Bengals Booth Podcast: End Game

Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading The Bengals Booth Podcast. The I Want to Be your end game addition, as the Bengals end the season on a positive note and with a winning record by beating Cleveland thirty one to fourteen. Coming up radio replays, locker room comments and postgame analysis from Dave Lapham. Then in this week's fun Facts Conversation, you'll get to know the

Three Fan of the Year.

Now time for the radio replays from Sunday's season finale at fay Corse Stadium. It's the final day of the regular season. While the Cincinnati Bengals will now go to the playoffs in twenty twenty three, they do have two very specific goals today. To finish the season with a winning record and to beat a rival that has dominated their head to head meetings in recent years, the Cleveland Browns.

It is the one hundred.

And first Battle of Ohio, and it's time for the big skin to fly.

Here in the jungles.

Third down and four for the Browns from their own twenty nine Driscoll to throw, floating it deep down the left side, thin and it is intercepted at the forty five of Cleveland n short in battle.

The rookie from Alabama.

Has his first NFL interception. The Bengals bring in a sixth offensive lineman, Cody Ford. They will toss it right to Joe Mixon. He woe waltz into the end zone for a Bengals touchdown. He sought out contact at the very end it looked like he could have gone in untouched, and at the last instant he lowered the boom and plowed into a Cleveland Brown. Browning hands it off. Mixing

Catches at the six, and he's into the end zone. Touchdown Bengals. Joe Mixon with a touchdown run and a touchdown catch and.

The Bengals are up by two dds.

Tyler Boyd goes in orbit Mo Browning fakes to Mixon looking to throw passes into the end zone.

Caught.

Now it's dropped in the end zone. Is it a touchdown first? Yes, they're holding up the touchdown signal. This will be reviewed. Yo see Vosh haded briefly before Ronnie Hickman sharred it free and at least one official says that Andre Yo Si Vosh had it long enough. Here's

The end zone. It is caught for the touchdown.

David Bell in the back left corner of the end zone hauls it in and the Browns fans and attendance here at pay Corpse Stadium are raising their arms triumphantly as their team has avoided his shutout today. Driscoll catches the shotgun snap, fires a pass deep downfield, a leap and catch, and a touchdown for David Bell, Driscoll takes a knee and the remaining twenty three seconds will run

Browns thirty one to fourteen.

It was quite a day for Joe Mixon. He ran for one hundred eleven yards on fourteen carries, his first one hundred yard rushing performance in the regular season since game nine of last year. Joe finished the season with one thousand and thirty four rushing yards and three hundred and seventy six receiving yards, a total of one thy

I talked to Joe after the game.

Joe, the season ended on a great note for you, a one hundred yard rushing performance a way one thousand yard season. How did you feel about the way the season came to an end.

I felt like we went out in a great fashion. Obviously it's not the outcome that we wanted, but at the end of the day, we ended the season with a bang, and that's all we wanted to do coming into this week.

Late in the game, they showed on the video board that you topped one hundred yards rushing, and the fans went bananas. I think your relationship with them has been awesome for the last seven years and they showed you that luck.

Yeah.

Man, that's one thing about them fans that's been in there in that stadium, whether you know it was my first year to this last year, they always been very supportive of me. And you know, I can't I can't thank them enough for all the love and support that they showed me and give me. I mean, it's one of the best feelings ever, you know what I'm saying.

Man.

So I'll try to just try to do whatever I can to you know, connect with them in any way, shape, form or fashion in general, man, like you know, playing like throwing the ball with them before the game, or you know, trying to make a little kid's day by giving them a high five, or you know, throw them the ball or give them some gloves or a hat or whatever. And it's it's been a it's been a great feeling and great thing.

Man.

So I'm gonna just you know, do whatever I can to you know, keep embracing it and just keep you know, giving them the love and support that they also give me.

Man.

So this is a great thing. Joe.

You are climbing a lot of the Bengals all time list. You're now number two in rushing touchdowns. You're about I think thirty yards away from James Brooks in career rushing yards. You're closing in on Pete Johnson's record for combining touchdowns rushing and receiving. You had two of those today. How how much does that stuff matter to you? If at all?

I mean, obviously it's definitely a great achievement. I never really looked at I never looked playing this game about like stats. I always just wanted to be the best player you know possible that I can be. And you know, really reflecting over these seven years, man, and you know, knowing where I stand in history books, it's definitely a blessing. And that's something that you can never take for granted.

Keep thinking the football guys for allowing.

Me to play this game nine and eight and a winning record? Was that what you were striving for at the beginning of the year, obviously, but it is an achievement. I mean, to get through an NFL season when your quarterback misses seven games and finish up with a winning record, how do you feel about that?

Obviously, Like I said, it's not the season that we wanted. But at the end of the day, I mean, it's definitely a blessing to be able to say that we walked out with a winning record, and we finished the season on the right note.

Man.

So we're just gonna keep on doing whatever we gotta do to stay connected as one and try to do whatever we can, you know, and let our presence be felt with each other through these next twenty four hours and do whatever we can and enjoy my teammates.

Awesome finish for you. Congratulations on a great day and another one thousand yard season.

Yes, sir, I appreciate it.

Man.

There's Jake Browning, who tied his career high with three touchdown passes before leaving the game late in the third quarter. For the season, Jake completed seventy percent of his throws and had a passer rating of ninety eight point four, that's seventh best in the NFL. He discussed the win over Cleveland with Dave Lapham.

It's good to finish with the win.

Uh, you know, I think it's mixed feelings because, yeah, we beat them, but I'd rather be in the playoffs and so, uh, yeah, it's good to finish with the win, but wish we're still playing. Kind of sucks.

What about your stretch, I mean, going into this football game in the last six weeks, you have the best completion percentage in the NFL, thrown for the most yards in the NFL. I mean you haven't just played good, you played great football, man.

Yeah, I think it's a good thing to build off of for the offseason. Anytime you play as much as I got to and got the opportunity, you know, I'll be able to critique.

Myself and what did I do well?

What do I need to do better? And I'll be a better quarterback next next year because of it. And so yeah, it feels good to play well and get an opportunity after a long time of not really playing a ton of football. So, like I said, it's still just I think at some point I'll be happy about that, But right now I'm just pissing on in the playoffs four.

And three record in those seven games, it gives the Bengals a nine and eight record, finished the season with a winning record three years in a row. Now have a winning record the entire AFC, NORD. There's a winning record that hasn't happened in the NFL since nineteen thirty five. I mean, you guys playing a hell of a tough division.

Yeah, I mean every division game is tough, but we need to find a way to win more. And I think I just keep going back to it's mixed feelings where you finished strong and it's good to go into a game that you know, we know where to be done after and then everybody you know, worked really hard and all that, but it's still just that feeling of like we were so close to the playoffs and.

It just it sucks.

Boy, I'll tell you. Also, you had Joe Mixon to rush fourteen times from one hundred and eleven yards in a touchdown. How big was it getting that ground game going huge?

Huge?

I think, you know, I think when you come into a game like this, you want to be able to establish the run and have everything off of that. And you know we were able to establish the run. We're a pretty efficient offense, and so I think that's just in general for offenses is when you can be two dimensional.

It's a big part of the success.

I know your offensive lineman love you. As a former offense with Liman, I get in the huddle with you any dame, I'm in.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

As for the Bengals defense, they weren't facing Joe Flacco or Amari Cooper or David Najoku, but when the Bengals defensive starters were on the field, they thoroughly dominated. Cleveland had one first down on its first six drives and did not score until the fourth quarter. Trey Hendrickson had half a sack to finish with seventeen and a half,

It felt great just seeing in the ball, seeing the ball in the air or seeing a single receiver by uh spit out and seeing the quarterback eyes take his see the quarterback take his eyes to the single receiver. UH all the way through the progression of the the catch.

UH from the from.

The start of the play, I knew where he was going to the ball, and then when I broke I just knew I had to catch the catch the ball and keep my feet and bound, and it was a great fielding.

After I called the ball getting my first career.

Interception, I sat on the radio at the end of that interception, you looked like a wide receiver right foot down, left foot, toad drag.

That was impressive.

Yeah.

Yeah, I worked on that practice, so I had to get it down in the game.

Jordan, that wasn't the only highlight. You also had a sack today. A great way to finish your rookie season.

Yeah. Yeah, a great way to finish the rookie season.

But you know light said, not the way, not the way we wanted, not the way we wanted it to be. But the outcome of the game was what we wanted, you know, to end with a positive record, go nine and eight on the year. Obviously we know that that was in the standards. But just to come out here and put in the hard way throughout the week, to come out here on Sunday and dominate and have that positive record by it at the end.

Of the season is a great feeling for us.

How far do you feel you came during the course of your rookie year.

Uh, yeah, I came I came a long way just from you know, having my first start after the Ravens, after the second Ravens game, from even before and then before then just coming in, you know, when I came in, and you know, just trying to make impact as soon as possible, and you know, just from what I've got from when I started getting on the field, just the guys, you know, rallying me, rallying me in, welcome me in, and uh, guys like GP, guys like Logan, guys like Mike,

You know, just just building that chemistry.

Throughout the year.

Obviously there were some ups and downs, giving up exposive plays and everything in a in a deepense, but we know that's something we have to work on and we're going to continue to get better at that.

Nobody is going to complain about a thirty one to fourteen win, But you had to shut out going in the fourth quarter where you're a little bit bombed when you gave up a couple of late tds.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, obviously you know, we don't we didn't want to give up any touchdowns. We wanted to do in the in the game with a with a on the on the on the scoreboard. But the biggest thing is we got a dub and we couldn't be any any more excited than for going positive.

In the season, you played on great teams at Alabama SEC championship games, college football fourteen playoff games, et cetera. But this season, your rookie year in the NFL is really long in comparison today probably anything you've ever done in your life. Uh, how does it feel to to make it through and now you know, get ready to train in the offseason and then come back for year two.

Yeah, it's just it feels great.

You know, from the end of the my last from the last college football game, Uh, you know all of that, and now I didn't really have a break. Uh you know, you got pre draft teams. You gotta you gotta work out after after the draft. So this really it's gonna be my my first time really being off since since like I don't even know, since last summer, and uh,

Two.

Congratulations to a great finish on a very good first year.

Thank you, sir, Thank you.

Now let's hear from head coach Zach Taylor. We spent about four minutes with lap.

Coach that couple football game, I mean got stepped up.

Yeah, I'm proud of the way that they finished it, you know, and closed out the right way, and and the key today was getting on them early. And so I felt like going into halftime twenty four nothing, our guys did a great job controlling with the control of the first half, coming out playing a real good third quarter, you know, hold them score and having a ninety nine yer touchdown drive and then gave it gave a lot of guys an opportunity to get in there and be

Of the world.

Yeah, I wish I could say it feels easy. It didn't feel easy, I know, I jink said earlier this week, I said the callahan. We haven't had hardly any backup drives this year, and of course we get the ball on the inchart line, but the guy's managed the situation the right way, drew him off side several times around the drive. Things that we worked really hard on that only come up once a year. That happened to come

What about Joe Mixon fourteen rushes one hundred and eleven yards. He had five carries of ten yards and more. Brown had two, Browning had one. I mean, that's you're talking about eight carries of ten yards and more in the running game. That's pretty explosive.

It was a good job by those guys up front, those guys at the back position, good job on the perimeter. You know, they blitz us to Some of the times, you're gonna have tough runs that aren't great, and sometimes they're gonna be able to hit them and so there was kind of a balance of that today, but I thought it was good to get some explosive runs going.

How about Yosi vash. Five catches on the day, two of them are touchdowns. Take forty percent scoring efficiency on five catches. That's a pretty good day.

Yeah, that's a good job staying alive in the progression. You know, on some of those touchdowns, I think one of them is kind of a half scramble and one of them was late in the progression, and so just a good job staying alive and making contested catches.

So the entire division finishes with a winning record. That hasn't happened in the National Football League since nineteen thirty five. I mean, you know, of course, having even numbers fourteen and sixteen game seasons, there have been five hundred records, but not over five hundred. Last year, it could have happened in the NFL East NFC East, but Washington tied an eight and one record. So since nineteen thirty five,

We're proud to be a part of this division. You know, there's some pride that comes from that. Unfortunately, we didn't do enough to get ourselves in the playoff hunt. That'll be our focus next year, obviously, to perform better and do a great job in the division and check off all of our goals. But you know, it is a tough division, and I think it's pretty clear to everybody that that's the case.

You mentioned that you're going to have your players. Everybody wants to go, everybody wants to finish this strong. There was no sign of anybody wanting to tap out. That says a lot about how they feel about each other and how they feel about you and the culture we've established.

I think the way that these guys went on the road last week and competed at the bitter end and gave their best effort today shows the character we have in the locker room. And despite the adversity we face this year, and not once to everyone point fingers at anybody else. Everyone always took accountability. And I'm proud to be a coach of a locker room right that, proud to represent a coaching staff that's like that in an organization.

And we'll be back. We're going to put in the work.

This is a bitter taste in our mouth to end it today and not be able to play in the playoffs, and that'll not that we need any motivation, but we certainly want to get back in contention to play for more meaningful things.

Do you remember being in a game before where each team had an interception on their first possession of the game.

Not not that stands out to men?

Yeah, I mean that's that's rare.

That's kind.

But you guys compartmentalize put it away in three straight touchdown drives. I mean, how important was that just to move on?

It was good.

You need and in a game like this, you need to get them momentum eily, you know, and because they're they're playing with house money, you know they're gonna have a lot of energy on the sideline. This guys getting opportunity to play, and so it's important to get on a team like that early and and try to squash that hope, and our guys did a good job of that and I think maximizing their opportunities today.

You came out of it really well physically too. I mean, it doesn't look like there's anything significant that you have to worry about going into the offseason physically, we tried to.

Do a good job in the second half when when we got control of it, you know, to try to get some guys out and get some other guys some opportunities.

Coach, Thanks for a great season, honestly, I mean, you know, it didn't work out the way everybody had hoped. But I mean this football team gave every ounce that they had, every single snap of every single game, and to me, that's all you can ask for. And it didn't work out. The football gods weren't going to be as kind to us as they were to others. But Appreciate the effort

I appreciate saying that you guys are easy to work with.

Appreciate you, Coach.

Thanks tav Sunday's results determine the draft order for the teams that missed the playoffs, and the Bengals will have the eighteenth pick in this year's draft. For the fun of it, I went to the PFF mock Draft simulator for the first time this year and selected offensive tackle A Marius Mims from Georgia. He's six seven, three hundred and forty pounds and can be a plug and play starter at right tackle if Jonah Williams leaves in free agency.

I think no doubt about it. I think a feeling of satisfaction. You know, it wasn't like, uh, you know, raised the raised the flag, we beat the we beat the Cleveland Browns, but to go over in the division is something you don't want to be part of. And uh, the players understand that, and they get the they get the victory that they needed. I mean, I think the AFC North is you know, respected throughout the league, and to have three AFC North teams in the playoffs is

Jake Brown, he certainly finished on a positive note, three touchdown passes, a passer rating of one thirteen point nine. The job he did in the seven games he started in Joe Burrow's absence is certainly one of the biggest positives of this year.

No question. I mean, the guy he completed, he did in the seven games he started over seventy five percent of his passes. That could very well be in that seven game stretch number one in the league. I'd be surprised if it's not. He didn't throw for tony yards in this game, one hundred and fifty six yards, but he had the most yards in the six weeks prior of any quarter, well over seventeen hundred yards. So he's looking at, you know, close to two thousand yards passing

He also had a touchdown catch in the game finished the season with more than one thousand rushing yards. It's strange, it never really seemed like Joe is having a great year this year, But when you add up the numbers, it's going to be about fourteen hundred combined rushing and receiving yards, double digit touchdowns. He may not be what he once was, but he's still pretty solid, especially if you can combine him with a guy like you know, Chase Brown and use that duo.

I think that's why I think the coaches appreciate him so much, because you know, they know that he's going to show up. They know he's going to show up every game. He's going to give everything he's got every game. I mean, you know, knock on wood, he doesn't fumble the football, you know, I mean his ball security. I mean, he's responsible for his higher percentage of the rushing game than any running back for his team's rushing yards in the National Football League. I mean, he's he's the guy,

This was a good day for the Bengals rookie class. Charlie Jones had a thirty five yard catch, andre Yosi Vash had a pair of touchdown catches. Brad Robbins had a good day punting the ball. Jordan Battle had an interception and a sack. Those guys showed up in a big way in the season finale.

They really did. And you know, second year players have started to you know, expand their roles and show what they're about. And I consider Osiah's second year player because his rookie year was gone to injury, so I mean he's had two years to you know, show his whears, and unfortunately this year he got hurt early on that

I'll say similar things about Jamar Chase. Played the last couple of weeks with a sore shoulder, clearly wasn't himself, but he still got the four catches he needed to gay to get to one hundred four of the season. And considering that, you know, Joe Burrow wasn't himself in the first four games of the season, didn't play the last seven games of the year, and you still had one hundred receptions in the season. H Jamar Chase is special.

He is he is He's He's a unicorn. You know, he's one of a kind. He is so different. I don't think there's another receiver in the league that has the mix of things physically and mentally that this guy has.

He is.

He's a rare, rare breed. And let's face it, when Joe Burrow has had healthy seasons, this team has gone to the SC Championship in the Super Bowl when he hasn't had healthy seasons. You know, it's obviously the difference. Gotta get Joe Burrow healthy, keep him healthy, do everything you possibly can to keep him healthy. Uh, whether it's schematically as well as execution of everybody around him. But that dude is special, and uh, you know, and we

How much respect do you have for the O line answering the bell seventeen games they started every game. They took almost every snap together for seventeen games, and nobody talked about whatever bumps and bruises they had, but you know they had plenty.

No doubt plenty is right. And I mean I know Kappa Kappa was you know, limping and gimping for a while there down the stretch. He had you know, he had a foot issue, at an ankle issue. He had different different things and everybody does though a lot of times, offensive line injuries aren't the type that you up in the injury report, but you're either in the whirlpool or in the ice bath or you know, contrast treatments, just trying to take care of your body. And that offensive line.

It ends with a nine and eight record, no trip to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. But they'll be back at it in the spring for OTAs and then many camps and then training camp at the at the end of lie and I can't wait already. It's fun to finish today, it is.

And that you know, that's the thing, even though you know it's bitterly disappointing not to not to you know, be in the playoffs and reach the goals. You know that this football team can be elite, and I really believe that. I think it can be elite. And one thing that I'm looking forward to already is the maturation of the safeties where they're going to be able to recognize and communicate and you know, not allow these explosives.

Finally, it's time for this week's fun Facts conversation, where you get to know the person under the pads. Time for some fun facts with defensive tackle Travis Bell from Montgomery, Alabama, the capital of that state. What do you love about your hometown, Travis?

I just love the people.

There, man, the support I get from my hometown. Oh and we got a baseball team, the Biscuits.

Man.

I used to love going to the baseball games when I was a little boy.

You and your sister were raised by your mom, describe your relationship with her.

My mom is my world, man. She's everything to me. Man.

She took care of me when I was a little boy. Me and my sister taught me everything I know, even some of the stuff I do on the field.

Man, she taught me. So I appreciate her a lot.

Was football always your number one sport?

Sad to say, No, it was baseball. I I love baseball, man. I was a left hand pitcher and I played a little first base. But as I got to high school, I kind of got away from baseball and tried to focus more.

You know, on football.

You're an NFL defensive tackle. But I read that in middle school you were a punk passing kick champion. Is that true?

Yes? I was. How you find it out? That's crazy?

Yeah, Man, I went to a camp, and you know, I showed that I was an athlete.

Man, I could do it all. Yeah.

Did you ever punt after that?

Uh? Yeah, I punted a little bit.

I punted a little bit in uh middle school, and uh that was the end of the road for me. After middle school and I got to high school, I was focused strictly on defensive line.

Man, were visiting the Travis Bell you had an excellent high school football career, but you weren't heavily recruited. Was that confusing to you?

It kind of was. But my coaches, you know, they explained how it works. Man, undersized guys kind of go under the radar sometimes, and a lot of school asked me how would I feel switching positions? And I told them all the same thing. Man, I'm a d lineman at heart. Whatever happens from there, you know, it is what it is. But who knew in the future I would be, you know, playing the position that they told me I shouldn't play, you know, in the league.

So it's a blessing overall.

Re Visiting with Travis Bell or you wound up in Kansas State in Georgia, but you almost left your freshman year. Why did you consider leaving and why did you ultimately stay?

I consider leaving because, man, that was that was probably one of the hardest things I ever had to do in my life. Man, playing up there in Kinnessauwa coach bow and I was just looking forward to you know, I put in a lot of work during that, during far camp and stuff like that, I put in a lot of work. I expected to play my first year and he read shirt in my whole class. So I was kind of upset about that, and I was, you know, getting home sick.

It was a lot that played a part into that decision.

But man, my mom told me like, hey, you can drop out of school, but you can't come back here.

So I had no choice but to stay in school.

We call that tough love.

Tough love.

Man, I ain't understand it, but I appreciate my MoMA for telling me that that's the That's the best advice or best thing she probably ever told me.

Man, playing college football is like a full time job. But in your case, you had a job while playing.

What did you do?

Uh?

I was?

I worked for like a logistics medical company, our Ventures Medical. We'll go pick up medical equipment and store, you know, like go to healthcare doctors, doctors, doctor's office, hospitals, We'll go drop off medical equipment or pick it up store.

So what was the schedule like between class football and having a job.

Well, six in.

The morning, I'll wake up and I'll go work out, and after my workout, I go to work. And I had online classes at the time, so it was pretty smooth for me. Even when I didn't have online classes. My boss was pretty flexible with me, and he's a real good friend.

We still talk.

Where'd the money go?

Where the money go? The money went to bills and to family. My mom.

Yeah, So I had to, you know, spread the love with that. I had to help keep afloat.

So in your senior year at Kennansas State, you play that Cincinnati facing a school that had been in the college football playoff the year before. What stands out about that experience?

That was probably one of the best experience I had, because I always wondered like where I stood when it came to, you know, the playing against the top tier guys. So them coming off a playoff run and getting the opportunity to play against those guys let me know that I could do it.

You know, we're trying to Travis Spell. You earned your college degree at Kennansas State. How important was that to you and your family?

Man?

That was real important, man, that was that was well my mom wanted My mom really wanted me to get that degree.

Man.

So I stayed true to it, and she's still proud of me. She still talk about it. Her friends still call me and tell me they proud of me. About getting my degree because it was a real struggle for me back in my gummy man. A lot of people, you know, counted me out and.

I made it happen, man. So yeah, that's that was a real blessing.

After your great college career. You were drafting the seventh round this year by the Chicago Bears. You told reporters that as soon as you got the call, you cried. Described that draft experience.

I thought I was gonna be taken late in the sixth round.

I heard a little chirping about that, and I seen I didn't get getting get picked up. So I was kind of hurt, and uh and I just cut the TV off, man.

I was, I was.

I was done watching the draft. I just was waiting on the call for after the draft or whatever. And as soon as I cut the TV off, man, I'm talking about literally soon I cut the TV off.

My girl she was with me at the time.

She walked out and went to the store, and I got the call from Ryan Poles and I was like.

No way, no way, this is happening right now.

Man.

Every I'm talking about everybody I talked to, most almost every team I talked to told me that I was gonna go undrafted. So, man, he made my dreams come true. Man, he made me a kind of of a legend, you know in Kinnisaure right now.

So the first Kinnesas State player ever selected in the NFL draft.

Yes, sir, yes, sir, blessing true, blessing. Man, I got pictures on the wall. And we had a guy that went to the league before me, a Zoya Alufa Ha. It's like a big brother, and he always talking me like, man, you can do it, you can do it. And I stayed true to it, man, and lo and behold, I did it. Man, I'm here for not for a good time, but for a long time.

Man with Travis Bell. So after being drafted by the Bears and spending training camp with them, you got cleaned off their practice squad by the Atlanta Falcons and major NFL debut with Atlanta in December. What will you always remember about your first NFL game?

The atmosphere, man, h Just how calm I was before the storm.

Man.

I remember just sitting in my locker, man, just thinking about, you know, all the hard times, everything I went through to get to this moment, you know, and it was real emotional for me in the locker room. But I was able to, you know, get out there, get the butterflies out after the first and up in the rest's history. Man, it was just football at the end of the day.

Describe your first NFL tackle.

I honestly, I was so caught up in the moment. I wasn't even worried about the tackle. I was just trying to get them off the field because boy, I really wanted to win. I wanted my first debut game to be a win. But fortunately we fall short. But uh, that first tackle was a blessing. We I went and looked back at it out like, dang, he looked. It looked pretty good. You know, it's shit, and so yeah, man, I was pretty happy with that first tackle. I got a lot of buzz about that.

Man.

A lot of people's calling me say they've seen it and how proud of how proud of uh they was to me.

So it was. It was a sweet moment, man.

A few wild card topics now for Travis Bell, who is your all time favorite athlete in any sport? And why.

I'm gonna have to say ray Lewis just because of his mentality, what he brought to the game. What type of leader he was. He just brought everybody along. You had no choice but to jump on that bus, you know what I'm saying. And Uh, once I figured myself out, I feel like I end up being that type of guy as well. But you know, you gotta earn trust, you gotta earn respect. There's a lot that come with it. I work hard, so I know it's gonna come.

Now that you mentioned that, I saw some footage of your sack celebration at Kenansas State. It was a little bit of the ray Lewis pregame dance. Man.

Yeah, man, I ain't still it from ray Lewis. No, I ain't take that from ray Lewis. Man, but it's kind of just like, you know, just kicking in the door for me, man, and my first second in preseason, that's what I everybody, all the guys I played in college, they were like, hey, man, you gotta your first sec. You gotta you gotta pull it out. And I was like, no, not in the preseason. They're like, bro, I don't care, Bro,

So so now I know when you have your first sack as a Bengal, it is they kick the door in celebration. Duly noted. Kansas State plays its games at Fifth Third Stadium. Do you know that fifth Third Bank which started in Cincinnati and it's headquartered here.

No, I did not know that, but I did see the building and I was like, damn, I might need to do some research on that.

You know what I'm saying. But yeah, I did not know that at all.

I made your research easy for you. You don't have to do it. Now, do you have any other talents other than playing football?

You're gonna put me on the spot.

I feel like, if I tell you this, the next thing, you know, I'm gonna have to do it, and maybe in front of the team. But I can sing a little bit, man, don't be so, I mean, don't be surprised. Man, I can blow a little bit.

Man. I had to sing.

We had to do the talent show, you know, the rookies had to do the talent show. And I went up there and I did a little singing and I got some good feedback.

You know, it's always good feedback if the quarterback.

Come up to you just to feel like, hey, man, you can you can do a little bit.

I was like, I appreciate it. Appreciate it.

You feel like giving us a little sample.

See, that's why you want to tell you. That's why you want to tell you.

Maybe another day, man, all right, I'll look for when you show up at a karaoke contest and I'll bring a taper quarter final question for Travis Bell, and I appreciate your time. This one's kind of deep. If you could meet anybody in history, living or deceased, who would that person be?

I probably would have to say Kobe Bryan Kobe, because man, it's like every time I watch him just for like motivational purposes, it's just get me fired up and just to I feel like just that being his presence would make me a better person, you know, better player, better person, better son, everything.

So Kobe, for sure.

You have the mamba mentality.

Hey, I'm trying to have that mentality. I am trying so hard to have that mentality. Uh that's that's that's discipline on another level.

Man.

So you can't teach that. Man, you just got it. Just gotta be in you. You know what I'm saying.

Even though you wouldn't sing for us. This has been great. I appreciate your time, Happy holidays and best of life.

Yes, sir, thank you, thank you for having me.

Man, that's going to do it for This episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast brought to you by pay Core, Proud to be the Bengals Official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber, future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health