The Season with Peter Schrager: Andrew Whitworth on a Possible Bengals Return and Stories from “TNF," Plus: The Sean Payton Discussion (Part 1)

Vikings meet the Packers. The Vikings, they eliminate the Packers, they get that sweep of the Packers, first time they've done it with Aaron Rodgers on the roster since two thousand nine, and they can finally plant their flag and say we're the Kings of the NFC North and in

the process stave off the forty niner. Is a little bit that said, if the pack there's win, you better believe this is gonna be the next twenty days of like Packers talk, Packers talk, Packers talk, and if they somehow get in the playoffs and somehow face the Vikings in the opening ground, the wild card. That is gonna be madness. Now, the San Francisco forty Niners are interesting here. They just keep on winning with brock Purty, They've got

eight straight wins. They actually have the tiebreaker over the Vikings. So the Vikings have a one game lead in the standings, so they're the two seed. But I think that's the most important thing here. Two verses three in the NFC, because I think the Vikings can hang with the Niners at home. I don't think the Vikings can travel out to the Bay and go into San Francisco. So this is,

you know, multi pronged. If you are a Vikings fan, get rid of the Packers once and for all, be the one to put the steak in Aaron Rodgers and Matt Lafloor's hart, but also get that home game in the second round of the playoffs. You do not want to have to go out to San Francisco. Meanwhile, in the a f C, I mean the Dolphins. I came out here on this podcast last week and I'm like, hey,

no moral victories brought. The Dolphins had an amazing performance in Buffalo and they should be holding their heads high and YadA YadA. Data Now the Dolphins embarrassed um by the Packers in front of a national TV audience. Three interceptions in the fourth quarter, and now we don't know if two was gonna play. But recording this on UH Tuesday's in the protocol, I would imagine Teddy Bridgewaters the guy, and it might be Teddy Bridgewater for the rest of

the season. Can Teddy Bridgewater be the dude to get them the win? Um Jets fans. Fascinating scenario with the Jets. Here. The Jets were thinking they were done after laying an all time egg Thursday night against the Jaguars, and I was I referenced the Coming to America scene where Mortimer and and Randolph are sitting there, the guys from trading places, and they're like, we're back. That's what happened to the Jets. They needed the Patriots to lose, they got it. They

needed the Dolphins to lose, they got it. They needed the Raiders to lose, they got it. They needed the Titans to lose, They got the Browns to lose. They got it. The Jets are suddenly alive. The Jets win out, which is not unlikely. They can go into Seattle and win and they can beat the Dolphins in Miami. And if the Patriots lose just once, it's the Jets who are in the playoffs. Um, A ton of different things have to happen for a lot of teams, but like

it's wide open and and I love that. Um. I'm going to my producer, my guy, Aaron jan Kaufman, who we are doing this remote today. Aaron, which team is the most fascinating one for you right now? And it could be anything. It could be the Titans, it could be it could be the Buccaneers who are just finding ways to win. Which team right now? If you have to watch any team watchability right now in the league? Um, which team are you watching? And which team is fascinating

down the stretch? I mean, it's gonna be the Bengals because I'm I'm terrified of the Monday night game Bengals Bills fan. For the listeners, Aaron is a guy hard Bills fan, and we have a Monday night game against the Bills, and uh and Bengals are home for that one this week, all right, And I think, I mean, so much has been made about with the Bills going to away games in the playoffs, has been a struggle. If they can get that home field advantage, that's huge.

But the Bengals are kind of playing like the best team right now. I mean they're they're probably if you made a top three, the Bengals are in the top three. And I don't know if they almost yeah, but I think that the Bengals. I mean, you know you you had the bit um on g MFB with Whitworth. Um. I think the Bengals they just lost some important pieces.

I'm very intrigued to see how they look going forward the next two weeks, as well as the Eagles, who have been relatively healthy all season and then suddenly are suffering injuries to very important people. And and we just watched the Cowboys game where they just picked apart the secondary. So the Eagles and Bengals two teams who are like top of the class, and I think also are showing a little bit of weakness. So those are the ones.

Cincinnati is interesting. They've Joe Burrow there were the red Hot They've won all these games. Joe Burrows never played Josh Allen, you know, for all the Joe burrovers, Patrick Mahomes, for all the Josh Allen vers, Patrick Mahomes. Joe Burrow has never played against Josh Allen. That will be on Monday Ight Football. I would imagine it's the highest rated

Monday Night football game of the year. And if I'm not mistaken, if the Bills lose and the Bengals win, the Bengals would have the head to head tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills for playoffs seating. And then you throw in the Chiefs who have lost about those teams, it gets really wonky. We'll see how it all plays out real quick. I was in l A last weekend and I spent not only Friday, but Saturday was Sean Payton Um coach. Peyton and I had a good hand session.

We watched all the games together on Saturday. Look, I don't know if he's leaving. I don't know if he's going to take one of these jobs. He definitely wants to coach again. But I'll tell you what, we had a good time at Fox, and if the job that is available is in his offered to him isn't ideal, I'm not so sure he's just gonna take it. I'm fascinating to see what happens because I think the l

A Chargers gig would have been really appealing. But last night the Chargers just clinched a playoff birth with two weeks left. I don't think they're firing Brandon Staley. The Denver job is open, I don't know, and it seems like a lot now he might consider it if they offer it. Carolina job might be open. I mean, Steve Wilkes, if he wins out, might be able to retain that job. But even so, no quarterback within the division with the Saints. I'm not sure he'd want to go to a rival

of the Saints. I'm not sure the Saints would let him out of his contract to do it. So all very interesting to me. The Charger has made a lot of sense, the Saints going back to the Saints made a lot of sense. But now Dennis Allen's won two straight games, so uh, you know what I would say, it's that Peyton will be coaching somewhere next year, just

from working with him at Fox every weekend. But like that, twenty five is upticking more and more as the weeks go by, and the jobs that I think we're probably really desirable, the Cowboys, the Chargers might not be on the docket for for Sean. So I don't think he's gonna take a job that he doesn't he's not dying to do. And um, you saw the schefter report that Vic Fangio is, Uh, you're gonna be his defensive coordinator. Vixman out of the league for a year now, he's

been waiting his time to to come back. That's I'm not gonna confirm or deny it. It's not it's not off base. Uh. I don't know if they're rushing back just to pick a job though. So Sean Payton's living a good life. Um, he's He's gonna be at the TCU Michigan game. His son is a student graduate assistant with TCU. He'll be there on Saturday. He'll be in the Fox studio New Year's Day on Sunday. Uh. He's enjoying himself. So we'll see. I think there'll be jobs

next year also, just to be here too. If he does want to come back and coach, someone has to trade with the Saints to get his contract. It's all, and it's it's it's yes, and it's all to me. It's like Peyton wants to come back and he's going out of conference or is not going to right, Like, are the Saints looking to Nickel and Dime? Are they

looking to you know, yeah, they'll get draft picks. But I'm not sure Ms Benson, who's got a great relationship with coach Payton, I'm not sure what how hard a bargain that's gonna be if he's like, I want to come back to coaching, you know, I don't know. He he's got a lot, got a lot going for him now on TV. He's a rising star in that world and he can always come back. But the Sean Payton watches Real and every team is texting me like, well, what are you hearing? What are you hearing? I'll tell

you now, I think. But without a team to go to, like I don't, I don't. I'm not speaking on behalf of him, but like Houston, I'm not sure they're gonna have an opening. I think Lovely Smith has won some games, Like, I don't know if he would even want to go to Houston. There's not a long list of teams that are gonna be available that he's gonna want to go to. So keep on it. Don't be shocked if he stays

in his you know, doing Fox Football Analysis next year. Also, speaking of Cincinnati, I stirred the pot quite a bit this week on Good Morning Football. They're right tackle Lyle Collins and Cincinnati is down. And I went ahead and said the following light through this tweet out last night and they say, we joined the Bengals. After the Amazon season ends Thursday, They're done? Can you fill in for Lyle Collins. Whitworth rights back. I knew you're gonna get goods.

Conbos started with a little emoji here and say, hey, Witworth, this is my claim to you. Witworth. Here we are pal okay, this is my claim to you. Amazon ends Thursday with the anemic Titans seeking on the Cowboys. The season's over. You've already had your holidays. You had your Christmas with your family. Andrew Whitworth, we love you. We've seen you on TV. We've seen you at the table. Your buddy Eric Weddle last year got the call from the Rams and the playoffs came in, played safety and

want to ring? How cool would it be Andrew Whitworth If you yeah, I'm talking to you, Whitworth. I know you're watching. How cool it be if you came back? I want to ring with the Rams last year, come back with the Bengals. You're six foot seven, just kind of standing. You know, we're not looking for you to be an All Pro and you get a ring with the Bengals as well. Andrew Whitworth, this is a call to arms. We need you back on the field and the Cincinnati Stripes. What do you say he was in studio?

It looks great. The whole season with Amazon. Felt like he's skipping out on it. Ladies and gentlemen, with no further ado. Welcoming him onto the season with Peter Schreeger. Andrew Whitworth, welk up to the podcast. What's going on? I appreciate you stirring up my Monday, Peter. Sometimes you see yourself trending or you get the at thing and it's got the twenty plus on Twitter and you say, oh no, what did I do? Why am I? This was a good thing. I was just trying to stir

something up here. Uh. What was your reaction when the entire Cincinnati Bengals fan base started flooding your mention saying, hey, Shreker is talking about you coming back. Yeah, you know what, anytime I see an ol'man go down for some reason why Twitter handle starts getting some attention. So they're one especially, I mean the city of Cincinnati and what it's meant to us, that was. That was pretty funny. It was it was a fun day. I got some great offers.

I mean you know what, I got houses being offered and food some of my favorites. You know, it'd be a good option. I'll tell you what. Now, let me ask you, because it's very easy for us to just say, in all seriousness, Um, you're done. You did you? You fulfill your obligations with Amazon? Yeah? That dumb and dumber? Are you saying there's a chance? I think you know? For me? Just who I am. I'm I've said this since the day I retired. I'll never say never. There's

always a chance. I love adventures, I love taking on chances, so uh, to me, there's always one. Obviously, there's a lot of things that would go into it. I mean, I'm technically under contract still with the RAMS, and i'd have to I'd have to kick off the old dust a little bit and see if I stee if these tires can still move a little bit. But you know what, I'd never say no to the option. But you know. I I don't know it. It had to be a sit down combo with with Melissa and the kids and

say hey, can we do this again or not? Yeah. I mean you went out on top in a way that think few players in the history of the sport have gone out on top. Walter Payton, Man of the Year in your final season, super Bowl Ring in your final season, and like an amazing playoff run where you guys were not the one seed. You had to go on the road in Tampa and beat Tom Brady and

then you of course played the home Super Bowl. Do you think it would turnish the legacy at all if you came back and it was like not how you wanted it to and you already ended on this fairytale ending. Yeah, I think for me, really, I don't think you know, uh, whether it be different corners I've put you played with, Jalen Ramsey, Richard Sherman, different guys we talk all the time. I think sometimes people don't understand when you flip sides what a challenge that is, and when you've only done

it one way. And I've only played left tackle my entire career, so when you flip your feet play the other way, it's it's a very challenging. It's almost like you've never done it before. In some senses, there's only a few guys that are good at it. So for me, it really wouldn't be about tarnishing the legacy. Would be

about I don't want to let those guys down. I want I want Joe Burrow and those guys that have all the success possible, And it would be more about not knowing really how well you'd be playing and right tackle. For me, coming in and playing somewhere at left tackle, I know I could do. I feel good, I feel great in that sense, and it would be confident, but I wouldn't want to go in there and mess up their chances, not knowing really what I'm capable of. Totally

get it, totally get it. Uh, do you know Burrow and chasing those guys, I know there's an L s U connection. You came on our show and you told us that you went back and you've been back to L s U for the first time I think since since you've retired, maybe since you were a player. You saw a game this season, like, is there any L s U connection with Burrow and chasing those guests? Yeah, I know most of them pretty well. I mean Burrow

and obviously over the years have gotten pretty close. I mean we were both injured the same time when he tours a c L and I and I tore my pc L and m c L. So we had the same doctor, spent some time together during the rehab process out here in l A. And then have spent some time together since. I actually had dinner with him when I was in Cincinnati, uh this preseason. So you know, he's a great, great young player, a great young man in this league, gonna be a great rep for it.

So I watched those guys every week. You know, I've always been on their bandwagon. So uh, it's exciting to see how they'll finish. Man, I've leave this team has as much potential as anybody in the a f C. Yeah, you aside like that Cincinnati fan base has been awoke in the last few years, and it is so cool to see them so positive about their team. And I've talked about it on on this podcast several times in

a Good Morning Football. It is a different deal than maybe it was even when you were playing there where it's like those home games, they've got the entire vibe going, and no team wants to face them, even even now that you're removed from the game as a player, Like you have to have so much pride in the Bengals and like it's got to be such a joy now in all the years you gave them and uh, seeing this franchise revitalized as one of the NFL powers, there's

no doubt. I mean just watching the energy it's in that stadium. I remember watching watching last year when they played the Writers at home. Uh, that playoff game. I mean that was unbelievable just seeing you know that that stadium, that city. Uh, they love their sports and for them to have something to cheer for and believe in and be behind. Uh, Joe Burrow and those guys on that team and Zach Taylor have really created something special there

in the city of Cincinnati. And so I think it's gonna be really fun to watch see how this thing shakes out the end of the season. What I love to be a part of it. Sure, I mean here's what I do know. I could get pot stickers a reservation that Jeff Rubies has been offered. This morning, Ruby said, I got a table an amazing restaurant Jeff Ruby Steakhouse that you got a table. That's that's that's a lot. Yeah.

He sent a tweet out off of your message this morning, said me, Burrow and Zach Taylor dinner table anytime we want it. So we're we're hooked up. Man. You know what, I tell you what it might be a good financial offer for me to go back there, just just for all the opportunities they are being laid out by the

Bengals face coming out. I appreciate the love though. It's it's definitely made uh feel appreciated and how much the Bengal you know, all the Bengals fans have shown their love over the last day or two of just my career there and what I meant to them. Yeah, and

I'll say it's in a very serious No. You're one of the most loved guys in the league and all around great person and I think you are an outstanding first year talent on television on the Amazon coverage as you head towards the final week and we're recording this on Tuesday. You guys wrapped this Thursday to see versus Dallas. What was your big takeaway from joining the other side being a part of the media and being a part

of that cool Amazon video team. I think for me really watching it, sometimes you only thought of it as a player, as the people who are covering you're just doing a job, uh, and create being on the other side now and seeing how much passion there is and and you know, really people diving into what it is they believe they're seeing and what it is they see in special players, special teams um throughout the year, all the narratives that it really means so much to them.

And I'm watching people like a Krissa Thompson and and paying attention to other people that I've been around, you know, through all of you guys obviously a Good Morning Football and gotten into those relationships, just how much it means to them to be great at what they do and

to really tell the stories the right way. Uh. That there's a passion on this side as well, you know, and sometimes you just think it's somebody just telling on you or telling your story in some certain way, but really there's a passionate behind what they do and wanted to make sure that they create the best picture for fans themselves. And that's been really fun to learn and

get to be a partner. Yeah. The thing about your crew that I love, and you know, if you're watching like a studio show is one thing, you go into a city, do a studio show, you ever, the Amazon crew goes into a new city every week. Um, and you guys probably get dinner the night before. You probably have a text chain, the whole thing. It's almost like

being a part of a team in itself. What was the city that you really hadn't spent time in that you guys were able to get to that you came and away and said, Okay, I might have to get back to this place. Well I think I got, you know, I got. They gave me a pretty hard time. Christa and Ryan uh Fitzpatrick and Tony and I went when we were in Boston for the New England game. We

actually went to Harvard's campus. I rode the subway, never been on the train before, the first time ever for me, so I was in a big East Coaster, so I hadn't been over there much. So I kind of shared it dinner the night before. I've never been on a subway, and they're like, oh, we're going somewhere tomorrow for sure. So we got on the train and went to Harvard. We got to go tour their campus. It was just unbelievable. I mean, Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Beard, the Harvard Man, walking

you around Harvard's campus. It was unreal seeing those kids see him and then him can get showing us all the little nooks and crannies of Harvard and the special things you always hear about. Uh, that was a really cool experience for me this year. For sure. I love it. We'll be watching you on Thursday, and as I said in the clip on the show, I want you to finish that string out, finish your first year. You'll come

back next to you to do second year. UM out of a hundred Monday night football Bills versus Bengals, what are the chances I think you'll be suiting up necessarily that you'll be in the building in Cincinnati on Monday. You know all this uh, all this talk has definitely made it interesting. I think I might at least want to go to the game. Uh, you know, I think I at this point, Hey, look, if it's just an extra boost energy for the for the Cincinnati Bengals, maybe

I'll you know what, I'll bring my cleats. I got an old Roman up here, you know, in the attic, and I'll just show up and hang out in the stands. You know, I could be one of the crazy fans and hang out. And I appreciate you joining us. I'm sorry, I'm peer pressuring you to return to the Bengal. They haven't even contacted me yet, so until they say shrieker, shut up, I'm gonna keep this going. Uh, Andrew Worth, You've been awesome all season on Amazon and uh, maybe

we'll see you in February. All right, thanks, Bunny, Hey have it. I thought we were U's gonna come down and just shoot it all down. Aaron Um, he said, says never say never, So who knows. Maybe, Uh, my my feverite dream of of seeing Andrew Whitworth's suitting up for the Bengals one more time and leading them into the playoffs might actually happen. I gotta tell you, I'm I'm I'm a little surprised that he didn't just say no, no, no, no, I'm good. Um, but that's the beauty of the podcast.

You get things that you never expect. I love Andrew for coming on. I'm gonna tell you guys, this, uh, this is gonna serve as part one of a two part podcast. I'm gonna ask you to check your feeds to go over there doing a big mail bag for part two. What I mean by mail bag, I put a Twitter call out to ask me. Anything could be about off scenarios, could be about coaching, carousel, could be about the draft. It could be about my favorite Elton John songs. Um, it's not Tiny Dancer, It's not. Check

out part two of the podcast. Head over there on this feed and gish were worth making a little news on the podcast before the year's over. We'll take it. The Season with Peter Schrager is a production of the NFL and partnership with I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, is it the i Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts,