WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Still The One 0:00:03.640 --> 0:00:06.439 Hi, get everybody on Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:11.119 the Bengals Booth Podcast. The We're still having fun and 0:00:11.200 --> 0:00:15.760 you're still the One addition as I talk to punter 0:00:15.920 --> 0:00:18.960 Kevin Hubert as he looks to return for a fourteenth 0:00:18.960 --> 0:00:22.560 season and break the franchise record for most games play. 0:00:22.800 --> 0:00:26.239 Plus we'll hear why new tight end Hayden Hurst is 0:00:26.320 --> 0:00:29.800 so excited to be in Cincinnati. And then something a 0:00:29.800 --> 0:00:32.680 little different with my broadcast partner Dave Lapham as we 0:00:32.800 --> 0:00:38.000 compare our Mount Rushmoores in a wide variety of categories. 0:00:38.360 --> 0:00:42.600 I'll explain later in the pod. The Bengals Booth Podcast 0:00:42.680 --> 0:00:46.680 is presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download Ultimate Bengals ahead of 0:00:46.680 --> 0:00:49.760 the twenty twenty two season. It's free to play next 0:00:49.800 --> 0:00:54.680 level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. Get it now 0:00:54.760 --> 0:00:57.680 on the App Store and Google Play. And here's a 0:00:57.760 --> 0:01:00.120 quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 0:01:00.160 --> 0:01:03.520 this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer 0:01:03.920 --> 0:01:08.240 by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 0:01:08.240 --> 0:01:13.000 thing since Fenway Park. The Reds opened to two game 0:01:13.040 --> 0:01:16.200 series at Fenway on Tuesday, and seeing the ballpark on 0:01:16.280 --> 0:01:19.440 TV reminded me of why it's one of my favorite 0:01:19.440 --> 0:01:23.480 places on Earth. You never forget your first time at 0:01:23.480 --> 0:01:27.320 a place like that, right. My first trip to Fenway 0:01:27.720 --> 0:01:29.840 was on a high school band trip when I was 0:01:29.880 --> 0:01:33.600 in ninth grade. Growing up a sports fanatic near Buffalo, 0:01:33.680 --> 0:01:36.640 New York, I couldn't wait to see the Green Monster 0:01:36.800 --> 0:01:40.520 in person. Our entire high school band was scheduled to 0:01:40.560 --> 0:01:45.120 attend a game against the White Sox on a Friday night. Unfortunately, 0:01:45.319 --> 0:01:49.680 it got reined out. I was devastated, but I somehow 0:01:49.720 --> 0:01:53.800 convinced our high school band director, mister Popolardo, to allow 0:01:53.880 --> 0:01:56.840 me and my buddy Matt Moretti to skip the group 0:01:56.920 --> 0:02:01.560 activity on Boston's historic Freedom Trail following day and go 0:02:01.640 --> 0:02:05.480 to Fenway on our own for the makeup double header. 0:02:05.920 --> 0:02:09.760 I was fourteen years old. Parental supervision was apparently a 0:02:09.800 --> 0:02:14.480 little less strict back then. Thus, two ninth graders were 0:02:14.520 --> 0:02:17.280 allowed to leave their group on an out of town 0:02:17.360 --> 0:02:20.480 band trip to attend a Major League baseball game in 0:02:20.520 --> 0:02:24.440 a city they had never been to before. Mister Popolardo 0:02:24.600 --> 0:02:28.840 probably would have been reprimanded for insufficient chaperoning in this 0:02:28.960 --> 0:02:31.920 day and age, but we hopped in a cab and 0:02:32.040 --> 0:02:36.160 headed to Fenway. From what I've read, Roger Clemens and 0:02:36.200 --> 0:02:39.760 I apparently had the same experience when we saw Fenway 0:02:39.840 --> 0:02:42.919 Park for the first time. We both climbed out of 0:02:42.919 --> 0:02:45.800 a taxi in front of a short brick building that 0:02:45.960 --> 0:02:49.680 blended into the surrounding neighborhood and said, where's Fenway Park. 0:02:50.400 --> 0:02:54.079 In my case, the cabby pointed out the light towers 0:02:54.520 --> 0:02:57.640 as proof that he had taken us to the right location. 0:02:58.360 --> 0:03:01.680 I've been to Fenway dozen of times since and have 0:03:01.840 --> 0:03:04.840 the same sense of awe and wonder every time I 0:03:04.919 --> 0:03:07.920 walk through those gates. I've even had the thrill of 0:03:08.000 --> 0:03:12.799 broadcasting games from Fenway Park. The broadcast booth high above 0:03:12.840 --> 0:03:15.840 home plate is not a great place to see the action. 0:03:16.240 --> 0:03:19.680 Imagine trying to describe a baseball game from the Space shuttle, 0:03:20.160 --> 0:03:23.800 but it's still magical. You have a magnificent view of 0:03:23.840 --> 0:03:27.919 the Green Monster, the sitgo signed, the Pesky Pole, the 0:03:27.960 --> 0:03:33.280 skyline of Boston, and that perfectly manicured grass field. So 0:03:34.000 --> 0:03:38.640 here's a Dan Horde hot take. Fenway Park is easily 0:03:39.200 --> 0:03:42.600 the best ballpark in Major League Baseball, And for those 0:03:42.640 --> 0:03:46.360 of you who say, what about Wrigley Field, I've been 0:03:46.360 --> 0:03:52.280 to both and it's not even close. Now let's get 0:03:52.320 --> 0:03:55.960 to football. It's been nearly a month since Kevin Huber 0:03:56.000 --> 0:03:59.000 signed a one year contract extension as he looks to 0:03:59.080 --> 0:04:04.400 extend his career to a fourteenth season. Ken Anderson, Ken Riley, 0:04:04.440 --> 0:04:07.600 and Reggie Williams are the only players to spend at 0:04:07.640 --> 0:04:11.200 least fourteen years in Cincinnati, and in the final game 0:04:11.240 --> 0:04:16.040 of last season, Hubert tied Riley for most regular season 0:04:16.120 --> 0:04:19.720 games played in a Bengals uniform with two hundred seven. 0:04:20.400 --> 0:04:23.160 Before I get to my conversation with Kevin, here's a 0:04:23.240 --> 0:04:26.839 quick warning that there's about a two minute stretch where 0:04:26.839 --> 0:04:30.320 I get some interference on my microphone. It's not terrible. 0:04:30.440 --> 0:04:32.960 You can still hear and understand, Kevin, but I just 0:04:33.000 --> 0:04:35.159 wanted to let you know in advance that the noise 0:04:35.279 --> 0:04:39.600 goes away after a couple of questions. Now, let's hear 0:04:39.640 --> 0:04:43.120 from the Cincinnati native who holds the top spot in 0:04:43.320 --> 0:04:48.120 every Bengals career punting category. So I'm watching a replay 0:04:48.160 --> 0:04:50.600 of the Super Bowl the other day and I see 0:04:50.640 --> 0:04:53.000 the opening coin toss, and you're one of the four 0:04:53.040 --> 0:04:55.240 captains out there. I think technically you're the guy that 0:04:55.839 --> 0:04:59.240 deferred after the Rams lost the toss. But what was 0:04:59.279 --> 0:05:01.880 that moment like to be one of those four guys 0:05:01.960 --> 0:05:04.800 standing out there as a Super Bowl is about to 0:05:04.839 --> 0:05:08.159 kick off? And it was pretty special. And you know, 0:05:08.200 --> 0:05:11.160 at first you kind of, yeah, you figure out who 0:05:11.200 --> 0:05:12.680 who's going out there to do the coin tochs. It's 0:05:12.680 --> 0:05:15.200 like a normal game, and it's like you you start 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:18.200 you know, looking around and um, taking a moment and 0:05:18.240 --> 0:05:20.880 realizing like what you're actually going out there for, and um, 0:05:20.880 --> 0:05:22.080 it was just a lot of fun to just to 0:05:22.080 --> 0:05:24.680 be out there with the guys and just you know, 0:05:24.800 --> 0:05:28.039 after you know, being here for so long, just to 0:05:28.040 --> 0:05:30.200 be a part of that was pretty special. You seem 0:05:30.240 --> 0:05:33.760 to take tremendous pride in the fact that you're a 0:05:33.760 --> 0:05:36.200 Cincinnati guy and you were on a Cincinnati team that 0:05:36.320 --> 0:05:38.600 made it. At least that's the way it felt going 0:05:38.680 --> 0:05:40.480 up to the Super Bowl. Was that the case, Oh, 0:05:40.480 --> 0:05:43.120 it definitely was. Um, you know, there's definitely a different, uh, 0:05:43.960 --> 0:05:46.560 different perspective. I feel like that I was able to 0:05:46.600 --> 0:05:48.280 have compared to a lot of other guys in my 0:05:48.320 --> 0:05:51.480 team just from being here my entire life, you know, 0:05:51.520 --> 0:05:53.359 seeing the ups and downs over the years. When I 0:05:53.400 --> 0:05:54.840 was growing up them to be a part of it. 0:05:55.520 --> 0:05:57.960 To have my entire family here, all my friends here. Um, 0:05:58.560 --> 0:06:01.200 it was definitely I think, uh, I definitely took a 0:06:01.240 --> 0:06:04.000 lot of pride in that, and um it's something I'll 0:06:04.040 --> 0:06:07.039 definitely never forget and uh hopefully I'll get another chance 0:06:07.040 --> 0:06:09.719 to that. Perforehim done. Who is there? What friends and 0:06:09.760 --> 0:06:14.880 family members made the trip? Uh? Shoot, my entire immediate family, um, 0:06:15.000 --> 0:06:18.839 all my siblings, uh, most of the kids, most of 0:06:18.839 --> 0:06:22.960 my my nieces and nephews. Um, my wife was out there. 0:06:23.279 --> 0:06:27.440 I had several several buddies that came out that made 0:06:27.480 --> 0:06:29.599 the trip out. Um. Some flew in and out the 0:06:29.640 --> 0:06:32.279 same day. UM say every just much whatever they could 0:06:32.279 --> 0:06:34.080 to get out there. Um. So I think all told, 0:06:34.080 --> 0:06:37.960 probably you know, probably twenty thirty people, but I at 0:06:38.000 --> 0:06:39.840 least that I knew, and several others that just came 0:06:39.839 --> 0:06:42.000 out just you know, because there's quite a few people 0:06:42.000 --> 0:06:46.520 out there. How long did it hurt? I mean, I 0:06:46.520 --> 0:06:48.440 don't think that we were stopped pritting because you know, 0:06:48.560 --> 0:06:52.440 you feel how close you were, Um, and uh, you know, 0:06:52.440 --> 0:06:56.400 it's just something that I think, I think for the 0:06:56.440 --> 0:06:59.520 team gives a tremendous a managements the next season because 0:06:59.520 --> 0:07:02.120 we have somebody guys that are young and they but 0:07:02.160 --> 0:07:03.920 they're hungry and they want that again. They want that 0:07:03.960 --> 0:07:08.320 feeling again. So I think, yeah, it's I think it's 0:07:08.320 --> 0:07:10.360 always gonna hurt and always gonna be like, you know 0:07:10.640 --> 0:07:13.679 what if, But I think it's gonna be a huge 0:07:14.080 --> 0:07:16.440 catalyst for us to, you know, get back through this year. 0:07:17.040 --> 0:07:19.320 So there was a team party after the Super Bowl 0:07:19.320 --> 0:07:21.800 at Pauli Pavilion. I can only imagine how awesome it 0:07:21.800 --> 0:07:23.640 would have been had the outcome been different, but it 0:07:23.640 --> 0:07:26.080 was still very nice a celebration of the season, and 0:07:26.200 --> 0:07:28.280 at one point you and several of your teammates are 0:07:28.320 --> 0:07:30.880 up on the stage with Kid Cutty and it occurred 0:07:30.920 --> 0:07:34.720 to me watching from the audience that you're young. I mean, 0:07:34.760 --> 0:07:37.040 in football terms, you're referred to as like, oh, he's 0:07:37.080 --> 0:07:40.040 thirty six, he's gonna be thirty seven. In real life, 0:07:40.120 --> 0:07:42.960 you're a young man. Does this game and being around 0:07:42.960 --> 0:07:47.080 these guys keep you feeling young? Absolutely. I think me 0:07:47.120 --> 0:07:49.400 and Clark joked about it last year when when we 0:07:49.480 --> 0:07:52.520 drafted Evan, and it's me and Clark at thirty six, 0:07:52.600 --> 0:07:55.119 thirty seven and Evan at like twenty one. Just getting 0:07:55.160 --> 0:07:57.520 his you know, be able to go by by alcohol 0:07:57.560 --> 0:08:00.160 for the first time. So yeah, definitely the youth the 0:08:00.200 --> 0:08:03.240 team and the youth of Evan, And it definitely keeps 0:08:03.240 --> 0:08:07.280 you young. It keeps you, um, slightly immature, I would say, 0:08:07.320 --> 0:08:10.360 but uh, in a good way. Um. You know, so 0:08:10.480 --> 0:08:13.440 I think it definitely keeps you going. And you know, 0:08:13.480 --> 0:08:15.160 you've got guys that that aren't looking at the end 0:08:15.200 --> 0:08:17.280 of their career, they're looking at the beginning and wanting 0:08:17.320 --> 0:08:19.000 to grow, and you're you're right there with them, just 0:08:19.000 --> 0:08:20.920 helping them along the way. And it's it's definitely a fun, 0:08:21.040 --> 0:08:23.880 fun part of it. We're chatting with Kevin Huber so 0:08:24.120 --> 0:08:27.400 Evan McPherson had these dramatic game winning kicks in the postseason, 0:08:27.480 --> 0:08:29.960 fifty two yards at Tennessee, end of the game at 0:08:30.000 --> 0:08:33.440 Kansas City, and obviously you're the guy holding. How nerve racking? 0:08:33.520 --> 0:08:37.360 Is it for the holder in those situations? Um, I'd 0:08:37.360 --> 0:08:39.480 say for a young holder, it's probably more so. But 0:08:39.600 --> 0:08:42.160 I you know, I've done it long enough, and you know, 0:08:42.200 --> 0:08:44.400 we've had some game winners along the way of my career. 0:08:46.000 --> 0:08:48.240 But it's with being with Clark so long, it's it's 0:08:48.280 --> 0:08:50.720 definitely like you know, tiers, shoes. It's it's just something 0:08:50.720 --> 0:08:53.320 that you don't really think about, which in those moments 0:08:53.360 --> 0:08:55.040 I think is a huge benefit because you're not really 0:08:55.040 --> 0:08:57.560 thinking about the moment. You're just thinking about get the 0:08:57.559 --> 0:09:00.320 ball down so Devin can do his work. So it's 0:09:00.679 --> 0:09:03.080 you kind of and well you can almost like shut 0:09:03.080 --> 0:09:05.640 everything off and you just kind of just just things 0:09:05.640 --> 0:09:08.560 just happened. So it's, um, you know, it's it's not 0:09:08.600 --> 0:09:11.920 too nerve wracking. UM, I would say, um when it 0:09:11.960 --> 0:09:14.600 comes that just because of the experience and um, the 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:17.240 amount of reps, I mean, park about together. The day 0:09:17.280 --> 0:09:20.040 that you resigned, I had a speaking engagement with some 0:09:20.120 --> 0:09:23.679 Bengals fans and I said, well, good news, Kevin Huber 0:09:23.760 --> 0:09:27.240 has resigned as the Bengals holder. Now that they've improved 0:09:27.280 --> 0:09:29.200 the offensive line, they're not going to be punting this 0:09:29.280 --> 0:09:32.680 year anyway, which got a good laugh. But is holding 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:35.800 fifty percent of the job forty percent of the job, 0:09:35.840 --> 0:09:40.120 how do you think of it? Um, you know, comparatively, 0:09:40.320 --> 0:09:42.400 you know, I've had you coaches, I had you know, 0:09:42.440 --> 0:09:45.719 Coach Lewis and and and coach Taylor. Um, I think 0:09:45.800 --> 0:09:48.200 under coach Lewis when we were a huge defensive amount 0:09:48.240 --> 0:09:52.079 of team. I think hunting um was probably more important 0:09:52.080 --> 0:09:54.480 because we did a lot of a lot of We 0:09:54.600 --> 0:09:56.920 harped a lot on you know, winning the field position 0:09:56.920 --> 0:10:00.360 battle um, you know, winning games division game, you know 0:10:01.120 --> 0:10:02.800 nine to six where it's a couple of field goals 0:10:03.760 --> 0:10:05.160 where there's not a lot of scoring, but it's just 0:10:05.520 --> 0:10:07.880 you just keep pinning them back and enforcement of bad situations. 0:10:08.760 --> 0:10:11.160 But now with with coach Taylor and you know, it's 0:10:11.200 --> 0:10:13.000 offense and let's see how many points you can score. 0:10:13.880 --> 0:10:16.600 And then add and Evan whose range is something that 0:10:16.640 --> 0:10:18.559 we've never had before. You know, we've just got to 0:10:18.600 --> 0:10:22.520 get across midfield. So I think the holding aspects is 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:28.360 definitely probably tipped more on the sixty percent side. And 0:10:28.400 --> 0:10:31.120 then the punning part is just get good hits and 0:10:31.160 --> 0:10:34.640 get yourself in the best best situation for that particular 0:10:34.640 --> 0:10:37.240 punt and just kind of just don't screw up. So 0:10:37.360 --> 0:10:41.360 I think holding has definitely the biggest u part of 0:10:41.360 --> 0:10:44.240 my job right now. So you resigned right after the draft, 0:10:44.320 --> 0:10:46.280 kind I think many of us assume, well, the Bengals 0:10:46.280 --> 0:10:48.400 are waiting to see what happens in the draft, and 0:10:48.440 --> 0:10:51.600 it's it turned out you were the one that was waiting. Correct, 0:10:51.600 --> 0:10:53.360 there was an offer on the table, but you wanted 0:10:53.400 --> 0:10:56.600 to see what transpired. Yeah. We had communications back and forth, 0:10:57.480 --> 0:10:59.319 you know, leading after the draft five for like a 0:10:59.360 --> 0:11:02.880 month or so. UM. But I you know, knowing, uh, 0:11:03.040 --> 0:11:05.440 you know, just talk to my agent, knowing that there 0:11:05.480 --> 0:11:09.280 were uh was more of a punt heavy UM incoming class. 0:11:09.640 --> 0:11:12.600 UM been normal. UM. And you know I'm not dumb. 0:11:12.679 --> 0:11:14.480 I'm not being the punter for the next sixty years. 0:11:14.520 --> 0:11:16.200 It's it's gonna happen where at some point I'm not 0:11:16.240 --> 0:11:18.800 the punter. UM. And knowing that there was you know, 0:11:18.920 --> 0:11:20.760 more punters and you know, the opportunity for them the 0:11:20.800 --> 0:11:24.160 good one. UM. You know, I wanted to see. I 0:11:24.200 --> 0:11:27.160 wanted to sit back and see what uh what transpired 0:11:27.200 --> 0:11:30.679 and draft and um just because if they drafted when 0:11:30.679 --> 0:11:32.800 I totally get it, it's you know, it's um, it's 0:11:32.840 --> 0:11:35.520 just part of the job that we live in. And UM, yeah, 0:11:35.559 --> 0:11:37.880 I wanted to see what we're going on. UM. And 0:11:39.160 --> 0:11:41.080 UM I feel like if if they drapped someone, because 0:11:41.160 --> 0:11:42.559 when I got drafted, they cut the other guys in 0:11:42.600 --> 0:11:44.640 the team. So UM, I didn't want to put myself 0:11:44.640 --> 0:11:47.719 in a situation where I would be almost trapped if 0:11:47.760 --> 0:11:50.600 they drafted someone that they were going to make them part. 0:11:51.080 --> 0:11:53.280 So Drew Chrisman is here. He was on the practice 0:11:53.280 --> 0:11:55.000 squad off and on for much of last year, so 0:11:55.040 --> 0:11:57.560 they must have seen something in him they liked. Is 0:11:57.640 --> 0:12:01.200 this training camp battle and he different from anyone that 0:12:01.280 --> 0:12:03.880 you've been through in the past, considering that you will 0:12:03.920 --> 0:12:06.959 be thirty seven when the season begins, well, considering that, 0:12:07.000 --> 0:12:09.800 I don't think I've really ever had a quote unquote 0:12:09.800 --> 0:12:11.680 training camp battle. We've had some guys in, but they're 0:12:11.720 --> 0:12:15.960 more combo guys that were more or less taking some 0:12:16.040 --> 0:12:17.920 reps off the kickers and helping out with kickoffs and 0:12:17.920 --> 0:12:20.080 stuff like that. So yeah, I think this is gonna 0:12:20.080 --> 0:12:23.280 be definitely different. And you know, I got my work 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:26.880 cut out from me. I'm definitely getting older quote unquote 0:12:26.880 --> 0:12:29.800 in terms of football years. But you know, Drew does 0:12:29.800 --> 0:12:31.600 a good job. He's got he's got a big leg 0:12:31.640 --> 0:12:34.360 and it's a really nice ball. But I know that 0:12:34.360 --> 0:12:36.680 if I just do what I can do and you know, 0:12:37.000 --> 0:12:40.400 just stick to you know, not try to you know, 0:12:41.400 --> 0:12:44.160 out kick him, just do my job and be consistent 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:45.640 and put the ball needs to be put, and then 0:12:45.920 --> 0:12:48.400 you know the holding part. I feel, you know, very 0:12:48.440 --> 0:12:50.280 confident and so as long as I do what I'm 0:12:50.320 --> 0:12:53.760 gonna do, I should be fine. This is audio, not video. 0:12:53.840 --> 0:12:55.839 But when you said I'm getting older, you did air 0:12:55.960 --> 0:12:59.360 quotes when you said the word older. Yeah, yeah, I 0:12:59.400 --> 0:13:01.040 mean because I don't. I feel like I'm very old. 0:13:01.040 --> 0:13:03.280 But I know it's viewed in the football world. Is 0:13:03.720 --> 0:13:06.160 thirty six is like, oh my gosh, he's he's done, 0:13:06.200 --> 0:13:09.080 He's old. He's But I don't feel like that. I 0:13:09.120 --> 0:13:11.640 feel like I'm you know, I feel like I'm sitting 0:13:11.679 --> 0:13:13.760 at Mobile just well now as I did five six 0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:16.719 years ago. So I don't think the age is an 0:13:16.720 --> 0:13:22.560 issue for me as far as losing leg strength. So yeah, 0:13:22.640 --> 0:13:25.600 age is just a age, is just a number. You're 0:13:25.600 --> 0:13:28.319 tied with Ken Riley for career games played in a 0:13:28.360 --> 0:13:32.319 Bengals uniform. That's a regular season record. Is being alone 0:13:32.320 --> 0:13:35.400 on the top of that mountain a big deal to you? Definitely? 0:13:35.720 --> 0:13:39.040 I think that'd be a pretty awesome, you know, a 0:13:39.120 --> 0:13:42.160 record to hold. And at the same time, I can't 0:13:42.200 --> 0:13:44.640 let Clark have that instead of me. So I need 0:13:44.679 --> 0:13:46.600 to make sure I make the team and get that 0:13:46.640 --> 0:13:50.280 record and keep Clark off the list. Really appreciate your time. 0:13:50.480 --> 0:13:52.560 Best of luck this season. Thanks so much. I appreciate 0:13:53.760 --> 0:13:56.400 all Right, here's a trivia question for you the next 0:13:56.400 --> 0:13:59.679 time you're hanging out with a Bengals fan. Who is 0:13:59.720 --> 0:14:03.800 the last person to punt for the Bengals other than 0:14:03.880 --> 0:14:10.240 Kevin Huber. The answer Romanian born Zoltan Mesco, who punted 0:14:10.280 --> 0:14:12.720 in the playoff laws to the Chargers in January of 0:14:12.760 --> 0:14:17.079 twenty fourteen, when Huber was out with a broken jaw. 0:14:17.920 --> 0:14:20.920 We turn from the longest tenured Bengal and Kevin Huber 0:14:21.120 --> 0:14:24.400 to a newcomer, tight end Hayden Hurst, who spent two 0:14:24.480 --> 0:14:27.600 years in Baltimore and two years in Atlanta before signing 0:14:27.640 --> 0:14:30.120 a one year free agent deal with the Bengals to 0:14:30.240 --> 0:14:34.320 replace c j Uzama. He spoke with reporters in front 0:14:34.360 --> 0:14:38.560 of his locker on Tuesday. Yeah, it's just awesome being around, 0:14:38.600 --> 0:14:40.560 you know, an organization like this that was in the 0:14:40.560 --> 0:14:43.040 Super Bowl last year, because they've set a standard, you know, 0:14:43.080 --> 0:14:44.640 and it's fun coming in as the new guy. I 0:14:44.640 --> 0:14:46.640 get to kind of reinvent myself and live up to 0:14:46.680 --> 0:14:48.720 that standards. So it's been fun. Who has helped you 0:14:48.760 --> 0:14:51.440 the most with feeling like you're a Bengal, like you've 0:14:51.440 --> 0:14:54.480 earned your stripes. Really, everybody on the offense is pretty helpful. 0:14:55.320 --> 0:14:57.000 You know. James is an awesome tight end coach. It's 0:14:57.040 --> 0:14:58.640 nice having a guy like that in our room, just 0:14:59.000 --> 0:15:01.720 level headed and helps me, you know, maintain focus and 0:15:01.720 --> 0:15:03.640 stuff like that, and just learning the playbook and things. 0:15:04.480 --> 0:15:06.120 Joe has been awesome, Brandon has been awesome to helped 0:15:06.160 --> 0:15:10.480 me learn stuff, to Drew Mitch. So everybody's really you know, 0:15:10.600 --> 0:15:12.800 welcome me with open arms. It's been nice. Let this 0:15:12.920 --> 0:15:15.920 phase help you and Joe develop a rapport and knowing 0:15:16.000 --> 0:15:18.760 each other. Oh, it's incredible. It's incredibly helpful. Just like 0:15:18.760 --> 0:15:20.680 today we're going over stuff just how he wants things 0:15:20.680 --> 0:15:23.040 to run. And I went up and told him, I said, hey, 0:15:23.160 --> 0:15:25.120 I'm all ears. You know, whatever you need me to do, 0:15:25.200 --> 0:15:27.840 that's what I'm here to do. He's the real deal, 0:15:27.920 --> 0:15:29.840 you know, he captains the ship and you know, like 0:15:29.840 --> 0:15:31.640 like I said, whatever coverage he sees, you know, he's 0:15:31.720 --> 0:15:34.920 checking into certain things. So as a professional, it just 0:15:34.920 --> 0:15:36.600 helps me be on my p's and q's because I know, 0:15:36.640 --> 0:15:38.280 I got to know the ins and outs of that playbook. 0:15:38.400 --> 0:15:39.600 The more that I know and the more that I 0:15:39.600 --> 0:15:41.680 can do, the more I'll just be, you know, available 0:15:41.720 --> 0:15:44.120 and be able to be on the field. You know, 0:15:44.200 --> 0:15:45.960 I just this is my fifth year and my fifth 0:15:46.000 --> 0:15:47.680 offense that I've had to learn, So it's it's fun, 0:15:47.760 --> 0:15:49.320 but you know, it's nothing new to me. Just got 0:15:49.400 --> 0:15:51.840 to go in and study and learn stuff. When you signed, 0:15:51.880 --> 0:15:55.080 it seemed like the opportunity slash need at the position 0:15:55.160 --> 0:15:57.720 really excited you. Now that you're here and you see 0:15:57.720 --> 0:16:00.280 the guys, has that been reinforced even more. Oh, it's 0:16:00.280 --> 0:16:02.160 a great group. You know I've been in I've been 0:16:02.200 --> 0:16:03.880 lucky and blessed to be in some pretty good groups 0:16:03.880 --> 0:16:05.880 in the NFL. These guys are awesome. Like I said, 0:16:06.080 --> 0:16:07.880 it's kind of all hands on deck right now helping 0:16:07.880 --> 0:16:10.360 me learn this stuff. I'm excited to get in there 0:16:10.400 --> 0:16:11.720 and play with those guys. There's a lot of good 0:16:11.760 --> 0:16:13.720 athletes in our room, a lot of smart guys. So 0:16:13.960 --> 0:16:16.240 it's a good group to be around. Five offenses in 0:16:16.360 --> 0:16:19.960 five years. Well, what's the hardest part about that? Just 0:16:20.040 --> 0:16:22.160 getting the rapport with a quarterback. And I think that's 0:16:22.200 --> 0:16:24.240 what I told Joe today. I said, Hey, man, you know, 0:16:24.240 --> 0:16:25.760 I know I do some things well but I don't 0:16:25.760 --> 0:16:28.040 have this all figured out. So whatever you need, whatever, 0:16:28.200 --> 0:16:29.920 whatever you want, you know, that's that's what I'm here 0:16:29.960 --> 0:16:31.880 to do. That's why they signed me. Um, whatever I 0:16:31.880 --> 0:16:33.600 can do to help this team, help Joe, That's what 0:16:33.640 --> 0:16:35.760 I'm here to do this year. Watching you practice, it 0:16:35.800 --> 0:16:37.720 seems like you really get up the field quickly. It's 0:16:37.760 --> 0:16:40.360 noticeable for a guy your size. Has anybody pointed that 0:16:40.440 --> 0:16:44.440 out or saying, WHOA? I think this staff finally understands 0:16:44.440 --> 0:16:47.040 what I'm capable of. It's taken five years, unfortunately, but 0:16:47.480 --> 0:16:49.240 everything happens for a reason. I think God put me 0:16:49.280 --> 0:16:51.720 here in Cincinnati for a reason. Like I said, you know, 0:16:51.760 --> 0:16:53.880 I'm just gonna do my job, buckled down, learn this playbook, 0:16:53.920 --> 0:16:55.560 and just work my ass off. That's all I can do. 0:16:55.840 --> 0:16:57.600 Maybe you did a lot of research about, you know what, 0:16:57.880 --> 0:17:00.280 where you wanted to sign and why, how was it 0:17:00.320 --> 0:17:02.280 matched up with your experience now that you're in it, 0:17:02.440 --> 0:17:04.680 I made the right choice. Just I mean, I think 0:17:04.720 --> 0:17:06.879 we all know what Nine's capable of. I mean, he's 0:17:06.920 --> 0:17:09.439 incredible and he's a professional. And like I said, it 0:17:09.480 --> 0:17:11.159 was good for me being in Atlanta because Matt was 0:17:11.200 --> 0:17:12.760 that way, you know, he's a professional. You knew what 0:17:12.800 --> 0:17:14.439 he was going to have every single day, So it 0:17:14.480 --> 0:17:16.440 really raised the standard of what you had to do, 0:17:16.720 --> 0:17:18.840 your knowledge of the game, your knowledge of the playbook. 0:17:19.800 --> 0:17:21.480 I love it, you know because, like I said, there's 0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:23.720 an expectation and you know, I have to live up 0:17:23.760 --> 0:17:26.600 to it. So it's fun. Is that professionalism between the 0:17:26.600 --> 0:17:28.399 two of those guys, who really stands out is the 0:17:28.440 --> 0:17:31.800 big similarity one hundred percent. Some guys aren't like that. 0:17:31.840 --> 0:17:34.320 Some guys are. You know, he's he's about he's about 0:17:34.320 --> 0:17:36.240 his business. You know, he's not really when he's in 0:17:36.280 --> 0:17:38.440 the building, he's not screwing around. You know, he knows 0:17:38.440 --> 0:17:40.280 what he has to do and he expects you to 0:17:40.320 --> 0:17:42.359 know what you need to do too. So just watching 0:17:42.440 --> 0:17:43.880 him on the field from afar, you know, not even 0:17:43.880 --> 0:17:45.600 being in the same huddle, you know what he's about. 0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:47.719 And when you're in the same huddle and you hear 0:17:47.800 --> 0:17:49.760 him and it's confidence and what he expects. It's just 0:17:50.040 --> 0:17:52.720 it reinforces that. It's pretty awesome. Do you think people 0:17:52.920 --> 0:17:55.800 around the league have any idea what you're capable of? No, 0:17:57.680 --> 0:18:00.320 And I can't wait. It's gonna be very fun. It's 0:18:00.400 --> 0:18:03.560 like I said, I'm you know, I'm not throwing jabs anywhere, 0:18:03.640 --> 0:18:05.840 but for whatever reason, it kind of hasn't clicked yet 0:18:05.840 --> 0:18:08.320 in an offense with me and an offensive coordinator. And 0:18:09.160 --> 0:18:10.800 you just have to have somebody fall in love with you, 0:18:10.880 --> 0:18:13.040 and it hasn't happened for me yet. And like I said, 0:18:13.040 --> 0:18:15.119 I think I've kind of found home. You get to 0:18:15.160 --> 0:18:18.439 play both of your former teams. Yeah, smile has already 0:18:18.480 --> 0:18:22.840 come to your face looking forward to that. I'm already 0:18:22.840 --> 0:18:25.240 a self motivated guy. There's not really you know, outside 0:18:25.240 --> 0:18:28.320 stuff that drives me a whole lot. But there's any 0:18:28.359 --> 0:18:30.959 more fuel to my fire that I needed, I definitely 0:18:30.960 --> 0:18:33.439 have it. I was a minor league baseball announcer for 0:18:33.440 --> 0:18:36.919 several years, so we have minor league baseball in common. 0:18:37.920 --> 0:18:40.280 How did that experience, and I know it was tough 0:18:40.320 --> 0:18:42.199 for you, How did that shape you and help you 0:18:42.240 --> 0:18:44.239 reach the point you preach? It's made me a hell 0:18:44.280 --> 0:18:47.520 of a resilient athlete because in high school I just 0:18:47.520 --> 0:18:49.159 showed up and I was better than everybody. You know. 0:18:49.160 --> 0:18:50.240 I was like, I don't have to work hard, I 0:18:50.240 --> 0:18:51.400 don't have to do this. And then I get into 0:18:51.440 --> 0:18:53.640 pro baseball and I get my ass kicked a little bit, 0:18:53.800 --> 0:18:56.679 and I was able to kind of, you know, go 0:18:56.720 --> 0:18:58.600 back to who I am and work myself out of 0:18:58.600 --> 0:19:01.600 it and get to the NFL. But it's just I'm 0:19:01.600 --> 0:19:03.680 pretty resilient, you know. You know when I get kicked, 0:19:03.720 --> 0:19:06.400 you know, I scratch and clawback. There's not a whole 0:19:06.440 --> 0:19:08.080 lot of people that can keep me down. I'm gonna 0:19:08.080 --> 0:19:09.400 try to scratch and claw my way to the top. 0:19:09.440 --> 0:19:11.639 And you know, luckily I was given this opportunity, and 0:19:11.800 --> 0:19:14.520 I'm sure it's all going to scratch and claw. If 0:19:14.520 --> 0:19:17.359 you're not familiar with Hayden hurst pro baseball career, he 0:19:17.400 --> 0:19:21.080 was a highly touted pitching prospect in the Pirates organization 0:19:21.359 --> 0:19:24.320 with a ninety five mile an hour fastball when he 0:19:24.359 --> 0:19:27.280 came down with a yips much like former Big leaguer 0:19:27.359 --> 0:19:31.119