1 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,439 Speaker 1: Hike and everybody on Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: the Bengals Booth Podcast. The Closing Time addition, as the 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: Bengals pack up their lockers and say their goodbyes after 4 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: one of the best seasons in franchise history. Coming up, 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: Jesse Bates expresses his gratitude for half a decade in Cincinnati. 6 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Shuitabeya Woo Jay discusses the Bengals New normal, and we'll 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: hear from Ted Carriss, Alex Kappa, Trenton Irwin, and Zach 8 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 1: Taylor as well. The Bengals Booth Podcast has brought to 9 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: you by Alta Fiber, future proof fiber Internet capable of 10 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: delivering multi gigabit speeds designed to take your home, business, 11 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 1: and community to a new level. Elevate your connection with 12 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: Alta Fiber. Now here's a quick reminder that you can 13 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: have the latest edition of this podcast delivered right to 14 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing wherever you get 15 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 1: your podcast. It's the greatest thing since Bodyguard b J. Hill. 16 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,559 Speaker 1: You've probably seen the video clip from the locker Room 17 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: that went viral on Sunday, in which b J. Hill 18 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: stands up for teammate Joseph Osai. Osai was understandably devastated 19 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: after getting called for the unnecessary roughness penalty with eight 20 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: seconds to go that helped the Chiefs kick their game 21 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,119 Speaker 1: winning field goal. When reporters approached Osai after the game, 22 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: Hill stood next to his friend and intercepted questions that 23 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: he thought were unnecessarily intrusive or insensitive. He didn't prevent 24 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: people from doing their jobs, but he supported a teammate 25 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: under tough circumstances. Here are Jesse Bates and Zach Taylor. 26 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: After seeing that video, I love that he did that 27 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: pung because I know Joseph how much work he puts 28 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: into this and he had no ill intensons one doing 29 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: that to just play a hard his plan doing his 30 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: one eleven that we talked about all year in that 31 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: defensive room, and it's unfortunate that had to come down, 32 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: and that it's not the reason why we lost. It's 33 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: good that bj as a veteran, is able to step 34 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: in and be there for Joseph because he is a 35 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: young guy. I mean, I don't want him to think that, 36 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: you know, year two, this is where his year two ends, 37 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: and that's gonna write his whole legacy being in the NFL. No. 38 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: I told him to go back to work and don't 39 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: have another opportunity. Don't let that rite, you know, don't 40 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: make him label who you are based off that play. 41 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,519 Speaker 1: And I have no doubt he'll bounce back from it. 42 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: The things that get highlighted usually are what happens at 43 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: the end of the game, but there's certainly at least 44 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: one thing every coach and every player wishes we would 45 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: have done differently in that game. I'm to a man, 46 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: and so it was awesome to see those guys support 47 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: each other. I'm in a really tough, tough moment, and 48 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: you know, Joseph's a guy who who leaves his hard 49 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: and soul and the I'm gonna feel every single day, 50 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 1: whether it's some practice or in games, and so I 51 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: appreciate that about him. Joseph Osai is twenty two years 52 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: old and absolutely delightful to talk to, and Sunday's game 53 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: might not have been tied with less than a minute 54 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: to go if Osai had not played great up to 55 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: that point. If you would like to get to know 56 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: Joseph better, I'll end this podcast with an encore presentation 57 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: of My fun Fact's interview with him from earlier this year. 58 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: It was back in Week ten, So if you didn't 59 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: catch it, then you'll want to catch it now. Being 60 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: in the locker room on Monday was unlike any day 61 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: after the final game that I can remember. It was 62 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: like guys didn't want to leave. They were playing ping pong, 63 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: sitting in small clusters, talking and laughing and signing jerseys 64 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: to swap. It was an unusually tight group. After an 65 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: O and two start, the Bengals went fourteen and three 66 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: the rest of the way, including a franchise record ten 67 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: game winning streak. Four of their five losses came on 68 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: walk off field goals. Here's Zach Taylor. You immediately feel 69 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: tired this morning because you're always prepping yourself one more week, 70 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: one more week, and coffee cat, whatever you gotta do 71 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: to keep yourself going and the excitement, and then when 72 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: it ends, you just get sick for two weeks everybody 73 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: and your body just shuts down. And I'm sure that's 74 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: that's the point I'll hit tomorrow. But I am doing 75 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: my best just to appreciate, you know, all the other 76 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: things you just mentioned that this team's accomplished this year, 77 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: and there's a lot to be proud of, and again, 78 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: it can still two things can be true. It can 79 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 1: still sting, and you can still be really proud of 80 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: what this group accomplished and really proud of this group 81 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: as he should be. The Bengals won back to back 82 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: division titles for the first time in franchise history. For 83 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: newcomers like offensive lineman Ted Harris and Alex Kappa, their 84 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: first year in Cincinnati confirmed to them that they made 85 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: a great choice in free agency. I had a fantastic 86 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 1: sick time. I think this is an amazing culture, fun offense, 87 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: to be a part of, fun team, to be a 88 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: part of reflecting we need to do I need to 89 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: do personally. Just you know, you look back at the 90 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: season and you think about the little things that you 91 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: could have tweaked in that game. I'm not gonna let it. 92 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: You know, no one's gonna let it fester. The game 93 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: went how it was. But just really grateful to be here. 94 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: It was a great opportunity. Hopefully made the most of 95 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: it and um, you know, hopefully get another shock to 96 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: get back to a championship game in twenty twenty three. 97 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: I've had a lot of fun. I thought, like everyone said, 98 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: that's a great locker room, great offensive line room. We 99 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: had a lot of success, even though it didn't end 100 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: the way he wanted it to, and I just really 101 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: enjoyed my hear. Keras has signed for two more years 102 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: and Kappa is signed for three more, but several key 103 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: players on the team are due to become free agents, 104 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: including Jesse Bates, Von Bell, Hayden Hurst, Jermaine Pratt, Eli Apple, 105 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: and some I JP Ryan here's Keis. It's like the 106 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: last day of school. You know, the team's not gonna 107 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: be the same. There's gonna be changes on every NFL 108 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 1: franchise this season. That is the nature of the business. 109 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: So guys are gonna have to find their role. We 110 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: have a lot of I don't know if we have 111 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: a lot of free agents. We have some guys that 112 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 1: are I've been there. This is my first year in 113 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: four years and I'm not a free agent going into 114 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: the offseason, so it's a little different feeling. But I 115 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: empathize with a lot of the guys that are going 116 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: to go on a journey, and you know, understand it 117 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: is a business, but hopefully we can get everyone back 118 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: and it wants to be here on emotional Jesse Bates 119 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: met with reporters on Monday, knowing that he may have 120 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: played his last game in a Cincinnati uniform. The Bengals 121 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 1: negotiated with his agent for a couple of years in 122 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: hopes of extending his contract, but the two sides could 123 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: not reach a deal, and Bates played on the franchise 124 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 1: tag this season for roughly thirteen million dollars. If Jesse 125 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: does move on, he's thankful for his five seasons in Cincinnati. 126 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: I was struck by You're used to the word gratitude 127 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: yesterday after the game. It seemed like that really hit 128 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: home for you. Like I said, it's it's cool to 129 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: be part of something special, UM, something that it's hard. 130 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: It's hard. UM an emotional about it for a long time, 131 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: Still numb to it. UM. Oh yeah, Like you said, 132 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: gratitude is a word that I can really describe about 133 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: everything that happened here. UM. Over my past five years 134 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: being here, UM, I learned so much about myself, learned 135 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: so much about the game, I learned so much about Cincinnati. UM. 136 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: And I'm just so thankful for everybody I ran into. UM, 137 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: inside this building, outside this building, UM, I've created some 138 00:07:56,160 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: very special relationships UM at a last minute life. And 139 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: that's all you can ask for when you when you 140 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: come to an end, if something, um, if you left 141 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: it better than when you came in. And I think 142 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: that I played a good part of that. And I'm 143 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: not the only reason for that. I know my brothers 144 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: in this locker room, years in and years out, UM 145 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: had a lot to do with that as well. And uh, 146 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: like I said, I can't dwell on anything because I know, 147 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: like I said, I love my teammates. Every year, when 148 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: it was bad, I loved him, it was good, I 149 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 1: loved him. Um. Like I said, I'm just thankful. So 150 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: I love was mutual. What was some of that comments 151 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: that you received from some of those guys yesterday and today? 152 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: You know, everybody knows, you know what's going on. Unfortunately 153 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: that's part of this business. And uh, you know, you 154 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: spend so much time together over so many years, and 155 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: sometimes it has to come to an end. I don't know. 156 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that this is the end of everything, 157 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: but we know that there's a possibility. And it's my 158 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: first time being in that instance where I may not 159 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: be here, you know, so any other year I was 160 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,959 Speaker 1: able to process Oh, maybe we can come back next 161 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: year and do this thing all over again. But like 162 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: I said, I learned a lot from being here in Cincinnati, 163 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: a lot from everyone that I've came in contact with. 164 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: And all I can say, I'm thankful because that loss 165 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 1: hurt even more because of your personal situation. No, I don't. 166 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: I don't want to take it away from um, you know, 167 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 1: just being in my personal situation, this hurts for everybody. 168 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: I love that everyone had for each other, whether this 169 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: is their last year or not. This is the last 170 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: time that this team will be together as a whole, 171 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,839 Speaker 1: and we've been able to get through a lot of 172 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,559 Speaker 1: tough this year that normally you don't go through as 173 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: a team. UM, I'm just proud man. As just I 174 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: can just keep rumbling about this team and rumbling about 175 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,599 Speaker 1: my time here. But uh, like I said, at the 176 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: end of the day, I'm just thankful. I think that 177 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: UM I showed UM how to be a leader, how 178 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: to be UM the same guy every day, UM, even 179 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: when you're not going your way. UM. I could have 180 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: easily came in here on a franchise tag and been 181 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: a cancer to this team. UM. We started off owing two. 182 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: I could have went to the media, they want to 183 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: get traded. Um, but no, I didn't like I said. 184 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: I love my teammates no matter whether it was going 185 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: good or bad. And UM, I think that if anything, 186 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: I could have left here and that's what I would. UM. 187 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: Hopefully a lot of people got that from me. Was 188 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: no matter what, UM, come in here every day and 189 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 1: just work. Um, whether it working your way or not. UM, 190 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: try to do your best and be here for your 191 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: team and the ultimate goal of the team. And uh, 192 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: we'll see what happens after that defensive coordinat Lou in 193 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: a room, are you guys seem to be extremely close 194 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: both ways. Yeah, Lou came in when I was a 195 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:27,319 Speaker 1: knucklehead thinking I could make every play in the game. Um. 196 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: The amount of detail work that he taught me. M. 197 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: I used to go home like, man, this new DC 198 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: doesn't like me. Man, it's dude, don't like me at all. 199 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: And just the amount of love that he showed me. Um, 200 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 1: it may have not been pat me on my back 201 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: and just say it's gonna be all right. UM, you 202 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: know he pushed me. He pushed me two levels that 203 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: you know coaches never have before. And UM, that's all 204 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: you can ask for as as as a DC and 205 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 1: out of the coach. Um, it's to challenge you every 206 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: single day. I think he did that and to watch 207 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: what he created, Um, the culture that he created in 208 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: our defense room. I'll be able to, um, you know, 209 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: take that maybe somewhere else, I'll be able to take 210 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: that and be a father. I'll be able to do 211 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: multiple things with stuff that he taught me on the 212 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,439 Speaker 1: football fool. So UM. Like I said, Man, it's a 213 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: it's an emotional time to speak about that. But all 214 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,079 Speaker 1: I can say, I'm thankful for speak so movingly about 215 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: Cincinnati and about this locker room and your teammates and 216 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: your culture, and so fans will be wondering about what 217 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: it's going to take to keep you here. Would you 218 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: want to stay here? JESSEP Yeah, Um, I want to 219 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: be here. Um. Unfortunately, this business. UM, you know, there's 220 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: different scenarios where I'm not in this situation where I 221 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: can leave twenty ten million on the table and be 222 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: okay with that, because it wouldn't be fair to myself, 223 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: my family, my legacy. UM. But obviously, yes I want 224 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: to be here, and my family's three hours away from here. UM. 225 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: Like I said, I created bonds in this locker room, 226 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: outside this locker room. UM, so yeah, I want to 227 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: be here. Answers the question, just you bet on yourself 228 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 1: twice or he's glad you didn't. Um. Yeah, I've learned. 229 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: I've learned a lot about myself. Um these past two years. Man, 230 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: It's like I said, I could have I could have 231 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: easily went a different route. Um, been a cancer. UM. 232 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: But I think it has a lot to do with 233 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: the people in this locker room. The people in this 234 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: organization is um. They they brought me in here, and 235 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: they know they helped me get through tough times. Uh. 236 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 1: I was in shells. I would not talk to anybody 237 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: UM at times. And UM, like I said, the brotherhood, 238 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: we haven't here. They got me out of that. And 239 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: like I said, it's something that you don't know until 240 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 1: you know. UM. And I was able to experience that, 241 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: and I'll be able to use that in different instances 242 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: of my life. And hopefully I was able to show 243 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: some of the younger guys how to handle those tough situations. 244 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: So yeah, I'm thankful that I was able to bet 245 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: on myself and thankful that I was able to be healthy. 246 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: It's the main part of that. When you're good enough 247 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: to make the playoffs, the end of the season is 248 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: so abrupt. But with this team, the ten game winning 249 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: street one game from the super Bowl, does it almost 250 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: seem surreal that you don't have another game in two weeks. Yeah, 251 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: when you don't lose a game since what was a Halloween, 252 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: I think it was, um, you kind of forget the 253 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: feeling of losing. I mean, we got on the plane 254 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: last night and just being around these dudes made stuff 255 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: feel a lot better and made made me feel like 256 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: we were going back into meetings the following week. So yes, 257 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: it's tough. It's tough. It's tough, and like I said, 258 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: it's it just shows how important a love bond, close 259 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: knitted group can get you through multiple things. And even 260 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: though it's the end of it for this year, like 261 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: I said, you still see guys playing ping pong, You 262 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: still see guys talking on the plane. And that's what 263 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: we play this game for, is to you know, take 264 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: care of our families obviously, and build relationships that will 265 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: last you a lifetime. And I think we've done that here. 266 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: Great stuff from Jesse Bates the Bengals Booth podcast is 267 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: brought to you by Cattering Health, the official healthcare provider 268 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: of the Bengals. With more than one hundred twenty care 269 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: facilities and fifteen hundred care providers, Cattering Health is committed 270 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: to guiding you to your best health. Visit cattering health 271 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: dot org to learn more. As I noted earlier, Bates 272 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: is not the only member of the secondary you could 273 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: be headed the free agency. Von Bell, Eli Apple and 274 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: Trey Flowers are also on the list. Here's Shitaba wo Je, 275 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: who has one year left on his deal. Every season 276 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: is different, every every team's different, and I think we've 277 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: been blessed the past two years to be a part 278 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: of the defense that kept as nucleus for you know, 279 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: two years. That's a long time for most teams. So yeah, 280 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: we've definitely been spoiled. But at the same time, we've 281 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: built something special here so that you know, when new 282 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: faces come, they know what the standard is, they know 283 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: what we expect, They know the culture in this locker room, 284 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: and yeah, we need to bring in the right people 285 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: that can respond to that culture and not you don't 286 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: disrespect it because it's something special that will always keep 287 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: us bonded. The people that were on this past team, 288 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: past two teams together. Your description of kind of the 289 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: business of the NFL was obviously very realistic, but it 290 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: sounds like there is a tinge of sadness in your voice. 291 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: It's that accurate. So tends of everything in my voice 292 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: right now because I'm still processing everything. But obviously I 293 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: know that being in the NFL for this amount of time, 294 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: you don't have you never have the same team, you know, 295 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. So this team's chapter is closed. 296 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: It's closed, it's over. The brotherhood never stops, but the 297 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: chapter of chasing what our goal was is over, and 298 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: that's the reality that we all have to deal with 299 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: until next year. We don't know who will be here, 300 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: who won't be here, So I can't speculate or guess, 301 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:32,959 Speaker 1: you know. So it's just that's just a matter of 302 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: time until those things happen and then we can react. 303 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: There will be changes. But this was the youngest playoff 304 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 1: roster before team teams that made it and you have Burrow. 305 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: Is there that feeling that the core group here is 306 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: going to be able to compete for the top Yeah, 307 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: you know, obviously football has a funny way of humbling you. 308 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: But if gods stay healthy, the mindset that we have, 309 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: everything will workout. I think year after year, you know. 310 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: But obviously football is a funny way of humbling you. 311 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: So I don't want to you know, confirm or you know, 312 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 1: guarantee anything. So but that's my expectation. Zach says he 313 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 1: doesn't consider himself to be the greatest speaker, but it 314 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: seems like he always has a message that resonates with guys. 315 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: Is there anything he said, whether it was after the 316 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: game yesterday or today in the final meeting that resonated 317 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:25,719 Speaker 1: with you? I mean he said, he said a few things. Um. 318 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: Number one thing is to be proud of what we 319 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 1: accomplished as a team. Um. I think when you create 320 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:37,239 Speaker 1: a new normal for a team, it's hard to like 321 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: your your your emotions changed. Like obviously, before I die here, 322 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 1: I didn't know the culture of this team, but um, 323 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: they had a normal, right and maybe just a little 324 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: bit better than normal would have been a win. But 325 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 1: we surpassed that normal by a lot. So now like 326 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: it's like our new normal is what we've been doing. 327 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: And um, even though it feels bad, like if you 328 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,360 Speaker 1: get where a lot of where we were as a team, 329 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: a couple of years ago, Like, this is a good 330 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: new normal. So, um, I think you know, he he 331 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 1: definitely show that miss his home that we should be 332 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: proud of what we've accomplished. Obviously we left a lot 333 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,160 Speaker 1: of meat on the bone, but um, there's a lot 334 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: things that we did that were that were great. The 335 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,719 Speaker 1: new normal for the Bengals is to begin next season 336 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: is one of the top four or five teams in 337 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: the NFL. The Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you 338 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 1: by pay Corps. More than twenty nine thousand customers trust 339 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: pay Corps to help them recruit, pay, engage, and retain employees. 340 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: Learn more at paycorps dot com. Here's one more short 341 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: Exit Day interview. It's with wide receiver Trenton Irwin, who 342 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: went from being a three year practice squad staple to 343 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: becoming one of Joe burrows trusted targets day. Like, this 344 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: is strange to me because it's so abrupt. You feel 345 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: like that train is rolling towards the Super Bowl and 346 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you guys are shaking hands and 347 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: walking out. Yeah, especially the way that ended. You know, 348 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: if you got blown out, you're gonna have to think 349 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: about oh we might not, but like I felt like 350 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: everything was rolling our way, like we had every piece 351 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: we needed. It was coming up short, you know, a 352 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: couple of players and one of those things that it's 353 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: crazy to you just go. You got a whole off 354 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: season think about it. But you know, hopefully everyone gets 355 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: back to there, gets back to thing, take a couple 356 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: of weeks off, they get back to work. Going into 357 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: the season, there was some thought out there nationally that 358 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: maybe the Bengals aren't legit, maybe last year super Bowl 359 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: run is a little bit freakish. Nobody can say that. Now, 360 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 1: do you feel like you've clearly established that the Bengals 361 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 1: are right there at the top of the NFL. You know, 362 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: I'm I'm almost speak from the heart and saying that. 363 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 1: I don't think really a whole lot of people care 364 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: about what everyone's saying outside of here. You know, I 365 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: think we all all believe that or that type of team. 366 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: You know, we have the pieces to be able to 367 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 1: go in everything. So I mean that's just sort of 368 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 1: who we are as a group. So you know, we're 369 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: you know, people are gonna say what they're gonna say, 370 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: good and bad, and we appreciate you. The one, But 371 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: we're gonna be who we are and I think we 372 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: got a lot coming this socker room. Of the fourteen 373 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: teams that made the playoffs, this is the youngest roster. 374 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: There will be changes, there always are, but the nucleus 375 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: is going to be back and it's strong. Yeah. No, 376 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: I'm one hundred sign with you. We gotta I got 377 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: a tight group and that's that's one thing we gotta 378 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: keep maintaining through the years. What did Zach say to 379 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: the team? What was his final message? You know, Um, 380 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: it's one of those things, like you said, it was abrupt. 381 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: It's a tough ending, but there's a lot to learn from. 382 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: There's a lot of good things that came from this year, 383 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,360 Speaker 1: and you know, that's the way it goes in the playoffs. 384 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: We play a lot of good teams and sometimes things 385 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,639 Speaker 1: roll one way or the other, and you know, we 386 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,719 Speaker 1: gotta just keep doing our best thing, keep taking our 387 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 1: next best step. Set a franchise record with ten straight wins. 388 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:56,680 Speaker 1: It's the first team to win playoff games and back 389 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: to back years in this team's history. Do you feel 390 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,959 Speaker 1: like there wor a lot of great accomplishments that you'll remember. Definitely, 391 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 1: good accomplishments. You know, I don't think a lot of 392 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: this team knows nothing but that type of excellence. You know, 393 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: we're just trying to go out there and win games, 394 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: and one tenth straight could have one eleventh straight to 395 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: go to the freaking ball. So I mean, we came 396 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 1: up last week, have on one short. I guess we're 397 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: too short this year. But you know, we just got 398 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:23,719 Speaker 1: to keep learning and keep growing and take that next step. 399 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 1: Rats in a great year. Thank you. The Bengals Booth 400 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: podcast is brought to you by Bengals Picks and Ultimate Bengals. 401 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: They're free to play with tickets and signed merchandise up 402 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: for grabs. Find both inside the Bengals app. Finally, as promised, 403 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:44,120 Speaker 1: an encore edition of My Fun Facts interview with second 404 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: year defensive lineman Joseph Osai. Time for some fun facts 405 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: with Joseph Osai, who was raised near Houston but born 406 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: in Nigeria. What do you remember about your early childhood 407 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 1: years back in Africa? A lot of rain, um, a 408 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,159 Speaker 1: lot of sin, a lot of soccer, you know what 409 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: I mean, Soccer after school that was fun with the 410 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: neighborhood kids and then um, just being happy with my family. 411 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: Of course we went through some things, but overall being happy. 412 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: Your family essentially won a lottery to get visas to 413 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:20,479 Speaker 1: come to the US. Correct sir, Absolutely explain how that works. 414 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: Just like any lottery. You know, there's a there was 415 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: a powerball I think lottery last night and people were 416 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:30,679 Speaker 1: scrambling to win that. But um yeah, just like any lottery. Um, 417 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: you play, you win. If you win. Instead of getting money, 418 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 1: you get free citizenship. So that's what that's what we did. 419 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: You were ten years old, were you heartbroken to leave 420 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: home and leave your friends behind or were you excited 421 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:44,919 Speaker 1: about coming to the US. It was a bit of 422 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: sweet for sure. Bitter sweet, m excited about the US. 423 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 1: Grew up watching home alone. You know, I thought every 424 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 1: single New York I mean US city and state was 425 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: like New York. So I was super excited to eat 426 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: pizza and burgers and all that. But yeah, definitely said 427 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,120 Speaker 1: about leaving my friends that I grew up with, but 428 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: my family was with me, and then that's that was 429 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 1: my piece of home that I brought with me. Were 430 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: visiting the joseph Osai, there had to be some culture shock. 431 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: I would imagine what stands out absolutely everything every single 432 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: details about going to school, the clicks in schools them 433 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,439 Speaker 1: from like I mentioned, Sam being everywhere in Nigeria. No 434 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: saying here, you know what I mean, just concuting grass. 435 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: So that was that was that, and then just learning 436 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,920 Speaker 1: how to communicate a lot of things and then over 437 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: it definitely took us multiple years to figure it out, 438 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:39,919 Speaker 1: but you know that was all part of growing and learning. 439 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: Have you ever been back? I have not, but I 440 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: need to. My dad goes back all the time though, 441 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 1: but I've just never had time, you know, with football 442 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: and growing up, I was always involved in summer activities 443 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: like summer track and basketball and stuff like that, so 444 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,440 Speaker 1: I never really got the chance, but hopefully soon. How 445 00:24:56,480 --> 00:25:00,639 Speaker 1: important we're sports in helping you blend in very important. 446 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,880 Speaker 1: They allowed me to make my first group of friends, 447 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: you know, playing playing playing football at recess at the 448 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: back of the school. That's where I was able to 449 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 1: game friends. Because then it's not they don't care if 450 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:15,959 Speaker 1: you can you have an action, or if you know 451 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 1: how to do this or not how to say this. 452 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: They just care about or you good athlete? Did you 453 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: score the game winning touchdown before the recess bell blue? 454 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: You know what I mean so yeah that sports. Sports 455 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: was a huge part of me integrating and gaining friends. 456 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: But your mom did not want you to play football, correct, 457 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,880 Speaker 1: she did not. She did not. She was too rough 458 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: for her. She wouldn't mean to focus on my studies 459 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: as every African parent does. But yeah, she she didn't 460 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: come to a game all of junior, junior, high all 461 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: of um up until junior in high schools when she 462 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:53,399 Speaker 1: first came to her game, and she was she praised 463 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 1: the rosary like the whole way through the game. So 464 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: she is still a very violent sport for her, but 465 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 1: she's learned to accept it. So during the course of 466 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: the game, she's as nervous as can be, as nervous 467 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,479 Speaker 1: as can be, she's constantly praying. She just super scared. 468 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: But you know, she's she's she's adapted over the years. 469 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: She's not as bad as she used to be, for sure. 470 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: We're doing fun facts with Joseph Osai. You attended oak 471 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 1: Ridge High School and we're a coveted recruit. What was 472 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: the recruiting process like for you? It was it was 473 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: a brand new thing, um, because I'd never I didn't 474 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: even you know, that was a thing first of all, 475 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: and you know, Texas being a just a big football state. 476 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: You know, playing football there is interesting for sure, I'll 477 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,439 Speaker 1: say that. So, um, it was. It was wild. I 478 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,879 Speaker 1: tried to thank you. I had my family around me 479 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:42,680 Speaker 1: and they didn't know anything about things, so there was 480 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: no pressure to go here or there. But they we 481 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 1: kept a level ahead and we tried to move through 482 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: logically and write everything down, make sure we were making 483 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: the right decision, not decisions based off of what color 484 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 1: uniform or school had or how much they could wool 485 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: you in the recruiting you know what I mean recruiting world. 486 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: But um, I definitely had some good people around me. 487 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: My coaches too, were did a good job of helping me, 488 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: like because they had been through whatever, and they said, look, 489 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: you gotta take things into consideration and do this, do this. 490 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: Make sure you have your grades right still, because just 491 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 1: because you have the letters coming in doesn't mean you're accepted. 492 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: You still have to have a good grades to get 493 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:23,879 Speaker 1: into these schools and stuff like that. So yeah, it was, 494 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 1: it was. It was. It was amazing, but again it 495 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: was as part of the process. It was dope. You 496 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 1: chose the University of Texas, you spent three years with 497 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: the Longhorns. What did you enjoy most about the college experience? 498 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: Game day? Game day in Texas is just amazing. Um 499 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: and uh just and it's a lot better here too. 500 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: But um, I know, some some pros some locker rooms 501 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 1: they don't even there's no commodity. I don't know if 502 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:54,399 Speaker 1: I said that word camaraderie. Camaraderie. There's no camaraderie with um. 503 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: With teammates, they as soon as they're done with practice, 504 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: they just shoot out. But what I enjoyed most about 505 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: college was um, hanging out after practices. You know, we 506 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: all were going to the same dorms, we all were 507 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 1: living the same lives and stuff like that. It's a 508 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:11,399 Speaker 1: lot better here in this locker room, for sure. You 509 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 1: know there's we hang out and play ping pong all 510 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: the time. But just that family mentality is what I 511 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: love the most about college. You know, just a bunch 512 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: of guys grinding and trying to get to the next level. 513 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: There was there was something special about that. For sure. 514 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:25,919 Speaker 1: You had a great career. The Bengal selected you in 515 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: the third round of last year's draft. Describe your draft experience. 516 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: It was a lot of a lot of a lot 517 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: of mixed emotions, man, because you know, there's expectations and 518 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 1: then there's what actually happens. And overall, I was just thankful, excited, man, 519 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: because then as I kept watching the draft, there or 520 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: some people that I thought we're gonna get drafted, they 521 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 1: didn't get drafted. So I was just super grateful to 522 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: have been given the chance to go and play at 523 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: the next level, you know what I mean. I mentioned 524 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: me and my college teammates grinding and trying to get 525 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 1: to that next level, and we had a little group 526 00:28:58,400 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: and for me to be one of the first to 527 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: go and achieved that next level, it was pretty special. 528 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 1: So I know they were just know that everybody was 529 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 1: super proud of me, and it was it was I 530 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: can't I can't describe that feeling, man, It was it was. 531 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 1: It was awesome. It was amazing. We're chatting with Joseph O. Say, 532 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: in your NFL preseason debut, you famously sacked Tom Brady. 533 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: You had a great game, but you suffered knee and 534 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: elbow injuries in that game, and mister rookie season, how 535 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 1: difficult was it emotionally last year? Knee and risk injury? 536 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: And it was it was one of the worst things 537 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 1: I've ever had to go through, And um, I got 538 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: to actually, you got actually that question a lot during 539 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 1: the pre draft process, what is the worst thing You've 540 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:40,520 Speaker 1: ever had to go through? And nothing came to mind 541 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: because I came from a good family. You know, me 542 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 1: and my family pretty close, Um, I mean, not in 543 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: a broken home. So I've never had none of my 544 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: close relatives of close family members I've ever died, so 545 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: I really actually never had that thing to say. You know, 546 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 1: I would just say not playing football durning COVID was 547 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: pretty hard, but um, this is pretty terri you know 548 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: what I mean. And having gone through that and now 549 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: trying to come out through the other side, it's it's 550 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 1: really awesome to see that I could work through that, 551 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 1: and my mentality a thought like waivered a bit. It's 552 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 1: still the same and I'm still striving to be where 553 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: I am. I know you're close with your family. Was 554 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: that the key to getting through it? Of course? Of 555 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 1: course talking to them mostly almost every day, and then 556 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: some days I didn't want to talk to them. I 557 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 1: didn't want to talk to anybody. I had my teammates 558 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,239 Speaker 1: so I couldn't get away from and they picked me up. 559 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 1: So um, yeah, it was it was people around me. 560 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: It just kind of been, um, a very key key 561 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: point in every my all my life, all my aspect 562 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: of life, you know, whether it's going through college and 563 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: going through being transitioned from Nigeria to here, and then 564 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: every every step of my life, the people around me 565 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:53,720 Speaker 1: have played a huge role and helped me get to 566 00:30:53,720 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: where I am. All right, we'll wrap it up with 567 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 1: some wild card questions. Now for Joseph Osi, do you 568 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: have any hidden town once hidden talents. I don't know 569 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 1: if this will count as a hidden talents. It's just 570 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,640 Speaker 1: a he said, a fun fact. When I get tired enough, 571 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 1: I sleep with my eyes open. I don't, I don't, 572 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:15,440 Speaker 1: like I said, I don't know if it's a hidden talents. 573 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: It's kind of involuntary. But if I get tired enough, 574 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 1: I will I will sleep with my eyes open. And um, 575 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: I didn't believe it at first, but my shiblings make 576 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: sure they recorded recorded some videos of me doing it, 577 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: so now I believe it. But yeah, if I get 578 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: tired enough, my eyes will just stay open and say 579 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: that being asleep. That like sounds like a lizard quality 580 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,760 Speaker 1: or something. Enough, if you have a little bit of 581 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 1: a mixed DNA or something so pretty wild. Yeah, but yeah, 582 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: that's that's what I can think of right now. All right, 583 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: I consider that a hidden talent. On the flip side, 584 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 1: is there anything that you will admit to being absolutely 585 00:31:52,400 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: terrible at the guitar? I? Um uh. During my injury 586 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 1: phase last year, I tried to pick up the guitar. 587 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 1: I had a roommate, why Hubert. He was phenomenal at it. 588 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 1: He tried to teach me. I am just my fingers 589 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: are too fat, and I dislocated my left pinky in college, 590 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 1: so I can never get it to control and get it. 591 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:21,880 Speaker 1: It just it was horrible, it was I got frustrated. 592 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: It was an impulse buy. First of all, I saw 593 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: him play one night. I bought the thing. After a week, 594 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: I gave it back to him. I was done with 595 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,800 Speaker 1: that thing. Yeah, A horrible a playing the guitar. You 596 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 1: might have to try trombone or a trumpet, something with less. 597 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: I was a percussionist in the fifteen sixth grade. I 598 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: don't know why I didn't pick up the piano or 599 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 1: something like that, but that's what it is. Who is 600 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 1: your all time favorite athlete in any sport and why 601 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 1: dda drug grew up he's a professional soccer player. Grew 602 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,680 Speaker 1: up watching him playing soccer. You know, I mentioned soccer 603 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 1: bean in Houston in Nigeria. So watched him play, watched 604 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: him time and time again do what d did, do 605 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 1: what it takes to win, put his team on his back, 606 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:11,400 Speaker 1: and I just I loved it. What do you like 607 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: to spend your money on my family? I spent a 608 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 1: lot of my money in my family, and I don't 609 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 1: mind it, you know, I just I just like taking 610 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: care of him, like being that kind of playing that 611 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 1: caretaker role. I believe that my family, my mom and dad, 612 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:25,800 Speaker 1: have been through a lot, and by God's grace, I'll 613 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 1: be able to keep taking care of him for as 614 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 1: long as I need to. All right, final fun fact, 615 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 1: this one's a little bit deep. If you could meet 616 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 1: anybody in history, who would that person be? I would 617 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 1: like to because I know there's a lot of speculation 618 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 1: about who built the pyramids. I like to go back 619 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,640 Speaker 1: and just take a peek. I maybe not even meet him, 620 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 1: but just see how they did it. If it truly 621 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: is with you know, sticks and levers and whatever the 622 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 1: right or if it was with something else some technology 623 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 1: that's lost who knows, you know what I mean? And 624 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:09,279 Speaker 1: the way those stones were cus did they do it 625 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 1: with water? Did they have a system where they ran 626 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 1: water through a finite point and it just cut through 627 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 1: the zone, because I know water is very strong with 628 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:21,760 Speaker 1: a strong current. I don't know. Yeah, So I definitely 629 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: like to go meet whoever built the pyramids and just 630 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 1: chat with them. That's a tremendous answer. And trust me, 631 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:31,399 Speaker 1: the first person to say they would like to see 632 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:34,799 Speaker 1: the pyramids being built, this is a great conversation. I 633 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 1: really appreciate your time. Best of luck the rest of 634 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:40,400 Speaker 1: the air appreciate that. Thank you. That's going to do 635 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:43,160 Speaker 1: it for this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast presented 636 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:46,920 Speaker 1: by Cattering Health, the official healthcare provider of the Bengals, 637 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 1: by Bengals Picks and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play 638 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:54,080 Speaker 1: with tickets and sign merchandise up for grabs by paycre, 639 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: the official HR software provider of the Bengals, and by 640 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 1: Alta Fiber future Proof Fiber Internet elevate your connection with 641 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:07,399 Speaker 1: all to Fiber. 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