Bengals Booth Podcast: Run This Town

get his thoughts on the defending AFC champs. And then a broadcast partner, Dave Lapham, joins me as we share some observations on the first few days of training camp. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download Ultimate Bengals ahead of the upcoming season. It's free to play next level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. Get

it now on the App Store and Google Play. 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 wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since the Bengals AFC Championship rings. It's obviously not the ultimate prize, but the Bengals distributed spectacular rings last week to celebrate the organization's third trip to

the Super Bowl. The top of the ring features the Bengals orange and black b logo, with a diamond cut black stone behind it to make that logo pop. Above and below it are ten orange sapphires, symbolic of the franchisees ten division titles. Eighty diamonds sparkle on top of the ring, including a series in the shape of a football, and seventeen more diamonds around the top edge in an

alternating pattern with seventeen orange sapphires. The Lamar Hunt AFC Championship Trophy is on the side of the ring, surrounded by three more or in sapphires, signifying Cincinnati's three conference titles, and on the inside of the ring you'll find the scores of the bengals three postseason wins. For the players and coaches, it's a richly deserved reward for all they accomplished last season, and also a reminder that a bigger

prize is within their grasp. Last year, on back together. Saturday, the Big Open practice that the Bengals hold at Paul Brown Stadium. Evan McPherson ended the day by attempting a sixty yard field goal. He had the distance but missed it wide left. This year, he ended the event with a sixty five yard attempt and drilled it with plenty of room to spare. It was the latest impressive feat by the kid with a bionic foot. Including the postseason.

Last year, McPherson made twelve field goals of fifty or more yards. Dave lappom and I caught up with him Saturday immediately after that sixty five yard blast. Did you know that sixty five yard opportunity was coming? Yeah? No, I definitely did. We've talked about it and just kind of It's kind of what we did last year too, was just kind of putting foot on a show for the for the fans and everybody that showed up. So I didn't know it was coming. We didn't know how

far we were gonna go. We're just gonna kind of judge it off of how we were feeling on the wind and everything. How did that feel felt good? No? I hit it really well. Um probably hit it as about as good as I could have um and the guy stating under the upright said it was it had a couple more yards on its all felt good. Anything if I hit that that same ball maybe like seventy he said it had been good from seventy. But who knows.

Sweet nice way to cap this practice. I mean, obviously everybody out here is still buzzing from the Super Bowl trip, and to see you do that sends everybody home happy. Yeah, definitely, and I think it I think everybody should be excited for the season. I say, well, you know, they saw a good team out there practicing the day, and they're going to see a good team play here in as a next week or a couple of weeks against Arizona thirteen days, thirteen days, there we go. What'd you think

of the reception when you walked out? People went nuts? Yeah. I mean, it's just awesome just to have that support from the fans, and it gives me confidence going into it. You know that everybody's behind me if no matter what happens. So all right, you've got a sixty five yarder in practice. If it comes up in a game, you know you can do it. Exactly, No We're prepared for it, so

it's gonna be the right situation for sure. Last year I saw McPherson make a sixty two yarder during pregame warmups in Denver, and later that day he set the franchise record with a fifty eight yarder in the game. The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals. They're

free to play fantasy football game. This past season, Ultimate Bengals awarded a weekly winner during the course of the year with tickets, autograph merchandise, and money can't buy experiences all up for grabs five Ultimate Bengals in the app Store and Google Play. NFL Network insider Ian Rappaport was in attendance at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, and I caught up with him for about ten minutes just before practice got under way. Ian, what are your biggest questions

about the Bengals coming off the Super Bowl appearance. I don't have nearly as many questions as I did last year. I mean, if you think about it, like the defense, assuming Jesse Bates shows up before Week one, defense is basically the same, right, I mean, you lose Ogan Joby, but like you can make up for those seven sacks somewhere else, probably like some talent in the back end. Otherwise, like everyone's basically the same offensive line will be better.

So it's not like I have a ton of questions, like his Ted Carriss can be able to be like a starting center or whatever. Like Le Collins is what he is, like a really really really solid tackle. Like I don't even have any questions there. Joe Burrow sounds like, get a great offseason and I health one, which is most important. He'll probably be a little bit better too, So questions like I don't know, I really don't have

very many. Honestly, that's pretty telling. I mean in most camps there's usual at least something that you wonder, Okay, did they solve that problem or whatever. It doesn't sound like this particular team has a bunch of those. Yeah, I mean, you know, the offensive line would be sort of the target. But like it's not like they drafted guys and then we'll see like the guys they signed, you know, like I know what Lyle Collins is. I've seen him start for seven years or whatever. It is

like Ted Kerres, same thing, Kappas, same thing. Like I don't know, like I'm not. I don't. I guess maybe you worry about the wonder about the fit a little bit, but like I'm really not, Like I think they should be fine. Like last you know, the only sort of thing would be everyone's gunning for him, but like that's not really a tangible thing, and like I feel like everyone's gunning for everyone in the NFL anyway. So I don't know. Do you think the Jesse Bates contract impass

could be a problem. No, I don't think it'll be a problem. I don't think it'll be a problem this year. You know, you'd like to get it done. He is a homegrown, great guy, great player. Those are the guys you'd like to pay. They just didn't get it to a point where it got done. And you know, I know there are several other teams that didn't get deals done for their franchise guy either. Some did, some didn't. It's too bad because you'd always like to you'd always

like to handle it. But as far as like on the football field, you know, assuming he shows up for a week one, which historically almost everybody has, you might take a couple of weeks to get into the flow, like okay, maybe, but you got a first rounder who's been taking all those reps might end up being a positive because that's a lot more steps for Dax than you're expecting. Ian rap report is our guest. Burrows many great pat tribute. What stands out to you the most.

He's a great dresser. He's pregame pre game outfits are tremendous. He gives you know he doesn't care, we'll just dress to the nine thing, go out and perfore him. I always respected that. No, But I think the thing about Burrow is really the same thing that it's been before he became a pro, is that he's always been a pro. Like It's not like, how's he going to react to the NFL Like he's been an NFL quarterback. He just did it in college, like he ran the show at LSU.

He does the same here. He's got total understanding of the offense. He's got really good accuracy. He is able to get what he wants in like a sort of not offensive way, which I think if you're a leader, half the thing is getting what you want without everybody hating you. Nobody hates Joe Burrow. Everybody loves Joe Burrow. Um there's a lot to like. I mean, there's a lot to like. You know, it's interesting because when you joke about his wardrobe choices, it does kind of reinforce

how comfortable he is in his own skid. That's part of his leadership, I think. Yeah. I mean, I don't know about the parental level of this podcast, but I would say he gives no face, like he really doesn't, and he addresses how he wants to. And he's bold, and he's a little brash, and he'll wear a big chain and I'll wear stupid glasses at a press conference, and I'll throw over three and fifty yards and like,

there's a lot of things that he does. They really have to be great to do, which is great because he is great and so like he could literally do anything you want. Everyone's like he's earned it. You know, there's a lot of star par on this team right now with Burrow, Chase Higgins, mix and etc. How about under the radar guys or under rated guys? Is there anybody on this team that you think, you know what, that guy's a big difference maker for the Bengals and

nobody really talks about him. I would say, you know, I'll be curious if Hayden Hurst fills that this year. You know, CJ was so good and so perfect for the Bengals, got more money somewhere else, which is awesome, Like that's that's what you want. And I'll be really curious to see where Hayden Hurst fits in. You know, It's not like people were like beating down his door in free agency. He's been really productive a couple of different times, but has never really really commanded top dollar.

And I'm not I don't really know why. He just hasn't freeting. He doesn't work for everyone. Sounds like the early returns are really positive. He is a great athlete. He is a great athlete, so might give you a little more than CJ gave you, maybe just as far as like stretching it a little bit. So I'm really

fascinated to see what that edition was. What stands out to you about how Duke Tobin built this roster over the last couple of years and turning a team that had the number one pick in the draft to a team that was some minute and a half away from winning a Super Bowl. Yeah, I mean it's hard to get any better than what they've done, you know, and like Duke as a guy, I've always had a lot

of respect for everyone around the league. Does um, you know, there was a string of years where it kind of all came apart and I don't even know that it was really like, you know, was it player evaluation, Like I didn't maybe some missues, but like not even really that many honestly, just it was a good run that sort of went the wrong way, you know. I think the coaching change helped and they had to start back up from the bottom. And he is patient, He is

very savvy. Picks picks have been really good and when the Vangals never spending free agency, but when they've done, you know, with the with one exception Trey Wayne's which he just wasn't healthy, Like that's what what are you gonna do? It wasn't healthy. Um, every guy they've chosen has fit and has been an instant impact guy, Like it's hard to have that good of a hot streak, but he think about it, that's really what they've done.

Great drafting, well timed free agents and like a year before they were good, he and the coaching staff kind of helped establish the Bengals is like a place players would want to be. Obviously, it wasn't always like that, so that kind of stands out. I think there's a bit of a national narrative out there that the Bengals might have been a little bit lucky or flukey last year, whatever term you want to use. Do you think there's any validity to that. I haven't really heard that, because

everyone has respect for where they are. Like, if you look at it, this roster, this is a good roster, Like it is a like find the weak spot, you know, like the offensive line was it, and then spent a lot of money to share it up, like find the weakness. So it didn't feel fluky. And I think maybe because like, you know, there are quarterbacks who are productive a good obviously Joe's good, but everybody likes him and it feels like nationally thinks he's cool and wants him to succeed.

So like, I didn't get the sense everybody thought it was a fluke. I think everybody got the sense of, like, these guys deserve to be here because like, are they a little too young? Maybe, but like they didn't know anything last year, so they just kept winning. You know. The whole thing was really cool. To watch. How do you assess the AFC North the weekend of training camps? You know, I would say Steelers, I'd like to know

a little more about, to know who their quarterback is. Otherwise, I mean, the Browns are gonna be interesting, depending on how long Deshaun Watson suspended. Otherwise it's going to be kind of the same. And when Ravens will be good, Bengals will be good. You know, like it might be a little different early the Steelers take a while to find their footing and the Browns don't have DeShawn, But like by the end, my guess is that everyone's kind

of around in that playoff mix. In December, final question for Ian Rapp Report. How valuable is this time of the year for you going from camp to camp, developing contacts, reconnecting with contacts. I mean, it's amazing. It's it's you know, hard on the body, it's hard on the life because

you say, I'm going away for twenty days. It is so essential and besides just being important for work, Like you know, I'll come and I'll meet young coaches that I've never met, Like I sat with Dan Pitcher for fifteen minutes because I heard great things, and it's one of the reasons I'm here. I heard great things people

like you should meet this guy. So I came here to talk with Zach and Duke and whoever, but also meet Dan Pitcher because as far as someone who's going to be an offensive coordinator maybe head coach, like he's on the list, you know. So that's why this is important for me. So it's hard, like logistically, it's hard. Body wise, it's hard. It is a lot of fun, and it's insanely valuable. You probably got four critical texts during this ten minute conversation, so I really appreciate your time.

I will check in one second and pray, thank you man, thanks for having me. Dan Pitcher is the Bengals thirty five year old quarterbacks coach, and I'm not surprised to hear that his name is getting around as a future offensive coordinator or even head coach. Finally, time to check in with Dave Lapham as we share some thoughts on the first week of training camp. Lap or four practices in, none of them in full pads. So it's very early to make any definitive sort of statements at this point.

But have there been any standouts in the early going. In your opinion, I think a lot of guys have started camp off pretty well. Dan, I have been impressed. I was impressed at OTAs with Kwamie Laster, his you know, precise and smooth out running of ballio ability. I don't think he's going to run away from anybody, but I do think that he gets separation, you know, he lowers his hips and gets in and out of cuts well.

And a guy I gotta like him caught my eye and I think he's done a pretty good job in the early stage as a training camp. I will say that all three of the the rookie defensive acts, we heard about their speed and it's transplated on the football feed field. Sometimes guys that run fast forwardies and you don't see it on functional football speed. But these guys you do, you know, and and they're they're covering a lot of ground out there, and I think they've all

got all got bright futures. There's uh, there's no doubt about that. Dax Hill, Cam Taylor Britt. You know, they these guys have have really have really shown shown me that that they've they've got football speed. Tyson Amerson as well on the Toledo um speed and football speed, both which is good trade On Williams, I thought it's had a very good start to his training camp. Another guy in the secondary that I liked in is is DeVante Hood. This this guy's long, you know, and he's got he's

got some ability. I think, you know, he's got I'm not talking about all these guys making the team necessarily, but definitely on the practice squad with an opportunity to develop them for you know, for their NFL careers. At the linebacker level. Got Clarence Hicks to me, looks like he's got a little bit of suddenness and twitched to him. Um, I want to see see more of him. It's been good to see a keen Davis Gaither working his way back to I think a pretty you know, pretty effective

linebacker for the for the Bengals. From a physical standpoint,

he can really run offensive lineman. It's it's very hard to judge, like you said, without pads on Dan, but I think I think that group is going to be noticeably better when when things get underway, and in fact, in my opinion, this football team roster wise from a year ago, is much better now than it was a year ago, and the biggest reason in my mind is because of the improvements they've made in the offensive line um that that has taken a you know, well over

the top. I think, so those are those are a few guys. I think Zach Carter has has shown that he's got the ability to to be that three technique that Ogan Joeby provided. I'm not saying to the level of Logan Joeby provided right away, but I think he's He's got a good sized body on him, he's got very good first step quickness, he's got you know, give off to him. I think I think he's another one that has had a fairly good, fairly good start to

training camp. But now that the ramp up stage is over, practice without pads, now we'll find out a little bit more about the interior or the upfront guys, the offensive and defensive line, and linebackers and tight ends and people of that. ILK. I'm glad you mentioned rookie Zach Carter and Larry Ogan Jobie because I think Larry Ogunjobi's absence, departure, whatever term you want to use, is maybe the kind of least talked about story on this team this year.

He played sixty four percent of the defensive snaps during the regular season. Last year it was forty five percent for b J. Hills. He added up again one o nine, so sometimes they played together, but Ogan Joby got the bulk of the snaps next to DJ Reader. That's an important job. Those guys have to have somebody that goes in there and gives them, you know, a blow from time to time. Josh Tupa can do that and does

it pretty well, particularly in run stopping situations. But it'd be nice to have a guy that can go in there and provide a little pass rush and hopefully Zach Carter can be that guy. I agree, Dan, and um, you know the thing You've got DJ Reader and Tupaul and those guys are you know, they're big space eater guys. And what Ogan Joby did, and I think what what Carter is going to be able to do is invert the line of scrimmage, you know, with that explosive penetration

kind of thing. You know, they give these type of guys, give them that scenario. And that's that's tough when when you get the the line inverted against you and you're trying to you know, establish the line of scrimmage. It's it can be a definite challenge, so that that role is an important one and I think they might have a candidate that could, you know, can feel that. Overall, Dana, I've been extremely impressed with the Bengals defense. The low

red zone defense yesterday was suffocating. You know. The offense never scored a testdown on a snap from inside the ten yard line on a single snap. And like I said earlier, the team speed has increased with these young guys on the back end. They're fast. This defensive football team is fast, period, and they cover a lot of ground out there. I think defensively they're going to pick

up where they left off. And you look at it in the playoffs, seven different guys combined for eight interceptions, So Louiana Rum was getting contributions everywhere, you know, in terms of making players on the football. And that's what it's all about. It's all about the ball, man, It's all about protecting the ball. It's all about taking it away.

On the other side, of those nine takeaways and only two giveaways plus seven in the class was the single most important reason they got to Super Bowl fifty six. Let's talk about hayden Hurst. He's not quite as big as c J Uzama. I don't necessarily think that he's faster running in a straight line than CJ. They're probably pretty comparable, but he's more fluid. CJ was more robotic in his cuts. You could kind of see when the cut was coming in advance. Hayden Hurst is very fluid.

I think he's off to an excellent start. And I think CJ was twentieth in the NFL last year in receiving yards among tight ends a little bit under five hundred yards. I think hayden Hurst could could add one hundred or two hundred yards to that in this offense. I totally agree with your assessment about, you know, the route running aspect of it, the fluidity of it getting

in and out of cuts. You know, Fredikof wasn't gonna run by anybody, but Fred Blitnikoff would get separation and against really good defensive backs, they had great quickness and speed because he would get in and out of his cut so sharply and so precisely, he'd have it. You know, he'd gained a step right there. And hayden Hurst has that type of route running a bit he runs routes like a whiteout. He's got that type of that type of physical ability I think in a big body like that.

So I do think that's going to be an underrated thing. I think people aren't talking about it as much as like you were when you were talking about Ogan, Joeb and Carter. You know that that aspect of it. With the three receiver sets, the eleven personnel that the Banks are going to run a high percentage of the time, Hayden Hurst is going to get some very favorable matchups

for a guy his talent and ability. So I think that's going to be something to monitor as you know, not only training camp goes on, because I'm not sure how many snaps he's going to get in preseason games, but definitely as the season progresses. To me, it's going to be very interesting his value if at the end of the line of scrimmage he can be able to handle himself with outside linebackers and looking down on defensive

ends and some of the physicality things. CJ was pretty good in that area, you know, in terms of solidifying things. If you have a line of scrimmage, if Hayden Hurst can provide that that CJ did, as well as the advantage that he gets with his route running ability to

have something pretty good there. I made an appearance on the NFL Network on Saturday, and they asked me about the vibe at training camp, and I described it as unfinished business and passed along an anecdote from cornerback Trey Flowers. I was talking to him at his locker the other day and mentioned the AFC championship rings and he said he hadn't even opened the box. He doesn't even want to see it until they went a real Super Bowl Championship ring. Then he'll go back and look at an

AFC Championship ring. Do you get a kind of an unfinished business vibe? Is that a good way to describe it? Or is there something else that stands out to you? I do? I do get that. There's there's no doubt. I think that they realized that they were right in the midst of an opportunity that doesn't present itself very often, and they didn't quite get it done. So they I do think that they're feeling that unfinished business feeling, and unfortunately franchises felt that three times now, and I can

I can relate to Trey Flowers. I've kind of pretty much did the same thing with the ring I got as a player, and I really haven't won it. I haven't won that ring um And I'm not sure how much aware of the ring that we got as a broadcast team for Super Bowl fifty six, but it was intentional. As a player, It's like, oh no, this isn't a big prize. This is a consolation prize, and I'm not. I was proud of the fact that we are to see champions, but bemoaning the fact that we didn't win

the big the big banana. So I do think there's a lot of that with this uh, with this football team. The other thing though, that it hits me. You know, we've been in the locker room. COVID protocols are gone, so we're back in there and able to uh, you know, mingle with players. That locker room is phenomenal. I mean, there is no jerk factor whatsoever, not a sniff of it anywhere. And they they they're all they're all got each other's backs, they're all pulling for each other. No,

you know, it's all about with us. It's not I me. You know, there's no selfishness in there. It really is about as good as I've seen. And you know, they're all high character guys. They're all you know, captains and multiple captains and um it's and during the course of the season. I mean, heck, look at the Bengals. They lost two home games in a row to the Charges and forty nine ers and overtime to be seven and six halfway through December. So you're not thinking going to

Super Bowl fifty six. But that character and everything, you handle adversity better, you know, instead of finger pointing and you know it's not me, it's you. Everybody said, Okay, I'm gonna do my job a little bit better and do and handle things. And they caught fire at the right time. And that I think those kind of intangiles, those kind of variables are going to take your long way. L Collins hasn't practiced yet because of a sore back. We talked to him in front of his locker a

couple of days ago. Did that conversation settle any concerns you might have had about his health going forward? Yeah, I've been around teammates that have had, you know, minor disc issues where it's pinching a nerve kind of thing all four L five and you know, some numbness in the leg or whatever the case may be. And they have alleviated themselves the way he's moving around and he's the way he's able to work out already. I don't see any real major issue in terms of him, you know,

missing two months or something like that. I think he's going to be back in a couple of weeks. I think he will be taking reps out there before training camp is totally over with. By that, I mean, you know, camp quote breaks before the preceding games are all concluded. But it's the exact same thing. He'll he'll get the work that he needs, I think to be ready to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the opener in my estimation, and I'm excited to see the right side, center, right guard,

right tackle. I'm excited to see those guys out there, you know, working together against a good defensive unit like the Pittsburgh Steelers in that opener. It's going to be it's going to be a very good first test. There's no doubt about it that that group is pretty strong. He's he's going to have his handfull of TJ. Watt. Now that guy is the energizer bunny. He keeps going and going and going. But I think Collins is going

to be up to the task. It's going to be a very interesting, interesting battle of watch on the edge there. I think we all assume that Jesse Bates is going to report at some point, probably in time for a week one of the regular season. But if not, would Dax Hill be fine based on what you've seen so far? Yeah, I mean, I think I think that it's it's hard to drill a hole in a rookie's head and pour

all the experience that Jesse Bates has got now. So honestly, I mean, Jesse second round pick himself, you know, high second round pick, and uh, you know, it took him

a little while. It takes everybody a little while. So I don't think that we can expect Dax Hill to be as as comfortable as Jesse Bates might be in the early stages of the season with everything that's going on around it, because it will be so new to Dax and more old hat to Jesse, as Jesse will have seen more at that point in time in terms of what the NFL has got to offer from a formation standpoint, and play, creativity and excellence of the athletes

and all that that goes along with it. There is some adjustment there, but I think he's a quick study and I think he's got ability to adapt and adjust to his environment pretty done quickly. Is he gonna make mistakes? Hell, yeah, everybody makes mistakes, but I think he's gonna you know, it's doctor to crush him if he makes a mistake. He won't. He won't stay lost in space. He's gonna bounce right back and uh and make plays. I think

he's that type of player. I do think they've got a really good player in Dacksville, and I think they've got another one and Tyson Anderson. The organization has done a pretty good job over the years of doubling down, you know, Chad and the TJ and you know, doubling down up positions where you can only get one, you get a couple, and they might have done at this

time at the safety position in the draft. I've been very impressed by Ted Carriss with his energy, his enthusiasm, his smarts, his leadership, etc. I wasn't here in your playing days, but I bet you were like that back in the day. Do you feel a little bit of a bond with Ted carriss I do feel, you know, a little bit of a bond with with Ted. He's a very Uh He's an easy guy to gravitate toward because, like you said, he is so enthusiastic and energetic about

the game. He's got a real high football intelligence quoting. There's no question he's got to football IQ that that you that you look for. And you know, I'm sure some teammates are like, oh man, this guy is this real? That's him every day. He just loves football. He loves exactly every aspect of you know, being there. He loves getting ready, preparing, he loves the grind of the preparation. Uh,

he loves everything about it. And I'm sure you know there are things that you know I'm not I'm not real keen on that, but overall, when you lay your head on the pillow, I'm sure I remember feeling his way, even in the throes of training camp, in the in the dog days of training camp, when your body's saying what the hell are you doing to me, and you know you're mentally fatigued and everything else, I remember laying down and saying, you know what this is tough, but boy,

am I glad I'm here. This is exactly what I wanted to do. I'm the luckiest guy in the world, and this I don't want to be anywhere else. And I'm sure and Ted Carress feels, you know that that way about it, and and I think fortunately they've they've put their bat on the ball in evaluating and sifting through players that have that exact feeling. There are a lot of guys in that locker room that have that type of feeling, and Ted Carriss is He's one of

the leaders of the pack. There's no question about it. We have now seen what a sixty five yard field goal looks like in person, after Evan McPherson booted one on Saturday to end the big practice at Paul Brown Stadium. The NFL record is sixty six, set last year by Justin Tucker. I don't know if Evan McPherson is ever going to get a shot to tie that or break that, But do you think that he will become the first Bengals kicker to boot one from sixty plus at some point?

I do? I do. I think there's going to be an occasion where, you know, it'll it'll come up. It won't come up often, but there'll be an occasion where, yeah, you know what we have to we have to try this sixty one yard field goal, and he can make it. We've seen him make it, so yeah, let's let's let's go for it. There will be a game, a circumstance where he will have an opportunity to probably get that done.

And the thing about his sixty five yard that stunned me is is the trajectory, the instantaneous height that he gets on the football. I mean, man, he elevates that thing so quickly. You know, instead of thinking, I know I have to hit the low for the drive to drive the football, he's still I mean nobody, that thing is unblockable, and it traveled the distance that it traveled. It's just phenomenal. It's he is. He is a very very unique talent. There is, there's no question about it.

And I probably that one probably would have been good from I'd say sixty seven, you know absolutely, I mean if not seventy. Yeah, that was pure. That was very pure, and uh just makes you scratch your head. Boy, he's got an explosive right hip and right leg. There is No, it's good. Dynamite caps in there, man, I think I said, I said what I was thinking when he hit it. If it's good, he's bionic and bionic hip and a bionic leg on that right side. It's crazy. We haven't

seen Joe Burrow yet. There's no official timetable, and when he's going to come back and start practicing. Do you have a feel for how much time he can miss before it would actually hurt him or hurt the team in any way? I think that, you know, a couple three weeks. I really think he could miss um. And we're already a week into it. I'd say it's going to be a couple more weeks. And I'm not saying

that he won't be out there. I'm sure he'll be out there, you know, taking the mental reps and going through things with his teammates and bonding that way, and everybody will be excited to have him out there, there's no question about it. But the two things that you know come to my mind is you got to you gotta make sure that it's healing properly, and you avoid at all cost infection. And it's not like his appendix rupture or burst or anything. There wasn't any infection on

the front, But I'm talking about after the fact. You go through the procedure, and I mean, hecky had an organ taken out of your body, and you know your body has to respond or recover, and you don't want it to have to then handle an affection. So that that's one thing, and then the other thing is let it heal. Because the way Joe throws a football, he

uses his core. You know every quarterback does. I mean, they're They're torking and twisting that core pretty darn significantly, and you know, you want to you want to make sure that the healing is is uh far along, so far along that you don't even have to worry about, you know, anything that that may be disrupted because of that, you know, severe torque or that severe twisting of your of your body that you have to do to throw, you know, to goose that ball down the field, and

those de throws. You have to talk it pretty good. So they're going to err on the side of caution. Let's put it that way. They're not going to rush him back. I know, I'd be stunned if they If they bring him back too ston I think if they're gonna probably have to put a harness on jail. He's gonna say I want to go out there and get going, and they may hold him out for another day or two after he says, you know, I'm ready to go,

and I bet that will happen. You know, he'll probably be saying to the media at some point, I'm ready to go. They just won't let me go yet. And that's that's what I envision happening. All right, final thing, going to circle back to the AFC Championship ring. We were so grateful and appreciative to be included on the list by the Brown family to receive rings from last year. Here's my question, how did your grandkids like your AFC

Championship ring. Yeah, they were, they were very impressed. Uh they came up to visit after I had left to go down to down to practice the day after, picked them up and uh yeah, they they big smiles. They were sporting those rings on their on their hand. The rings looked pretty big on those little hands, that's for sure, look like the TV sit hanging off their hands. But yeah, they were. They were like, Wow, this is unbelievable, and they were pretty excited. About it. Big smiles on the faces.

That's for sure. That's going to do it. For this episode of The Bengals Booth Podcast, presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download Ultimate Bengals ahead of the upcoming season. It's free to play next level fantasy football with fantastick Bengals prizes. Get it now on the App Store and Google Play. And 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