Cincy 360 w/ Tony Pike & Austin Elmore -- 5/15/25

Tony and Austin recap Pete Rose night and another Reds loss, chat with John Sheeran about the Bengals, check in with Mo Egger, and more on ESPN 1530!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chile.

Speaker 2 (00:00):
Since He three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in
part by Skyline Chile. Stop by Skyline Chili through a
three way or cheez Coney today, feeling good? It's Skyline time.
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (00:45):
Is this is this what I think it's for? Austin?

Speaker 4 (00:48):
Is this?

Speaker 3 (00:49):
Oh?

Speaker 5 (00:50):
No?

Speaker 3 (00:53):
May fifteenth, I didn't have this. I had the over
Oh no, I thought surely it'd be a competitive race.
Oh no, in the National League Central.

Speaker 6 (01:07):
Oh well, welcome here, here we are. It's the latest
edition of Sincey three to sixty and you're listening right
here on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
A series loss to the Chicago White Sox, the lowly
Chicago White So I'm gonna say it again, A series
loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Speaker 6 (01:29):
Shout out to the Chicago White Sox. Last night on
Pete Rose Night got their fourteenth win of the season.

Speaker 3 (01:34):
To honor Pete Rose. You can also maybe bury the
idea that we can keep running out Pete Rose because
you know that cash Cow is done for a little while. Yeah,
you've gotten the most out of that, Well, they got
a lot out of it. Last night, and I know
they're going to do it again in June with the
reunion for the Big Red Machine, So that'll be cool
to see. Oh went end out trot them out.

Speaker 6 (01:55):
This is since he three to sixty and you're listening
on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports station, also via the
iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
Go ahead and leave us a talkback.

Speaker 6 (02:03):
Let us know your thoughts on the NFL schedule release
for the Cincinnati Bengals. Let's talk Reds or anything else.
In the best talkback, we'll get a Sinti shirts gift
card that we'll decide on tomorrow on the Friday edition
of Cincy three to sixty. Thanks to our friends as
well as Skyline Chilly. Anytime you're feeling good and hungry,
it's always Skyline time.

Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah, deliver a eulogy. Yeah for the red Give us
your red eulogy because I'm sure you know by the
time we get the talkbacks, they'll be down three to
nothing in the fourth inning.

Speaker 6 (02:30):
Yeah, we want today your Reds eulogy because here's how
the show is going to go. We have a day
game for the Cincinnati Reds today, and if you follow
along with this show at all, you know that with
a twelve to forty first pitch. Once that first pitch
essentially happens, we're not going to spend much time on
the reds at all. So we'll be a lot of

(02:51):
reds leading up to that. The disappointment that was last
night nine of eleven nine of their last eleven have
been lost. It feels like they are at the end
or nearing the end with a home series loss to
the Chicago White Sox. We'll look at the game from
last night, we'll look ahead to today's lineup, we'll talk

(03:13):
about Pete rose Knight going forward. Last night was also
the schedule release for the National Football League. Every NFL
team and their schedule is now out every NFL team.
You can see when and where your team is playing,
who they're playing, and what date that falls on in

(03:33):
the calendar. So we will spend a lot of time
today on the NFL schedule release, more so in our
number three as it relates to the Cincinnati Bengals. I've
got tough stretches to look out the importance of the
fast start based on the schedule, Sneaky opponents that we
may not think much of now but could sneak up
on you. Once the season is here, we'll talk about

(03:54):
the best road trip to make. We'll look at game
by game storylines and give our official Bengals record prediction
as it stands today. Your phone calls are always welcome
at five, one, three, seven, four, nine, fifteen, thirty. Will
dive into all of those as we go. Let's look
at the rest of the sports world as of right now.

(04:14):
The Boston Celtics man they forced game six. If you're
the Knicks, you better close it out on your home court,
because that Boston team last night without Jason Tatum, played
some inspired basketball. The Timberwolves advance to the Western Conference
Finals by dispatching of the Golden State Warriors. They call
it a gentleman sweep. They ended in five, as did

(04:37):
the Indiana Pacers, which means both teams Indiana and Minnesota
back to back years in their respective conference finals. OKC
Denver Game six tonight. Going on right now is the
PGA Championship. Jagger Boston, Donald, Norrin Fox all sit a

(04:58):
top at four are under right now at Quail Hollow.
Keegan Bradley a name you may recognize. Matt Fitzpatrick, both
sitting at three under John Rahm is one under Rory
McElroy struggling, struggling a little bit today is the defending champ.

Speaker 3 (05:20):
From the Masters?

Speaker 7 (05:21):
Uh?

Speaker 6 (05:22):
Where is Rory sitting right now? Last time I saw
he was plus two? Has he dropped another shot? Since then?

Speaker 3 (05:31):
Rory is still plus two?

Speaker 6 (05:34):
So that is obviously something to keep an eye on
as he was looking for another win at the PGA Championship.
Speaking of another win, FC Cincinnati wins again last night
on the road at Toronto. It wasn't pretty, but it
was three points. Is that six to seven or seven
of eight for FC Cincinnati? Regardless, they are on an
unbelievable heater, so much so that they now sit alone

(05:57):
on top of the Eastern Conference standings in MLS.

Speaker 3 (06:00):
And you already know what Saturday is. Hell is real.

Speaker 6 (06:06):
Columbus played to a draw last night, which means they
got a point. FC got two, which means they hold
a two point lead over Columbus as they head to
Columbus for hell is Reel on Saturday. How about this
Ohio lawmaker trying to introduce a bill to band noon
kickoffs for Ohio State football?

Speaker 3 (06:26):
What do you make of this? Stupid? I mean, it's
it's Ohio State. It's the university's fault for allowing the
TV partner to have so much power, and aren't there
more important things to worry about? I would think. So
this is what bothers me when and it seems to
be a common theme here did in the state of Ohio.

(06:47):
Ohio State Texas at noon. Yeah, Ohio State is going
to be playing Texas at noon to start their season
the defense of the national championship, and it's supposed to
be elite atmosphere. Night games at the Shoe are very
rare now and apparently there's been some chatter in the

(07:08):
offseason that Ohio State knows they have an environment and
atmosphere problem at Ohio Stadium. If I don't know, the
last time you were there, probably the forty two to
nothing beat down. But it's kind of it's kind of boring,
like it's not like it's huge and there's a ton
of people, but it's not as much of a home
field advantage as it should be. Part of that is

(07:30):
because the average age is pretty far up there for
a lot of the old timers with those good seats,
and also they play a bunch of games at noon
and you don't have time to get people all liquored
up and rowdy. And on top of that, ticket prices
are insane. So the point being here, there's a lot
of issues as to why the atmosphere is not great.
Noon is part of it. But as we've talked about

(07:53):
last time, the amount of money that Fox paid, you
gave them the power and this is what you have
to deal with. And I just wish lawmakers would would
care about something more important. You know how many times
we've had some dumb law There was an idiot lawmaker
trying to do the thing about planning the flag. There
was some They get all mad about sports all the time.

(08:14):
Can you fix the roads? You know? Can we can
we get some infrastructure going on fair Fair I fix
we get a new bridge.

Speaker 6 (08:25):
Is it for Ohio State only or is it for
Ohio football teams?

Speaker 3 (08:28):
I don't know. It's going to be a noon kicks
at Knippert too. You guys had some two o'clocks, I
could at least I would live with two o'clock ESPN
plus game.

Speaker 6 (08:39):
Elsewhere in the sports world. Tom Pellasero earlier today tweeted
out big news. NFL owners will discuss a resolution at
next week's league meetings that would allow NFL players to
participate in the Olympics well, which which will include flag
football for the first time in twenty twenty eight. So
that's going to be voted on next week. I don't

(09:00):
know how serious he took it, but this is something
that Joe Burrow said he would be open to doing,
going over and representing Team USA and the Olympics. Should
Should NFL athletes be allowed to participate in the Olympics.

Speaker 3 (09:10):
It sounds like a conversation for the third hour find
out more about that today.

Speaker 6 (09:17):
Big takeaways for you, Not so much the Bengals, because
I do want to give that enough time an hour
number three, we'll dive through the schedule itself, but from
a storyline standpoint of other schedules.

Speaker 3 (09:31):
What were some of your top takeaways if any, Chiefs
have a pretty difficult schedule, man, and they're all over
the place, as are the Commanders. I mean, the NFL
is completely in love with the Washington Commanders. They have
them playing overseas Monday nights, Sunday nights, Thursday nights. You

(09:52):
know that whole division. And the other thing the Cowboys,
the Cowboys playing on Opening Night, on Thanksgiving and on
Christmas for maybe the most boring team in the NFL
with no personal listen, you know, the Cowboys are a draw.
So why do they have to play on these big games,
these nights, these holidays. I don't know, but I think

(10:13):
the Cowboys are really boring.

Speaker 6 (10:16):
If you play for the Kansas City Chiefs, you don't
get apparently Thanksgiving or Christmas. They're playing on Thanksgiving, They're
playing on Christmas. They're also playing in one of the
International Bowl Games to kick off the season. They have
eight primetime games?

Speaker 3 (10:35):
Do the Kansas City Chiefs.

Speaker 6 (10:37):
And while you might say, yeah, it's because it's the
Kansas City Chiefs, that's a grueling schedule for the players
to go through. Yeah, that's grueling. The Browns, the Saints,
and the Titans are the only teams not scheduled to
play in one primetime game. The Jets and Cardinals have
two each, Colt Jaguars, Panthers one primetime game. The Giants, Raiders, Patriots,

(10:58):
Bears will be on primetime three times each. I'm a
little surprised by that. I thought the Bears might get
a little bit more because of the offseason, and.

Speaker 3 (11:05):
I think maybe the NFL has learned their lesson on
the Bears.

Speaker 6 (11:08):
I do think the Titans, I thought they would get
at least one because of cam Ward. Yeah, I was
a little surprised by that. Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Texans, Broncos, Packers, Vikings, Bucks, Rams,
and Seahawks each got four. I don't understand, Austin. The
teams that got five, the Dolphins, Falcons. I get the Lions, Eagles, Commanders, Bills, Chargers,

(11:29):
and forty nine Ers, but I don't really see the
point the Dolphins and Falcons each get five primetime games.
I don't understand that just as much. And I definitely
don't understand, as you just mentioned, the Dallas Cowboys having
six primetime games and eight eight standalone games this coming season.

(11:51):
Outside of that, we'll talk about strength of schedule, we'll
talk a little bit about the AFC North as a whole,
just in general. Austin for the schedule release, and we've
talked about this earlier this week. When did it start
to become what it is now? Do you remember when

(12:12):
it stopped being just something that was released and became
a big event like the NFL has made it. Do
you remember when that was, I don't feel like it's
been that long.

Speaker 3 (12:23):
Yeah, I want to say it was probably ten years ago.

Speaker 8 (12:27):
Maybe.

Speaker 6 (12:29):
I was talking to someone last night in attendance at
the schedule release show who is part of that they
advertise during the schedule release, and he said, I never
would have thought that. When I do my budget, I
budget in specifically for the schedule release show because of
how big it's gotten. It is just again, it's the
power of the NFL. And Lance made this point last night.

(12:52):
You look at how the NFL does it, and then
look at Major League Baseball, who just kind of drops
the schedule on a weekday where there's games happening that
they don't really make a big deal. And it's different
because it's one hundred and sixty two games. You can't
go game by game. But from the draft to the
lottery to the schedule release, major League Baseball almost hides it.
The NFL is comfortable in saying everything that we touch

(13:16):
is gold, and everything that we push people are going
to watch and look no further. How many roughly how
many people attended the NFL Draft in Green Bay.

Speaker 3 (13:27):
Over two hundred and fifty thousand.

Speaker 6 (13:29):
Just to watch someone walk across the stage, say a
name and walk off. But it's the NFL. It's the buzz.
By the way, I saw the report that the folks
in Cincinnati are trying to get the draft in twenty
twenty eight, twenty twenty nine. From a hurdle standpoint on
that it, it feels like that's going to be tough
to accomplish.

Speaker 3 (13:49):
Where would you put the NFL draft? I would probably
do it at the River down by the river, Yeah,
in between the stadiums. It's the only place that really
makes sense. That is a big risk because of that
time of year, as we know from a month ago
with all the floods. But I think, you know, kind

(14:09):
of like I would imagine they could use the what's
the Brady Icon Music Center kind of as the green
room area, and I think they could figure out a
way to make the stage like in that area and

(14:31):
have it kind of ye, I think that makes the
most sense. Yeah, somewhere around like smail that whole thing.
I know a lot of people say the Museum Center.
That probably would make the most sense just from a
space size and space standpoint, but I don't know. I'd
be open to it. Yeah, as long as it's here.

(14:52):
I'd be happy talk more about that in our three
as well. I tweeted out a picture today and this
is completely off sports topic. There, they're like redoing the
traffic pattern in our parking garage here. Have you seen this? Yeah?
It sucks.

Speaker 6 (15:05):
So they've they've blocked off a bunch of spaces so
that the parking garage is now packed. And I posted
a picture of a of a of a person's car
and I didn't post a license plate or anything like that,
but they're just they're taking up two spots. What do
you make of folks that take up on purpose two
parking spots when they.

Speaker 3 (15:21):
Park special place in hell? I think it's I think
it's a required jail time for those types of fun.
I'm in favor of both.

Speaker 6 (15:31):
Yeah, send them straight to jail. We got to dive
into the unfortunate nature of what last night was at
Great American Ballpark, and it it overshadowed to a point
what was an awesome night because of the turnout and
the crowd and why everyone was there for Pete Rose
and the stories. It just didn't go well from a
baseball standpoint. So we'll dive into that when we get

(15:53):
back here for our number one. We'll take some phone calls.
Do we have a poll question up and running today?

Speaker 3 (15:59):
We do our Revivefitnessystems dot Com poll question presented by
Revivefitnessystems dot Com and coach PJ. Street. After looking at
the schedule, how many wins will the Bengals have in
twenty twenty five? Sixty seven percent say the Bengals will
be somewhere between ten and eleven. Okay, seventeen percent say
somewhere between seven and nine, eleven percent say twelve plus,

(16:23):
and three point eight percent say zero to six. I
would imagine those folks are trolling, I would hope.

Speaker 6 (16:29):
So we'll dive into the NFL schedule Hour three. John
Sheeran is going to join us at one o'clock today
to talk Bengals schedule, Trey Hendrickson and more. We of
course have your talkbacks. We'll dive more into the Reds
when we get back here. Just getting started sinty three
to sixty thanks to Skyline Chile on ESPN fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 8 (16:49):
Now you're into the eighteen decade around one defender trying
to get around another pick.

Speaker 9 (16:54):
Kevin Decades does it all by himself.

Speaker 10 (16:57):
He picks out the up for ninety a wild sequence
and Cincinnati early strike to take the league.

Speaker 8 (17:08):
Well, dephie, a bizarre sequence of events.

Speaker 3 (17:12):
As far as the positive, it seemed like honest. He
told me three obvious foes in the row. But it
doesn't matter. We talked and describe this goal because it's
a fantasti cool. You can take this away from Kevin Thanking.

Speaker 6 (17:23):
Tommy said, how good has denk been for the the
ointon blue outstanding? He has been unbelievable. That happened in
the eighteenth minute. That was all that FC Cincinnati needed.
They win it one nil, another clean sheet for Roman
Celentano and again f C Cincinnati atop the East standings

(17:45):
with hell is real looming on Saturday. Cannot wait for that.
Enjoy watching FC Cincinnati and the winning culture that they've
put on display. You know, Austin FC Cincinnati. As we
continue on with CINTI three thanks to Skyline Chile. You
know FC Cincinnati lost some key players in this offseason.
You remember that they lost an MVP and Luciano Acosta

(18:11):
and now here they are back on top of the standings.
How does that happen? Does the ownership group for FC Cincinnati.
They just kind of wait and hope that other guys
will develop, or they lean on development and also add
other pieces into the picks.

Speaker 3 (18:23):
They give their soccer people the resources to go get
really good soccer players. Interesting novel concept. I wish we
could just eviscerate ownership of other teams, but we can't.

Speaker 6 (18:35):
Yeah, here's here's what I don't understand. Let's let's start
with this and and let me let me start with
the product that the Reds put out from a Pete
Pete Rose Knight standpoint. And I know it just wasn't
the Reds, but everyone involved in Pete Rose Knight and
essentially Pete Rose Day, from Eddie and Rocky and Moe

(18:55):
who were at the Holy Grail, to the pregame festivities itself.
It felt Austin like Opening Day at the ballpark. Trying
to get to smoke justice for the show I was
doing felt like Opening Day because of the crowds of
people that were there. And it's that reminder that I
get often from Cincinnati sports fans that they're just desperate

(19:20):
for a winner, that they will show up and that
they will support these clubs. But at some point you
have to give them something to continue to show up for.
Let me ask you this, Austin. If you are someone
last night that hadn't been to a reg game this year,
or maybe you haven't been to a redg game in
a while, but they're honoring Pete Rose. And what I

(19:41):
learned yesterday and throughout this week, there are so many
people that grew up on Pete and Johnny bench and
those are the reasons they fell in love with baseball.
I caught last night at the Holy Grail or at
Smoke Justice. My son had come down and my dad
was sitting there with him, was showing my son highlights

(20:02):
of Pete Rose. My dad said, that's why I slid
into bases, That's why I played the way I did
growing up, was because of Pete Rose. And there are
so many people out there whose love for baseball was
inspired by a guy like Pete Rose or Johnny Bencher
or pick anyone from those teams, and all those people

(20:24):
showed up last night to honor and to celebrate Pete Rose.
If you were one of the folks that hadn't gone
to a Reds game in a while and you went
down last night, did anything during the actual game itself
Austin happen that would have you saying, man, you know what,
I got to get back to one of these games.
These are unbelievable. This team is great, they're fun. Is

(20:44):
there anything you could take away from last night? They
would say, Man, I'm gonna come back here. Just a
bad team.

Speaker 3 (20:52):
They're not fun to watch.

Speaker 6 (20:53):
They're a team that was playing the White Sox, who
coming into the series had three row wins all season
all year, and they've won two in a row in
Cincinnati and last night. What's much of the same one
for nine with runners in scoring position or the Cincinnati

(21:17):
Reds Travigno was oh for one, bensonh for one, Espina Hines, McClain, steer,
Elie de la Cruz oh for one. They continue to
just be poor with situational baseball. Now, they did pump
out nine hits, they only struck out six times, but
no hits in big moments when this team needed to

(21:38):
get a runner in no hits, when this team needed
to score a runner. It was the same bad product
that we have now watched for far too long. They've
lost nine out of eleven. You mentioned at the top,
a home loss, a home series loss to the Chicago
White Sox, and it feels if you're not already there yet,

(22:00):
most of the people feel like it's nearing the end
again of the red season. And I get they're forty
four games in. I get that they're only four games
under five hundred, because that's the baromera that we use,
is five hundred baseball. But at the same time, they
are already five games back in the NL Central. They
are a game back of the Brewers, four games back

(22:20):
of the Cardinals, who again have started another winning streak.
They've won nine of their last ten. They're one back
of the Chicago Cubs. But this isn't a year where
you're gonna lose in the NL Central and win the
wild Card, and that's always been the thing in years past. Well,
they are a weekend or a good week away from
being back in the wild Card. You needed to win
the NL Central, and as we sit here on May fifteenth,
there are already five games back in the Central. It

(22:43):
was demoralizing in my opinion, Austin, all the way around.
It's been demoralizing for the past eleven games, in my opinion,
and I think what is the most unfortunate part about
this It doesn't feel like there is something you can
point to to make you think it's gonna get better
anytime soon. So where do you go now? If you're

(23:05):
a Reds fan, what do you If you're looking now
Austin to create a path forward? What are you hanging
your hat on?

Speaker 3 (23:14):
There isn't one. They can't develop players, they can't do
the little things right, And we've kind of been told
directly to our face by ownership how they feel about us.
If you're a Reds fan, where are you're gonna go?
You know that twenty twenty three team and that wind

(23:35):
streak saved this franchise. It bought them a couple of
extra years, and now we're back to the bottom. We're
back to looking around saying, gosh, what the hell happened
to this franchise. If not for that summer where they

(23:56):
were exciting and fun, nobody would have showed up to
the ballpark. Those comments would have been all we talked
about all summer. But because we were kind of distracted
by them actually doing something and being competitive, well then
we kind of forgot. But as I kind of reflect

(24:21):
on it, it's like, you know what, I'm not mad
this year because I kind of just last year was
was kind of a breaking point for me. We've almost
become numb to it, and so I was like, I'm
just gonna go to the ballpark and have fun and
hopefully get see cool stuff happen when sky ton of
fun going to games this year, you're undefeated in the
Skyland Chili Shuffle. But also it's like, what's the point? Yeah,

(24:48):
it is, And I've said this many times before that
if there is not some indication that you are exhausting
every avenue to win, what's the point. Yeah. I just
feel bad for so many Reds fans because they deserve better,
and I mean you mentioned it. They are loyal and

(25:09):
especially loyal when you win, and the Reds choose, they
openly choose not to maximize resources to win, and they
don't care. They don't do everything in their power to win.
You know, Dick Williams when he was the GM, you know,

(25:31):
he was given a little bit of leeway and I
don't know if it was because of his relationship with
Bob Castelini or what, but he got a little bit
more freedom from Bob and he took some big swings
and he missed on a few of those, but he
also hit on a couple of those. But I knew

(25:53):
every day Dick Williams was trying his ass off to
build a winner because he knows how much the Reds
mean to this city. He's been around it for his
whole life, and he was given that opportunity, and he
was going to try like hell to build a winner.
And I don't know what happened at the end with
Dick and Bob and whatnot, but the way that that ended,

(26:18):
they have changed considerably since then. And obviously COVID happened.
But COVID's not an excuse anymore. And quite frankly, it
wasn't as big of an excuse as it was made
out to be. And now we are all the way
into the Nick Krawl era. Oh yeah, you can't blame
Dick Williams anymore. You can't blame David Bell anymore. You

(26:38):
can't blame anyone else except for the people at the top,
the president of Baseball Operations, the general manager and so on.
And I've said it many times, Bob Castellini, Phil Castellini,
those guys aren't going to change. They're not going anywhere.

(27:01):
The organizational philosophy, I have no reasona believe will change.
And so because of that, I don't know that there's
anybody that would want the job first and foremost. And
I don't know that Nick Crawl is the guy that
can overcome the obstacles that are placed in front of
him by the Cassolini family. It's just that's where we're

(27:25):
at right now. Is I know that they want to win.
I know that they care. I have no doubt in
my mind, but at what cost. I have no doubt
in my mind that Bob Castelini and so on desperately,
desperately want to win, but they don't want to win
bad enough to make it their only priority. And because

(27:47):
of that we're here.

Speaker 6 (27:50):
There are thirty teams in Major League Baseball. Nineteen of
those teams as we sit here today, have winning records. Colorado, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Milwaukee,
the Marlins, the Nationals, the Braves, the Angels, the White Sox,
the Orioles, and the Rays have losing records. And Atlanta

(28:15):
started the season, got awful, and they're now back to
one game under five hundred. They'll be over five hundred soon,
Milwaukee will be over five hundred. Tampa Baltimore. You can
argue we are going to get back at some point
over five hundred, but it's not impossible. The Detroit Tigers
are twenty nine and fifteen. The Detroit Tigers are twenty
nine and fifteen, The Twins are twenty three and twenty.
The Guardians, the Royals, the Athletics have a winning record.

(28:38):
The Saint Louis Cardinals Austin, who we all put off
for dead, are better at pitching. They have put together
an elite hitting team when no one thought they could.
The NL West has four teams over five hundred, all
teams that can compete. My thing is, it's not just
in baseball right now. The rich that are succeeding right

(29:00):
Dodgers and all the money they can spend, and the
Mets and the Yankees. Well, what do you make of
the Tigers, the Guardians, the Royals, the Twins, the Mariners,
the Athletics. How are these teams winning? How are the
Cardinals and the Brewers and the Cubs consistently better than
the Cincinnati Bengals. It all points back to one spot,

(29:22):
and the frustration continues to grow, and it leads to
the boiling point that is today. I mean we celebrated
five to one three day on Tuesday. Yesterday was Pete
Rose Day. What is today? Feels like the end of
the red season And you could say that that's an overreaction.
What else have you seen in forty four games that
would tell you otherwise that they can consistently win at

(29:45):
a high level. Because I'm not finding it, Let's take
a break, let's come back. They meaning the Reds get
underway here in just a couple minutes. So when we
get back, we'll set the lineup for Game three against
the Chicago White Sox as the Reds look to avoid
a sweet We'll talk a little bit more about Pete
Rose Knight, and before the hour ends, we'll get your
phone calls as well. Five one, three, seven, four, nine,

(30:07):
fifteen thirty. This is Cincy three to sixty thanks to
Skyline Chili. Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty.
Can Angel Ridge save this for the Reds? You tell
us with a talk back today sincey three to sixty
ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station, thanks to Skyline Chili.

(30:30):
Uh the Cincinnati Reds Austin just about UH to go
to first pitch today at Great American Ballpark, looking to
avoid a sweep, Looking to not fall for the tenth
time in their last twelve games. Nick Martinez is on
the mound against Bryce Wilson. How will the Reds line
it up?

Speaker 3 (30:48):
Before I tell you, Tony, I just want to invite
everybody out a week from tomorrow for the big Birthday
bash oh at Great American Ballpark. Last pitch, Uh, it's
probably going to be the last pitch. I don't know
if I'm going to do this again next year. We're
saying goodbye to my twenties as I turned thirty, and
I'm gonna do one last birthday bash up at the

(31:11):
bow Tie Bar. We've had so much fun the last
couple of years doing this. I invite everybody to join.
I hope you'll be there. You've hinted that maybe you will. Yes,
I've given you a bit of a heads up. Everybody's
invited bow Tie Bar next Friday night. It will probably
be not only the end of my twenties, but also
the end of the Red season, and you have a

(31:32):
chance to see history. There's a pretty good chance they'll
get no hit that night by the Chicago cub.

Speaker 6 (31:37):
If you've not done this yet you don't need to
go buy the most expensive ticket. You can buy the
cheapest ticket and you can get into the bow tie
bar for free.

Speaker 3 (31:44):
Hell, by that point they might just start letting people in,
So who knows. All Right, here we go, game's about
to start. Lux leads off. He's the DH. Espinal bats second.
He's the third basement. He's two for his last twenty six.
Ellie de la Cruz bats third, he plays short. Austin
Hayes is and left. He's the cleanup pitter. Spencer Steer,
who actually looks decent lately, bat's fifth. He plays first.
Will Benson is the sixth batter and center fielder. Tyler

(32:07):
Stevenson bats seventh and catches. Matt McClain as the eighth
batter and second baseman, and Connor Joe is batting ninth
and playing right field with Martinez on the mound. Once more,
it's Lux, Espinal, De la Cruz, Hayes, Steer, Benson, Stevenson,
McLain Joe with Martinez on the mound. Game forty five
of one sixty two.

Speaker 6 (32:28):
We will give a injury update at the end of
our two. But Charlie Goldsmith did say today from Terry
Francona that he was speaking of TJ.

Speaker 3 (32:38):
Friedel.

Speaker 6 (32:38):
Frieda was available to pinch runner going on defense, which
is the same thing today. Gonna grab a boat again sea,
how it feels hopefully targeting tomorrow for TJ. Friedel and
Jamer Candelario. Yes that Jamer Candelario was throwing before the
game today, so who knows how that can pan out.
We got time for a phone call here as first
pitch gets ready to get underway, Brian is calling in.

Speaker 3 (33:01):
What's up?

Speaker 4 (33:01):
Brian?

Speaker 11 (33:03):
Good? Uh? Tonny. I would just like to say, where
can we go from here? I guess today would be
like a start of a winning streak for the Reds.

Speaker 3 (33:13):
Great.

Speaker 11 (33:16):
And then also I just want to I get a
little anxiety, so I'm got some of the rip times,
so I just want to say it about the rest
disappointing start. I guess they didn't make enough moves in
or any offseason I could. I mean, they didn't do
they have any pieces? Did enough pieces right now? Maybe
making moves like since Spencer Steer trade Spencer Steer or

(33:37):
a Frailey or somebody maybe or Espinol or something for power.

Speaker 6 (33:44):
That Yeah, it it it certainly is. It's frustrating, But
I guess what I come back to. For me if
if the Reds failed to do that in the off season,
when everyone was tied and at the same spot, what
would make you think that they would do that when
they're already struggling and falling deeper out of the race.

(34:07):
I would love for them to do something like that.
I just haven't seen them do enough of that in
the past.

Speaker 11 (34:14):
Well, it would be in charge of it, making those
mess with the chan call, right.

Speaker 6 (34:19):
Yeah, I would think I would hope. I don't know
how much freedom he has given from upstairs, but yeah,
it I don't know that answer, but I'm with you it.

Speaker 11 (34:33):
What happened to made going after that player Brooker Prett Rooker?
I thought he really good.

Speaker 3 (34:38):
Power that he's signed an extension with Oakland having a
pretty good season, and the A's are actually competitive, so yeah,
they probably are not looking to trade him anymore.

Speaker 6 (34:46):
He's got ten home runs, does Roker already while batting
two fifty three with twenty two RBIs, So he's got
He's got seven doubles, a triple, ten home runs and
in the athletics are twenty two and twenty one, right,
now and they don't even have a city in front
of their name, and yet they figured out how to

(35:07):
be a winning team right now.

Speaker 11 (35:09):
See that's why this is disappointing about this Red stun. Yeah, okay,
thank you.

Speaker 3 (35:15):
Yep, absolutely, thank you, Brian. Yeah, I just.

Speaker 6 (35:19):
At this point, Austin, I don't have any faith that
they would be aggressive and.

Speaker 3 (35:23):
Want to go do something. No, why should you.

Speaker 6 (35:26):
What did they do this offseason that would would lead
you to believe that that they would be willing to
do something more.

Speaker 3 (35:32):
It's just at this point, it's just not in their nature.
I remember saying it back in January and February that
this team has made it pretty clear to you that
they are going to blame last year on injuries in
David Bell and try to run it back with the
same group. They've made that abundantly clear. Their offseason explained it.

(35:55):
They got some nice little pieces to add on to it,
for sure, but for the most part, same group. And
they're blaming it on Bell and they're blaming it on injuries. Well,
they're hurt again, the manager is better and they still suck,
And that to me is indicative more than anything. On
Nick Krawl, I also think you know, I'm at the
point now where I want heads to roll. I'm done

(36:19):
with Colin Cowgill, I'm done with Freddi Binavite's, I'm done
with the Jr. House. These guys that have been here
for the last five six years that clearly there's still
issues on the base pass and there's still issues with
Baseball IQ and the infielding and stuff like that. Guys
that are in charge of that stuff move on from it.

(36:39):
Chris Fialaka. Sure, eight five hitting coaches in eight years
or whatever. If they all suck, there's no development. At
some point, you've got to make it seem like what's
happening is unacceptable, So fix it. Yeah, And if it
means Terry Francona's lowing in his mind, like what's his
face from angels in the outfield, well then do that

(37:01):
because that's how a lot of Reds fans feel internally.
The last thing you want is for them to be
apathetic towards you. Yep, and that's what the Reds are
flirting with right now.

Speaker 6 (37:13):
The Reds are underway. We'll finish up hour one when
we get back, and then we will switch gears. We'll
start going down the path of the Bengals, the schedule, release,
the latest on Trey Hendrickson. We'll get that from John Sheeran,
who joins us at one o'clock. This is Sincy three
sixty on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (37:29):
Thanks to Skyline Chile.

Speaker 1 (37:31):
Ucky Cincinnati.

Speaker 12 (37:33):
Make us the number one pre set on your car
radio and on the free new it improved iHeartRadio app
Free never sounded so good.

Speaker 6 (37:39):
ESPN fifteen thirty Tony Pike Here for my friends at
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Speaker 3 (38:35):
From the Wyoming Air Tempstar Weather Center, here's your forecast.
We have a boomer alert. Boomer alert. Oh ah, welcome back,
Karen Notification ESPN fifteenth over the break about seventeen seconds ago.
Right before we come back. Yes, Tony presses a little

(38:56):
talkback thing to speak into my ear, which he normally
does when you want to cough or sneeze, and he says,
I'm about done with these stupid sliding mits. You sound old. No,
I hate him. You sound old. For centuries we've been
able to slide into the basis, and for centuries we've
been breaking fingers and dance trying to do so. No,

(39:18):
they don't. Uh huh. They're bigger, faster, and stronger now
than they've ever been before, and the bases are bigger,
so there's a smaller distance now. Who cares.

Speaker 6 (39:28):
If it were me, I like, what's the what's the limit?
Because if for me, I would have like a ten
inch glove that I throw on just to get to
the base quicker? Is there a limit in the length
that these things can be? I mean, Ellie's got two
of them on right now at second base.

Speaker 3 (39:43):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (39:44):
By the way, both hands reds look like they're all
the way back. They loaded them up with no outs
in the first. They've got one across on an Austin
Hayes sack fly now with two outs second and third.

Speaker 3 (39:55):
Uh, surely they'll they'll get.

Speaker 6 (39:56):
More than just a run out of a base's loaded
no outs and it's probably not standing.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
Did you just see this news kind of over the
break that apparently Caleb Williams last year was exploring ways
to get around going number one overall to the Chicago Bears. Oh,
and there's a story. It's written. I believe it's on

(40:20):
ESPN at one point. It's a new book actually about
Caleb Williams, It says. The book also sheds light on
William's tumultuous rookie season, in which Matt Eberflus and Shane
Waldron were fired and the Bears lost ten straight games.
At times, Caleb Williams said he would watch film alone
with no instruction or guidance from the coaches. Oh, no

(40:44):
one tells me what to watch, Caleb told his dad,
I just turn it on. That's what you want a
bit of a master class. And how not the handle
of first overall pit quarterback by the Chicago Bears.

Speaker 6 (41:00):
Has he landed somewhere yet? Ebra fluis, where's he at?
He's a coordinator somewhere.

Speaker 3 (41:05):
He is the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys.

Speaker 6 (41:09):
I think, yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, wash rinse Repete.
Will Benson just hit a two out RBI single. Thank
God for Will Bentson. Reds are back. Cancel everything we
said about him earlier. Cancel the eulogy. Talkbacks. Reds are
all the way back. We'll be back with our number two.
John Shearon will join us. We'll get his thoughts on
the Trey Hendrickson situation, the schedule and more as it

(41:31):
relates to the Cincinnati Bengals next on ESPN fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (41:36):
Thanks to our friends at Skyline Chile.

Speaker 12 (41:38):
Ky Cincinnati, make us the number one pre set on
your car radio and on the free, new it improved
iHeartRadio ad free never sounded so good.

Speaker 1 (41:46):
ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 3 (41:48):
Hey, it's Mulager having a party.

Speaker 2 (41:50):
Sincey three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in part
by Cincy Shirts. Cincy Shirts, All Cincy, all Day. This
is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (42:07):
Welcome back.

Speaker 6 (42:08):
It's our number two Sincy three to sixty thanks to
Cincy Shartz, thank you for listening right here on ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station eight is the sports covering
the Cincinnati Bengals. Is our good friend John Sharon, who
joins us kicking off our number two Right now, John,
what's going on, Tony?

Speaker 4 (42:27):
Feeling really good, suns out, feels like summer.

Speaker 7 (42:29):
Nothing bad to say at all about the Bengals right now,
No bad news at all with them.

Speaker 4 (42:33):
Yeah, feeling good?

Speaker 1 (42:33):
Right.

Speaker 6 (42:34):
You know, it's really what you want, John, to be
able to go into schedule release week without any extra baggage.

Speaker 3 (42:41):
Right.

Speaker 6 (42:41):
We know what the draft was, we know what free
agency was. It's got to be a breadth of fresh
air in covering the Bengals to just be able to
fully enjoy a schedule release week.

Speaker 7 (42:52):
Oh, for sure, man, I mean no dilemmas at all.
Everyone's reporting to practice, No one's making a scene of practice.

Speaker 4 (42:57):
I mean, yeah, let's let's get into it right now.

Speaker 6 (42:59):
You know, there was I guess a little hiccup, and
I don't think it's more than that, but just a
little hiccup that was caused earlier in the week when
Trey Hendrickson took to ESPN and released the statement via
Adam Schefter and then showed up and essentially held his
own media segment for twenty five minutes while practice was
going on in the background. While he was dressed in

(43:21):
nothing that had team apparel or a team logo on it,
he looked like he was getting ready to go play
eighteen holes. I know it's been talked about a lot,
but from your angle, what do you make of this
standoff between the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson.

Speaker 7 (43:36):
It's a desperate man fighting a battle he probably knows
he can't win.

Speaker 4 (43:40):
And when you are more or.

Speaker 7 (43:42):
Less out of options, it's not obviously going completely over
the deep end. What Carlos Dunlap did a handful of
years ago when he leaked a depth chart right before
a game, and he obviously had a nat burst on
the sideline and he was his home on the Zilla
whatever like, so it's not quite there. I think there's
still respect that he has about the whole process and everything,
but he clearly feels like everything that he's done over

(44:05):
not just this offseason, but the last three years of
trying to play the Bengals game and trying to communicate
their way, he obviously feels like nothing is working. And
this is a known entity and the Bengals who handle
business a certain way, and when you air out their
dirty laundry like he did for almost thirty minutes, i'llbeit
again like I don't think anything that he said they

(44:26):
can't come back from this. But he clearly made that
statement and made that stance to say, like, I've pretty
much had it up to here with the lack of
communication here, and I just don't think I'm trying to
find like an original take here. But I think I
agree with most people on the subject is that this
route that he's taking, while it's new and it's clearly desperate,
I just don't think it's going to accomplish what he

(44:48):
wants to accomplish. And he knows that he just doesn't
have the leverage here, and I really think that at
fault here is the direction that he's taking whatever advice
that he has been given, or maybe this is on
his own. I just don't think it's the way that
you go about this when dealing with this specific team,
because when you're dealing with the Bengals, it's you who
have to change, never then, because they will never change.

Speaker 6 (45:08):
How much on it though? Do you see the timing?
Obviously it's calculated from Trey Hendrickson. And if you're looking
at this defense, here's a new defensive coordinator, here's a
new defensive line coach, Shamar Stewart. Maybe a little bit
of a project. I don't know how good you feel
if he's your starter week one. Is their leverage for

(45:31):
the Trey Hendrickson side? To pick now and say, well,
you know, I led the NFL in sacks last year.
We were a terrible defense. I don't even want to
know what this defense looks like without Trey Hendrickson. Is
their leverage on Trey Hendrickson's side in your opinion at all?

Speaker 7 (45:48):
This should be considering that he is by far the
best and most proven player on this defense, the only
one that you would feel comfortable transitioning from the defense
that was clearly you know, out of style for lack
of a better term last year. You just know, like,
he's just a phenomenal pass rusher, right, and that's going
to translate regardless of the scheme and the coaching that
is in store for him. And obviously considering the fact

(46:08):
that they didn't really add a lot of proven pass
rushers at all throughout the offseason, you know, aside from
drafting from Oar Stewart, who, like you said, has a
lot to prove in terms of that reguard, he is
extremely valuable for what they're trying to do. I think
in terms of leverage, there was definitely a time where
the Bengals stopped that they weren't going to have Tree Henderson,
where they obviously were considering trading him away and we're

(46:30):
going to just adjust course based off of that. But
obviously that didn't happen and they didn't do enough now
where if they were to trade him away, they would
feel comfortable about their pass rush. So leverage is just
a weird thing for me in terms of that, considering
that they were at least considering that path, and maybe
they did structure things at least schematically now.

Speaker 4 (46:47):
Where they could survive like playing without him.

Speaker 7 (46:49):
But survive is a very you know, it's it's a
generous word in that regard, considering that they would still
be down their best player, and you just don't know
how this defense is going to look without him. So
obviously he thinks that it's important for him to be
there in no tas in mini camp. But the Bengals
have dealt with these things in the past, and I
don't think they're concerned one iota about him missing all
these voluntary workouts and then mandatory workouts.

Speaker 3 (47:11):
Next week, John Joe Burrow meets with the media, he
will certainly be asked about Trey Hendrickson. We know the
weight that his word carries. How should he handle those
Hendrickson questions? And how do you think he will handle them?

Speaker 7 (47:26):
I think that he's going to take the same stance
that he's taken throughout this office, and I think he
wants to support his teammates and support them getting paid
a fair value.

Speaker 4 (47:35):
I think that he's going.

Speaker 7 (47:36):
To take a very similar respective stance and said, hey,
like I respect his decision to do this, I respect
his plight in order to get paid, and I banged
the table obviously for him to get paid. But I
think it's going to be more or less like he
needs to do what he needs to do and we're
going to handle our business that he needs to. I
think that aligns with what he honestly should do. I
think that it would be kind of out of character

(47:58):
of Burrow to really just take a team first side
here and kind of put you know, his all pro
teaming out into the dust like that. I think he's
remained consistent, and that's something that's obviously extremely valuable about him.
He stands firm and what he believes, and when he
speaks out, you know, he means what he says. So
I expect him to kind of kind of take the
similar stance and take a similar allegiance I guess relative

(48:18):
to what he's done the entire hosity.

Speaker 4 (48:19):
He included Trey Henderson in.

Speaker 7 (48:21):
His comments about getting getting pay his players paid, like
Mark Chasen te against for a reason, and he still
falls into that category.

Speaker 4 (48:27):
I don't expect that's to change.

Speaker 3 (48:29):
John.

Speaker 6 (48:29):
Lastly, on the Trey Hendrickson side, before we move on
to this schedule, do you believe that he is actually
willing to miss games or to sit out under the
current deal, because that, to me is the ultimate game
of chicken you're playing if you're the Bengals. If you
if you think that's just smoking mirriage and you call
him out on it, great, But if you do call

(48:50):
him out on it, and then he doesn't play, and
he doesn't get that new system in the install in
our golden scheme and everything, then you're so far behind.
It's a distraction. It leads to maybe another slow start.
Do you believe that Trey Hendrickson is is genuinely, genuinely
committed to missing games if need be.

Speaker 7 (49:10):
I believe that he means it right now. I believe
that when September comes around and that's the only way
that he gets paid, I believe that things will probably
change at that point. I think if this was a
situation where the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him
in a very disingenuous way, where it's not like a
placeholder's designing sensution, where this is the franchise tag to
just have him under roster control, I feel like that

(49:31):
would be a situation where he's like, I'm not reporting
at all. You can you can show that franchise tag up,
you know where, Like, I think that situation would be
a little bit different if he wasn't under contract, it
wasn't just like a franchise tender. So I think considering
the fact that he is still under contract and he
does like he wants to get paid right now obviously
because he knows this is this is his best time
to get paid. And I think in his mind, he'll

(49:52):
realize that I need to just do this one last
time to make sure that my value is locked in
so when I do hit freech see next year, I'm
going to recuperate any value that I potentially lost by
not getting paid this offseason. So I'm not sure it's
going to come to that. I think there's still a
good chance that this does work out, obviously when deadlines,
you know, come to come to head here in you know,
in September, whatever the case may be. But I'm going

(50:14):
to call his bluff right now and say he is
going to play it at some point the season.

Speaker 6 (50:17):
It's so unique the NFL and what they've made of
the schedule release because you know going into the release
that you know who they're playing, you know what teams
are coming here, you know what road trips you're making obviously,
win and where, and what part of the season is
is what unfolds last night as you got the schedule.
As you've now looked over the Bengal schedule, what are

(50:39):
some of the biggest things that stand out in your opinion?

Speaker 7 (50:42):
It obviously helps having more home games than road games,
and I feel like the way that it was formatted,
there's a dec number of stretches where they are at
pay Court Stadium, you know, a decent amount of times
and consecutively. Obviously, there's that month long stretch in October
where they don't really have to leave the stadium at all,
and starting now on the road in Cleveland, it basically
leaves you nine home games to seven road games for
the rest of the season. There's only one real stretch

(51:04):
obviously in the later part of the season where things
obviously get really tough. You know, you played the Ravens twice,
and you play those kind of sandwich in between those
two games. But these Bengals are to be, you know,
as good as we hope they are to be. Like,
there's no stretch here where I think there's consecutive losses
necessarily kind of stacking.

Speaker 4 (51:22):
Up, but obviously that's not how it goes, right.

Speaker 7 (51:23):
The unexpected losses happen every single year with every single team,
especially with these Bengals. So there's nothing on the schedule
that looks to be two daunting. I think there are
some obviously playoff teams from last year that they face
and consecutive weeks from Week three to seven, But I
think obviously you look at what those teams are now,
they're not the same teams as they were last year.
There's potential growth for the Bengals. So this is a

(51:44):
relatively favorable schedule, I would say, compared to other teams,
especially those who are looking to contend. If you're looking
at win totals projected for this year, the Bengals have,
like the six teams like basically the most dead average
strength of schedule possible, and considering that they have a
lot of games at home, I think it's pretty favorable.

Speaker 6 (52:00):
Obviously, schedule wise, they travel the least amount of any
team in the NFL. The primetime games I'm always fascinated by.
Is it surprising to only see one home primetime game
I know on the schedule, at least from a Bengal standpoint,
there aren't as many marquee home games. But I look
at a team like Detroit, I look at a team

(52:22):
like the Bears. Obviously anyone in the AFC North, they
get one. It's a Thursday night. Were you surprised at
the lack of overall home primetime games.

Speaker 7 (52:32):
It's not much of a surprise anymore, because this is
just kind of what happens. And I don't know why
the Bengals are such a prime target for the NFL
that have prime thing games on the road when they
rate really highly in these settings, and they have obviously
great turnouts and crowds and support at home for these settings,
so it's not surprising considering this is just kind of
business as usual. It's disappointing, I think more than anything,

(52:53):
especially because you know, the fans and the team itself
made a case about this. You know, coming off of
last season, they had five road primetime games last year.

Speaker 4 (53:02):
Obviously two of them or flex later in the season.

Speaker 7 (53:04):
But I think that's potentially a saving grace here, considering
that they have three of their final four games or
at home, and if the Bengals are in the playoff race,
you know those are potential opportunities for those games to
be flexed into night slots, considering or potentially if you know,
the games that are already slated right now, you know,
don't end up being as Marquiez. Maybe they think they are,

(53:25):
and that could also happen.

Speaker 4 (53:26):
You know, when the Bengals.

Speaker 7 (53:26):
Played at the Dolphins on Sunday and the Football Week sixteen,
maybe the Dolphins aren't in the playoff race and they
flexed that game out. So I think there's still potential
for at least one more home primetime game, and two
should be the absolute bare minimum for this Bengals.

Speaker 4 (53:37):
Team where there's such an allure with Burrow.

Speaker 7 (53:39):
Chase and Higgins, and obviously if fan basically starved for
these opportunities, considering the fact that they're competitive in these
games too. Really, like you, seven years ago, eight years ago,
every fan would have wanted it just a one pm
slate for seventeen to sixteen weeks, right, But now that's
not the case.

Speaker 4 (53:53):
And for whatever reason, you know.

Speaker 7 (53:54):
The NFL and the schedule makers, I guess, so they
want to see the Bengals go back to the playoffs
and do something in the playoffs before they give them
more the opportunities, right, rather than just a random Thursday
nine in October.

Speaker 3 (54:02):
Do you have a favorite game on the schedule, one
that you circled right away that you can't wait for.

Speaker 7 (54:09):
It's got to be the Bills, right, I mean every
year they played the Chiefs, and that that's always been,
you know, a game that CBS protects and you know,
Mahomes and Burrough is obviously a great matchup. But now
it's gonna be the Bills. I think it's going to
take that place consideringly. They don't play the Chiefs this year,
but in the middle of December, right when you know
the Bengals are typically locking in and maybe they get past.

Speaker 4 (54:27):
Their early season struggles.

Speaker 7 (54:28):
But that game, if they are going to be in
the playoffs, going to have a huge playoff implications, especially
Sandwich between two games that the Bengals would probably have
to win one of those Ravens games, right, So it's
not just in the middle of the schedule where you're
only focused on that, right. I think it's going to
be a really good test to see how the Bengals
can compartmentalize playing two games against the Ravens Sandwich with
the Bills game in the middle of them.

Speaker 4 (54:47):
I think that Bills game is going to mean a lot.

Speaker 6 (54:50):
Do you look at any of the teams on the
schedule and when the schedule came out last year, you
look at the Washington Commanders, You're like, all right, rookie quarterback,
you get them early in the season. You feel good
about that. Are there any maybe surprises that you see
on this schedule. I think it's an interesting year for
Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. What JJ McCarthy is
gonna be with the Vikings. Obviously Drake may in that

(55:10):
year two jump the Bears are intriguing. But do you
look at a team that maybe not getting the hype
right now that you could see causing some damage as
the season gets going.

Speaker 7 (55:20):
I think Week four for the Broncos is interesting. I
think they definitely remember what happened Week seventeen and the
fact that defense had been suffocating most of other teams
aside from the Bengals. But now the Broncos get the
Bengals at home and the Monday night setting at Mile
High Stadium, that's gonna be a ruckus crowd, and I
think it's gonna be a tougher game maybe than some
Bengals fans would be willing to make considering the fact
that the Bengals did beat the Broncos last year and

(55:42):
at home. I look at Week nine against the Bears like,
that's gonna be well into the season. Ben Johnson's gonna
have his scheme, you know, pretty much locked in with
his players. You know, we're gonna see how kayleb Billons progresses.
But right now, you know, personnel wise, the Bears have
revamped that offensive line. Their interior of the offensive line
looks like a giant mismatch against the Bengals interior defensive line.
I think that's a game where the Bengals are going.

Speaker 4 (56:01):
To need to tighten up.

Speaker 7 (56:02):
Even if the Bears weren't as good last year, they're
set up for success this year, and by the middle
of the season that offense could be rolling.

Speaker 4 (56:07):
It could be a problem for the Bengals.

Speaker 6 (56:09):
John One thing that we haven't talked about because of
everything going on with Trey Hendrickson and the draft and
free agency is the linebacker position with Jermaine Pratt. What
do you think is next with Jermaine Pratt. He obviously
does not want to be here. He's asked for a trade.
I don't know what those suitors look like. What do
you think ultimately happens with Jermaine Pratt? And when do
you think that ultimately happens.

Speaker 7 (56:32):
It's good that this is not that much of a
distraction because I feel like everyone knows the writings on
the wall for him to be gone, But it's just
a matter of when. I kind of expected that cut
to be made last week when they brought in the
thirteen undrafted free agents, but they ended up cutting the
cornerback in Micah Abram to fit in all those undrafted
free agents, so they're keeping Pratt. I would assume just
to see if anyone wants to give up a future

(56:53):
late round pick. At this point, you would have thought
that that trade would have had to happen during the
NFL Draft, when the draft was going.

Speaker 4 (56:59):
On, you actually would be able to use those picks.
I don't know if anyone wants to.

Speaker 7 (57:02):
Give up a future draft pick for someone that everyone
knows is clearly out the door, right He's not reporting
to many, he's not reporting into the voluntary workouts, he's
not gonna report to camp.

Speaker 4 (57:11):
He knows this future is not here.

Speaker 7 (57:12):
I don't know why you're holding on to him outside
of the very small hope that you get some type
of compensation for him, or it's just a player that
another team is going to cut and they just want
to give like a Beja Hill for a Billy Price
type situation. But it just seems like they're wasting his time,
to be honest with you, like everyone knows that he's
not going to be here. It's it's really good that
it's not as big of a distraction as it could be,

(57:33):
because I mean, I just don't know why they're keeping him.

Speaker 6 (57:36):
Lastly, But before we let you go, do you envision
any other roster additions between now and training camp? Because
camp's always an interesting time, right because there's there's injuries,
there are guys that maybe are surprises.

Speaker 3 (57:50):
That get cut or they're waived.

Speaker 6 (57:53):
Do you think there's any movement between now and that
training camp beginning or do you wait till after that.

Speaker 4 (58:00):
I'm interested to see how long VJ.

Speaker 7 (58:02):
Hill's injury lasts, Zach Taylor said, if probably not going
to take more than a few weeks, so maybe we
see him mandatory mini camp, but if he's not able
to practice at all, I do wonder if you know,
between June and July we seen the defensive tackle just
for the sake of depth. That was the most surprising
thing to me throughout this offseason how Duke Tobin was
talking about how they recognized that they just didn't have
anywhere near the depth that they needed at that position,

(58:24):
and they added t J.

Speaker 4 (58:25):
Slaton.

Speaker 7 (58:25):
That's great and all, but if you didn't add anyone
in the draft, you signed a couple of undrafted free agents,
you need more proven answers there.

Speaker 4 (58:31):
If you are to deal with injuries, that that's spot.
They're already dealing with an injury right now to arguably
the best player at the position.

Speaker 7 (58:37):
So that's a position that I think is in the
cards for another pickup. And then safety, Like it's no
secret that Geno Stone wasn't good enough and that's why
he took a pay cut last year. But I question
if that pay cut was made to potentially sign someone
to you know, rotate in a little bit more, give
them some more veteran depth, at least give him some
answer on special teams.

Speaker 4 (58:56):
Because you know they don't have a lot.

Speaker 7 (58:57):
They lost a lot of special teams snaps last year
with some of these free agent said they lost in
that position, where again there's not a lot of proven
depth there, so safetyr defensive tackles feels like the two
positions where you could see at least maybe one veteran.

Speaker 6 (59:08):
John, this was awesome, man, Always always appreciative of your time.
What's the easiest way to follow along with everything you
got with the Cincinnati Bengals going to the next stage
of a very important offseason.

Speaker 7 (59:19):
Yeah, I appreciate it as always, guys, ADZ Sports dot Com,
back Slash Cincinnati and on YouTube at eighties Sports Cincinnati
covering the Bengals.

Speaker 3 (59:25):
John, thanks so much, man. We'll talk again soon and
have a great one.

Speaker 4 (59:27):
Thanks John, Thanks Tony, you think awesome.

Speaker 6 (59:29):
Yeah, sir, John, Sharon has us rolling along here our
number two on a Thursday afternoon. Your talkbacks next on
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (59:40):
Thanks to our friends at Cincy shirts.

Speaker 2 (59:42):
Now good miss an episode of Cincy three to sixty
here every show at ESPN fifteen thirty dot com.

Speaker 13 (59:50):
All right, bough love me, hear you good loud oh
wld ha too oh for Let's listen to some talk
backs left, listen to the clouds. Get me a budant

(01:00:12):
s Bracker jokes. We hope those other two divert come
back of the room.

Speaker 3 (01:00:21):
Fo totally all.

Speaker 13 (01:00:25):
Ohing comes close to the show. We got hack right,
Hello the stars over talk back show.

Speaker 3 (01:00:40):
Rads well, rads.

Speaker 6 (01:00:41):
Well, you're darn right here we are Reds are winning
for nothing off the Ellie Daily Cruz solo home run.
Uh so actual runs being put on the board at
Great American Ballpark.

Speaker 3 (01:00:52):
That is a sight to see.

Speaker 6 (01:00:54):
But for now, thanks to Cincy Shirts, our friends at
Cinty Shirts who not only help with our number too,
they also take care of you. The talkbacker best talkback
of the week, as we vote on tomorrow is going
to win a Cincy.

Speaker 3 (01:01:06):
Shirts gift card. Here are today's talkbacks.

Speaker 9 (01:01:15):
King Corleone here from the land.

Speaker 4 (01:01:17):
Of the Godfathers.

Speaker 14 (01:01:18):
It has come to my attention that this new Pope
is a White Sox fan, and ever since he became
conscious of Rome, his boys have been feeding up on
my ridge. I'm going to go and have a discussion
with this Pope and Ni Kim Madial.

Speaker 4 (01:01:34):
He can't refuse.

Speaker 6 (01:01:38):
That that might be the best work Ken has ever
turned in.

Speaker 3 (01:01:42):
That is this absolutely marvelous.

Speaker 6 (01:01:44):
He is out of the country, he's on vacation. He's
using sounds and taught and and was it the Godfather
theme in the background over there? And also tying in
the new pope with the current team, the reservacing current.

Speaker 3 (01:01:58):
Events, pop culture, geographic hots off to you. Let's go
Ken Happy Thursday.

Speaker 4 (01:02:06):
Everybody begles head release.

Speaker 3 (01:02:07):
What do I think they'll do?

Speaker 15 (01:02:09):
I think they'll go eleven to six, four, ten and
seven is seiling A twelve and five, But I reserve
the rights to change my opinion later on Trey Henderson
press conference at you guys, Eric yesterday?

Speaker 4 (01:02:21):
What did I get out at? Really much and nothing?

Speaker 3 (01:02:23):
Elder Dad?

Speaker 9 (01:02:33):
Pay me?

Speaker 3 (01:02:37):
I mean two absolute bangers still on fire to let's go.

Speaker 1 (01:02:42):
Baby Bennet Freeman here and listen.

Speaker 16 (01:02:45):
With the Bengal schedule coming out last night, I see
maybe thirteen wiis on them schedule, and I think the
X factor on the office is going to be Jemaine.

Speaker 3 (01:02:55):
Burton, the demon. He's out there running with his hair
on five and he's got better cuss than the neighborhood baba.
Do and listen to this.

Speaker 8 (01:03:05):
I mean, you're gonna lose a lot of money chasing
them crazy women, but you ain't gonna lose no women
chasing the money man.

Speaker 6 (01:03:13):
If if you are a fan of Righteous Gemstones, that
is spot on to my guy, baby Billy Freeman played
by Walton Goggins.

Speaker 3 (01:03:23):
Like, is that actually a good impression? Yes? Okay, that's
really good.

Speaker 5 (01:03:29):
Good morning guys, Ye, New Richmond. Happy Thursday too, Yes,
the new phone.

Speaker 9 (01:03:34):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (01:03:35):
The Bengals schedule release last night was definitely interesting. Four
primetime games, which is great. I love the fact that
we're playing on Thanksgiving night. That'll be a lot of fun.
I have them with a record of twelve and five,
so we'll see what happens. But hope you guys have

(01:03:56):
a great day.

Speaker 3 (01:03:57):
Who day man, Thank you sounds cool.

Speaker 17 (01:04:02):
Hello.

Speaker 18 (01:04:02):
This is former President Ronald Reagan. And well, last night
I went to a lousy Reds game, and all I
got was this awesome Pete Rose jersey. Oh and that
touching pregame ceremony only made me realize just how much
I miss winning baseball here in Cincinnati. As for the
game itself, well, the Reds put.

Speaker 3 (01:04:24):
The un in fundamentals. Yeah, I saw it. He posted
a picture last night of that jersey. Man, I thought
the jersey you never kind of know what those giveaways
are going to be. But all the pictures I saw
and they looked like high quality, pretty good jerseys.

Speaker 19 (01:04:43):
Hi, guys, you know we keep having hope for this team,
and the bottom line is they are who they are.
And my old principal used to say, you can't make
a silk purse.

Speaker 20 (01:04:58):
Out of cotton.

Speaker 1 (01:05:00):
Not a good team.

Speaker 19 (01:05:02):
They don't have talent, and I think we just have
admit to it.

Speaker 1 (01:05:06):
So no more hope for me.

Speaker 19 (01:05:09):
I hate to say it because I'm a true Red.

Speaker 3 (01:05:11):
Stand I'm a Reds fan. That's what I am. Reds fan.
You know they always play that when we lose, and
then it's just like a cruel way of reminding you
as you're walking out of the ballpark, this is what
you saw that fan.

Speaker 21 (01:05:28):
It's God, Happy Thursday, everybody. It's not so happy for
the Reds. I think you can say that this party's over.
The fat Lady has sung, they're toast, they're cooked, they're out,
and what other adjective you can fill in the blank with.

Speaker 3 (01:05:50):
Football season, let's go, let's go. I'm all in words. Man,
just wanted your opinion real quick.

Speaker 22 (01:05:58):
Do you think the reason why Hendry is acting the
way he's doing is because he thought Joe Burrow would
stick up for him, because if you noticed in the interview,
he kept saying other people sticking up for other people,
meeting Burrow and Chase sticking up for each other, and
he's not getting the love where Burrow's putting his hands
in the air going I got nothing to do with this.
And also, do you think it's because he thought he
would be a first round pick and nobody wanted him

(01:06:20):
and his feelings are hurt and he's being a baby
about this.

Speaker 3 (01:06:23):
I don't think it's that he said in the in
the interview that his that was a false narrative that
they thought they could get a first round pick. Whether
you believe him or not, isn't it right Burrow has
gone to Trey's defense next week so fascinating. We'll find
out for sure. I just get the hunch. I don't

(01:06:46):
know this for sure, I have no inside information, but
I just get the hunch that the players in the
locker room they don't care either way if Trey Henderson's
a Bengal. Yeah, I don't think they'd look at him
as this guy that they love being around and that
they they know he's good, but he's not like they're

(01:07:07):
not going to miss him if he leaves.

Speaker 6 (01:07:08):
Like, did anyone come up after practice ended in like
give him a big hug, or like yell at the
media like you gotta pay this man. Yeah, no, it
hasn't happened. You've mentioned the the lack of him being
a captain for this team.

Speaker 3 (01:07:22):
I just don't think that they care that much.

Speaker 23 (01:07:24):
Score some runs, my rest, get some hits. Hey, the
Bengals nine and eight or ten and seven. I'm not
convinced they can beat people like the Denver Broncos.

Speaker 3 (01:07:42):
Okay, I know you know, I know you're right now.
You're like going.

Speaker 8 (01:07:48):
Super Bowl.

Speaker 23 (01:07:49):
M let's make the playoffs first.

Speaker 3 (01:07:54):
You know what I don't. I don't disagree with that.
Denver is a tough team. They got a great defense.
I hope Jim comes your birthday bash next next week.

Speaker 4 (01:08:01):
I do too.

Speaker 3 (01:08:01):
I would love to meet Jim.

Speaker 23 (01:08:03):
Yeah, games like Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers.

Speaker 24 (01:08:08):
Kind of worry me a little bit. Slippery slippery slope.
Slippery slippery slope. I'm getting winds, is Jim.

Speaker 25 (01:08:19):
Okay, it's like many of us. I have plenty of
red gear that I will wear on game days to
support them.

Speaker 3 (01:08:28):
Yesterday felt different.

Speaker 25 (01:08:29):
Yesterday felt like a damn casket match. So I wore
my Mitchellan, myth Undertaker Cat. Just felt like it was
do or die. Yeah, we all know how it went.
Here lies the Cincinnati Reds. First in the league, first
in our heart, destined for last in the sexual.

Speaker 9 (01:08:48):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (01:08:50):
Wow, looks like a pretty decent crowd there today. That's
a great eulogy, to be honest, I was a great eulogy.

Speaker 8 (01:08:55):
You know.

Speaker 3 (01:08:55):
When I was at the ballpark on Tuesday, I met
a man who came up from Nantucket. He actually came
down from Indiana. He was up north of Fort Wayne
is where he's from. And he said he got tickets
to all three games to come down to Cincinnati and
watch the Reds and be here for Pete Rose Night.

(01:09:15):
Sorry to hear that. So I hope they win today
for his sake. If nothing else, see you win at
the old Ballpark, the old ball Orchard. But listen, here's
the thing. They win today. I will be convinced that
with the Guardians coming on Rivalry weekend and how much
that's going to mean to Tito, the Reds will be
back and they'll they'll they'll be hundred by Monday and

(01:09:40):
then they'll sweep the pirates. And now we go.

Speaker 4 (01:09:44):
Here.

Speaker 11 (01:09:45):
It is.

Speaker 13 (01:09:54):
Is time for its twenty five Cincinnati Red season too.

Speaker 3 (01:10:02):
Finally, rest in man, that is good. That is fantastic,
very well done. He kind of sounded like the Undertaker,
sounded like the dude from gosh, what's that called? Westwood one?

(01:10:22):
Westwood one Radio Network prediction?

Speaker 25 (01:10:26):
Sorry for as for the prediction, let's call it seventy eighty.

Speaker 3 (01:10:31):
Three for the season. Okay, that'd be a two game
improved and disappointing. That'd be a two game improvement and
crawl and sell us we got better and we just
had injuries again.

Speaker 16 (01:10:42):
Fillus Hank Hill here and Obam, I'm gonna tell you what.
I'm not going to head down to the ball park,
not gonna watch my Reds lose a series two. The
cat dangle hat soicks foulus. The seasons an embarrassment, the
franchise has become. I'm an embarrassment, Alston. I'm about to
take a pink for you to head down there to

(01:11:04):
Green Bay. Glad that it didn't fall on that wedding.

Speaker 4 (01:11:08):
Waken. Let's bring back to w.

Speaker 3 (01:11:11):
Yeah, thank you. If anybody has any connections on how
to get tickets to Packers games, let me know.

Speaker 8 (01:11:16):
Boy.

Speaker 3 (01:11:16):
I'm gonna tell you what. Tell you what.

Speaker 23 (01:11:19):
Taking up two Perkin spots, Dave Keaton takes up two
Perking spots in the men's room.

Speaker 1 (01:11:28):
Repping the natty out here.

Speaker 26 (01:11:30):
Not so sunny hot?

Speaker 3 (01:11:31):
What my red stink.

Speaker 26 (01:11:35):
It's embarrassing to be a Reds fan at the moment,
I had to take off my Red's hat and put
on my Bengals hat. That's how embarrassed I am on
my team right now. Stink elliets smelly. The lineup is
Marshmallows soft wasting all his good pitching. Good job on
the crowd last night, selling it out, but that's believed.

Speaker 3 (01:11:54):
They won't be back for that crap. I'm confused on
this team. Yeah, that was awesome last night. I'll give
you that.

Speaker 27 (01:12:02):
I went down to the stadium a couple of weeks
ago against the Nationals the Ladolo game. Everyone was booing them,
the whole team. I looked at the people next time,
I said, did you really think they're gonna be good?

Speaker 4 (01:12:19):
Come on now, just sit back.

Speaker 27 (01:12:20):
And enjoy a Bowl game. If you don't have these
high expectations, you ain't gonna be disappointed. They're not one
hundred one team playing simple.

Speaker 3 (01:12:30):
Now here's the thing. I did think that they were
going to be better than what they've been. But if
there's one thing I love to do, it's boo. I
love the boo. Yeah, I love the boo. When when
they are not meeting my standard, I will boo the
hell out of you. Please, please, somebody answer the question, Tony,

(01:12:51):
how how are the Cardinals the Cubs, uh, Milwaukee? How
are they better than Cincinnati Bengals? Please answer.

Speaker 4 (01:13:04):
What I think?

Speaker 27 (01:13:06):
The schedule released it my old for Arry Henderson.

Speaker 3 (01:13:11):
I think we can go ahead and be Cleveland.

Speaker 1 (01:13:13):
And Jacksonville without him week three.

Speaker 6 (01:13:17):
We need him, Okay, get him in for week three?

Speaker 28 (01:13:23):
Yeah, I'd say yeah, I'd say the Bengals would win
ten or eleven.

Speaker 1 (01:13:28):
Tell the red sad story.

Speaker 28 (01:13:31):
I thought Frank COONa would make it a more fundamentally
sound team.

Speaker 1 (01:13:36):
A little bit more fired up. But it shure don't
seem like it.

Speaker 22 (01:13:43):
You know, maybe maybe they can try to get back
to five hundred.

Speaker 3 (01:13:48):
All right, back to five hundred here we go.

Speaker 29 (01:13:50):
But last night I got down to the ballpark with
my kid, and we experienced the whole night. And as
we're leaving, my kid turns to me and and just says, hey, Dad,
I don't want to go to a Reds game anymore.
That's what it's gotten to when a nine year old
doesn't even want to go to the park because your
team sucks so bad.

Speaker 3 (01:14:10):
Yeah, it's just like my UC cards.

Speaker 29 (01:14:13):
I'm now officially turning in my Reds card until they
get back into first place.

Speaker 30 (01:14:17):
Whenever that is, man, I.

Speaker 3 (01:14:18):
Wish I could send that to somebody down at the ballpark.
It's tough.

Speaker 31 (01:14:22):
Let's later rest the Cincinnati Red that's twenty five season.
We'll count down the days to Willie's Opening Day speech
next year and offer our condolences to all the rest
fans who invest in time money hopes into another Groundhog
Day Red season.

Speaker 3 (01:14:53):
So good.

Speaker 20 (01:14:55):
Ay, I was just wondering why so many dead people
call the show every day.

Speaker 1 (01:15:00):
It's a little.

Speaker 3 (01:15:00):
Weird because we have a good relationship with those in
the afterlife. Yep, Hey, guys, how's it going? So this
is very simple.

Speaker 17 (01:15:10):
Fans need to put the pressure, just like we did
with the Bengals, on the ownership. That's it until they
make a move. This team will be bunch of empty promises.

Speaker 3 (01:15:27):
Okay, how do fans put pressure on ownership? Please answer
that question?

Speaker 17 (01:15:31):
Hey, guys, got a double dip? What are your thoughts
on the NFL once again giving the Bengals a primetime
away game in the division. That makes six now since
twenty twenty one, and yet Baltimore has had five home games.

Speaker 3 (01:15:57):
Stick around now our number three.

Speaker 32 (01:15:58):
We'll talk about it, they said, And I repeat, what's
up with Cleveland? They collecting quarterbacks like Pokemon? Which one
they gonna start? And he says, I don't care. I
know I'm a sack. Whoever it is. Hey, the way
my team feel, it's how I feel about him every year.

Speaker 3 (01:16:19):
I hope they all feel that way.

Speaker 1 (01:16:20):
Who they?

Speaker 3 (01:16:21):
Who they? Who they? All?

Speaker 4 (01:16:24):
Right?

Speaker 3 (01:16:24):
Dan big hen is the leader in the clubhouse. You
got the best voice of any talkbacker.

Speaker 7 (01:16:30):
I'd be willing that that and don't tell you would
love the slot. He meant that had listen to Sincy
three sixty Tony Austin Elmore, He had no problem with that.

Speaker 4 (01:16:42):
Meant then I love those mits.

Speaker 3 (01:16:45):
No, he'd be one. Here's the thing about Tony. He
can't be bought. Nope.

Speaker 32 (01:16:50):
Yeah, this, Big Hen. Sorry, I told you all I
had that stroke in November. I had to step away
from the Rids due to my health. But on a
lighter note, the Reds themselves are sickening, embarrassing.

Speaker 4 (01:17:07):
It's not even.

Speaker 1 (01:17:07):
Fun to watch.

Speaker 3 (01:17:08):
No aggressiveness at the plate. I really don't need.

Speaker 32 (01:17:11):
To understand what I'm watching when I'm watching it.

Speaker 3 (01:17:14):
What like, what is it? I don't know? To be clear,
Big Hen, are you insinuating that the Reds caused you
to have a stroke. Wow, we hope you're doing much better. Well,
clearly he's doing much better. He's doing great. But is
that is that what he was saying. If so, maybe
there's some you might need to call somebody about get

(01:17:35):
some damages and to give off for the.

Speaker 33 (01:17:37):
Hey guys, Paul from Pleaves here, I just listened to
your show, great show as usual. I was listening to,
you know about the Bengals defense. You know, we've talked about,
you know, their defensive line and our linebackers and the
safeties and the specialties and you know, offensive line. Nobody's
really touched on the corners. I don't feel comfortable with

(01:18:00):
the corners that we have right now. You know, I'm
I don't know. Maybe Jermaine Pratt, could you know, be
a trade piece for our court.

Speaker 3 (01:18:08):
Listen, Jermaine Pratt is not a trade piece. It's a
fair question, though. The secondary is a liability. I have
that written down, especially when you look at the stretch
early on in the season. Jacksonville has Brian Thomas Junior
who exploded onto the scene last year, and now Travis Hunter.
Minnesota has Jefferson and Addison. Detroit, I'm and Ross Saint

(01:18:32):
Brown like, I just don't want to.

Speaker 6 (01:18:34):
I'm not looking forward to them trying to tackle Jamiir
Gibbs out of the backfield.

Speaker 3 (01:18:37):
Yeah, that Detroit game, that'll be a test so Thikhun
can touch it. You're looking.

Speaker 1 (01:18:45):
I'm tired of Cees.

Speaker 3 (01:18:47):
He's always on the injured reserve.

Speaker 24 (01:18:48):
Let's get him out of town, trade him Ashcraft and
Steer and go get to a power back.

Speaker 3 (01:18:54):
Maybe get Peter Anzo. You people need to understand done,
we're not doing. Those dudes have about as much combined
trade value as I do.

Speaker 30 (01:19:08):
Tony Austin, you well, hey, yeah, I agree with you, Tony.
Jail time automatic jail time parking for two space parking
also automatic jail time for rich people who don't tip,
and often I agree with you, there is a special
place in hell.

Speaker 3 (01:19:25):
For those folks, rich people who don't dip. I I
had an experience last night. All right, I gotta ask
you about this. I went through the drive through a
local fast food establishment. My total was nine dollars and
ninety nine cents. Okay, I'm paying with a card. The

(01:19:47):
guy says to me, I had ordered it the thing
and I come up to the window. He's like, I
forgot to ask do you want to round up to
ten dollars? And I'm thinking to myself, if I had
ca yeah, but I have a card, right, there's no
effect on you. I said no, I'm good, and he
like looks at me, gives me the dirtiest look as

(01:20:11):
he's holding my credit card. I'm like, I'm gonna give
you a penny like right now if I if I
would have said yes, he would have then had to
press a button, you know, add the penny on, then
reset that. They just tap the card.

Speaker 6 (01:20:25):
We've become a very interesting tipping country there. There are
self checkout lines that I would go through as for it,
and it'll say do you want to leave a tip
and it gives like eighteen twenty twenty five percent, And
I'm thinking, like, am I gidding? Is this like a
money back thing on one of those cards where you
get money back? Because who am I tipping the machine?

Speaker 3 (01:20:44):
Crazy? He looked at me like that over a penny.

Speaker 34 (01:20:52):
Just thinking about the Red No, thinking about the Pete Rouse,
you know, thing from last night. Like I personally, I'm
just kind of tired of living off the past and
kind of celebrating all the past worties. I know with
the French, with the Reds, it's a story history, the
longest franchise is in history.

Speaker 4 (01:21:12):
But when don't we start looking to the future.

Speaker 34 (01:21:14):
Let's do that for once.

Speaker 3 (01:21:16):
Yeah, I'm with you. I'll tell you when after the
big Red Machine reunion coming up next month. I mean,
I'm curious to see what kind of gimmicks the Reds
come up with. I mean that's that they're elite at that,
like their PR team, their marketing team, they're fantastic h
and they do imagine how much good they could do
if they had a winning product to market. This is

(01:21:37):
one of the worst days the sports here.

Speaker 35 (01:21:40):
Everybody going through the schedule, Sam hour whatever, ten and eight.
Whatever is the dumbest crap ever. Also looked up clown
in the dictionary. Picture of Trey Henderson come up. I'd
have more respect for him if he's fired his agent said, Hey,
my agent, give me a bad deal.

Speaker 3 (01:22:00):
More respect for him.

Speaker 20 (01:22:01):
But right now, let him hold out, let him starve.

Speaker 3 (01:22:05):
Wow, I don't think he's starving. He's eaten good. Still.
This is Trey Hendrick. Sorry, I'm not home right now.

Speaker 36 (01:22:20):
Leave a message, Hey, Trey, Zach Taylor here, Uh, cope
all as well. Just a reminder you you don't show
up in June, you're gonna get fined.

Speaker 3 (01:22:37):
Okay, just uh, just a little reminder there.

Speaker 36 (01:22:41):
We're gonna start finding you, okay, take care bye.

Speaker 3 (01:22:45):
Mm hmm mm hmmmm.

Speaker 24 (01:22:49):
Four of the first six games are on the road.

Speaker 25 (01:22:55):
I don't see a fast start.

Speaker 3 (01:22:59):
We'll be fortunate to be three and three. Pick up
the pace a little bit, Barry Lark and Gollie, Wow,
what's up, Brian?

Speaker 37 (01:23:11):
I think the Reds will bounce back eventually, just in
a pretty pretty deep slump right now. They'll figure it
out and the Bengals will go fourteen and three. Baby,
Let's go have.

Speaker 3 (01:23:22):
A good day, all right?

Speaker 9 (01:23:24):
Probably UFI help bay E E. Sitner, where I hope
you have rehab specialists.

Speaker 3 (01:23:32):
Watch out for.

Speaker 9 (01:23:33):
A slowdown of Fort Washington Way as there is a
funeral procession that is the red season heading that way. Also,
watch out for a broken down bandwagon with blownout tires
due to retreading as the Reds try to reuse everything
from the path to get people in the seats. I
met he traffic.

Speaker 38 (01:23:55):
All right, guys, who has the better chance to win
one game this weekend? Rivalry Weekend FC Cincinnati and hell
is Real or the Reds in the Ohio.

Speaker 3 (01:24:05):
Cup FC Cincinnati comfortably.

Speaker 38 (01:24:09):
And then one quick thought on the Bengals schedule? Why
do they do this every single year? They leave the
last week or two TBD. People are going to make plans.
It's one thing if you don't have the time set.
It's absurd to not have the day set. What do
you guys think?

Speaker 3 (01:24:25):
I don't think it matters because you know it's either
going to be a Saturday or a Sunday end of
the year.

Speaker 6 (01:24:29):
They're just trying to cover themselves with how teams play
and what those games mean.

Speaker 3 (01:24:34):
I get the broadcasting and the ratings to the NFL
is more important than anything else. But you know, for
the most part, it's going to be their Saturday Sunday.
I think the final week of the season. They can
now add a Monday, so that I get being a
little bit tough, especially during the week, but most people like,
if you're traveling into town for a game, you're either

(01:24:56):
going to get there on Saturday regardless. Sure, so I get.
I get where you're come from, though it's not always convenient.

Speaker 28 (01:25:04):
Where where the Ribs are tonight? Why did you leave
me here all alone? I searched the world over and
a thought of found true, loved the ridge, lost another
and seasons gone, Holly, not the.

Speaker 3 (01:25:25):
Fart in the middle? Thank you? All right, we're done,
Oh my goodness.

Speaker 6 (01:25:29):
We will update you on the Reds and update you
on the injuries when we get back.

Speaker 3 (01:25:34):
I think we're going to do a touch and go
and then.

Speaker 6 (01:25:36):
Okay, we've got our three where we're gonna dive into, uh,
the schedule more with the Bengals and take your phone calls.
Five one, three, seven, fifteen thirty at Cincy three sixty
on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (01:25:51):
Upbound Cincinnati from Cincinnati countered in part by Penn Station
East Coast Subbs, handcrafted hot grilled subs, fresh cut fry
and lemonade.

Speaker 1 (01:26:01):
It's all about good taste.

Speaker 2 (01:26:03):
Penn Station East Coast Subs order online today. This is
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 6 (01:26:12):
Welcome back our three thanks to Penn Station. Before we
dive into everything going on with the Cincinnati Bengals and
take some some phone calls, there's also time for today's
Postman Law Injury Report delivered by Postman Law Injured. Postman
delivers quick update from a red standpoint. No new updates
on Louder Miley, Jabo, Maul Frehley, Hunter Green Cees or

(01:26:33):
Noove Marte. But TJ friedl with that wrist is out
of the lineup again today. He is considered day to
day against the White Sox, or he's considered day to
day obviously. The Guardian's coming in next and Jamer Candelario,
according to Charlie Goldsmith, played catch on the field today
Great American Ballpark ahead of the game. Maybe that means
he's closer to coming back as well. That's today's Postman

(01:26:55):
Law Injury Report delivered by Postman Law Injured Call eight
four to four postman. Red's had another in the bottom
half of the fifth off a Will Benson solo home run.
So home runs from Benson, home runs from Elie de
la Cruz Red's lead at six nothing heading into the
top half of the sixth.

Speaker 3 (01:27:14):
Will Benson just hit a solo homer that Luise Robert
had like on his glove in his glove about to
rob him of a homer, but it didn't stay. And
that's a good break for Will Benson. He needed one.
And you know, Charlie Goldsmith points out that if Will
Benson were to get going, oh, that is something that
could really change the outlook of the Reds offense. So

(01:27:37):
I agree with Charlie on that because you know, I've
been a little tough on Will. I was like, you know,
I've been wrong before, like I was about noel Vie Marte.
But if he is at all like the player he
was a couple of years ago, that changes a lot,
changes a lot for this team.

Speaker 6 (01:27:53):
I mean just a shell of that person. Yeah, would
be one of the best hitters on this current lineup.
Without question. We'll dive into the Bengals, the schedule and
more in just a moment.

Speaker 3 (01:28:03):
Jeff has been holding. Let's take a phone call here.
What's up, Jeff A happy Thursday, Jens, Yes, sir, we.

Speaker 20 (01:28:10):
Have assistant pro from the local club where I work
part time. It's about to tee off in a half
an hour, so.

Speaker 3 (01:28:15):
I got very nice.

Speaker 20 (01:28:17):
Yeah, yeah, you should see. You should see this guy
hit the ball Tony So. And about your photo of
the parking, we have a whole web page in our
town devoted to write crap parking where we post pictures
like that all over social media generally block out the
license plate numbers at least, But I mean, you would

(01:28:40):
not believe how people park, but we all see it
every day no matter where you live. Ye, so get
used to that. But I think the schedule's kind of
a mixed bag. I'm gonna die on the hill that
all the thirty one to one votes impact how the
league looks at the Bengals up to and including how
the schedule is made. Could be dead wrong about that,
but that's my feeling on that. Mike North certainly made

(01:29:04):
the rounds three weeks ago. Where is he now to
talk about this? You know, Baltimore nonsense.

Speaker 1 (01:29:12):
I'd love to hear that.

Speaker 20 (01:29:13):
I think going to Minnesota Buffalo, Green Bay.

Speaker 11 (01:29:16):
It's going to be awesome, There's no doubt.

Speaker 39 (01:29:19):
Man.

Speaker 20 (01:29:19):
That Miami game the week of Christmas. The air of
tickets are so expensive it's absurd. They're really out there
on those tickets. But uh, you know, I think it's
going to be interesting. I just can't believe that there's
another night game in Baltimore, which means that I can't go,
even though it's an hour away, because it's just too

(01:29:40):
dangerous to go up there. But you know, well, yeah,
but it is what it is that, you know. I
like getting the two longest travel days out on week
two and week three. I don't think they leave the
Eastern time zone after Week three, which is obviously a big,
big deal. Green Bay, it's gonna be warm Buffalo. It'll

(01:30:03):
be cold in Miami if people can get down there.
It'll be obviously nice and warm there on Christmas week.
So plus I get the exhibition game up here, where
hopefully Joe Burrow does not set foot on that field, right,
no matter what if they want to get the starters
more playing time, don't let Joe step on that field again.
Please correct all right, guys, We have a good day.

Speaker 3 (01:30:24):
Thank you.

Speaker 6 (01:30:24):
Jeff, appreciate that. Yeah, updating you just real quick. On
the PGA Championship. It's Ryan Girard, Austin, who Ryan Girard,
I'm not familiar with two holes left to play? Is
at seven under. He is three clear of the pack
at four under. Luke Donald, Ryan Fox, Alex Smalley, Steven Jager,

(01:30:45):
Keegan Bradley all at four under. Scotty Scheffler finished with
a two under sixty nine today. Fleetwood rom Final and
a host of others all at one under. How about
tied for ninety fifth after round one is Rory McElroy.

(01:31:08):
You can't have it all. You can't have it all.
That's a good point. And Michael Block, remember him?

Speaker 3 (01:31:16):
Is he still around?

Speaker 6 (01:31:17):
He's even through five holes, okay, Mike, Mike Block, Yep,
he's holding his own. Let's dive into to this schedule
for the Cincinnati Bengals, the schedule itself, if you've missed
it at this point. What I thought we could kind
of do here, Austin is just go through the schedule

(01:31:38):
itself and maybe highlight some of the storylines that you
think just kind of pop into mind right away with
the opponents, and then from there in the next segment,
we can give some predictions and talk about the tough stretches.
We could talk about the importance of the fast start,
but let's go first thing that comes to mind right
now with some of these teams, they start things off

(01:31:59):
on the road in Cleveland week one against the Browns.
Immediately that I think, who's going to be quarterback for
the Browns? And then my mind shifts to Miles Garrett
and Mason Graham against this Bengals offensive line. How much
is that offensive slot line solidified in Week one? And
they are five point favored? Are the Bengals right now?
But they opened the season against the Browns? What was
your initial thought?

Speaker 3 (01:32:20):
My initial thought was they should stomp that team like
that was the first thought. It was also, man, I
hope it's not pouring like it was a couple of
years ago, and I hope we're not worrying about a
calf injury to any of the top players like they
were a couple of years ago. So for me, it's
that's a game the Bengals should win. And I think,

(01:32:42):
you know, I said the point the other day about
having a big game early to try to get them going,
get them focused. I think an AFC North game early
against a rival, a team that you don't like. I
think that's a good thing. I think that's hey, let's
show up, let's start fast as the team we don't like.
It's the one hundred and seven teenth birthday of Paul
Brown when they're gonna be playing, so let's go. Let's

(01:33:04):
get it started early. I like that, But you did
bring up the point, Miles Garrett Mason Graham protecting Joe
Burrow is still a question. Yea. And if the Browns
did anything right this offseason, it's that their defensive line
is still good. Yes, and they made it slightly better.

Speaker 6 (01:33:19):
Week two, the home opener, the Jacksonville Jaguars come into town.
This is obviously the Travis Hunter led Jacksonville Jaguars. Interesting
to see that they have a new coach who's kind
of weird with the whole Duval thing. But more importantly,
I think this is one of those make or break
years for Trevor Lawrence, who's one of those guys that's
not talked about a ton now.

Speaker 3 (01:33:39):
From an elite quarterback standpoint, this game scares me. I'll
be honest, it scares me. It's a quarterback. It's a
coach that you're not familiar with, and Liam Cohen and
a guy who has made some impressive strides with quarterbacks
in the past, like Baker Mayfield in Tampa. And they've
got some weapons on the outside. Brian Thomas Junior gonna

(01:34:02):
be in his second year obviously, what Travis Hunter is
able to do. They are a good team. Defensively, I
still think they have some issues, but offensively they are
a formidable threat. And the Bengals have questions about rushing
the passer, and they have questions in the secondary. Is
there going to be consistency. That's gonna be a big

(01:34:23):
test for them early.

Speaker 6 (01:34:24):
One of the interesting stretches starts in Week three. It's
on the road at Minnesota. I think you and I
both are in full agreement. One of the best coaches
in the National Football League, but it is JJ McCarthy.
Still some really good weapons anytime you talk about Justin Jefferson.
It's a solid defense with Brian Flores that presents challenges.
Very tough place to play, but a true tough road

(01:34:47):
test Week three at Minnesota.

Speaker 3 (01:34:49):
Extremely tough place to play. Brian Floores obviously, what he
does to offenses is awful and that's a game where
it's the first true test for the Bengals, and more
than anything about physicality, Minnesota spent the offseason rebuilding their trenches.
They have invested draft picks, they've invested free agency, They've

(01:35:12):
traded for players. They are doing everything they can to
build around a young quarterback so that he has less
to worry about and less on his plate. And they
need that because JJ McCarthy will not know for the
first time in his career what is coming on the
other side. They won't be cheating in Minnesota because Kevin
O'Connell is a man of power at integrity. So because

(01:35:32):
of that and because of what I just mentioned all
those weapons they have on the outside, the physicality up front,
that is not going to be an easy game.

Speaker 6 (01:35:39):
Follow up one tough matchup with another. And this starts
that Vikings game starts a stretch of five straight games
against teams that were playoff teams last year. Number two
on that stretch is the first primetime game of the
year for the Cincinnati Bengals. That's Monday Night Football. It's
on the road against Denver Broncos Bo Nicks. Year number two.
Looking what kind of jump he can take under Sean Payton.

Speaker 3 (01:36:01):
Best defense in the National Football League a year ago
belonged to the Denver Broncos and Patrick Sertan, the second
who won Defensive Player of the Year, gave Jamar Chase
and fits last year when they played at the end
of the year. But what did they do. They pivoted
to t Higgins and he picked on their defense and
he was able to go off Burrow through for like
four hundred yards a bunch of touchdowns. That was the

(01:36:21):
gritty game. Yep, that's gonna be a tough place to play.
Obviously on a Monday night in Elevation. Is that what
I'm trying to say, Elevation? Yes, yeah, Monday night up
there in Denver won't be easy.

Speaker 6 (01:36:34):
For the first time in sixteen years. The following week,
the Bengals will play in the four to twenty five
Fox Line Tom Brady in the house, first time in
sixteen years, and it's the Detroit Lions Dan Campbell. It
is star power on offense and defense in Detroit. But
Aaron Glenn is gone, Ben Johnson has gone. I like

(01:36:55):
getting the Lions earlier in the year because you're still
getting two new coordinators in the see, but nonetheless will
be a very tough test in that four to twenty
five slot at home against Detroit.

Speaker 3 (01:37:06):
Yeah, I agree with you on that one percent. As
early as you can get them, that's the best. And
Bengals fans are gonna have to show up big for
this game because Detroit fans travel. They are making the
most of having to not travel for the last thirty years,
and they travel a lot and that is a very
doable drive for a lot of people in Detroit. So
you got to make sure that the Bengals make this

(01:37:28):
a game that is not I don't know if they'll
have the guts and by day I mean the Bengals
to do the wide out game or the stripe the
jungle game or something like that for this game because
there will be a lot of Honolulu blue.

Speaker 6 (01:37:42):
Okay, following that is another four to twenty five CBS game.

Speaker 3 (01:37:48):
Oh my gosh. Yeah, Matt McClain just hit a tank.

Speaker 6 (01:37:51):
I'm sorry, Matt McLean's the best eight hole hitter in
the game of a.

Speaker 3 (01:37:56):
Launched one, and he took a look at it. I'm sorry,
I got distracted. He's the best eight hole hitter in baseball.
Terry Francone is a genius.

Speaker 6 (01:38:02):
Ten October twelfth, four to twenty five A game you're attending, Yes,
Green Bay. I still at this point don't know the
status of Jordan Love. Yeah, if he could throw for
three fifty or he could throw for eighty.

Speaker 3 (01:38:18):
Yeah, I heard you talking about this with Lance a
little bit. I don't know what to make of the Packers.
They're a good team, they're well coached, but are they
a great team? You know? And maybe in that way
they're similar to the Bengals in that they have a
lot of pieces, but they're still putting them all together,
especially on the defensive side of the ball. But they
drafted a wide receiver in the first round, something they

(01:38:38):
haven't done in twenty plus years when they took Matthew Golden.
Josh Jacobs is still a big part of that team.
They like to run the football. They love play action,
double moves, play action deep balls and getting the ball
side to side in the hands of Jayden Reid is
gonna be a big part of that game plan. That's
gonna be a test for the Bengals defense. But offensively,
I think the Bengals will have a chance and JayR

(01:38:59):
Alexander still at the moment a Green Bay Packer, but
you know he's had some contract issues. It seems like
they're heading in the right direction to keeping jay R Alexander.
Can I just run down this list quickly for you
of the some of the cornerbacks that Tamarshalls has to face.
Denzel Ward, Travis Hunter, Pat Sir Tan, JayR, Alexander, Sauce Gardner,

(01:39:21):
Jalen Johnson, Christian Gonzales, Marlon Humphrey, Christian Benford, and Jalen Ramsey.
That is a gauntlet of corners that are going to
be trying to lock down Jamar Chase.

Speaker 6 (01:39:33):
The Bengals will get back from Green Bay either the
night of October twelfth or the morning of October thirteenth,
and from that moment Austin until November sixteenth, they'll be home.

Speaker 3 (01:39:45):
Pretty cool.

Speaker 6 (01:39:45):
They will take on the Steelers, the Jets, and the
Bears three straight home games after that Packers matchup. I
think the Steelers, we've talked a lot about them, good defense,
A major quarterback question. It's kind of DK Metcalf and
everyone else.

Speaker 3 (01:40:00):
The Jets.

Speaker 6 (01:40:00):
It's Aaron Glenn, it's a new system. It's justin fields,
which I think is a fascinating storyline this year of
can Justin fields take a step forward and then right
before the bye it is one of the best offseason
teams in the NFL. It's Ben Johnson. Back to back weeks.
You face those former Detroit Lion coordinators, but you get that. Steelers, Jets,

(01:40:22):
Bears three games in a row at home all seem
at this point winnable games on the schedule.

Speaker 3 (01:40:28):
Yeah. Absolutely, I mean you've got to be excited about
this stretch. I mean, we talked about the stat of
how bad teams are in the AFC North Road primetime
games in Pittsburgh. It still feels like at that point
in the season you'll have a chance to win that game.
The Jets and Bears are nothing but question marks. Maybe
they'll be good by then, maybe they won't. But either way,

(01:40:51):
home games after a little mini buy there, I like
that stretch for the Bengals.

Speaker 6 (01:40:56):
Let's do this because this is where the Bengals by
comes into play, so we can take a break before
we get to the break. Austin Browns, Jags, Vikings, Broncos, Lions, Packers, Steelers, Jets, Bears.
What do you predict the record to be at the
bye week for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 3 (01:41:13):
I generously had them at seven and two. Okay, I
think six and three is a little bit more realistic,
but I have them at.

Speaker 6 (01:41:21):
I have wins against Cleveland, Jacksonville. I have them losing
two of the next four. I don't know which four,
but between Denver, Minnesota, Detroit and the Packers, I think
they lose two of those and then I think they
win those other three. So much like you, I think
they're seven and two at the bye and I feel
good about that. I heard you last night a little
bit that if you say thanks for listening, if you

(01:41:44):
say six and three, based on what it's been in
years past, you run to the table and say, okay,
I'll take that.

Speaker 3 (01:41:48):
My gosh, yes, yeah, yes, yes.

Speaker 9 (01:41:52):
So.

Speaker 6 (01:41:54):
Safe six and three upside, I think they can be
seven and two. Now the week comes into play, and
when we get back, we'll talk about what's on the
other end of that bye week. This is Cincy three
to sixty Thanks to Penn Station. Thank you for listening
on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 39 (01:42:10):
Now your chance to win one thousand dollars entered this
nationwide keyword on our website.

Speaker 1 (01:42:15):
Money, that's money. Enter it now. Is it possible?

Speaker 37 (01:42:19):
It's a fil you.

Speaker 2 (01:42:20):
Cincy three sixty is back on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.

Speaker 6 (01:42:28):
Welcome back Cinty three to sixty thanks to Penn Station.

Speaker 3 (01:42:32):
Can I ask you a question, yes, a hypothetical. Sure,
would you trade Will Benson for Luise Robert Junior? Right now? Yeah?
Straight up? Yes, one for one. Yep, you're doing it.
Goodbye me, okay, one hundred percent back to you. Uh,
we picked things up.

Speaker 6 (01:42:48):
We finished up the first half of the Bengals schedule
going into the bye week seven and two, six and three,
both in that general area. Let's talk about the back
half of the schedule. We'll grab some phone calls after that. Um,
you come out of the by and you go on
the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I know, Austin, this
isn't a at least on paper, a good Pittsburgh team. Yet,

(01:43:08):
I don't know the quarterback situation. I know Dk Metcalf,
I know they got a good defense. This is one
of those games for me though, that if you're coming
out of the second half of the schedule and you're
trying to determine if you're a real contender or not.
Then going to Pittsburgh and winning that would check one
of those boxes for me.

Speaker 3 (01:43:28):
Yeah. I have this as a classic letdown game, Like
you go into the by and you're rolling and then
you just kind of lose the momentum and you come
out and you got to play a tough team in
Pittsburgh and you lose. Maybe they don't play poorly, but
they lose. And AFC North football tough to do. And
I mean, listen, if you tell me right now that

(01:43:51):
the Bengals are going to go four and two in
the AFC North, I will sign up for that. I
assume they sweep the Browns. I assume they split with
Baltimore and Pittsburgh. I would absolutely take that out of
the Steelers game the Patriots come to town.

Speaker 6 (01:44:05):
Mike Vrabel, Drake May year two, I don't think you
can find many rosters that went over as much as
an overhaul is what the Patriots have done. I like
everything they've done. I would have rather seen them earlier
in the year two because I think Mike Vrabel's going
to have this team playing really well.

Speaker 3 (01:44:21):
Yeah, I think they're a good team. I think they've
done a great job this offseason in building a few
different things, and they signed Milton Williams in free agency,
a top free agent available on the defensive line. But
Zach Taylor owns Mike Vrabel. One in three all time
is Vrabel against Zach Taylor, including in the playoffs. I

(01:44:41):
think the Bengals win that game.

Speaker 6 (01:44:42):
Come tom I think the Patriots might be a contender
for a wild card spot because their schedule is extremely,
extremely easy. What's not easy is what happens after the
Patriots Thursday Night Football. And by the way, I'm sorry
I mentioned the Steelers game. That first Steelers go around
as Thursday Night for in Cincinnati. That is the one
primetime home game that the Bengals do have after that

(01:45:06):
Thanksgiving Night Thanksgiving Night, a Thursday night at Baltimore. You
come out of that, you go to Buffalo another four
to twenty five Fox game, and then the Baltimore Ravens
come into Cincinnati in the one o'clock time slot the
following week, so you go Ravens Bills, Ravens. You could
legitimately Austin be talking about that stretch with all three

(01:45:28):
teams being contenders for the number one seed in the
AFC that could play out right in front of you.
We know what the Baltimore Ravens are. You know what
the Bills are with Josh Allen and how much improved
they are. But obviously, for me, I know Week three
through seven is a tough stretch. I don't think it
gets much tougher than Baltimore, Buffalo, Baltimore.

Speaker 3 (01:45:49):
No, it does not at all. I mean, I think
you summed it up that that could be for the AFC,
could be for the number one seed. We talked about
how difficult the Kansas City schedule is and who knows,
you know what they're going to be looking like at
that time with the different games that they've got to
play in the different travel that they have to have.
So yeah, I think it's going to be the AFC
North and the AFC in and of itself in playoff

(01:46:11):
seating up for grabs during that stretch. I get a
feeling though, that the Bengals are gonna find it. I
know it's May, it's May fifteenth.

Speaker 4 (01:46:20):
I know.

Speaker 3 (01:46:21):
I can just see it though, Joe Burrow on the
field in Baltimore post game with that giant turkey leg. Oh,
and we're talking to Frank Caliendo that Monday, and he's
doing a John Madden impression. You know, I can just
see it all happening in the Bengals finding a way

(01:46:42):
to exercise that demon, and then I can see him
losing the next two Buffalo and Baltimore. That's kind of
how I have it on my schedule that they lose
to Pittsburgh out of the by, they win against New England,
they win against Baltimore on Thanksgiving, and then they lose
the next two to Buffalo and Baltimore.

Speaker 6 (01:46:56):
Yeah, what an interesting stretch, and then it finishes with
I think three winnable games. I don't know what to
make about the Dolphins.

Speaker 3 (01:47:02):
I don't either.

Speaker 6 (01:47:03):
It feels like a put up or shut up year
for Tua and for McDaniel. I don't know what to
make I know the Arizona Cardinals were graded very highly
from an offseason standpoint, but I think it's also a
year of figuring out as Kyler Murray the guy going forward.
And then you finish that you book ended with the
Cleveland Browns. But those are three very winnable games the
back end of the schedule as well. All in all,

(01:47:24):
for what it's worth, Austin I think the Bengals are
twelve and five when all.

Speaker 3 (01:47:27):
Said and done. I have him at twelve and five
as well. Look at this, let's run to the let's
go to the sports book. Hold on a minute, let's go.
Didn't you have him at thirteen and four last night?
It's dead you had him at twelve and five all
the time? Yeah, okay, interesting, I did not hear your
entire conversation about that last night. So it's funny that
we all kind of saw it the same way.

Speaker 6 (01:47:45):
I had them losing to the Steelers, the Bills, and
the raven on the back end of the schedule.

Speaker 3 (01:47:49):
Okay, for the twelve and five, so did I Interesting,
So ten and a half's to total, so we should
run to the sports book. I don't think you should
ever run to the sports book. I mean that's what
Pete Rose used to do. Anyways, Again, about that last stretch,
A truck to Miami in December, get out of the
cold a little bit. I like that, not a terrible

(01:48:09):
flight either, yep. And then Arizona on the opposite end
of that, a warm weather team coming to the cold
in December. I'm in favor of that. And then Cleveland,
you would expect, you know, that somebody else will be started,
probably be should or Sanders starting in that game. I'm
not even kidding. So you would expect to be able
to win that game and have something to be playing
for in week eighteen. So maybe we're just I don't

(01:48:33):
what's that old saying about putting the cart before the horse. Sure,
I do think there are legitimate questions on the defense,
Trey Henderson chief among them. But I can't look at
this team and look what they did the last five
games and look at the places where I think they're
marginally better and say that they're not a playoff team.

(01:48:56):
I agree.

Speaker 6 (01:48:58):
Out of this schedule, do you see a team, and
I assisted to John Sheeran today, do you see a
team that can be like maybe the Texans of two
years ago or what the Commanders were last year where
you look at the schedule right now and you're thinking, okay,
that's a win, and then it does get closer, or
you see how the season starts and all of a
sudden that team becomes a contender. You mentioned it with
the Jaguars. I think the Vikings are very formidable. I

(01:49:21):
am cautious of the Bears because I know the talent
they have. We mentioned what the Patriots are, but is
there a team that stands out to you as a
team that maybe they're not getting the pub right now,
but when that game rolls around, it might be a
whole different story.

Speaker 3 (01:49:34):
I think New England and Chicago are both potentially those teams.
A second year with Drake May and obviously a little
bit better group of guys around him with New England
makes a lot of sense to me. And then Chicago,
you mentioned it, they have talent and they completely rebuilt
their offensive line. Ryan Poles was aggressive and being able
to put some protective pieces around Caleb Williams, including but

(01:49:58):
not limited to Joe Toney from the Kansas City Chiefs,
and he brings some veteran leadership to that offensive line
room as well. So just the way that they play,
I could see them making a run, especially if Minnesota
takes a step back, if Detroit takes a step back,
then all of a sudden, the Bears could be much
more in the conversation than they have the last couple

(01:50:18):
of years.

Speaker 6 (01:50:20):
One other topic that I think stands out among the
rest when you talk about the Cincinnati Bengals is the
fast start and we talked about how that relates to
the Trey Hendrickson news from this week and everything that's
going on for that and the distractions. Three out of
the first four are on the road, Four out of
the first six are on the road. Week three through
seven is five straight playoff teams from a year ago.

(01:50:46):
I put a huge emphasis they're a five point favorite.
I don't even want to think Austin, what the storylines
are if they lose Week one to Cleveland. I think
losing I know that you said the Jaguars is a
sneaky game. I think if you're one in one, you're
feeling uneasy as well. What do you make of how
the schedule plays out as it relates to the importance
of us of a fast start that this organization needs.

Speaker 3 (01:51:06):
And Zach Taylor, I'm thrilled about the fact that they
get an AFC North primetime home game, Absolutely thrilled about that.
I'm thrilled about the fact that they go over a
month without even leaving leaving the city of Cincinnati because
of the bye week and the home games and all that.
I'm thrilled that they finished with three out of or

(01:51:28):
four out of their or excuse me three out of
their last four at home. Like, I don't care that
much about the Baltimore game. I understand the frustration and
people wanting it to be fair, but you know, Thanksgiving,
I think that's a big deal to the team. I
think it's easy to get up for that one, and
if they're rolling like we expect them to be, they

(01:51:51):
might go into that game with a much different mindset
than what we're used to. That's also going to be
the first time they've played Baltimore. They're gonna be up
for that game. They're gonna be excited for that game.
And I like the early start, the starts against teams
that you are supposed to be better than. But you
got to have all those issues worked out before you

(01:52:12):
go to Denver, for sure.

Speaker 6 (01:52:14):
I think it's interesting. Listen because we talked yesterday and
we could dive into this again as well. But you
look at the Baltimore Ravens, who I think is the
team to beat right now in the AFC North. Their schedule,
they got a road trip to Buffalo, they have Detroit,
they go to Kansas City, the Texans, the Rams. I mean,
listen to the start of the season for Baltimore at

(01:52:34):
Buffalo home versus Cleveland, home versus Detroit, at Kansas City
home versus the Texans home versus the Rams home versus
the Bears. That's not an easy start for the Baltimore Ravens.
And then four of their last six are against the
Bengals and the Steelers AFC North perennial, tough, tough games.
Four of their last six down the stretch are against

(01:52:54):
the Bengals and Steelers, and all you do is Sandwich,
that is Patriots and a trip to Green Bay. So
it's a tough start and it's a tough finish for
the Baltimore Ravens. I don't put much doc into to
worrying about Pittsburgh in the North. I don't worry much
about Cleveland. But I think if I look at those
top four teams and I put right now Kansas City, Buffalo, Baltimore,

(01:53:15):
and Cincinnati in this cluster, with a couple teams very
close behind that. Kansas City eight primetime games. Their schedule
is an absolute gauntlet. Baltimore schedule is a gauntlet. I
think the Bengals have the easiest schedule out of the four,
and then I think Buffalo would be second.

Speaker 3 (01:53:31):
Yeah, I agree with that. You know, earlier I think
it was Jeff brought up the point of where's Mike North,
the NFL VP of broadcast planning, about the you know,
the Bengals going back to Baltimore for a fourth straight
primetime game. Well, he was actually on the Up and
Adams show, oh with Kay Adams, and Kay being a

(01:53:51):
good Bengals fan, asked him about that. Here's Mike North
on Up and Adams about the Bengals going back to
Baltimore in prime time.

Speaker 10 (01:54:00):
I heard you talking earlier about Ravens Bengals. Yeah, Wave
and Magic wand we would have played Ravens Bengals in
Cincinnati on a Thursday night. It's time to They did
get the Steelers at home on a Thursday night. Those
are the kind of things depth down the stretch, could
you just tinker with and what's the impact you know,
with the Ravens having a road Thursday game in Miami
on Amazon, you couldn't then have a second road Thursday,

(01:54:23):
So it ended up with Baltimore. Since, yes, in Baltimore
one more year. I'm sure Bengals fans are disappointed, But
like I heard you say, you know, go to Baltimore
and ruin their Thanksgiving nothing better if you can't win.

Speaker 3 (01:54:36):
You know, ruin their season.

Speaker 6 (01:54:38):
Ram didn't seem to care much, just say it doesn't
really care at all. But it's almost laughable at this point.
I don't think it's as big of a deal.

Speaker 3 (01:54:47):
It's just when you look at the stats, as Paul's
pointed out, that's hard to deny. So I do think
there's something there, but it's fair. I mean, you know
better than me. You you talked about how bad or
how much players you played with hated playing on Thursdays.
I get it, like I think there is something to that,

(01:55:07):
and especially when you go on the road.

Speaker 6 (01:55:11):
Let's break, let's come back. We'll do a quick recap
of everything that's happened today, and then we'll get to
Moeger for quick hits right here on Cincy three to
sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, thanks to Penn Station, he.

Speaker 39 (01:55:25):
Said, ESPN fifteen to thirty Centinnati Tax Resolution, Orange and
Black Schedule breakdown, Cincinnati Tax Resolution powered by Toe five
to one to three, five to one three t oph
Now your host, Moeger.

Speaker 8 (01:55:40):
The Bengals will play just one home game in September
this season, but their Week two matchup against the Jacksonville
Jaguars can provide an early answer to a burning question. Well,
the Bengals played better at Pey Corp Stadium last season.
Cincinnati was just three and five at home, and they
lost their first four games at pay Corps. The Jaguars
are coming off of four win season last year, and

(01:56:00):
they have a first time head coach, So the Bengals
will be favored and the expectation will be that Cincinnati
wins it's home opener for the first time since a
season opening win over the Minnesota Vikings in twenty twenty one.
It'll be the Bengals and Jaguars at pay Course Stadium
on Sunday afternoon, September fourteenth.

Speaker 39 (01:56:19):
Moe has More on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home
of the Bengals live baseball coverage.

Speaker 6 (01:56:26):
Oakley Welcome back, Sincy three sixty, ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati
Sports Station. Appreciate you spending part of your Thursday. Answer,
And it feels like a Friday, doesn't it?

Speaker 3 (01:56:41):
Every day feels like Friday on Sinsey three to sixty. Oh, well,
there you go, that's nice. I'll tell you who stinks? Okay,
Taylor Rogers, Yeah, the shutout is gone. It's seven to
one Reds in the top of the ages. Maybe send
him to I don't know, somewhere.

Speaker 6 (01:56:57):
Nick Martinez seven in and bo back seven innings, two hits,
three strikeouts.

Speaker 3 (01:57:03):
No runs. Pretty good day where Nick Martinez.

Speaker 6 (01:57:06):
A team needed it, not gonna get swept ideally by
the Chicago White Sox. That that's the boost you need.
With the Ohio Cup coming into.

Speaker 3 (01:57:14):
Town, presented by Revivefitnesssystems dot Com and coach PJ. Street,
it's our since he three to sixty pole question, how
many wins will the Bengals have in twenty twenty five? Tone?
Fifty nine percent say just a tick under what you
and I said. They said ten to eleven, twenty two
percent say seven to nine, fifteen percent say twelve plus,

(01:57:36):
and two point eight percent say zero to six wins
all over the place. I love a good troll, don't you.
It is it's good to have. I posted a picture
on my Twitter earlier. It was a scheduled tweet that
I had forgot that I had scheduled, and it's the
picture of David Bell and it says, miss me yet Oh,

(01:57:58):
and I thought that the people that follow me knew
my sarcasm. No knew. That's That's one of my best
pet peeves on social media, being a joker, being haha, funny.
It's just, you know, everyone's kidding around. This tweet has
blown up with people calling me an idiot and a

(01:58:18):
dufis and saying no, and I mean to the point
where I just had to issue an apology, Yeah, saying
that this you know, it's made it onto the for
you tab And I'm sorry for people who don't follow
me that don't understand my sarcasm. Yeah, nobody, missus, David
bell Man, just just to get it out there. We're
all just kidding around, scasm. We're being haha, funny jokes there, guys.

(01:58:41):
You know there's oftentimes Moeger uses sarcasm. I like Moe.

Speaker 6 (01:58:45):
We'll talk to Mo when we come back quick hits
getting ready for the Moeger's to day for Mo Yesty.

Speaker 3 (01:58:51):
Nicks Louse had to work with Edin Rock. That's a
tough day right there. We'll brighten him up when we
get back. ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 1 (01:59:01):
Cincinnati.

Speaker 2 (01:59:01):
Since the three sixty continues on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati's
sports station.

Speaker 1 (01:59:08):
Come on, since three sixty.

Speaker 3 (01:59:10):
Quick hits of the Yes was looking for yes in
the house. It's uh, it's quick hits. Hi, everybody, mo.

Speaker 6 (01:59:18):
This is the first time since the schedule release that
we've got to talk about it.

Speaker 3 (01:59:22):
It's uh. You guys sound a good last night. Thank you.
I kind of wish I would have been there.

Speaker 8 (01:59:25):
Yeah, I had most possibilities, I am, But you guys
sounded good last night.

Speaker 6 (01:59:30):
What do you have coming up today to talk about? Well,
not only a schedule release, but avoiding a sweep to
the to the Deadly White Sox.

Speaker 8 (01:59:40):
Hang on a second, there's time left, Dot Conwood. It's
not get to ahead of ourselves. Was this the first
must win game of the season for the Reds?

Speaker 3 (01:59:48):
Could not have gotten off?

Speaker 5 (01:59:50):
So?

Speaker 3 (01:59:51):
I mean I was.

Speaker 6 (01:59:52):
I was ready to to drive the final stake in already.

Speaker 3 (01:59:55):
Yeah, And I mean I don't know that.

Speaker 8 (01:59:58):
You know, we sometimes joke our show like, well, the
Reds won, so we have to say nice things about him,
do we.

Speaker 3 (02:00:03):
Matt mcclean's the best eight hole hitter in baseball? You
know what?

Speaker 8 (02:00:06):
He is swinging a good bat right now, So is
my guy Will Benson and Nick Martinez recently has been
really good too.

Speaker 6 (02:00:11):
Austin asked today if if you could go to the
White Sox today and straight up Will Benson for Luis Robert, Yes,
would you do it?

Speaker 3 (02:00:19):
Yes?

Speaker 8 (02:00:19):
I love Will Benson, but yes, yes, the way the
White Sox are playing, Wilson's the pope.

Speaker 3 (02:00:25):
That's right got elected. By the way, Luis Robert was
removed from this game today.

Speaker 8 (02:00:29):
Oh hug watch hug watch question Mark hugging him in
the dugout.

Speaker 6 (02:00:33):
And I thought a good appreciation of what the White
Sox did last night by getting their fourteenth win on
Pete Rose night. To celebrate find a way to celebrate that.

Speaker 3 (02:00:43):
Yeah, I got some thoughts on last night.

Speaker 8 (02:00:45):
I got some thoughts on the entire evening, the pregame,
the vibe around the stadium, and then the game itself.
We have to spend some time on that because last
night perpetuated something that I have believed about the Reds
for a very long time. Paul Danner Junior Normal on Tuesday,
but you know, we did the five one, three day show,
so Paul's going to be with us today. We'll talk

(02:01:05):
about the schedule, madness and then all things Tray, all
things Trey Hendrickson, all the time. Kelsey Conway sent me
a tweet last night asking me like, how many times
how much time will you guys spend between now and
September seventh talking about Trey?

Speaker 3 (02:01:19):
And I did the math. I subtracted weekends.

Speaker 8 (02:01:21):
I added the Sunday of the first game because I
think we'll be talking about it. I subtracted a day
that we traveled to Kansas City. I subtracted my vacation days,
and I came up with seventy two days we'll be
talking about Trey Hendrickson. I'm going to deliver on this promise.
Seventy two days of Trey start today. Can it be
as simple as just saying his name?

Speaker 3 (02:01:40):
Could be? Could be?

Speaker 8 (02:01:42):
Will you guys find it funny if on Halloween I
come dressed as Trey Hendrickson, please does golfing Trey Hendrickson extremely.
I've got the outfit. I've got one of those like
blue pullovers. I've got some black slacks.

Speaker 3 (02:01:54):
You don't have to wear anything, Bengals. I'm good to go.
If you do that, I'll come dressed as Danner Junior
trying to interview. You'd be pretty good.

Speaker 8 (02:02:05):
So anyway, Paul's going to be here in the first
hour of the show. I haven't had much of a
chance to talk about Trey Henderson, so I'm going to
today because I just I want to know this. What
was accomplished? Yeah, I know it was accomplished for us?
What was accomplished there?

Speaker 6 (02:02:22):
I'm just thinking of your angle from this because this,
this has been unbelievable for the last couple of days.
And Tuesday you had five to one to three day
and you're loaded with with UC folks.

Speaker 9 (02:02:32):
Huh.

Speaker 3 (02:02:32):
Yesterday you're at the Holy Grail with Pete Rose.

Speaker 8 (02:02:35):
This is I was not at the Holy Grail with
Pete Rose when you were there with a cardboard cutout.

Speaker 3 (02:02:39):
There was a guy walking around with a cardboard cutout.

Speaker 6 (02:02:41):
We've got days and days of build up ready to
go with Trey Hendrickson today.

Speaker 3 (02:02:47):
I'm fired up.

Speaker 8 (02:02:47):
As I'm fired up, there was a guy that came
out to meet the Holy Grail yesterday and he thought
I was Pete Rose Junior. Oh man, because he comes
up to me, he's like Pete.

Speaker 3 (02:02:56):
I'm like okay.

Speaker 8 (02:02:57):
It's like he's like, you might not remember this, but
I played football with your dad Grossbec And I'm like, hey, man,
I don't know. So you know, my dad didn't play
football at Grossbec. He's like, I thought you were Pete
Rose junior. So then this other guy I did the
inside pitch. He comes up to me. I'm like packing
up my stuff and he's like Lance.

Speaker 3 (02:03:17):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 8 (02:03:18):
I'm like, no, I'm not Lance's. I was going to
ask if you went to Lasal. I'm like no, and
I don't think Lance did either. He's like, well I
thought Lance Lancers, Like, oh boy, oh you know he
was named before he went to highst. He didn't go there.
So big day for people thinking I was someone else. Yeah, sure,
Like people were drinking down there.

Speaker 3 (02:03:38):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 8 (02:03:40):
There were folks there yesterday at the Holy Grail that
I don't think had been to a Reds game since
maybe forty one, ninety two.

Speaker 3 (02:03:46):
I was told that that would be the case. Yeah.

Speaker 8 (02:03:49):
So in remember twenty sixteen they had the big Pete
Rose Weekend. I went to one of those games and
it was like a thousand degrees out. People were dropping
like flies, like there were folks I legitimately don't think,
and that was nine years ago. I legitimately don't think
he had been to the ballpark or any ballpark and at
that point thirty years.

Speaker 6 (02:04:05):
I was thinking that last night, and then I think
of the product that was displayed last night, Like those
people are like, we're good.

Speaker 3 (02:04:11):
Are they gonna do something else here soon? That's gonna
honor anyone else. We'll come back for that. But keep
the Big Red Machine reunion in a month from now.
Uh huh yeah, Keith all over.

Speaker 8 (02:04:19):
Keep pushing him out there, Keith costagain MLS. He's in
pass has the hell is Real call? On Saturday he
joins us at four twenty. Chad Rendel on u SE's
no addition, Baba.

Speaker 3 (02:04:29):
Ba ba ba booie, Wow, watch out for the Cats
man you watched like Boba is the same noise Trey
Hendrickson was making yesterday to the camera.

Speaker 8 (02:04:38):
If Boba Miller misses like a big game losing shot, yeah,
it's gonna be bob Ba blewett.

Speaker 3 (02:04:44):
Oh. Ken Anderson's gonna be on the show too. But
what if he you know, they're what if they make
the tournament and he hits a buzzer beater to advance
the bear Cats bob Ba buzzer and you're saying bye
bye bye to whoever you beat. Shootouts on a Friday,
come on, probably the I But yeah, it is on
a Friday this year like that first time since two
thousand and one. Awesome.

Speaker 6 (02:05:04):
You don't have to you don't have to contend with
Santacan and Championship College basket football.

Speaker 8 (02:05:10):
Now we're Bearcat fans. That Friday night shootout December I
think eight, two thousand and one. The only time you
see is won at the Yeah, what is the date
of that. I know it's December fifth, December. That sounds right, So.

Speaker 3 (02:05:24):
We could we could do the shootout and then the
next day we can you.

Speaker 6 (02:05:28):
See in the Big twelve title exactly how important is
it for your New York next to win Game six?

Speaker 8 (02:05:33):
Must can't get it to Monday, can't go to Game seven.
Give the Celtics a lot of credit last night. I
was talking to somebody at the Grail yesterday and I said, like,
you're gonna get the proud champions effort at home without
Jason Tatum. And they were eight and two without him
this year. Defending champions hard to beat four times? Yeah,
whe or without Jason Tatum, who's obviously awesome. In Game four,

(02:05:55):
if the Knicks don't win tomorrow, they will not win
the series.

Speaker 3 (02:05:58):
What do you make about this, Ohio lollmaker and noon kickoffs? Stupid,
dumbest thing I've ever heard?

Speaker 6 (02:06:03):
What about NFL players playing in the Olympics, don't care?
What do you think is one team on the Bengal
schedule a couple of years ago as the Texans that
kind of came out of nowhere last year as the Commanders.
Do you think there's a team on the Bengal schedule?

Speaker 3 (02:06:15):
You know who? I think it was last year? The
Philadelphia Eagles.

Speaker 8 (02:06:18):
Yeah, we were talking about the schedule last year, looking
at it like, well, that Eagles won the whole thing.

Speaker 3 (02:06:22):
Commander's got to get it. They're getting them early with
Jade and Daniels. That was brutal.

Speaker 8 (02:06:26):
I think one of the most interesting teams in the
NFL is at Denver Broncos. Yeah, because I could see
them winning the AFC West, and I can also see
bo Nicks kind of not taking that next step.

Speaker 3 (02:06:35):
Well Matt McClain like sophomore slump.

Speaker 8 (02:06:37):
Yeah, so that to me, that's a really interesting game
because you know, look at it. If you go got
to get off to a fast start. Oh yeah, do
you go, Okay, then split Minnesota Denver. If you lose
to Minnesota, you kind of have to be Denver because
then what happens.

Speaker 6 (02:06:53):
I had them losing in that four game stretch. I
think if they go too and two, you're good.

Speaker 3 (02:06:58):
I hate that we're doing this though, But you beat.

Speaker 6 (02:07:00):
The Browns, you beat the Jags, you win all three
at home. You're seven and two at.

Speaker 3 (02:07:03):
The bye Okay, I'm pumped to see Travis Hunter. Seven
and two at the bye. Yes.

Speaker 8 (02:07:08):
Yeah, I can't wait to see Travis Hunter. Travis Hunting
week two, seven and two at the bye.

Speaker 3 (02:07:11):
Yes.

Speaker 8 (02:07:12):
But, like you know, I joked about this with Paul
on his podcast last night. Every year you have to
look for the gauntlet. The gauntlet comes early, starting Week three.
Five stree games against playoff teams. You know, Detroit didn't
lose on the road last year. Winning at Minnesota is
going to be tough. Winning at Green Bay is going
to be tough. And then you get the Steelers on
a short week for the first time in seventeen years,

(02:07:32):
which isn't going to be easy. You have to win
those first two. But I think Denver is the most
interesting game.

Speaker 6 (02:07:38):
Your eyes immediately obviously go to Baltimore, Buffalo Baltimore, but
with a team that has struggled to start fast three
out of the first four or four out of the
first six.

Speaker 3 (02:07:46):
On the road.

Speaker 6 (02:07:46):
You mentioned the teams that you're playing, and then I
also think out of the bye, because you have a
month plus where you're home coming out of the bye.
If you are seven and two somewhere around there, the
conversation is about, Okay, got a three game stretch where
you could get a top of the AFC. Kansas City's
got a brutal schedule, but that that that first game
out of the bye at Pittsburgh, Like if if you're

(02:08:09):
going to be different, if you're going to be contending,
then you've got to beat the Steelers twice, and at
Pittsburgh coming off a bye is always going to be tough.

Speaker 3 (02:08:19):
No no, no question about it.

Speaker 8 (02:08:21):
I do think it's fair to Gripe, given how hard
it is to win in primetime on the road. I
do think it's fair to Gripe that they've sent them
to Baltimore for a night. And I love playing Thanksgiving Night.
I like that more than on the road. But like,
I love that, But I understand the gripe four straight years.

(02:08:41):
You have to play Baltimore in prime.

Speaker 6 (02:08:43):
It's only one primetime home game and it's a Thursday.

Speaker 3 (02:08:46):
Here's my wager.

Speaker 8 (02:08:48):
Bengals Dolphins gets Flexeda gets flexed out of primetime.

Speaker 3 (02:08:52):
Okay, I don't have any problem with that. I'm fine
with that too.

Speaker 6 (02:08:56):
Moe's next, more on the schedule, more on the Reds
and so much. Red's one more avoid this week. Coming
next on the Bowagger Show. May that Pope a lot
of Trey Hendrickson coming up on the ESPN Pope Bob
Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 12 (02:09:09):
Have a great Thursday, Ky Cincinnati, make us the number
one pre said on your car radio and on the free,
new and improved iHeartRadio add free never sounded so good.

Speaker 1 (02:09:30):
ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 3 (02:09:32):
You have a try to fixing your car and realize
you're missing that one part. Yeah,