Tony Pike's Cincy 360 Hour 2 -- 12/4/25

Tony and Austin talk to John Sheeran, take your TalkBacks, and more on ESPN 1530!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Tony Pike Sincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsoredmen Park by Cincy Shirts. Cincy Shirts, all Cincy, all Day.
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome back.

Speaker 3 (00:19):
It is our two Cincy three sixty thanks to Cincy Shirts.
Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Let's dive right in our Thursday tradition now hour two
to get things underway. From A to Z Sports covering
the Cincinnati Bengals is John Sheeran.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's up, John? How are you?

Speaker 4 (00:37):
I'm doing well, man.

Speaker 5 (00:38):
I'm a little nervous that I'm bad luck because it
wasn't on last week, and of course the Bengals won
by a lot, but I'm happy to be.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Bet Not being on last week, you obviously had a
chance to sit down on the holiday and watch what unfolded.
What were your biggest takeaways Being able to watch Joe
Burrow on Thanksgiving night?

Speaker 5 (00:55):
My biggest takeaway It really began on that horrendous low
red zone sequence of events in which he was in
empty and I'm like, oh, even when Burrow is back
and the rest isn't fully shaken off yet he's still
required to be Superman out there, which is a little
bit annoying from a from a viewer standpoint. But once
his feet were you know, firmly under him and he
stopped really like forcing a lot of those throws in

(01:18):
the first half, he looked like himself, and that was
very reminiscent, I believe of like a couple of years
ago when he faced the Ravens again in Week two,
when he was dealing with a calf and his first
half was also a little bit rusty, and then he
just started to come alive again. And fortunately this time
the Bengals ended up winning because he got a lot
of help from the defense with five turnovers. But I mean,
this is pretty normal for him against the Ravens defense,

(01:39):
posts Mike McDonald when he left for the Seahawks job
a couple of years ago. He's always been able to
carve them up, and the offensive line gave him a
ton of time to just, you know, survey the field
and just make the throws that were always accustomed to
seeing him when he's at his best, and right now
it's you know, it's December.

Speaker 4 (01:54):
This is when Burrow plays his best.

Speaker 5 (01:56):
And it was really promising to see that accuracy not
go away despite all the rust of taking two months
off with his.

Speaker 3 (02:03):
Injury, the help that he was able to get around him,
he finds nine different receivers. The running game got going.
The offensive line. I feel like we haven't talked as
much about the offensive line. How much of an improvement
have you seen from that group.

Speaker 4 (02:16):
It's been nine and day.

Speaker 5 (02:17):
I think along the interior, you have Dylan Fairchild playing
I think above what you would expect a rookie third
round pick to play. At the power of his game
in pass protection is so notable. Dalon Riser has been
doing this for a long time, and that was the
expectation when when he signed. Yeah, it makes sense why
he wasn't necessarily at his best when he was first
year and he only had like a couple weeks of

(02:38):
actual practice experience for the entire offseason. But now that
you know he's in full game shape and everything like that,
he does look like the better option compared to Jalen
Rivers who was out there for the majority of the season.

Speaker 4 (02:47):
And Rivers, again, this is the rookie.

Speaker 5 (02:48):
You don't expect that much of him, but this is
definitely their best interior trio that they've had in quite
some time, and the fact that Mariusmims continues to be
a solid player right tackle Lynda Brown Junior. He does
have his mishaps every now and then with speed on
the outside, but when he's playing well, the entire unit
looks like the best offensive line that Burrow has ever had,
really going back to I would say even a college days.

(03:11):
I think even at LSU, like his offensive line was
never as good as people tauted to that. So he
now has the opportunity to do all the special things
that Burrow can do in terms of extending plays and
creating out of structure. But when he does have to
just stay in the pocket and survey the field, I
think this offense line gives him the chance.

Speaker 4 (03:26):
To do that.

Speaker 3 (03:28):
You mentioned the defense, John, I'm curious if you look
back to the Pittsburgh game, the Steelers scored two defensive touchdowns.
I thought the defense played better. I certainly think they
had a winning performance against the Patriots, and they did
well again against the Baltimore Ravens. Are we are we
ready to turn the page that the defense is improving
or do you still want to see more?

Speaker 2 (03:46):
And if so, what do you want to see?

Speaker 5 (03:48):
It is improving just because what have we talked about
for twelve weeks now? It's all relying on the pass
for us, it's all relying on guys who have been
dependent on this year when they didn't go out and
make other moves to through the Union, they relied on
the development of Miles Murphy, just to Oosai, Chris Jenkins specifically,
those three guys in the early parts of their careers,
they played the most pass rushing snaps against the Ravens

(04:11):
and they all had high level performances. Yes, they didn't
always finish at Lamar Jackson, but they disrupted plays and
they forced bad mistakes out of him unfortunately, Like sometimes.

Speaker 4 (04:20):
They're gonna be wacky games like that, right.

Speaker 5 (04:21):
The Bengals just experience went against the Vikings back in September,
which they turned the ball over five times. You know,
not always expecting to force five turnovers, but when you
can create disruption, muddy the pocket a little bit, force
Aaron Paron decisions, forced bumbles, whatever the case may be. Jenkins, Osai,
and Murphy all did that, and Murphy's kind of been
on this track for the last handful of weeks I
think his ability to push the pocket as a power

(04:43):
rusher and to disengage at the right time that has
definitely improved. Osai is probably their best overall pass rusher
with Autree Hendrickson out there, but the jump from Chris
Jenkins specifically in this game was maybe the most promising
because they haven't really had that boost from an interior
rusher in quite some time, and I'm still not sure
Jenkins is quite that player just yet. I think he
had a really good week, but you do need to

(05:04):
see more of that. But with again, have multiple pass
rushers who can contribute with like a fifteen to twenty
percent when as a pass rusher, that just does so
much for the rest of your defense and it makes
everything else go and sync. So this is what they've
been missing for for the first eight nine weeks of
the season and they're finally getting some of that now.

Speaker 3 (05:20):
Do you think there's a value with Trey Hendrickson and
Shamar Stewart not playing that Miles Murphy and Josephosai have
taken this jump more practice reps. We know how important
those are that they're not rotating through in the course
of a game. Do you find a correlation between the
other two defensive ends not playing and the production we're
seeing for Miles Murphy and Josephosai.

Speaker 5 (05:40):
It's certainly possible. You know, like Murphy, this is this
is his third year and he's never really been thrust
it into this important of a role before. Like we
kind of wanted it to happen last year when Sam however,
was experiencing his decline and he got some more opportunities
along with Joseph a saie. So I think obviously them
being in the spotlight, them getting all the all the

(06:00):
starter reps, that definitely helps, but you still have to
go out there and perform, right, and that just wasn't
happening in the early parts of the season, even with
Stewart was healthy, Right, I think Murphy and s I
were still you know, at at the very least equals along.

Speaker 4 (06:11):
With him in the rotation.

Speaker 5 (06:12):
So they're just running with the opportunity now, and sometimes
it just takes a little bit longer for some of
these guys to click.

Speaker 4 (06:17):
And even if.

Speaker 5 (06:18):
Murphy is not necessarily gonna be a ten sac of
year type of guy for a first round thick, I
think he's still showing the value that you would have
expected for who the player that he was coming.

Speaker 4 (06:26):
Out of college.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
Do we need to have a Trey Hendrickson conversation? Do
you do you find it just at all odd? We've
talked about on this show in Austin. I think has
made the point if if the injury was as serious
at the outset for Trey Hendrickson, would the Bengals have
just put him on IR at that point? Do you
find how this situation is being handled and how blunt
Zach Taylor is each and every Monday that he's doubtful? Again,

(06:50):
do you find this situation odd?

Speaker 5 (06:53):
It's definitely odd compared to how you know, these situations
normally go about, and when the wording is like that,
when the messaging is like that, and considering the history there,
it all raises, you know, very, at the very least
minor red flags. I think this could be a situation
in which he aggravated the injury. It made it a
little bit worse obviously than now. There's the pelvis classification

(07:13):
along with the hip. It's a core muscle injury, probably
gonna require surgery in the offseason, right, So there's all
this new information that's come out about it. And it's
possible that the Bengals didn't think it was as serious
as it is, and that's why he hasn't been on IR.
He's still on the active roster and they haven't cleared
that roster spot up for him. Obviously, with a guy
like Rander, if he's healthy, you want him out there

(07:34):
as soon as possible, and I think they've always kept
that door open just in case he's able to come back.
I think there's probably some frustration with it not healing
the way that they.

Speaker 4 (07:42):
Expected it to, and it could just be they miscalculated
in that regard.

Speaker 5 (07:46):
Again, we don't know nearly enough details to make any
conclusions about this. It's all unfortunately speculation, and considering who
the subject is, he's been in the spotlight all year
and not for the best reasons. So I think it's
rather unfortunate that it's got to this point. But I
don't know if we can go as far as to
say that there's anything the Fairies here. It's just a
lot of speculation and unfortunately a lot of unknowns because

(08:08):
unfortunately for them that they just didn't expect it to
get worse and unfortunately just not at the point where
he can play John.

Speaker 2 (08:13):
The Buffalo Bills have the best rushing offense in the NFL.
Why are they so good? And how do you expect
them to attack the Bengals with that rushing game on Sunday?

Speaker 5 (08:26):
Yeah, I mean it was so dominant against the Steelers
that TJ. Watt joke that they ran the same play
of thirty times, and it kind of wasn't really joking, right,
It was just inside zone after inside zone after inside zone.
That offensive line has always been comprised of pretty good
athletes who can display guys, and when they're all in sync,
even without their two starting tackles like that, they're able to,
you know, clear the edges for James Cook to bounce outside.

(08:47):
And I think part of that is also not just
with the offensive line. They're getting a lot of help
from their tight ends. To rookie Jackson Hawes has been phenomenal,
not not for beyond just receiving reasons right, Like he's
getting his nose dirty and he's clearing out the edge,
and James Cook has phenomenal vision for these cutback lanes
and he's an explosive runner as well. So when you
combine an offensive line that's always in sync, It's always

(09:07):
that it can always really out athlete the opposing defensive
line clear space for a running back that just knows
where to go with the ball.

Speaker 4 (09:14):
It has really good vision and explosion to his game.

Speaker 5 (09:16):
That's how you get not only a successful run game,
but an explosive run game that can really open a
game for you.

Speaker 2 (09:21):
They also use their tight ends very well. Have you
seen any differences in the way the Bengals have kind
of been defending tight ends because for years they haven't
been able to cover them. They did give up a
big one to Isaiah likely that they had a good
hustle play on on Thursday night. How do you expect
the Bengals to try to prevent the Bill's tight ends
from beating them?

Speaker 5 (09:41):
Yeah, I mean that's something that I expect is not
necessarily going to be of strength of the Bengals in
this week. I was expecting Mark Gamers to have a
little bit better at the game last week, and of
course he got an extension this week. Dalon kin Kat
is their second leading receiver, but he's not just he's
just a tight end name only right, He's basically in
the slide like Mike Esecki out there and the middle
of the field has been mostly compromised for this Bengals defense,

(10:03):
and it's not something I expect Bark Carter, Demitrius Night
to be, you know, on top of necessarily this week.

Speaker 4 (10:08):
It's gonna have to be continue to be a work
in progress.

Speaker 5 (10:11):
But you know, Alan Josh Allen is always on the
same page with those guys, and they find the vacancies
in the soft spots in the zones, and that's gonna
be something again, where like you have to be able
to disrupt these guys at the line of scrimmage. He
had to force them off of their timing. He had
to force Allan into making some bad decisions. But you know,
Kincage's been reliable for them. I think he's on the
injury report, but he should be able to play this
week and that'll be a very important figure for the

(10:32):
Bengals to stop.

Speaker 2 (10:33):
I thought it was interesting John the split between Chase
Brown and samaj p Ryan in Baltimore. Do you think
that's just short week give Chase Brown a little bit
of rest in the run game, or do you think
we'll see that continue over the course of the end
of the season.

Speaker 5 (10:48):
I think there's gonna be always opportunities for p Ryan
to give him a little bit of a break, but
also for his valume pass protection as well, and we
saw that definitely on the touchdown andre yosavajh And doesn't
pick up that block on the opposite side of Burrow,
that play does not happen, right, And I think as
long as Piterran is healthy, he's the trusted guy to
be on the.

Speaker 4 (11:07):
Field in those situations. And I think with the way
the game.

Speaker 5 (11:10):
Script played out, or at least for how much Burrow
checked into those pass plays and how much they rely
on his arm to outscore Baltimore, that's why p Ryan
was on the field for as much as he was.
But there's always going to be opportunities for him to
run the ball as well and to not overload Chase Brown.
Despite how productive Chase Brown has been, He's going to
get his opportunities. But Piterran definitely still has value there
and they definitely.

Speaker 3 (11:30):
Recognize that if t Higgins is able to continue on
his progression and getting back to this team. How do
you view, you know, Joe Burrow's ability to spread the
ball around. It's always something I've been in all of
Joe Burrow. He found nine different targets. How much more
difficult does life become for the Buffalo Bills if you
can get T. Higgins healthy and playing on Sunday.

Speaker 5 (11:51):
Yeah, I think the Bills their cornerbacks are an area
in which the Bengals have a definite ave enage of
this one. Like their safety has always been good with
player and a second year player Cole Bishop I believe
is his name back there. So their safeties are good
and they can cost some confusion in the pre stat phase,
but you will.

Speaker 4 (12:08):
Always take Jamar Chase and T.

Speaker 5 (12:09):
Higgins over you know, Tradavius White, Brent Frip, I'm blanking
on his first name, but you know, like the Bengals
did do have the advantage there, and I think in
games like this, like you never really know if Chase
or Higgins is gonna go off, if that is, if
Higgins plays. I remember back in twenty twenty three it
was Tea's big game which he had one hundred and
ten receiving yards against the Bills. He got the spotlight,

(12:31):
and then Chase obviously you know, dominating games after that
as well. So like it could just be a picker
poison such situation. That's the beauty of the Bengals offense,
and that's how they're at their peak.

Speaker 4 (12:40):
When all three guys are out there playing.

Speaker 5 (12:41):
At their best, Burrow knows where to go with the ball,
and when he sees one on one opportunity with either
of them, it's not gonna be about all this guy's
getting paid.

Speaker 4 (12:47):
More money than this guy.

Speaker 5 (12:48):
No, if the opportunity is there and the matchup is right,
he's going to whichever guy is the best, and that's
how you get the ball being spread around as much
as the as it does with Burrow at the.

Speaker 3 (12:57):
Quarterback, John, how do you view the season up to
this point? I feel like it's the most optimistic I've
seen a team for being four and eight on the year,
and rightfully so with Joe Burrow coming back. But there
are a lot of issues that we have discussed with
this team throughout the course of the season, and yes,
a one game sample size against Baltimore helps to kind

(13:18):
of move past what those issues were. But how important
now does the final stretch become? Everyone wants to say,
Okay went out and get into the playoffs. What is
your realistic vision for how this season plays out?

Speaker 5 (13:31):
I think this is still at the end of the day,
it's still a very flawed team that has major issues
to work out in the offseason. But I think as
the season has unfolded, you've seen just everywhere in the
league there are cracks with some of the best teams,
and there's going to be flawed teams in the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (13:48):
And I think that's.

Speaker 5 (13:49):
Somewhat of a source of optimism right now, in which
the Bengals definitely have taken their bumps and bruises along
the way. The fact that they've been in the situation
before and were able to do what they could to
win out and give themselves a chance in the playoffs,
I think it does give them a little bit of
confidence as well, which is why again, like you don't
want to be in the situation, but the Bengals, unfortunately

(14:10):
do find themselves in this situation more than most of
the teams, and that's why like, oh, we've been here before,
we can control we control the old you know.

Speaker 4 (14:18):
The cliches and whatnot.

Speaker 5 (14:20):
But no, I think right now you have confidence in
this offense producing with Burrough playing the way that he does,
and if the defense can continue continue to be opportunistic
with the pass.

Speaker 4 (14:31):
Rust that it is now found.

Speaker 5 (14:32):
There isn't a game that you feel like they're going
to be completely outmatched and give you hope that you
can just win out and find a way to do
this and if you get some help along the way
from the Steelers and Ravens losing out. So confidence I
think is definitely higher than it was a week or
two ago. But this is still a flawed team that
just needs to be in the same company as other
flawed teams when January comes around.

Speaker 3 (14:52):
Before I let you go, John, we didn't get to
talked last week. So you speak of confidence in winding
down the season. Not a great end of the season
for our U see football Bearcats who lose four in
a row after getting to seven and one. How do
you how do you view as a as a fan
of the Bearcats? How do you view this year's football season?

Speaker 5 (15:10):
You know, Penn State still looking for a head coach
and one Cincinnati I think that would be you know,
I'm just kidding. Yeah, it sucks not being both a
second half of the season team and not being a
second half of the game team. That's unfortunately the the
UC Bearcuts football program. At the moment, I'm pretty much
over the season. I'm still I'm just on myll eyes
on tomorrow on the harvoid.

Speaker 2 (15:29):
Are you excited about it? Or are you? Are you?
Are you cautiously? Do you?

Speaker 4 (15:33):
I give you this game?

Speaker 2 (15:35):
Just give me this game.

Speaker 5 (15:36):
I have no confidence in the season of other than this.
This is like my O High State Michigan moment, right.
I don't care about the rest of the season.

Speaker 4 (15:41):
Just give me. Just give me a win oversaver and
I'll be content.

Speaker 3 (15:45):
Or it is that is John Shearon a to c
Sports covering the Bengals. John, what's easiest way to follow
along with everything you got going on with the Bengals
as they look to continue this run.

Speaker 5 (15:55):
Absolutely, it's December football. It's when the Bengals somehow play
their best, and it's when we're on firing all cylinders
as well a diseasports dot Com, Backslash Cincinnati YouTube, Instagram, TikTok,
wherever you get your short form video content. We're on
their eight dies Sports Cincinnati follow as along with the
final five weeks.

Speaker 3 (16:11):
Much much appreciated, John, We'll talk again next week.

Speaker 4 (16:14):
Thanks fellas.

Speaker 3 (16:15):
There he is, John Sharon at is E Sports love it,
some begles, optimism, signs of life. Your talkbacks come up
next thanks to Cinci Sharts. It's our number two on
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
Hey, Alexa Sports Bar, it's.

Speaker 4 (16:32):
That time for talkbacks.

Speaker 3 (16:34):
Press the microphone and record your message for Austin in tone.

Speaker 2 (16:39):
Please keep it clean and don't be mean.

Speaker 6 (16:42):
And a sprinkle sprinkle, drip drips.

Speaker 2 (16:46):
It's that time for talkbacks.

Speaker 5 (16:48):
It's our favorite parter since three sixty.

Speaker 2 (16:52):
So Austin buddy, play those talkbacks on your screen and
please try out to sabotage.

Speaker 3 (17:00):
Thanks to Sinci Shirts, thank you ahead of time for
leaving your talkback for today. The Thursday edition of Sincy
three six.

Speaker 7 (17:09):
It's the Lord with another edition of start bench cut
Christmas pains, putting up Christmas lights, writing out Christmas cards,
or Christmas shopping at the mall.

Speaker 3 (17:24):
You know, I enjoy the throwback nature of Christmas shopping
at the mall. I don't do it a lot, but
every Christmas year, once or twice a year, I'll head
to the mall and do some vintage Christmas shopping where
I can actually see what I'm buying, not just order
everything online. I like that aspect of Christmas. I also
like the aspect of putting up Christmas lights. So I'm

(17:44):
not benching any of them except Christmas cards, because.

Speaker 2 (17:48):
We really can you just like answer the question the
way it's asked. Start bench, cut, No, I start both.
You are a gutless individual. I start both. I'll I'll
cut Christmas cards, I'll start Christmas shopping. I love doing that.
I'll bench Christmas lights. I don't know the last time

(18:10):
I put up Christmas lights French. Well, I don't have
a home. Yeah, I mean I put up my tree.
I like doing that and writing out Christmas cards. I
don't think I've ever done that much. Yeah, we don't
do that.

Speaker 8 (18:25):
Hey, guys, Jeff and your Richmond Happy Thursday. So, first
of all, want to wish Evan Dryer and his Anderson Raptors'
best wishes tonight all the state finals up in Canton
and then Tony. I wanted to ask you, if you
were to set the line on the Crosstown shootout tomorrow night,

(18:47):
what do you think a reasonable line would be for
the game? Take care?

Speaker 3 (18:56):
I think Vegas wise like you see minus two and
a half, minus three and a half. I were setting
the line and behavior minus about eight.

Speaker 2 (19:02):
And a half.

Speaker 8 (19:05):
Hello, this is former President Ronald Regan, And well, I
know in all the years that I've known Nancy, we've
never had an argument.

Speaker 2 (19:13):
Not true, ron Not come on now, not true. Gotta
goul Thank you caughtom lyon right there? Man.

Speaker 9 (19:22):
Well, Travis says he's ever had an argument with Taylor. Well,
I guess I can buy that. At the moment he does,
she'd probably break up with him. Then he has to
deal for about one hundred breakup songs about him. My
wife and I we celebrated twenty years together yesterday.

Speaker 2 (19:37):
Wow, And I could say, yeah, we've.

Speaker 9 (19:39):
Had some arguments, we've had some disagreements, but fellas the center.
You fired out that she's always right. And if mama
ain't happy, nobody is.

Speaker 4 (19:48):
I tell you, life gets a whole lot easier.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
That's right, makes it easy.

Speaker 4 (19:54):
What's up?

Speaker 10 (19:54):
Guys?

Speaker 6 (19:55):
Swung from the Heights so already at the beginning of
the show, I.

Speaker 2 (19:59):
What did you just replay that? Did he call me already?
I think? So, what's up? Guys? One from the Heights?

Speaker 6 (20:06):
So already at the beginning of the show. I think
the video store you might be talking about that was
in Red and Black. It's family video. If I'm not
mistaken from back in the day. But I like your
guys prediction on who will win tonight between my Cowboys
and Alliance and also whoever loses. Do you think they're
out the playoff picture or they might still have a

(20:28):
fighting chance.

Speaker 3 (20:30):
Based on how the NFC is, it might be an
elimination game tonight. I like the I like the Lions
at home.

Speaker 2 (20:36):
I just looked it up movie gallery. Do you remember
movie Gallery? I do. Yeah, that's what it was. Uh
not family video, but do I do. Thank you for that.
Jo answer the question Dallas or Detroit. I'm sorry I
was looking that up. What did he ask? Who will
win tonight?

Speaker 3 (20:52):
Wins tonight? And it is an elimination game from the
team that loses.

Speaker 2 (20:55):
Yes, it is an elimination game for the team that loses.
I want Detroit to win. I almost always picked the
home team. Yeah, but I think they're in trouble.

Speaker 10 (21:04):
Man.

Speaker 2 (21:05):
I went to Trent as well. I think Dallas is
gonna win that game.

Speaker 11 (21:12):
Yeah, like I said a thousand times, let's get Kenny
Anderson in the hall offense.

Speaker 2 (21:16):
I'll tell you the Bells game.

Speaker 11 (21:19):
You just gotta stop James Cook and their receivers ain't
that good.

Speaker 6 (21:24):
They can't stop the run.

Speaker 11 (21:26):
I'd like to see the Bengals run the hell out
of the ball the Sunday stop James Cook, Let's get a.

Speaker 2 (21:35):
W stop the run can't stop. Then we'll tell.

Speaker 4 (21:40):
Guys big to hoone.

Speaker 12 (21:41):
In Kentucky, they say, Cooper Flag ain't nothing but another
Brent Berry. And then what about this guy a football coach?
He prefers to himself as will Stein in the press conference,
calls himself in third person, says, who wouldn't want to
play for will.

Speaker 2 (21:53):
Stein right now?

Speaker 12 (21:54):
Well, dude, you took over at the Oregon's quarterback coach
and you had transferred quarterbacks who already established.

Speaker 2 (21:59):
Don't think you were the want to develop them.

Speaker 12 (22:00):
Organ's been good since nineteen ninety four when Rich Brooks
took them into the rose Bow, when that Penn's eighteen
was phenomenal. They were by far the best team in
the country that year.

Speaker 3 (22:09):
If I say so myself, it's interesting will Stein becomes
the coach, but he's not the most popular will Stein
that Kentucky's head.

Speaker 2 (22:15):
That would be Willie Caley Stein. What's he doing these days?
That I don't know? I thought he'd be better in
the NBA. I did too with Big Willie. You know,
I don't think we've ever approached this topic before. But
there's another famous Tony Pike. Really yeah, who's that? I

(22:39):
don't know if I can uh. Oh, that makes me nervous.
I think he was like who, I don't know, who'll
describe it? Hold On, let me see hold on, this

(23:01):
is sorry for the double.

Speaker 12 (23:03):
They say, he's got this quarterback from Coo already coming
with him, who was arguably the top freshman quarterback in
the country last year. But you know he went to
Oregon and to transferred out because he couldn't beat out
in Dante more. Will he take credit for developing him
even though he was a stud of cow already let
him like this coach already represented the Bluegras state. But
I bet you one thing. I bet this guy will Stein.
I bet he lets his players call him will or Stanie.

(23:25):
I bet he don't make him call him coach.

Speaker 2 (23:27):
Will as stanih Tony Pike, who was a hotelier. What
I guess he was a hotel owner? Okay, he was
a legend in Ibiza.

Speaker 3 (23:40):
Really yeah, well, I mean Mike Poser, I took a
pill and a Beza as one of my jams.

Speaker 2 (23:48):
I took a pill and abez. He was Okay, this
isn't as bad as I saw him. He epitomized the
hedonism of the holiday clubbing island Ibiza. Okay, so I
guess he was a good guy, but he was a
fun time. He was described by the Guardian as a
ring master for thirty years of celebrity debauchery. Oh he

(24:12):
was like he'd always like. He was like he was
the Ibza version of who's that guy who had the mansion?
The playboy mansion? Hugh Hefner, Hugh Hefner. I just googled
Tony Pike Abiza. Yeah, and this quote popped up. I
used to have fantasies, but not anymore. I've done them all. Yeah, Okay,

(24:32):
I think he's like first team All Partier. Okay, Tony,
you've never heard of this guy before. You never googled
yourself and this dude showed up.

Speaker 9 (24:39):
No, he has some shirt reports that your boy Jesus
coming back?

Speaker 4 (24:45):
Is that true?

Speaker 13 (24:47):
It won't matter, go muskys.

Speaker 3 (24:50):
I have been told by credible sources that Gisel James
will not play for the Bearcats.

Speaker 2 (24:54):
This year.

Speaker 3 (24:56):
So also after January first, he puts a great question, also,
I know nothing.

Speaker 14 (25:01):
Uh huh, Yeah, I'm definitely listening and I'm definitely watching.
And I knew I was right repping the city out
here in sunny hot Zona.

Speaker 2 (25:07):
What up, Tony?

Speaker 5 (25:08):
What up?

Speaker 14 (25:08):
Body man? I listen to the Bills radio station. They
YouTube and they podcast. The fan base sound nervous, worried, shook.
Like I said, they're scared. They shaking in their billy boots.
We coming JB nine three touchdowns, Bengals thirty five to twenty.
We getting them boys up there in Buffalo. I'm hoping
to see a SENTI crowd up there, Yo, Wes get
the win by ten man.

Speaker 2 (25:29):
Pressures on, Let's get it daring right, the pressures on.

Speaker 14 (25:34):
My keys to the shootout back again for a double up.
First things first, con Cincinnati hit free throws. I mean,
that's the main problem right there. They're leaving points on
the court. Basically, gotta hit these free throws. Xavier is young, inexperience.

Speaker 2 (25:47):
Put some pressure on these boys.

Speaker 14 (25:49):
You gotta create turnovers against Xavier, and Xavier's gonna shoot
a lot of threes.

Speaker 2 (25:53):
Whoever hit the most threes.

Speaker 14 (25:54):
Between these teams will definitely win because you see has
a turnover problem. Those are my keys and wes do
not get out, Coach Bobatino.

Speaker 2 (26:03):
I'm definitely watching that.

Speaker 15 (26:06):
On me.

Speaker 13 (26:07):
The too many toe questions, Tony and Austin. I've got
a question for you guys about Joe Burrow. I heard
you say, and he's the best in December, but would
you rather take him in December or Toyota than Jordan Love?

Speaker 2 (26:26):
You know that's a great point. Actually, I saved a
post about this. Did you see this? These stats Jordan
Love in his career during Toyota than No. Ninety one
point nine passing grade. That's the best, four thousand passing yards,
thirty three touchdowns, one interception, Wow, in a league leading
thirty one deep completions. Man, shout out to Toyota. Than

(26:48):
I'll take Joe Burrow. That's insane.

Speaker 4 (26:50):
David with your daily reminder, eight south.

Speaker 3 (26:54):
Forty seven days.

Speaker 2 (26:58):
That is an credible number. We gotta get a new microphone.
That's at it's over eight thousand days. Yeah, twenty two
thousand and one.

Speaker 16 (27:06):
Rights, We're here live on scene. Chris Henry Jr. About
to make his announcement school he will tap.

Speaker 2 (27:12):
Oh no, and.

Speaker 16 (27:14):
Here comes the quarters in It's down and the return
to glory. Chris Henry Jr. Is signing with the Michigan Wolverines.

Speaker 2 (27:25):
I can't believe it. Oh my goodness, I don't think
that's happening. You're sick and twisted. Chris Henry Junior gonna
end up? Oh my god. I would guess either USC
or Ohio State, that would be my guest. I heard
this morning that Ohio State expects him to make a
decision by Friday.

Speaker 3 (27:44):
Where's Jerema Uh, Where's Jeremiah Smith's gonna go?

Speaker 2 (27:47):
Go back to Columbus? Do you see Jeremiah? You hear
what Jeremiah Smith said? I just saw me tweeted, tweeted
at Chris Henry and said we need you.

Speaker 3 (27:55):
I just saw he tweeted today with like the praying
hand emosum. I'm thinking, like, man, is he thinking about
going to South Lord?

Speaker 2 (28:00):
If you ever look at his tweets, a lot of
praying here in emojis to Higgins just posted a Bible verse.
You want to we can have churse in here. Let's
go take me at church.

Speaker 10 (28:10):
Oh my god, new call sign, ESPN fifteen thirty since
he three sixty with your Artie and Antonio weekdays.

Speaker 2 (28:19):
But twelve to three Areaty and Anthony tune in. I
might work already and Anthony's not bad AARTI and Anthony.

Speaker 15 (28:25):
Hey, fella, that's is George Bayley of Bedford Falls. I'd
like to tell you that I learned from my old
friend Clarence. Every time a bell rings, Joe Burrow beats
Josh Allen in a football game.

Speaker 2 (28:38):
There's a lot of.

Speaker 15 (28:39):
Bells ringing around here lately. Come on, oh, well, have
a good one, fellas.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
Come on? What is that? Come on?

Speaker 11 (28:46):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (28:47):
What comes up?

Speaker 13 (28:47):
If you google Artie Elmore?

Speaker 2 (28:51):
Well, let me see uh Arthur Elmore Bostwick. Oh, the
United States Librarian and Arthur an author art Well, he
was Arthur from Connecticut. Okay, Uh, that's all I see
family history Artie Elmore.

Speaker 8 (29:09):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (29:09):
The only person who's ever called me Arthur before was
my grandma, God rest her soul. She got so excited
to yell at me one time she called me Arthur. Hey, guys, who's.

Speaker 17 (29:22):
Anyways? I knew that Tony Pike, the famous hotelier.

Speaker 2 (29:27):
Yes, I mean he was a wild guy.

Speaker 17 (29:30):
We used to run around the swinger circuits. If you
know what I mean, I mean he was crazy.

Speaker 2 (29:39):
Man.

Speaker 17 (29:39):
He's probably the most famous hotelier out there. Tony Pike Man, Wow.

Speaker 2 (29:46):
Man, he's like Dan Bazilier and Brazil. I can't talk today.
You know who that is? Dan Bill's yes, Bilsyrian, he's
like him before him, you know.

Speaker 10 (29:57):
Okay, Hey Austin, Hey Tony Paul from Cleves here. Just
to give you guys a heads up. I have so
much faith and how long your longevity is going to
be on the radio that my son's a freshman when
he goes to make his college announcement to the commitment
for football or wrestling, you guys are going to get
the exclusive of him in. We'll bring him on the

(30:19):
show and we'll have him announced it on your show.
Let's go to you guys. Think I also have an
eighth grader. I think that's going to be just as good.
So if you guys are in arrested, let me know.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
Yep, I would have a backup plan if I were you.
We'll pencil it in. One of us has already been
fired once.

Speaker 3 (30:36):
All right, We're done, all right, By the way, I know,
there's not many things that will bring Xavier and Cincinnati
fans together. Did you see the photo going around social
media of Sean Miller last night?

Speaker 2 (30:47):
No, Texas, He's dead to me.

Speaker 3 (30:50):
Texas lost last night. They've lost to Arizona State. This year,
they have two losses. Another one they lost to Duke.
But last night they hosted Virginia and they lost the
game eighty eight to sixty nine. They were down by
nineteen and a half. And there is this like picture
of Sean Miller with like five minutes to go in
the game, with just this blank stare, and it's circulating

(31:11):
on social media. I can't imagine something on this week
that would bring UC and Xavier fans together, but I
think it's that photo of Sean Miller struggling.

Speaker 2 (31:21):
What about Sean Miller to replace West Miller? Nope, thoughts, nope, no, nope, nope.
I think you would like that. No, I'm out. I
think you would. I'm out on that one for sure.
Come we got football in the natty N. I don't know, Ernie.
We actually have an update from Lamar Jackson next.

Speaker 3 (31:42):
On the Home of the Bengals ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (31:47):
Man, it's the Hall.

Speaker 1 (31:49):
This is Football in the Natti, brought to you by
Button Light on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of
the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 3 (32:00):
Yeah, welcome back Football in the Natti. It's our two
thanks to Cincy shirts. Since he three to sixty couple
loose ended football topics here we have a Austin has
Lamar Jackson and a Josh Allen update in just a moment.
Also Big Twelve honors have been handed down Austin Honorable
mentions for the Cincinnati Bearcats running back Tawie Walker, ride
receiver Jeff Caldwell, defensive lineman Jalen Hunt, and safety and

(32:24):
Twan Peak Junior All Honorable mentioned. Third team nods Gavin
Gerhardt on the offensive line and Joe Royer should be
a first team All Big Twelve player. Joe Royd gets
third team All Big Twelve honors, second team punter Max Fletcher,
defensive lineman Dante Corleone, offensive lineman Evan Tengestahl, offensive lineman

(32:46):
Joe Cotton, wide receiver Cyrus Allen, and the quarterback of
the Bearcats Brendan Soorsby. And the first team loan recipient
for the Cincinnati Bearcats, linebacker Jake Goldeck one hundred and
five tackles, six tackles for a lost, three and a
half socks, three pass breakups. Jake Golday your first team

(33:09):
All Big twelve honoree and three Bearcats earning invites to
the Senior Bowl yesterday, Joe Royer, Dante Corleone, and Jake Golday.
That is the latest from the Cincinnati Bearcats. What's the
latest Austin with Lamar Jackson.

Speaker 2 (33:23):
Well, I heard, by the way that at the Senior
Bowl Dante corleon is not going to be on the
field and rundowns. Oh I will Joel Royer be catching passes?
I would assume so. Jake Golday, by the way, future
fourth round pick the Cincinnati Bengals. Okay, Lamar Jackson. You
know there's a big game on Sunday between the Pittsburgh
Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, one that impacts Cincinnati's chances

(33:47):
to make the playoffs. Baltimore's currently six point favorites for
that game, which is being played at M and T
Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Well, yesterday, Lamar Jackson was listed
as a limited participant in practice. This was big news
because well, he never practices on Wednesdays, dealing with all
his myriad of injuries. Well today not practicing at all.

(34:11):
He went from limited yesterday to not practicing at all.
For the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Lamar Jackson, he's listed with
an ankle, so he does not get a full week
of practice like maybe we thought he would get yesterday. Also,
Ravens nose tackle Travis Jones is not practicing, who obviously
is a big part of their ability to stop the

(34:32):
run game. So, as we said earlier, the Bengals need
the Steelers and Ravens to split. That's the easiest path forward.
So we'll see what happens in that game on Sunday.

Speaker 3 (34:44):
Other quick notes, Mark Andrews has secured a three year
extension with the Baltimore Ravens.

Speaker 4 (34:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (34:51):
I was a little surprised by that. Yeah, I was too.

Speaker 3 (34:53):
Also Ted Karris, the Bengals recipient nominated for the Walter
pay NFL Man of the Year Award.

Speaker 2 (35:02):
Here is Buffalo Bill's quarterback Josh Allen talking about what
it means to play against Joe Burrow.

Speaker 18 (35:08):
I mean, yeah, anytime you have a chance to play
against one of the premier quarterbacks in this league. You know,
you have to be ready for it. You have to
put your your best stuff out. They have a really
good game week of practice and then go out there
and execute on Sunday.

Speaker 2 (35:22):
Okay, pretty simple stuff there. Yeah, nothing life changing from
Josh Allen. He was also talked He was also asked
and talked about playing meaningful football late in the season.

Speaker 18 (35:33):
It's the it's the best time to play play football.
It's when when the stakes are high and you got
to go out there and you got to perform your
your job.

Speaker 4 (35:41):
You know.

Speaker 18 (35:42):
I feel like that's that's a big part of this
team of we want that pressure. We want to go
out there, we want to perform for each other.

Speaker 2 (35:47):
And there you go.

Speaker 3 (35:49):
That is Uh, it's a massive, massive late season game
happening on.

Speaker 2 (35:55):
You might even call it a tilt, a tilt.

Speaker 4 (35:58):
You know.

Speaker 3 (35:58):
It's interesting Austin because I think thought they might have
had another player to play on Sunday, and he declined.

Speaker 2 (36:04):
Remember, earlier in.

Speaker 3 (36:05):
The week, Darius Slay was let go by the Pittsburgh
Steelers and then Darius Slay was claimed by the Buffalo
Bills on waivers yesterday. Now, Darius Slay is not reporting
to Buffalo because he's quote unsure whether he wants to
continue playing football. His agent said, Darius Lay is honored

(36:28):
that a first class organization like the Bills claimed him,
but he is going to take some time away from
football and decide in the next few days if he
wants to keep playing.

Speaker 2 (36:36):
Drew Rosenhaus told Adam Schefter today. Yeah, and the Eagles,
who he played for and won a Super Bowl with,
also put acclaim in on him. And so there's been
some speculation by the insiders across the NFL that the
plan was maybe for Slay to go back to Philadelphia,

(36:59):
and now he's been claimed, I'd rather maybe retire. We'll see,
Bengals played against him earlier this year and he's with
Pittsburgh and torched him a little bit, so it would
have been nice to see if he was on the
field for the Buffalo Bills. But overall, you want another
Bengals Bills fact for you? Please, a little fun fact here, please.
This is going to be the thirty fifth time the

(37:21):
Bengals and Bills have played each other. They are seventeen
and seventeen against one. Isn't that amazing?

Speaker 3 (37:29):
Say something's got to give? Yeah, one team's going to
get the advantage. The last time the Bengals does a
tie eliminate the Bengals.

Speaker 2 (37:36):
Still a lot of no that actually might help him.
The last time the Bengals went to Orchard Park during
the regular season, that was September of twenty nineteen. Bills
won twenty one seventeen in that game. I thought they
went there a couple of years before that, or was
that here? They went there in the postseason. In the
postseason they played, and then the year before I guess

(37:58):
they played in Cincinnati. Let's take a break. We'll put
a bow on our number two. Next checking Nickoson starts
our number three, ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 1 (38:09):
You've been listening to football in the NATI on ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 19 (38:21):
WCKY Cincinnati and iHeartRadio Station Guaranteed Human ESPN fifteen thirty
by Hard Radio.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
From the Wyoming Air Tempstar Weather Center, here's your forecast.

Speaker 20 (38:35):
Apparently it to mostly cloudy skyes this afternoon and very
cold highs around thirty. Temperatures will drop into the twenties
around dinner time, then a deep freeze overnight near fifteen
by Friday morning, We'll rebound into the mid thirties Friday
afternoon and just as cold Saturday with highs in the
upper thirties. That's the forecast. I'm nine first one of

(38:55):
meteorologist kJ Jacobs. This report is sponsored by Yes Please
is it Friday?

Speaker 2 (39:06):
Yes?

Speaker 3 (39:06):
No, it's the end of our number two on a Thursday.
Keegan Nickoson will join us to kick things off in
our number three. Thanks so much for joining us, thanks
to Cincy shirts. Here on our number two. Austin, I'm
shocked by this. We go each and every week. But yes,
it's Thursday, which means the official start of Week fourteen
in the NFL. Yes, each week it feels more depressing

(39:28):
that we're nearing the end of the regular season. Week fourteen.

Speaker 2 (39:32):
It's a good one, last regular season week for a
lot of fantasy. That's true.

Speaker 3 (39:36):
It's a good one if you follow along with the
NFC playoff race. Cowboys Lions, both on the outside looking in.
They play tonight in Detroit. Lions are a three and
a half point favorite, but it does kick off in
a big way Week fourteen. Some other noteworthy games to
look at as you get into the weekend. The nine

(39:58):
and three Seattle Seahawks. Right now Austin, they are the
second betting favorite in the NFL to win the Super Bowl.

Speaker 2 (40:04):
I'm very, very, very very high on the Seahawks, and
they're getting healthier on defense, which is a scary thought.

Speaker 3 (40:11):
Second in betting odds to win the Lombardy right behind
still even they come off a loss. The Los Angeles Rams,
so Rams are number one, Seahawks are number two, Packers
are number three, and then the Buffalo Bills are the
favorite in the AFC currently at plus nine one hundred.

(40:34):
That is, of course, who the Bengals will play. We'll
talk more Bengals Bills tomorrow. Titans Browns said yesterday the
twenty one day window is open for Deshaun Watson. Don't
think it's going to be out of the realm of
possibilities that Deshaun Watson plays for the Browns this year.

Speaker 2 (40:50):
Who would you rather face in Week eighteen Watson playoff
spot on the line, Deshaun Watson, Dylan Gabriel, Schadoor Sanders
or Deshaun Wattson I think Deshaun Watson. I think so too.

Speaker 3 (41:01):
Commander's Vikings perfect timing Dolphins Jets is an interesting one
because the Dolphins are playing so well. If you're thinking
about is that game in Miami going to be flexed
at any point? I wonder if the if the Bengals
win and the Dolphins win, if they keep that game
as primetime.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
Yeah, we'll find out, I think on the twenty second
or not on the twenty second the next week, right, yeah,
next Monday maybe, Yeah, the eighth that I saw, I forget.
I saw Jay Morrison tweeting about this the other day.
But yeah, December fifteenth is the deadline. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (41:34):
Are the Bucks getting healthy at the right time? Mike
Evans is back his twenty one day windows open, Bucky
Irving played last week. They I think we've talked too.
Bucks are on the outside looking in. But their schedule
right now, they got the Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Dolphins, Panthers left.

Speaker 2 (41:47):
Well, the thing right there is two games against the
Panthers and Carolina has played well. Yeah, so yeah, I
think it'll really ultimately come down to those two.

Speaker 3 (41:56):
What about the Jags and the Colts in the one
o'clock window.

Speaker 2 (42:01):
Yeah, I'm not four. Yeah, I'm not sold on the Colts,
especially with dimes being not one hundred percent. I was
been sold on the Jags from the beginning, but I
wouldn't say I'm sold on them right now.

Speaker 3 (42:12):
Either Steelers, Ravens, Broncos, Raiders, Bears, pat Texans might win
that to Bears. Packers might be fun too, man sure, Rams, Cardinals, Texans,
Chief Sunday Night and then Eagles Chargers. Is your Monday
night football tilt?

Speaker 2 (42:25):
By the way, Bengals practicing inside pay Corse Stadium right now.
It's just shells and sweatpants for the Bengals. T Higgins,
TODs Brooks both at practice. Com No Trey Hendrickson anywhere
to be found. Come. Are you gonna ask Keegan about
this report that Brendan Sorosby is being offered four million

(42:46):
dollars in the portal?

Speaker 3 (42:47):
Yes, let's kick that off with Kegan next our three station.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
I don't know who