Bengals Booth Podcast: Livin' In The Future

unusual job quarantine quarterback. And we'll wrap up this edition of the podcast by talking to a local business owner who has partnered with the Bengals to introduce a new fashion brand with a positive message. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by bud Light Seltzer. Refresh the game, 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, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify,

or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing since medical scientists. The fastest a vaccine has been developed for a major disease is four years when an inoculation against mumps became available. Right now, the world is witnessing what will rank among the greatest feats in medical history a vaccine for a lethal pandemic in a fraction of that time. Multiple vaccines

for COVID nineteen are nearing approval. It will take months to mass produce and distribute them in large enough numbers to effectively end this pandemic, but modern science is truly remarkable. Now let's get to football. It's been a rough year for the Bengals and this week's opponent, the Dallas Cowboys, both lost their starting quarterbacks to season ending injuries and

are looking at high draft picks next year. Right now, the two, nine and one Bengals would have the third pick and the three and nine Cowboys would have the fourth pick. That's where we start this week's pod cast. Dane Brugler covers the draft for The Athletic and as a walking encyclopedia on the subject. Recently, Dane joined Dave Lappam and me on the Bengals pep Rally Show, and we began by discussing Oregon offensive lineman Piney Sewell, who is widely considered to be the top old lineman in

the twenty twenty one draft. He's a very very talented prospect and he's a very young player. He will not turn twenty one years old until October. So a very young player who unfortunately opted out of the season, and I say unfortunately just for evaluation purposes, but we saw enough of him his first two years. He started twenty games at left tackle for Oregon. You know, for a player that young to play at the high level that

he did, just a really impressive player. He's a native of American Samoa, moved to the States, moved to Utah and she has an eleven and just really started to grow both physic glee and then on the football field with his understanding of the sport and the position. And you feel like he's still far away from playing his

best football. So you know, the combination of what we have already, and that's just a player who you know, he had that big man balance, he's got that mobility, the football instincts, but also what you think he's going to be as he continues to grow and you know, as he gets older. I mean it's hard to believe he was actually born a few weeks before Tom Brady through his first path. So this is a very very young player who has a very high ceiling in the league. Well,

when you when you look at it. I was wondering physically obviously, the dimensions and the athletic ability and all that, but I was going to ask you about the mental part of it. Does he the football iq, the football instincts, Does he have football awareness? Does he see the is he tunnel visioned on just his assignments? Does he understand the total uh, you know, football philosophy and structure of his offense, what defense is are trying to do to

his his position offensive ammuse into all that stuff. Are you're aware is or is he still growing in those departments? Well, he's still growing. You know. There are times where you know he can be out angled in the run game, and you know, and just in terms of understanding where his landmarks are improving his body position, you know, the timing midset. You know, these are areas where he can get better. But I don't think there are areas where they're a problem or you think it's going to be

an issue for him long term. But I mean there's a lot to be encouraged with his instincts. He's a player who he understands timing with his punch, his hands stay up ready, explosive six inches, so he can attack rushers before they get into his body. He keeps his feet moving at contacts so he can create movement in the run game. And then I think there's something to be said about his toughness and he will play through injury. He played his entire senior year of high school with

a torn labor. This is a tough, tough dude who you know. There's a lot of things you point to that say, Okay, he's going to be a pro not only just a starter, but a Pro Bowl level player for a long time. We're talking to Dane Brogler, who does a great job of covering the draft for the Athletic. If Sewell is taken before the Bengals pick, how is this class of offensive lineman after him? At think off of the tackle position. I think there's a clear one

with Sewell. But I also think there's a clear two, and that's where Shaun Slater at Northwestern. And I tell you what, he's going to get dinged throughout the process when he comes. I can see it now. He's going to step up with the stage at the Senior Bowl. He's going to extend his arms and they're gonna be thirty two and a half thirty two and three quarters and he's gonna get dinged because he doesn't reach that thirty three inch threshold that a lot of teams, a

lot of evaluators have. But this guy's a tackle. You watch him on film and you see a guy that's coordinated. He understands leverage, you understand how to attack the opponent, and so go on the tape of him again. Chase Young last year. He was the only tackle on last year's college film that was able to slow down. Chase Young at Ohio State a really, really impressive player, another opt out. No tape from this season, but he started thirty seven games both at right tackle on left tackle

for Northwestern. So he is experienced player who is worthy of a pick somewhere in the top twenty if in fact, the Bengals don't pick at number three. When you get to number five or whatever the case may be, or even at number three, is there an edge rush guy that's close to school value on the board. It's like, Okay, I want to take the best available player on the board, and position and need obviously is a factor, but they need pass rushers as well as tackles. Is there a

pass rusher that may cloud the issue at all. You know, we've been really spoiled the last few years with Miles Garrett and then you know the boasts of brothers Chase Young last year. This year, we don't have that guy. We don't have that clear cut top five overall pass rusher who's just different. You know, he's got special to him. Now, We've got some quality pass rushers in this class, but none that I would say are top ten locks. Gregory

Rousseau from Miami. He's the most interesting of the group. Another opt out red shirt sophomore who as in high school he was a wide receiver, he played defensive back and then he kind of outgrew those positions, moved the defensive line as a senior, and then at the red shirt freshman last year at Miami he led the acc and tackles for a lock in sacks. A really young player,

but you see the potential really long. He's a good athlete, but still piecing together how to be a pass rusher in terms of the sequence, in terms of his pass rush moves, he could maybe getting at the top ten, but he's not a top ten lock. He's not on that same level and really that's the conundrum with this draft.

I think looking at the non quarterbacks, there's only a few of these guys that you point to in say oh yeah, he's definitely going to the top ten, and I think that's the Penna stool, and then I think Jamar Chase, the wide receiver from LSU. After that, I'm not sure any of these guys are absolute walks to go in those top ten picks. No corners either. I think this class has a few really talented corners. Caleb

Farley from Virginia Tech, Patrick Curtan from Alabama. Would I had named two guys on defense, those two would be the guy to be the guys. Caleb Farley with a quarterback in high school, moved to wide receiver, then moved to corner at Virginia Tech, and he's got a sky high ceiling as a player. He's a good sized athlete, six two. He's gonna run really well, he's got ball instincts, still new to the position, so he's still learning. And so it's just a matter of how early do you

feel comfortable taking a guy like that. Patrick Curtan, obviously the son of an NFL pro bowler, not gonna run exceptionally well, probably somewhere in the four fives. But he's long, he can press, he can pattern match, and he doesn't nice job finding the football downfield. So I think both those guys will definitely be in consideration, but I don't

know that I would call them absolute blocks. A couple more questions for the Athletics draft expert Dane Brugler, How did the quarterbacks line up in your mind at this point? And have you heard anything yet about Desmond Ritter, who's a junior at the University of Cincinnati, and I think everybody expects him to come back for his senior year. But is he on the radar at this point? Well,

the Ritter's definitely on the radar, no question. You know, after you get past these top four quarterbacks, that's Trevor Lawrence, justin Field, Zack Wilson, and Trey Land, and you've got a couple of seniors. You know, Kyle Trask is in there. But Desmond Ritters one of the few, you know, upside quarterbacks where you feel like he's maybe a developmental option. He has the size, he's got easy arm strength, you know, still has room to fill out that frame of his

He's a good athlete. The accurs see you wish is a little bit better. It seems like for every five yards that he's throwing, it seems like his accuracy drops just a little bit. So, you know, he's a guy that's easy to love. The competitive nature. You know. Talking to my people in Cincinnati, they say he's just off the chart. He's a true competitor. Obviously he's well coached there.

So personally, selfishly, I'd love to see Ridder go back for another year because I think he could be continue to get better and better and we'll be talking about him as a possible first rounder in the twenty twenty two class. But this year's class, it's going to dominate the conversation. These quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence the clear favorite to go number one, and then two, three and four, those those next three quarterbacks. That's where there's a lot of

intrigue and split opinions throughout the league. There's no consensus on these guys. Ohio states justin fields, just a really good mobile athlete, very accurate with his passing vision, with a little bit better in terms of going through his progressions, eliminating things a little bit quicker with Zack Wilson has

this year for Byu just just really phenomenal. Byu hasn't had the best schedule necessarily in terms of the opponents, but watching him execute these throws off platform, instructure, out of structure, changing his arm angles and just had a natural accuracy to him. To Zach Wilson, he's in play to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board.

And then Trey Lance, who's really an unprecedented evaluation. Seventeen career starts in college all against FCS opponents, forty six total touchdowns, only three turnovers, a lot of traits that you bank on for the next level. So I think you can be drafted high. But with his resume, his meager experience, he really is an unprecedented evaluation. When you mentioned seul and balance, I can testify to the fact that when I played against defensive lineman that or of

Siman heritage, these guys were immovable objects. I mean they all the weight that they cared was all on the right places. Their knees were over their ankles, their hips were over their knees. I mean they were just like they'd hunker down, balance up, and you couldn't move these dudes, and is he Is he that kind of guy? Is his weight distributed that way? Is he that type of an athlete? And what are his actual dimensions? I've heard anywhere from three twenty to like three forty and above.

How big and strong is this guy? Yeah, it'll be interesting, interesting to see what he weighs in at because obviously we haven't seen him this year, so you know he's obviously working out and you know, trying to hone his craft. But what will he tip the scales at. I would guess somewhere between three twenty and three thirty. He's just a hair under six six, good length. But I agree

with me. I think he does have that flexibility, just that natural, natural body type where the footwork, the flexibility, it looks natural for him. The physical traits, you know, no worries there, that big man balance, the mobility. That's part of the reason why Tristan works is having so much success as a for the team of Bay Books this year. He has that big man balance. And I think you're absolutely right. You know, he's another one of these just big samoans who it just looks natural for

him out there. It's really excited to see sewell this pre draft process just to see what improvements he's made. Is he moving the same? What's his weight at? So yeah, it's plenty we have to learn about school, but he's in that driver's seat to be the first non quarterback drafted. Dane Brogler does an exceptional job of covering the draft and you can follow him on Twitter at d P Brugler. Now time for this week's one on one player interview.

My guest is a player who joined the Bengals last week and has a job that didn't exist in the NFL until this season. One of the most unusual jobs in the NFL this year is emergency quarterback. Brandon Allen had that job with the Bengals. Now he is the Bengal starting quarterback, and the new person in that role is Kevin Hogan, who joined the team last week. Kevin, we're calling an emergency quarterback because you have to be kept somewhat separated from the other two just in case

they catch COVID nineteen. How difficult does that make it for you to learn the offense and be ready to play just in case. It's definitely a little different than I've been used to in the past. And you know, as a quarterback, you want to interact with the other guys and be in the same room with them and socialize with them. But that's just the way it is this year that I have to kind of be separate.

So I'm doing my meetings by a zoom and then a separate room, and when we're out on the field, I'm just being conscious of staying, you know, a good distance away, just to be safe. But yeah, and then outside the facility, I'm you know, making sure that I'm staying out of not good situations, I guess, and being smart. So it's definitely different, but it's it's easy with Zoom, easier than I guess it would have been without. So I still feel like I'm kind of in there and

able to get a lot out of the meetings. For chatting with quarterback Kevin Hogan. In a normal year, you could try out with a team on a Tuesday, sign a contract, and be at practice on Wednesday. Not this year.

Describe the process you went through before signing. So I was called on Monday morning, and I was on a flight about a couple hours later, and as soon as I got to Cincinnati, I began my quarantine process, which was five days, and the only thing I had to do was come to the facility each morning and get tested and then just make sure that I didn't catch

COVID nineteen. So it was a lot of a loane time and trying to make the most out of your day while staying in shape and getting ready for a workout. I'm picturing lots of take out and lots of Netflix. That's exactly what it was. Did you watch Queen's Gambit? What did you Knock Off? On Netflix? So? I was coming from San Diego, where I was doing quite a

bit of surfing out there. So I was catching up on some of my surf documentaries last week, just kind of keeping me in that low key, good vibe, just so that I was able to, you know, not overthink anything or just wanted to stay low key. You're talking to Kevin Hogan. It's been reported that former Seattle draft pick Alex Magoo also got to work out. Did you two run into each other at all during that five day period? Oh? Yeah, absolutely, Um yeah, I saw him

every day. Alex was a really good guy. We were able to catch up a lot. He'd been down in Florida. But uh yeah, and he spent some time around the league, so we're kind of just chatting and catching up about his experiences, and you know, I wish him the best wherever he ends up. So your name undoubtedly sounds familiar to some Bengals fans because there are four quarterbacks in history to rush for one hundred or more yards in a game against the Bengals, Cordell Slash, Stewart, Cam Newton,

Lamar Jackson, and you. You did it in your NFL debut with the Cleveland Brown. Seven carries one hundred and four yards, including a spectacular twenty eight yard zigzag touchdown run. What are your most vivid memories of that day? There's a lot. I have a lot of fond memories of being in Paul Brown Stadium because of that debut. We lost that day, but it was a lot of fun making a debut in the NFL. And still have that touchdown ball on my shelf. But I'm trying to do

it again. I would love to be able to do that again a few more times. We're chatting with Kevin Hogan. You're a Stanford grad. You had an incredible career for the Cardinal, including three Rose Bowl victories. It's also a great academic school. Obviously, how did you juggle football and school? They did a really good job of providing resources and any help you might need to whether it was balance your time or your schedule, and with classes or practice.

They're very flexible, so I admit it easy on us. I know that the academics is tough there, so it was really helpful to have those resources and the ability for athletes to reach out if they need to help or tutors. And then the coaches were flexible with practice schedules if you had a class. So that's something that I really respected from Stanford that they were really willing to help the student outlete. You were on NFL rosters for three years before being out of the league last year,

or what could you do last fall? So I got injured in the last preseason game of twenty nineteen and had to undergo surgery, and so I was spending a majority of last season rehabbing, so that that took up most of my time, and then just really tried to stay busy mentally. I didn't want to kind of fall into a funk. Anytime someone goes through some sort of adversity that can be tough, so I was trying to

stay busy. I did a few week long internships with my financial advisor, or actually interned on Capitol Hill for a week, and really just taking lots of meetings outside the football world just to kind of pick people's brains and learn as much as I could while I had all this time. You interned on Capitol Hill for a week? I did with what representative? So I interned for Congressman Steve Scalise, who's the publican whip, And it was a very eventful week because it was impeachment week. Wow. Do

you envision a career in politics someday? Is that something that interests you? No time soon. It was just something that being from DC and knowing people who've been on the Hill that it was something that I wanted to kind of peek my head into. But I would love to play football as long as I can, and then whenever my football poker has done, try my hand in business.

All right, final question for Kevin Hogan. Obviously, you could get into a game if there are injuries or depending on the play of the other two quarterbacks, so you've got to be ready to go. But beyond that, what's your goal in this final month, Are you trying to make a good impression so that you'll be back with the Bengals at the beginning of next year. Oh, I would love to. I'm really enjoying my time here, really like the coaching staff, really appreciate the opportunity that they've

given me to come in. And my goal is to just be the best teammate, to help Brandon and Ryan and the other guys as much as I can, and then just show that I can contribute to this team and really just be a guy that the organization would want to keep around and show that I've made I've worked on a lot of stuff over the last year, year and a half and I want to show those improvements. Yeah, I would love nothing more than to be back in Cincinnati. Kevin,

appreciate the time very much. Best of Luft the rest of the year. Thank you appreciate it. The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Bud Light Seltzer. It's light and refreshing with a hint of fruit flavor. The Dallas Cowboys come to town on Sunday with Andy Dalton at quarterback. The Red Rifles ten benefit season and first on a team other than the Bengals, has been eventful, to say the least. He replaced an injured Dak Prescott in Week five and led the Cowboys to a dramatic last second

victory in his first start. The following week, Dallas got blown out by Arizona on Monday Night Football thirty eight to ten, and one week later, Andy suffered a concussion after a brutal hit by Washington linebacker John Bostick. While he was out with a concussion, Dalton got COVID nineteen, extending his time on the sidelines. He returned to action three games ago, and the Cowboys have gone one and two since, including a thirty four to seventeen loss in

Baltimore on Tuesday Night. For the season, and he has seven touchdown passes, six interceptions, and a passer rating of seventy nine point five that would be the second lowest of his career, only topping last year's number of seventy eight point three. The Cowboys are in last place in the NFL's weakest division, the NFC East, where the Giants

and Washington share first place at five and seven. Clarence Hill Junior covers the Cowboys for the Fort Worth Star telegram and joined Lap and Wayne box Miller in or no the faux segment. You know clans. When you take a look at the game last night, obviously not a good showing for Dallas, especially giving up almost three hundred yards on the ground, But what was your assessment of the game in total? Cowboy camp stop the run, Cowboys camp, stop the run run. I mean it's been a you know,

a theme. You know, your arrival Cleveland Browns rushed for three hundred in the seven yards because the Cowboys are earlier their season. You know, the Ravens Damn Dear got three hundred yards. They got two ninety four against the Cowboys and when when when when Cleveland did it was about the two hited running back. You know, this time was about not being able to contain Lamar Jackson and

then the things they do off for Lamar Jackson. So it's been a season long problem and it's been a different you know, the Cowboys could have done the things in that game. They know their kicker Rigs are allowing missed three kicks. They make those three kicks. You know, it's a different game, you know, but the team was not being able to stop Lamar in the run again

and giving up too many big chumps. You know, you look at Dallas Cowboys schedule now their body clock as such, they play on Thanksgiving, they have twelve days between games to last night's game, and then they have basically four and a half days before they have to play the Bengals on Sundays. So you're going like extra long and then real, real short and tight. What's been the sentiment down there in terms of that scheduling quirk because of

the coronavirus. Well, you know it's too school. The thought that means that they had extra time and study for the Ravens and it didn't make a difference. They prepared for the Ravens and it didn't make a difference right right out the short cloud that and now's you know, just talking to the player after the game last night, you know they're happy to put that behind him, to get back to playing again, to put that game behind them.

But this is twenty twenty, you know, with COVID nineteen, and you know, no one's life is as it should be as one to be everybody's true true, It's changed, and so you know it's part of the territory the scheduled to schedule. The Cowboys has to be prepared to play, and like everybody else has to be prepared to play because you know, they're not in control of COVID as a control and and and these teams in the league are trying to make the best of this situation one

of twenty twenty. So, yeah, the Cowboys have a short week. Uh, they're three and nine. You know, they got a lot of issues seeking of issues when you think about this team and the running game, and we were talking about it a little earlier. You know, Zeke uncharacteristically fumbling the ball a lot this year, But is there anything else that you can point to as to why he may be having a few challenges with respect to keeping the ball?

So the offen the line is awful. You know, they're they're they're without you know, there was a time when the Cowboys at the best officers line in the league. You look at last year, you know they you know, if the offensive line they had with with Jervis Frederick the first round pick and Tyren Smith a first round pick and Zack Martin a first round pick and Leo Collins that first round Thomas at right tackle and none of those guys are here at trafor Swift are retired.

Uh Martin, I mean, I'm sorry. Martin's on injury reserve, like Collins on injury reserve, Swifts on injured reserve. And they're planning with a lot of you know, undractive agents and guys on the line. So if that's to play a huge role in Zeke's success on the running game, you know that this line is not you know, road grading people for elected to run through gigantic hole to take advantage of people in the secondary. So that's a big difference in why the running game is not what

it was. And then Elliott has to take her the football. He's never had five fumbles in the season. Yeah, He's had six fumbles and lost five of them. He's put on the ground six times, and he's never He's never been known as a fumbler, that's for sure. No, he carried them a lot, yeah, yeah, and he's high and tight with it usually defensively, Mike Nolan, is he in trouble?

I mean first quarter points, they've given up ninety four, one hundred and twenty two points in the second quarter, one hundred and eighteen points in the fourth quarter, second and fourth quarter, they've given a two hundred and forty points of their three hundred and ninety three, which is dead last in the league, thirty thirty second in the league.

Is Mike Nolan in trouble or because it doesn't sound like McCarthy's in trouble, but they're going to break up that uh you know that BFF deal between those two guys. That's just it. I mean, this is Mike McCarthy's boy. Yeah no, and Mike McCarthy doesn't want to get whatever his boy, but or the Cowboys Jerry Jonald Stephen Jond's gonna make him get rid of them. Mike Nolan, that's

the course. And because you know the Cowboys have not been great on defense in the past few years, but at least I wouldn't you know on the Marinelli last who was according the last six years before Michael McCarthy five times that are defense therect in the top of level against the run, right, you know, they were never this bad and so you change the coach of the

changing schemes. You got the same players they want this bad against the run last year, you know, and knowledge sudden you change the coaching, the scheme and the scheme and they can't stop anybody. And by McCarthy said last night, it wasn't the scheme. You know, we're not talking about the scheme. It's some by executing Steve when Jones says today on the radio that it's not the players. You know. So if it's not the skam and not the players

that both executions, they're the disconnect there. I know one thing. They're they're paying those a lot of those players, they're paying all those linebackers, they're paying some of those defense They're paying those guys a hell of a lot of money. Not getting much return on that investment. I can tell you that. No, And I always say that. You know, to me, the great run defenses are stout on the

defensive line, that spread up the middle. Ye okay, the Cowboys had average to blow average defensive tackles on this team. You just look at the deeferensive tackles. So, yeah, you're paying to Marcus Lars. But when you're a good runt defense, stout up the middle, defensive tackle those tackle those guys or run stuffing animals. They don't really have that. Yeah,

you know, it's funny you say that. When I was watching the game in the second half, I came to the realization, I'm watching as Baltimore, and they do have a They have a different look, they have a different the way they incorporate the quarterback running the football. It's eleven on eleven football instead of you know, ten on eleven and you have you can get out gapped. And the Cowboys got out gap quite a bit, and it

is a different thing to prepare for. And Baltimore, I mean, they beat everybody up in the in the running game. But I was watching, I'm thinking Dallas's defensive linemen they're catching Baltimore. They're not coming across the football and hitting them. They're catching them. And at that point they're giving up the line of scrimmage. I mean they're getting they're catching and getting knocked backwards. I'm thinking, man, that that just

can't be what they want these guys to do. I mean, I can understand two gaping rather than penetrating the gap. When you're two gaping, you shouldn't be catching. You should be attacking in two gap. You know, I don't know. They looked a little soft, to say the least. I guess they were soft. They got out of physical and

they got out of scheme. They was confused. You know, you know when when Lamar Jaskin takes on fourth to two and go untouched it in zone thirty seven, thirty seven yards and seeing ghosts, I mean, you know, it's a lot of stuff going on, but it's but again, this has been a season long problem for the Cowboys defense. Yeah, looking at vandersh on that play he runs, he chases the back across the backfield that Jackson faked the ball too,

and he leaves a gap open. Jackson just goes right earth through that gap thirty seven yards for a touchdown. Like there you go. He said that there was a ball of meeting. He didn't trust himself he read it, didn't trust what we read. And again then you know without a position, so didn't trust his eyes. Huh, didn't trust his own eyes. So and and that's part of it. But again the Cowboys again we talked about the show

we can read sports for the Bengal. Well, the Cowboys at extra rest, extra time and prepare for the Ravens. They knew what was coming, you know what raped wood. Lamar Jackson has done a ton of film on the Lamar Jackson and running game and it is Gilding Hill. They'll have more on Sunday's matchup, including comments from Andy Dalton, on the Bengals pep Rally Show Friday from three to

six on ESPN fifteen thirty. My final conversation this week is with a local entrepreneur who has partnered with the Bengals to introduce a new fashion brand with a positive message. The Bengals in Cincinnati based Black Owned out Or where I teamed up to design a limited series retail collection called Stripes Don't Come Easy, aimed at unifying the Cincinnati community. The six piece collection goes on sale Saturday, December twelfth at Black Owned and the Bengals Pro Shop. You can

also find it online at Bengals dot com. And joining me to discuss the Stripes Don't Come Easy collection is means, Cameron, the owner of Black Owned out Aware, means, what's the message behind Stripes Don't Come Easy? The message is that you know, if it's worth having, it's going to take some hard work to get there. That's where we're looking

to let the Cincinnati community know with this campaign. We understand that things don't happen overnight, but I believe that Cincinnati can be a model town and model city, and there's great work to do around our communities, surrounding the support of black and minority communities, and we got work to do, and I'm happy that the Cincinnati Bengals have decided to stand right next to us and put in that work. And we understand that stripes don't come easy,

but we're geared up about it. How did this collaboration

come about. I believe a friend of mine over at Mortar was talking to the Cincinnati Bengals and there's a new program that the NFL launched for the teams to partner with local brands, and our name was put in a hat, which is which is amazing just to be the pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, considering there's tons of awesome brands here in Cincinnati, to be the brand that the Cincinnati Bengals reached out to and say, hey, we want to do something with you, and we wanted to

be meaningful, and I got excited immediately. So it's it's exciting. We're talking to means camera and the owner of Black Owned Outerwear tell us about the collection. What makes it a little bit different from the other Bengals gear out there. The first thing I would say that it's featured by Black Owned, which is a message in itself. So that's the first piece that is in collaboration. This Bengals collection

is in collaboration with our brand. But Dan on the design side of things, I really wanted our capsule to not just be, you know, another Bengals piece, and Bengals gear is popular throughout every city because of the colors, the history. It's just nice. But in order to help our campaign and capsule stand out, I decided to go with a cream campaign, which makes our pieces just a little different from what we're used to seeing on the shelf. That white, black and orange, or that orange and black,

black and orange. These pieces immediately grab your attention because you're not used to seeing that orange and black parrot with cream or Once I submitted it to the Bengals, that was a little apprehensive and they came back and they were like, we love it, and I was like, oh, this is good. From that standpoint is it's gonna stand out. It's gonna feel unique, and that's what we wanted it to feel. We want people to be able to identify

this capsule right away. We're chatting with means Cameron, who has teamed up with the Bengals on the Stripes Don't come easy collection means the Bengals have a group of players that serve on the Positive Community Impact Committee. In August, they let them march from Paul Brown Stadium to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center, where Hopkins and Joe Burrow spoke about racial injustice and being catalysts for change. What impact does it have when players get involved, It has a

huge impact. We're ten years in as a brand, or nine years working on our tenth year, and this has been our message for that period. But when the people that we look up to, the people that we see on TV each Sunday, their voice is magnified. Their voice is amplified. So when the players get involved, it says that, hey, although we're professional athletes and we're busy and we have a ton on our plates, this is important to us.

So when when professional athletes like Trey are willing to go out and make that statement, it's everything because we know how much work it takes, what we think, we know how much work it takes to be a professional athlete, but we understand that there's a lot of work involved. So to have you know, Trey and Joe Burrow and Sean William and all of those other guys just lining up to say, Hey, this is what we want to do in the city of Cincinnati and our entire team

as a part of this. That's exciting. You mentioned Mortar earlier. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of Stripes Don't come Easy Gear go to Mortar, which is a program that's been recognized nationally. You're an alumnus. What does Mortar do and how did it help you. Mortar is an organization and their overall mission is to equip underserved creators owners with the tools necessary to run a sustainable business.

And I think in our community we have ideas were able to start businesses, but oftentimes we're not able to sustain them. So Mortar was founded to provide those resources to people like myself. So I actually took the Mortar class after I launched a brand, after I graduated from Miami University. But still in taking a class, there were things that I was able to learn during the class

that allowed me to get to this point. But the knowledge is great, but what's also important for entrepreneurs like myself or those relationships, and Mortar is a lifelong relationship. I traveled with those guys. I consider them guys brothers. So the fact that I have the opportunity to promote excellence, sell some of my greatest designs and donate to my friends, this is a win win all around. We're chatting the meats camera and the owner of Black Owned Outer where

the Bengals are one of thirty two NFL franchises. What does it mean to you to partner with an NFL team? So I have to be honest with you. Then at the beginning of the year, every year I try to set goals twenty or less things that I want to accomplish. And one of my goals was I wanted to design a uniform for a professional team. And I was work in that lane because I think now is the time to kind of get in there and put myself in

a hat. And I was thinking, hey, I could do this and it came in a different form, but this is this is just as great, and so I put a check next to that that goal for twenty twenty. So it means it means a lot. You grow up. I grew up playing football. I started at the age of four playing the game. I was a big kid, but I started young and I played all the way through high school. We grew up one to be NFL players.

I think in my neighborhood downtown Cincinnati, for a lot of us, that's our out, being good athletes, wanting to make it out and do better for our family. So I never made it to the NFL to be a part of the team in that way, but with this partnership, I've certainly made the team. The Stripes Don't Come Easy. Collection goes on sale Saturday, December twelfth. What's it going to be like for you when you see people walking around town wearing that gear or carrying the bag with

that message on it. It's nine years in and sometime I'm still amazed that people take their harder on money and bring it to my shop and spend it with me, because I know how hard it takes for me to

make money, so I'm still in amazement. So all I can say to that is that once the campaign launches, and you know, and the town starts to fill up and people are wearing this, I think that'll that'll be another check mark on my twenty goals, which is to make the city of Cincinnati a little smaller and that's what we have the opportunity to do here. And a lot of times it's about understanding more so than anything else,

just understanding. And I think this capsule will create those very important conversations that need to be had in coffee shops and board rooms about what it is that we can do when we understand one another, and when we're supporting minority owned businesses, a couple of hometown businesses trying to make Cincinnati a more unified place. The Cincinnati Bengals and Black owned outerwear means congratulations. We look forward to

seeing this all over town. Thank you very much. It is a great honor to be on his own with you. This is amazing, So thank you, Dan, and appreciate all of the work that you've put in for a city. If you have a Bengals fan on your Christmas list, the Stripes Don't come easy. Gear includes a jacket, a hoodie that's what I want, a jogging suit, a T shirt,

a turtleneck, and a travel bag. You can see pictures of the entire line on Bengals dot com and purchase the items at the Bengals Pro shop or at Black Owned Outerwear on Elm Street. That's going to do it. This episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast brought to you by bud Light Seltzer. Refresh the game. 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.