May 22, 2025 • 19 mins
Tony chats with former NFL MVP and Bengals legend Ken Anderson about The Ken Anderson Alliance and the work they are doing in the community, including how to attend his upcoming event, on ESPN 1530!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
From Cincinnati, sponsored in part by Cincy Shirts, All Cincy Shirts,
All Cinci all Day. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
All right, welcome back, Welcome into our number two, Cincy
three to sixty. Thanks to our good friends at Cincy Shirtz.
Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Your talkbacks come up in just a few minutes. Before that,
awesome opportunity to hear, opportunity to talk to one of
the best to ever do it for the Cincinnati Bengals.
I had the chance Austin. I was doing the schedule
(00:33):
release show with Lance last week at Smoke Justice and
Ken Anderson was there. He was in the building, he
was hanging out. Got a chance to talk to him
there and he was sharing a little bit about a
really cool event that he's got coming up, and thought
it'd be great to connect with Ken on the air,
pick his brain a little bit about the Bengals, but
more so with what he's got going on right here
(00:54):
in Cincinnati coming up. He joins us right now, former
Bengal great quarterback Ken Anderson. Ken, how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I am doing great? Thanks for having me on today.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I am I'm always excited to talk to you Canon
before I pick your brain about the Cincinnati Bengals for
a moment. You've got the twenty twenty five edition of
Ken and Friends coming up, and I know this is
a big deal. We talked about it a little bit
last week at Smoke Justice. But for those that are
new to this, for those that don't know exactly what
this is, explain what's going to be happening.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Well, this is the second annual, and that's thanks to
Teach you All Foundation for putting us on for the
second year in a row. But we did it last
year and I got some friends together, we kind of
told some stories and we said, let's do this again,
and so I set the hard Rock Casino. It's June sixth.
This year's theme is kind of Bengals turn broadcasters and
(01:48):
so Bloomer Scias is coming in. We've got Bob Tumpy,
who was the original for sports talk shows in Cincinnati,
Dave Lapham and Salomon and Wilcots. So that should be
a lot.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Of fun, phenomenal cast, and I know as well, a
fantastic initiative as well. I know that proceeds from the
event are going to benefit the Ken Anderson Alliance. Share
a little bit about what the Ken Anderson Alliance does
and how that's building back into the community.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Well, we're just trying to make the lives of adulta
developmental disabilities a little bit better, you know, they they
inform lasting friendships and be part of the community. We
do at our facility a lot of adult daycare services,
whether it's music based, whether it's arts and crafts. We
do job training, job placement, and we do a lot
(02:38):
of engage outings, whether they're during the day or in
the evenings, going out to the community, going out to dinner,
going out to movie, going out to play putt butt,
or going out to volunteer at another nonprofit. So all
in all, we're servicing about three hundred adults a month.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
You mentioned the panel and the guys that you're able
to get back for this event. Is that something you
guys are doing often? Are you keeping in touch as
much as as you like to it? Is it keeping
in touch a lot? Is it partly seasons? How much
do you keep in touch with with former guys that
you played and have been a part of this organization
as well?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Well, you know, fairly often in fact, We just had
a little get together. Pat mac and R. Punter moved
back into town a while ago. We hadn't seen him,
so we had Chris Collins with and Jimmy Breese, Tom
Dickle I got together with lunch for him. We have
NFL alumni and Players Association meetings periodically. This is the
(03:34):
time of the year. We kind of get together more
often because you see a lot of guys at golf
unders you.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I'm sure that when you guys get together, you talk
about this current edition of the Cincinnati Bengals. When you
think of Joe Burrow and t Higgins and Jamar Chase
now here for the foreseeable future and not worrying about
the contract situations. Can you even put a ceiling on
how high this offense can be from an elite standpoint.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Well, you know, I think you've talked a lot about it.
I think a lot depends on the offensive line, you know,
and how they can protect him and let them do
what they want offensively, at least in the passing game.
You know, like to see him get back to the
running game a little bit more, which I think opens
up some play action passes down the field. But you know,
all in all, I think, you know, you talk about
(04:21):
those three of theirs as talented as anybody in the
National Football League.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
How did you view things when you were a player
or even now from watching the obviously that the Trey
Hendrickson situation is going on. And I know as teammates
you always want what's best for your teammate. But does
it ever get to a point or has it ever
gotten to a point for you where those distractions can
can start to creep into the locker room or maybe
(04:46):
even get in the way of the work that needs
to be done. How do you view distractions from a
standpoint of of what the Bengals are going through very
early in this process.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Well, you know, I think from a player and a
teammates standpoint, when it's about money, you know that's not
a distraction. You know, a player's got to look after himself.
But you've only got so many years that you can play,
and and you know it's always about you know, it's
his business and it's not our business, and you understand that.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
How do you view an offense like the Bengals had
last year in a defense that struggled a little bit,
What is that dynamic like from a locker room standpoint. Again,
you are you're supporting everyone and you're trying to build
everyone up. But if one side of the ball is
pulling more of the load, does that creep into that
locker room atmosphere at all?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Well? I think a lot depends on the team and
the makeup of the team, and I think certain teams
that could. But I think one of the things that
that Zach and they and the team I've really described
about it is to getting good people in the locker room,
getting people that are accountable, and so I think they
and those understand those things. They know that their teammates
are doing the best they can and you know, sometimes
(05:57):
we just may have to score one more touchdown.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
As a as a a guy that played quarterback at
A at a very high level, uh, Jermaine Burton had
a rocky first year. How important is that that development
and the the veteran presence in the locker room to
be able to put your arm around the guy and
and try to build them back up into a meaningful
player that can play meaningful snaps for this team.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well, sometimes it's more than putting your arm around him.
I think he putting arm around his neck. So some
of the times that back in line. But you know,
I think you know they they suspended them last year.
He didn't travel at times last year. Hopefully the points
got across because I think the guy's got some talent
and that you can always use an extra speed guy.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Uh, go back to the to the event a little
bit for me here when when you talk about uh,
your panel and and having greats that that are that
are going to be joining you, like a Dave Lapham
and a Boomerasias and and and Trumpy and and Solomon,
are you is it more of a discussion that you
get to just get together and tell stories of the past.
(07:04):
Are you talking about the present team? Or you had
a little bit of both. What does that format look
like for those that would want to attend.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
I mean, I think a little bit of both. I
mean I want to know why Trumpy called me rookie
all those years, you know. I want to know Boomer
when he came in. I think he will admit in
nineteen eighty four he was a little bit brash. I
want to know from him when they drafted you, how
quickly did you think you're going to take my job?
You know? So I think there's a lot of these
questions that I've got to get answers to, I think
(07:34):
in this thing, and those are easier to think.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Those are easier questions to ask now than back then.
For sure, no question about it.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
But you know, one thing I wanted to bring up
to Tony is that we've got a great live auction.
I've got an original seatback from Riverfront Stadium signed by
all the league MVPs that played in there. So for
football it was Boomer and I. For baseball it was
Bench and Morgan, George Foster, and Barry Larkin, which is
(08:03):
trying to find one of those around. We've got a
suite at the Reds game. Uh. For a Reds game,
I should say that I'm gonna host and I'm going
to bring in Doug Flinn, Hope in another couple other
former Reds to kind of entertain us, you know, for
that day as well. Who would you say are the
two biggest names in sports in Cincinnati right now, Tony.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Probably Joe Burrow and maybe Ellie Day La Cruz.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Uh, That's what I would say. I happen to have
signed jerseys from both those times. We're gonna autograph, We're
going to auction off as a as a pair, so
that will be a lot of fun. We've got the
opening opening day tickets in the Orchestra section for the
Broadway Series at the aeronof Center, which is a great
(08:54):
lineup this year includes the Wis that includes the Lion
King uh and includes Hamilton. So we've got a couple
of great live watching is it's gonna be fun as well? Uh.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
From a health standpoint, I know you had a h
was it a knee surgery or some type of surgery recently?
How are you feeling from a health standpoint.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I'm doing good. I had my left knee replaced about
nine weeks ago now, so I'm ready to go out
and hit that little white ball and see if I
remember how to do that at all. You know, we
got we got a lot of my teammates have a
lot of outings coming up, and I gotta be ready
to go for those.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
That's right. That's right. The again that the Ken Anderson
Alliance is doing so much good for for opportunities for
for so many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities right
here in Greater Cincinnati. Why why was it so important
for you? You know, you finish your playing career here. Why
was it so important to establish something like the Ken
(09:50):
Anderson Alliance and and continue to give back to this
great city.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Well, it all started because my wife and I have
a nephew that's really autistic, and we are trying to
make his life a little bit better. And as you
work towards this and you kind of expand a little bit,
and we merged with another group and it kind of
morphed into what it is today. And so we've had
a lot of support, you know, from the community, and
like I say, you know with TQL, they jumped right
(10:16):
in last year when I called them to be are
presenting sponsor. They followed it up again this year. And
you know, if anybody wants to know more about the
Kin Anderson Alliance or wants to get tickets for this event,
just go to Ken Anderson Alliance dot org and we'll
be right there on the first page how you can
number one get tickets for this event, find out more
about us volunteer. If you just want to make a donation,
(10:38):
we would appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
This again is at the hard Rock Casino Friday, June sixth,
uh coming up here very quickly, Ken Anderson, Boomerosias and
Dave Lapp and Bob Trumpy, Solomon Wilcox and a night
of absolute fun. I cannot thank you enough for sharing
that with us today. Ken. I always appreciate getting to
catch up with you, and I look forward to doing
(10:59):
so again very soon.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Well, Tony, thank you. Everyone was good seeing you the
other night, and that we hope to talk again more soon.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Love it, Ken, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Man. Thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
That is Ken Anderson always always great to catch up with.
Ken always has energy, does Ken Man endless energy and
a new knee?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Yeah, and you know he's look great the other night
I was talking to him off the air and he
was going up and downstairs.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, So I.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Mean that he is not an issue.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
You think of that cast of characters, that panel that's
going to be up there, I'm sure from the just
the story lines themselves, it's going to be a fantastic
night for sure. Mentioned to Uh to Ken a little
bit about Trey Hendrickson, and obviously that that is a
topic here that that we've talked about a lot, and
(11:48):
we wonder about the distraction and and what that looks
like when we get a little bit more of the
the clarification here as to what it looked like. I
know we talked about the floor side of it, where
you're looking at twenty eight million dollars. Do you get
a sense, Austin that the more people see and learn
(12:09):
the details behind this, the more you start to feel
a shift to the side of the Bengals in this,
because there was a long time where I myself and
I know others were kind of like, well, you got
to pay him. You can't win a super Bowl without him.
The more clarification we get, do you find yourself citing
more and more or knowing people that kind of take
the side of the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Now, I've been with the Bengals from the beginning on this,
and mostly everybody that I've talked to for months has
been on the side of the Bengals with this. It
was basically for the last couple of years, Tray screwed
up by negotiating and accepting contracts the way they were structured,
(12:50):
not valuing himself the way he was supposed to, a
trade request that had no merit, continuing to come back
to the table right after the Bengals had rewarded him,
And I think the Bengals kind of got to a
point where they're just fed up with it. It's like, listen, man,
we're not going to keep doing this every single time.
Here's the best we can offer you if you don't
(13:11):
like it, okay, And you know, I think internally there's
probably some of that too, Yeah, in terms of the
locker room, because you know, I keep going back to
what Joe said yesterday, two days ago, that Trey is
one of the most, if not the most unique person
(13:31):
I've ever met. He's just a different type of dude.
And again, I think a guy that players on the
team kind of struggle to relate with and kind of
rocks to the beat of his own drum, has different
priorities than other people. And that's cool, Like football locker
rooms are a melting pot of different personalities and backgrounds.
(13:52):
But I don't know that they look around and they're like, gosh,
without Trey, we're screwed. And maybe they are, but I
don't know that that's how it's viewed in the locker room.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
You know, I come back to what Trey originally said
about wanting that security for his family. You are, essentially,
if you're the Bengals offering a twelve million dollar raise
when you didn't have to offer a race, right, you
could have very easily said no, you're playing on your
current deal. To offer twelve million dollars more to a
(14:22):
player who's about to be thirty one is substantial. And
I also look on this side of things, and we
haven't talked about this much. Which player right now is
the face of the Cleveland Browns? Miles Garrett?
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Yeah, I think to their chagrin, it's probably Deshaun Watson. Sure,
but who they want it to be? Yeah, they don't
want it to be Watson. I think most people they
say to Cleveland brown do you think, oh, those are
the guys that signed to Shan Watson? But it's it's
Miles Garrett from an actual player standpoint. What about for
the Raiders, who do you think of Max Crow?
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Right?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
So honestly, Tom Brady.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, but it comes down to a point that those
two contracts that were signed this offseason, they're paying their
franchise guys. Those are their franchise players. Is Trey Hendrickson
this the Bengals franchise player?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
He might be third on the list. Yeah, so you
had the fourth on them, correct?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
You?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Have to take that into account too. If you're the agent,
and if you're Trey Hendrickson, you are not the end
all be all here.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
I'm guessing you know, it still comes down to length.
I'm assuming that the twenty eight million dollars would be
this year and next year at that rate. Yeah, I'm
assuming that's what the deal is. That's the only thing
that makes sense. Extension onto this year twenty eight million
(15:51):
per most of it guaranteed.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Bang.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Yeah, Trey probably wants more than one year. And if
that's the sticking point. I don't have any sympathy for Trey, Yeah,
I really don't. And I don't want to come off
as like mean about this, but the whole thing about
him and his family, that's so lame to me.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, so it's about your family, but you're turning down
twelve million extra.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Well, not even that, he's like, he always keeps talking
about stability. Buddy. You're in the NFL. You signed up
for this life, and if you do get traded, or
you do sign somewhere else, or you whatever, you have
millions and millions of dollars and the resource is necessary
to make a move or a change in your life.
(16:41):
Much easier on your family. There are people across the
country who have to work and get their lives uprooted
because of work, that have to move across the country
to do something or have to go somewhere else because
of different challenges in their workplace. It's no different in
the NFL, except you're making millions of dollars that allows
you to have the resources too easier to more easily
(17:07):
go through those things. And it's not like Trey has
a bunch of young kids that are in school. They're
not right, Like, I get wanting to have stability. Everybody
in life wants stability, but you kind of throw that
out the window when you decide to become a NFL
football player. Your stability can be taken away on any
(17:28):
snap in the NFL. Is that's what it is? You
know that? And if it is about yeah, you're the
perfect example, like if you know that. If this is
about guaranteed money and injury protection, sure, Like I get that,
and the Bengals have done better at giving onto that
and Trey has accepted these deals in the past. If
(17:50):
it comes back to the family thing and wanting to
know where we're gonna be, correct, buddy, that's a crappy excuse.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Listen, the Bengals came and said, we'll give you a
two year extension, will put it out about twenty eight
million dollars a year, and he didn't run to sign that.
I don't know what he's waiting for. What you want
thirty million a year for three, four or five more
years at thirty one years old. I think you're not
going to get that anywhere in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Here's what I think though. I think they're offering a
one year extension, so this year and next year total
of one year added on to the contract. And he
doesn't want that. Sure, Okay, I get it, but also
it takes two to tango here. They're not going to
give you two years. They're just not. They've kind of
(18:31):
showed you the direction they're going with how they're going
to build the team and.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Likely not the franchise player that Miles Garrett and Max
Crosby are. You're just not And and if twenty eight's
on the table, my advice would be go take it,
because no one's going to give you a long term
extension when you're coming up to thirty one. It's just
the nature of the business. That is what it is.
Let's take our break here first breaking hour number too.
(19:00):
Thanks to Ken Anderson for joining us. We'll talk some
Bengal Guard play as well. As we get into our three.
We'll also talk to Keegan Nicholson Bearcats and Mountaineers about
ten minutes away from first pitch in their Big twelve
tournament meeting and your talk facs come next. Thanks to
Cincy shirts on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Now your chance to
From Cincinnati, sponsored in part by Cincy Shirts, All Cincy Shirts,
All Cinci all Day. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
All right, welcome back, Welcome into our number two, Cincy
three to sixty. Thanks to our good friends at Cincy Shirtz.
Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Your talkbacks come up in just a few minutes. Before that,
awesome opportunity to hear, opportunity to talk to one of
the best to ever do it for the Cincinnati Bengals.
I had the chance Austin. I was doing the schedule
(00:33):
release show with Lance last week at Smoke Justice and
Ken Anderson was there. He was in the building, he
was hanging out. Got a chance to talk to him
there and he was sharing a little bit about a
really cool event that he's got coming up, and thought
it'd be great to connect with Ken on the air,
pick his brain a little bit about the Bengals, but
more so with what he's got going on right here
(00:54):
in Cincinnati coming up. He joins us right now, former
Bengal great quarterback Ken Anderson. Ken, how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I am doing great? Thanks for having me on today.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I am I'm always excited to talk to you Canon
before I pick your brain about the Cincinnati Bengals for
a moment. You've got the twenty twenty five edition of
Ken and Friends coming up, and I know this is
a big deal. We talked about it a little bit
last week at Smoke Justice. But for those that are
new to this, for those that don't know exactly what
this is, explain what's going to be happening.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Well, this is the second annual, and that's thanks to
Teach you All Foundation for putting us on for the
second year in a row. But we did it last
year and I got some friends together, we kind of
told some stories and we said, let's do this again,
and so I set the hard Rock Casino. It's June sixth.
This year's theme is kind of Bengals turn broadcasters and
(01:48):
so Bloomer Scias is coming in. We've got Bob Tumpy,
who was the original for sports talk shows in Cincinnati,
Dave Lapham and Salomon and Wilcots. So that should be
a lot.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Of fun, phenomenal cast, and I know as well, a
fantastic initiative as well. I know that proceeds from the
event are going to benefit the Ken Anderson Alliance. Share
a little bit about what the Ken Anderson Alliance does
and how that's building back into the community.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Well, we're just trying to make the lives of adulta
developmental disabilities a little bit better, you know, they they
inform lasting friendships and be part of the community. We
do at our facility a lot of adult daycare services,
whether it's music based, whether it's arts and crafts. We
do job training, job placement, and we do a lot
(02:38):
of engage outings, whether they're during the day or in
the evenings, going out to the community, going out to dinner,
going out to movie, going out to play putt butt,
or going out to volunteer at another nonprofit. So all
in all, we're servicing about three hundred adults a month.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
You mentioned the panel and the guys that you're able
to get back for this event. Is that something you
guys are doing often? Are you keeping in touch as
much as as you like to it? Is it keeping
in touch a lot? Is it partly seasons? How much
do you keep in touch with with former guys that
you played and have been a part of this organization
as well?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Well, you know, fairly often in fact, We just had
a little get together. Pat mac and R. Punter moved
back into town a while ago. We hadn't seen him,
so we had Chris Collins with and Jimmy Breese, Tom
Dickle I got together with lunch for him. We have
NFL alumni and Players Association meetings periodically. This is the
(03:34):
time of the year. We kind of get together more
often because you see a lot of guys at golf
unders you.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I'm sure that when you guys get together, you talk
about this current edition of the Cincinnati Bengals. When you
think of Joe Burrow and t Higgins and Jamar Chase
now here for the foreseeable future and not worrying about
the contract situations. Can you even put a ceiling on
how high this offense can be from an elite standpoint.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Well, you know, I think you've talked a lot about it.
I think a lot depends on the offensive line, you know,
and how they can protect him and let them do
what they want offensively, at least in the passing game.
You know, like to see him get back to the
running game a little bit more, which I think opens
up some play action passes down the field. But you know,
all in all, I think, you know, you talk about
(04:21):
those three of theirs as talented as anybody in the
National Football League.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
How did you view things when you were a player
or even now from watching the obviously that the Trey
Hendrickson situation is going on. And I know as teammates
you always want what's best for your teammate. But does
it ever get to a point or has it ever
gotten to a point for you where those distractions can
can start to creep into the locker room or maybe
(04:46):
even get in the way of the work that needs
to be done. How do you view distractions from a
standpoint of of what the Bengals are going through very
early in this process.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Well, you know, I think from a player and a
teammates standpoint, when it's about money, you know that's not
a distraction. You know, a player's got to look after himself.
But you've only got so many years that you can play,
and and you know it's always about you know, it's
his business and it's not our business, and you understand that.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
How do you view an offense like the Bengals had
last year in a defense that struggled a little bit,
What is that dynamic like from a locker room standpoint. Again,
you are you're supporting everyone and you're trying to build
everyone up. But if one side of the ball is
pulling more of the load, does that creep into that
locker room atmosphere at all?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Well? I think a lot depends on the team and
the makeup of the team, and I think certain teams
that could. But I think one of the things that
that Zach and they and the team I've really described
about it is to getting good people in the locker room,
getting people that are accountable, and so I think they
and those understand those things. They know that their teammates
are doing the best they can and you know, sometimes
(05:57):
we just may have to score one more touchdown.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
As a as a a guy that played quarterback at
A at a very high level, uh, Jermaine Burton had
a rocky first year. How important is that that development
and the the veteran presence in the locker room to
be able to put your arm around the guy and
and try to build them back up into a meaningful
player that can play meaningful snaps for this team.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well, sometimes it's more than putting your arm around him.
I think he putting arm around his neck. So some
of the times that back in line. But you know,
I think you know they they suspended them last year.
He didn't travel at times last year. Hopefully the points
got across because I think the guy's got some talent
and that you can always use an extra speed guy.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Uh, go back to the to the event a little
bit for me here when when you talk about uh,
your panel and and having greats that that are that
are going to be joining you, like a Dave Lapham
and a Boomerasias and and and Trumpy and and Solomon,
are you is it more of a discussion that you
get to just get together and tell stories of the past.
(07:04):
Are you talking about the present team? Or you had
a little bit of both. What does that format look
like for those that would want to attend.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
I mean, I think a little bit of both. I
mean I want to know why Trumpy called me rookie
all those years, you know. I want to know Boomer
when he came in. I think he will admit in
nineteen eighty four he was a little bit brash. I
want to know from him when they drafted you, how
quickly did you think you're going to take my job?
You know? So I think there's a lot of these
questions that I've got to get answers to, I think
(07:34):
in this thing, and those are easier to think.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Those are easier questions to ask now than back then.
For sure, no question about it.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
But you know, one thing I wanted to bring up
to Tony is that we've got a great live auction.
I've got an original seatback from Riverfront Stadium signed by
all the league MVPs that played in there. So for
football it was Boomer and I. For baseball it was
Bench and Morgan, George Foster, and Barry Larkin, which is
(08:03):
trying to find one of those around. We've got a
suite at the Reds game. Uh. For a Reds game,
I should say that I'm gonna host and I'm going
to bring in Doug Flinn, Hope in another couple other
former Reds to kind of entertain us, you know, for
that day as well. Who would you say are the
two biggest names in sports in Cincinnati right now, Tony.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Probably Joe Burrow and maybe Ellie Day La Cruz.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Uh, That's what I would say. I happen to have
signed jerseys from both those times. We're gonna autograph, We're
going to auction off as a as a pair, so
that will be a lot of fun. We've got the
opening opening day tickets in the Orchestra section for the
Broadway Series at the aeronof Center, which is a great
(08:54):
lineup this year includes the Wis that includes the Lion
King uh and includes Hamilton. So we've got a couple
of great live watching is it's gonna be fun as well? Uh.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
From a health standpoint, I know you had a h
was it a knee surgery or some type of surgery recently?
How are you feeling from a health standpoint.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I'm doing good. I had my left knee replaced about
nine weeks ago now, so I'm ready to go out
and hit that little white ball and see if I
remember how to do that at all. You know, we
got we got a lot of my teammates have a
lot of outings coming up, and I gotta be ready
to go for those.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
That's right. That's right. The again that the Ken Anderson
Alliance is doing so much good for for opportunities for
for so many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities right
here in Greater Cincinnati. Why why was it so important
for you? You know, you finish your playing career here. Why
was it so important to establish something like the Ken
(09:50):
Anderson Alliance and and continue to give back to this
great city.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Well, it all started because my wife and I have
a nephew that's really autistic, and we are trying to
make his life a little bit better. And as you
work towards this and you kind of expand a little bit,
and we merged with another group and it kind of
morphed into what it is today. And so we've had
a lot of support, you know, from the community, and
like I say, you know with TQL, they jumped right
(10:16):
in last year when I called them to be are
presenting sponsor. They followed it up again this year. And
you know, if anybody wants to know more about the
Kin Anderson Alliance or wants to get tickets for this event,
just go to Ken Anderson Alliance dot org and we'll
be right there on the first page how you can
number one get tickets for this event, find out more
about us volunteer. If you just want to make a donation,
(10:38):
we would appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
This again is at the hard Rock Casino Friday, June sixth,
uh coming up here very quickly, Ken Anderson, Boomerosias and
Dave Lapp and Bob Trumpy, Solomon Wilcox and a night
of absolute fun. I cannot thank you enough for sharing
that with us today. Ken. I always appreciate getting to
catch up with you, and I look forward to doing
(10:59):
so again very soon.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Well, Tony, thank you. Everyone was good seeing you the
other night, and that we hope to talk again more soon.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Love it, Ken, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Man. Thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
That is Ken Anderson always always great to catch up with.
Ken always has energy, does Ken Man endless energy and
a new knee?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Yeah, and you know he's look great the other night
I was talking to him off the air and he
was going up and downstairs.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, So I.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Mean that he is not an issue.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
You think of that cast of characters, that panel that's
going to be up there, I'm sure from the just
the story lines themselves, it's going to be a fantastic
night for sure. Mentioned to Uh to Ken a little
bit about Trey Hendrickson, and obviously that that is a
topic here that that we've talked about a lot, and
(11:48):
we wonder about the distraction and and what that looks
like when we get a little bit more of the
the clarification here as to what it looked like. I
know we talked about the floor side of it, where
you're looking at twenty eight million dollars. Do you get
a sense, Austin that the more people see and learn
(12:09):
the details behind this, the more you start to feel
a shift to the side of the Bengals in this,
because there was a long time where I myself and
I know others were kind of like, well, you got
to pay him. You can't win a super Bowl without him.
The more clarification we get, do you find yourself citing
more and more or knowing people that kind of take
the side of the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Now, I've been with the Bengals from the beginning on this,
and mostly everybody that I've talked to for months has
been on the side of the Bengals with this. It
was basically for the last couple of years, Tray screwed
up by negotiating and accepting contracts the way they were structured,
(12:50):
not valuing himself the way he was supposed to, a
trade request that had no merit, continuing to come back
to the table right after the Bengals had rewarded him,
And I think the Bengals kind of got to a
point where they're just fed up with it. It's like, listen, man,
we're not going to keep doing this every single time.
Here's the best we can offer you if you don't
(13:11):
like it, okay, And you know, I think internally there's
probably some of that too, Yeah, in terms of the
locker room, because you know, I keep going back to
what Joe said yesterday, two days ago, that Trey is
one of the most, if not the most unique person
(13:31):
I've ever met. He's just a different type of dude.
And again, I think a guy that players on the
team kind of struggle to relate with and kind of
rocks to the beat of his own drum, has different
priorities than other people. And that's cool, Like football locker
rooms are a melting pot of different personalities and backgrounds.
(13:52):
But I don't know that they look around and they're like, gosh,
without Trey, we're screwed. And maybe they are, but I
don't know that that's how it's viewed in the locker room.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
You know, I come back to what Trey originally said
about wanting that security for his family. You are, essentially,
if you're the Bengals offering a twelve million dollar raise
when you didn't have to offer a race, right, you
could have very easily said no, you're playing on your
current deal. To offer twelve million dollars more to a
(14:22):
player who's about to be thirty one is substantial. And
I also look on this side of things, and we
haven't talked about this much. Which player right now is
the face of the Cleveland Browns? Miles Garrett?
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Yeah, I think to their chagrin, it's probably Deshaun Watson. Sure,
but who they want it to be? Yeah, they don't
want it to be Watson. I think most people they
say to Cleveland brown do you think, oh, those are
the guys that signed to Shan Watson? But it's it's
Miles Garrett from an actual player standpoint. What about for
the Raiders, who do you think of Max Crow?
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Right?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
So honestly, Tom Brady.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, but it comes down to a point that those
two contracts that were signed this offseason, they're paying their
franchise guys. Those are their franchise players. Is Trey Hendrickson
this the Bengals franchise player?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
He might be third on the list. Yeah, so you
had the fourth on them, correct?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
You?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Have to take that into account too. If you're the agent,
and if you're Trey Hendrickson, you are not the end
all be all here.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
I'm guessing you know, it still comes down to length.
I'm assuming that the twenty eight million dollars would be
this year and next year at that rate. Yeah, I'm
assuming that's what the deal is. That's the only thing
that makes sense. Extension onto this year twenty eight million
(15:51):
per most of it guaranteed.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Bang.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Yeah, Trey probably wants more than one year. And if
that's the sticking point. I don't have any sympathy for Trey, Yeah,
I really don't. And I don't want to come off
as like mean about this, but the whole thing about
him and his family, that's so lame to me.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, so it's about your family, but you're turning down
twelve million extra.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Well, not even that, he's like, he always keeps talking
about stability. Buddy. You're in the NFL. You signed up
for this life, and if you do get traded, or
you do sign somewhere else, or you whatever, you have
millions and millions of dollars and the resource is necessary
to make a move or a change in your life.
(16:41):
Much easier on your family. There are people across the
country who have to work and get their lives uprooted
because of work, that have to move across the country
to do something or have to go somewhere else because
of different challenges in their workplace. It's no different in
the NFL, except you're making millions of dollars that allows
you to have the resources too easier to more easily
(17:07):
go through those things. And it's not like Trey has
a bunch of young kids that are in school. They're
not right, Like, I get wanting to have stability. Everybody
in life wants stability, but you kind of throw that
out the window when you decide to become a NFL
football player. Your stability can be taken away on any
(17:28):
snap in the NFL. Is that's what it is? You
know that? And if it is about yeah, you're the
perfect example, like if you know that. If this is
about guaranteed money and injury protection, sure, Like I get that,
and the Bengals have done better at giving onto that
and Trey has accepted these deals in the past. If
(17:50):
it comes back to the family thing and wanting to
know where we're gonna be, correct, buddy, that's a crappy excuse.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Listen, the Bengals came and said, we'll give you a
two year extension, will put it out about twenty eight
million dollars a year, and he didn't run to sign that.
I don't know what he's waiting for. What you want
thirty million a year for three, four or five more
years at thirty one years old. I think you're not
going to get that anywhere in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Here's what I think though. I think they're offering a
one year extension, so this year and next year total
of one year added on to the contract. And he
doesn't want that. Sure, Okay, I get it, but also
it takes two to tango here. They're not going to
give you two years. They're just not. They've kind of
(18:31):
showed you the direction they're going with how they're going
to build the team and.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Likely not the franchise player that Miles Garrett and Max
Crosby are. You're just not And and if twenty eight's
on the table, my advice would be go take it,
because no one's going to give you a long term
extension when you're coming up to thirty one. It's just
the nature of the business. That is what it is.
Let's take our break here first breaking hour number too.
(19:00):
Thanks to Ken Anderson for joining us. We'll talk some
Bengal Guard play as well. As we get into our three.
We'll also talk to Keegan Nicholson Bearcats and Mountaineers about
ten minutes away from first pitch in their Big twelve
tournament meeting and your talk facs come next. Thanks to
Cincy shirts on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Now your chance to
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Boysober
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com