Bengals Booth Podcast: Sweet Nectar

in his college days, Bengals defensive tackle Christian Ringo. All of that is straight ahead, but first, 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, or pod Bean. It's the greatest

invention since the mechanical pencil. I'm constantly updating stats and other information on the spotting boards that I make each week as part of my game prep, and it would be a total pain in the butt if I had to constantly sharpen my pencils. The mechanical pencil allows me to twist the tip to extend the lead as the point gets worn down. Plus I can write very neatly in small print. A very handy instrument that dates back to the eighteenth century, the mechanical pencil. Now, let's get

to football. The most famous poem in the history of NFL films is called The Autumn Wind, written in nineteen seventy four to describe Al Davis's Oakland Raiders. Here's how that poem ended in my best John Facinda voice, The Autumn Wind is a radar pillaging just for fun. He'll knock you round end upside down and laugh when he's conquered and won. That described the Raiders from the mid seventies to the mid eighties, when they won three Super

Bowls in eight years, but not so much anymore. Oakland entered Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium with a three and ten record, and the Bengals were the team doing the pillaging. Derek Carr is ready for the shotgun, snap catches retreats five steps from behind, football goes out a scramble for the football after the sacks by Sam Hubbard, and it is recovered by the Bengals after their own forty nine yard line. Sam Hubbard, with a blind side sack.

Derek Carr never saw him coming, and the Bengals recover at their own forty nine yard line. That was the first of two sacks for Hubbard and five for the Bengals, who held the Raiders to two hundred ninety seven yards the second week in a row that Cincinnati held the opponent to fewer than three hundred. Here's Hubbard. I think

we weren't doing anything different. You know, We've been working so hard throughout the season, you know, covering him on the back end and trying to get to the passers as the rushers, and I think today we kind only just played a complete game, covering up in the back end, allowing us to get home, working our pass rous games and sticking to the game plan, everyone having faith and

staying together throughout. Hubbard's first career forced fumble was recovered by Carlos Dunlap and the Bengals look to capitalize on the very next play. First and ten from the forty nine, Driscoll fakes to mixing drops back guns it deep down the middle of the field. It is underthrown and it's picked up at the five yard line by Eric Harris

and he is down at the six. John Ross was behind the Raiders secondary on that play, but Jeff Driscoll didn't put quite enough on the throw through the interception, and you know, I just had to had to tell myself that those things happen, you know, don't be gun shy and keep playing within the offense and was able

to come back and respond. He responded with three bag throws to Tyler Boyd on the Bengals next drive, a seven yard game when the Bengals went for it on fourth and two, a twenty one yard strike down to the six yard line, and a touchdown that gave Cincinnati the lead, third down and goal from the seven at the Bengals try to score first shotgun snap Bock Bye Boyd touchdown Bengals an emphatic spike by Tyler Boyd, followed by some Chad Johnson like Irish dancing as the Bengals

are on the scoreboard. Boyd had four catches for thirty eight yards before missing the second half with a knee injury. He's up to seventy six receptions for one thou twenty eight yards and seven touchdowns this season. I spoke to Tyler after the game about the three key catches he made on the Bengals first scoring drive. You know, I just will him do anything I can, you know, to continue to draft, you know, to continue to allow Jeff to trust me times like that, you know when we

gotta go for it all. So I mean, I'll just continue to do my job and just I'm gonna be ready for next week. You weren't able to play in the second half. What can you tell us? This is banged up a little bit? You know, nothing, nothing, nothing too serious, nobody should worry about. But um, I think actual bread to go next week for sure, Let's hope. So Boyd was the star and the Bengals first scoring drive.

The next one belonged to Joe Mixon. Second and two for the Bengals at their own thirty three, they will give it to Mixon. He will run up the middle for the first down, chokes, the safety runs to the fifty down, the first sideline to the Raiders forty the thirty Yeah, twenty, he has shoved out a bounds by Nicholas Morrow at the twenty yard line of Oakland, a forty seven yard run for Joe Mixon, his longest of the season. That was the key play on a ninety

yard touchdown drive I formation backfield. Driscoll takes the snap, gives it to Mixon nice toward the goal line, waiting for a signal done Yet it's there. It is a touchdown for Joe Mixon and the Bengal score on fourth and goal from the one. Mixon finished with twenty seven carries for one hundred twenty nine yards after going for one eleven on twenty six lugs last week. And I'm just very happy, you know that we're on his path.

You know, I'm just gonna try to continue to keep you know, plugging on the train man, and you know, whatever happens at the end of the season, it happened. But you know, it feels great to go out there, put on the show for the fans and come out with the way man. Feels great. It was fourteen nothing at that point, and two plays later the Bengals defense got the ball back, hands it off to re Shard and he will pick up the first down. As he lost the football, the Bengals appear to have it at

the thirty four yard nine, yes, and they do. It's recovered at the thirty four by dark Quees Deinard. Reeshard had the first down but did not go down. Hardy Nickerson forced the fumble, his second forced fumble of the year, and dark Quest Denard recovers at the Oakland thirty four that led to a Randy Bullock field goal that made it seventeen nothing Cincinnati. The Raiders first five drives went punt fumble, punt, punt fumble. I talked to linebacker Vinny Ray.

We did a good job stopping the run and that led to more third and seven and third and eight instead of thirty one third and twos, and you know, yeah, it was it was a great job with the run game. I've really credit twenty two and twenty seven our corners of twenty one. These guys are coming down and setting the edge and doing a great job for us in the run game. He is there any part of you that kind of says, why hasn't the defense played like

this all year? A part of me think thought that, you know, I came in here him like, man, I wish, you know, we would have finished off some games, uh you know here you know after the buye, you know, like thinking Baltimore, you know, games like that. But hey, we are we are right now and the best thing we could do is keep getting better as a team.

The Raiders got on the scoreboard with three forty eight left and a half on Derek Carr's one yard touchdown passed the tight end Lee Smith, but the Bengals immediately answered with a Randy Bullock field goal to lead twenty to seven at the half. Oakland chipped away at that lead in the second half. The NFL's tallest kicker, six foot five inch, Daniel Carlson, drilled three field goals while

Bullock added one. A Bengals lead that had been seventeen points was down to seven when Carlson kicked off to Alex Erickson with about five minutes left in the game. He sprints to the ten cuts toward the near sideline. After twenty the twenty five chump cut pass the kicker. He's in Two Oakland Raiders here enjoying his sprinting down the near sideline. Eric Harris saves the touchdown water return for Alex Erikson, and thankfully there is no laundry on

the playing fred exactly. I was just celebrating and his praying that there's no flags. I didn't know if there was or wasn't um, but you know, I know, I know how hard these guys are working for me to give me space, and so we gotta live with a few of the flags because I know they're working their butts off to you know, give me opportunities to get

bigger returns. So I appreciate all their effort. That seventy eight yard returned by Ericson was his longest of the year and set up a score that gave the Bengals some breathing room. Bengals up by seven four ten left. Here's a toss sweep mixing with blockers in front on the ten five to the pylon touchdown Bengals as Jill mix In sprints fifteen yards for what could be a clinching touchdown depending on the situation. I know it's gonna be a time where I'm gonna have to put the

team on my back. You know, they're gonna they're gonna dive up the run and it's up to me and a lineman to come out there and execute and deliver also with the tight ends and receivers. But you know, when you get in a situation like that, man, I gotta do whatever I can. Note a situation, note down in distance and get them first downs to protect the football at all costs. The game wasn't quite to the coffin nails stage until Geno Atkins provided a David car

Wreck shotgun snap car in trouble fucked again. You know, Geno Atkins single handedly destroying the Oakland Raiders here in the fourth quarter. I'll tell a nice little swim move inside, and they had a back inside trying to chip and help him. Richard had no chance. I mean, he just absolutely tooled Chaz Green. It was like seeing later Bro, and then the back to try to help pick him up.

Richard no way sack city. Atkins finished with three sacks for the first time in his NFL career and is up to ten this season, the third time the Geno has reached double digits. His career high is twelve and a half. More importantly, the five game losing streak is over as the Bengals win their home finale thirty to sixteen. Here are Marvin Lewis, Joe Mixon and Jeff dress Goal. They needed this. Our football team needed today. They needed to go out and win today. They've been working hard.

Our fans needed today. I mean it's a great feeling. Of course. Um it's like I said, it's been a while since we've been able to bring good win here or you know, win here, you know I should say, but you know, it's it feels great. Man. Everybody got smiles on their faces, and um, you know, just I'm just happy for them. I'm happy for the coaches and happy for the fans, you know most of all. But it's blessing. It's definitely the sweet sweet Necker of victory. Um,

I mean, it's awesome. These guys have battled all year long, and um, you know, we haven't had a win in a while, and being able to come out and with our last game at home this year and in getting to win it was huge. And it's just a testament to m everybody in this building that, uh, you know, even though things haven't gone great for us, we've battled three and we found a way to get a big one. Today. The Bengals could still finish eight and eight, but have

been eliminated from playoff contention. The Steelers went over the Patriots officially knocked them out. Now time to bring him my broadcast partner, Dave Lapham for postgame analysis and we start with one of the bengals best defensive performances of the year, highlighted by holding the Raiders to three for fourteen on third down conversions, a season best twenty one percent.

I thought that was the story of the game. There were many storylines in the game, but three for fourteen on third down has got to be the number one storyline. Team comes in did lasting the league on third down. They've been dead last pretty much all year, allowing fifty two fifty two point seven percent and then allow three for fourteen, and cart knows what he's doing. He's got a Pro Bowl tight end to get the football too.

He's good competent running backs. The offensive line was beaten up, granted, and that was a big factor in the football game. You know, Jordy Nelson to throw to hold him to three for fourteen on third down, it was big. I mean, hopefully that's the sign of things to come down the last couple of games here and holding the sixteen points. You know, I remember even when we played back in the old days in the seventies, it was like one

of the defensive goals seventeen points or less. In today's NFL, it's probably twenty maybe twenty four points or less held them sixteen held him to below what the old standard used to be, which I think is a pretty good deal. And twenty five points more is the barometer with coach Lewis, they're forty eight one and one when they scored twenty five points more six oh. This year all their wins they scored twenty five points and more. So obviously that's

a big barometer. They did that offensively, putting thirty on the board considering all the weapons they didn't have, and then they lose Tyler Boyd for the second half of the football game. They knew they had to run it. Oakland knew they had to run it. Paul Gunson knew they had to run at the defensive coordinator and do were times where they struggled, but they made enough big plays. Joe's forty seven yard runs set up a touchdown, Joe had a fifteen yard touchdown run to finalize a big

turned from Alex Ericsson. So when you look at it was complimentary football, offense, defense, special teams. They all chipped in. They all chipped in with Penley's and mistakes, but they all chipped in with big players as well, and that's how you win football games in this league. It was an extraordinary week for Geno Atkins. He and his wife Kristen had the Atkins Week of Giving. Every day they

did something for families more than fifty total. They paid medical bills, they contributed to tuition, they fed the homeless. They had a party at Cincinnati Children's Hospital on Friday. And he had some good karma coming because he had three sacks in the game dominated the fourth quarter. He's up to double digit sacks for the season. God blessed Gino for helping so many people, Gino and his wife,

and God blessed him today with three sacks. I mean, you know, good things happen to good people and Gino is a great example of it today. And the thing that impresses me about Gino, as we know, he's quiet as a church mouse. He's not doing anything for publicity. He could. He shuns a camera, doesn't want a camera. None of this happened in front of cameras. None of this happened in front of microphones. Gino was doing it because Gino and his wife felt like they should do it.

And that's a testament to them. Attribute to them and you know, the old saying goes, what kind of a person are you when nobody's watching? Gino and his wife showed that they're great people because, you know, not that many people were aware of what he did, and what he did affected many families in a very positive way. You know, even the playing field for people that need help around the holiday season. It's good stuff by the Atkins couple. Gino Atkins and Sam Hubbard were the stars

on the defensive side of the ball. Hubbard had two sacks and a forest fumble on offense. Great day for Joe Mexon as he tops one hundred rushing yards for the second consecutive week, twenty seven carries, one hundred twenty nine yards and a pair of touchdowns, much of the yardage coming on his longest run of the season, a forty seven yard or yeah, that was the thing of beauty. And he was matting another one that didn't bust it for seventy yards. He thought that he, you know, it

could make. He had to make one move on a defensive player that got me to good play. I mean, Joe's a load out there in space and the guy made a good tackle. I mean, they're paid to play as well. But Sam Hubbard and Alex Erickson, I mean, you don't put a position on these guys, because all Sam Hubbard plays is defensive end, defensive tackle, fullback and

shortyardisan goal line, a bunch of special teams. Alex Erickson wide receiver, outside slot, emergency running back, emergency quarterback, return guy, all special teams. These guys are football players, you know. And when you look at it, some of the young guys that are stepping up and assuming leadership roles, by the way, not only the kind of people they are, but it's easier to be a leader when you play well and do it, you know, over and over and

over again. And they're starting to get that way. And I mean you look at the second and third picks Jesse Bates and Sam Hubbard. Jesse Baks leading the team and tackles amongst the best of rookies in terms of tackles, three interceptions to boot. Sam Hubbard now with six sacks on the year. And I'll tell you what a second and third round pick, boy, pretty darn good. And they're assuming leadership positions. So some good things are happening amongst

all the turmoil, all the bad, all the injury. You know, all the dark cloud there is a silver lining always and these guys are two examples of that. For the seconds drag year. There's a lot of speculation that it could be Marvin Lewis's final home game as the Bengals head coach. We'll see what his future holds at the end of the year. If it turns out to be his last home game, he walks off chin held high

with a victory over the Oakland Raiders. Yeah, and they've won a seven in a row now home finales eleven out of twelve home finales, and Coach Lewis I think ends up something like fourteen and four, fifteen and four something like that. No, what four twelve and four with the sixteen home finales, twelve and four all good stuff. I mean, you know, everybody wants to finish well, finish strong, leave a good taste in everybody's mouth, their last opportunity

to partake in the activity at the stadium. And they've done that pretty consistently here down the stretch. So obviously, you know, one and seven mark for an eight game stretch, losing five rule before that, you know, how's everybody with a bad taste. But this will wash a little bit of it. Doubt we'll leave with the big thirty to sixteen victory over that ry it is. It was career win number one thirty one from Marvin Lewis. He moves into a tie for twenty fourth all time with Hank Stram.

Or I guess I should say that Marvin matriculates into a tie for twenty fourth with Hank Stram. Up next a road game against the six seven and one Cleveland Browns, who are four and two under interim coach Greg Williams. Now time for this week's fun Facts segment, where you get to know the person under the pads. In this case, it's a defensive tackle who has claimed off the Cowboys

practice squad the day after Thanksgiving. Time for this week's edition of fun Facts with Bengals defensive lineman Christian Ringo from Jackson, Mississippi, the state capital and the biggest city in Mississippi. Did you grow up in the city or in the country city Son? You say that because everybody in Mississippi, I'm considered a city boar, but outside of Mississippi, I'm considered country. Tell us a little bit about the kinds of things you're interested in this kid. Of course,

football you know that was number one. I love other sports like baseball and basketball. You know, I just liked the sports. As kid, I didn't I didn't too much like school as much, but I went. You know, I was a good student, but I just love sports. For visiting the Christian ringo. Your dad played college football. What do you know about his career? Ever since I was a kid, all I heard was he was a He was a heck of a football player growing up, you know,

so I just wanted to be just like him. You know, as a child, if he played, if he was a fireman, I probably wanted to be a fireman, you know what I'm saying. But just him being that dominant move for me playing football today, it's big, man. He played a big part of that. I read somewhere that you got your start throwing a mattress down on the floor with your brother and practice tackling on that mattress. Is that the case? Yeah, yeah, sir, we weren't just doing it

like we know we had. We liked it was kids. We liked to dress up, so he had old old football outfite. You know. We used to put on his compressive shorts, you know, take the little tissue, told us put him a sola past man. We was, our creativity was. It was amazing as kids, man, but we just me and my older brother. We just loved the game, man, We loved it visiting the Christian Ringo. You went to Louisiana lay the Raging Cajuns and set the single season

record there for sacks. What were some of the highlights of your college experience, both on and off the field. I definitely had to say my last player as a Raging Cajun. You know, I was able, it was in the waters ball, was able to get the sack. You know. Those definitely my highlight. You know, because the guy that had the record, he was skired to guard for the UL still to this day, so he was on the sideline with us. You know, it gave him a big hug.

It was an amazing feeling. But off the field, I have to probably say go back to May second, twenty fifteen when my name was called in the sixth round to the Green Bay Packers. That's those a special moment for me because not knowing that I was gonna even you know, I know I was gonna get a chance, but not knowing that my name is gonna get called, you know, because my family gathered because if you can recall, it was the Mayweather and pack Yah fight, so it

was really there for the fight. Slash draft draft party. Would have got drafted, but since I got drafted, it was a slash draft party. It was a good day. Pretty emotional. No, it's crazy. I was the only one that wasn't emotional. I was like, Okay, what's next. I always set and do what I tell people. They like they asked me questions, how do you feel about this?

And that? Like it ain't hear me yet. Maybe ten years when I'm done on the couch with my kids, I probably bust out crying and they're like, what's wrong with you? Dad? I just sit back, remembin thisceing. But I never had time to just sit and reminisce about what would occurred. So we're doing fun factored Christian Ringo. I noticed in your college career you wore the number nine, which is unusual for a defensive lineman. How did you wind up with a single digit number? Oh man? That

trend I forgot it was that trend was started. I forgot when it was started. But I've seen a d tackle a defensive man from Florida. He was number six. I forgot his name. It made me feel special. I want the only one. I had it to my roommate justin Hamilton. He had six and I had the nine. So man, it was it. It was a good year for us day. As you mentioned, you were drafted by the Green Bay Packers and spent some time playing in

Green Bay. What was it like for you to play at lambeau Field and be part of that historic franchise. I don't think I could. I was able to enjoy it as much as I should have because I was too focused on development. I was just trying my best to just work day in the day out to become a better player. Man. In one of your off seasons with the Green Bay Packers, you're at a water park in Houston. You saved a guy's life and he turned out to be a Packers fan. You have to tell

the story. Oh man, So h was at the ward was at the waving pools. I don't know if you noticed, but like as the waves when they turned the wave on, making like ocean like, you know, so it's not like normal when they turn it off. So everybody had a vest on life vest and it's one guy he didn't have a life vest on. He was walking towards the deep end, so I guess they turned the waves on,

so it kind of caught him off guard. So as he was walking the first time, the water went over his head and I was like, maybe he just enjoyed the water, because I heard the sound like that, and like, I was like, okay, maybe he just enjoying the water. Then when you know, it bounced back. Then when it came again, he just like he was struggling. So like, so I grabbed his arm, just went five yards back this way to the shadow end. I didn't think nothing of it. I just you know, let him go. Soon

he catched his feet. He caught his feet. Oh he saved my life. You saved my life. Thank god, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thinking I'm like, okay, you know, so it's crazy. On our way leaving the park, I see the same guy. He was walking out. He had a green bait. He at first he didn't have a shirt on in the pool, but when he had put his clothes back on, he had a green base shirt on. I'm like, man, it's crazy, Like this gotta be like, I gotta say something to him, because you know he

was a Packer fan at the time. You know, we took pictures, I posted I'm incited, and you know, I was able to get some exposure by NFL Network to talk about it. So it was. It was a nice story. Though. Last year, at the end of a training camp, the Packers waived you. They were going to put you on the practice squad, but the Bengals jumped in and grabbed you.

Had the opportunity to bring you over here, but then they had a roster situation where they had to make another move and they let you go after a week. Did you have time here to get to know anybody, to learn your way around anything? Not really. I know, I know I've seen some face, some familiar faces now that I'm back. You know, I had a chance to say what up to him, but not really just get a chance to norm. You know, it's I don't even

think it was a full week. It was like four days because we had a short week because we had a Thursday game that next remember last week we had a third short week. Though it was a quick turnaround. You had a camp for kids last summer back home in Jackson, and you dubbed at his teaching football skills and leadership skills? Why was that important to you? When

I reminisced and growing up, I didn't. I don't think I didn't remember seeing too many professional athletes, you know, giving camps and stuff like I remember do what Callister would do his thing. But you know, it's a big state. So I told myself the first thing I do when so I get established, you know, I would want to give back and show these kids what it's all about, you know, just for us. Just like I'm from where

you from. I said, in the same classroom as you, you could do the same exact thing, if not better. And I have to be real with him. I'm like I told him, I'll be a bold faced life. I looked y'all all in your eyes and told y'all all, y'all going to the NFL because it's not happening, you know, but whatever your passion is, you know, so I can show you the steps, the dedication it takes, you know, to make it come true. That's awesome. A few more

questions for Christian Ringo. Do you have any skill that most people don't know about it? Yeah, I can say I got a skill that most people, my raging Cajun fans know about it. You know, they know I'm a little locker room down, so you know I can you know, cut the rug a little bit. Big man's got some sweet feet, yes, sir, all right, Well, I have to double check with your family to see if that's act

good or not. It's the Christmas season. Do you have an all time favorite Christmas present from when you were a kid? Definitely easy. I have to say one of year my posts gave us. We had Xbox three sixty and the PS three I think it's a three year PS three the same year, but he had both, got both from from the pups. But he said, you can either get a brand new one of them, or you can get two smart. Me and my brother looked at so you got the Xbox, I got the you know,

he got of games and stuff. So by far, that had to be one of the best. Appreciate your time. You're off the hot seat. Happy holidays, Happy holidays everyone. Thank you, and that's going to do it for this episode of the podcast. If you haven't done so already, don't forget to subscribe on iTunes. Stitcher or pod Bean and give it a rating or leave a comment. Your feedback has been awesome in five star ratings. Help more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde. Happy holidays,

Thanks for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast. H