Tony Pike's Cincy 360 Hour 2 -- 12/3/25

Hear Zac Taylor, TalkBacks, Football in the Nati, and more on ESPN 1530!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Tony Pike since he three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in part by Cincy Shirts. Cincy Shirts all since
he all day. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Our number two is here thanks to Cincy Shirts, Sony,
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. What better holiday gift
to give or receive than a Sinci shirt? Gift cards
or go in and knock off all of your holiday
list at any of the retail locations for Cincy shirts.
We are certainly appreciative of them, Austin, Do we have

(00:41):
Zach Taylor yet? Is he late to the podium today?

Speaker 3 (00:43):
We do not yet have wow Zach Taylor at the
post now.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
As of late he's almost been freakishly early, eager to
the podium, eager to talk.

Speaker 3 (00:53):
It must be maybe.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
There's a lot going on in the background today. Yeah,
maybe there's some things we don't know about.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
We're waiting leave where we do we? I think we
we have Zach. Now, let's throw it.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
To Zach Taylor in his weekly Wednesday press conference.

Speaker 4 (01:07):
Maybe maybe is limited today? Same with Cadge Brooks, same category,
both being good progress. We'll try andreson, we'll tends out
about the building. A lot of this group has been
around for a while. I know some of them have

(01:28):
left and come back, but they've had a lot of
continuity over there. I know they've added a couple of
new pieces, but you know, they've done a good job.
Sean's been a part of that defense obviously for nine
years now. I'll be Bavige has been there, I think
the entirety at the time as well, So a lot
of continuity over there, a lot of veterans I know
how to do it, a lot of young guys that
they're working in the mix as well. So just a

(01:49):
really really solid group that makes things difficult for you.
Why do you.

Speaker 5 (01:55):
Think yourself, Dan, bitch Joe all works so well.

Speaker 4 (01:59):
That well, I think, like anything, we've been together a
long time. You know, Pitts has been here since before
I got here. We made him the quarterback coach right
when Joe walked in the door, so that relationship has
has just continued to grow over Joe's tenure here. I
like to think it's it's guys that you know, we

(02:21):
can adapt each other and work well with each other.
And put Brad Kraig thor up in that mix. You
put Jake Browning in that mix, you put Joe Flackman
that mix as well. So I just think that it's
it's you know, people that like working together see things
the same way. Everyone's got input. Everybody I just mentioned
has input on how we do it. I don't think
there's any egos involved there with how it needs to
be done. And we're able to try to problem solve

(02:44):
during the week and during the game as well and
try to get a best result.

Speaker 6 (02:47):
Why do you think that matters or plays a role
in Joe being able to take It's a lot of
half where it's a little bit see gifts around running
a second half them all and more.

Speaker 4 (02:58):
I think we just we keep things flu during games
and always want his feedback. That's one thing I learned
early in my career as a quarterback coach is if
you got a quarterback that's earned the respect to give
his voice and you listen to it, he's the guy
that's out there who's got to do it and problems
halved to get it done. And so we've we've always
made it a point to give Joe that voice, and

(03:18):
he learned it really from day one when he got
here and so you're able to I thought he bled well,
but to work through any issues. Sometimes there's gonna be
some holes in the action, you know, or maybe you
have a three an hour or two and you need
to find a rhythm and you might have had this
plan you set in place to go do it, but hey, Joe,
what do you need to get us going?

Speaker 7 (03:37):
Here?

Speaker 4 (03:37):
And he's always really good with the feedback on that
concussion particle? Does tea or any fire do they have
to clear it before they can be a full participate?

Speaker 8 (03:46):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (03:47):
And practice? Is that how that works?

Speaker 4 (03:48):
Correct?

Speaker 9 (03:51):
Jack?

Speaker 10 (03:51):
Have the word end of the week, and the weather
here has presented some conditions that are I don't want
to say equivalent to what it will be like in Buffalo,
but closer maybe. How much thought do you give to
taking advantage of that in the sense of exposing your
guys to it. I think it's like, I think it's

(04:11):
supposed to snow again this week, we ever consider taking
them out.

Speaker 4 (04:15):
We're always very mindful. I like to be outside every week,
not every day necessarily, but but you like to get
at there some point. I think it's I told our players,
great news, it's gonna be cold in Buffalo. And it's
gonna be cold here the next couple of days, and
so they were excited to hear that. So we get
a chance to get out there and work in the elements,
and and so we're always very mindful of where we're

(04:37):
gonna play and how we need to practice and like
to get outside. The players like being outside at least
for part of the week, and I don't like to
be inside every day. If we can avoid it, sometimes
you can't avoid it.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
Why do you North to so wide open this year?

Speaker 4 (04:51):
I mean it's still it's still tough teams. I mean,
I don't think anybody likes going into DAFC North and
playing any of the four of us. So I think
it's well coached teams, top players, a lot of experience.
So it's always been a tough division. Y'all are able
to go out and get away on Sunday. What kind
of momentum do you think this couldn't give him? What

(05:14):
y'all still happen in front of Our biggest focus right
now is just find a way to beat bothalo and
take it from where we just from there. But right
now that's really all that matters.

Speaker 3 (05:23):
So it stands out about James Cook when you watch
him and how he's.

Speaker 4 (05:27):
Kind of Yeah, a lot of strengths. I think I
can list a lot of attributes that make him. He's
got great patience and vision and quickness and acceleration and
play strength. So I mean, you can just go on
and on and name every intangible and physical trait you
want a running back to have.

Speaker 11 (05:42):
He has it.

Speaker 4 (05:44):
A lot of confidence in the scheme I know from
working with Aaron Kromer in the past, their line coach.
He does a great job and Joe Brady painting a
vision for what they want in the run game and
how it's supposed to be from a technique standpoint, we're
supposed to hit, and so you've seen back have success,
you know, And so I don't think that's shocking. And
it's not even just him. He's a great back, but

(06:04):
the other backs get in there and do a great
jump as well. So really dangerous attack.

Speaker 12 (06:09):
How challenging is it when you're dealing with an elite quarterback,
but then you also have to deal with rushing attacks.

Speaker 4 (06:14):
It's why they've been one of the top offenses consistently
over as long as I've been a head coach here.
You know, and so they're they're they've got great talent,
they're well coached, they've got a lot of confidence, and
they can throw the ball, they can run the ball.
They do a great jump run.

Speaker 13 (06:30):
The defense is at right now you've talked about sort
of gradual crewment generally, but specifically in that phase, there
are things you're still looking for.

Speaker 4 (06:38):
Where do you think that group's just continue to grow
and every week presents a new challenge. You know, it's
you know, from Pittsburgh to Baltimore to Buffalo, and everything's
got its unique challenges in terms of what players they're
actually calling and how they're going to attack you different
ways and so challenging. And then the quarterback. You know,
they're not afraid to around the quarterback either, you know.
So you get to you know, third in less than

(06:58):
five and you might have a quarterback run match you're
in the whole red zone. You got a quarterback run
coming at you. So they're not afraid to do that.
That's that's an extra half for them. That makes it
really challenging when they're willing to do that. So again,
our guys feel like they've got a great plant in place.
Now we just got to go execute over the week.

Speaker 5 (07:13):
How does defending Josh Allen fit into your run defense?

Speaker 4 (07:18):
But it's we we play several quarterbacks that present challenge.
They're outstanding throwers and and really challenging runners, and so
you have to be mindful when his progression's out there.
He's not afraid to put his foot in the ground
and go get it, you know, and and then try
to run through people as well. So it's he's he's

(07:42):
a challenge to deal with.

Speaker 5 (07:43):
I mean, I don't know if you can answer to this,
but how often do you see on film where maybe
the second or third progression is actually to run the ballwards?

Speaker 14 (07:53):
No?

Speaker 4 (07:53):
I think, No, he's he's I mean I've seen him
get through every progression. He's got exhaust the entire thing
and staying back the employed quarterback, I think, like like
any quarterback that's got experience like he does, they can
identify the covers very quickly and say okay, I can
I can get one too and put go, you know,
and there's going to be avoid there. And other times
they just know they got that innate feel of time

(08:14):
in the pocket coverage where I don't need to run,
I can sit back here and exhaust my progression. So
he's got the experience to do all that, and it
makes him really challenging. Mike Pearson's having a heck of
a season. How has that impacted just the wait and call,
the managing game? I just I have a ton of
confidence in him. I don't think it's overall affected a

(08:35):
whole lot of decisions we've made. I really I don't.
I mean, I just I have confidence in him. I
can't think of one moment where it should we go
for this, No, Evan's going to make a fifty something yarder.
I don't feel like there's been that as many decisions
as maybe past years. It just it feels that way.

(08:55):
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe as I reflect back on the season,
I'd have four good answers for you. But he's he's
playing with a ton of confidence. You see it in
practice too. I mean that's what you all don't see,
that he's doing this in practice. He's been doing this
as training camp, the same consistency, and then going out
there in the game and giving our team a lot
of confidence.

Speaker 3 (09:12):
You're you're you're a good leader of games.

Speaker 6 (09:14):
When they're unfold they you ever get a sense, you know,
like in Baltimore, this is going to be you know,
let's get points.

Speaker 15 (09:23):
This is going to be.

Speaker 4 (09:25):
Or this is going to be going for I mean
that's what it turned into. You don't always predict that,
you know. I think a lot of times against Baltimore,
you you always both teams are capable of scoring and
both teams complete your defense too, So you gotta feel
that as the game goes. And is there a point
where you said, you know what, uh, let's get points. Yeah,
I think you know that second or third drive our defense,

(09:48):
you know, outside of the first drive, and they scored
the touchdown and we've got some stops and and again,
I don't know that it did influence necessarily all the decisions,
but you felt like, let's just keep taking points and
building from there. And or defensive quin.

Speaker 6 (10:00):
Well, why do you think it takes some young guys
a little bit longer to realize.

Speaker 3 (10:04):
How important the details are?

Speaker 10 (10:05):
Consistency is?

Speaker 4 (10:06):
Why do you think they just maybe click for some
people later rather than That's a hard one to answer.
I think it's probably pretty rare for a guy to
come in his first year and just everything clicked for him.
And you know, I can't give you a great answer

(10:28):
and why. It could be different positions, it could be
different personalities, it could be different college experience. It could
be a guy that transferred didn't transfer. But I can
think examples of all of them, of guys that succeeded
and didn't, and they all have different backgrounds. So I
don't know's I like to think because they get more
experience on the field with us, then they got a
better chance of succeeding. And so we've tried to give

(10:50):
guys that experience to keep learning and keep gaining. And
there's gonna be mistakes made. I've said that in here
a million times. But you keep seeing guys just continue
to grow and get better and they've that opportunity. And
I don't think that they fear failure with us. I
don't think that they feel like if I go in
there and make a mistake, I'm done. They're they're going
to be done with me. That's not really the approach
we have. We we like to keep coaching through it

(11:11):
and coaching a in a We're gonna be critical if
of mistakes you make. At the same time be positive
and encourage the growth and again not not let guys
just fear of failure that we're not I'm not going
to get to see a field again.

Speaker 3 (11:23):
That for you, because obviously there's a lot of pressure
on you as well as a head coach and the
coaching staff when things don't go well.

Speaker 4 (11:28):
How do you kind of you just do what's right.
I don't worry about the pressure it's on me. You
just you make the right decision for the program. And
and as long as you're just making those decisions, then
then I like to think more times than not, the
best case know is going to play off for you.
So it's tremendous uh leadership, experience, energy. He's just done

(11:52):
a great job. He's he's really a really good example
of that room because I think you're going to describe
every player in that room the same way, and so
for Alton to be the last added peace to that.
He just has walked in the door and fit right in.
And I'm really happy we have him, have enjoyed him
being around and enjoyed the role he's playing for us.

(12:13):
But I think he's he's just a great example of
what that old line room really is. And it's all
great personalities, guys that love football, guys that really understand
have a high football IQ, and so it's it's a
good group to be around.

Speaker 3 (12:26):
The December run. If it's going to happen, it's going
to fall on the offensive line at least to a degree.

Speaker 10 (12:31):
You want the run game going, you want to protect Joe.

Speaker 16 (12:34):
How confident are you in just that group and how
they've kind of become what they are now?

Speaker 4 (12:39):
A lot of confidence, They have a lot of confidence.
I think the offensive we've got a lot of confidence
in them. The team's got a lot of confidence in them.
They played well, but again, it's it's the preaching to
the whole team right now. It doesn't matter what we
did last week. We got to keep doing it over
and over again. And so we can't just assume because
we did some good things on Thursday night that that's
going to cry over Sunday. Guys understand that. I think

(13:01):
that's why we've always kind of been strong later in
the season. Our guys have had a great approach to that,
and this year's a new year and we're gonna have
to have the same approach.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
Fits was talking about Dalton's intangibles and he pointed out
that he's always the first one at the spot and
attacked up in the guy.

Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yet when you were playing quarterback, how much did you
take note of that? Who who was there?

Speaker 4 (13:19):
Oh? Yeah, no, you feel that Guys that take a
lot of pride and protecting the guys behind him, And
whether that's backs receivers picking up receivers down the field,
or being the first one to pick up the quarterback,
you know it's.

Speaker 10 (13:33):
You.

Speaker 4 (13:33):
You You like a guy that that's got that protective
nature to him and covered down the field is how
we define that, And I think Dalton is a great
example of that.

Speaker 5 (13:42):
Closely monitor got rookie like Jaylon Rivers, seemed to be making.

Speaker 4 (13:47):
A lot of progress, and you make that change.

Speaker 6 (13:52):
Along with Scott.

Speaker 4 (13:53):
I think part of the Jalen's I mean, Jalen got
banged up and so it was that's what led to
the change. Jameens got a tremendous mindset, So I don't
worry about him. He's making great progress this year. I
got a lot of confidence in him. He's going to
get a ton of opportunity, so that that's not a
concern of mine, just because of who he is and
kind of the work he's put in to get where
he's at. He played tackle for us earlier in the year.

(14:13):
Then we moved in the guard and he's handled all
that really well, and so I think he's he's a
guy that is going to play big role for us Buffalo. Yeah.
I means there's certainly plays and concepts that show up.

(14:37):
I think, you know, they they suited around our quarterback.
We suit ours around our quarterback, and and they're both
really talented quarterbacks. To say they have different place styles,
there's a lot of similarities that they have and then
there's some differences in I'm not going to get into
all of them, but so I think that they do
what's best for their offense led by their quarterback, and
we do what's best for our offense led by our quarterback.

Speaker 11 (14:59):
It's the biggest pack you think Scott Peters has had
on the offensive line room this year.

Speaker 4 (15:03):
I think he's done a great job getting the best
at all these guys, the development of the young players.
We've had several young players come in and play, and
I think they've only gotten better. I think as as
our line as a whole, it's a really cohesive unit
that's improved overall from top to bottom. So I'm I

(15:24):
think he's done a really good job Ken since the finals,
for the whole of the year time. I know he's
been in before, but what's been your interaction? Tremendous, huge
fan of Ken Anderson. He's He's always been great to me,
through good times and bad. He's an example of a guy,
you know, when we've struggled, who was there still supporting me,

(15:44):
genuinely supporting me and our team and the direction we're headed.
And so you you really, I genuinely appreciate people like that.
Ken and I have always had a great relationship through
his foundation, through him just coming to practice, through text messages,
and so I have done my own research. I mean,
he absolutely should have been in the Hall of Fame

(16:05):
a long time ago. He should absolutely be in now.
I mean statistically he's he's in a better position than
a lot of people that are in it. You know,
NFL MVP and of the Year, led his team to
Super Bowl. I mean, all all the great performance, the
completion percentage, everything he's done, statistically, should he should be
in it right now. So this year is the year

(16:27):
he absolutely absolutely should be in it. If he's not,
it's it's a shame. Do you see him as a
guy that i'd be well, I'm not going to pretend
like I've dug through all his tape and washed it all,
but I just know statistically, when you look at how
he played, I mean, and then people that are in
you know, it's just he deserves to be in absolutely

(16:49):
and so and he did it. He did it over
a long period of time. I mean, he did it
over a really long period of time. So look forward
to see him get in there.

Speaker 3 (16:58):
Sat Ax and Anderson playing first state championships the next
couple of days. Will be pulling for both those absolutely.

Speaker 4 (17:04):
Yeah. You know Travis Bramer, his son played at Anderson
last year, so I know he still does a lot
of the games. And I've been following Anderson all year.
They have a tremendous team, and I think they're playing
the same team they played last year. I'm not mistaken.
I know they're proximate five fifty three am this year.
Seven minutes earlier I saw that. So, uh, definitely pulling
for Anderson, Definitely pulling for Saint X. You know, got
a lot of people that I know that are there,

(17:26):
and so two great nights of football, you know, Thursday
and Friday, and I hope I'm not missing anybody else
in the area, but those are two teams that I
feel like I've I've really followed over the last couple
of years, and great football coming from the Cincinnati area.
So it'll be fun to watch.

Speaker 17 (17:41):
Tight End position is big in the in the in
the NFL, it's govern big back again. Both these teams
have good tight ends and a strong position group. What
do you think about Buffalo's tight ends? What are their strengths? Yeah,
good group.

Speaker 4 (17:56):
I think they compliment each other really well. You know
the group of guys they have. I know, Kid's been out,
He's always been a guy that we've been a big
fan of. Again, they've got good depth there. Those guys
all understand their role. They've gotten a lot out of
that position, and just like we have. You know, I
think we've always James Casey. I've always said this is
the best Titan coach in the NFL and does a

(18:17):
great job developing getting the most out of guys that
we have. Whether there were guys that have been here throughout,
were guys that we've added in the free agency, you know,
they've they've always had their top years playing for James,
and so I think it's it's two teams that are
well coached that position and have gotten a lot of
value out of those guys. Okay, thank you, all right.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
That is Zach Taylor just finishing up speaking with the
media at pay Course Stadium. I did see that as well.
Austin the the Anderson Raptors. They lost by seven in
the state finals last year. They have practiced every day
at five fifty three am, seven minutes early to make
up for the seven points they've lost by and they
get a chance at retribution this weekend.

Speaker 3 (18:57):
It's also very rare to see high school football team
practice in the morning. Yeah, almost never happens. So I
do think that's a unique and a cool wrinkle about
about Anderson. I'm blanking on their head coach's name, but
he was on with with Eddie and Rocky down the
whole a couple of weeks ago, and just the energy

(19:20):
he attacked a phone call with was awesome. So pursuit
of a championship, aggressive pursuit of a championship. Yeah, yeah,
I agree. I wish I knew his name. I feel bad.

Speaker 2 (19:33):
I there's there's a lot of normal stuff there from
from Zach Taylor. I don't think any of that was,
you know, earth chattering. There's one thing I want to ask,
it's almost now like Zach has put off with the
Trey Hendrickson thing. Yeah, at this point, with no other understanding,

(19:58):
what are we led to believe about what's going on
Trey Hendrickson in the Bengals.

Speaker 3 (20:01):
I think we're led to believe that we don't know
all the details.

Speaker 2 (20:04):
There's got to be something there, right, this is what
is If not, then he's just he's just essentially saying
I'm done.

Speaker 3 (20:12):
This is what I come back to. If they knew
that his injury was going to keep him out this long, correct,
they would have put him on the injured list, on
the injured reserve like every other team in the NFL,
and designated him to return, opened up a roster spot.
And so I don't know what's going on, but the
information we can gather, if the team did not take

(20:34):
that action, that would lead you to believe that they
think the injury should be healed by now, or that
he would be able to play by now, and not
putting him on the injured reserve list, and the way
that Zach has talked about it, each of the last
couple of weeks leaves the door open to the idea

(20:56):
that we're just on Trey's timeline and until he's ready
to play, we don't know what's going to happen. And
the part he said the other day and I talked
about this when you were out yesterday, like the first
thirty seconds of his press conference where he was kind
of cutting off reporters and just kind of seem miffed

(21:18):
by the whole thing. That to me, is the most indicative. Yes, again,
you don't want to you don't want to assume you don't.

Speaker 2 (21:27):
This is just literally taking the knowledge and the information
that we can see on the outside.

Speaker 3 (21:33):
Yeah, I don't think it's outrageous to say that there
are people in the Bengals organization that think he is
healthy enough or should be healthy enough to play. Yeah.
I don't think that that would be an over the
moon statement, And I think these actions would lend to
me believing that.

Speaker 4 (21:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (21:53):
One other quick update from National Signing Day. Have you
seen this with Chris Henry that he signed with the Buckeyes.
He did not shut up. He has not sent in
his paperwork yet. This was on the tot McAfee reporter.
A couple of minutes ago CBS. We trust that CBS
Sports College Football is actually discussing this right now with

(22:17):
two four seven Sports, that he is weighing options. According
to him at both Oregon and USC it's not a
money thing. With Chris Henry Jr. It's clearly a Brian
Hartline thing, and he wants to make sure that he's
making the right decision. So as of now, does not
appear that it's officially signed from Chris Henry Jr.

Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yet at Ohio State.

Speaker 2 (22:37):
Something to watch for, maybe Scott Saderfield makes a run
at him. Your talkbacks are next. ESBN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Stations.

Speaker 1 (22:46):
Rudy Joe Burrow is back and he played.

Speaker 3 (22:49):
It's that time for talkbacks.

Speaker 18 (22:51):
Press the microphone and record your message or Austin in tone,
please keep it clean and don't me at a sprinkle, sprinkle,
drip drip.

Speaker 15 (23:03):
It's that time for talkbacks.

Speaker 18 (23:05):
It's our favorite part since three sixty So Austin, buddy,
play those talkbacks on your screen and please ride out
to sabotage.

Speaker 2 (23:17):
Sitting down the hall last night, Austin, it occurred to
me just how lucky we are to have the talkback
audience that we have here on ESPN fifteen thirty. I
don't think talkbacks could happen on the other station. Oh no,
they absolutely cannot.

Speaker 3 (23:30):
We're lucky and we're thankful. I mean, you want to
talk about awful. I've heard terrible, I've heard vile things.
The talkbacks on the hall, we would lose the license
in seconds second.

Speaker 7 (23:48):
It's the Lord, happy days.

Speaker 3 (23:50):
Lord couldn't save us either.

Speaker 7 (23:51):
Have a start bench cut for you, Tony and Austin
and for talkback nations.

Speaker 3 (23:55):
Okay?

Speaker 7 (23:56):
Christmas villains? Oh, the Grinch, Jack Frost.

Speaker 2 (24:06):
Man, that's good. I think the best villain was Scrooge,
and it made the ending so much better when he
wakes up after his third visit and a tone for
all the wrong he's done. I think you can make
the same argument for the Grinch. I'll start Scrooge, I
will bench the Grinch, and I'll cut Jack Frost.

Speaker 3 (24:24):
Is there any such thing as an actual Christmas villain?
Great question? They all change at the end. Is there
one that doesn't change out there? I'll start the Grinch,
bench Scrooge, and I honestly don't know that much about
old Jack Frost other than he's been nipping at my nose.

Speaker 19 (24:39):
Tony and Austin. This is big kahuna in Kentucky. Hey,
Bengal fans, I got some bad news for you. Y'all
ain't winning no Six games to finish out the season.
I'm sorry. You know why because for some reason the
team done moved on from Cave York in that good
luck Charms five and zero last year. That's some bad
karma right there.

Speaker 3 (24:56):
Should have kept them.

Speaker 19 (24:57):
Hey, Steeler fans, don't be booing future Hall of Fame
er Mike tom When. Don't do sticks, don't do renegade.
What you should do is boo yourselves.

Speaker 3 (25:03):
Do it.

Speaker 19 (25:04):
Put down that triple cheeseburger, go the here and say boo.

Speaker 15 (25:07):
And while you're at it, go boo your mother.

Speaker 3 (25:09):
Oh, hezel to Austin, that's a pretty good kahuna impression.

Speaker 2 (25:13):
A quick Google search you come up with the following.
Scott Farcas who he was the bully and Chris allowed
to say that, Yes, Scott Farcas Christmas story, bully. We
don't like bullies around here. Harry and Marv they never
really had toned for anything. They were villains. They got
what was coming to him. Hans Gruber from die Hard

(25:33):
Okay could fall in the same category.

Speaker 3 (25:35):
What about uh, Kevin's brother Buzz Buzz was a bully too,
he did you know you could bully him? Oogie Boogie
once kidnapped Sannah. What'd you call him? Ugie Boogie?

Speaker 9 (25:45):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (25:45):
I always called him Ugi Boogie.

Speaker 2 (25:47):
Oh maybe it'gi Boogie Ugie Boogie Ookie Boogie.

Speaker 20 (25:52):
The only bad thing about listening to fifteen thirty is
having to listen to the Chris Canty promo. You know,
and that's not even his name. His real name is Chris.
Can't he shut the hell up?

Speaker 3 (26:05):
Wow? Go Muskies? Can't He's actually been nice to the Bengals.
He has, He's changed.

Speaker 9 (26:12):
Former President Ronald Reagan and Whale. I wouldn't get too
excited about Kyle Schwarber coming to Cincinnati. I mean, I
don't know if he has any connections here or not.
I don't even know where he's from. But it's not
like he's Hello.

Speaker 3 (26:26):
Hello, true he is from Middletown though, former.

Speaker 21 (26:34):
To Brian Hartline, that's a well deserved opportunity. And as
far as Kyle Schwarber to the Reds and the words
of Michael Scott, no doubt about it. I'm ready to
get hurt again.

Speaker 3 (26:47):
No doubt about it, No doubt about it. I think
it's more applicable to the Scott's Tots. Nick crawl is,
Michael Scott, have you did you have a chance over
the break to check in on the Cris Henry News
and hope it goes away okay, and hope the paperwork
is just kind of like a just lost and okay.

(27:08):
It's like just has to send the Hugh Jackson thing.

Speaker 21 (27:10):
Yeah, hey, Tony, just a quick follow up to something
he mentioned to start the show. If you guys already
mentioned this in the meantime, apologies, but Brian Hardline actually
did interview for the Cincinnati job. Yeah, before they hired
Scott Siderfield.

Speaker 2 (27:26):
Yeah, I know it just because interview, Like would he
have taken it right? Like he wasn't offered, right, he
wasn't offered. I wonder if he would have taken her
if Just sometimes people interview just to kind of go
through that process and get an understanding of it.

Speaker 3 (27:39):
That's just another one that John Cunningham just absolutely nailed.

Speaker 4 (27:43):
High energy, how Wi.

Speaker 22 (27:46):
Field, Williams, Darnel Burton, Jonte vaugh and the amazing Lazelle Durton.
I missed the days when an open shooter is gonna
knock down that three, six, seven threes of games when
you played it ranked opponent, you thought you're gonna beat them. Yep,
not anymore, man. I missed those days.

Speaker 3 (28:10):
I'll tell you. From all the basketball I watch, usually
when three point shooters are left open, they do make
the shot. You need to make your shots, and you're you, guys.

Speaker 23 (28:19):
Well the cast the losers have been in charge of
this Red's team for twenty years now, run this organization
into the ground. They've stomped on the traditions, the rich
history of this I think they're finally starting to feel
the heats from the fan base.

Speaker 3 (28:38):
I hope they are.

Speaker 23 (28:40):
I hope they feel like they have to sign Kyle Schwarber,
and I hope it gets done.

Speaker 11 (28:46):
Come on meany to hi boys, I want to give
you a little bit of a sprinkle of sprinkled drip trip. Yes,
this is Walker from the West Side, and we'll thinking
about betting the Bengals to when the division don't. They're
plus eight fifty great value, sure, but if you think
they're going to win out to get there, you might
as well keep doubling up your money and bet the
money line every single time from here until there after
the end of this week. You would have bet a

(29:07):
ten dollars bet, you'd be up to thirty two. Double
that up, you'd be up to about seventy five. You're
already at your value there. So keep doubling up, boys, let's.

Speaker 3 (29:16):
Go Okay, Well, thank you for that.

Speaker 1 (29:20):
We had an interesting discussion in our family last week
while we were watching the first two.

Speaker 9 (29:26):
Parts of The Godfather.

Speaker 7 (29:27):
Wow, the First Godfather a Christmas movie.

Speaker 18 (29:36):
Oh, Christmas decorations, there's Christmas shopping, there's Christmas lights.

Speaker 3 (29:42):
That's a good point.

Speaker 6 (29:45):
Oh it's a Christmas movie.

Speaker 2 (29:47):
I don't think I view it as a Christmas movie.
But I also don't view Harry Potter as a Christmas
movie while others do because it was filmed during like
Christmas time, like there's Christmas trees and Christmas break and
all that. I still view it as a Christmas movie
just because of that.

Speaker 3 (30:01):
I've never seen the guy fum yo.

Speaker 13 (30:03):
We got them shaking in a buffalo boots, weapon, the
city out here and sunny hot, so on it?

Speaker 15 (30:07):
What up, Tony, what Udy man?

Speaker 13 (30:09):
I've been listen to Bill's podcast, and man, sounds like
they're a little bit nervous. These fans out there, they
a little bit scared. You should be just like Wes.
You should be scared on Friday. You better get this
win against every g Time is ticking on you, man,
Just like coach sat y'all already know how I feel
about him. I'm out the door with that coach already.
And Yo, Reds, get swore home. I want to see

(30:29):
if he can hit one of Kentucky in great American
small park.

Speaker 3 (30:33):
I bet he could. We're not trying to hit home.

Speaker 24 (30:36):
Made from the in the lext Sorry this morning, welcome back.
It was a great trip to Utah, but as as always,
it's good to get back home. But not happy about
my Wildcats. I don't know, Mark Pope.

Speaker 4 (30:52):
Come on, dude.

Speaker 24 (30:54):
Uh excited for Sunday with the Bengals. If they win Sunday,
I think they got a really good chance to make
the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (31:01):
So whoday, go Reds. And I guess, Oh no, he
didn't even get it in he said, I guess. I guess. Man, Hey, Tony,
I heard you announce on the radio today that you
were going to the Christmas party. That's kind of surprising.
I didn't think new employees within the first ninety days
as they were new hire. But we're allowed to go.

(31:22):
That's valid point. You should well, you should put a
name tag on tonight. Hi, I'm Tony. Tony. Good to each.

Speaker 2 (31:29):
I've been here a couple months. Talst guy in the room,
been here a couple of months. How are you you
know something?

Speaker 15 (31:34):
When I was growing up the Crosstown Shoot, I was
very special.

Speaker 3 (31:37):
You actually have to do that to a couple of
our people, sales folks. Just reintroduce yourself.

Speaker 15 (31:44):
You know something? When I was growing up the cross
Town Shoot, I was very special.

Speaker 3 (31:48):
Yep.

Speaker 15 (31:49):
He used to shut down the city.

Speaker 13 (31:50):
I can remember getting the Cincinnati Inquiry or the Cincinnati Post,
goes straight to the sports section article and just read
about UC and Xavier. Yes, sitting here wondering man and
how my bearcat's gonna beat the Musketeers.

Speaker 15 (32:02):
And we already know what Chalnent was gonna be on.
He was either on channel nine or Channel nineteen. That's
how it was. Back then.

Speaker 13 (32:08):
It had significant meaning. Now it's a rider with no
meaning on the load you see by ten.

Speaker 2 (32:14):
I also like i've said this before. I think that
the new age of sports hurts it as well. You
don't have guys that have been in the rivalry for
three or four years that see it and build up
to it. You got guys that have been in Cincinnati
a couple months, and that takes away from it as well.
And both teams are not very good.

Speaker 12 (32:31):
Afternoon boys, Austin, you were supposed to be in charge
of keeping track and checking your boy Tony. He just
quoted from an article saying it would be quite the
coupe if the Reds could get Schwarber.

Speaker 3 (32:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 12 (32:45):
I was waiting for you to chime in and tell
them that that is not proper use of the wordage.
So we're gonna need you to step up your game.

Speaker 14 (32:53):
Son.

Speaker 3 (32:54):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (32:54):
There gets to a point everyone's life where you just
try enough and.

Speaker 3 (32:57):
You give up. I do appreciate you calling me out,
and I want that. That being said, I have tried
sometimes times with Tony and it goes in one ear
and out the other. Ye, And so I've given up.

Speaker 25 (33:12):
Ye.

Speaker 3 (33:13):
And you know, if he wants to make a fool
of himself, thank you's you go right ahead. Thank you.
Doesn't matter if he gets fired. He gets rehired. One's
doing well today.

Speaker 24 (33:24):
Question for you, fellas, who plays another snap first the
rest of the season, Jamar Stewart or Trey Henderson Stewart.

Speaker 3 (33:31):
I don't think Trey will ever play again for the things.

Speaker 16 (33:34):
I don't know how much you pay attention to the
online chatter, but there's a pretty funny thing going on
right now. And I don't understand the NFL's dress code
rules and all that, but the idea of the Bengals
going Ninja mode and wearing all white if there's snow
in Buffalo, I find pretty dang funny.

Speaker 3 (33:54):
Is that a thing? All that stuff has to be
announced ahead of time. So my understanding is how it
works is that the teams submit what uniforms they want
to wear for each game in June, and then between
June and the start of the regular season, it's all
ironed out. You know, if a team wants if the

(34:15):
Bengals want to wear all white at home, then the
other team will wear their dark uniform and blah blah
blah blah blah. So the Bengals have known that they're
gonna wear the all white jersey and pants combination for
a while. I would think Now, I do think that
the pants are decided on like the week of for
the most part, but the other stuff has to be

(34:38):
submitted to the league previously. So Actually, the Bengals are
wearing their orange helmets, so they're not wearing the white
helmets this week. They're wearing their white jerseys with white
pants and the black socks. Here's what's interesting about that.
The Bengals have not worn that combination in back to
back regular season games since they got the new uniforms.

(35:01):
The only time in the history of these new uniforms
twenty twenty one on that they have worn this exact combination.
The exact same in back to back games was the
twenty twenty one playoffs when they were at Tennessee and
at Kansas City in the Divisional round in the AFC
Championship Game.

Speaker 25 (35:20):
Okay, hey, the top ranking Tony in Austin, Tony, congratulations
on sixth nationally from Awful Announcing on Best College Duo
Announcer broadcast, does Austin If I was you, I would
take Tony to a nice dinner to celebrate.

Speaker 3 (35:43):
Now that reminds me, for whatever reason, of that voice Austin. Also,
I think they wore them back to back in the
twenty two playoffs as well, which would have been the
win in Buffalo and then the AFC Championship game in
Kansas City. So back to back postseasons. I'm sorry, Tony continued, Firs.

Speaker 2 (35:57):
Did you hear yesterday at all from Georgia from the Valley? No, okay,
he ain't got the guts to show up. We haven't
talked about this though, that you're number six, number six
Big Time, number one in the Big twelve, number one
in the Big twelve.

Speaker 3 (36:12):
Yeah, nationally. No, I'm not taking Tony out to a
nice dinner. He's the one who makes the big bucks.
Was gonna say, I think Tony needs to take Dan
out the day.

Speaker 4 (36:21):
Yeah, I'm just.

Speaker 3 (36:23):
And Ben Jarvis brad ellis.

Speaker 7 (36:25):
Oh man, it's the Lord doing a double dip. I
didn't get to hear Zach Taylor's press conference. Oh what's
the latest on Tea? Higgins?

Speaker 3 (36:36):
Guy just exists without the Internet God, which I appreciate.
I appreciate it. Yeah, you're supposed to be omnipotent. He's limited. Okay,
boys get one Christmas or Bengals make the playoffs. Bengals reds.

(36:56):
The rest of the Reds are not that well time out.

Speaker 2 (37:00):
What if it's like Bengals to the super Bowl, then yes,
if the Bengals get in and lose in the first round,
I'm still taking Swarbur.

Speaker 3 (37:07):
That's not the question. It is do they make the
playoffs or do the Reds get Kyle Swarber. I think
I'll take Swarburg. Do you think if the Bengals make
the playoffs in a potentially a playoff situation without Patrick
Mahomes and without Lamar Jackson, you betting against the Bengals
in the AFC?

Speaker 17 (37:25):
No?

Speaker 2 (37:26):
Okay, no, but that would mean that they would get
back to the super Bowl. But I think that the
Reds are a playoff team and a contender with Why
do you think that they have no relievers at the
moment they can add relievers, still have money left, they
know they won't. Yeah, it's a good question, though, Bengals.

Speaker 12 (37:42):
Okay, just a reminder, Bearcats eight thousand, there we have days.

Speaker 3 (37:48):
And there we center well said not so fun when
the Rabbits got the gun hunt Tom, that's true I
can say about that.

Speaker 26 (37:57):
I wanted to ask you guys something, do either one
of you guys ever watch like high school or college wrestling.
We have some of the best in the country just
in this area, just like it is just like football.
And if you guys get a chance to go out
and support a local high school, I think you would
be impressed about just the camaraderie and that in that

(38:18):
whole community of wrestlers. So if you get a chance,
go out and check it out.

Speaker 3 (38:23):
I have not gotten in.

Speaker 2 (38:25):
I know that under Dick Engles Toote legit reading. Reading
was always a contender in wrestling. I remember the Charlie
Moore Invitational happened all the time. I would always go
up to the Charlie more Invitational and check things out.
Reading coach actually wanted me to come out for wrestling
at one point because he said I was gangly. Gangs
turned gangly, that means long arms, long legs. He said,
I'd have been tough to get to. It would have

(38:46):
been tough to get to, but I played basketball instead.

Speaker 3 (38:49):
Played I don't know if really you didn't play that play.

Speaker 14 (38:53):
Totally agree with you, guys. You got to get the
Schwarmer thing done. Tray Brady Singer and another one of
the arbitration eligible guys, free up your money. That's about
fifteen sixteen million. Trade those guys off. It's time for
the young guys Chase Burns and Rett Louder to be
in the rotation. Anyway, love what Brady Singer did, but
that's the move you need to make. The free up
the cash if you truly can't go above that twenty million.

Speaker 3 (39:14):
That's what they need to do.

Speaker 14 (39:16):
And I have it on good authority, Big Kahunah and Kentucky.
If he hasn't already chimed in, he will clap back tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (39:21):
No Kahuna really, he really doesn't need to leave. No
more talkbacks like ever again, come on, bray it. But yeah,
all right, that's it. Was it.

Speaker 2 (39:34):
Football in the NATI is next. We'll talk to some
college hoops an hour before.

Speaker 3 (39:40):
Come in yet, Chris Henry, take.

Speaker 2 (39:41):
Your phone calls five one three seven four nine fifteen
Wait five one three, seven four nine fifteen thirty.

Speaker 3 (39:46):
Yeah, that's right on the whole.

Speaker 2 (39:47):
How many times as you say that last night one
fifteen thirty just one second time going to break? First
time I was so locked in on the number. Second break,
I gave the wrong one. But at seven four nine,
fifteen thirty, give us a call. We'll talk to you
an hour three on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 1 (40:03):
From the Court in the NATI, brought to you in
part by bud Light and by Oakley Greens on ESPN
fifteen point thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (40:16):
All right, it is football in the NATI. Welcome back,
ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station. It happened last night, Austin.
Let's take a few minutes an update and discuss a
couple of the storylines surrounding the college football playoff rankings.
It was a final regular season rankings. Obviously, Championship Weekend
happens this coming weekend Friday and Saturday. But with that,

(40:38):
no change at the top. Ohio State Indiana remained number
one and number two. Now Texas A and M's loss
has shifted some things. Texas A and M drops from
three to seven, which means Georgia moves up to three,
Texas Tech moves up to four, Oregon moves up to five,
and Old Miss without a head coach, moves up to

(41:00):
number six. Oklahoma has stayed at number eight. And the
interesting thing is Alabama has jumped Notre Dame, so Notre
Dame falls from nine to ten, Bama goes from ten
to nine, BYU is eleven, Miami is twelve, Texas is thirteen,

(41:23):
and then after that. I don't think it really matters much.
A couple of the talking points here Austin, a lot
of people trying to make a case for Texas. I
don't think Texas has a path. They have three losses.
A lot of people are making a case from Miami.
The case from Miami, Austin to me is a little
bit different because Miami is at twelve. Their regular season

(41:44):
is over, they're not playing for a conference title game.
But while losing to Louisville and SMU, Miami did have
a head to head win against Notre Dame. How much
should that factor into the college football playoff rankings? Knowing
that the Notre Dame game was the very first game
of the season and since then again Miami has slipped
up against teams that are both no longer ranked or

(42:05):
I'm sorry, Miami has slipped up against teams that are
no longer ranked. Does Miami have a case to be
angry being at twelve on Notre Names at ten?

Speaker 3 (42:16):
I guess it really just depends on who you lost
to and how the committee views those teams. Yeah, that's
ultimately I guess what is the deciding factor now? If
they were ten and eleven and Miami is number eleven,
I would I would say that's wrong. Sure, but clearly

(42:38):
the other losses for Miami, which are who I don't
even know.

Speaker 2 (42:42):
Miami lost to Louisville and SMU, neither team is ranked.
Notre Dame's losses were to Miami, into Texas A and
m Yeah, so the first two games of the year
and they've since won ten straight games.

Speaker 3 (42:53):
Yeah, those are better losses than Miami has wins, right,
that is correct? And Notre Dame.

Speaker 2 (43:00):
I guess they've won ten games in a row, so
I get the back and forth, a big twelve dynamic
that I think is interesting knowing what we know Austin
and seeing the teams that are kind of on the
outside looking in, and that the top doesn't matter because
you're still gonna have two automatic bids that are taking
up this weekend as well. So the top, you know,

(43:21):
you're still gonna have teams on the outside looking in
that a lot of people feel are deserving BYU is
an interesting one because they're at number eleven, they play
Texas Tech. Is there a scenario Austin where you could
see Texas Tech going from number four to out of
the playoff if they lose to BYU.

Speaker 3 (43:39):
I wouldn't think so.

Speaker 2 (43:41):
So the Big Twelve could essentially steal a second bid
if BYU beats Texas Tech. I think the Big Twelve
is a two bid league Texas Tech. Case takes care
of BYU, then it doesn't matter. But what I do
think is interesting when you look at championship weekend Austin,
Oklahoma's not playing football this weekend. Texas A and M
is not playing football this weekend. Old Miss is not

(44:03):
playing football. Oregon is not playing football. They make up five, six, seven,
eight in the rankings. Alabama is number nine at ten
and two. I would believe if Alabama wasn't playing in
the SEC Title game this weekend, they would be in
the College Football Playoff. But because they're in, it sure

(44:25):
feels to me like they have to beat Georgia because
if three losses, I think they'll be out. You could
legitily make the case that in Alabama stance, it hurts
them playing in the SEC Title game.

Speaker 3 (44:37):
And there's nothing they can do about it. That's just
kind of how it is.

Speaker 2 (44:41):
But if they lose their out when they're in regardless,
But I think if they were neutral this weekend, I
think they'd be in.

Speaker 3 (44:48):
I think their body of work would would would agree
with that. Maybe so, But you don't want to leave
it up to something weird happening. You don't want to
leave it up to Okay, maybe b WHYU does beat
Texas Tech or you know, however it might work out

(45:09):
to where you can get bumped out for being idle.
So as difficult as a task as it is to
go to Atlanta and beat Georgia, Sure you can remove
all doubt by beating Georgia. Yes, And this is the
reality of the Southeastern Conference. This is the conference that

(45:29):
you talk about and everybody you know warships about being
such a great conference. Okay, well, now here's the opportunity
for you to This is part of it. You don't
necessarily have the same rules, and you have a bit
of a tougher path than everyone else.

Speaker 4 (45:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (45:45):
The biggest winner of the last college football rankings, Arizona
moved up seven spots to number eighteen in the College
Football Playoff rankings. And they ask you one more question
on this As an Ohio State fan Austin and we
we brushed over this earlier in the way Ohio State
and Indiana or number one and two Ohio State in Indiana,
regardless of what happens on Saturday, are both in the
college football playoffs. How are you handling? From an Ohio

(46:09):
State standpoint? How are you handling the game Saturday?

Speaker 3 (46:11):
Are you?

Speaker 2 (46:13):
Are you unloading the playbook? Are you playing Vanilla as possible?
Because there is a likely there's there's a scenario where
you would turn around and play Indiana again, How are
you handling the game Saturday night?

Speaker 3 (46:27):
If you're Ohio State? Well, I do think you wouldn't
turn around and play them in the same week. No,
not the same week, but you could. You could see
them again. I think it's it's likely that both of
these teams get by weeks no matter what happens, and
whoever wins, they basically flip spots from one to two.
I could see that you would basically, I think, determine

(46:52):
just how much you show and what exactly your plan
of attack is based off of what happens in the
games prior to you. That's what's nice is other than
who's the ACC game. ACC game is the only one
that that tips off or that play kicks off at
the same time. Yeah, I don't know. I think you

(47:13):
should always try to win, but we've seen in.

Speaker 2 (47:15):
That agree try to win. But are you are you
exhausting all avenues of the playbook?

Speaker 3 (47:20):
No, I don't think that that either of these teams
would really have to. Yeah, yeah, I don't. I don't know.
I'm fascinated by it because Kurt Signetti's offense is the
only one in the country that I feel really worried
about as an Ohio State fan. Like, obviously Matt Patricia
has done incredible work with that defense, but Kurt Signetti

(47:42):
is a great offensive mind. There's no other offense in
the country that like strikes fear into me like Indiana does,
even with Matt Patricia. So for that reason, you know,
does Kurt Signetti come out and try to prove a point?
Does he try to go thirteen to zero?

Speaker 2 (47:59):
I think winning the Big Ten title for Indiana would
would mean a lot more huge deal. It would mean
a lot more huge deal for what it's worth.

Speaker 3 (48:05):
I think the other thing too here is Ohio State
has been dealing with some injuries Carnell Tate, Yah Jeremiah Smith.
They're not one hundred percent healthy, so I think that
might play into it as well.

Speaker 2 (48:18):
If you went by just the playoff rankings last night,
Ohio State would await the winner of Oklahoma and Alabama
to play Texas Tech would await the winner of Oregon
and a conference champion that'll be decided this weekend.

Speaker 3 (48:29):
More than likely two lanes.

Speaker 2 (48:31):
Yes, Georgia the three seed would await Old Miss or
another one of those conference champions, and then Indiana would
await the winner of Notre Dame and Texas A and M.
That is how the four teams with the buye would
currently play out in the college football playoff.

Speaker 3 (48:47):
Let's ge that being said, if I'm Ohio State, I
would rather, I think right now, play the winner of
Notre Dame in Texas AM.

Speaker 2 (48:58):
Absolutely I would agree one hundred percent and like the same.
What's in all of this is what does a committee
do with Old Miss now that they don't have a coach?
You know, does something happen over the weekend that Old
Miss could fall in this? I don't think so, but
it is interesting to see where they would they would
go with that let's switch gears. Let's talk some college

(49:20):
hoops in our number three. We'll also take your phone
calls in our number three on the home of the Bengals,
ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks to our friends
here at sin T Shirts.

Speaker 1 (49:30):
You've been listening to football in the NATI on ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 8 (49:42):
WCKY, Cincinnati, and iHeartRadio Station Guaranteed Human ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 3 (49:50):
I Heard radio from the Durban Heating Temp Star Weather Center.
Here's your forecast. This report is sponsored by Taco Bell
Cobel's Lux craving spot