: software provider of the Bengals, and by Alta Fiber future 1045 00:52:59,040 --> 00:53:03,640 Speaker 1: Proof Fiber Internet elevate your connection with Alta Fiber. If 1046 00:53:03,640 --> 00:53:06,280 Speaker 1: you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast 1047 00:53:06,280 --> 00:53:07,759 Speaker 1: and if you have a minute, give it a rating 1048 00:53:07,840 --> 00:53:11,120 Speaker 1: or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. 1049 00:53:11,440 --> 00:53:14,200 Speaker 1: I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to the Bengals 1050 00:53:14,280 --> 00:53:15,399 Speaker 1: Booth podcast