Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow Sends a CLEAR Message to Front Office—Change Needed NOW

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

Another Joe Burrow presser has ramped up pressure on the Cincinnati Bengals' front office and ignited more speculation about his future in Cincinnati if the Bengals don't make serious changes. Will th...e Bengals finally get creative and overhaul their defensive roster to secure long-term success with Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja'Marr Chase? Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down Burrow’s headline-grabbing presser, discuss Zac Taylor’s contract status, and analyze the impact of recent failed free-agent classes on draft strategy.Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.Click here to learn more and join your team’s community:** https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubJoin the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Rocket MoneyTake control of your finances and cancel your unwanted subscriptions with Rocket Money.Go to https://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONtoday.Aura FramesFor a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting https://AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter - by using promo code LOCKEDON at checkout.FanDuelIf you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit FanDuel.com and place your NFL live bets all season long.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Joe Barrow made headlines again on Wednesday for what he said during his press conference. Let's break down exactly what the Bengals star quarterback meant as he answered questions on Wednesday. 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? Welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network. He's James Rapine. I'm Jake Liskow. We've had you covered here on lockdown bengels since well before Joe Burrow was the guy that made news for the Cincinnati Bengals since 2016, your daily one-stop shop for all things. Bengals, we've got Joe Burrow Presser translations for you as that once again has caught the national eye. It's being discussed on all of the NFL morning shows on Thursday. And we're here to once again cut through the rubbish out there.
Starting point is 00:01:04 and bring to you exactly what we think is going on with Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Not that the national media is entirely wrong all the time, but there sure is a lot of noise out there. That's where we start today before we dive into really expectations for the rest of the season after we learned about Zach Taylor's contract status and Taylor refusing to elaborate on that on Wednesday, but with another backup quarterback joining the mix this week for the Miami Dolphins, one of three different quarterbacks, they'll be playing the rest of the way that we're not starting for their respective teams at the beginning of the season.
Starting point is 00:01:39 Expectations really high for the final three games of the season. If this is going to be what they're doing going forward, they're running it back with these guys. We'll get to that conversation later in the show. But James, we start with Joe Burrow, who clarified some things, had some other comments that were a little bit cryptic, a little bit vague, took a lot of long pauses during his presser on Wednesday. day as he was calculating how he wanted to answer certain questions. Every dayers heard us talk about this last week after another presser for him. This is two straight weeks where Joe Burroughs words have caught national attention and attention from those close to him as well.
Starting point is 00:02:19 And, well, if you make us your first listen, you've heard us talk about this too, James. But you were there? What were your primary takeaways as you listened to Joe Burrow in another interesting presser from him on Wednesday? It's the never-ending story. And it isn't going to end. This is going to happen all off-season. It's going to happen.
Starting point is 00:02:38 I know you were reacting in real-time on Wednesday, and it's like, oh, take this and make it this. But that's what it is, because he didn't shut the door on it. And what he didn't shut the door on is playing elsewhere. And so that is going to turn into, oh, well, this team should trade for him and that team should trade for him. And guess what? All of those teams should be talking.
Starting point is 00:03:00 about Joe Burrow and wanting Joe Burrow. And all I hope, and we'll hear from Joe in just a second, is that his comments, hit Mike Brown, smack that between his eyes, hit Katie Blackburn right between her eyes. And she walked right by me during practice on Wednesday when they practiced in the indoor. And Joe made his comments after practice. And it was a short, essentially walk-through session. And this time of year, that's what Wednesdays are. but a little bit more than that, but you get my point.
Starting point is 00:03:32 So it was a quick practice. Nonetheless, Joe Burrow, his future, it is up in the air. And maybe not in 2026, but beyond that. And the Bengals need to feel that. And I think he, the reason he was vague is because it keeps the narrative, not just the narrative. I don't think he really cares about the narrative, but it keeps the pressure on the Bengals front office to deliver because they've failed for three straight years now. Here's Joe Burrow in a back and forth with Paul Dana Jr. about his football future in 2026 and beyond. Is there any world
Starting point is 00:04:10 in your mind where you're not the quarterback of the Bengals next year? I couldn't, I can't see that, no. Is it very thought about the possibility of not being the quarterback here during your career? You think about a lot of things? When you look at quarterbacks over the course of their time, great ones. Hayden, Brady, you kind of have to understand that you never know what this legal bringing. What did you learn from watching how their careers unfolded? Yeah, a lot of crazy things happen every year.
Starting point is 00:04:44 Michael Parsons got traded right before the season, I think, this year. That is something I hadn't seen in it. a long time in the NFL. So crazy things can happen. Crazy things can happen. Your reaction when you saw the clip went viral, which is very much that beginning part versus that whole entire session there and back and forth.
Starting point is 00:05:13 Yeah, I mean, my impression is that they can't keep losing and expect Joe to not be louder at the very least. I don't think his immediate futures in doubt. I don't think he's thinking like, man, I got to get out of here. I don't think that's in his thoughts at all right now. I think, you know, and he talked about the Andrew Luck comparison a little bit too, and I think put that stuff to bed. We'll probably get to that in a minute,
Starting point is 00:05:39 but he wants to play football at a high level for a long time. He wants to win, and he's under contract with the Bengals for a while. He's got T and Jammar locked up here for at least a couple more years. I think that that is probably the time frame he's looking at, is how long he's there with those receivers, under contract. And then if they can't figure it out in that window, when they have those guys on offense,
Starting point is 00:06:04 then I think rubber meets the road. That's my impression. I think he's acknowledging the fact that he has considered that in a long NFL career and Paul Dana invoking Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, he might end up on another team. It's also possible that he's just being honest. You think about a lot of things.
Starting point is 00:06:25 Like, yeah, sure. I think about not doing this podcast sometimes. Does that mean I have any intention whatsoever of not doing this podcast? No, absolutely not. Sometimes thoughts pop into your head. Sometimes they're invasive thoughts. Sometimes it's like, man, I'm sick of James. No, I'm just kidding.
Starting point is 00:06:42 Sometimes it's, you know, I don't want to spend my mornings waking up and talking about a team that's four and ten. That's in my head for a half second, right? And the reason that I say this is not to cast any doubts on me doing this podcast. I'm not going anywhere. But sometimes you think about things. Jake Burrow is leaving. He wants to cover the Rams. Sometimes you think about things.
Starting point is 00:07:06 And it's just a thought. It doesn't mean anything. Now, could Joe Burrow have said, yeah, I've thought about it, but I want to play here for my whole career? Sure. He could have said that. Could there have been a follow-up question that was, hey, you've thought about it. but ideally do you play for this team for your whole career?
Starting point is 00:07:26 That didn't happen. Maybe that happens in the future. I don't know. Sure. But there are a number of things that could mean. I don't think it means anything for the immediate future other than, hey, man, we better figure this thing out. And part of it is he acknowledges his unavailability as part of the equation here.
Starting point is 00:07:42 Like, he cannot be helping this team win if he's not there. I think that's part of it too. Like they couldn't win without him, sure. but I don't know how much he's thinking about that when he was unavailable for so much of this year and he was unavailable two years ago. He's thinking about last year, I think. He's thinking about not being able to win games he's playing this year when he's playing well. But I think that there is time for them to get this right.
Starting point is 00:08:09 But he also acknowledges like, hey, man, things do need to change. I like our coaches. I understand the work we put in in this building, but things need to go differently. What we've been doing isn't working. Yeah, I think. your point about him acknowledging his thought process is a good one because of exactly what he said about the Andrew Luck stuff. And there's a difference. But I think it's important.
Starting point is 00:08:35 And he wasn't asked specifically about Andrew Luck, but I asked him if he had ever thought about not playing and considered not playing. And I think they go hand in hand with his thought process and how he was approaching every question he was answering on Wednesday. Everybody's trying to do everything in their power to make me not play football. and I feel like I'm fighting it, like fighting everybody else. Like, I just want to play, I just want to play ball. That's all I want to do. There's been a lot of speculation after last week, just in general. Your comments last week, how much do you love playing football?
Starting point is 00:09:04 Have you ever thought about not playing? I mean, you think about it, but you think about a lot of different things in your life, just like everybody does. You think about all different possibilities that could happen. I'm going to be playing for a long time. I expect to play for a long time. I expect to play well and consistently great for a long time. You think about a lot of things.
Starting point is 00:09:32 Crazy. About every possibility. And so that's what I think. That's the context that you won't see that you come to Locked on Bengals to see to get. Because Joe's acknowledging, yeah, I love football. I want to play for forever. Have I thought about not playing? Sure.
Starting point is 00:09:47 And like you said, it's the exact comp of not doing locked on Bengals. There's no scenario, by the way, where Jake Liscoe does locked on Rams. But you get my point. I don't know why I'm pointing out the Rams, maybe because everyone on social media somehow thinks that the Rams are getting Burrough. In reality, I think he was trying to be as open as possible. I also am glad he didn't say, I'm going to be here forever. I love it here. I think everybody's doing their job at a high level because they're not.
Starting point is 00:10:15 The Bengals have failed now. and not just the crazy part is, and I'm ranting here, not just in the past three years, 2022 was a failure. They didn't win the Super Bowl. And when you don't win the Super Bowl and the Joe Burrow era, when you probably need to be in position to, well, guess what?
Starting point is 00:10:32 That's a failure. There's more here. I've ranted. We'll hear from Jake Liscoll. I'll let you speak unlocked on Bengals coming up next. Today's show is brought you by game time. Maybe you're like me and you're going to Miami. Maybe you are.
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Starting point is 00:11:47 again, download the app, make an account and use code locked on NFL for $20 off. Download the GameTime app today. The bit of the borough presser that we haven't talked about yet that I'm interested in talking about as we wrap up this conversation and transition to the football games that still exists for the Bengals this season because there are football games that still have to be played and there are things that matter in those games is the comment that I alluded to earlier, James, when he said that what they're doing isn't working and they're going to have to get creative. He once again, threw his support behind this coaching step.
Starting point is 00:12:20 but acknowledged as well that what they're doing hasn't worked the last three years and acknowledge, you know, his availability is part of this as well. There are a lot of people that want to get on Joe for his availability. He's made a glass, blah, blah, blah. People want to throw that out there. Yeah. Fine. Say what you want.
Starting point is 00:12:38 But the reality is that this is two straight years of pathetic roster building on the defensive side of the ball. And whether it is their approach to evaluation in the draft, we've talked on this show. and the everydayers have heard us talk on this show about the Bengals going to the draft well multiple times in years at the weakness of the draft class last year, linebacker two years ago, defensive tackle, and that not paying dividends and missing on the strength of respective draft classes
Starting point is 00:13:10 after the first round. Last year, the strength was a defensive end. They took a defensive end in the first round. Great. We haven't seen a lot of Shamar Stewart. They missed Walter Nolan by one pick. That's when we're going to be looking back at. for a long time, I think, the way we look back at Frank Ragnow and Billy Price. Last year, they went to the strength of the class in the first round of Marius Mims. Amari Spims, one of the brightest spots this season.
Starting point is 00:13:31 Learn that lesson. That drafting from the strength of a draft class is a good thing. But the other thing that really needs to change is your free agency approach. And last year, they were so from the outside looking and so bogged down for that first week of free agency, trying to get deals done with T. Higginson, Jemar Chase, that all they did was sign a couple of role players for their defense that desperately needed help. Didn't do nearly enough.
Starting point is 00:14:01 That whole thing needs to change. I understand that the quarterback's on a second contract and you're paying these wide receivers money. I get all that. They have $70 million in projected cap space next year. Yeah. And a lot of work to do on defense. It's why they were good when they were good.
Starting point is 00:14:18 Yeah. One, I'm not going to paint the 2021 and 22 seasons as fun as they wear as like the glory years. They shouldn't be. It should have been the start of something. And that's speaking of Zach's comments. Oh, we can get back there. We've proven it. You've never done it.
Starting point is 00:14:31 The Bengals have never done it in 60 years. And so if they're going to do something that they've never done ever, and sure, they do have a quarterback that I think is capable of going to hit, he's still got to do it. Guess what they're going to have to do. Get creative. And I agree with you. It's funny. Full disclosure.
Starting point is 00:14:47 Jake and I did not talk about this at all. But as I was going through Burroughs comments, a half hour before the show, I was like, this is the one that really stands out because to me, he's telling the front office, hey, I get it. It's a little different than it was a few years ago. I do think we still have good coaches. Zach didn't forget how to coach. Some of these guys are really good coaches.
Starting point is 00:15:07 Go get us more talent. And I get I make more. Get a little more creative. And that creative word, I think he's using very loosely because he's probably just asking the Bengals front office to structure of content. contracts remotely close to how some of these other teams are doing it to fit more under their cap. In just almost making a slight accounting change for different bonuses and things. And we went in depth about this with Jamar Chase and T. Higgins and how they could have
Starting point is 00:15:33 created more cap space with those deals. Obviously, they could have just waited a few weeks and focused on defense and focused on weaknesses. The Dalton-Risner thing, they should have signed him two months prior to when they did. And maybe he wouldn't have fallen on his face the first month of the season. as he was trying to get into football shape. So there were a lot of things. They failed this off season. And when Joe says, oh, let's get creative.
Starting point is 00:15:56 I think that's all he's asking is, all right, we need to get more talent. I know I make a lot of money. If I need to restructure, I will. I know that T and Jammar make money and all those things, but we need to get more talent in here so we can not just get back to where we were, but get past that and get to a spot where we are a year from now talking about the Bengals as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. And a lot of this goes to the draft, too.
Starting point is 00:16:21 And I don't know how much Joe is thinking about their draft success. But if you want to sustain in the NFL, you need to draft consistently better than the Bengals have. They've caught a couple heaters in Duke Tobin's time in Cincinnati. They've had some multi-year runs of great drafting. More often than not, they tend to exceed expectations for their draft picks when they're picking at the top of the round than in the middle or the back of a round. but they need to be more consistent no matter where they're picking in the draft. I think that's got to be part of it too. If you look at the teams that are able to bounce back after going all in,
Starting point is 00:16:55 and we're talking a lot about the Rams today, but here we're talking about the Rams again and how quickly they bounce back. Sure. They're one of the two teams, Joe Goodberry posted this this week, one of the two teams in the bottom 12 or whatever it is in cash spending this year with a winning record. I think Seattle might be the other. The Bengals are in there too, by the way.
Starting point is 00:17:15 Obviously, they don't have a winning record. The Bengals are one of the 10 teams that are in the bottom of cash spending in the NFL with a losing record. And obviously spending cash doesn't mean winning. The Browns spend a ton of cash, but don't win. But when you spend money, it gives you a better chance. And I think that's true across most of our professional sports leagues in the United States. But yeah, the borough quote is, I'm just saying what we've been doing hasn't worked the last couple of years. So now we have to think outside the box and get creative about where we go from here.
Starting point is 00:17:43 Do things differently. evolve. That's what he's asking for here, whether it's contract structure, whether it's expanding your scouting department, whether it's changing your approach in free agency and going after some guys or changing the way you're evaluating your own roster, because everyone can tell. Like, it's not impossible. You don't have to be very smart to see how bad this defense is. Sure. It's not something they're not aware of. And I do worry that they're overselling. the improvements. I worry when Zach and Al talk about how much they like how
Starting point is 00:18:19 the defense has started to show some things. But you can't keep doing what they've been doing. Sure. And that's what Burroughs saying. And I think that's like the long-term thing too, right? Going into thinking about his future,
Starting point is 00:18:35 if they keep doing what they've been doing and they keep not evolving, at some point I do think he will get fed up with that. And I think that that is what is clear after this presser. Yeah. It's twofold.
Starting point is 00:18:50 They're poor, failed free agent classes. In two straight of the most important off seasons in their history, as we call them. I'm done throwing that a wrap, by the way.
Starting point is 00:19:00 Me too. I thought about that yesterday, too. We're really a mock step here. It's wild. Like, yeah, screw you guys, not saying it,
Starting point is 00:19:07 prove to us that you're going to do more than you did. Like, they've approached free agency. Like they have Marvin Lewis and it's 2017 with Andy Dolores. Like, good God, guys. Like, no, like now is now.
Starting point is 00:19:20 And I get that you're spending money on all these other guys, but the poor free agency, zzz, sending them into the draft feeling like they need, they got to get this or they got to do that or they have to. And if they don't, then what happens? And those need picks really hurt you. And it really burns you. And it's like, oh, well, we need to address our defensive front because if we don't, it's more valuable than safety.
Starting point is 00:19:44 and you know so you go this route and then does that feel great well now you don't know and they're bullet-unched-man the point is is you don't want a linebacker sized toll and clearly they felt like linebacker was a weakness going into the draft you don't want this we'll have plenty of time to discuss it i think free agencies impacted the draft far too much they need to be better at both and good franchises are better at both it isn't rocket science i'm not saying it's easy it is not rocket science and all they need to do is become an everydayer, join the Every Day or Club Bengals front office because we'll talk plenty about free agency and the draft.
Starting point is 00:20:21 I'm sure they will love that comment. We do have a game to discuss. So before we get to the off season, let's talk about Sunday's game and the final three games of the regular season coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by prize picks. If you're like me and you're eliminated in your season-long fantasy leagues, well, that's where prize picks comes in.
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Starting point is 00:21:09 and you can choose from a huge range of unique stats. Maybe you want to go with fantasy score, field goals attempted, free throws made, turnovers, passing yards, passing touchdowns. I think Joe Burr's going to throw for a lot of yards on Sunday in Miami.
Starting point is 00:21:24 Maybe you think Quinn yours is going to do the same. Well, prize picks is the app to download today. Use code locked on NFL and you'll get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.
Starting point is 00:21:37 Price picks. It's good to be right. As we transition to talk about some football games here, want to quickly shout out John Shearin, who wrote up a good take on Joe Burroughs discussion about how things have to be different. You can find John Shearren on Twitter, of course, and his work at A to Z Sports. A good right up there and just wanted to shout out John there real quick. Who? John Shearin.
Starting point is 00:22:03 Who? You know who John Shearin. He's going to love that comment. No, that was strictly for John in my amusement. That's all. I know. I like the Jay's got stats here as we transition to talking about playing Quinn. Who's that guy?
Starting point is 00:22:17 I don't know about that guy either. You're just naming, making up names. Jay Morrison, who works with you over at bengals talk.com. The Cincinnati Bengals from 1966 to present have the worst winning percentage in the NFL when facing quarterbacks making their starting debuts. And this is something that Bengals fans have talked about a lot. We talked about it with Joe Flacco. The Bengals played Joe Flacco in his debut, I think.
Starting point is 00:22:46 I think. Anyway, the Bengals record against quarterbacks making their starting debut since 1966 is 8 and 14. That is a 36 and a half winning percentage, which is nearly 10% worse than the next worst team. The Rams are 10 and 12. Jake is guaranteed a Dolphins win. Most teams.
Starting point is 00:23:09 In the NFL, most teams in the NFL have a winning record when playing a quarterback making their first start. There are six teams with a losing record, and the Bengals are 15%, nearly 15% below 500 when playing quarterbacks making their first start. That is crazy. Yeah, it is crazy. Sorry, I have the feeling, this is really the only thing holding me back from thinking the Bengals are just going to go to Miami and roll. Like I think Joe's going to throw for like 400 yards and the offense is going to just put up a bunch of points. But then I'm like, yeah, but rookie quarterback, bad defense, you look at those weapons. We talked about it on the crossover yesterday, but like you look at those weapons and like Darren Waller's a real dude still.
Starting point is 00:23:55 Like he made some nice contested catches against the Steelers. Devin A. Chan is awesome. I love him. I mean, I love him. I know he's small. He's such a fun, fun player to watch. And Jalen Waddle, still Jalen Waddle. like Zay Flowers should have had two touchdowns last week.
Starting point is 00:24:11 And so I think of it that way. I'm like, well, do they have a tight end that can beat you? Yes. Do they have a running back that can beat you? Yes. Do they have a speedy receiver that can beat you? Yes. So it's very similar to the Ravens on one hand.
Starting point is 00:24:22 The other, of course, is Quinn Ewers is not Amar Jackson. Will this Bengals defense make it look like Lamar Jackson? History says yes at 8 and 14. And so that's the thing that's really holding me back from just being like, oh, I think the Bengals go there and roll. because I do think Joe is going to play so much better. I think Jamar has a big game. And if not, maybe it's a Mike Gisicki revenge game.
Starting point is 00:24:45 I would not shock me one bit. And I kind of expect it, this offense to bounce back in a big way. Mike McDaniel is also still seen as a very creative, good play caller who can maximize this run game. What do you think I was going to say? Oh, no. No, I don't know. Lame duck, hot seat. Oh, yeah, for sure.
Starting point is 00:25:07 But like he's still, he's still. He's still seen as a smart offensive play caller. That'll be a good O.C. somewhere next year. The dolphins did just come off of four straight wins before they lost to the Steelers and bench their quarterback. But now with Quinn Ewers. Would you rather be facing Tua? Would you rather be facing Tua?
Starting point is 00:25:27 Honestly, I would. No. I don't think so. I don't buy Quinn yours. No, I don't either. It isn't even about him. It's just like the unknown. Like, Tua's known.
Starting point is 00:25:38 Tua's not scary. I know your point. Like, Joe Blacko would scare me more than Tua. I do think that this is the kind of offense that causes this Bengals defense a lot of problems. Oh, boy. Like motions and, like, puts your linebackers. The misdirection, the motion, the play action, the fast running back.
Starting point is 00:26:00 Like, I don't have any confidence in this defense. Contested catch tight end who's like giant. like you can't ask DJ Turner to guard Darren Waller no he's like giving up a foot of height oh god you can't um Joe girl
Starting point is 00:26:21 playing playing safety guarding Darren Waller Quinn Ewer should be I'll do it myself damn it the Bengals play Quinn Ewers Jacoby Resett and presumably shoulderr Sanders in the last three games you're running this coaching staff back you better show me something against these backup quarterbacks.
Starting point is 00:26:38 And we just talked about all the reasons this Miami offense should still scare you. If you're hoping this Bengals defense is going to show something this week, it's Quinn yours, man, making his first NFL start. If you can't affect the quarterback, confuse this quarterback making his first start, man. A couple turnovers, yes, correct. Mike McDaniel is going to try to make this thing as easy as possible for yours. But if you go out there and you lay an egg this week, and you lay an egg against Jacoby percent,
Starting point is 00:27:07 who's been playing better. Jacobi Bressat's playing reasonable NFL football for the Cardinals. But the Cardinals is good. The Cardinals have won one game. He's good. Since they started 2 and O. They're having a season much like the Bengals. God, it's embarrassing.
Starting point is 00:27:22 And then it's Sederer Sanders, who's only, only reasonable game as a starter for the Browns came against the Raiders. And the Bengals are not that far off from the Raiders. That's your opposition the last three weeks of the season. You got to show me something, man. If you're going to run this back with this coaching staff. Yeah, I agree.
Starting point is 00:27:40 If you continue to lay eggs, I only become more unimpressed with your decision to run it back with these guys. If you go out there and take care of business, then it's like, okay, they did the bare minimum. Great. That's the best they can do over these last three games to me. That's where my expectations are against the teams they play in these last three games. Yeah, I mean, can you imagine if the offense looks bad again? I really can't. I cannot even imagine it.
Starting point is 00:28:07 You got to have a conversation if that's the case against these defenses. I mean, besides the brands. Browns, Miles Garrett game aside. Next two games. Yeah. No doubt. No doubt.
Starting point is 00:28:17 And this is this is a game where we'll see like, like Zach's like, well, we'll see what we're made of. Like I think we already know what they're made of. We know. We know. If you're, like if you're as talented as I think you are, you should still win this game. Like, I expect them to win in my aim, but probably shouldn't. I expect them to.
Starting point is 00:28:39 And a lot of that has to do with the offense. I think the defense should be opportunistic enough. It would be able to do enough. But they have some real dudes over there, dudes that want, that are going to put up some stats. And I do think Mike McDaniel, like, that's an interesting chess match right now. The two guys, probably not on the hot seat.
Starting point is 00:28:59 I don't think Al Golden's necessarily on the hot seat, but Golden versus McDaniel. and what happens there. I think it's interesting. Can Al Golden not just do what worked last week? It's been a couple of weeks. It's just like, ah, this worked before. Let's try it again.
Starting point is 00:29:16 Other teams have taped too. It's something that I've had to talk about with Al Golden. And it's oversimplifying it for sure. Who would you put on Waller? Dead Sears. C. Dax. Dax gives up a lot of hate too.
Starting point is 00:29:31 E.J. Ivy. bracket them. Like none of the safety, like none of the safeties are that big, though. No. You know? Like try to get a bracket and underneath over bracket. Because like you're not asking Jordan to cover him one on one. That's, you're going to end up doing that probably.
Starting point is 00:29:50 Some. It's probably going to give up a catch. Yeah. And it's fine to give up some place. You just can't give up the red zone third and five. Quinn yours has six seconds and he's. launching one to Waller and Waller boxes you out for a touchdown. Yeah, the more annoying thing is just losing them all together.
Starting point is 00:30:08 Like, that's been their bigger issue with tight ends is that they just don't cover them. That's true. It's like, it's not even the one-on-ones. I mean, that's been an issue too, I think, at times. So it's more like, oh, our linebackers are playing the run, and there's nobody within 10 yards of this tight end at the second level. Yeah, nothing to that happen. That I agree with it.
Starting point is 00:30:28 It's one thing if you're out physical, to your point. It's another if you're just not there. Yeah. So show up. And checking in safety, Joe Burrow. I'll do it myself, damn it. Burrow said after the game. Joe Burrow on the injury report with the knee went full.
Starting point is 00:30:46 Throw him out there in safety. That's what James Rapine wants. No, I don't. Joe Burrow just wants to play ball. Okay. That includes safety. Mark Chase at a punt. No, he's a kickoff returner and punt return.
Starting point is 00:30:58 Yeah. How about that? Just the third. He's third string for those wondering. It's just in case of emergency. the break glass situation. I'm not sure we see. I'm not sure we see Charlie Jones again this season.
Starting point is 00:31:11 Ankle. It's pretty severe. Our locked on Bengals insiders, no, we could, but if I'm Charlie, I would play it safe, given the situation.
Starting point is 00:31:23 Let's wrap up there, James. We've got the game to talk about for you on Sunday where we'll be with you after the game for our post-game reactions. And until then, thanks for tuning in today to lock down Bengals. And until next time, thanks for listening. Hoode and have a good book.

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