Bengals Booth Podcast: Memories

location for Super Bowl fifty seven. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by Kettering Health, the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. With more than one hundred twenty care facilities and fifteen hundred care providers, Kettering Health is committed to guiding you to your best health. Visit ketteringhealth dot org to learn more. Now, 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

wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since a drive through car wash. If you live in Cincinnati or in a part of the world with harsh winter weather, it's about that time for the first car wash of the year to get the dirt, road, salt, and overall crud off of your vehicle. I don't know about you, but I'm a big fan of the drive through style, like Mike's car washing Cincinnati. Sure it's more expensive than doing it yourself, but I enjoy sitting in my car

for the whole process. The brushes and bristles, the lighted signs that tell you when wax is being applied or the undercarriage is being cleaned. It's like a very, very slow amusement park ride. Now let's get to football. Twenty five years after Anthony Munios became the first and still only Bengals player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he finally has company, as Ken Riley

will be enshrined in August. That was made official on Thursday when this year's Hall of Fame class was announced at the NFL Honors ceremony. Riley was one of three players chosen in the Senior category, along with Chuck Howley and Joe Cleco. Willie Anderson was a finalist in the Modern Era category, but we'll have to wait for at

least another year. Ken Riley spent fifteen seasons in a Bengals uniform, and his sixty five career interceptions is tied for fifth most in NFL history, a remarkable accomplishment considering that he didn't even play defense at Florida A and M. Here are Mike Brown and Bob Trumpy on now Hall of Famer Ken Riley. Kenny came here as quarterback and we had Greg Cook. This was before greed Good injured.

Training camp and the quarterbacks would stand and pretty much watched Greg, and it was obvious who was going to be the quarterback. Greg was the best player we ever had, and Kenny was standing there when my dad came over about the third day he had been in camp and said to Kenny, you go over there. And that was the extent of the conversation. Over there was with the defensive backs, and Kenny went and proceeded to play for US. I don't know how many years, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, whatever

it was, it was forever. He was a player with great composure. He could play the ball in the air, all his poise, knew what was going on, was in position as he should be on every play, and even though he was somewhat slight and billed, he was a firest tackler, one player maneuver he had that was his alone. I've seen other guys do it, but not not do it as a regular routine, or they would do just on occasions when it happened without thinking, can you do

it purposefully? He would come up on these guys who caught the ball in front of him, and as they were catching the ball looking back towards the line of scrimmage, he'd come from behind and hit him right under the rump and they would go for a cart wheel in the air, literally, and not all of them kept the ball. When that went on, he would dislodge the ball from them.

But it was a maneuver that was routine for him, and I've often wondered why others didn't pick it up and do it as just a regular way of play. It didn't seem to hurt anybody. They went for a ride, but they all came down in a heap and got right back up. It wasn't injurious. It was just enough of a blow that it cut their attention, and it would catch your attention if you saw it as well. So Kenny had the ability to be rough and tough as well as smart, and he's so deserving, wonderful teammate,

appreciative of your effort. I never heard him say a bad word about anybody, always laughing. In fact, Dan, when I first found out that Ken Riley had been a quarterback in college, I was astonished because he was so quiet. He was a hard guy to get to know, not because of any personality flaw. He was a hard guy to get to know because he was so studious about

what he was doing and so serious about it. And the thing that I remembered most about him, and we had two practices a day, an hour and fifteen minutes each, seven days a week for two months in preparation for the season, and other than getting his ankles taped, I never saw Ken Riley in the training room. So then we sat down to tables for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with anybody and everybody. We didn't care what color they

were or where they lived. And every time I sat down with Ken Riley, You're not going to believe this, but I kind of dominated the conversation. Maybe I didn't give Ken Riley a chance, but I was friendly with all of them. But every time somebody started, I'm on the sideline with the offense the defenses out there. There seemed a period of time where every time there was a big cheer from the stands at Rubert Front Stadium,

it was something that Ken Riley had done. He'd either lowball the Lance Alworth or a notice Taylor the Kansas City Chiefs, pupped them over, or had an interception. But again, personally, he was just great to be around. The wonderful guy, and there was so much about him. I didn't know about him until later on in our careers, and then after he retired. I wish I'd have known it more. I should have shut up and listened to him. Later on the podcast, I'll visit with Bengals dot Com editor

Jeff Hobson, who is a Hall of Fame voter. We'll discuss Ken Riley getting in, how things look for Willie Anderson and Ken Anderson going forward, and the latest Bengals topics, including a possible contract extension for Joe Burrow. The Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you by pay Corps. More than twenty nine thousand customers trust pay Corps to help them recruit, pay, engage, and retain employees. Learn more at

paycorps dot Com. AJ Green announced his retirement this week after twelve years in the NFL that includes the two nineteen season that he missed due to injury. AJ ranked second in team history behind Chad Johnson in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches. Oddly enough, Ken Riley had sixty five interceptions and AJ Green had sixty five touchdown grabs in a Bengals uniform, beginning with a fourth quarter game winner in his NFL debut from Bruce Gradkowski. A good trivia

question to beat the Cleveland Browns. For whatever reason, I don't have the radio call of that first touchdown pass in my archives, but I have most of the other ones. So let's listen back to about three minutes worth of AJ in action now and I formation backfield on first and ten, play action fake with out of the right, got ball for a wide open catches at the eighteen.

It's a touchdown for Adriel Jeremiah Green, his eighth consecutive game with a touchdown catch on a beautiful fifty seven yard bomb from the red rifle to play action fake. Dalton sets up to throw, he rangs it deep for a wide up in ah a Green catches its time. Look at him go at the twenty ten the five touchdown Bengals eighty one yards to eighteen. Adriel Jeremiah Green boy out to the right, here's a past. AJ wriggles out of an ankle tackle and runs into the end

zone for a Bengals touchdown. Great yak yards after catch produces a touchdown for Adriel Jeremiah Green. Dalton takes a shotgun snap against the five man rush. He's gonna fire a teach. AJ Green is hoping he bobbles it. He's got it half the funny, great God, he's still running ten five touchdown Adriel Jeremiah Green seventy seven yards. The former juggler as a kid made a juggling catch and took it to the house to give the Bengals a twenty one to sixteen lead. On first and ten, Dalton

fakes to mix and tis a high Indeed. J Green catches half the Buffalo forty s pretty curveen on the field of Club of Gene five touchdown by seventy seven yards. Andy Dalton finding a J Green, who roasted the rookie cornerback R. Davis White Boy goes in motion Dalton back to throw, steps up, keeps it long. AJ Green is won agmen, He's gonna touched down Bengals as Andy Dalton floated a high rainbow fifty four yards down field, a touch down to AJ Green. No rivas island there. It

is third and seven at the Pittsburgh twenty five. McCarron five yards behind the line, takes a shotgun snap. It's a four man rush. AJ gunfield free. J Green catching there and goes into the end zone. Touchdown Bengals, a twenty five yard touchdown, and the Bengals have a one point lead. Dalton back to throw. We're down to five seconds left and a half. He's gonna throw a high, deep hail Mary pass into the end JJ and it

is Baba Yea makes the catch. I'm the ricochet hail Mary, a forty nine yard touchdown pass as a prairie is answered in the end zone by Adriel Jeremiah Green. Over the years, the Bengals have probably had more great players at wide receiver than any other position. Isaac Curtis, Chris colin Worth, Carl Pickens, Chad Johnson, t J. Hushman, Zada, AJ Green, and the current trio of Boyd, Higgins and Chase Here's Mike Brown on AJ Green. If I had a starting all time Bengals team, he'd be on him.

He brings a different package. He's fast, but not as fast as Easy. He's quick, but not as quick as Chad. He has a tremendous catching radius and a very competitive spirit. You feel really secure with him on one side. They have to overplay him. They know if they don't, they're in trouble. And yes, you're right when you say we've had a number of top white outs over the years. I think probably that is a position where we've had

more than our share of great players. The Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you by Bengals Picks and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play with tickets and signed merchandise up for grabs. Find both inside the Bengals app. After AJ announced his retirement, I asked on Twitter if there were any highlights or memories that you wanted me to include in this podcast. I got a response from at Governor Chief asking if I ever did a fun fact segment with Aj. The answer is yes. Green's rookie year was

my rookie year. As the Bengals Radio Voice, and that weekly segment was still in its infancy. It was only about five minutes long back then. It's typically twice that long now. But here's twenty three year old AJ Green time for fantastic Funch Facts with eight reel Jeremiah Green. Anybody in your life that ushes your real name sometime? My parents about it. Nobody else did. They used to drop it on you when you got in trouble. Yeah, my mom did. All right, your South Carolina kid, tell

us a little bit about where you're from. I'm from this little country place called Vigil, South Carolina. No nothing out there. This is a country area. And you just went to Serville High School and that's what I played football. Speaking of Summerville High School, your high school football coach is the winningest high school football coach, John McKissick. Still going strong at eighty five, Is that right? Yeah? Eighty five is unbelievable. But he's still active. He's still coaches,

So this is unbelievable. What was he like? Uh, you know, he was really outgoing, always talking, you know, trying to coach. You know, he got rained over a couple of times on the sideline. So I don't know how he's still coaching, but he's a great guy. I read somewhere that he's retired one number in his fifty nine years or sixty years of high school coaching. It's yours. That must mean a lot. Yeah, definitely, man, it's coming from him. You know, he seems a lot of great that that came through

that program. And you know, I would just honor so tenth grade high school, he verbally commit to Georgia. What was it about the Bulldogs that enthralled yourself? It was just coach Raking, you know, just preaching to be a better man after the life for football, and I felt I could go anywhere and play and uh but just give me that that that that like growing up and being a man and being on my own, and I

felt like coach was the best man for that. So after you did that, a bunch of big time coaches from other schools kept coming around trying to get you to change your mind. Right, Yeah, definitely, But you know I stayed firm, and uh, you know I held it through.

Who is your childhood hero? Um? You know my g got to be my parents, you know, just they always pushed high work and uh, you know, always said nothing as easy, Always have to work for, gotta be my parents, did you have an athletic hero, somebody who's poster was on your bedroom wall? Anything like that? Part of Michael Jordan, you know, because he always strives to stuff to be great. And that's what I'm trying to do. All right. So you're the number four we're picking this year's draft. Obviously,

whoever that is is well compensated. What what's your splurge? What do you spend money on? Um? You know, I'm just not really a big spender, but a little clothing shoes, that's my passion, even though I don't even get dressed dressed that much, but uh, you know, just just knowledge that I note that I have them is always good. So a close horse. Yeah, clothing shoes, all right. I read it somewhere that you were on a juggling team as a kid. Yeah. What do they do in the

juggling team? You know, you just juggle a different item like balls, scars, all kind of stuff like that. And we used to perform at halftimes a basketball game, so kind of fun. How many things could you get in the air? Four four? And then then after sixth grade, I'm like, man, it's not cool no more, so I just quick AJ's it like riding a bike? Could you still juggle if we had four objects here right now?

Oh yeah, definitely. Uh Gatoray did like a little special on me with a little juggling stuff, so I still got it this radio, so I'm not going to ask you too, So you're off the hook for now. Anyway. Have you had any other jobs other than professional athlete? Oh? Yeah, I had one job at the store, like department store like Stephen Bears and I used to work as xpies, but my coach made me quit of both, I mean both jobs because he said I have my whole life

to work, so you know, I just focused on athletics. Well, they sold shoes there, so you were able to indulge your habit probably for for liking shoes, right, yeah, a little bit for like two weeks. All right, what NFL star do you look forward to meeting? That'd be probably

this scene pay Manny. You know, you know, just watching the whole my whole life growing up, and you know, just now I'm here like playing on the same field, well not playing on the same field but in the NFL, but up Pay many when you have Matt big time people over the last year or two, are you a little bit awestruck? Are you over that? No? I think I'm over that now, So all right, fair enough. When you're not at work, what do you enjoy doing? Probably

to sleeping and playing video games? How late the sleep when you can? I mean, if you've got the freedom to sleep, how late will you go? Two o'clock, three o'clock? You know no longer an option in the NFL. Exactly that you're lacking means and need to get your wrist when camp. All right, You're off the hot seat. Thanks, thank you. As I told Aj in a text this week, it was truly a privilege to broadcast his games for nine seasons, and I look forward to the day when

he enters the Bengals Ring of Honor. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by Alta Fiber, future proof fiber Internet capable of delivering multi gigabit speeds designed to take your home, business and community to a new level. Elevate your connection with Alta Fiber. Now time for my conversation with Bengals dot Com editor and Hall of Fame voter Jeff Butch Hobson, Jeff. It is a night for

the Bengals organization in Bengals fans to rejoices. Ken Riley is officially going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August. You are one of forty nine people on the selection committee. What ultimately got the rattler over the hump? I think when they expanded the committee, when they expanded the uh senior nominations from one to three, only one senior was able to get in a year. It was

just too tight of a call. I mean, they tell you about those uh those meetings where you know, you got to come out with one senior and there would be fifteen. There'll be a list of fifteen guys. And Ron Borge's the great Ron Borgers of a long time pro football writer. Would you know, he'd tell you they when we when we left the room, that were Hall of famers strewn about the floor and U so opening it up. And also I think there's been a great

effort on the ground to help get him in. To be aware, to be aware of those sixty five interceptions. You know can point to Fingle, Jim Jim Foster, you know, with his trips to Canton and you can look at just at the sixty five interceptions himself that that I think that that held up over time. I mean that it's amazing how how great that number is when you consider that since Kenny retired in nineteen eighty three, only one player that came into the league after that had

had more than him. It was Rod Woods. And that I think ultimately expanding the committee, the you know, expanding and changing and revamping the senior guidelines and the efforts of Bengals fans and the sixty five picks didn't. So that process you're talking about for selecting senior candidates guys whose careers ended at least twenty five years ago, that changed last year. What does that mean for Ken Anderson moving forward? To be thinking, well, I think it's there

were two things that came out of the first. You know, its stunning that he didn't, you know, go as far as he did, I thought. But I do think that that just like for Kenny Riley, I do think that opens it up for Kenny Anderson. But when I don't know, you know, I think it always kind of they always kind of hurt each other's candidacy a little bit because they're both Bengals and both played in the same era. I don't don't and I don't think that helped either one.

And uh, but hopefully with the expanded you know, with the expanded seniors list, you gotta believe that Kenny Kenny Anderson gets in sooner rather than later. We're visiting with Bengals dot Com editor Jeff Butch Hobson. Willie Anderson has been a finalist in the Modern Era category in each the last two years. Unfortunately, Big Willie did not get the nod this year. For those who don't support him, do they say, why no, you know, it's it's it's

a great question. That's a great way to approach it. And because nobody ever tells you, nobody ever tells you that, but you can only you only have to kind of say, you know, well, he played on he played on Bengals teams that weren't very good, and he played right tackle. But that just doesn't hold water anymore because, first of all, people, you know, he certainly won more games than Joe Thomas.

You know, he was on more contenders than Joe Thomas, and he blocked and he blocked, and he can't say, well, he was a right tackle, but he blocked as many great players as Joe Thomas did. So those arguments really don't wash when you put in guys like a guy like Joe Thomas. So I think, I think fine, I think, you know, he's a he's certainly a Hall of he saw a certainly Hall of Fame worthy. But I don't think he's you know, he's certainly, Uh, Willie is just

as accomplished, if not more than he is. But why does a guy like that get in quicker than Willie does? And we could probably do a dissertation on this at a new house schoolhoarding we ever back for an alumni weekend. Although behind like yellow at us, we may be too old to be yelled at. He likes the yell at yearn you guys. But uh, I think will he's another guy who's going to get in. And it's but I don't know when, you know, will he be like Vasselli?

Where you know Tony Vasselli was on the ballots in the final six times before he made it. I certainly hope it's not that it doesn't take that long. But the key is to get him in the room, keep getting him in the room for those finals. Where his case is presented and discussed, and like you, at some point, you know the voters are going to look at each other and say, you know, yeah, there's there's no reason, you know, there's I know there are no really marks

on the no category. Let's talk about a guy who's not in the room. Corey Dillon. He's twentieth in NFL history and career rushing yards. He ranks ahead of many Hall of Fame running backs, including O. J. Simpson or o'campbell, Terrell Davis, etc. He has two of the top seventeen single game performances in NFL history. He was the leading rusher on a Super Bowl champion in New England. There

seems to be very little Hall of Fame buzz. Why I you know, it's uh could be my fault, just trying to get one guy in take so much air out of the room. But you know, you know, I always stay Corey's case, and I think Paul Dayer Junior has done a nice job stayed in, stayed in Corey's case, and the guys who have gone in, I know you know the names you hear Fred Taylor will put up Corey's career against Fred Taylor it's it's it's keep arguing.

In many ways it's better because he's got a ring and he had a better you know, he had a better you know, his season in New England was I think better than anything that Fred did. But you know that that that case that I think the position too. It's hard to it's it's it's a I mean, in this day and age, you've got to be unbelievable in there with all the I mean there's a there's a look at the backlog of receivers. Not one receiver made

it into the hall this year. Uh, you know you've got a backup of three guys that have worthy cases. But you know those are the guys that get the ink and a running back from the turn of the century. How to get traction And I'm not sure, I'm not sure how to how that can be, you know, outside of a six million dollars public relations, let's I don't know how to how to get it in the voters minds that Corey Jones certainly should it, certainly should be

in the room. Certainly should be And I would say if you look at the backs that have been there recently, he should be in. Can it is not your fault for the record, and I do want to give you some credit because every NFL team has one media member on the committee, so you have helped make the case for Ken Riley, Willie Anderson, Ken Anderson and others. What

does Ken Riley's selection mean to you personally? I think I've cried about three times since I found out that he was that he was in, and it's I know what it means to his family, for one thing, And I know and Kenny and I would talk about it a lot, you know, and he was and it meant a lot, and and it meant a lot to him, it didn't, you know, like like his son said, it's

not something that he thought about all the time. But when you know, a guy like me would ask him invariably, which I asked him a lot, he would talk about it. He would talk about it, and he would it was on his mind, but it was him on his mind during voting. And so I it means a lot to me because of how much it meant to him and his family. And I just felt happy that I could have a hand in it, that I could write about him because I because ultimately Kenny get in because of

his case. You know, I just feel so happy for I feel I feel like his wife does. Who's bitter. It's bitter sweet because he's not here. So it's a if for me. It's a range of emotions from it's it's you cry for a lot of different reasons, and one is that he's in and the other reason is he's not here. It's pretty emotional, but I think I got all my crying out of the way. So when I was able to hit the button to say that he was in, I was in a I was in

a good frame of mind. All right, let's change subjects. AJ Green retired this wait. As far as I can tell, you're the only reporter he has talked to so far. Described that conversation just like any other UH talk with as you would call him, Adriel Jeremiah Green. I think I think you called that I pretty close to sixty five times, maybe forty because your first game was his first game, correct, and he was the same, And he was he was the same as as you would expect.

He was very matter of fact. He didn't sound relieved or anything like that. You know, sometimes you talk to these guys after they make a decision, and UH, you can tell the loads off. But AJ, that's why he was such a great player and such a great locker room guy. He was just cool and easy. You know, he was going he's going on to that. I don't think it was an easy decision for him. You know, he's a he's a passionate guy. I think that's the his his his personality kind of kind of belize the

passion that simmers in him. So but I found him to be as gracious as ever. You know, I uh, if it had me, I would have been grousing about the injuries that cost me three one thousand yard scenes. But he didn't see it like that. He's sorry as he was, he was blessed to do what he did, which I think shows you what kind of human being he is. So I was, you know, he was He's excited about being able to, you know, do do all the things that he hasn't been able to do with

his family. And I sounded like he's interested in delving into investments and stuff and I'm sure he'll be successful with that. So it was just like talking to him after a game board. He was like, uh, only was like talking to him after a win, because you know, after a loss, he wouldn't. He could get him right at his locker, but he would still be dressed, and he'd be few, and you know, he'd be kind of he'd be mad, but he but he talked, but he would if it was a loss. He wanted to get

it over with in his uniform. But I think I could envision Aj he was. He was, he was out of uniform and enjoying a win. It was great hearing him or reading in your story that he's excited to openly root for the Bengals again, and so is his wife Miranda. Yeah, you know, as you know this is a the Greens aren't the only ones that are taken with this team, you know. And the fact that you know we forget AJ played on that, I mean AJ

played with those guys, you know. I mean, I still think and maybe I'm the biggest homer of all time. I'm the last guy in the world that thinks Joseph Osai, I guess was hit, you know, should have been flagged

for that play. But I definitely think that AJ Green should not have been called for offensive pass interference and Joe Burrow's first start, so that would have been a great that that that would have been a great trivia question because you got to feel like Joe is going to be around for, you know, a long time, and AJ Green is that other era, you know, and so he kind of played into both errors, you know. And I I think he helped those guys, I know, you

know Tie Higgins. I went back. I looked at some of the stuff that Tee Higgins said when you know when AJ was there, how much he helped T and uh, you know, and he's still close to Tyler Boyd. So it's he's rooting for guys that he knows, you know. And uh, he got a great relationship with Mike Brown, you know. And I joked with him, I said, you know, probably you probably didn't text Mike probably and he said, now, he goes, I don't. I don't think he looked at

his cell phone. I said, well, you can expect the handwritten letter at some point, and he agreed with that. He will be up on that ring of honor someday, there's no question about it. We're visiting with Jeff Hobson, who's in Arizona for Super Bowl Week. Your fellow media members there know that you cover the Bengals. What are they asking you about this week? What do they want

to know about this team? Why aren't we there? I mean, I can't tell you how many I can't tell you how many people have you know, I always wanted my Bengals garb and uh. So you know, they say, oh, you should have been there. I thought you were going to be here. You got a good team, You'll be back, you know. Uh. And that's just passing in the hallway. But when you talk to guys like Jim Miller of Serious Radio, Alex Marveez of serious Radio, Howard ballser who's

who's a Hall of Fame voter Um Rappaport. If you get Rappaport off the phone for a little bit, you know they're they're, uh, you know, they know this team, the team is going to be in it, you know. So you know, they all want to know about borrows, you know, contract or something. And I you know, I said, that's that's to me, that's a I was talking to

Steve Servey about this. Uh. They got the great writer from the Post who, by the way, once wrote the greatest line in Super Bowl history when the When the Packers got back to the Super Bowl of the nineties, the first word of his of his column was, I am standing in the house Vince Lombardi used to live in Oky. He went today, he went to Vince Lombardi's

old house. So Servey's back for another Super Bowl and he was talking about borrowing the boys and about that went over the Jets and back in September, and he was talk you know, asking about the contract and how are they going to keep these guys? That's another topic two is how how are they going to keep all these guys even asked have they even asked even as to match Chase. But I said to Servey, I said, you know this, I said, Mike Brown made Boomera scias

In the highest paid guy in the league twice. He made Constin Palm of the highest paid guy in the league once. So you know this is he's He's even down this road a few times. So I do think that there's a little bit of a misconception out there nationally at least and maybe even somewhat locally, that this

is something that has to happen. Now. Yeah, the truth is Joe's under contract really for two more years, assuming that the Bengals would pick up a fifth year option if they had two and obviously they would, but this is the first year that they can extend the deal and there's some salary cap benefits long term if they do. What's your gout to tell you? You think it gets done this offseason? Well, that's that's their history, you know,

I can only look at the history. Uh what they did Dalton in I think the camp of twenty fourteen, right, which was when they had the first I think they had the first chance to do it, right, that was after his first three seasons. Uh, they did Boom, you know, they did they would do back in the day, they would do Boomer quietly, but they did Carson. Remember they did Carson. He hadn't even finished his first season yet and they did it. So he finished his third season.

Well it was yeah, you correct, that's Curry. You are right, sir, Right, that's right, thank you. Yeah, history would tell you that they do it sooner rather than later. I would imagine this is the same case now because he's gonna he's gonna set the structure, he's gonna set what you do with other guys, and you know he's gonna he's not want to go out, He's not gonna want to go

out there and play with the Lerman twins. Although they had a great they had a great run together an Ath, but you know he's going to have other guys with him, so you know it's, uh, you gotta get t figured out. You gotta get Logan Wilson figured out. They're both they're

also both viligible to be talked to. And then of course in the distance you have Jamar and you know, defensively, certainly von Bell and Jesse bates her up and you know, so you know, you would think, if you if he's going to set the salary structure, you'd probably like to get that. Not as soon as possible, but I'm sure they could still do business while they're talking to him,

but history would tell you sooner rather than later. You referenced Jamar Chase being out there in Arizona, and he was on the NFL network on Wednesday and when asked about Burrows contract. Here's what Jamar said, Joe wants to set up his contract to keep some of his weapons around him. That's the quote. It sounds to me like they've talked about it. You would think, knowing their friendship and their history that they have, how significant do you

think that comment was from Jamar. You know, I know, I it's like you said, you can only go by how close they are. It's also not surprising, you know, I think knowing noing Joe, I think he's a pretty calculator. You know, he's a pretty uh I don't want to say calculated, but he's a he's a clear minded guy. Yeah, he's pretty focused. He know what he wants to do, and yeah, right, it's I mean, every time he talks, he talks about with him. You know, he's not talking

about Passerini and completion percentage and all that stuff. He's talking about wins and so yes, I agree. I mean you would have to say that it sounds like Joe. So Joe's not due to be a free agent right away. But you mentioned some of the guys that are Jesse Bates, Von Bell plus Jermaine Pratt, Eli Apple Paydon Hurst. Those are five starters who are going to be free agents. I think most of us assume Jesse's moving on, It's been trending that way for a couple of years now.

Of the others, who do you think is most likely to return? Great question? I mean, I uh, you look at von Bell and I mean, he's uh, very comfortable in the system, great in the locker room. I know he's got some ties around the league, you know, around the league with other you know, teams and the guys who were up for jobs. But he's a guy I would think he seems, uh you know, he wants to

win too. And I you can't you can't help but see the letter of number nine there for these guys, you know, and I think v I think Von's one of these guys. Any guy who comes into the weight room every day at six and the morning that tells me he's not he's he's running in for just a paycheck,

you know what I mean. So he's a guy I could see, you know, sticking here because you know he wants to win, and uh, you know he's he was a winner on the Saints too, and what were the two common denominators, Drew Breese and Borrow, So that you know, I could I could see I could see vareun staying, you know what I mean. I that would be a guy. I mean, but you know I wouldn't give I wouldn't give short shrift to Pratt either. I think Pratt's pretty

comfortable here. His good friend b J Hills on the team. He's really come on under their you know, he's really the last two years under the lou He's really he's really come on. So you know that, you know, But what what would he want to be? You know, I think Wilson and Pratt are seen as two guys. Would he want to go someplace where he wants to be the guy? I don't you know who knows? I mean, but I think everything's on the table with these guys.

I think it has had to say one guy is more likely than the other because I think Borrow kind of changes everything. And the success Borrow in the success of the last two years is you know, hard to know what guys are thinking, and hard to know where they are in their lives, you know, and what they want to accomplish at this stage in their lives. And each guy is different. But I think, you know, I think if a lot of guys stay that would that would not be surprising because they know they got a shot.

I think they believe and they've lived it and they've seen it. They a chance every year to get here. The factor that you never know at this point is what other teams might offer. I mean, nobody expected CJ. Zama to get the deal that he got last year. So I know that hayden Hurst wants to be back, But will another team go crazy and make an offer that that just simply does not make sense for the Bengals. You don't know, no, right, you don't know, and you

don't know what a guy's thinking. We would a guy take less to stay? What a guy does a guy want more as a guy and needing more? I think keeping a team together, I think is that's that's just going to be the high. But I mean, they've done such a good job putting this one together. It's going to be probably even tougher to keep it together, you know. And but I think we'll have a lot of help.

Joe's gonna have give him a lot of help and a regat And I think, you know, I think Zach Taylor's built a great You have to say, what he's done a hell of a job in that locker room. And if you didn't think so, you thought so after DJ Hills stood next to Joseph the sci after that conference champion, the game that shows you what they've got and so uh, it makes this It makes this locker room quite a lure, I think in free agency. A

couple more topics as we record this. Luanna Roumo is reportedly one of two finalists for the areas could be right around the corner from you. He could be right around the corner from here or in Arizona. Yeah, yea, So he's supposedly one of two finalists for that job. Brian Callahan is apparently still on the lengthy list of guys who are being considered by the Indianapolis Colts. If either or both leave, are the replacements in house? I

would think so. I think that was part of the deal when Mike, when they when the when the ownership opted to go for a offensive head coach. I think the thinking was, you know, they were looking at points like this where they would get coaches, you know, where other coaches would leave, and I think they felt like, you get to have a system. You get to have

at least on one side of the all. You have to have a system that the head coach has and uh so za za this is Zack's often so uh certain you don't want guys like Callahan and Tooy Walters is up for a job. The wide receiver's goes Dan picture the quarterbacks coach. He's up for a job. He's already had two interviews in Tampa. But Zach the guy ultimately zat zact system. He's still here. He's not going anywhere. So, I mean, that's a key thing on that side of

the ball. And you know, defensively, it's an interesting call. You know, James Betcher worked with lou in New York. James Betcher is a two time defensive coordinator. His best you know, he had three top ten defenses in Arizona, uh, you know, several years ago. So you know, he would seem to be you know, would he be a candidate. He has done the job before, so you know, I I and they, you know they and I think Zach and Duke and Mike have done a great job with

coaching continuity. I mean and that you know. I mean, you know, Mike, You've talked to Mike enough. He is rock ribbed in his belief that you have to have consistency, particularly in coaching. And I think he's been proven correct down through the years. So you know, I think those you know, those in the house guys get an extra long look. I think in Cincinnati Mike puts it differently than anybody else I've ever heard, as you would expect when we're all singing from the same hymnal. It's hard.

It's hard to change from the year to year. So that's a classic way of Mike talking about coaching continuity. Yeah, and that's he just didn't come up with that either, you know. And I think he's seen that, he's seen that playout. He's sorr he saw it on his dad's back when you know, I mean Paul Brown's first stabs. I know it was a different time, in a different era, but they barely changed, you know, in the in the in the when he was coaching the team for the

first eight years. So you're in Arizona for the Super Bowl. You've been around players from both teams, coaches from both teams. Do you have a rooting interest? Do you have a feel for who you think is gonna win? You know, I hate I had a nice conversation with the former Bengals coach. We'll get to these notes later after the Hall of Fame stuff, but old running back coach Jamal Singleton is out here. Is the assistant head coach for the Eagles, really really shot guy, and they the Eagles

do a great job running the ball. Did a little did a little story with Lane Johnson and got to spend some time with him, who's a big Willie Anderson guy, and talk to their offensive line coach a little bit, Jeff Stoutmond. And they're very impressive upfront, you know. And I mean, you know, the Chiefs are the Chiefs are a great team. You know what, We've had four classic games. It's unbelievable you think about that. I mean, every game has been a classic, but this Eagles punch, it's a

they're intriguing you after being around a little. But I mean, and I just look at how they run the ball. And Willie Anderson was talking about that too. What he was saying when they blocked the run, their picture perfect. They're combo blocking is like right out of the textbook. So you know, I hate to get back to the running game, but that's they They could they could take over this game in the run game, and we might not see much, you know, the plan might be not

to see much of Patrick. You know, that's that's you know, as you know, I mean, obviously, if she's met on the field, he can't beat you. But I think and the Eagles are so good on the other side of the ball too. I just they're so good on both sides of the ball. It's hard to me to see them losing a game like this. Well, I hope you're right, because I'm rude to the Eagles. My fellow Southwestern Central High school graduate, Nick Siriani, right, his ni Fran was

my high school science teacher. So this is kind of cool. Wow about that? Um yeah, that's uh uh And there you're kind of guys, you kind of like a little bit like Hassan Reddick is kind of like the eli apple of that team a little bit. He's got a second he got a second chance, and he's got sixteen sacks, and um, you know, I I think that, uh, this, this the Andy Reid thing is what a great thing.

I mean, uh, what a story that is. I mean, he's hugging some of those Eagles, He's hugging some of those Eagles guys on the on the stage that were there when he when he was there, you know, and so it's, uh yeah, I think this, uh, this one is It's gonna be tough to watch though, because he's just gonna think, you know, how close the Bengals were to get there, you know, and uh, I would have liked the match up with the with the Eagles, it would have been their their their pass rush would have

been tough. But I think that uh, you know, Joe could have gone after that secondary, you know, And I think our defense would have been a nice match for you know, we're tough to run the ball on, you know. And uh, I think Hurts might have you know, I think Lou might have had a few things for Hurt. So we'll just have to we'll just have to kind of do a fantasy game on the side. I guess we're both still in mourning. They probably would have had Kappa back, they might have had with Jonah back, so

that would have been helped as well. But hey, here's the good news. Of the fourteen teams that made the playoffs, they had the youngest roster or it's not going anywhere. The Bengals aren't going anywhere, So hopefully next year we'll be still in the hunt. At this point of the Super Bowl week, well, and the great thing FORRDY is they've got the youngest roster and they got one of the most After the Eagles, they might have the most postseason games even though they're so young, you know, which

is that's a great combination. Well, as I said off the top, it is a night for Bengals fans to celebrate Ken Riley officially going into the Hall of Fame. You had a lot to do with that and also getting Willie Anderson in the room. So congratulations, thank you on your for your efforts and look forward to seeing you when you get back to town forty. That's very kind of you. You know, it's kind of a family deal here. The Rileys are all are all out here

and it's a great thing to see. And I know Carry Hobson's listening on our podcast, and one day as a family, we're going to go up and see Kenny Riley's bust and as a family and we'll we'll be up there, and it was a bit or his family and hopefully Willie will be going back up to visit. Willie and Isaac and Corey and you know, Joe and Jamar if we live that long, which would be nice.

That's going to do it for this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast, presented by Kettering Health, the official healthcare provider of the Bengals, By Bengals Picks and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play with tickets and signed merchandise up for grabs by pay Corps, the official HR software provider of the Bengals, and by All to Fiber future proof

Fiber Internet elevate your connection with All too Fiber. If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute, give it a rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast