Renee All Dey: Ted Karras

Actually not the third. I'm the third Ted a Row, but I have a different middle name than the first two tents, So I'm Ted Carross. My dad's Ted Carress Junior. Yes, we do a lot of business together. And it's kind of confusing, right because people think, obviously I would be the junior. Sure, but yeah, you're like double junior three. Yeah. Wow, there's a lot to work with there. I like it a lot. Um. Okay, So, of course, as we were

just saying, your family, you were a third generational football player. Yes, what would you have done if you weren't a football player? Gee's probably coach football. Okay, yeah, okay, but he's saying even just not even growing up plan probably just makes your heart go Petter pattern. Yeah, I love I love to read and I love like fiction and something like that. What are you reading can Fall it right now? Okay? Yeah, fall of Giants. I'm a big fan of can Fall.

I think he's the best. It's funny that, I mean, not funny that you say that. But as I was like prepping for this interview us watching some of your other interviews, I'm like, he's got a really great vocabulary. I bet you he reads a lot. Oh, thank you, thank you. Yeah. I try. I try to sneak some in when appropriate. You can't force it, though, No, No, you gotta like pepper some in every once in a while. But I appreciate that. Um. Okay, So you would have

maybe been a coach. It seems like you still do kind of a bit of that anyways, and like sort of a coach player role. How do you sort of switch between the two of those mindsets. Well, you know, we have such great coaches here too. I made a choice when I came in here. I didn't want to like step on any toes and I wanted to assimilate into a culture that's already been built and been successful.

So you know, we have such great coaches, but there are certain things that I can bring to the table that you know, help you know the guys around me. Center kind of naturally lends itself to that. So it's it's I'm really grateful for the opportunity to play this position here. What all went into your decision to come here? I mean you look at your accolades and whatnot, and you see this, this opportunity to come up with the Bengals. What made this a great destination for you? Well, you

know what the base motivation is. I just wanted to be wanted. Who doesn't, right, I've been a free agent, you know, three years in a row and had to sign three one year deals. Yeah, and just kind of no one ever really gave me a deal with confidence, like you're our guy. So yeah, I had a few options, but it really happened fast. I'm from Indianapolis, yeah, coming

back to the Midwest. Yeah. But and then you know, you look at the talent of this roster, and to fill a position of need, a position that you know they really wanted to fill, was was such an amazing opportunity. I jumped onto my fifteen minutes to commit. Oh that's great. I do not agonize over decisions. Was there anyone that you were talking to that kind of made that did

kind of go into that decision? Well, you can't really talk to anyone, so it was like, you know, Monday at noon, it starts and they called right around you know, twelve fifteen. Yeah, and you know, it's kind of like musical chairs too, so it's if you miss out on your opportunity and say yes, someone else is going to take your spot. So there's not a lot of deliberation, really not a lot of time for deliberation. So we

pulled the trigger on it and couldn't be happier. Does it feel different going into a season when you have a one year contract versus having something where you know people are really invested in you and you are that guy. Well, I think that football is so seasonal anyway, So you know, everyone technically on a what you know, it's it's a

what have you done for me lately? Business? So you know, I don't really change my mindset and how I want to approach my performance, but it's nice to know that, you know, with what they offered that they wanted me to be the guy I was a recruiting tools. Yeah, but yeah, no, it's definitely. You know, the past three years has been I've kind of felt, you know, I'm not going to be here next year, and that can be a liberating feeling too, especially in the season. But

I'm out of here in a minute anyway. Problem, So you know, I do want to you know, make a life here, be around this organization for a long time, so obviously just want to keep performing my very best. Feel like Cincinnati is a great place to be, is it as like I know, like I'm sure for so many players in different leagues and whatnot, Like where am I gonna land? You want to be in like a great city with whatever team you're playing on. How do

you feel about Cincinnati? I think it's so beautiful. It's been crazy. Oh it's so great. And we've been here about six months. I didn't really know anything about Cincinnati, even being you know, live growing up so close. We played a few of the high schools. But even driving driving home last night, I mean the autumn coming in the rolling hills of Cincinnati. Yeah, I think it's really cool that but every ten minutes. Is a new town, even though it's all Cincinnati. But that lends itself to,

you know, a great culture. You know, a diversity of culture and different towns. So I think it's really cool. Where do you hang out? Where are your spots? My spots? I have a few spots. I like the oak Tavern and Oakley Okay, yeah, okay, Um, the establishment also an Oakley spent a lot of time in Oakley, as you should. As you should, Yeah, shout out to oak Is it hard for you to just go like hang out? No, I'm at the perfect level. Okay, So this is probably

the most I've ever been recognized in my life. Yeah, but you know, still I'm plausible to just be a regular guy. I'm not like a giant. I'm a big guy. But yeah, and there's there's very knowledgeable fans here, so it is cool when it comes out. But you know, the fans here really cool and it's it's I've made a lot of great friends already. Hell yeah, that's great. Um, you've obviously had an opportunity to be around a lot

of greats in football. Um, what are some comparisons that you can draw between like a Tom Brady and a Joe Burrow, And like what those guys really bring to a team the competitive stamina and you know, the ferocity with which they go after. There's a vocabulary everybody I want to I think just for you, but which once they go after the goal of common goal of winning. And you know, quarterback, I believe is the most important position in sports. And if your quarterback is not a leader,

then the whole organization is going to suffer. And both of those two men are phenomenal leaders and obviously back it up with great performances. So that's a one win for the rest of us. And my job is to, you know, make him feel as comfortable as possible so that he can make us all look good. Um, you've got two super Bowl rings. Where's the funniest place you've ever worn those out? Too? Funniest place everything? I don't. They don't wear them out much. I don't wear them.

I wear them to a lot of schools. Like if I go to a school to ring, yeah, I pass them out. You know, it's a They're almost like a magical little item because they really captivate everyone. It's such a special thing and they're they're very gaudy either, like the huge on you. You're a large Why how do you even like? So? I don't wear them out much,

don't get any out of your pockets those things on? Um, but I you know I don't wear them wearing much at Okay, all right, fair enough, fair especially in season. Yeah yeah, um, okay, we've talked some football switching gears, fishing, fishing. What are you fishing? What do you use for bait? I've seen this on like your Instagram. Are you like quite the fisherman? I like to think I am looks like, Yeah, you've caught some some prize pieces, some really nice fishies.

And I love to cook fish. So I lived down in Florida too in the off seasons. The following up with you on that one. Okay, so what are you we catching? The main fish? I have to catches a mahi mahi mahi, yeah, and then uh oahu and very similar to mah no, not really. Yeah, it's like a striped fish. Almost looks like a barracuda. Some cultures call it an oh no oh okay, but um it is very good eating. It's almost like clear meat and you only have to literally just sear it for a few second,

it's ready to go. What do you use for bait for these guys? Bait you use like a strips of banita, which are it's like almost looks like a tuna, but it's not good to eat. But you catch a lot of banita just off of putting anything in the water. So strips of banita, and I don't rig it up. This is a very professional crew in Florida. I don't have a boat. I have a guys I go out with. You're gonna have friends with the boat you don't want

You want friends with the friends of the boat. Yes, and they're great, So the broker charter, I'll plug them. Have you ever had um, like a scary experience on a boat, like seeing a shark or anything like that. I've caught a few sharks, yeah, like ruling that guy in. They were smaller, not like a big one. I would love to catch a big charter. We'd let him go and everything, but I see him up close. I don't keep anything we don't eat or yeah, but catching two wah who at the same time was I felt like

I was in a Discovery Channel episode. They were both because they'll they'll if they make contact with you. You're out. You're getting stitches for sure. They got big nar teeth. Oh my lord, okay, jumping on the boat. They try to jump out of the cooler if they're still alive and attack you. Oh no, thank you, no, thank you. I'll pass on that one, okay. So how are we preparing the fish? What all goes into the cooking and the preparation of them? So I cook, I cook fish.

I have a very simple recipe, butter lemon, some panco breadcrumbs and parmesan mixed together and just fried it. Maybe a little kay and pepper, ye sing something. You don't want to overpower the fish. You know, it's very fresh. You caught it that day. Yeah. Let the freshness do its own speaking. Yeah. Yeah. What else do you cook? You sound like you like to get down the kitchen. I do like I cook a lot of chicken grill. You know anything? I got a trigger? So, oh me too.

Party It makes you look genius. All you gotta do is press the button you doctored up so great, put it in there, and then everyone thinks you're just this great h Yeah yeah yeah, Emerald, who what? And I don't think Memorial's really smoking things, but maybe he was. Um, what's the best thing you've pulled off of your trigger? Some ribs there? Yeah, yeah, I mean the recipe is on there, really great. Yeah. I did the smoked case so off of their one time and it was a

dull light. Oh my god, us like desserts on there. Wow, a very good stuff. Um, you're a cat guy, I am. You got two cats? I have two cats. Cats better than dogs at times, especially for my lifestyle now, I don't have time to take care of a dog. My cats can take care of themselves, but they're pretty spoiled. That is nice when you can just they're fine, They're fine, and your wife can like you don't have to like hover over them or anything. Yeah, that is nice. What

are your cat's names? Nigel and Nugget. Nigel and Nugget, These sweet guys. I love that. Um, what else are you doing in your downtime? What do you get up to when you're not on the field and you're not thinking about football? So in season is tough? Um, you know, it's kind of I do read before I go to bed, but there's really not a lot of hobbies I do, uh in season Okay, but offseason. I tried to do a skille. I'm either in school, but yeah, but I finished.

So I've got three degrees. Oh my god, your degrees. My latest is at my MBA from Indiana University. This guy. Then I have two from University of Illinois before I left. So for you, Yeah, so I didn't do it this year. Started playing piano. I'm half decent. What yeah, oh my god, we have five months off. This isn't People don't utilize their time like this. You were making the most of your life. Yeah, trying to WHOA, So you're playing the piano.

What are you playing? What was like your inspiration? Like if I can play this one song, if there's like a house party and you can just light it up on the on the key, I want to be I wanted to be ready for like a Christmas concert, my guy. Yeah, yes, so I'm not. I have I it suffered since the season started, so I'm not every confident in my ability. You're playing front of people right now, probably have to do like a two week refresher. But I did it

pretty much every day for like four months. Got pretty good. Do you have someone come and teach or you use that like musician. I bought an app on the iPad that listens, Uh, maybe you piano. I don't know. I think it's the same. Okay, I did that with my banja. Yeah. It's really cool. It listens and coaches you up. Yeah. Yeah, it tells you like if you're in tune, if you're in time. It's really cool. Wow gosh, Okay, So what's next on the docket? What else do you want to

learn how to do? I don't know, you know, I that's it's kind of a game time decision. Every year, I'd probably go back to school. This year, I wanted to take an off season off. It took me five off seasons to get the NBA. So yeah, it was a lot, a lot of work. I failed accounting. I had to I had to do another semester again. These numbers a big fat as. Thank god there's other people like can handle that. Hats off to you guys that are good at that. UM. I also hit you're quite

the hype man in the locker room. Yeah, you're out there pumping people up. Has that always been you? Have you always been like that guy to really like rally the troops and like, I'm not a speech guy. So I'm not like a raw raw. It's just my own energy. So I bring a lot of energy, enthusiasm. I think it's the only way to be successful. And this game is very hard, and uh, you know, I really do enjoy it. It's I'm very grateful. I'm twenty nine still playing this game. Yeah, so I have a lot of

fun doing it. Maybe not in the moment, but yeah, I'm very hyped up for ray to go. So do you choose who leads the hood A Chant? Well, if you get chosen the week before, then the next win you choose. So I chose Jamark past week, so then when we win this week, he'll choose, uh, the next person, it's off to him. I understand that you guys do the hood A Chant incorrectly. I'm sure. I think everyone

gets nervous when they get picked. And really my strategy was I'm just gonna start with a big loud hoode and hopefully the crowd takes over here, right, Yeah, because what they do who they say instead of who they think? It's either one I think I don't know. I haven't been formally uh who they think they think we've been saying say? Though I think which is apparently wrong, which is maybe New Orleans who DA says? Who they think? Yes, listen,

I understand where the error could have happened. It's a fluid situation on it. We're working on it. Okay. Last thing to ask you about is um Cordell Wilson. What are your thoughts on him? I mean, how are you and how do you see this all plan out for him? Oh? Well, what a what a hit in the draft for this organization. Um to be where he is as a rookie's light years ahead of where I was. Uh, you know, he's phenomenal, does everything the right way, everything you wanted to do,

has a great attitude, does his little rookie subservience. We don't make him do much, but you still have to check him a little bit. Yeah, but I think he's going to just be a pillar of this organization for a long time. So while I'm here, I'm going to help him as much as I can. But you know, when i'm done down the road, it'll be exciting to watch him be the leader that he can be. Amazing. Well, listen,

you're great. I like hanging out with you. This was a lot of fun and super happy that you hear, a part of the Bengals and looking forward to the rest of your time here. Thank you so much. This was awesome. Definitely