December 10, 2025 • 42 mins
Tony and Austin talk about the Reds and Kyle Schwarber, the Bengals, take your calls, and more on ESPN 1530!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Tony Pike, Sincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in part by Skyline Chili. Stop by Skyline Chili
for a three way or cheese cony Today. Feeling good,
It's Skyline time. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good Afternoon, Happy Wednesday. Welcome in Cincy three sixty on
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station and a service of
our good friends at Skyline Chili. Anytime you're feeling good
and hungry, it's Skyline time. And how about this? Speaking
of Skyline Chili, Skylines Mac and Cheese three way is
(00:45):
back top it with Skyline Chili and a mound of
the freshly shredded Wisconsin cheddar. You can find it with
the original Skyline Chili, or you could try it with
the new Chicken Chili. It is the ultimate comfort food
and it's available participating in Skyline locations for a limited time.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I tried it with the Chicken Chili the other day.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Sensational.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It just happened to be. Last night Austin, we took
the kiddos to Went and Woods to take in like
some holiday festivities and afterwards kind of chili it was
windy last night. Man, I need something to warm us
up and get the Skyline chili. Walker's favorite food is
mac and cheese, and so normally, right, normally when we
(01:28):
go to Skyline, we're like getting him a cheese coning.
Then we cut up the hot dog and he likes
the chili. Last night, I see this. Can I just
get a bowl of mac and cheese for the little
man here? He devoured it, devoured it. You want to
talk about creamy, it's fantastic, fantastic. So thanks to Skyline
Chili for that and for making a perfect night cap
(01:50):
to our night last night as well. We've got a busy,
busy three hours ahead of us here. We've got guests throughout.
Zach Taylor isn't a guest, but he speaks today, so
we'll carry that audio. At one o'clock, we'll hear what
Zach Taylor has to say. Going into this week, looking
hopefully for some update on t Higgins. I know the
Bengals sign Xavier Johnson, former Ohio state wide receiver. He's
(02:13):
also from Cincinnati, so that's a thing. Maybe he could
put some fans in the stands Zach Taylor at one o'clock.
Jeff Carr locked on Red's We'll join us at two o'clock.
We're gonna spend a lot of time today talking about
what Ken Rosenthal reported on with the Reds free agency plan.
(02:34):
Now that they've missed on Kyle Schwarber, it's going to
be a topic of conversation all throughout the afternoon. I'm
sure we'll take some phone calls along the way. Five one, three, seven, four, nine,
fifteen thirty. On that happy birthday, Joe Burrow, Joey Bee's
birthday is today. James Rapene wrote an article talked about
the clock is ticking. It's an inevitable truth when it
(02:57):
comes to Joe Burrow, the clock is ticking. We'll discuss
that this afternoon. The old line improvement. You asked the
question to Joe Daniman yesterday, Austin. I think we should
expand on it a little bit. Just how well this
offensive line has played and in a season filled with
turmoil and ups and downs. If you're looking at a
positive for both now and the foundation being said for
(03:20):
the future, the Bengals offensive line is one of those things.
We'll spend some time on that today. Also, we'll look
back to the Ravens win from a couple of weeks ago,
and look ahead to what the Bengals will have to
do in order to beat the Ravens this week. Mock
drafts are happening across the NFL. Are we ready for
mock drafts yet, Austin Or do you need to be
(03:41):
one hundred percent out of playoff contention before you'll even
look at a mock draft.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
I'll look at a mock draft, you know, at all times,
just because I want to familiarize myself with some of
the names, but I don't really put any value into
them until the day before the NFL draft. Field Yates.
They're a fun time killer. They're a fun conversation starter.
Field Yates threw one out there today. Unfortunately, you know
(04:10):
the Rams get the Falcons pick this year. Yes, so
it has the Rams at number nine taking Caleb Downs.
Wouldn't that just be a kick in the groin? And
then it has the Bengals, according to field Yates, going
for Ruben Bain Junior, the edge rusher out of Miami. Okay,
he says, does field Yates, Hendrickson and Osi are scheduled
to be free agents. Bengals tried to prepare for this
(04:31):
with Shamar Stewart, but it's been a non factor since
he really needs to look at defense. And it says
about Ruben Bain. Some scouts think Bain's lack of length
could push him more to the end of the first round.
All of them agrees one of the best prospects at
the position. So there you go.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Ruben Bain Junior latest mock draft already for the Cincinnati Bengals. Hey,
congratulations to the White Sox Austin. Do you hear what
they did?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I did?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
They won the the draft lottery. I didn't even know
the draft lottery was happening.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
The Chicago White Sox have won the draft lottery. The
Reds are number eighteen oh in the opening round of
the upcoming twenty twenty six Major League Baseball Draft.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
I believe the Rule five draft is happening today.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
OH.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And the expectation is that the Reds will be active
in that Rule five draft and at least pick up
some sort of pitching. Let's go, there's a couple of
left handers that are going to be available. Curious to
see if the what the Reds do, if they do anything.
It is also the final day of Winter meetings. Could
there be another blockbuster on the horizon. Well, there are
(05:40):
reports out there that the Reds are interested or trying
to trade for one Cotel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Don't know, you know what that would look like, but.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
That would at least be something.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
It would be these all star caliber pl position. He
plays second base. Okay, now the argument has already been
made and we can ask Jeff about this later on
that if you're gonna get a guy like cart catel Marte,
that would require you to trade someone like Matt McLean.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Hmm.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Interesting. Yeah, Matt McClean will goes somewhere and be an
All star, have a great career. Uh, we're gonna do
QB tiers today because we didn't get to it yesterday.
We'll do that and shout out to most New York Knicks. Them,
along with the Orlando Magic cost of advanced to the
semi finals of the NBA Cup.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I saw a headline about the Knicks. Oh, it said,
Nicks closer to an identity reach NBA Cup semis.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Wow, that's a great headline. Well, you want to be
close to the idea.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Looking no a unidentity their identity. Oh okay, shout out
to Asia Wilson, by the way, AP Female Athlete of
the Year and on the cover of Time magazine. The
best player that we don't talk about enough.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Agreed.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I mean everyone talks about Caitlin Clark and Angel Reeds, Buckets,
Paige Becker's and you know all these There are plenty
of great players in the WNBA. Ajia Wilson is one
of the best flat out basketball players in the country. Yeah,
and I'm glad that she continues to get recognized. She's
on the cover of Time magazine, which is really cool.
And then I saw Nike put her in an ad
(07:27):
campaign that said only magazines can cover her.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I read a story. I know she's dating Bam out
of Bayo.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Is she really Yeah? Oh good for Bam.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
You know she was telling a story about them playing
one on one.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
You learn a thing or two.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah. Can you imagine you're Asia Wilson. You practice one
on one against a defensive Player of the Year candidate
year in and year out in the NBA. Pretty good,
No wonder she's dominating on a daily basis. Also, if
you're looking at NBA Cup, the other side of the bracket, Suns,
thunder Spurs, Lakers happens tonight, so two other tickets will
(08:02):
be punched to the semifinals of the NBA Cup. And
I have to give a shout out to something that
happened last night and something that we will revisit later
in the show today Austin, last night was the start
of V Week. If you're not familiar, V Week circles
around the Jimmy V Foundation, jim Valvano. Jimmy V Week
(08:26):
started yesterday. I'm sorry. It started on December second and
runs through officially December fourteenth. But last night in college
basketball was the start of the Jimmy V. Classic. So
there were two games played at Madison Square Garden last night.
And if you're not familiar, during V Week, they match
(08:49):
up to a million dollars that is being donated for
cancer research. One hundred percent Austin of the direct donations
go right to cancer research. So this isn't a thing
where you know, you donate twenty bucks and a percentage
that goes one percent of the direct donations go to
cancer research for Jimmy V and the V Foundation. So
(09:11):
when I was growing up Austin, for as long as
I can remember as long as V Week has been happening,
at the start of V Week, my dad would always
sit my brothers and our family down and we would
watch Jim Valvano's speech from the original SB Awards, And
every year since then we've sat down, and last night
(09:34):
found myself again sitting down and rewatching this, and I
kicked myself a little bit because the Jimmy V Classic
was last night and I had it on a list
that I wanted to air some of that speech, not
not because I'm urging people to donate to the foundation,
but in the speech there are just things that Jim
(09:54):
Valvano talks about that I think still hold true today.
Whether it's someone going through something like cancer or someone
that's going through different stages or different things in their life,
I think the words of Jim Valvano hold true. So
what I'd like to do today, Austin, is at the
end of the show, before we get to quick Hits,
play about six minutes of that speech from Jim Valvano
(10:15):
last night. I think that'd be good. We'll react to that,
so pencil that in for later in the show. As
well as far as the classic itself, had a couple
of good ones. Last night, Number ten rated BYU was
down forty three to twenty two at the half to Clemson.
I'll say it again, forty three to twenty two at halftime.
(10:38):
Last night, BYU outscores Clemson forty five to twenty one,
including a Robert right the third three pointer as time
expired to give BYU the sixty seven sixty four win.
It was absolute madness. AJ Debansta scored twenty two of
(11:00):
his twenty eight in the second half. He is He's
being referred to Austin as this generation's Tracy McGrady. Oh
my gosh, if you watched just his highlight lackage too,
I'm telling you McGrady was in attendance last night. If
you just watched the highlights of what AJ did last night,
he looks NBA ready right now. He's unbelievable to watch.
(11:23):
BYU wins. They beat Clemson, and then in a nightcap,
it was the defending champions, the Florida Gators, against a
team they knocked out of the NCAA Tournament last year,
the Yukon Huskies, And it was Yukon getting the better
of Florida last night. Yukon seventy seven, Florida seventy three.
(11:43):
Michigan has now beat six opponents in a row by
twenty five or more points. They dominated Villanova last night
and the fighting a line. I Austin went to Columbus
and beat Ohio State eighty eight to eighty.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Not a lot of people there in Columbus last night, Yeah,
a listener, thirteen team in the country.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
I saw that. But if you've seen the crowds at
Fifth Third Arena for the last couple of home games
for the Bearcats, I am in no place to talk
about a crowd or lack thereof. I was surprised though, because,
as you mentioned, it's the thirteenth rated team in the
country coming into your building. I was surprised seeing videos
(12:24):
and pictures, and it's not Ohio State's been terrible. They
were seven and one going into the game last.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Night, right, and they should have been eight to no.
They lost on a buzzer beater to pit Yes, and
there is excitement I think around the program and with
Jake Diebler coming into this season, and so a little
bit surprising on a night like last night, when the
weather wasn't horrible. It's not like you're struggling to get
to the arena and not as many people there as
(12:51):
they would have expected. So it's one of the story
lines to keep an eye out on when it comes
to Buckeye basketball. But yeah, they held their own. I
saw a lot of people expected them to cover that
four and a half. They didn't. But either way, the.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Norse the Norse one. The Kentucky Wildcats won. I saw
Mark Pope. I think Brendan Garrison. Brandan Garrison, I think
he's one of the starters for Kentucky. Mark Pope benched
him at the end of the first half and did
not play him in the second half. He turned the
ball over and just kind of jogged back on defense,
and you could read Pope's lips after a time out saying,
get on the bench. I give Mark Pope a credit
(13:32):
here because he's trying. That's that's slipping through his fingers
right now. He's trying to change it up. I don't
think Mark Pope is this outwardly aggressive guy. I don't
think he's the raw rah guy. I think he's understanding
that he's got to change a little bit. Based on
his team. Kentucky's talented. There's there's no getting around that.
They just have some terrible, terrible losses this year. They've
(13:54):
lost all ranked teams, but it's the way in which
they've lost. But to see Kentucky at least find a
way to get back on track. I know they're not
healthy yet either. They're going to get healthier as the
season goes, but certainly some stuff to watch from a
college basketball point of view. Speaking of college hoops, Xavier
is off until Friday this week. They come back on Friday.
(14:19):
It's not a I don't think it's a marquee game
for the Muskies. I don't think it's a game that
they should lose by any says. They take on Missouri
State on Friday. After that, they will get into Big
East play, starting with Creighton. As for the Cincinnati Bearcats,
they're back in action on Saturday against a very good
(14:42):
Georgia Bulldog team. Georgia is just on the outside looking
into the top twenty five right now. They are eight
and one on the season. They're lone loss ninety seven
to ninety four to the Clemson Tigers. They have wins
over Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Xavier on the young season,
so it'll be a tall test for the since Sinnati
Bearcats to come off a shootout loss. We'll see what
(15:03):
Wes Miller squad has to say about answering. We will
answer your phone calls all afternoon five one, three, seven, four, nine,
fifteen thirty before we get into anything with the Bengals, Austin.
I think it would be fair, because I think it
took a lot yesterday if you follow on with social
media or reactions from people, not only the Kyle Schwarbern
(15:24):
news going back to the Phillies, but what coincided with
that and what we've learned as far as the Reds plans.
We're going to talk to Jeff Carr about this at two.
Let's get you up to speed on everything that's happened
with the Reds and what their plan looks like in
free agency. Next on the Home of the Bengals, ESPN
fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station, Thanks to our friends at
Skyline Chilli.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
This is Football in the NATI, brought to you by
Postman Law on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of
the Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
All right, welcome back, cinty three to sixty, fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports Station, and of course a service of our
good friends at Skyline Chili, where anytime you're feeling good
and hungry, it is always Skyline time. Now, as far
as the football in the Natti part of this Austin,
we can mention that Xavier Johnson is a Cincinnati Bengal. Now,
(16:20):
can Xavier Johnson help this team?
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Probably not know?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Okay, pay two good plays at Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Sure a lot of guys have. Yeah, you made a
few good plays at Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Thank you, just a couple.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
You know, I was doing a segment. I wasn't doing
a segment. I was guys down the hall were doing
a segment yesterday about all time draft bus because of
your main Burton, And somebody tweeted at me and said,
should I call in and say Tony Pike, Wow, you
can't be considered a draft bust. You're a six round pick, right?
Speaker 4 (16:53):
No?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
I mean you were six for twelve correct, with a
couple drops. I would say that's that's more than most
extround pick quarterbacks with some of them have been pretty good,
some of the ones are pretty good. But you can't
be considered a post Thank you. Xavier Johnson is a
Cincinnati Bengal. He's a Cincinnati kid. That's why they signed
Cincinnati kid. Apparently the Reds really urged the Bengals to
(17:17):
sign him because he's from Cincinnati. Ticket went to Summit
Country Day, went to Ohio State as a running back,
eventually moved to a wide receiver. He was the recipient
of the block oh which means you where the number
zero in his final year A beloved buck. Eye has
not been with the team at all this year, was
with US Buffalo for a little bit last year.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Can he help the team more than Jermaine Burnham?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
He he probably takes up that roster spot or at
least in the practice squad or whatever it might be.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Jermain burn which by the way, has not been picked
up on waivers.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I do think it's it's interesting. H Yeah, no, and
nor will he shocking shocker, But with the expectation being
that T Higgins is not going to play on Sunday
and more than likely not again the rest of the year,
maybe he's somebody you take a flyer on moving forward.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
So that's happened. It's Joe Burrow's birthday. We wish Joe
Burrow a happy birthday, but I.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Want to think these like, do you think they do
anything special for him at now at at the facility.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
No, just a quick happy birthday.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
You don't think like Flacco gets some a cake or something.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Nope, it's just a quick happy birthday.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
I'm sure they do something that's probably put like a
balloon on it on his chair, probably a cupcake. Sure,
Brad Cragthorpe hassed something up his sleeve. It They'll make
something happen.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I'm sure. Now you know that's a.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Guy we haven't given enough credit to. By the way,
Brad Cragthorpe, man, you talk about the way that the
quarterbacks are performed, obviously Jake Browning notwithstanding, sure Brad Cragthorpe
deserves some credit. He'll be an offensive coordinator somewhere soon.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
There it is. That's our football in the Nattie now
mentioned before the hometown kid that was Xavier Johnson, and
the hometown kid it almost was Kyle Schwarber Austin. Since
we last spoke yesterday, there have been a couple things
that have come out. One we receive per Ken Rosenthal
of the Athletic the offer in which the Reds threw
(19:12):
at Kyle Schwarber. If you haven't seen this the Red's
offered somewhere in the range of five years and one
hundred and twenty five million dollars to Kyle Schwarber. That
is twenty five million dollars less than the deal that
he agreed upon to return to the Philadelphia Phillies. Now
what I don't know in any of this, Like I'm
(19:33):
always like interested Austin. Let's say the Reds offered the
exact same amount the Phillies did, would Kyle Schwarber have
come here? I don't know. We won't know that. But
here's the thing. The lack of money is one thing,
but it's the it's the additional context from Ken Rosenthal
(19:57):
that has had people since then, and rightfully so, losing
their mind. Ken Rosenthal said this unlike the Orioles, people
believe the Orioles are gonna now pivot and go after
a big name free agent. Rosenthal says, unlike the Orioles,
the Reds are not expected to pursue other expensive free agents.
(20:17):
Their offer to Schwarber, a native of Middletown, Ohio, thirty
five miles north of Cincinnati, was tied to their belief
that his addition would help drive ticket sales in other words,
Reds aren't gonna go get Pete Alonzo. They're not gonna
look at Cody Bellinger or Alex Bregman or hell, anyone
(20:39):
that can actually maybe hit for power in this ballpark
at a position of need. They went after Schwarber because
he's the hometown guy, and the hometown guy could hopefully
help sell tickets. Now, maybe maybe it was about winning
(21:00):
to an extent, but this screams to me. This screams
to me. You said it was about winning, you think
at an extent. All it says to me is we
want to sign the guy that lives in this area
because he's going to help us make more money, which
they failed to do. By the way, it tells me
that it's not about winning for this organization. It's about
(21:22):
selling tickets. They saw Kyle Schwarber as a chance to
sell more tickets primarily, and then whatever happened with wins
and losses on the secondary market. That's just kind of
what it falls into. Because if that wasn't the case,
then they would turn and say, man, Pete Alonzo hit
what thirty nine home runs last year? Plays at a
(21:44):
position of need for this team. Durable plays a lot
of games he could help this team win. The Reds Austin.
I think people thought about it. The Reds openly came
out and said this for us was about putting more
fans in the state and not about winning. And for
so many people, including myself, that's maddening and it's insulting
(22:06):
to Cincinnati Reds fans to say that that's what it
was about. Because if you know anything about Reds fans,
if the product on the field is a good one,
if this team is winning games, guess what happens. People
go to the games. People will still go. If it
were Pete Alonzo instead of Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonzo's
hitting home runs and you're still winning, guess what people
(22:28):
will go to the games. They'll they'll buy the tickets
because this fan base, we've seen it in the past.
If you just give a glimpse of winning and a
glimpse of trying, the fans in Cincinnati support you. And
I think it is disrespectful to this fan base to
come out and say this was about the idea that
(22:48):
Swarber would put fans in the stands and those other
guys won't. To me, it's maddening. I know You talked
about this on the Ball Don't Live podcast as well
your podcast. Yeah, what do you say? What were your reactions?
Speaker 3 (23:02):
I think I've been saying for many years about the
Reds that they could do more, but they choose not to.
This is as clear a day an example of that
as you're ever going to get. And I think back
to a week or two ago when some of the
steams started to pick up about there being a realistic
possibility for Schwarberg coming to the Reds and the article
(23:24):
that Charlie Goldsmith wrote, which is that in order for
that to happen, it would require an exception from ownership
to do it. And that's when I started to realize, Okay,
this really could be happening, and the Reds could be
making an exception here for a guy like Kyle Schwarber.
But the important part is exception, the word exception. There's
(23:50):
not an exception for Pete Alonzo. There's not an exception
for Cody Bellinger, There's not an exception for Alex Bregman.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
That's the issue.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
The issue is that this is not a team that
is fully committed to winning baseball games. As much as
it's fully committed to trying to be a lifestyle brand.
That's their goal. They've been very open and transparent about it,
which is what's amazing to me. Now, the Reds aren't
the ones who came out and said we're not gonna
go after anybody else. That was a report from Ken Rosenthal,
(24:21):
but somehow he had to get that information. Someone told
him that. But they've also openly said we want to
eliminate peaks and valleys. We're trying to break even where
else you're gonna go. That is open. They have been
very open and transparent about their plan, and it is insulting.
(24:42):
I feel insulted as a Reds fan that the only
way they would consider trying to make a splash and
free agency is if it's a guy who is from
here as opposed to a guy who can help you
win baseball games. It go to show that the priority
(25:02):
list for the Reds is revenue is first, winning baseball
games is second. Yeah, they have the ability, and there
are avenues within the way that the ownership is structured
and the way that the financial product can be a
like all of it, there are avenues. The Reds do
(25:25):
not go down them. It's an issue and if they're
not gonna make a run and a guy right now
like Kyle Schwarber. And when you really look at it,
I had been saying that the Reds deserve credit for
taking a swing. I don't know that they deserve all
that much credit because even the Pirates offered him thirty
million dollars a year, the Reds didn't do that, which
(25:48):
is hard to believe. And who knows what the incentives were.
But to to just continue this down this path of
we're gonna draft and develop and play small ball and
this that and the other, well, listen, man, they're not
gonna play baseball next summer or this summer. They will
next summer they will not. And after that the Reds
(26:10):
will cry pour again because nobody came to the games
and they won't ask for money from their other investors.
And so we'll go through this vicious cycle and then
Ellie de la Cruz is out the door in twenty nine.
They have a club option for Hunter Green then too,
and we'll just restart this whole thing over and over again.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
So can I just ask a dumb question?
Speaker 3 (26:28):
So if not now, then win? Can I just add
my question a dumb question?
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Sure? Do they not understand that winning games will lead
to more revenue.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
They don't care about winning games.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
But they want revenue. They want fans in the stands,
their revenue winning games does that. We've seen that, Like
we've seen.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
They think, I would imagine their thought process is it
costs more and it's a bigger risk to go and
sign players than it is to put together a ticket
package or a bibblehead night or trot out some big
red machine guys. That's a low risk, cheap alternative to
get butts in the seats as opposed to a five
(27:09):
or six year contract with the player who could get
hurt or could you know, not perform or whatever reason
regardless of.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Winning. Well, add more to their pocket And I get
your sense of it too. But like we've seen instances
in the past couple of years Austin, when they've just
teased five hundred, when they've teased getting into the wild
card race, the stadium is rocking. Was it two years
ago that Tiger series where the Tigers eventually swept them?
(27:38):
And I remember going down to that series and thinking,
holy cow, this stadium is alive and all three they
got swept by the Tigers. But that was just them
teasing being competitive. We saw last year at times when
this team went on a little bit of a run
and they got in the conversation. The atmosphere was a
(28:00):
electric at Great American Ballpark. I get revenue, revenue, revenue, revenue.
Just win games and the revenue is gonna come. It's
so backwards in a way of thinking, and.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
I think you're missing the point though. The point is
if we can go if we can try to build
a team as cheap as possible through draft and developing,
and but they can't build that low level free agents again,
put your put yourself in their shoes. If we can
do that and actually win some games, more people will
(28:31):
come and we don't have to have the significant financial
investment in someone else.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
That It's never about the pursuit of a champion.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
It hasn't been about the pursuit of a chance. It
never will be for years. It never will be. It
might be maybe one day when other people are no
longer in charge, but right now it's.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Not just just and as a as a lifelong Reds fan,
it's maddening. Sure, it's frustrating because you know what it
could be, let's say.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
And it sucks too, because there are some really good
people in that organization and people that I think are
smart if they want to win and are trying like hell,
and they do incredible things in the in the community,
and we have a great relationship with a lot of
people down there. But at the end of the day,
winning is not the priority, and that's all fans really
(29:22):
care about.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Yeah, like, what is the backing Austin if they say, well, Red,
we just missed on Kyle Schwarber, but we're going to
go after another one.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
And I think we've already started to see some of
the you know, pr trying to come in and save
themselves by oh now they're interested in Catel Marte. Are
they really or did they make the next a weak
ass all for the Diamondbacks and leak it and say,
I'll see we're still trying. Because when you're not doing
everything in your power to win, you no longer get
(29:51):
the benefit of the doubt. No one believes that you're
actually actively trying to get better. You're on record for
saying you've got five to ten million dollars in payroll
left to go. Yep, so we know you're not really trying.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Yep. Let's take a break. We'll open up the phone
lines five, one, three, seven, four, nine, fifteen thirty, plenty
more still to go, cinty three to sixty on the
Home of the Bengals, ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
You've been listening to Football in the NATI on ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals. This
is an important notice to all your.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Downs penetrating the bus. We'll Tagga Cats with the tow
down down all right, DN, alright, there's our wind Schulers
Call of the night. Thanks to our friends at Win Schulers.
Four fantastic cheese spreads available for all your holiday needs.
(30:55):
It's not a holiday get together. It's not a watch
party without Win Schulers cheese spreads.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
The Big Cat, Karl Anthony Town's Bodega Cat, the Boadaga
as he's known, with the big time flush in the
NBA Cup against Toronto last night. The Boadaga Cat, they say,
when are him and Caleb William's gonna start a podcast?
Speaker 2 (31:19):
That'd be good, that'd be fun. We need more podcasts,
you know. Uh? Did you see the Philip Rivers start
of his press conference today? I did, Yeah, How good
was that?
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Like?
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Wow, no, zoom, he's a The last time Philip Rivers
was around, I've never there were zoom calls for the
team meetings.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
I've never been a huge Philip Rivers fan, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
He's intense.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Man, I've never really like been like, gosh, I love
that guy, but I do find him fascinating.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Well, where are we gonna slot him in today on
our QB tears?
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Uh, he's not on him. Oh, okay, he's not on mine.
All right, I have three tiers basically fair enough, Mike
is calling in. What's going on?
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Mike?
Speaker 4 (32:00):
Hey, guys, thank you appreciate it. Hey, you know, did
you watch that Florida Yukon game last night? Time? Yes,
Florida should have won that game. They had that five
second called that blew the game. Boy. Their coach was
pissed off, wasn't you? Yep?
Speaker 2 (32:15):
That was both games last night that the B y
U Clemson and Florida Yukon. That was high level college
basketball at Madison Square Garden.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Oh, it was at Florida front Line. Those guys are
talented and they'll just get better as the year goes.
They're they're scary teams. I think, hey, you know what
they were. I heard an interview with Edwin Diaz and
they were asking him about his brother or r X,
and uh, he's been working with h Dennis Eckers. He's
(32:46):
been working started working with the Dodgers relief pitchers last year,
and uh, they said, he's starting to come around. He's
added he's added a pitch to and he changed his
mechanics and stuff. Evidently has helped him out a lot.
So we'll see what happens. Maybe their ds end up
listing back again one day. Who knows.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
It's just always it's it's unique with pitchers as well,
because you've seen the ability at one point or another
that they can be elite and sometimes maybe it is
just a new coach being able to add something different
that unlocks something and gets them back to who they were.
And if that's the case for the Dodgers and they
got both, you know they can get Edwin and Alexis good.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
Luck Alexis is with the Braves.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
But yeah, yes, yeah, but what the Dodgers were more
possibly able to open up with him?
Speaker 4 (33:30):
Yeah, well, Ackers league really helped bring him around and
then they shocked him out. But but I was looking
at at Eckersley's career record, Tony. I knew he was
a starter, but I didn't know he had one hundred
complete games. He started three hundred and sixty one games,
completed one hundred of them, and then he he had
one thousand and seventy one games that he that he
(33:52):
had four hundred saves, then with twenty five hundred strikeouts
in a three point by the ra Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
The deplet game status, Well, it'll just it'll never be
like that again. They're just with the pitch. The pitch
counts for players. You're just not going to see pitchers
go the distance like so many players I remember watching
growing up, that we're able to go out there and
throw one hundred and twenty five pitches and go nine
innings and then come back and do the same thing
in their next start.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Yeah, that those days are gone. You're right. It's kind
of a shame in a way, I think, because everything's
gotten so dogged on, compartmentalized.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Well everything everything now is about velocity and it's and
it just everything puts so much stress on the arm
that these arms are just failing at a higher rate
because all anyone cares about is how hard can you
throw the ball?
Speaker 4 (34:40):
And that's happening when they're starting at nine ten years old, right, correct? Yeah,
so by the time they're eighteen, they already are probably
developing problems that aren't known yet that are ready to
jump down. Hey, one quick question on the NFL. This
Houston team, now that defense is just staggering.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Yes, that's a super Bowl defense.
Speaker 4 (35:02):
It is, and Lee, that's what I want to confirm with.
I know Austin believes in Houston defense, but uh, do
you think Stroud's starting to come around now? You think
that offense can could get them there? Or are they not?
Speaker 2 (35:16):
I still think their offensive line has a ways to go,
But their last win against the Chiefs, I thought it
was the best I've seen Stroud. Look, I know he's
he's been dealing with concussion and and and getting back
from that, but it feels like you still got Nico Collins.
I know they they drafted Jayden Higgins high and he's
played extremely well this year. So I don't think that
(35:37):
they're their offense will be a storyline at any point,
but they're good enough with how good that defense is
to compete.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
Kind of like the Bears were back in age. I
mean they had Walter, but other than that, they didn't
have nothing. I don't remember much on offense, so so
did who was that other wide? And then I know
you gotta go who was that other wide out?
Speaker 5 (35:58):
Tank?
Speaker 4 (36:00):
That's his first nickname.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Let's take down. Yeah he's I think he's out for
the season still with that injury from last year.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
He was a stud though, wasn't he? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (36:09):
And really what they've lost Nick Chubbs has been questionable.
That the whole Joe Mixon situation I think has hurt
this team dearly this year and and just the unknown
around that. So I Dalton Schultz is a good tight end.
They they have good, okay pieces on offense, but their
their defense is going to be what wins them or
loses them games.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Yeah, they do. They might do some damage in the claffs.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Nice appreciate it. Uh, Greg, what's going on?
Speaker 4 (36:38):
Hey?
Speaker 5 (36:38):
How's it going guys?
Speaker 2 (36:39):
What's up?
Speaker 5 (36:42):
If obviously the Reds were serious little Kyle Scharver, But
if they're still serious, why not maybe take a shot
at Alonzo? And you know what I like about Alonzo?
Besides all the numbers, the last couple of couple of years,
he played one hundred and sixty two games.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Yeah, to me, Durable, you're gonna.
Speaker 5 (36:59):
Rema ain't serious. Maybe they are taking a shot at him.
And then the other thing. Of course, I'm one of
those guys that can't let stuff go. But when I
saw the Pirates, I think it was thirty million a year.
The first thing I thought of, we owe Key Bryant
thirty million for the next four years, a total of
thirty million. I thought, Wow, we really helped the Pirates out.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (37:22):
I want to tell you that is, you know, one
of the dumbest moves I've ever seen.
Speaker 4 (37:27):
The Reds move.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Mate.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
The guy cannot hit and he's got a chronic bad back.
Yeah yes, And and you know, but he can feel.
There's spent all these guys that, hey, he is a
great feeler. So what and then let's see going back
to the back. I know you guys all remember Scott Rowland,
(37:49):
we name him here for a couple of years and
Scott Rowland wanted to play enough another couple of years
that he couldn't because he had a chronic bad back. Anyway,
it's just when I see the Pirates, you're offering thirty million,
I said, Well, I know we're seven and a half
million came from Sure dumping him on us. So anyway, Greg,
(38:10):
thank you, man, I have good day.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Let me finish this conversation by asking you a question
that Moe asked me during one of the breaks. Austin.
If you were a Reds fan and you're on the
fence about buying a thirteen game ticket package, and you
were saying, well, if they had Kyle Schwarber, I would
buy the thirteen game package. Would you not buy the
same package if they got Pete Alonzo? Right, for a
(38:34):
lot of Reds fans, would that be the biggest deal breaker? Beg, Well,
you know what, I was going to buy that package
if it was Swarber. But if it's pet Alonzo, I'm out. Yep,
I don't think many fans would. And I'd be like,
all right, I can get around that. Let's go see
Pete Alonzo, as Greg just mentioned, plays a ton of games,
hits a ton of home runs by all accounts, great teammate.
(38:55):
Would you really be out? Would you really say I'm
not buying tickets now they didn't get Swarber, I'm out?
Who cares if they get Alonzo?
Speaker 3 (39:03):
How many thirteen game packages. Are you gonna buy with
Austin Hayes on an eight million dollars deal?
Speaker 2 (39:09):
It's a great question. What about Key Brian about his back.
Let's take a break. We'll finish up Hour number one
next and then we'll get to hear from Zach Taylor
to kick off Hour number two.
Speaker 3 (39:22):
I'm looking forward to it. I get off talking about
the I know this is much rather here, Zach taalk
this is maddening. Let's talk about the Bengals and their
path to the playoffs. ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
From the Tom recked In Heating and welcome back Cinty
three to sixty thanks to Skyline Chili and their new
Skyline Mac and Cheese three way, which is back. It's
since he three to sixty. Hour number one, Zach Taylor's
weekly press conference will kick off our second hour in
just a few minutes, which means we are very quick
(39:55):
to get to our end of the hour. Break here, Austin,
I didn't have a chance last night to see, but
I have seen video clips. Were any big takeaways from
I know you're a Hard Knocks guy, I know they are.
In season edition of Hard Knocks is happening right now.
Big takeaway for you last night was.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
What two things through the first two episodes. Brian Schottenheimer
is awesome.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
Yeah, that's the clip. I keep saying.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
I'm falling in love with him as a potential head
coach or as a as the head coach of the
Dallas Cowboys. Really fun to watch and root for. But
my favorite segment or scene of last night was they
did a montage of all the different cities New York, Washington, Philadelphia,
Dallas with a remixed version of Ain't No Love in
the Heart of the City behind it, and they kept
(40:40):
using clips from all the different sports talk radio shows
in each of those cities, like criticizing or discussing or whatever,
all the different issues because every single team lost that week,
and they all lost on the road. It was an
awesome piece of art that obviously struck a chord with
me because of what I do.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
The clip Ice saw, and we talked about this before,
was essentially something that we've talked about on the show
as it relates to Jamar Chase or even stuff I
did back when I was playing of a coach on
the sideline, having an understanding that hey, you've got to
get certain guys touches on a certain drive. And I
know I saw that with Schottenheimer last night as it
relates to Cede Lamb and George Pickens. I like that,
(41:22):
Hey got to have the understanding, our guys need touches.
Let's make sure they get those touches, and they did.
Imagine that. Let's take a break. Zach Taylor his weekly
Wednesday press conference that comes next on this the Home
of the Bengals ESPN fifteen thirty cincinnat Esports Station.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Hey, it's ma wagger.
Speaker 6 (41:41):
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Speaker 2 (42:12):
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This is Tony Pike, Sincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in part by Skyline Chili. Stop by Skyline Chili
for a three way or cheese cony Today. Feeling good,
It's Skyline time. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good Afternoon, Happy Wednesday. Welcome in Cincy three sixty on
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station and a service of
our good friends at Skyline Chili. Anytime you're feeling good
and hungry, it's Skyline time. And how about this? Speaking
of Skyline Chili, Skylines Mac and Cheese three way is
(00:45):
back top it with Skyline Chili and a mound of
the freshly shredded Wisconsin cheddar. You can find it with
the original Skyline Chili, or you could try it with
the new Chicken Chili. It is the ultimate comfort food
and it's available participating in Skyline locations for a limited time.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I tried it with the Chicken Chili the other day.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Sensational.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It just happened to be. Last night Austin, we took
the kiddos to Went and Woods to take in like
some holiday festivities and afterwards kind of chili it was
windy last night. Man, I need something to warm us
up and get the Skyline chili. Walker's favorite food is
mac and cheese, and so normally, right, normally when we
(01:28):
go to Skyline, we're like getting him a cheese coning.
Then we cut up the hot dog and he likes
the chili. Last night, I see this. Can I just
get a bowl of mac and cheese for the little
man here? He devoured it, devoured it. You want to
talk about creamy, it's fantastic, fantastic. So thanks to Skyline
Chili for that and for making a perfect night cap
(01:50):
to our night last night as well. We've got a busy,
busy three hours ahead of us here. We've got guests throughout.
Zach Taylor isn't a guest, but he speaks today, so
we'll carry that audio. At one o'clock, we'll hear what
Zach Taylor has to say. Going into this week, looking
hopefully for some update on t Higgins. I know the
Bengals sign Xavier Johnson, former Ohio state wide receiver. He's
(02:13):
also from Cincinnati, so that's a thing. Maybe he could
put some fans in the stands Zach Taylor at one o'clock.
Jeff Carr locked on Red's We'll join us at two o'clock.
We're gonna spend a lot of time today talking about
what Ken Rosenthal reported on with the Reds free agency plan.
(02:34):
Now that they've missed on Kyle Schwarber, it's going to
be a topic of conversation all throughout the afternoon. I'm
sure we'll take some phone calls along the way. Five one, three, seven, four, nine,
fifteen thirty. On that happy birthday, Joe Burrow, Joey Bee's
birthday is today. James Rapene wrote an article talked about
the clock is ticking. It's an inevitable truth when it
(02:57):
comes to Joe Burrow, the clock is ticking. We'll discuss
that this afternoon. The old line improvement. You asked the
question to Joe Daniman yesterday, Austin. I think we should
expand on it a little bit. Just how well this
offensive line has played and in a season filled with
turmoil and ups and downs. If you're looking at a
positive for both now and the foundation being said for
(03:20):
the future, the Bengals offensive line is one of those things.
We'll spend some time on that today. Also, we'll look
back to the Ravens win from a couple of weeks ago,
and look ahead to what the Bengals will have to
do in order to beat the Ravens this week. Mock
drafts are happening across the NFL. Are we ready for
mock drafts yet, Austin Or do you need to be
(03:41):
one hundred percent out of playoff contention before you'll even
look at a mock draft.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
I'll look at a mock draft, you know, at all times,
just because I want to familiarize myself with some of
the names, but I don't really put any value into
them until the day before the NFL draft. Field Yates.
They're a fun time killer. They're a fun conversation starter.
Field Yates threw one out there today. Unfortunately, you know
(04:10):
the Rams get the Falcons pick this year. Yes, so
it has the Rams at number nine taking Caleb Downs.
Wouldn't that just be a kick in the groin? And
then it has the Bengals, according to field Yates, going
for Ruben Bain Junior, the edge rusher out of Miami. Okay,
he says, does field Yates, Hendrickson and Osi are scheduled
to be free agents. Bengals tried to prepare for this
(04:31):
with Shamar Stewart, but it's been a non factor since
he really needs to look at defense. And it says
about Ruben Bain. Some scouts think Bain's lack of length
could push him more to the end of the first round.
All of them agrees one of the best prospects at
the position. So there you go.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Ruben Bain Junior latest mock draft already for the Cincinnati Bengals. Hey,
congratulations to the White Sox Austin. Do you hear what
they did?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I did?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
They won the the draft lottery. I didn't even know
the draft lottery was happening.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
The Chicago White Sox have won the draft lottery. The
Reds are number eighteen oh in the opening round of
the upcoming twenty twenty six Major League Baseball Draft.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
I believe the Rule five draft is happening today.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
OH.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And the expectation is that the Reds will be active
in that Rule five draft and at least pick up
some sort of pitching. Let's go, there's a couple of
left handers that are going to be available. Curious to
see if the what the Reds do, if they do anything.
It is also the final day of Winter meetings. Could
there be another blockbuster on the horizon. Well, there are
(05:40):
reports out there that the Reds are interested or trying
to trade for one Cotel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Don't know, you know what that would look like, but.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
That would at least be something.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
It would be these all star caliber pl position. He
plays second base. Okay, now the argument has already been
made and we can ask Jeff about this later on
that if you're gonna get a guy like cart catel Marte,
that would require you to trade someone like Matt McLean.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Hmm.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Interesting. Yeah, Matt McClean will goes somewhere and be an
All star, have a great career. Uh, we're gonna do
QB tiers today because we didn't get to it yesterday.
We'll do that and shout out to most New York Knicks. Them,
along with the Orlando Magic cost of advanced to the
semi finals of the NBA Cup.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I saw a headline about the Knicks. Oh, it said,
Nicks closer to an identity reach NBA Cup semis.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Wow, that's a great headline. Well, you want to be
close to the idea.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Looking no a unidentity their identity. Oh okay, shout out
to Asia Wilson, by the way, AP Female Athlete of
the Year and on the cover of Time magazine. The
best player that we don't talk about enough.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Agreed.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I mean everyone talks about Caitlin Clark and Angel Reeds, Buckets,
Paige Becker's and you know all these There are plenty
of great players in the WNBA. Ajia Wilson is one
of the best flat out basketball players in the country. Yeah,
and I'm glad that she continues to get recognized. She's
on the cover of Time magazine, which is really cool.
And then I saw Nike put her in an ad
(07:27):
campaign that said only magazines can cover her.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I read a story. I know she's dating Bam out
of Bayo.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Is she really Yeah? Oh good for Bam.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
You know she was telling a story about them playing
one on one.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
You learn a thing or two.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah. Can you imagine you're Asia Wilson. You practice one
on one against a defensive Player of the Year candidate
year in and year out in the NBA. Pretty good,
No wonder she's dominating on a daily basis. Also, if
you're looking at NBA Cup, the other side of the bracket, Suns,
thunder Spurs, Lakers happens tonight, so two other tickets will
(08:02):
be punched to the semifinals of the NBA Cup. And
I have to give a shout out to something that
happened last night and something that we will revisit later
in the show today Austin, last night was the start
of V Week. If you're not familiar, V Week circles
around the Jimmy V Foundation, jim Valvano. Jimmy V Week
(08:26):
started yesterday. I'm sorry. It started on December second and
runs through officially December fourteenth. But last night in college
basketball was the start of the Jimmy V. Classic. So
there were two games played at Madison Square Garden last night.
And if you're not familiar, during V Week, they match
(08:49):
up to a million dollars that is being donated for
cancer research. One hundred percent Austin of the direct donations
go right to cancer research. So this isn't a thing
where you know, you donate twenty bucks and a percentage
that goes one percent of the direct donations go to
cancer research for Jimmy V and the V Foundation. So
(09:11):
when I was growing up Austin, for as long as
I can remember as long as V Week has been happening,
at the start of V Week, my dad would always
sit my brothers and our family down and we would
watch Jim Valvano's speech from the original SB Awards, And
every year since then we've sat down, and last night
(09:34):
found myself again sitting down and rewatching this, and I
kicked myself a little bit because the Jimmy V Classic
was last night and I had it on a list
that I wanted to air some of that speech, not
not because I'm urging people to donate to the foundation,
but in the speech there are just things that Jim
(09:54):
Valvano talks about that I think still hold true today.
Whether it's someone going through something like cancer or someone
that's going through different stages or different things in their life,
I think the words of Jim Valvano hold true. So
what I'd like to do today, Austin, is at the
end of the show, before we get to quick Hits,
play about six minutes of that speech from Jim Valvano
(10:15):
last night. I think that'd be good. We'll react to that,
so pencil that in for later in the show. As
well as far as the classic itself, had a couple
of good ones. Last night, Number ten rated BYU was
down forty three to twenty two at the half to Clemson.
I'll say it again, forty three to twenty two at halftime.
(10:38):
Last night, BYU outscores Clemson forty five to twenty one,
including a Robert right the third three pointer as time
expired to give BYU the sixty seven sixty four win.
It was absolute madness. AJ Debansta scored twenty two of
(11:00):
his twenty eight in the second half. He is He's
being referred to Austin as this generation's Tracy McGrady. Oh
my gosh, if you watched just his highlight lackage too,
I'm telling you McGrady was in attendance last night. If
you just watched the highlights of what AJ did last night,
he looks NBA ready right now. He's unbelievable to watch.
(11:23):
BYU wins. They beat Clemson, and then in a nightcap,
it was the defending champions, the Florida Gators, against a
team they knocked out of the NCAA Tournament last year,
the Yukon Huskies, And it was Yukon getting the better
of Florida last night. Yukon seventy seven, Florida seventy three.
(11:43):
Michigan has now beat six opponents in a row by
twenty five or more points. They dominated Villanova last night
and the fighting a line. I Austin went to Columbus
and beat Ohio State eighty eight to eighty.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Not a lot of people there in Columbus last night, Yeah,
a listener, thirteen team in the country.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
I saw that. But if you've seen the crowds at
Fifth Third Arena for the last couple of home games
for the Bearcats, I am in no place to talk
about a crowd or lack thereof. I was surprised though, because,
as you mentioned, it's the thirteenth rated team in the
country coming into your building. I was surprised seeing videos
(12:24):
and pictures, and it's not Ohio State's been terrible. They
were seven and one going into the game last.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Night, right, and they should have been eight to no.
They lost on a buzzer beater to pit Yes, and
there is excitement I think around the program and with
Jake Diebler coming into this season, and so a little
bit surprising on a night like last night, when the
weather wasn't horrible. It's not like you're struggling to get
to the arena and not as many people there as
(12:51):
they would have expected. So it's one of the story
lines to keep an eye out on when it comes
to Buckeye basketball. But yeah, they held their own. I
saw a lot of people expected them to cover that
four and a half. They didn't. But either way, the.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Norse the Norse one. The Kentucky Wildcats won. I saw
Mark Pope. I think Brendan Garrison. Brandan Garrison, I think
he's one of the starters for Kentucky. Mark Pope benched
him at the end of the first half and did
not play him in the second half. He turned the
ball over and just kind of jogged back on defense,
and you could read Pope's lips after a time out saying,
get on the bench. I give Mark Pope a credit
(13:32):
here because he's trying. That's that's slipping through his fingers
right now. He's trying to change it up. I don't
think Mark Pope is this outwardly aggressive guy. I don't
think he's the raw rah guy. I think he's understanding
that he's got to change a little bit. Based on
his team. Kentucky's talented. There's there's no getting around that.
They just have some terrible, terrible losses this year. They've
(13:54):
lost all ranked teams, but it's the way in which
they've lost. But to see Kentucky at least find a
way to get back on track. I know they're not
healthy yet either. They're going to get healthier as the
season goes, but certainly some stuff to watch from a
college basketball point of view. Speaking of college hoops, Xavier
is off until Friday this week. They come back on Friday.
(14:19):
It's not a I don't think it's a marquee game
for the Muskies. I don't think it's a game that
they should lose by any says. They take on Missouri
State on Friday. After that, they will get into Big
East play, starting with Creighton. As for the Cincinnati Bearcats,
they're back in action on Saturday against a very good
(14:42):
Georgia Bulldog team. Georgia is just on the outside looking
into the top twenty five right now. They are eight
and one on the season. They're lone loss ninety seven
to ninety four to the Clemson Tigers. They have wins
over Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Xavier on the young season,
so it'll be a tall test for the since Sinnati
Bearcats to come off a shootout loss. We'll see what
(15:03):
Wes Miller squad has to say about answering. We will
answer your phone calls all afternoon five one, three, seven, four, nine,
fifteen thirty before we get into anything with the Bengals, Austin.
I think it would be fair, because I think it
took a lot yesterday if you follow on with social
media or reactions from people, not only the Kyle Schwarbern
(15:24):
news going back to the Phillies, but what coincided with
that and what we've learned as far as the Reds plans.
We're going to talk to Jeff Carr about this at two.
Let's get you up to speed on everything that's happened
with the Reds and what their plan looks like in
free agency. Next on the Home of the Bengals, ESPN
fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station, Thanks to our friends at
Skyline Chilli.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
This is Football in the NATI, brought to you by
Postman Law on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of
the Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
All right, welcome back, cinty three to sixty, fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports Station, and of course a service of our
good friends at Skyline Chili, where anytime you're feeling good
and hungry, it is always Skyline time. Now, as far
as the football in the Natti part of this Austin,
we can mention that Xavier Johnson is a Cincinnati Bengal. Now,
(16:20):
can Xavier Johnson help this team?
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Probably not know?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Okay, pay two good plays at Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Sure a lot of guys have. Yeah, you made a
few good plays at Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Thank you, just a couple.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
You know, I was doing a segment. I wasn't doing
a segment. I was guys down the hall were doing
a segment yesterday about all time draft bus because of
your main Burton, And somebody tweeted at me and said,
should I call in and say Tony Pike, Wow, you
can't be considered a draft bust. You're a six round pick, right?
Speaker 4 (16:53):
No?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
I mean you were six for twelve correct, with a
couple drops. I would say that's that's more than most
extround pick quarterbacks with some of them have been pretty good,
some of the ones are pretty good. But you can't
be considered a post Thank you. Xavier Johnson is a
Cincinnati Bengal. He's a Cincinnati kid. That's why they signed
Cincinnati kid. Apparently the Reds really urged the Bengals to
(17:17):
sign him because he's from Cincinnati. Ticket went to Summit
Country Day, went to Ohio State as a running back,
eventually moved to a wide receiver. He was the recipient
of the block oh which means you where the number
zero in his final year A beloved buck. Eye has
not been with the team at all this year, was
with US Buffalo for a little bit last year.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Can he help the team more than Jermaine Burnham?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
He he probably takes up that roster spot or at
least in the practice squad or whatever it might be.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Jermain burn which by the way, has not been picked
up on waivers.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I do think it's it's interesting. H Yeah, no, and
nor will he shocking shocker, But with the expectation being
that T Higgins is not going to play on Sunday
and more than likely not again the rest of the year,
maybe he's somebody you take a flyer on moving forward.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
So that's happened. It's Joe Burrow's birthday. We wish Joe
Burrow a happy birthday, but I.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Want to think these like, do you think they do
anything special for him at now at at the facility.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
No, just a quick happy birthday.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
You don't think like Flacco gets some a cake or something.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Nope, it's just a quick happy birthday.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
I'm sure they do something that's probably put like a
balloon on it on his chair, probably a cupcake. Sure,
Brad Cragthorpe hassed something up his sleeve. It They'll make
something happen.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I'm sure. Now you know that's a.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Guy we haven't given enough credit to. By the way,
Brad Cragthorpe, man, you talk about the way that the
quarterbacks are performed, obviously Jake Browning notwithstanding, sure Brad Cragthorpe
deserves some credit. He'll be an offensive coordinator somewhere soon.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
There it is. That's our football in the Nattie now
mentioned before the hometown kid that was Xavier Johnson, and
the hometown kid it almost was Kyle Schwarber Austin. Since
we last spoke yesterday, there have been a couple things
that have come out. One we receive per Ken Rosenthal
of the Athletic the offer in which the Reds threw
(19:12):
at Kyle Schwarber. If you haven't seen this the Red's
offered somewhere in the range of five years and one
hundred and twenty five million dollars to Kyle Schwarber. That
is twenty five million dollars less than the deal that
he agreed upon to return to the Philadelphia Phillies. Now
what I don't know in any of this, Like I'm
(19:33):
always like interested Austin. Let's say the Reds offered the
exact same amount the Phillies did, would Kyle Schwarber have
come here? I don't know. We won't know that. But
here's the thing. The lack of money is one thing,
but it's the it's the additional context from Ken Rosenthal
(19:57):
that has had people since then, and rightfully so, losing
their mind. Ken Rosenthal said this unlike the Orioles, people
believe the Orioles are gonna now pivot and go after
a big name free agent. Rosenthal says, unlike the Orioles,
the Reds are not expected to pursue other expensive free agents.
(20:17):
Their offer to Schwarber, a native of Middletown, Ohio, thirty
five miles north of Cincinnati, was tied to their belief
that his addition would help drive ticket sales in other words,
Reds aren't gonna go get Pete Alonzo. They're not gonna
look at Cody Bellinger or Alex Bregman or hell, anyone
(20:39):
that can actually maybe hit for power in this ballpark
at a position of need. They went after Schwarber because
he's the hometown guy, and the hometown guy could hopefully
help sell tickets. Now, maybe maybe it was about winning
(21:00):
to an extent, but this screams to me. This screams
to me. You said it was about winning, you think
at an extent. All it says to me is we
want to sign the guy that lives in this area
because he's going to help us make more money, which
they failed to do. By the way, it tells me
that it's not about winning for this organization. It's about
(21:22):
selling tickets. They saw Kyle Schwarber as a chance to
sell more tickets primarily, and then whatever happened with wins
and losses on the secondary market. That's just kind of
what it falls into. Because if that wasn't the case,
then they would turn and say, man, Pete Alonzo hit
what thirty nine home runs last year? Plays at a
(21:44):
position of need for this team. Durable plays a lot
of games he could help this team win. The Reds Austin.
I think people thought about it. The Reds openly came
out and said this for us was about putting more
fans in the state and not about winning. And for
so many people, including myself, that's maddening and it's insulting
(22:06):
to Cincinnati Reds fans to say that that's what it
was about. Because if you know anything about Reds fans,
if the product on the field is a good one,
if this team is winning games, guess what happens. People
go to the games. People will still go. If it
were Pete Alonzo instead of Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonzo's
hitting home runs and you're still winning, guess what people
(22:28):
will go to the games. They'll they'll buy the tickets
because this fan base, we've seen it in the past.
If you just give a glimpse of winning and a
glimpse of trying, the fans in Cincinnati support you. And
I think it is disrespectful to this fan base to
come out and say this was about the idea that
(22:48):
Swarber would put fans in the stands and those other
guys won't. To me, it's maddening. I know You talked
about this on the Ball Don't Live podcast as well
your podcast. Yeah, what do you say? What were your reactions?
Speaker 3 (23:02):
I think I've been saying for many years about the
Reds that they could do more, but they choose not to.
This is as clear a day an example of that
as you're ever going to get. And I think back
to a week or two ago when some of the
steams started to pick up about there being a realistic
possibility for Schwarberg coming to the Reds and the article
(23:24):
that Charlie Goldsmith wrote, which is that in order for
that to happen, it would require an exception from ownership
to do it. And that's when I started to realize, Okay,
this really could be happening, and the Reds could be
making an exception here for a guy like Kyle Schwarber.
But the important part is exception, the word exception. There's
(23:50):
not an exception for Pete Alonzo. There's not an exception
for Cody Bellinger, There's not an exception for Alex Bregman.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
That's the issue.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
The issue is that this is not a team that
is fully committed to winning baseball games. As much as
it's fully committed to trying to be a lifestyle brand.
That's their goal. They've been very open and transparent about it,
which is what's amazing to me. Now, the Reds aren't
the ones who came out and said we're not gonna
go after anybody else. That was a report from Ken Rosenthal,
(24:21):
but somehow he had to get that information. Someone told
him that. But they've also openly said we want to
eliminate peaks and valleys. We're trying to break even where
else you're gonna go. That is open. They have been
very open and transparent about their plan, and it is insulting.
(24:42):
I feel insulted as a Reds fan that the only
way they would consider trying to make a splash and
free agency is if it's a guy who is from
here as opposed to a guy who can help you
win baseball games. It go to show that the priority
(25:02):
list for the Reds is revenue is first, winning baseball
games is second. Yeah, they have the ability, and there
are avenues within the way that the ownership is structured
and the way that the financial product can be a
like all of it, there are avenues. The Reds do
(25:25):
not go down them. It's an issue and if they're
not gonna make a run and a guy right now
like Kyle Schwarber. And when you really look at it,
I had been saying that the Reds deserve credit for
taking a swing. I don't know that they deserve all
that much credit because even the Pirates offered him thirty
million dollars a year, the Reds didn't do that, which
(25:48):
is hard to believe. And who knows what the incentives were.
But to to just continue this down this path of
we're gonna draft and develop and play small ball and
this that and the other, well, listen, man, they're not
gonna play baseball next summer or this summer. They will
next summer they will not. And after that the Reds
(26:10):
will cry pour again because nobody came to the games
and they won't ask for money from their other investors.
And so we'll go through this vicious cycle and then
Ellie de la Cruz is out the door in twenty nine.
They have a club option for Hunter Green then too,
and we'll just restart this whole thing over and over again.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
So can I just ask a dumb question?
Speaker 3 (26:28):
So if not now, then win? Can I just add
my question a dumb question?
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Sure? Do they not understand that winning games will lead
to more revenue.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
They don't care about winning games.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
But they want revenue. They want fans in the stands,
their revenue winning games does that. We've seen that, Like
we've seen.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
They think, I would imagine their thought process is it
costs more and it's a bigger risk to go and
sign players than it is to put together a ticket
package or a bibblehead night or trot out some big
red machine guys. That's a low risk, cheap alternative to
get butts in the seats as opposed to a five
(27:09):
or six year contract with the player who could get
hurt or could you know, not perform or whatever reason
regardless of.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Winning. Well, add more to their pocket And I get
your sense of it too. But like we've seen instances
in the past couple of years Austin, when they've just
teased five hundred, when they've teased getting into the wild
card race, the stadium is rocking. Was it two years
ago that Tiger series where the Tigers eventually swept them?
(27:38):
And I remember going down to that series and thinking,
holy cow, this stadium is alive and all three they
got swept by the Tigers. But that was just them
teasing being competitive. We saw last year at times when
this team went on a little bit of a run
and they got in the conversation. The atmosphere was a
(28:00):
electric at Great American Ballpark. I get revenue, revenue, revenue, revenue.
Just win games and the revenue is gonna come. It's
so backwards in a way of thinking, and.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
I think you're missing the point though. The point is
if we can go if we can try to build
a team as cheap as possible through draft and developing,
and but they can't build that low level free agents again,
put your put yourself in their shoes. If we can
do that and actually win some games, more people will
(28:31):
come and we don't have to have the significant financial
investment in someone else.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
That It's never about the pursuit of a champion.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
It hasn't been about the pursuit of a chance. It
never will be for years. It never will be. It
might be maybe one day when other people are no
longer in charge, but right now it's.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Not just just and as a as a lifelong Reds fan,
it's maddening. Sure, it's frustrating because you know what it
could be, let's say.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
And it sucks too, because there are some really good
people in that organization and people that I think are
smart if they want to win and are trying like hell,
and they do incredible things in the in the community,
and we have a great relationship with a lot of
people down there. But at the end of the day,
winning is not the priority, and that's all fans really
(29:22):
care about.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Yeah, like, what is the backing Austin if they say, well, Red,
we just missed on Kyle Schwarber, but we're going to
go after another one.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
And I think we've already started to see some of
the you know, pr trying to come in and save
themselves by oh now they're interested in Catel Marte. Are
they really or did they make the next a weak
ass all for the Diamondbacks and leak it and say,
I'll see we're still trying. Because when you're not doing
everything in your power to win, you no longer get
(29:51):
the benefit of the doubt. No one believes that you're
actually actively trying to get better. You're on record for
saying you've got five to ten million dollars in payroll
left to go. Yep, so we know you're not really trying.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Yep. Let's take a break. We'll open up the phone
lines five, one, three, seven, four, nine, fifteen thirty, plenty
more still to go, cinty three to sixty on the
Home of the Bengals, ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
You've been listening to Football in the NATI on ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals. This
is an important notice to all your.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Downs penetrating the bus. We'll Tagga Cats with the tow
down down all right, DN, alright, there's our wind Schulers
Call of the night. Thanks to our friends at Win Schulers.
Four fantastic cheese spreads available for all your holiday needs.
(30:55):
It's not a holiday get together. It's not a watch
party without Win Schulers cheese spreads.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
The Big Cat, Karl Anthony Town's Bodega Cat, the Boadaga
as he's known, with the big time flush in the
NBA Cup against Toronto last night. The Boadaga Cat, they say,
when are him and Caleb William's gonna start a podcast?
Speaker 2 (31:19):
That'd be good, that'd be fun. We need more podcasts,
you know. Uh? Did you see the Philip Rivers start
of his press conference today? I did, Yeah, How good
was that?
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Like?
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Wow, no, zoom, he's a The last time Philip Rivers
was around, I've never there were zoom calls for the
team meetings.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
I've never been a huge Philip Rivers fan, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
He's intense.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Man, I've never really like been like, gosh, I love
that guy, but I do find him fascinating.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Well, where are we gonna slot him in today on
our QB tears?
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Uh, he's not on him. Oh, okay, he's not on mine.
All right, I have three tiers basically fair enough, Mike
is calling in. What's going on?
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Mike?
Speaker 4 (32:00):
Hey, guys, thank you appreciate it. Hey, you know, did
you watch that Florida Yukon game last night? Time? Yes,
Florida should have won that game. They had that five
second called that blew the game. Boy. Their coach was
pissed off, wasn't you? Yep?
Speaker 2 (32:15):
That was both games last night that the B y
U Clemson and Florida Yukon. That was high level college
basketball at Madison Square Garden.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Oh, it was at Florida front Line. Those guys are
talented and they'll just get better as the year goes.
They're they're scary teams. I think, hey, you know what
they were. I heard an interview with Edwin Diaz and
they were asking him about his brother or r X,
and uh, he's been working with h Dennis Eckers. He's
(32:46):
been working started working with the Dodgers relief pitchers last year,
and uh, they said, he's starting to come around. He's
added he's added a pitch to and he changed his
mechanics and stuff. Evidently has helped him out a lot.
So we'll see what happens. Maybe their ds end up
listing back again one day. Who knows.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
It's just always it's it's unique with pitchers as well,
because you've seen the ability at one point or another
that they can be elite and sometimes maybe it is
just a new coach being able to add something different
that unlocks something and gets them back to who they were.
And if that's the case for the Dodgers and they
got both, you know they can get Edwin and Alexis good.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
Luck Alexis is with the Braves.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
But yeah, yes, yeah, but what the Dodgers were more
possibly able to open up with him?
Speaker 4 (33:30):
Yeah, well, Ackers league really helped bring him around and
then they shocked him out. But but I was looking
at at Eckersley's career record, Tony. I knew he was
a starter, but I didn't know he had one hundred
complete games. He started three hundred and sixty one games,
completed one hundred of them, and then he he had
one thousand and seventy one games that he that he
(33:52):
had four hundred saves, then with twenty five hundred strikeouts
in a three point by the ra Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
The deplet game status, Well, it'll just it'll never be
like that again. They're just with the pitch. The pitch
counts for players. You're just not going to see pitchers
go the distance like so many players I remember watching
growing up, that we're able to go out there and
throw one hundred and twenty five pitches and go nine
innings and then come back and do the same thing
in their next start.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Yeah, that those days are gone. You're right. It's kind
of a shame in a way, I think, because everything's
gotten so dogged on, compartmentalized.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Well everything everything now is about velocity and it's and
it just everything puts so much stress on the arm
that these arms are just failing at a higher rate
because all anyone cares about is how hard can you
throw the ball?
Speaker 4 (34:40):
And that's happening when they're starting at nine ten years old, right, correct? Yeah,
so by the time they're eighteen, they already are probably
developing problems that aren't known yet that are ready to
jump down. Hey, one quick question on the NFL. This
Houston team, now that defense is just staggering.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Yes, that's a super Bowl defense.
Speaker 4 (35:02):
It is, and Lee, that's what I want to confirm with.
I know Austin believes in Houston defense, but uh, do
you think Stroud's starting to come around now? You think
that offense can could get them there? Or are they not?
Speaker 2 (35:16):
I still think their offensive line has a ways to go,
But their last win against the Chiefs, I thought it
was the best I've seen Stroud. Look, I know he's
he's been dealing with concussion and and and getting back
from that, but it feels like you still got Nico Collins.
I know they they drafted Jayden Higgins high and he's
played extremely well this year. So I don't think that
(35:37):
they're their offense will be a storyline at any point,
but they're good enough with how good that defense is
to compete.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
Kind of like the Bears were back in age. I
mean they had Walter, but other than that, they didn't
have nothing. I don't remember much on offense, so so
did who was that other wide? And then I know
you gotta go who was that other wide out?
Speaker 5 (35:58):
Tank?
Speaker 4 (36:00):
That's his first nickname.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Let's take down. Yeah he's I think he's out for
the season still with that injury from last year.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
He was a stud though, wasn't he? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (36:09):
And really what they've lost Nick Chubbs has been questionable.
That the whole Joe Mixon situation I think has hurt
this team dearly this year and and just the unknown
around that. So I Dalton Schultz is a good tight end.
They they have good, okay pieces on offense, but their
their defense is going to be what wins them or
loses them games.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Yeah, they do. They might do some damage in the claffs.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Nice appreciate it. Uh, Greg, what's going on?
Speaker 4 (36:38):
Hey?
Speaker 5 (36:38):
How's it going guys?
Speaker 2 (36:39):
What's up?
Speaker 5 (36:42):
If obviously the Reds were serious little Kyle Scharver, But
if they're still serious, why not maybe take a shot
at Alonzo? And you know what I like about Alonzo?
Besides all the numbers, the last couple of couple of years,
he played one hundred and sixty two games.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Yeah, to me, Durable, you're gonna.
Speaker 5 (36:59):
Rema ain't serious. Maybe they are taking a shot at him.
And then the other thing. Of course, I'm one of
those guys that can't let stuff go. But when I
saw the Pirates, I think it was thirty million a year.
The first thing I thought of, we owe Key Bryant
thirty million for the next four years, a total of
thirty million. I thought, Wow, we really helped the Pirates out.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (37:22):
I want to tell you that is, you know, one
of the dumbest moves I've ever seen.
Speaker 4 (37:27):
The Reds move.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Mate.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
The guy cannot hit and he's got a chronic bad back.
Yeah yes, And and you know, but he can feel.
There's spent all these guys that, hey, he is a
great feeler. So what and then let's see going back
to the back. I know you guys all remember Scott Rowland,
(37:49):
we name him here for a couple of years and
Scott Rowland wanted to play enough another couple of years
that he couldn't because he had a chronic bad back. Anyway,
it's just when I see the Pirates, you're offering thirty million,
I said, Well, I know we're seven and a half
million came from Sure dumping him on us. So anyway, Greg,
(38:10):
thank you, man, I have good day.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Let me finish this conversation by asking you a question
that Moe asked me during one of the breaks. Austin.
If you were a Reds fan and you're on the
fence about buying a thirteen game ticket package, and you
were saying, well, if they had Kyle Schwarber, I would
buy the thirteen game package. Would you not buy the
same package if they got Pete Alonzo? Right, for a
(38:34):
lot of Reds fans, would that be the biggest deal breaker? Beg, Well,
you know what, I was going to buy that package
if it was Swarber. But if it's pet Alonzo, I'm out. Yep,
I don't think many fans would. And I'd be like,
all right, I can get around that. Let's go see
Pete Alonzo, as Greg just mentioned, plays a ton of games,
hits a ton of home runs by all accounts, great teammate.
(38:55):
Would you really be out? Would you really say I'm
not buying tickets now they didn't get Swarber, I'm out?
Who cares if they get Alonzo?
Speaker 3 (39:03):
How many thirteen game packages. Are you gonna buy with
Austin Hayes on an eight million dollars deal?
Speaker 2 (39:09):
It's a great question. What about Key Brian about his back.
Let's take a break. We'll finish up Hour number one
next and then we'll get to hear from Zach Taylor
to kick off Hour number two.
Speaker 3 (39:22):
I'm looking forward to it. I get off talking about
the I know this is much rather here, Zach taalk
this is maddening. Let's talk about the Bengals and their
path to the playoffs. ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
From the Tom recked In Heating and welcome back Cinty
three to sixty thanks to Skyline Chili and their new
Skyline Mac and Cheese three way, which is back. It's
since he three to sixty. Hour number one, Zach Taylor's
weekly press conference will kick off our second hour in
just a few minutes, which means we are very quick
(39:55):
to get to our end of the hour. Break here, Austin,
I didn't have a chance last night to see, but
I have seen video clips. Were any big takeaways from
I know you're a Hard Knocks guy, I know they are.
In season edition of Hard Knocks is happening right now.
Big takeaway for you last night was.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
What two things through the first two episodes. Brian Schottenheimer
is awesome.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
Yeah, that's the clip. I keep saying.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
I'm falling in love with him as a potential head
coach or as a as the head coach of the
Dallas Cowboys. Really fun to watch and root for. But
my favorite segment or scene of last night was they
did a montage of all the different cities New York, Washington, Philadelphia,
Dallas with a remixed version of Ain't No Love in
the Heart of the City behind it, and they kept
(40:40):
using clips from all the different sports talk radio shows
in each of those cities, like criticizing or discussing or whatever,
all the different issues because every single team lost that week,
and they all lost on the road. It was an
awesome piece of art that obviously struck a chord with
me because of what I do.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
The clip Ice saw, and we talked about this before,
was essentially something that we've talked about on the show
as it relates to Jamar Chase or even stuff I
did back when I was playing of a coach on
the sideline, having an understanding that hey, you've got to
get certain guys touches on a certain drive. And I
know I saw that with Schottenheimer last night as it
relates to Cede Lamb and George Pickens. I like that,
(41:22):
Hey got to have the understanding, our guys need touches.
Let's make sure they get those touches, and they did.
Imagine that. Let's take a break. Zach Taylor his weekly
Wednesday press conference that comes next on this the Home
of the Bengals ESPN fifteen thirty cincinnat Esports Station.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Hey, it's ma wagger.
Speaker 6 (41:41):
The Leaf to Ash Cigar Lounge is a must visit
for any cigar smoker. There's selections massive, the staff is great,
and there's no better place to relax with friends to
enjoy a great cigar. Leaf to Ash is a byob
establishment and they've got VIP memberships that allow for twenty
four to seven access, which includes lockers, TVs, a Pope table,
and so much more on Salem Road, close to the
(42:03):
legendary Coney Island Gates. If you love a good cigar,
you're gonna love to leave to Ash Cigar Lounge. Find
them on Instagram and Facebook.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
If you love to travel,
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