Bengals Booth Podcast: Good Vibes

And Third, it's one of the best receivers in Bengals history. T J. Hushman Zada as he discusses John Ross T. Higgins AJ Green in his unique connection to Joe Burrow during Joe's time at LSU. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Prime Sport, the official fan, travel and hospitality

partner of the Cincinnati Bengals. And here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitch, your Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing since the State of Maine. I recently went on a family vacation to a Kadia National

Park in Maine. We figured this would be the perfect time for outdoor activities away from crowds, so we hiked kayakt watched the sunrise on the top of Cadillac Mountain, the best sunrise I've ever seen, and eight lots of lobster. So if you are yearning to spend some time in the great outdoors, you should consider visiting Maine. There's a reason why most of the license plates in that state

say Vacation Land. Now, let's get to football. I'm recording this on Wednesday, the day after Bengals veterans reported to Paul Brown Stadium for the start of training camp, although there will be several days of COVID nineteen testing before the players are actually doing anything related to football. Zach Taylor did a fifteen minute zoom call with reporters on Wednesday,

and a couple of things stood out to me. Number One, he said that everybody on the roster reported for camp, but would not say if anybody was considering opting out of playing this year. You know, we'll keep that to ourselves right now. If players feel that way. On our team or any other team. I'm sure they'll make it public, but right now, we'll just keep that to ourselves. Those are those are personal decisions for those guys, and certainly

we'll support those decisions. There's a lot of reasons for him, but again, I don't want to speak for any player in this league that's going through those conversations with their loved ones. And so again, if those guys want to announce things, they can, but we're not going to make any comment on it. Zach was also asked about the idea of quarantining one of his quarterbacks during the season to eliminate the possibility of the entire position group catching

the virus. It's something you have to consider and talk through, which we have, but you just you really have to imagine all scenarios as you go through this and just be creative and proactive. And so those are conversations we've had, but that's where it stands right now, as you can imagine. Zach answered several questions about Joe Burrow, ranging from the challenge of getting him ready to play with no preseason games to the idea of having him sit as a

rookie due to these circumstances. Zach made it clear that the Bengals have every intention of beginning the season with Joe Burrow at quarterback. You know, we're gonna put a lot on Joe right out the gate, and obviously we've got weeks to sort out who's starting and all that good stuff. But Joe's gonna walk in and take the first snaps at quarterback, and he's prepared for that, and we drafted him because we have a lot of confidence in him and what he's gonna bring to the table.

And so even with the uniqueness of what this training camp is going to look like, we're gonna give him plenty of opportunities to get ready to play in week one. Do you have in your mind a baseline of what realistic expectations are for Joe this year? Play well in week one? You know that that's our starting is Joe and really our entire team. It's it's this is a

different year than last year. We have a lot of guys who have grown from the experiences that we had last year, rookies and veterans, and we have a lot of new pieces to the puzzle as well. You know, a lot of free agents and rookies that we're depending on,

and so it's it's not just Joe, it's everybody. We want to make sure that everybody's we're giving them all the opportunities to hit the ground running on September thirteenth when our first came rolls around, and so that that's just that's our focus right now is making sure that all the positions are up to speed. We're going to give them all all the things that they need in the meetings and practices so that as a team that we hit the ground running and we play really well

in week one. It seems like a lot to ask. You know, Joe hasn't no no preseason games, no ta's, no training camp. But you know, do you feel like that's a pretty high high measure for him to come in and immediately step in and play well in that opener against LA. We took him because we've got high expectations for Joe, and from everything I know about him and ob scene of him, he's got high expectations himself, and so he's going to do everything you can to

put himself in a position to be successful. I trust that, and I think when you guys get a chance to talk to him, you'll feel the same way. Borough agreed to contract terms on Tuesday and is expected to sign that deal on Thursday. Now, let's get to Joe's friend and former college teammate, Sam Hubbard. Earlier this year on Bengals dot Com, I predicted that Hubbard will be the team's defensive MVP this year after having six sacks as

a rookie. Sam finished second on the team with eight and a half last year, a half sack behind Carlos Dunlap. According to Pro Football Focus, Sam added thirty four hurries and six quarterback hits. I think he winds up with double digit sacks this year on a dramatically improved Bengals defense. And I spoke to the former Ohio State Buckeye this week. Sam, we're speaking on the day that NFL veterans report to camp and in this case, your first COVID nineteen test.

Can you describe how you're feeling about going back to work under these strange circumstances. Yeah, it's definitely unique circumstances, Like you said, but we've been training for so long. I think a lot of us, all the guys, are just ready to get back to playing football. Whatever that may look like in the safest possible way, and you know it's going to be a different year and a lot of different aspects, but we want to get out

there and you know, get on the field. You have a unique perspective because your mom is a nursing supervisor and your sister is a nurse. How has that impacted your feelings about the protocols worked out between the NFL and the Players Association. I think it just gives me, you know, a sense of how important and how you know, vital it is that we all follow them and take it very seriously because you know there's a player responsibility aspect.

You know, all of us doing our part, stay in socially distance, following the protocols, not just for ourselves, but you know, for the benefit of our teammates so everyone can stay safe. I think that you know, it's it's a very serious situation that you know, they're with it every day taking care of those patients, and you know,

I'm just more aware and educated because of their experiences. Sam, based on what I've seen, you did not let the pandemic slow you down in terms of strength and conditioning. How did you train this offseason and has your physique changed. Yeah, it trained really hard. You know, we didn't have OTAs, so we were really able for five six straight months to just focus on what I needed to do to

get better as a player individually. And you know it looked different, you know, some garage workouts, you know, kind of isolated, focusing on you know, just working out by myself, my trainer, and uh, yeah, I've just tried to you know, work on every aspect pass for US, run, defense, strength, overall conditioning. I'm ready to go and I'm just hoping it works out for the year. We're talking to Sam Hubbard. As you mentioned, no OTAs, no mini camps, but there

were a bunch of virtual Zoom meetings. What did you get out of those? It was a lot of mental reps, a lot of film study, watching you know remotely, you know, install and stuff that you know, we we all knew as veterans. But um, I really got time to you know, break down my own film, um, see what I need to improve on, and then you know, do in trials. Individually, it was more of a mental you know, off season on the in the you know, play sense on the

field sense, um, taking those mental reps. But really trying to focus and improve my awareness and mental aspect of the game because the reps just weren't existing without OTAs and stuff like that. Normally, in those OTAs, you get to know the rookies, you get to know new teammates. Were you able to do that at all over zoom calls? We did our best. You know, facetimes, texts, zoom calls.

It's uh, obviously an awkward situation. It's tough to really get to know somebody through the computer, but we made it work. We did our best. Coaches did a good job with the unique team bonding exercises. But I'm excited to get in the building once we're all cleared, to get to know these guys and see what they bring to the table. Let's talk defense. The team signed eight undrestricted free agents, Five of them could start on D. What was your reaction to that infusion of veteran talent

on defense. I loved it, you know, just from a character football character and the reputations these guys had and I knew Von I've heard a lot about DJ Reader. Just the type of guys that they're bringing in the program is really exciting because they do things the right way they're coming from winning programs and their competitors and having them, you know, to the talent we already have is going to help us a lot. As you mentioned,

you knew Von from being teammates at Ohio State. What does he specifically add both in terms of his locker room leadership and his play on the field as a safety. He's a great leader. He's a very competitive individual. I've played with him for two years at AHU State and he's just a true pro. He goes about a business the right way. Out on the field, he brings intensity. He's you know, hard nosed football player, plays back in

safety but tackles like a linebacker. And uh, you know, he's just someone that you can always count on behind you to play physical, do his job, and in crunch time makes some big plays. Pro Football Focus recently ranked the Bengals defensive line is the tenth best in the NFL. How does DJ Reader impact the entire group? And do you hope to play fewer snaps than the eight hundred and fifty three you logged on defense last year? DJ? Yeah,

he's a he's a great player. He's when he turned on the film, you notice what a force he is run stopping and especially he's very good at the pastor from inside. You know. I hope to be a little bit more on the edge of this year with the addition to DJ because he really can rush the passer and uh, you know, we got some young guys coming in clid Kareem on the outside and a little bit of rotation. Hopefully be a little bit fresher. But yeah, like I said, hopefully be outside a little bit more

on third downs and stuff like that. But I'm just really excited overall with you know, the experience and talent we have on the defensive line. We are catching up with Sam Hubbard. It's no secret that you and Joe Burrow are good friends. He reportedly agreed to a contract today. Do you remember your initial impressions of him at Ohio State and what does it mean to you to be reunited in the NFL. I've known Joe for a long time.

I don't know if I remember my initial impressions. I just know that, uh, you know, ever since he stepped in the door at O'house State, he was a competitor, you know, one of the hardest working guys in the room. And that are changed with all the success. He's still that same guy, and you know, I'm really excited that they greeded terms and he's I know, he's excited to get out there and meet the guys and you know, learn the offense and take hold of the football team.

Before the draft, did he pick your brain about the franchise? Uh? Yeah, I mean we were talking. Obviously, he was in a position to be drafted very highly. We had a very high draft pick, so we had a bunch of conversations just about what we got going and the goals we're trying to accomplish. You know, the guys in the locker room, you know, the group of young talent and guys who want to win. And he was excited to hear about it and excited to have the opportunity to come be

a part of it. Sam. He used his Heisman speech to help the less fortunate where he's from, and you recently did something similar here in Cincinnati. He started a fundraising effort that helped raise more than eighty thousand dollars for the Free Store Food Bank and it's going to help provide more than two hundred and fifty meals. Was that eye opening to you to know how big of an impact you can have with your platform. Yeah, it was.

It was amazing to see all the you know, support from the city, especially being from here, the support from my teammates, guys like Carlos, and the support from Cincinnati based companies like Fifth Third Try to Health. It was incredible. You know, obviously it's tough times right now, but acts like that and you know, coming together really really inspired me to continue to keep working on things and using my platform for the better in year three. Do you

feel like a veteran, Yes, I definitely do. I do feel like a veteran, and I'm trying to, you know, show that with these rookies you're in a very awkward and tough situation, trying to give them some words of wisdom and help their learning curve and bring them along and also, you know, just be more of a leader and help take this team where we want to go.

I'm the case recently that guys that are self motivated, and I would certainly put you in that group having a bit of an advantage this year, because I'm sure there are guys that work as hard as you do, but I'm not sure that anybody works hard or do you feel like maybe your work ethic put you a foot ahead considering the absence of OTAs and many camps in the off season. Yeah yeah, like you said, I probably myself on my work ethic and you know, put on a lot of work this offseason. I really want

to put it on display. And that's why I'm so hopeful and you know, really hoping that this h this season is able to go through smoothly. I know, we got a lot of other guys that are very self motivated and feel the same way, and we want to get out there and show all the all the work we put in and put it on display. It's going to be a while before you have hard hitting type practices.

Do you have any concern about getting ready for the physical nature of football all considering the limitations that are being put on training camp. I think we're in a very tough situation, and you know, there's not too many good ways to go about it. But the plan we have gone forward gives us a little bit of acclamation period and we're just really gonna have to be detailed in our reps and our preparation and getting our bodies right, and it's gonna be unique. It's gonna be a tough challenge,

but I think we're up for it. And you know, time will tell, but I like where things are going well. It's exciting for Bengals fans to have the players are reporting back to the stadium for the start of training camp today, and I appreciate your time and look forward to seeing you from a distance, probably or over a zoom call sometime soon. Thanks for your time, Sam, Yeah, no problem, Thank you. Here's an interesting nugget about Hubbard.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Sam ranks second in the NFL last year on down pressure rate at seventeen point five percent, trailing only Benson Mayoa of the Raiders at eighteen point eight percent. The player who finished one spot below Sam Hubbard in that stat was two time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. Anytime a defensive lineman ranks ahead of Aaron Donald in anything, it's

worth noting. Before we get to our next conversation. Here's a quick reminder that you can take your Bengals pride to the next level in twenty twenty with an official Bengals fan package from Prime Sport. The Bengals single season record four receptions isn't held by A. J. Greene or Chad Johnson or Isaac Curtis. It's held by t J. Hushman Zada, who hauled in one hundred and twelve catches in two thousand and seven en route to a Pro Bowl appearance. TJ is a broadcaster these days for FS one.

In addition to helping train wide receivers in the off season, he also knows plenty about the Bengals new quarterback. TJ. Let's start with Joe Burrow. You were one of the first people really singing his praises because you're wired in at LSU where two of your daughters are going to be on the softball team. Describe your history with Joe and his coaches at LSU. Well, I'm glad she said that. I was. Actually, I probably was the first guy on TV to say that Joe was gonna be drafted very

I really was. I wouldn't say bandwagon, but I was a big supporter of Zoe before anybody was, I will say that, But just being up there and around it, they were just very optimistic that the twenty nineteen college football season for LSU was going to go very well. And it was because of Joe and after that Sector's game, that's the first game of the season. I said, I'm minute,

dudes gonna be the first pick. He had a lot of weapons around them, and people always try to change at all man, he had all these great guys around them. Somebody has to get on the ball, and they helped him. He benefited from having great players to play with, and they benefited from having a great quarterback with great pocket presence and touch an actressy as well. Yeah, no question

about it. A lot of people also say that the you know, the Joe Brady system pumped up his stats somehow, but I kind of look at it at the as the opposite, Whereas the year before their offense was so primitive that I don't know that any quarterback could have put up big numbers. I could always make an argument to discredit anyone, or I can make an argument to pump somebody up and make him look good and put him on the pedicalal. Did Joe Brady help LSU when

he came, of course he did. But I don't care how great a coach is. The players have to execute. You have to execute, and if you don't have a guy that can execute, what needs to be done. It doesn't matter what's being called. I mean, if you look at LSU that you would have said they had look at the offensive line, they didn't have anybody to get drafted, if I'm not mistaken, in the first two rounds. But they were considered one of the better offensive lines in

college football. And yeah, they played well. But Joe's pocket presence and its ability to slide, step up and just kind of maneuver in the pocket. He helped those guys out. But a lot of that gets overlooked because Joe is a guy that kind of came through. He just came out of nowhere. All you transferred fallile stage ure, good enough to play. And so when guys company situations like that, they always looked to get the credit to someone else and saying this guy, we just didn't evaluate them the

right way. You're all the oldest daughter was there last year on the softball team. Did you get caught up in the excitement because she was there, you know, living out that season as an LSU student. Oh man, Yeah, like I thought for Lshoe, like like I went to score there, like I was in the lung. We watched every game. My son, he's an added Avid advid football fan. I mean, he pretty much knows everyone what he feels. He's gonna go to hell su But yeah, I thought

flu like I wasn't a lum. Yeah I was. I was really into it. That's funny. We're talking to former Bengals Pro bowler T. J. Hushman Zada. You were in your third year with the Bengals when Carson Palmer arrived as the number one overall pick, So I'm sure you can remember. You know what you are looking to see out of him? What will the veterans be looking for? When they started practicing with Joe Burrow, Jones just has a And again I was around them lead up to

the pre draft process. You know they trained with George Palmer. He's just a He has a sternness about him, like just a natural leader. Man. He's not gonna let anybody run over him. And I don't think anybody would try to run over him just because of the way he carries himself. And he's gonna command respect right away. And that's what the Bengals need, is the Beingals are talent to manens. I talk to people and when I get on TV, it feels like I'm a Homer as you

just saying that because you played for the Bengals. But I really believe the Bengals have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. I thought last year they were kind of lacking in the linebacker department. They kind of upgraded that in the draft. These guys can produce and help early. But when you look at their team skill players from receivers to running backs, tight ends, quarterback, you can look across the league and say, Wow, the

beingles matched up with anybody the skill player wise. Now this offensive line can come together. You get Jonah Williams back whom miss his entire rook year. If they can come together, the Bengals can supply some people. But it's not going to be easy because arguably the AFT North and the NFT West or probably the two toughest divisions

in football. If Roethlisberger is Roethlisberger, I mean, I've been has been one of the better quarterbacks in the league for a long time, and I think people are starting to realize, like when Ben plays, the Steaters are gonna be good. If he's been, they're gonna be good. Then it's gonna be tough to beat. Him, the Ravens are going to be good. And you look at Cleveland if it's kind of similar to Cincinnati, if they played to their potential, it's gonna be a dog fight. Man. In

that disition, we're talking to t J. Hushman Zada. Let's turn to the wide receivers, because you've spent a bunch of time working with John Ross in recent offseasons. Where is he physically and mentally right now? Physically he should be good, you know, just kind of trial and error, trying this, trying that. How you feel Ross? I feel good? Okay, let's stick with that. And with Ross, he is just so physically talented. And I tell them this all the time.

I said, man, Ross, if we could switch roles to be like if I could give him my mentality or he could give me his talent, Oh my god, that that too, Those two combinations make the best RESI whatever. But in my opinion, only down to league that I could say can do what he does is tyrie him and like he's that talented, he's sassed, he's quick catching the ball. Well, he just has to believe he has all these qualities. And a lot of me working with

Ross is working with a mentally as well. Is when it's easy to be confident when things are going well, can you be confident when things are going bad? And so if he can maintain his level of confidence when things are always great, the fingers are going to have a problem on their hands with Aja Tyler boy drafting Tea and Ross because he told me so many balls to go around. But Ross is the only guy on that team that can do what he does and that

will always separate them. You played with a chip on your shoulder going back to the draft, and you always thought you were one of the best players in the league and played like it. How do you put that attitude into John Ross? It's just talking for him and just letting him. I tell him all the timeline, bros. You were drafted in the top ten for a reason and share yourself that way. Don't worry. And I get it though it's it's me and him has had long discussions about I get it. If you go through go

back to his rookie year. I don't know if you recall this, but I recall it. The first time he cuts the ball in the NFL game. Do you know what happened? He fumbled? He fumbled, and they didn't play him the rest of the year. They didn't play him the rest of the year. Now, you tell me any human being, what would that do for your confidence? Kill it? And so it killed his confidence because he's sent any video of practice and I didn't even know him that

well at that time. I hadn't even started working with him. And the video that he's sending me a practice, nobody can cover him. And so you're playing well in practice, but they're not giving you an opportunity who possibly played well or not play well in the game. And so I believe it affected him mentally and it killed his confidence. And so working with me and just yeah we work physical obviously a lot, but it's really the mental part of don't let what happened a few years ago message

your confidence. And I believe Zach Taylor tried to give him that confidence back Earl. I mean, if Ross doesn't get hurt early last year, who knows what type of season he has because he came out gun blazing. He came out to shoot and did very well early. And so I try to give you my confidence in and just make everybody has that confidence. You just gotta keep it in you. I was angry and that way. I felt like I was overlooked, and I played that way

and I practiced that way every day. He's not me and I'm not him, but hopefully some of that rubs off on him. So TJ. Leading up to this year's draft, you did work with T Higgins, and the Bengals called you to pick your brain about him before taking him with the first pick of the second round. Describe T to the good player man. He's he kind of reminds me of AJ. Tall, big dude, can really run routes and think the tips, gets in and out of breaks like a little guy, big catch radius if and that's

the things they have. Weapon like T is if he reaches his potential and he matches out, he has the potential to be one of the better receivers in the game of football. If he doesn't leave any meat on the ball, so to speak. He just has to reach his potential. And the good thing is he can learn of somebody like AJ. He's a little taller than AJ. But AJ always gets overlooked when you say who's the best receivers in the league because he's been hurt the

last couple of years. But if he if he's healthy, Um, it's gonna be good for Tea because he's gonna be able to learn from one of the better receivers in the game. Did you have T ranked as the second best receiver in this class? I thought T was probably top three receivers. I thought Jerry Judy was the best receiver. And then you can kind of you can kind of pick and choose. Did you like the speed of Rugs? Did you like the toughness and the run after the

catch and seeding lamb? Did you like everything that justin Jefferson? Did? I think I used prom Arizona stage. Is gonna be a really really good player, but all those guys, I thought he was the first round pick, to be honest with you, but again you it's gonna in Cincinnati's gonna be tough because even if T is it's ready to play. AJ is gonna be the best receiver run team that he's healthy. Oh, Tyler Boyd can play too, and so

they pick that guy that can play. And if Ross stays healthy, Oh, he does something on the team that nobody else can do. He stretches the field with great speed and great quickness, and so beingles have a problem on her hand and take good problems. But if everybody's healthy, h it's gonna be tougher team. Just because he's a rookie and it's different, but again, it's a good problem to have, is that Tyler will figure it out. I'm glad you mentioned John Ross because he reminds me of you.

He doesn't get a ton of hype, but he's tough as nails, great route runner, good feel for the passing game. Do you see some of that when you watch him? Do you mean Tyler Boid? Yeah, I'm sorry if I

said Ross, I mean Tyler Boyd yep. And Tyler Boyd is he's not He's not gonna I mean a lot of it too, though he would probably get a little more credit if the Bengals start to have some success because when you think the Bengals, honestly, you probably think Geno Atkins, AJ Green, maybe Joe Nixon and so everybody else tends to get overlooked if the team will start to have it said, trying to PoID is good. He's a good route runner, he gets in and out of breaks,

and that's why the Bengals have receiver. I mean, you can just look across the league. If you say top three receivers, if everybody plays up to their potential, the Bengals easily. We have one of the better receiver cars in the league. And if Joe can play well early, it's going to be a surprise for people. But it won't surprise me because he has guys around him like he had at LSU. Joe does a good job of giving his receivers a chance to win, and he's accurate

with the ball. And if he can do this in Cincinnati, the Queen City gonna be rolling again on offense like we had when we were playing. Would love it to be two thousand and five evolved over again. Aj Green turns thirty two on the last day of the month. How much great football does he have left in him? And age? Like people, the way the game of football is now like honestly, aj can play if he stays healthy, he can play at a high level for four to

five more years. High level, high level, and that the game of football is different like others. I'm forty two, I have weighed the same for twenty years. I still in shape, I still have ASPS. I only work out a couple of times a week, the game of football is different. If guys are standing in shape. AJ in essence, his body should be healthy if gets healthy, if that makes any sense, because he's been hurt for the last

couple of years and so AJ phenomenal man. I tell people all the time, if you want to learn how to get off of press coverage, even if the release isn't a great release, it will be a great release by watching like AJ is just so violent at the line of scrimmage that even if it's not good, it's gonna work because he believes in it. And yeah, I'm looking forward to AJ reminded people that he's AJ Green. I'm looking I'm looking forward to that because he doesn't

talk a lot. He's not gonna hyping type himself up. And I don't even know Aja that well, but I'll hype him up. He I'm looking forward to him reminded people how good he really is. Joe Burrow has never thrown to these guys. No OTAs, no mini caps. It looks like there will be no preseason games. Now, how big of a problem is that it could be? It could be a hinder if it could be uh, someone of a problem. But you would think in practice, they're gonn They're gonna get a ton of reps in practice

and train account and hopefully that's enough. It's gonna take some time where guys like the ball um what Joe likes. But this is the NFL. You know, we're workout. They don't work at it every day, and so again, everybody's in the same position for the most part. Tom Brady Camphen they've been working out. Um a little different with the Bingers. I don't believe Joe has throne with any of them. Joe is thrown with Ross. I got them together, but that was so long ago that you kind of

got to rediscover that cohesiveness they had. But it will be different. I believe they'll they'll find a way to uh figure it out. But yeah, it does put them at somewhat of the disadvantage with no OTA and maybe no preseason games. Who knows what happens. I have two questions left for t J. Hushman's out A Number One, when Steelers fans recognize you, do they give you crap for shining your shoes with a terrible towel after winning

in Pittsburgh. Uh yeah, still to this day. But it's all it's all fun, it's all you know, it's all it's not enough malicious. But yeah, may Man, what made you do that? And I was like, I don't know, it just kind of just happened. I didn't plan it, It wasn't premeditating. It just will spurred them all the type of thing. But yeah, they'll still give me crap about it, and ver remind me how they beat us in the playoffs thanks to Kimo van Alhof and unfortunately.

All right, final question, do you remember the time that you pranked me? No, what happened? This was great. So March of two thousand and five, you're about to sign your first big contract extension with the Bengals. I'm working for Fox nineteen at the time. I think there was a midnight deadline for you to make a decision. So I'm calling you and trying to get an update before going on the air at on the ten o'clock news And I get you just before going on and you say, man,

I've decided to leave. Had a great time in Cincinnati, but I'm moving on. So I'm writing down on a notepad and I'm bummed out because you know you were You're just coming into your own. I was really excited about it, and then just about the moment I was going to hang up, you said, man, I'm playing with you. I'm I'm resigning with the Bengals. So the good news is I had a scoop for the top of the ten o'clock news. The bad news is you almost broke

my heart. Yeah that probably that does sound like someone would do it. I'll do that. I'll do that often messing around. Yea would Yeah, I don't recall that, but that is something that is not that you said it to me. I'm like, yeah, that is something that I would do. I'd actually do that often still to this day. Yeah, matter with it. That's what somebody and they really think that. Oh wow, and then I gotta tell them like, no, no, I'm just playing. I'm just playing. I'm just playing. You

had me. But the good news is, you know, before I went out in the air, you set me straight. So it turned out fine. I just had about a one minute stretch of being heartbroken. Oh wow. Yeah, it's a good thing that h I didn't let it go a little longer. You got off the phone and I'm like, oh, let me let me know. Plat it around yeah, especially because that was pretext days, so you would not have been able to fire me off a quick text to

send me straight in change right, pretext, pre social media crazy. Hey, I really appreciate you doing this. I always love getting your insight. I love the work you're doing for FS one, and I hope to see you Paul Brown steady when that's allowed again. I won't be there, and I appreciate it. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Take care

of yourself. Hi. Thanks to TJ and Sam Hubbard. And that's going to do it for this episode of The Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to you by Prime Sport, the official fan, travel and hospitality partner of the Cincinnati Bengals. If you haven't done so already, please subscribe, and if you have a minute, give it a rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde, and thanks for listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast