Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - "Significant talks" on Ja'Marr Chase extension "bridged the gap" a little over the weekend, but the hold-in continues into Week 1

Episode Date: September 2, 2024

Ja'Marr Chase continued his hold-in on Monday as the Cincinnati Bengals officially began Week 1 practices, but reports indicate that there was progress and were "significant talks" over the weekend as the negotiators got a little closer to an extension. Plus, we break down whether we're buying MVP hype for Joe Burrow after a full training camp coming off his wrist injury, and react to the list of 2024 Bengals captains. Join 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-bengals For your next listen, check out the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast. Get daily insight to the best Fantasy draft strategies so you can win your league this season. Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PrizePicksGo to https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotors.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.GametimeDownload 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.FanDuelNow through September 22nd, ALL FanDuel customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get a THREE WEEK free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Visit FANDUEL.COM/LOCKEDON to get started.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.

The Jamar Chase Holden has officially made it to week one of the 2024 NFL season, but it sounds like there may be some progress. Let's break down the latest on the Bengals Star Receiver. 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. I'm your host, Jake Liskow. He's your host, James Rupin.

are part of the Locked-on Podcast Network covering your team every day on YouTube and everywhere you get your podcast. Welcome back to the everydayers appreciate the diehards out there so very much and all of you who make us your first listen. If you're new to the show, of course, you can join the tens of thousands of Bengals fans out there that make Locked-on Bengals part of their Bengals routine. Today's episode is sponsored by GameTime. With the GameTime app, when you create an account and use code, Lockdown NFL, you

will save $20 on your first purchase of tickets. Terms apply, download game time today. What time is it game time? James Jamar Chase did not practice on Monday. That means that he officially is holding in into the regular season. And if that continues Wednesday, which at this point, there's every reason to believe that it would, barring a deal, that puts his week one status firmly in jeopardy.

No doubt. It's in jeopardy. It's more than just in jeopardy. We're in Jamar watch full scale here. And it's physically being ready to go as much as it is getting this contract ready. And look, Monday's practice wasn't some tough practice. It was a short session. It was a let's get everybody back in the building after the league mandated three days off over the weekend, which was Friday, Saturday, Sunday. So the Bengals get back in the building, get guys. is acclimated. The new practice squad guys get a little time on the field. And then it's Tuesday game plan day. And Wednesday, it's all systems go. Walk through practice, install the game plan, figure out what works, what doesn't. And so the clock is ticking. I know a lot of people think, all right, well, you have six days as we record this. It's not six days. It's really a couple of days. Because if you want Jamar to play and be Jamar Chase, you need them out there Wednesday. And there's there's the deadline i know people love the thursday night football storyline from last year with bro bro bro was practicing brookin miss practice

because he was coming back from that calf not that he would anyways but with this potential deal the sooner the better because jemar chase really really needs to be on the field on wednesday if we are going to expect him to be the jimar chase that we expect which is a pro bowl all-star type of receiver and zach taylor has asked about Jamar Chase's fitness in his press conference on Monday, Zach said he believes he's in good shape, but couldn't 100% speak with a ton of confidence on that because he hadn't seen Jamar go through extended practices

outside of the two practices that he participated in before the hold-in resumed when we thought this thing was done and the drama was over. Instead, we're back to the drama, and we did get a couple of new pieces of information on Monday from a couple of different pieces of reporting. one of those Albert Breer, one of those Ari Maherov on his podcast. Albert Breer wrote in Monday morning quarterback that the CD Lamb contract should simplify

things for the Bengals and Jamar Chase. And we've talked about this. It reaffirms that the wide receiver market is what it is. Justin Jefferson's deal is not an outlier. This is what it's going to take to get the Jamar Chase contract done. I think that Jamar Chase and many fans have expected this for some time. And that was a purpose of waiting. for the Justin Jefferson deal. Chase still wants to make more than Justin Jefferson, as many

have pointed out. And the interesting thing from Albert Breers reporting, James, was that when he was writing about this, he said earlier in the summer, he sensed frustration from Cincinnati side, from the team side of things that Jamar Chase's camp was moving slowly in terms of responding to the eagerness to negotiate and that the CD land deal is what needed to have. happen, he wrote to break that stalemate. Yeah. Let's start there with the second part. Is it pre-June 3rd when Justin Jefferson agreed to the four-year $140 million deal?

Because of course the Bengals would probably have wanted to get something done before that because they knew that was coming. And I'm sure Jamar was like, no way. Like, I'm waiting. I know Justin's going to get paid. He's going to set the market. Let's let the market get set. And so I assume that would have been the criteria that that report is based on.

Maybe not. Maybe Albert has more. But what would have changed? Jamar clearly wants a deal. And so the only thing I can think of is the Jamar deal. Now, CD Lamb, you're right, four years, 136, there we go. You know, a huge, huge upfront bonus that the Bengals would probably have with Jamar, if they're able to get something done. like it's there now like we kind of know and if jemar wants to get something done with two years left

on his deal that's the one hang up if he's willing to sign and the bengals want to sign him then hopefully they find common ground and can get this done and that's where my optimism comes from i keep coming back to this jake like the bengals want jama chase in stripes for a long time and jimar chase wants to be in cincinnati so why why can't they find common ground over the next 48 hours or so so he can be on the practice field on Wednesday. That's what I keep coming back to. And maybe I'm just too optimistic, but hopefully they can get something done. Well, there is good news that has also been reported.

This is Ari Maher of on his podcast that we'll get to in a second. I just wanted to comment on one thing, which is that previously when Jamar Chase has talked about some of the other deals to get done that he may need to wait for before doing his own deal, he not only mentioned Justin Jefferson, but did also refer to CDLAM. So it could be that they were just waiting for the CDLAM. lamb contract all along. It's possible. We know he was certainly waiting for Justin Jefferson, his former teammate that has a year on him in the NFL. And also a good reminder that Chase has made these business decisions before sitting out the year before he entered the NFL draft and was still

picked five overall. That worked out well for him. And so if he feels like he needs to sit out to get his best outcome. He is no stranger to that approach. But I mentioned there are some reasons for optimism as well. This is Ari Myrov's reporting on his podcast. He said that there were significant talks on the Chase Extension over the weekend. There was progress. He said they've bridged the gap a little bit. He has a better feeling that they could get it done, not that they necessarily well, but also mentioned that if it does get done, it would make him the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL, and you wouldn't necessarily reference that if there wasn't something happening in negotiations that Ari Maher I've heard about that indicated that that was a kind of

contract they were talking about. And then if the money is already making Jamar the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL, then you could probably surmise that it has to do with structure and it has to do with guarantees and figuring out those aspects of the deal to get it across the finish line and finish bridging the gap that his reporting indicates. was bridged a little bit were his words over the weekend. Yeah, and it is complex, and they have to work out exactly how it's going. By the way, I don't want it to just be all right. Here's what you want, get it done.

I want it to be structured in a way that's team-friendly, but also makes Jemar happy. And these things do take time, but there's been a lot of time that's past. They've had time to focus on this. They haven't, and by they, I mean Jemar's side too. I'm not putting this all on the Bengals. Like it's time to get it done now because it's time to go out and perform. And I get it. You want a deal to get done?

Fine. Bengals, you want a deal to get done? Do you want Jamar Chase? Like Jamar, do you want to get paid? All right, let's figure it out. And maybe our everyday errors will know this. Maybe they need the mediator. Well, call me in.

Let's get it done and figure it out. All right, Jake, hot seat right now before we get to other topics, including Joe Burrow. does the deal get done this week? Yes or no? I would say that the trend seems to suggest that yes, it will get done. And I would say that Jamar's actions may necessitate it getting done. So if I'm on the hot seat, I would say more likely than not is my feel. What do you think?

I feel that way too. And I've been fighting with it all day because full disclosure, I didn't go to practice today. I also had a really good idea that he wasn't going to suit up for practice today. And so it's like, all right, can you get something done? And ideally, the next time we talk to you, we're talking about an extension. Because if they can get that done and get him on the field for Wednesday's walk through and install practice, then we could see the real deal Jamar Chase week one against the Patriots, which does matter. I know it's still the Patriots, but it matters.

From Jamar to Joe, let's discuss some of Joe Burroughs comments recently about his performance in camp and how he's feeling. We'll do that coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Fandall. You've heard us talk a lot about Fandle, America's number one sports book. Well, it's week one, and we have something a little different for you. And you got to take advantage of it right now because it's only going to be around for a few more weeks, and it's week one. So you want to take advantage of it now because with Fandall right now, all Fandall customers can bet $5 and get a three-week free trial of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. That's right. Not one, not two, but three weeks free of NFL Sunday ticket and YouTube

or from YouTube and YouTube TV. All you have to do is wager $5 with Fandall. And with a YouTube TV base plan, you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out-of-market game. Every single one. All you need is a Google account in a current form of payment. You can cancel at any time. So just visit fandel.com right now. That's fandle.com to download America's number one sportsbook. As we transition to discuss Joe Burrow and Albert Breer writing about Burrow as an MVP candidate, several analysts picking the Bengals to go to the Super Bowl and the strength of Joe Burrow returning to health and their previous performances when Joe Burrow has been healthy, worth remembering that Joe Burroughs extension also took place right around this time of year. As did Joe Mixes,

as did going back into history, Gino Ackins, Carlos Dunlap. The Bengals know history to getting extensions done this week while we wait for Jamar Chase, but, you know, You're right, James. We transition now to speaking about Joe Burrow and Albert Breer writing, a very long piece talking to Burrow back when training camp was in full swing, talking to coaches after that Indianapolis Colts practice when the coaching staff decided that Burrow would not be playing in that final preseason game, even though Burrow did want to, they decided they'd seen all they needed to see.

They were comfortable with where Joe Burrow was operating pre-snap as you would hope a veteran that we hoped would evolve into the Peyton Manning level of mastery pre-snap would be evolving going into his fifth year. And because of those factors, Albert Breer is very bullish on Joe Burrough, saying he could be better than ever. And like I said, like MVP picks kind of stuff. And so based on our observations and your observations over the years, James, where are you at with these sorts of claims and hype going into the season for Joe Burrow? I think Joe Burrow had a really good camp. I think that, one, it's tough because when Joe Burroughs best practice that maybe he's ever had as a pro, and maybe someday I'll be able to ask him this, but it's sensitive because he got hurt the next day.

But is that first practice of camp, 23, and he just looked awesome. And I think there are signs of that throughout this camp. I think he looks explosive like he did. I think he's moving well. I think he's confident in the pocket and confident what he's seeing. I also do think that he's worked through the wrist all camp long and needed those reps, needed the movement in that wrist, arm, hand, all of the above, just to continue to get as close to normal Joe as possible. And is he 100%

You have to ask him I'll hear from him Wednesday And he'll be able to discuss that Did tell Albert that this is the best And our strongest his arm has felt I think that's interesting We didn't see a ton of deep stuff late in camp And that could have been

Just maintenance stuff for some of these receivers As much as it was anything else The Colts were dropping I talked to T Higgins about it The Colts were dropping in that joint practice So Joe Burrow just kept taking what was there. Part of it is not having Jamar Chase.

But I haven't seen a ton of deep stuff. And I've posted some of them. Deep ball to Charlie Jones is one I remember. I certainly had the deep ball to T. Higgins in that Tampa Bay game where it was nearly a touchdown. So we've seen him throw it. And so I don't want to make any declarations as far as how he's feeling or how he looks. I think he looks good.

But I will say this. my expectations are really high for Joe. And so, like, when people say, oh, well, he's, he should be an MVP conversation. The Bengals should be among the top teams in the AFC or the number one seed or win the Super Bowl. Like, I get it because that's where expectation should be. And so I'm not going to debate that. I do think I've seen Joe Burrow practice better in other years or have better sessions. But my expectations are right there with everybody that's thinking New Orleans, that's thinking one scene,

that's thinking AFC North title, thinking at least three and one in the first month of the season, I'm right there with them. So I get the sentiment and the logic. I think very quickly we'll find out if this will be an MVP-like campaign for Joe Burrow. And part of that is capitalizing on the opponents they have early in the season. And part of that will also come down to game script. The Bengals don't need Joe Burrow to be 350 yards, three touchdowns against the Patriots, the commanders and the Panthers and the, three of those first four games of the season, well, that could have some impact on a statistical output, right?

And the statistical output will have a pretty significant impact on the MVP race. And obviously the week two game, the head-to-head juxtaposition of Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes, well, that will probably have a significant influence on the early season thoughts about the shape that Joe Burrow is in and the level at which he will play this season and will shape narratives early in the season. That's how the NFL media machine works. So how he starts the season, I think, could be pretty telling as to whether or not there's an MVP-like season in the books for him because of the soft schedule and the ability to seize the narrative around Week 2's matchup in Kansas City against Mahomes, who is probably the front runner for MVP this year. Regardless of what sports books have to say about it, you would have a hard time finding many people to bet against Patrick Mahomes most years.

You think? Kind of the way it is. I'll take the field. Sure, but that's not how it works. You pick one person. I think, and we weren't planning on talking MVP. I think if the bills are really good. Sure.

No digs. Like Josh Allen is that guy. Yeah, Alan, Lamar Jackson, CJ Stroud. These guys are all names that you'll hear talked about for quarterback. Sorry, MVP. I'm not there for Stroud. I'm not there with Stroud. And I don't think Lamar wins it again.

No, I know. I know. I'm just saying it. Josh Allen would be the non-Broll. Heck, maybe Jamar Chase has 4,000 yards receiving it wins MVP. 4,000. Yeah, I mean, that would do it, I think. It would, right?

The receiver would ever would an MVP. But if Joe has 8,000 and Jamar has 4,000 or Jamar has 4,000 and Joe has 6,000, who wins it? I can't even. even begin to wrap my mind around the question you're asking me right now. I don't want to. Back onto the topic of Joe Burrow, I do think that if he is himself, the mental aspect of his game sounds like it's exactly where it needs to be. Judging from comments from like Gus Bradley and Shane Steichen talking to Jimmy Burrow or

overheard by Jimmy Burrow and then relayed to Albert Breer after that joint practice, that's what impressed the Bengals coaching staff so much. The use of very small things in terms of moving guys around before the snap to get tells as to what he's being presented with defensively. The Colts coaching staff was like, you're the only quarterback in the league that could do this. Shensley is what Shane Stuyken said. You're the only quarterback in the league that's making that read pre-snap based on whatever limited information you gathered and the look that we were throwing at you. And so that kind of validation from the opposing defensive coordinator and head coach, in addition to the Bengals coaching staff's observations of Burroughs mastery pre-snap,

and the fact that he's able to get the ball where it needs to go, the fact that he feels like those balls that go where he wants them to go, but don't quite fly the way he wants them to fly out of his hand or becoming fewer and farther between, I think that that is a reason that there's a lot of confidence from Breer's perspective. about Borough and why if we see that kind of mastery and consistency from Burrow to start the season, we should believe that that will continue throughout because when he was healthy last year, he looked like MVP candidate Joe Burrow. And if he can be that this year and sustain it for an entire year,

well, then you're MVP candidate Joe Burrow. For sure. And we've seen a lot from Joe. We haven't seen that from the jump and for a bunch of different reasons. But this could be that year. And ultimately, observations are just that. How he's feeling matters more, right? How he's feeling, how confident he is deep down in, all right, I have to,

I'm seeing the defense here, I need to throw it here, and I'm going to put it right where I need to put it. Like, as long as he feels like he can do that, then why wouldn't he be able to do it? Right? And because that means that he's done it in practice, reped it enough. And he was really locked in intense during that. final part of training camp. He wasn't doing a ton of interviews anymore. Everything kind of stopped. And we haven't heard from him in a while. So I'm excited to hear from him on Wednesday.

But that's where all of those reps, everything that he's done, hopefully it can come in handy. So when he's on the field against the Patriots on Sunday, he feels like week six Joe Burrow, not the week one Joe that we've seen in past years where he's just kind of trying to get through it because he's battling injury or whatever else that he had gone through prior to that week one matchup. That's right. A fast start would be the goal. They haven't been able to achieve that with Joe Burrow. And it would be given their schedule this year, necessary, I would say, to a successful 2024.

Up next, the Bengals have named their captains for the season. We will talk about who has retained the role. Who's new in that role? and Zach Taylor also mentioned a couple of starters for week one as some competitions have been decided. We will get to those notes from Monday's presser coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Game Time. Game Time is the app you need to get right now

because Game Time is going to make you in the process for you getting tickets to week one or week two or week seven or week nine this bengal season that much easier. And they have a new feature called GameTime Picks. and Game Time picks features out all the fluff to show you incredible deals on great seats so you don't have to waste time searching throughout thousands of tickets looking for the right seats and other features that are going to be awesome as you download the GameTime app and you'll be able to check out they have a little switch you toggle it you press it it's all in pricing you know

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Again, create an account and redeem code L-O-C-E-D-O-N-N-FL for $20 off. That's locked-on NFL for $20 off. Download game time today. What time is it? Game time. This episode of Lockdown Bengals is also sponsored by Better Help. Better Help knows that sometimes as an adult,

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at BetterHelp.com slash locked on, where you'll get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp, H-E-L-P.com slash locked up. Oh, Captain, my Captain. Jake, we have captains for the 2024 season. Eight of them. Eight feels like a record. eight captains on the Bengals,

53-man roster, and I don't know. Can you remember eight captains? Let's start there, because I was trying to think about it, and that feels like a record for me. The biggest number that I can remember is seven, a few years ago,

where they had three offense, three defense, and I think Kevin Huber was the special teams punted that year, so that would have been 22. Yeah, okay, so 22. They have three trench players, three, two offensive, lineman. All right, I'll go through him now. Joe Burrow, Ted

Karras, Orlando Brown Jr., Sam Hubbard, Von Bell, Jermaine Pratt, Akeem Davis Gather, and Evan McPherson. So three offense, three defense, and two special teams. No debate for me. I think all of them make a lot of sense. I think Akeem Davis Gather might be the biggest surprise.

I don't know about you, but I was not expecting him to necessarily be on this list, but good for him. It was interesting to hear Zach Taylor talk about the captain voting process. He said there were like 20 guys that were deserving and receiving votes and it was hard to find a cut off. He doesn't have a fixed number every year which is probably got eight this year after six

last year after seven the year before. No special teams captains last year and two this year. And so there's not a fixed criteria for Zach Taylor. But Akeem Davis Gaylor as a tenured special teams captain who also will be the third linebacker, the first linebacker off the bench. Sure.

I don't see any reason that that shouldn't be the case. He is the senior oh, it was Mike Thomas. That was special teams captain in 2022. It was not Kevin Huber. My mistake, just remember that in the middle of talking about Akeem Davis Gather as a specialist captain. But keeping with three offensive captains, three defensive captains,

the interesting thing to me was who the new captains were on each side of the ball. Joe Mixum was a Cincinnati Bengals captain from 2021 until 2023. And now that he's not with the team, Orlando Brown has taken over that mantle as a third captain on the offensive side of the ball. On the defensive side of the ball, there are two changes from last year. On a unit that hasn't had a ton of changes

in terms of personnel, DJ Reeder was a captain in 22 and 23, and Mike Hilton was a captain in 2023 after Von Bell left for Carolina. But with Von Bell's return, he continues his streak. Every year he has been a Cincinnati Bengal. He has been a captain,

and Jermaine Pratt takes over the role vacated by DJ Reader's departure for Detroit. And that's how I see those changes. So interesting to see Hilton, the only player still with the team no longer in a captain role, I believe, after last year with the return of Bomb Bell. And I'm sure Mike Hilton will still be a leader

in that cornerback room as the senior statesman of that group in terms of NFL tenure. But some interesting changes there with some of the leaders on the team, leaving one returning and then Orlando Brown, I think, was a very obvious fit once that spot opened up to be an eventual captain for this team. No doubt. I would have made him, we never had the conversation, but one of the favorites to be captain. Von Bell, it's so funny because I think you mentioned Mike Thomas, and I think some people thought that he would become like the better Mike Thomas after he signed, where he would be like this backup support role. captain, leader, and he came in right away, hit the ground running, and just clearly

they're like a starting safety and a huge part of their defense and what they were hoping from him. I chatted with him. I don't know if I shared this on the pot or not. I might have. Well, you get to hear it twice, but he lost like five pounds this offseason, not a lot, but he feels like he's moving way better. I think it showed up. He's had a bunch of passes defense throughout camp. And so I expect Von Bell to be that dude still. And I know there's a lot of questions about that, but the Bengals clearly confident in him. His teammates clearly confident in him. And so I get all of these guys, really.

And the special teams ones are interesting. I think Evan McPherson just kind of sets the tone in that room. He's weirdly the veteran in that room. When you talk about the specialists in general. And so I think he sets the tone there and that reverberates throughout the team a bit. and people realized that and voted for him to be captain. The Acquem Davis-Gather one is interesting because he signed a one-year deal this off-season, and they clearly value him.

He's a big part of what they do. And while the players on this team clearly do as well. So two special teams captains, one on a one-year deal and the other just sign an extension. So good for both of them. You know, the most surprising decision to me was Jermaine Pratt winning the vote and respect of his peers and getting that captaincy on the defense's side of the ball, not Logan Wilson, who many have thought to be one of the key leaders on this defense, I would say, in recent years.

And I don't know where else you would necessarily go with it. Maybe Camp Taylor Britt, we've speculated could eventually be a captain for this team. BJ Hill has been with the team for a long time and is one of the veteran leaders on the defensive front where Sam Hubbard is also a captain. But Jermaine Pratt, being the guy that emerges there with the votes of his teammates, was, I I would say a mild surprise for me, just given the other candidates on that side of the ball. Sure. No, I think good.

Hopefully it means a big year is in store, right? And I think Jermaine, I've talked about this a lot, both of those linebackers. After last year when they weren't used to all the chaos around them that was going on around them, whether it was behind them or in front of them, they both need to bounce back. And so they have the confidence in Von Bauer. They have the confidence in this entire, I think in this entire defense. And we've saw that towards the end of camp, just the swag of this defense, how confident they were playing. Obviously, Gino Stone has earned that trust, the defensive line.

I know there's questions about stopping the run. Part of that is on Pratt and Wilson. So yeah, Pratt, run with that captain C, man. And hopefully he can have a huge year. The final notes from Monday between practice and Zach Taylor's presser after practice where the Dax Hill officially will be starting at corner for the Cincinnati Bengals in week one. And Trent Brown, according to Zach Taylor, gets the nod at right tackle. Amarius Mims missing time with that peck injury, ended any conversation for a rookie, it sounds like,

of trying to get through practices, trying to get back onto the practice field and being ready for week one. Just didn't seem like that was in the cards, according to Taylor. So the veteran who will be practicing this week and did practice on Monday, Trent Brown will start at right tackle. and Dax winning that battle at Corner. And Taylor went out of his way to stress that, you know, nobody really lost the battle per se. DJ didn't do anything wrong.

DJ Turner will still have packages that he gets on the field for and will be the next guy up if he's needed at Corner. But the official answers to those battles that we've kind of known just because of the way the cornerback battle went in the last couple weeks of camp and Amariousman's injury were clarified by Zach Taylor on Monday. And in addition to that, Amarious Mims did suit up for practice on Monday, but at best, I would say, was limited to not do the sled work with the rest of the offensive line, but was out there doing some work as he tries to get back from that pecking injury.

And we'll see how he gets through the week. Yeah, I don't think Amaris is playing this week. I'll say it. I think he's getting close. I think they'll play it safe. I think that's where they'll leave it. You have guys behind him that got a bunch of reps in camp. I think he'll be active week two behind Trent Brown.

That's just my prediction. Not sure if it'll ring true or not. And then for the starters, yeah, we expected Trent Brown. I think in Dax Hill, what a difference a month makes? I mean, going into that preseason game, that Tampa Bay preseason game, everyone kind of crowned DJ Turner. And Dax really snatched that thing, I think. And I'm sure the coaches in the building would agree as well.

And both guys are going to play a lot. I think both guys made each other better. And hopefully they all ball out starting on. Sunday when they're going to face a pretty, I would say, weaker or weak, unknown, not disrespecting your boy, Javon Baker, Jeline Polk, these young rookies, but a weaker wide receiver room, you want these defensive backs to kind of thrive in that position on Sunday. So a quick look at one of the things that we'll be watching for, I think, on Sunday. Yeah, we'll get back into that Patriot matchup in much greater depth coming up on crossover

Thursday later this week and then a game preview to finish up the week on Lockdown Bengals. That passing attack from the New England Patriots is not something that I expect to be the scariest part of this matchup. If you're looking for something to worry about, that is a place where the Bengals should have, I would say, a bit of an advantage this weekend. If you need a second list, then you can check out the twice daily Locked-on NFL because that is going to do it for this episode of the Locked On Bengals podcast. Until next time, appreciate you listening. Ho-Day and have a good one.