Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - End of an Era: James Rapien's Departure, One Last Hurrah for "Hot Take James" and What's Next

Starting point is 00:00:01 It's time for one last ride. The Jake and James edition of Lacked on Bengals, well, it comes to an end today. Let's reflect on that and much, much more right now on Locked on Bengals. You are Locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up, Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Locked on Bengals podcast for one last show. It's James Rupin and Jake Liskow, your co-host of Lockdown Bengals.

Starting point is 00:00:42 And today we're going to reflect on what the last six plus years of this podcast have been like with James and I together covering your Cincinnati Bengals every day. I'm not going anywhere. The podcast isn't going anywhere, but James Rupin launching Cincinnati's first morning sports show. And that will be very exciting. So make sure you're keeping up with James as he's going. going on to this exciting new adventure with crown media you can find all the details he's posted about them on social we've sent them out to our lockdown bengals insiders as well so james that's

Starting point is 00:01:18 that's got to be exciting but a bittersweet day for sure here is we're recording our last show together yeah it's wild jake because it's it's both i'm really excited to announce the news as you know like spoiler alert jake found out about this and like when did you find out like we can open up the March March maybe like that it was that it was that it was a possibility right and in that we were we were working toward it and there's a lot that goes into a live morning show and by the way it's called first word at first word cincy at anywhere everywhere on socials YouTube all those things it's going to be live everywhere and so a four hour show when people hear four hours they're like well what the hell are you going to talk about for four hours what are you going to do for four

Starting point is 00:02:02 hours. And so it's a unique challenge, not really because of the time constraints, but because it's a live TV. It's a studio TV show. And it'll be in podcast form and all of those things. But it's, it was a really unique opportunity. And I think that that's, there weren't many, like very few, if any, opportunities that I would seriously entertain to leave and consider leaving. that would make me consider even consider leaving locked on bangles. And when you do this and you're doing it daily, those opportunities come. You've been approached with stuff. I've been approached with stuff that's part of the business.

Starting point is 00:02:43 And usually it doesn't get far. I remember the first meeting I had with the crowd. I was like, guys, I've had meetings like this before. And I'm not trying to toot my own horn. I just, it has to be really, really interesting for me to even care because I was really happy with where I was at, with where we were, with what I was doing. because I love everything that I do. And so, yes, it's really bittersweet because I'm not sure there was really ever a time

Starting point is 00:03:10 since I returned in 2020, there was ever a time where I was like, oh, I'm not going to work with Jake on Locked on Bengals. Like it just became part of what I did, what we did. And yeah, so we've had some time if it feels like, oh, well, they've wrapped their heads around it. Well, we have. We've known that there's a good chance and then that this was coming for a while, but it doesn't make it any less bittersweet.

Starting point is 00:03:37 And it's been a great six years. That's why it is bittersweet. It's a really exciting opportunity for you to go do something really cool for the local Cincinnati folks and cover that city. And obviously you're there locally. I'm not there locally. So we're going to have to get used to that as well. But it's been a great six years. So what we want to do today is for this last time we get to do this thing together,

Starting point is 00:04:06 talk about the last six years, six plus years. James came back to the podcast right after the Bengals drafted Joe Burrow. And obviously, before that it was with Joe Goodberry. And we covered the tumultuous year that led to Joe Burrow being drafted. And we'll go into the future here on this podcast with what's next in the Joe Burrow era. But you were doing the podcast before that. You started this thing way back when. And today we want to talk about the last six years that we've been doing it together, like you said,

Starting point is 00:04:38 and reflect on some of the cool moments that we've gotten to cover together, some of the most memorable moments coming to mind for me immediately. You remember that time that we had to gritty on camera to open the show? Yeah. In 2021 after they beat Baltimore, right? Was it Baltimore? It was Baltimore in Baltimore when Jamar put Marlon, had Marlon Humphrey fighting for his life. I mean, that's when we were like, oh, not that we didn't think he was like that, but it was like, oh, they just went into Baltimore and kicked their ass, right?

Starting point is 00:05:14 It was like, oh. So yeah, that was a good one. I remember having to do that in one of the, the radio. booths and I had no room like there was no room to like there was no runway at all and uh yeah so that that was a good one that was a good one I I think you outgraded me my friend there are some things that sometimes I'll do better than you and that's just one of them that we got on camera math you know well sometimes sometimes basic arithmetic on the spot stuff you know names I win that that's no sure but yes no that but that's one that to be fair to be fair like the name thing is more of a

Starting point is 00:06:00 meme than a real thing like every now and then I stumble on a name but it's uh it's definitely played up pretty nice oh man I hope whatever happens whoever's here next and uh and I think it'll happen quick and it's one of those things that I think people are going to be excited about but that person certainly needs to uh continue some of the tradition. And I don't mean that making fun of you the same way I do, but finding new ways to poke fun at Jake Lisco because it's a lot of fun. And I think people, every day, or enjoy it. Yeah. I'm sure there will be some of that with what's in the future. We'll talk about what's coming next toward the end of the show today. But I wanted to spend time today just, you know, kind of

Starting point is 00:06:43 celebrating the six plus years. And there's not going to be a ton of talk about what's going on with right now Cincinnati Bengals and all those things because they're in the final stages of the ramp up to OTAs. OTAs will start next week. We'll have you covered for the two weeks of three-day OTA sessions for the Bengals and mandatory minicamp after that. And so that'll be coming in the future here on lockdown Bengals when we'll return to our thoughts about the current events around this team. But as we continue the show today here, James, what I want to. to get to is more time to think back on some of the coolest moments that we've had here. And for one last time for this run of you being the Lockdown Bengals co-host, because who knows

Starting point is 00:07:31 what's in the future, you're going to be back on the show as a guest at the very least. And we'll have time to get your thoughts about the Bengals as things occur and you're back on the show as a guest in the future. But I also want to make sure we get to, you know, one last chance for you to talk about what you think is going to happen this year, get some final thoughts, as it were, about what the future has in store for the Bengals. And so we'll get to that today here as well.

Starting point is 00:07:59 And we'll continue reflecting as we wrap up James' final show as co-host of Locktime Bengals coming up next. We can stream anything. Order food in minutes just with a couple clicks on your phone. Do everything from our phones. But somehow buying tickets remains hard. than it should be. Long lines, confusing checkout prices jumping at the last second.

Starting point is 00:08:25 Really shouldn't be that complicated. And that's why we have Game Time. Game Time sponsoring this episode because it gives fans the advantage and makes getting tickets fast and simple. You can see full prices up front with GameTime. No last minute hidden fees that are going to surprise you at checkout. And we've been talking about it for years with Game Time. The view from your seat feature is awesome.

Starting point is 00:08:50 You'll know exactly what you're going to see before you buy the tickets. So take the guesswork out of buying tickets for every type of event with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code lockdown. You'll get $20 off your first purchase of tickets. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code L-O-C-E-D-O-N for $20 off. Download game time today. Yeah, Jake.

Starting point is 00:09:16 It's unique because I think, as you mentioned, like best moments and six years. and I reflect and think about it. A few things come to mind. One, I timed it out pretty darn well coming back. Two, it worked out really well that Joe wanted to slow down a bit. And we didn't know each other. And I think that's reflection-wise, like how fun it's been, to one, get to know you, work daily.

Starting point is 00:09:43 But build this thing into what it was and is. And it's not like we hang out in an office every day. And then we talk about the show and then we go do the show. and then we go do the show. And the evolution from when I was joining on a mic from my Cleveland apartment during COVID, and that's very much what it was. You were not living where you are now.

Starting point is 00:10:05 You were from a location standpoint, but not the same house. You were working different. Like professionally, it was a different role. Like all these things were different. We weren't on YouTube. And so to see how it has evolved, how we interact.

Starting point is 00:10:21 with our audience. It's just it's much, much different as well. And so no, I think that's cool as you think about the growth. And it was a lot of little things, but all those little things add up, especially over six years. I think, yeah, I mean, 30,000 YouTube subscribers. We hit that 10,000 mark so quickly, hit the 20,000 mark pretty quickly. The continued growth there has been awesome. The, the insider group that we talk about, that I'm not going to promote too much today. But like, That thing is really grown as well with you guys following along for the little tidbits that we can share there. That's been awesome along the way the network on the whole has grown as well. And I mean, I have to imagine, right?

Starting point is 00:11:05 That's part of why you have this opportunity. And, you know, you've got your other independent projects that you've done. You've got the website. You've got your YouTube channel as well. And you can check out the video that James posted there for more. detail about what's to come for those platforms in case you're curious and you're listening to this first. But this growth and the way this podcast has become such a staple in the Bengals media space.

Starting point is 00:11:36 And in terms of covering this team, what is being talked about around this team locally, the locked-on model is really good for that. And I think this show has really been emblematic of what the power. of local media can be when we do it well. And so I'm really proud of what we've done over six years, James, and the growth that we've had and the consistency that we've brought to covering this team over the years. There's so many instances of, again, not to pat ourselves on the back too much,

Starting point is 00:12:12 but like things happen and then we're like, man, remember when we talked about that being the likely, you know, thing that's going to happen? Yes. not phrasing it very well here but like I think we've done a great job I'm very proud of what we've done again not to pat ourselves on the back too much even though I know this exactly what I'm doing but I'm really proud of the work we've done over the last what six years and month or months six years in a month yeah and one you should be two it's okay to pat yourself on the back sometimes I agree I'm bad at that I because it's the next thing now I may joke on the show like oh yeah

Starting point is 00:12:50 we said that but like in reality you know how it is it's like next thing focus focus focus focus um it's been the number one bengals podcast for six years that's that's that's that's it and uh and longer than that but certainly for six years yeah and and most listen to viewed whatever you want to say part of it's because it's daily in the model there's no doubt um but part of it's because Bengals fans are awesome. That's why I talked about it some yesterday, but really from the jump, I mean, the 10-year mark is coming up. It was after the Broncos game, whenever that was in 2016, was the first episode of Lockdown Bengals. It was on a completely different audio platform that was sent out. The logos were far different. David Bach was just launching this network. And for those that

Starting point is 00:13:42 don't know, he had no idea who the hell James Rapine was. But Dan, Horde. This is kind of where it starts. And if it doesn't start here, who knows where it ends up? Because the reason Joe became the host after me is because I said, hey, Joe should be the host. And that led to you because Joe wanted you. And so like the ripple effects are crazy. So this is how it started is David Locke, who is the Utah Jazz play-by-play guy, creates this podcast network, knows Dan Horde, reaches out to Dan Horde, voice of the Bengals. Well, I worked with Dan Horde and radio. And I produced radio shows for Dan Horde. He knew I wanted reps on-air reps. And I was trying to get in the business and Dan Hord was like, hey, I, I forwarded, I actually don't even know.

Starting point is 00:14:24 I think Dan Ford had him in my information and David reached out to me via email and I didn't know if it was real or not. You know, you didn't know. You had no idea. And so in that moment, you have a decision. You have a conversation with David. You decide to do it. There was no money involved initially and there shouldn't have been. There's no listeners. There's no audience here. and if you would have told me then that it becomes this, it wasn't even on my radar. I was just thinking, you know what? I could talk about the Bengals.

Starting point is 00:14:52 I love talking about the Bengals. And who knows? Maybe this can be a thing. And it became a thing. And it was hard leaving it at the start of 2019, right before the Zach. Really, I ended the Marvin era is what happened. I got us to the end of the Marvin era. And then Jake and Joe took over at the start of the Zach era.

Starting point is 00:15:10 and then I came back for the start of the Burrow era. I just wanted to skip that one in 15 year. That's all it was. Sometimes plans come together, and that was it. But you tease what I think about the Bengals and foreshadow or foresee happening with the 2026 Bengals. I think it's the opposite. I think I'm leaving at a time where it's about to be really, really fun.

Starting point is 00:15:31 And they're going to win a lot of games. And Joe Burrow, if he stays healthy, is going to be the best quarterback on the planet this year. and I really believe that. That's not me blowing smoke because it's my last show because this is locked on Bengals. No, I do. I think I was kind of reviewing some of the touchdown stuff

Starting point is 00:15:49 after he said the 48 touchdown comment and how it's doable. I think it's really doable. Did you see the Joe Burroughs last 17 games when Jamar and T are both healthy set? Yeah. And that would tie Peyton Manning. And that's what I was about to set.

Starting point is 00:16:04 You're getting, I think that's the doable one. is the all-time record. And if you're Joe, that's what you're thinking. And I can't get out of my head. I've been thinking about it probably far too often this week. But when he says that, remember a few years ago when he said, I want to be the best player in the world or best quarterback on the planet or however he said it.

Starting point is 00:16:26 Like we talked about it. We didn't shows on it. And can he get there and all of those things? For me, I think that the answer one is yes. two, I could totally see, like, could you see Jemar having a 17 touchdown season again? I could. T's had back-to-back double-digit touchdown seasons. In, in 2024, a lot of people forget this and rightfully so because he had 17 touchdowns.

Starting point is 00:16:52 Jamar did he dropped like two or three touchdowns down the stretch that he could have had in broken Carl Pickens single season receiving touchdown record, but he could have like 19 touchdowns, 20 touchdowns. And so could I see a path where the offense is a touchdowns? tad better. The defense gives the offense a few more chances. And then one thing that we know about Joe Burrow and Zach Taylor, if they're sniffing a record, you know, the 525 on Baltimore, they're going to go for that record. Would not, like if he's at 50 going into that final week or 51 going into that final, they're going to push that thing. If they're at 48 with two weeks to go, well, they're going

Starting point is 00:17:30 to be thinking about that record and try to get that record. So it would not shock me at all if he's in the mix for that. I'm not going to sit here and say, oh, he's definitely going to break the all-time passing touchdown record for a single season with 56 because Peyton Manning did it with 55. But do I think he's capable? I do. And I think he has the weapons. They have the offensive front to do it. Would not shock me if that's the case. And they have the offensive style to do it. The only way you get there is when you're throwing the ball a ton from all over the field in the red zone when you're taking shots. And you have the receivers, like you said, that can make big plays after the catch. And Jamar Chase certainly can do that.

Starting point is 00:18:04 You've seen T. Higgins do that over the years as well. Not on the same level as Jamar. Obviously, nobody really is, but they have the receivers that can do it as well. Let's get a couple more hot takes out of you, James. Let's get one last hot take James segment here. And then we'll talk a little bit about what you guys can expect from the podcast here going forward. Not going to be revealing too many details today. I want to keep it a surprise for now.

Starting point is 00:18:30 But we'll talk about that a little bit here toward the end of the show. but one more section of segment of hot take James. Let's have some fun with it coming up next. All right, James. You have a couple minutes here to fire off your favorite hot takes about, let's be future looking here, unless you have one about a recent event that you really want to fire off as well. What are the hottest takes burning from Hot Take James here?

Starting point is 00:19:01 One last chance for you to embody the nickname that some have, given you over the years. Yeah, it's funny that that one stuck some because I feel like I've been less... It's been a while, but... Less teaky, but yeah. It's simmered down, but... I'm certainly capable, but that's a take.

Starting point is 00:19:20 Like, Joe Burrow going to break that record after being injured in two of the past three years. I think that's pretty takey. I think that... Are you putting money on Joe Burrow for the MVP? Yeah, I would, for sure. Yeah, I mean, why wouldn't you look at it that way, right?

Starting point is 00:19:36 Like, I think he's, I think he's going to win an MVP. I think he's happier in Cincinnati than people realize, and a big reason is because they've shown a lot. The restructure will come next off season. The hot take for me, one is, one of Barrett Carter or Demetrius Knight's going to end up being really good. Like, pretty darn good. I wonder which one.

Starting point is 00:19:58 I lean Carter. It's weird. Like, it is really good. I just think the ceiling might be higher. and really good means like what Jermaine Pratt was in his prime, what Logan Wilson was in his prime, where it's a guy that you don't worry about as a starter. It's like, yeah.

Starting point is 00:20:12 Like I think BJ Hill's a really good play. Where you're like, yeah, he's going to be fine. So I think that that's one. And by the way, this year, like one of those guys is going to answer the bell. I'm not sure both are. And that's a concern. As far as other takes Brian Cook pro bowler, pencil that one in.

Starting point is 00:20:31 I think that that's going to happen. chemistry I saw with with him, the fact that it lined up with what Joe Burrow said makes me feel so confident that Brian Cook's going to matter a ton on this defense and get the culture right. But the hottest take, and it shouldn't be that hot given what they gave up, but Dexter Lawrence is going to completely transform this defense. And it's something we talked about back in January. Their biggest need was a game-changing defensive tackle, but you can't really get those. Those are hard to get. Remember, that was the overall thing. It was my top need.

Starting point is 00:21:04 It wasn't your top need because you're like, because you can't get it. Because you can't get it. Well, they went and got it. Yeah, they went and got it. And he's going to matter so much. And even if he isn't, let's just pretend he isn't what he was a few years ago, right? He's going to believe he is and they think he is.

Starting point is 00:21:22 So for a year at least, he's going to be pretty damn close. And he's going to help everybody in that building from B.J. Hill and Jonathan Allen to the secondary to a guy like Chris Jen, that's trying to find his way and find his footing in year three. And where's the path for him to get on the field? I'm not sure there is one right now, but guess what? If you're Chris Jenkins, you better find a way. And so that's what's fun for me is the impact Dexter Lawrence and Brian Cook are going to have. Can't be overstated.

Starting point is 00:21:51 And so hot take, Dexter Lawrence, All-Pro, Hot Take Brian Cook, Pro Bowler. And if you tell me they have an All-Pro and a Pro bowler, on defense and I would have said that in January you'd have been like who like who's who's going to do is it's signing that is going to DJ Turner Dax Hill like those would be the two that you would think about right it certainly wouldn't be and for old time's sake let's make the reference gino stone I saw gino stone here earlier today after I made that announcement and he said I'm going to tackle you before you make that announcement about first word and guess what he missed and then I was able to press press the button and let the world know how about that that that gino stone was here

Starting point is 00:22:30 and he still missed the tackle. Man, brutal. Good thing it wasn't flying cook. My favorite thing ever is Gino Stone mistackles. Dan Horde, when he went to send me the email from David Locke in 2016, a young Gino Stone tried to intercept it, then tried to make the tackle. Couldn't happen.

Starting point is 00:22:52 The email got to me and the rest was history. Tough. Tough seeing there. And look at what has transpired. One mistackle leads to. all these jokes or later. Yes. Man, tough,

Starting point is 00:23:07 tough look for Gino Stone. We'll revisit those hot takes. So we got Dexter Lawrence Allpro. We got Brian Cook Pro Bowler. We've got, what was the first one? One of the linebackers will be good this year. Be good, good.

Starting point is 00:23:23 Do you buy that? Do you buy that? I was trying to think about like the order of likelihood of these. Because being at all pro is extremely hard to do. And Brian Cook, to be a pro bowler, I think he needs to ramp up his ball production and, like, create more turnovers. Because he's like very good at being in the right place, very good at tackling, very good of being assignment sound. But the turnover production hasn't necessarily been there. And at safety, you kind of need that to get to the pro bowl.

Starting point is 00:23:55 And the AFC isn't exactly lacking for talent at that position. So I think that that's also kind of tough. And then one of these linebackers is expecting one of these linebackers to be get also kind of tough. I think these are equally handicapped because of the degree of difficulty of the different assignments. But I think I'm more bullish on Dexter Lawrence returning to that all pro form than the rest. And I remain skeptical of the linebackers. I think because of like what time of year it is, it's just so hard to know what kind of progress has been made.

Starting point is 00:24:38 We get to a couple weeks into training camp, and they're still talking nice about these linebackers, and there's no indication that the Bengals are trying to bring in a veteran there, then maybe I'll start to believe it, but we've also seen this team kind of go that way and say, you know what, we like our guys. We like the guys in the building on the offensive line. We like the guys in the building at safety and not make changes there over the years and they've gotten that wrong.

Starting point is 00:25:05 So, yeah, I don't know. I think it's really hard to kind of place them. I'm more confident in the players that are more established, but the goals that you set for those guys are higher too. So, yeah, it's tough. Tough to put those in order of like likelihood. And what's interesting about that, right, is Knight or Carter, it's far more common to be a solid player. it's a second round pick or a fourth round pick. So that shows your lack of confidence in them to be quite a thing versus the other side.

Starting point is 00:25:36 But look, this team should be really damn good. And the 12 and 5, obviously a lot of it hinges on Burrow, but maybe it's 10 and 7 if Burrow misses some time and Flacco's out. Like, they should be good regardless. One of the things this offseason I talked about was get the roster good enough that you can absorb a Burrow injury. and let's say he misses a month, can they go with this defense, with this offense, with everything, with Joe Flacco at quarterback, two and two?

Starting point is 00:26:07 The answer should be yes. Whether or not it is, we'll see, but the answer should be yes with this roster. Should be yes with this roster. They've built depth at some key positions. We've liked some of the starters that they've added. Obviously, we've talked about that a ton. The defensive line depth is really so night and day from last year.

Starting point is 00:26:27 And when I compare, just what was it this week? Was it last week? When we compared, it was late last week. When we compared this year's roster to previous iterations of Joe Burrow rosters that had solid playoff runs were good rosters, the biggest differences that we kept coming back to were depth on the defensive line and the offensive line being good and having continuity, not just having continuity, but being good last season, having confidence in Scott Peters, and the direction they're going there.

Starting point is 00:27:01 And so having those two things so different from previous iterations of this team where they have the waves on the defensive line and they can stay fresh and rotate different body types in there. Those are reasons to be really excited on top of Joe Bird, Jamar Chase, T. Higgins, existing and doing what they do and being some of the best people in the world to do what they do. and whatever you see out there about Joe Burrow under center, Joe Burrow shotgun, whatever. I mean, to me, the number speaks for themselves.

Starting point is 00:27:34 Like, the guy's incredibly efficient and productive with Jamar Chase and T. Higgins, no matter what the offense is. And we'll see. We're going to, I'm sure, over the next few weeks and in training camp, talk about, oh, Joe Burroughs going under center. They're reping Joe Burrow under center again. We've been saying that for three years when they've been doing their offseason practices and their training camp practices.

Starting point is 00:27:53 but they're doing an awesome job on offense when those guys are out there, and it's going to be exciting to see the team around them this year. It is for sure, and expectations are high. Hopefully I'm leaving on a high note, and not the last time I left when it was on a high note, Zax here, and then 1 in 50. I just don't see that. I think that this staff, much like 21,

Starting point is 00:28:17 is coaching for their job, and they delivered then, and they had the talent to deliver now. Why wouldn't you expect that? And yeah, man, it's, it's been fun. I know you're about to get to what's next and tease that and all of those things. But it's kind of surreal, weird, odd that the next time that I'm on this show is going to be as a guest. Yeah, not going to be able to click any buttons or mute my microphone when I'm out of pocket. Not that you've ever done that.

Starting point is 00:28:46 Just muted him. Bam. He did that, set himself up. Sorry, brother. Oh, yeah. There it is. I knew it was coming as soon as I said it. I knew it was coming to.

Starting point is 00:28:55 Yeah, you didn't know about that time, though. All right. Here we see you let the kids start playing and that's what happened. Of course I did. I'm expecting at least three more. We're trying to get out of here. Look, what's next year is like I said, OTA is right around the corner for the Bengals. We will have you covered.

Starting point is 00:29:13 We will continue to have you covered here. Make sure you're back with us here on Lockdown Bengals. It won't be James Rapine, but I'm going to keep it a surprise. It'll be an exciting new step here. for the podcast as well. We both maintain the standard here on Lockdown Bengals. So hopefully if you're in everyday or now, you continue to be in every day or I think

Starting point is 00:29:33 that you will enjoy what is next on Lockdown Bengals. Doesn't diminish obviously anything we've done. The last six plus years have been awesome. The growth has been awesome, spent a lot of time earlier talking about how proud I am of what we've done and what we've built. And the chemistry that over time, evolved and got to the point that it is today where, I mean, we talked about it, the few

Starting point is 00:30:00 instances we have been in the same room, where some of the most fun episodes that we've had where you don't have a delay of communicating over the internet and all those things, and you can just kind of riff a little bit easier when you're sitting right next to one another. And so those were awesome moments as well. And it was fun to spend that time together in person for training camp for the last few years. And I'm excited for what's next. here on lockdown bangles i'm excited for what's next for james rapine and uh look i i always take us out of the show but this is the last time that the folks are going to hear from you as co-hosts for a while so why don't you take us out today james yeah look thanks to everybody for for supporting listening

Starting point is 00:30:41 watching thanks to dan horde for connecting me with david lock a decade ago and and what it led to Thanks to Jake Lisco for being a very flexible co-host, especially over the past few months, but certainly as we've gone on here. So I couldn't be more grateful, thankful. Not going far, right? It's funny, Jake. One thing, everyone is like, oh, you're leaving Cincinnati Bengals talk to. It's like, no, that's not happening, right?

Starting point is 00:31:11 Locked-on Bengals is going to be just fine. Everyone's going to forget about me next week. And that's great. I hope that happens, right? from a locked on Bengals standpoint. I also hope you watch us on first word in the morning. But, you know, like I think everything can coexist and we can all have a ton of fun.

Starting point is 00:31:28 And that's why I look forward to coming back on as a guest. But I couldn't be more grateful and thankful to everyone listening, everyone watching. And until next time, this has been the Locked-on Bengals podcast. Thank you so much. I'm James Rupin and Jake Lisco.

Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - End of an Era: James Rapien's Departure, One Last Hurrah for "Hot Take James" and What's Next

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.