BENGALS SQUAD SHOW: Joe Burrow SQUASHES any false narratives about him as 53-man roster is SET

0:00This is the Lockdown Podcast Network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. The NFL season is finally here and Lockdown NFL is covering every second of it. You can find us breaking down all the action on Amazon Music every single day with bold takes and real analysis that matters. Opening day storylines, roster moves. If it's happening with your team, we're on it. No waiting, no fluff, subscribe on Amazon Music and never miss a snap. Yeah, it's a three man roster, I think. Yeah, it's a so I think he definitely seems happier than he did the last couple of years.

1:05DJ Turner and the Bengals are reportedly not close on an extension and should that raise some red flags. There's also some other talented players like Dax Hill and Chase Brown that also need new contracts. We'll update you those. We'll update you on where those stand. Plus the state of the linebackers. Today, it's the Bengal squad. Everything Cincinnati Bengals every week. Breaking down all the big hits and game changing plays from the Queen City. The way only the locked on podcast network can. From the jungle to the playoffs, the Bengal squad show starts now. Appreciate you all hanging out with us tonight Friday night September 4, 2026. It is Labor Day weekend. Hope you all had a great weekend already for a very fun weekend with coach Art Valero Mike Santagana. Evan Stacey. I'm Alex Frank welcoming you to the Bengal squad show. We got a great show coming up for you tonight. The 53 man roster is set. Gentlemen, this is our first show since the 53 man roster was set on Sunday at 6 p.m. had a great post game show last Saturday. So great to have you all back coach.

2:05I'll start with you since your camera kind of went out there and cold open totally. Okay. 53 man roster. What surprised you the most? Wow. Um, dead. Probably the biggest thing that hit me in the face was that they kept four linebackers in five tight ends. And to me, it doesn't the numbers on that unless they the tight ends are more valuable or have more value on special teams. And because they don't have enough and usually tight end bodies and linebacker bodies and safety bodies are the ones that the special teams coach really needs in order to perform at the highest level. No question about that. We'll get to Mike and Evan here about their thoughts on the roster. But I want to tell you that the today's episode of the Bengal squad show tonight's episode rather brought to you by CalShe for a limited time down below the CalShe app and use code

3:07locked on to get $10 when you trade $10. Mike Evan, the linebackers, I think clearly one of the if not the biggest surprise. Was there anything else that stood out to you to when you looked at the initial 53 matter roster? Yeah, linebackers definitely stood out. Um, otherwise when we talked about this, I mean, we didn't really talk about some of the cuts. I brought up Charlie Jones coming in the third quarter, big red flag and then he got cut. Yeah. I'm not sure how many other surprise cuts there were so much like McKinley Jackson got cut. I kind of thought that was happening. So those kinds of surprise me, but I think the four linebackers is something to think about because like coach was saying with the special teams, I also think this indicates pretty fully that they have transitioned into being an odd front, you know, three, four, five, two type base. They're only going to play two offball linebackers, whether that's base or in nickel. Last year to start the year, they tried to be a even front four three team.

4:12And it felt like somewhere throughout the year, they kind of switched it. And I think showing that you're not going to keep five linebackers, that says to me, you're going to be playing two linebackers in pretty much every situation, not that they don't trust their third guy, but I think it might be a special case scenario. But for the most part, I would think if you're going to have three linebackers in your base defense, you would have five linebackers on the team for injury. Yeah, my biggest surprise was the wide receivers. I expected Charlie Jones to not make the team, but Mitch Tinsley, I thought was kind of surprising. It's based off what he did last year and coming into the games that he did last year, I thought he made a lot of good plays. And he wasn't really the greatest in preseason with Dante Myers. I think that I think Dante Myers kind of pushed him out, but Kishon Williams making it. I know Alex, you liked him. And I thought it was interesting to hear that the reason they picked him over Charlie Jones was because of his ability as a receiver. They felt he was a more dynamic receiver and can do decent as a kick returner as well.

5:14So I thought, you know, that just came down to the wide receivers room is one of the most talented on the offense. And they had to make some tough cuts. And Tinsley and Jones were the ones that that out, but the linebackers, I definitely think is, it's the biggest one just keeping four. And a group that was one of the worst last year, the keeping four is, it's been interesting. But overall, I think the 53 man looks pretty good. I think Joe Ross fever happy. This is probably the strongest 53 man roster he's had because if you remember 2021, the year that Bengals went to the Super Bowl, their offense of Lyme is not very good. This year, their offense of Lyme, their starting five is really good. They've added some guys since to their practice squad miles. Hinted from the Eagles Blake free lens. So you definitely like what they have on their roster. But again, coaches, you mentioned the linebackers, Mike, you mentioned it. And then Charlie Jones, I mean, what I think that told me was that players who've been here for a few years, even if they had, they were necessarily safe because there's so much depth that a lot of positions. And I think that is what makes this a really strong 53 man roster overall.

6:19Yeah, you know, I think it does. And I think the other thing that has, they, they, it is a very deep crew. And you know, for, for the most part, D.Vine has got great depth and there's some great possible trades in there down the road because they did keep so many guys. I mean, they only cut one. That's crazy to me. So yeah, they've got, I think it could be very, very good. Any of you surprised that, sorry, didn't hurt for my, any of you surprised that Chris Jenkins has still made the 53 man roster? No. You know, sorry, Mike, I get it. Here, five, I just, no, I think Chris Jenkins kind of gets a little bit of a bad rep. Like he's not a terrible player. He's fine. He's a solid role player. He defends the run. Okay. You need those guys. I think he defends the run a lot better than Landon Robinson. And it turns into a situation where now Chris Jenkins can be their own first down.

7:23And if they get them into second and long, you get them out of there and you bring land. And then whenever you're in that situation, I think most of the time, it'll probably John Allen and BJ Hill has taken up that role. So to me, no, Chris Jenkins wasn't that big of a surprise, but I do think he is not beloved on Bengals Twitter, at least where I see. So I think there are people that are surprised. He's fine. He's like, he's like a replacement level defensive tackle. And that is better than what they had with like in the past in his spot, DT five, or whatever you want to call it. Well, I'm thinking like Zach Carter and these guys in the past that would begin blows in seven yards off the ball. No, I'm cool. Chris Jenkins in that spot. And Coach would have had a field day talking about Zach Carter on this show. His, I'm sorry to say this, but his career highlight with the Bengals was the funniest play where he got pan-cooked. And as he was getting up, he stripped the ball carrier for a key fumble, but he did it from the ground because he just got driven five or six yards and thrown on the ground. What game was that?

8:23I'm trying to remember. That might have been the Steelers game. It was a few years ago. It's been a few years. So I'm going to remember his little hazy on it, but I do remember that being his career highlight to me. How's it like, how fitting? Zach Carter. Wow. Have the defensive tackles changed. And again, with Chris Jenkins, when you have Jonathan Allen, and extra Lawrence in front of you and even BJ Hill, Chris Jenkins, Jr. is your DT five. He can thrive in that role. And that shows you how much depth that there is on this roster overall. There is one day. Yeah. I mean, you feel comfortable with him as your DT five and not your DT three or four. And it has been in pass, like Mike said. I do think he definitely deserved to make the roster think, you know, preseason week one, he made a lot of plays and really splashed them. And I think, yeah, he brings a lot to the run game. You know, coming into his coming into his last year, you know, if it doesn't work out, then, you know, he's off the books and you restart.

9:24But I think with how deep this detackle room is, I think he, I think he deserved it. I think he could definitely be a big rotational piece. Shamar Stewart not on engine preserve. That's a really positive development. I think in terms of your edge rush depth. Because and again, when you talk about guys like Stewart and Jenkins, if they are not in starting rules because clearly they weren't ready for it. Now that's also because there was a lack of leadership and veterans on the defensive line last year and 24. But now that you have way my way on there, you have Miles Murphy. Like, there is just so much ironing sharpened and iron within positions on this team. So I think that because you have other guys who've been there before, teaching the young guys like Stewart and Jenkins, there's just going to be so much more buttoned up and functionality on the entire defensive line this year. Oh, absolutely. I think that one thing with Shamar Stewart, if not putting him on IR or putting him on

10:28POP or whatever they did, they're thinking he's pretty close. You know, and other than the practice time he's missed, he hadn't missed any game reps. I mean, the other guys and we've got 12, you know, so what's 12 reps in a game? So, you know what, he's got to catch back up to speed, probably be ready and turn loose in week two. Were any of you surprised about what happened with Tanner Hudson? I was a little surprised that, but I think he's the guy that's been on the team long enough that you could do the stay on the Morgan Junior deal with. You say we're going to wave you to do some roster shenanigans, putting on the practice squad and just trusting that they'll be able to bring him back. Eventually or call him up for game days or whatever might happen. Good time to go over the 16 man practice squad for the Bangalos, Kentro Bullock, Sean Clifford, glad they brought him back. How across the third, Isaiah Foskey, really happy they brought him back. Joe Giles Harris, Shaka Hayward, Rayland Lux, Gladys on the practice squad,

11:33Kendall Milton, Jordan Moore, Noah Thomas, what a really good preseason. Russ Yeast, who had the pick against the short to end that game. Garmin Randolph, Blake Freyland, who was a mid-round target a few years ago for the Bangals, Tricuezi Bridges, and then Josh Johnson's so happy they brought him back. And then finally Tanner Hudson. So I mean, I don't want to say too much time on this, but it feels like this practice squad is the best on paper it's been and I can't tell you how long. Well, you know what there goes again. I mean, now they're keeping, they've got six every tight end, except for the fullback slash tied in that they let go earlier. That's an awful lot of tight ends to be in 12 personnel all the time. I mean, that's that is an awful lot of people in one row. And it's probably so rare to the tight end coach that he doesn't have three

12:33and one on the practice squad. He probably didn't know how to they probably had to move him into a bigger media room. Evan, you've been bogal about the tight end depth that this team has. What were your reactions to Tanner Hudson and the news on Sunday and Monday? I was a little shocked because I, you know, I expected them to keep five. And I guess they technically did, but then they got cut down the four. But I was happy that Tanner Hudson was brought back. I think he definitely can can help this tight end room. He's been there for a while and has the, he has the chemistry with Joe Burrow and he's made a handful of big plays. He had a nice touchdown in preseason. And I think, you know, whether his role is on special teams or as, you know, another receiving tight end, I think it's, I think it's going to be big. Because, you know, we have Eric, all this the guy that everyone's been talking about, who's going to have a great season, but, you know, he's injury prone. So you never know, you don't know how he's going to come on. How much he's going to be on the field. So you feel a lot better if he misses time bringing Tanner Hudson right up there

13:37with Jack and Drew's behind him. So I was happy that they were able to keep him. And they added the offensive tackle onto that swing tackle depth, which so I think overall they played their cards right and it worked up pretty well for him. Coach, you may remember this name Chris Hinton is Miles Hinton in the Bengal sign. His father, what do you remember about Chris Hinton when he played? Great player. North Western. Chris Hinton was was a style. Left tackle. And actually, oh, man, I'll tell you what, I think he was there the early part of Peyton's years and protected Peyton's blind side. Very good player. Excellent player. Very durable player too and played a long time in the NFL. So Josh Newton made the 53 man roster. We talked about him a little bit on Saturday in our post game show. Are we surprised? Did we expect him to still make it? Because they do think he did come on stronger in the second half of training camp in the preseason.

14:38What you know what? A lot of times those guys need to be woke up. They need to be where all of a sudden their whispers in the building that, hey, you know what? You got two games. You better show who you are. Or they're going to believe who you're not. And I think that those last two games, he kind of kind of start playing. And you always have the one thing about the National Football League is you would always need to be on the cutting edge. And that knife always needs to be sharp. And if it ever gets still like a butter knife, you're gone. And I think that a lot of people pat themselves on the back for making it. And they start to believe that they're pretty good. When they're still not as sharp and you know what? Hey, somebody's chasing you always. And they're always going to find somebody to replace you. And so he finally woke up and I think it's great that he made it. Now he's been making it. Clearly you spent some time with her in bed words. Mike, what are your thoughts?

15:39I think good for him. He had a struggle of a game two in the preseason, but game three was pretty good. He had a highlight pass break up. I think he had some issues. It looked like in practice, but I'm not in that practice. So I don't know. I just see some clips once in a while. It's like, yeah, Josh got dunked on a little bit. These water seevers are really good. So I don't really care that much. So good for him making it. I thought he did have a good third preseason game. I wasn't, I was, I think I was leaning towards him not making the team. So it was a tiny bit surprised, but I wasn't. It was more of a 50-50 call in my head. Good for him that he made it. And hopefully he can make an impact. It's probably going to have to come on special teams because it seems like he's probably a little lower on the pecking order than he has been the past couple of years. Now that they have to parry o Davis. Yeah, he was outstanding this preseason. Yeah, it was a little surprised. I'm interested to see once Jussi O' Taylor comes off IR if he sticks. If Newton sticks at up there on the 53, but good for him.

16:40Like Mike said, I think he had up and down camp, but he finished stronger. And I think make a difference on special team, but he's like the corner six. So I think with with the upgrades with Tukario Davis and everything, I think it'll be tough for him to find a lot of playing time, at least as a corner, but make sure to see if he sticks once I just hear Taylor. One final point and Evan, I'm going to go back to somebody you said earlier about Mitchell Tensley. I am sad that he didn't make the team because he was so good last year in the preseason. He had his moments in the regular season and he was really good this preseason. Unfortunately, this just goes to show that when you have the depth of what receiver that the Bengals have, unfortunately, someone is just the odd man out and coached your point about everyone's replaceable Dante Myers. Look what he did. He kept the knife sharp. Not the Mitchell Tensley didn't. And you know what he got remodeled for it. This is life in the NFL. That it is. You know what? And it just the overall 53 man roster. That's great. The ball has not been kicked off yet.

17:41So at the end of the year, let's see how many of those 53 remain. You know, whether by injury trade, just sat down, whatever, cut, you never know. So to start the 53, you know you're going to get in a crude year as a player when that foot hits the ball. But then you got to play more games in order to keep going. No question about that. We'll see who's still on this on the 53 come. Let's say November, December, January and more importantly, what the state of the linebackers will be by then because we're going to take a look at that and as it stands, nine days from kickoff that coming up next on the Bengals Squad Show. Thank you. Thank those. Watch out tonight brought to you by Price Picks football. Finally back in earth, we integrate move because of that. And that means Sundays are about to get a whole lot more interesting. Yeah, they are. Every week brings new matchups break out.

18:42Players big performances and plenty of storylines to follow. And if you like getting even more engaged with the players and stats you're watching, there's a new way to make game day more exciting. And Price Picks is bringing out its first or its best offer yet for kickoff new users. Can sign up or who sign up can get up to $150 in lineups if they win their first $5 lineup. And Price Picks is now available nationwide. With Price Picks, you're building daily fantasy liners by choosing two to six players and selecting more or less on their projected stats like passing your Russian Nerves or fantasy score for week ones, openers and don't need just one yard against New England to cash his pick. Doesn't get any easier than that. Now there's always one player that I'm watching a little closer than everyone else. And this season I'm really interested in seeing what Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Devonte Smith does. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on their projections on Price Picks and seeing it their numbers match by expect from them, especially because Smith is now Philadelphia's wide receiver one with AJ Brown for being traded to the Patriots. I've also got my eye on Seattle C-OX working running back to Darian Price as someone who could

19:46have a really big season. The opportunity is there. I want to see how their numbers stack up week to week, especially because without Zach Sharvin Ave potentially for the start of the season, Price is going to get carries. And that's where I like using Price Picks to follow player projections. Download the app today and use Code Locked On NFL to get $150 instantly in lineups if you win your first $5 lineup price picks run your game. With Coach Arfield-Larrow Mike Santagana, Evan Stacey, Alex Frank with you on this Friday. I appreciate all of you hanging out with us on this Friday night college football back in full swing. I mean, Aaron Andrews said it best earlier this week. It feels like Christmas. I mean, it feels like Christmas having football back. Even college football back. NFL football starting in five days. NFL Kitchball Patriots C-OX in Seattle. Let's talk about the Bengals linebackers because I mean, they've been a proverbial topic of conversation all off season. I'll be honest. I'm going to lay it out for you. Let's go.

20:50Two maligned starters back. Second year players with limited amount of preseason reps, live reps, live tackled on the ground. The first first game preseason game, one of them had one tackle and was in for almost 50% of the snaps. The other one had none. Second game was a no-show. They didn't play. Well, third game. They didn't play. How are they going to get their feet on the ground in a what look appears to be a new system of football which they're going to play? On bass downs, they're playing an odd look which is basically when you get those two four eyes, they're actually three techniques that looks like like jam or bear. Okay. Then they're also in

21:52the nickel situations of the two inside linebackers much what like they were last year. Last year, the head issues with two backs in the backfield. They didn't see any. Well, they saw a little bit in against Detroit. Those guys need to be seasoned. They need to be seasoned and you only kept four. So you know that whether it's in bass downs and they're in our odd look or they're in nickel which the four two look, those other two are guaranteed special teams players. And they're going to have to play special teams as well. I mean, you want your best players on the field. So I don't know if four can hold up and you have all those tight ends and safeties in the box. I mean, I don't know and I don't wish any ill will upon them. But you I would have thought when you're building a team that you would have wanted more

22:56more linebackers. You can never have enough linebackers. They got enough defense of linemen that they're making linebackers. And that's when you don't need a lot. You know, guy on a tie-down, guy standing up. Boy, you can there are a lot of people I believe are going to line up and two tight ends neutralize those guys and let's go and line up two tight ends and like the Bengals have done. Open that formation up and make one of them walk and see how he doesn't space. And I think that is going to be crucial to the to the Bengals defense because you got to remember those guys on the other on other teams they have filmed. And once you let the cat out of the bag. Oh, everybody now knows how to attack you. Yeah, I think what you're bringing up is good point. To me, it's like you're looking at a house. I think so. So let's just keep rolling. So if you're building up like think of like a Django type of thing, I think the defensive line is

23:59probably like a good three Django blocks and three Django blocks. And then the linebacker unit is just one single piece in the middle. And then your safeties are your corners. You got like two or three Django blocks there and two or three here. Like how does this fall apart? I feel like it's a little bit crazy pills of just like yeah, we're just going to run those same linebackers out there. The Bengals is such a good job. This creates you building up their depths in certain places, recognizing their weaknesses and trying to get better there. And I just feel like the linebacker unit just seems like to most people probably looking at this team like yeah, that's how it falls apart. It's it's the one you didn't do anything to bolster. You got worse in depth and they're the same players. You're just hoping that playing behind Dexter Lawrence and in front of Brian Cook gives them enough of a lift that they are now at least, I don't know, a leak average unit. Maybe you below that, but just like at least an NFL caliber unit. And I'm not I'm not sure. I feel like that's the one part of this equation that's like how much does Dexter Lawrence help you? It certainly

25:02helps. I'm not saying it doesn't help. He should help. And how much is Brian Cook behind you is that you know, Stone help you that should certainly help again. That will make them better. But does it take you from worse than the league to say bottom third, but like passable? Does it take you from worse to passable? Because I think it's kind of like what the Bengals tried to do that one year and after 2021, the Super Bowl, they tried to become a passable offensive line. But they've made moves to do that. And this felt like they saw that weakness and they just did nothing for it. I was even hoping for the late sign Bobby Ocarochi. And I know he's washed and I'm just thinking, man, it just get a vet in there. Just get a vet in there that I know can play at that like kind of replacement level, not good, but replacement level starter. What do you think, Evan? What do you think on these linebackers? I couldn't agree with you more. I think, you know, the biggest glaring hole on this defense is the linebacker. So it was the glaring hole last year. And so going into free agency, everyone was like, all right, fix the linebackers and give credit to the front office.

26:07They did a phenomenal job in fixing the defense. And I know you can't fix everything. But I was a little kind of like, we're just going to run it back. Like that's the plan we're doing. I mean, these two guys were, I think, the FF created them like the two of the worst linebackers in the NFL. There was a Sunday night football where it was 75 out of 76. Oh, well, I can't get worse. The 76. Yeah. So it's like those the two guys, you're running back and you're, they're banking on them having a big year too. And so you got certainly a plan. And I hope it works for the sake of the defense. And I do think like you said, the defensive line being upgraded will, in theory, help the linebackers. I think Dexter Lawrence, you know, getting pressure and swallowing up double teams will open blitz lanes and will hope and will help overall the linebackers. But when I watched some of the film last year, my biggest complaint with the linebackers is just like the pursuit angles and the tackle English is horrible. And for linebackers when you, that's, that's your job is to tackle guys that break through the the break through the line. And they

27:12just couldn't do it. And I think, you know, like coach mentioned earlier, with them only having those limited reps in the preseason, you know, the tackling could be shaky as the season gets going. And so I am a little worried. I think, you know, them banking on Carter and Knight is definitely a gamble. And I hope that they have a big year. I've heard pretty good things about them in camp. And you know, Swaisy Bozeman and Orren Birx don't really move me as, as behind. So Mike, I agree with you. I would have been totally fine if you signed some veteran. Even if, you know, we're not expecting them to be, you know, an all pro linebacker or anything. But just somebody who, if one of these guys get hurt, got for bed, they can come in and I feel like, okay, he's played it handful. And he's, you know, can do can do decent. But I think right now it's definitely a question, Mark. And I think banking on Carter and Knight having a big year too is definitely an interesting plan. And we'll see if it works. Well, you know, with their 17 games. And even if you got a spot player, you know, could be a a situational player. And that would have really kind of enhanced that

28:18that room. But they were fine with staying status quo. And I don't know if you can be status quo. Yeah, the big guys up front are going to help them. They all do. But you know what? They, the big guys up front did not make Ray Lewis who Ray Lewis was. You know what? The big guys up front did not make Dexter Brooks. I mean, Dexter Brooks, Derek Brooks, who he was. Great linebackers make plays damn near every play. And when your safeties are the leading tacklers on the team and in the preseason. What do you gear your guys off of making plays bringing guys in the box all the time? No, that doesn't work. That does not work. We'll say. And I know you heard my dad tried before before I got cut off. But I have Wi-Fi. You know what? I mean, it's I just from a football standpoint.

29:20I'm going. I shake my head every day. We'll say for the first stop. Let's go ahead, Mike. Sorry. I just just say respected that he also did get the play behind Tony C. Ragusa, Reston B. S. Ann, Holodi, Nada at Newstime. And he didn't certainly didn't make him. I agree with that. Don't forget to tell us. Sugs on the edge. I was thinking just the big boy in the middle. Because I'm thinking like that's the that's your idea is Dexter Lawrence is your Tony C. Ragusa. Maybe that can take these guys maybe not to re-louis. But I don't know. I asked you this. The same guy that coached those guys. Coach for Bengals. So I'd like to ask him what he that's a great. Yeah. Marvin Lewis. Marry. There you go, coach. First off, bravo to everyone who pushed through whatever the cutoff was there on the show. Why find this hotel in Greenville, South Carolina for me? Not great right now. I'm on a hotspot. So hopefully

30:23it holds up for the next 30 minutes and counting. But bravo to everybody who picked me up. I was still talking to case people saw me. So bravo everybody. Show must go on. And I think, you know, what we can relate that to the Bengals linebackers because and coach, you bring up a great point there because Ray Lewis is Ray Lewis. He's one of one. We know that Derek Brooks, one of one Hall of Famers, both of them Brooks and Lewis. But at the end of the day, I think what's interesting with Carter and Nite is they had a lot of issues around them last year. And yet they just kept going to work putting their nose to the grindstone, getting better. The defense didn't improve in the second half of last year. There's no denying that. So I think that's where you have to give them some props. It's like they were not in a very fertile situation last year. A lot of distractions, a lot of just, you know, bad voodoo within the Bengals defense. And it's so much better this year. And Dan Horde, who was on first word with James Ropeen on Monday morning, talked about how she thinks that Carter and Nite are going to be improved. And here's the thing. We're not asking

31:25them to be Ray Lewis or Derek Brooks. But can they be like just somebody you don't notice? And what I mean by that is they're not a liability. We noticed them last year because if they were a liability. But if you don't notice them this year, I think that in that sense is a good thing. Do you turn them into Henry 202 and Alexan Zaloni back there? I'll take it. That's the goal. I think, right? Yeah, I'll take it. Wow. That's asking a little. Coach, the bar is so low. You look coach. I know your old school. That is true. But like you got to know that what those guys walked into was not a great situation. Oh, no, no, no. That was, you know, yeah. And for that takes us to our last segment that, you know what? This Joe's team, man, he put together this group because he knew, he knew

32:30last year going in. They weren't good enough. He did. He did. And I think he knew in 24 as well. Evan, find your thoughts. I mean, you know, it's bad when majority of the people that the Bengals let go on defense this off season didn't make a 53-man roster this past weekend. That just shows you how bad the defense was last year. And so hopefully night and Carter improved. Like you said, Alex, they were kind of coming on towards the end of last season and we'll see if they can get a go in because I think if if they can, then this defense is going to be really good. But right now, they're, they're my biggest question mark for sure. Oh, you know, too, is those guys that are gone? How many of them found a landing spot? I don't know if any of them have. If any. No, that shows you who you were playing with. Geno's. It's not like other teams have come searching to trade. Would you know so to get with those guys in the end? So they just don't did make it to the Bill's practice squad. Congratulations. He did. He got cut from the bill. He got beat out by the

33:33end line. Yeah, so he got. He got. Yeah. Yeah. What were we wrong about Geno's tone as a free agent signing because in the moment with the Bengals signed him, I was a static. Seven picks the year prior. Well, Kyle Hamilton clearly made him who he was. Let's just hope the Bengals linebackers are better than the wife I hear in the last segment for me at least. I think they will up next though. We've got some major news to get to DJ Turner, Daxil, Chase Brown. Where are they all stand when it comes to potential contract extensions before the start of the regular season? Brought to you tonight on the Bengals watch out by CalCity before the season even kicks off everyone's making predictions. Believe me, I already have mine. Who wins the division? Who makes the playoffs? Who's lifting the Lombardi drope at seasons end well on CalCity, which is America's number one prediction market platform. You can trade those predictions in a live market. So will the Cincinnati Bengals win the AFC North this season? I think they will. I'm not biased when I say

34:36that. I don't think so. The Bengals are currently trading at 34% to win the AFC North on CalCity. So if you put $100 meaning a $100 trade, you could get a maximum payout of $281 and 11 cents if they take home the AFC North title and they very well can. On CalCity, you're trading against Pearson alive market meaning there's no house and as the probability changes, you can buy in and out of your position. Trade the traffic, the game and more on CalCity. Download the CalCity app and use code lock down. Got $10 when you trade $10 KAL S H I CalCity trade on anything. 18 plus only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. CalCity products are not available and all jurisdictions prices, values and available markets may differ from those mentioned for more information. See CalCity.com. Slash regulatory. Today's episode is brought to you by the Dell XPS. I'm Wes Goldberg from Locked On NBA Daily and

35:39Locked On Heat. So what does it feel like to have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel Core? With a premium design that's thin and light, it feels smooth. With a responsive touch screen, it feels fast and precise and with long lasting battery life, it feels like non-stop energy with a laptop that can keep up. Built for those who want better, the Dell XPS. Built for you. Never in my wildest dreams, I think I was going to have to read fine print copy of an advertisement. But I've gotten pretty good at it and I'm happy about that. Welcome back to the Magnus Watch. I coach up at Levin Stacey, Mike Santag and Alex Frank with you here on this Friday 9 September 4th college football on tonight, college football all day tomorrow. We got an FO football to get to and whoa, do we have some news to get to when it comes to the Bengals contract extensions. DJ Turner, Dax Hill, Chase Brown. Haven't heard really much of anything throughout training camp, which could be not necessarily a bad thing, but like, I don't know if any of the deals are going

36:40to get done before the start of the season. Where do you guys stand? Well, you know what you never know what's going on behind the scenes. But the one thing is, is not to even have a little leakage because or the question asked by the media of where are we with these people or where are you and to try to really dig into are you negotiation? Are your people talking to their people? What's going on? Because you know, as as the players go, that's somebody else's job. Their job right now is as they look out of this season is to play. And if it's to play to earn their worth, that's what they're going to do. But you would think that there's a least a little conversation going on back and forth. Because that at this point in time, that's the only job that management and personnel have is to make sure that those get done. And because they're, you know, the teams to get the staff,

37:44coaches staff's responsibility is to get them ready. The players responsibility is to be ready. And to get healthy. And you know what, the front office, you were out there every day. You saw them go work in hard during camp. Do they meet your expectations to get a deal done? Now with the exception of the DAX because he's been injured, the other two certainly have the other two in there every day. So I don't know. We'll find out. To me, none of these guys are getting paid. DJ Turner seems like he's going to cost a lot of money so the bangles want more of a second-proof-it-type year. That's just how they operate. It feels like with these defensive backs thinking, I mean, they saved themselves, but back to William Jackson. I think they were like, yeah, a good rookie year, but you haven't really seen anything since. Jesse basically did keep having good years and they just didn't really care that much. But yeah, I think they're waiting for the second great year because it was subjectively, I think, a great corner last season. But before that,

38:48he was an okay corner the year before and a pretty bad rookie. So linear growth, but we want to make sure that you are the good corner that we are going to have to pay you whatever $25 million a year. DAX Hill, I don't think they'll pay because they're probably waiting to see what happens with DJ. He's cheaper than DJ, but if you had to pick one, after last year, you'd pick DJ between those two. And if you pay DAX, it may go in their head as like, well, we don't want to put too much money into the cornerback position. So we're going to let DJ walk no matter how good he is. So I think that's just kind of a wait and see from DJ Turner for both those corners. And then Chase Brown, I don't think they're paying because he's a running back. At least not right now. They're very worried about, you know, how you can construct a team around Joe Borough and a lot of the analytics right now are trying to tell you that running back says they get older, they're less valuable. And even when they are younger, they don't have as much value as their contract says. So I'm not saying that is my opinion, but I'm telling you that's probably what the bangles opinion on Chase Brown is.

39:50Yeah, I think it's looking like there's not going to be any deals done at least before week one. Now is that could that change? I mean, the bangles in the past have waited till literally the last second to get deals done. I mean, Joe Borough signed the Saturday before week one signed his deal. And Jamar Chase was working on his deal before as well. But yeah, I think it's just the bangles are looking at it DJ Turner, especially being like, you want to see one more good year out of you. You're going to be with how with how many corners have signed big deals this year, his price tax gone up. So yeah, he'll be around 25 million. I think they're looking at is he going to be worth it. And so I think another interesting thing with him and Dax is they both share the same agent. So they're going to be, you know, I don't know if that means that they're a tandem deal or what's going to go on. But I do think that that comes into effect because both of them, you know, were good last season. And I think if they can improve again and have another good season, I think that'll be good. And Jamar Chase even said that DJ Turner has been the most improved defensive

40:52player this training camp. So high praise from him. So I think DJ's in for a big season. And I would love for him to stay on the team. But I do see why they're not going for it right now just because it's price tag. Now I think they could just franchise tag him. I think it's around 21 million is the franchise tag. I think they could go that route potentially. But it is a little annoying, I guess that they haven't got these deals done just because, you know, I would just like to have them locked up if they think that they're going to be good players. But I think DJ probably will get a deal just not right now because I do expect them to have a good year. And Chase Brown, I think he's just a running back. It comes down to that. I think he's again, and for another big deal and with running backs, the deals that the running backs have gotten this past off season, his price has also gone up. So I think they're just kind of in a wait and see and all three of these guys, like Mike said, they're just saying, prove it one more year that you're, you know, a good good player and one of the best players in your position on the team. And then we'll talk in the

41:53offices. And the only thing I would add to that is every day you wait is a higher price tag, which you were kind of saying, especially with DJ Turner. I feel like corner was actually kind of suppressed on the market before this year. Now you got guys signing for 30 plus million dollars a year. If DJ Turner balls out again, he's going to be asking for 30 plus million not 25. And Tom Pellicero, who was on the rich eyes and showed that earlier this afternoon said that from his reporting that the Patriots, the New England Patriots, if I were Christian Gonzalez, a deal that would make him the highest paying corner in the NFL. All right. Well, the clock is ticking. Every day you don't sign him, the price tag goes up. And let's say DJ Turner does have another elite season, or you're going to be able to pay him. Now if you can, great. Now I think the other scenario that's really interesting and I conjured up that in my head, Evan, as you were saying, what you think is maybe you do, maybe there is a scenario where there's a tandem deal with Hill and Turner because they both share the same age. I'm very similar to,

42:55not very similar, identical to Jamar and T when they both sign with their same age. So there definitely are a lot of scenarios that could play out. You know, does it deal get done? I think it's interesting when Chase Brown, because you see what he can do. But the question, but if you're not going to pay him, you better have a plan to run it back. Because coach of a great quarterback's best friend is a guy that he can hand the ball off to. So, note to me, I'll be looking at 2027 running back prospects come whenever the Bengals are either hoisting the Lamarty, trophy in February or the alternative in January or February. Absolutely. You know what the crazy thing about it is, the running back market this off season. They didn't pay him that much, really. I mean, the guaranteed money, yeah, sure. But the seasonal, I mean, Major on Robinson, what do you make? $6 million a year? I mean, really? That's not

43:56$375. Yeah. 25. 25 made. Yeah. So, you know what? I mean, keep going, but it's all, we've got to remember all of those things are structured to where they say three years, 75. The first year you get six, the second year you get 30 and then they cut you loose. I mean, that's the way negotiations and the way the teams work. It's really not, I mean, the number sounds great. It's how much guaranteed money that you walk away with. That's, that's the crucial thing. And all three of those guys are going to have to pay. And if not, because of much like trade handrakes and, oh god, disdain that is gained, they will be gone. I just don't want to repeat if that or repeat what happened with Jesse Bates. If you have an elite defensive back, lock him up just like he locks down on the field. Yeah, I looked it up. You guys coach talking about B-john. I don't think Chase Brown even thinks he's B-john maybe.

45:02But I did look up Travis H-N Jr. I believe it's what he calls himself. It's what he said. His name is actually pronounced not ETN, but it's signed with the Saints. Four years, 48 million. I think that's probably what you're looking at it for Chase Brown, right? Those they seem fairly similar as players. I think that was Mixing's exact contract extension. Yeah. And so the thing with the running back is that are we now too far the other direction? Is what I would ask analytics if I had an analytics department. It's like, did we push too far the other way? Like running backs make less than, like by far, less than every other position now. Like I understand they're not as valuable as maybe teams thought they were in 2005. But should you go too far the other way where now they make the same amount of money as like back almost backup offensive tackle money for like a Travis H-N. So that's right. We're like low level. And there was Mike's right. There was, gotta remember a couple years ago, hey, everybody in the league thought that they were dime a dozen.

46:05You know, and I would say as a Rome echo, okay, here's a dime. Go find yourself a dozen. Like Mike, Mike Zimmer said I could find a cover two corner at a 7-11. I think NFL teams thought we could find a running back at our local 7-11. Yeah. Listen, you know, running backs. Yes. And I that person of another today I was listening to my goal, like junior Michael Luxinger and he has been radio. They had on Jerome Betis. Coach, I'm sure you remember Jerome Betis from your coaching days. Well, okay, running backs aren't what they were 20 years ago. Like running backs 20 years ago were mountains of men. I mean, they were bulldozers. Betis, beast mode, Larry Johnson, just in name if you Rudy Johnson, rest in peace. I running backs still hold tremendous value, though, today. Look at what Derek Henry and Sequon Barkley have done. Look at what you're mirror gives us doing. Look at what Chase Brown is doing. If you have a running back that can do all the things that these running backs can do, like Jerome Betis spent two years with the Rams and then I'm sorry, three years with the Rams and then played his next 10 years with the Steelers. One team's lost, another team's again. Now that Rams to get Marshall Falk. So there is the best that's to it.

47:10But if you're again, if you're going to let somebody out of the building, you better have a plan in place. You gotta let Kenneth Walker out of the building. Maybe they shouldn't have, but they draft a generic price. They have a plan in place. So look, how concerned should we be? Maybe like a five, if his coach said there is some leakage, but have an identity. I think that it's not a distraction. And I think that's the biggest thing here. Yeah, I think we've had multiple off seasons where contracts are distractions and that derails to season from the start. But I mean, Deach Eternard even came out and said, you said, I'm going to play my best ball this year. I'm going to go out do what I can earn my money. And if it's with the bank was cool, if not whatever. So I do respect them for not holding out and playing on these contracts. But yeah, I mean, going back to the running back market, I think the thing that's great about Chase Brown is he's such a dynamic receiver as well. And I think from what I've heard is Dan Pitcher is looking to use him a little bit more as a receiver. And so with Joe Burrow and the talent

48:12that he is, he likes to throw the ball everywhere. And so I think, Chase Brown is more than just an inline running back. He's fast. He's got that receiving, receiving to his game. And Derek Henry, I mean, he's what 31 32 and it doesn't look like he's slowing down at all. So it definitely is an interesting, interesting topic for sure. Because, you know, I think running back so or more valuable than they were a few years ago. But like Mike said, where does that, you know, pay start and stop? Yeah, so same amount of money is BJ Hill right now is who is the more important bangle right now? And I don't know. I guess you'd have to ask yourself is Chase Brown or BJ Hill more important to the team? And think about that. It's where it's like, that's the same amount of money you're given out. This isn't asking for $20 million any more to be a top 10 or so top 12, I don't know, running back. That's right. You know what else cures all this? You know what else cures all this? Make it even less of a distraction? Winning. And for Joe Burrow, that may be inevitable this

49:16season. That conversation next on the Bangle Squad Show. Hey, Drake May here. As a pro quarterback, I know I can't do it alone. I have to trust my team and that goes for my money too, which is why I use Betterment, the trusted investing and savings platform. They're automated investing tools always have my back, just like my old line. Over a million people already trust Betterment to build their wealth. So I know I'm in good company. Start building yours at Betterment.com or download the app. Investing involves risk. Performance not guaranteed. Paid client ad views may not be representative. See App Store and Google Play reviews. Learn more at Betterment.com slash ambassadors. This Monday in sports illustrated and the Monday morning quarterback Albrecht Treveta's national writer headline this article. Why success for the bangles in 2026 feels quote inevitable quote for Joe Burrow. There are some really interesting quotes in here that really have

50:19me excited for what he's going to do not only this season, but for the next several seasons. Here is Cincinnati. It's manifesting greatness and he's not going anywhere. He stayed in Cincinnati for the long haul. However long his career is, take this quote. The vibe of the defense is really good right now. Joe Burrow saying our defensive line is so deep this year. The depth of that unit was was a weak point last year, but now we have nine or 10 guys and we feel good about putting out there in five down sets. Obviously Dexter Lawrence plays a big role in that. Jonathan Allen plays a big role in that. And those guys have been vocal leaders for us to start this out, which is something that we needed. And then he said this. He said this about the office. We know what we have on offense. So we can take care of and experiment with things right now that we want to be better at, but we always know we have something in the back pocket that we can pull out and go to that we've done for years at this point. And now we have more flexibility as far as style of play on offense 20 game. The last couple of years, I felt like every possession was due or die. He knows coach.

51:23He knows there's a different field issue than the last two years, even on offense and coach. You know about this very well. Complimentary football matters. Absolutely. It is a number one. If you and your defense and your special teams can be a team. And no one want to take the take necessarily blame or the embracement. You're going to win some football games. And I think that that like we talked about a little bit earlier, you can see where this is Joe's hand has been put into the makeup of this football team. Because they Joe is even before the season started, even before he probably met a lot of these guys physically might have talked them on the phone. He was praising what kind of people they were. And to get a Jonathan Allen to get a Dexter Lawrence to get a a a cook in the secondary plus what they've already had. They know that there's not a

52:30leadership lack group that that group will take them. And on offense, basically the same guys, couple ads that are really going to help them out in terms of their flexibility on offense. And you know, the style going underneath. That means if you're going to go underneath, you're going to have a run of back that's going to get a majority of those balls. So you better pay the one you got. Okay, don't look for the next year. But I think that what he's coming out and saying, and you don't hear it from any other quarterback, you don't hear it from Patrick Mahoms, you don't hear from Josh Allen, you don't hear it from Lamar, you don't hear it from all the greats from you don't even hear it from Stafford, the guaranteed and the guaranteed. And this is like my college team. The field is like my college team. You don't hear guys coming out. And that's, you know, that is to me,

53:30if you're good, prove it. Don't need to talk about it. That you're going to bust one way from Cincinnati to LA or bust. Because then you got to swallow it. And even if your numbers are high, you still got to swallow it. Just go out and perform, Joe. Just go out and perform. You also have this to say, I'm going to go draw off. You have this to say, I don't know about you, but I could really feel into my bones and my soleno TAs this year differ from years past. The vibes that the Bengals have right now. And when your quarterback is saying that, and all these things that he's talking about doing with flexibility in the offense, being able to take checkdowns and go under center and play action. And we saw that in 21 and 22 a little bit. But now you can do it because every possession is not due or die. And when Joe Borrow talked about, you know, how this team reminds him of 2019 LSU and how they're going to go win the Super Bowl. And he's manifesting that's going to happen this year. He said, and quote, I've never understood why people

54:32are scared to say it. I guess people get scared of how the media will portray them or their team in a certain way. But she happens to have expectations with yourself, your teammates, your organization. Everybody says they want to win the Super Bowl. You talk about it every day. You set that expectation every day. You go to work for it every single day. I mean, I don't know the answer to that for everybody, but that's what I want to do with that. So I'm trying to do that's what I do this for. And if you don't talk about it, I don't know how you can do it. Thank. Manifesting. Well, you know what a lot of people talk about it. They talk about it in the building all the time. You may not talk about it publicly. Other players on the team have not expressed the same. And so I think it's better kept in house. And we know who he is. We know what kind of player he is. We know how good he is. You know what? How many of the other 52? They feel it, but are they doing the same manifestation that Joe's doing? They weren't on that LSU team, right? They weren't.

55:36So go about it. Build your team. And you know what? You don't have to tell publicly everything that's going on in the building. I'm glad we're so far away from that 2019 LSU team at this point, because I couldn't really deal with the people that want to bring in Clyde Edwards, a layer and the up and the have fattiest moths be an active game day participant. I was like, come on, guys, they weren't all superstars. Hey, call the football a lot different than professional football. It sure is. Yeah, I'm kind of like coach. Just like, I need just do it. Just go out there and do it. Just go and win. Win these first two weeks. I think that would be huge. They went to a no last year to start the year. But I would say it wasn't the prettiest to know. It's not that they were in a little bit of a slugfest with the Browns. And then they had to beat the Jags from behind Jake Browning taking over and winning that game. Also, I think they were down when he went in there. So in the

56:36Jags ended up being a playoff team. They were a good team. The Browns were the Browns. But I would say, can you go out against Tampa and look like you do in November? That is always the biggest thing to me. This team looks amazing in November, especially on offense. But that's just a completely different team than who they are. It seems like every September where it looks like the offense is struggling. It's hard. I think this part of the reason they're going under center is they face by far the most cover two in the league because of Jermarcheis because of Joe Burrow because of T Higgas. You want to have a guy underneath and over the top. And you know what that's saying? If I'm the offensive line coach offensive coordinator. Yeah, coach got it. They don't respect this run game. They're going to keep both safeties deep out of the box. Not even quarters so that they're fitting from 10 yards or something. These guys aren't even in the run fit. They say, hey, we'll stop you with seven. I don't care how many. I don't give you 12 personnel. Whatever. We don't respect this run game. So the bangles go under center and you have to be able to run the ball.

57:36And there's obviously issues that come with that. The Texans are going to be an issue. They can they can line up a cover two and they got somebody butt kickers on their team. They they're probably fine. But you know, the bucking years I want to see them come out and Vita Vey is a great nose tackle, defensive tackle. You've got Ruben Bain who looks awesome in the preseason. I thought one of the best prospects in this draft. You've got all these guys that are good. But this isn't the Texans. This is a team that if they're going to line up and they're going to play two deep safeties who are not respecting your run game at all, you should be able to run for five yards of carry and get them to get into some other type of coverage. And that's where I'd also like to see. We always talk about the under center run game under center play action. I kind of want to see under center straight drop because if the defense is acting like your under center game is a run game and they're going to get into cover three. They're going to get into quarters. They're going to have those safeties. Hey, when they're under center, you're in the fit. When they're in shotgun, you can stay out. All right, they're not going to change their coverage because they don't see a hand fake handoff.

58:39So if they're in cover three, when you go under center, they're in cover three. If you're going to drop back, fake a handoff, hand it off, whatever you do, run the flee flicker. It doesn't matter. They're playing cover three. So just straight drop back. I've got your Marchace anti-higgins one on one sick, but that requires a little bit of a change where I don't think Joe Bro has mastered, you know, some of the small things that come with being an under center quarterback, whether that is the footwork getting out of there. You see guys fumble those snaps all the time. So I just want to see them build this offense to where it's not just fringe top five. If they're a top two, top three, or maybe even the best offense in the league, I think that comes from being able to go under center, but not just run the ball under center, but be able to pass the ball under center. And that to me doesn't even just mean only play action because I want to see them just get out there, run some 989 again like they used to where it's two go routes on the outside. You got that middle read over the middle there. And Joe burrow was killing teams that tried to play cover three when they would run that play because Jamar chase against a corner. One corner, no safety,

59:40no other help. It's curtains. And they need to be able to force that look. Yeah, I couldn't agree more with what both of you guys were saying. I'm just ready to see it. I think I love that Joe speaking into existence and talking about it, but it's time to put your money where your mouth is and make it happen. But I think when Joe burrow says something, he doesn't just say it just to say it. He truly believes what he says. And so I think that he truly believes that this team can do what they did in 2019. He said on Jamar chase his podcast, this feels like the offseason heading into the 2021 season where they went to the Super Bowl. He's he's experienced winning and he knows what it takes to win and he he feels that this year. And I think going back to what coach said earlier, I think it is going to be nice for him not to like he said have to basically score every single time you're on the field or you lose. I mean, the bangles have lost so many games the past few years where they score 30 plus and still

1:00:40end up losing the game and that just can't happen. And so I think the leaders that they brought in, I think makes a huge difference. You have Boem Offe who just won a Super Bowl and Brian Cook who's won a handful with the with the chiefs. And then Dexter Lawrence who's, you know, all he really needs to do is win a Super Bowl. Just let it find itself as one of the better detacles of last few years. And so I think you have a lot of leaders on defense who know what it takes to win and have won before. And I think that's something we haven't had in the last few seasons. And from what I've heard is there's a fire under this defense that they're, you know, they're talking smack in practice. You know, there was that fight earlier that happened like really in training camp. And so there's a I think the defense itself sees, hey, we weren't good enough last year. Everyone says we weren't good enough. Everyone on national media says the bangles will not win because of us. And I think they take that personally. And I think with the moves that they've made, I think on paper, this team is one of the best that they've had in the last few seasons. And I think Joe sees that Joe feels that it's different. And I think he's like he said,

1:01:42like you guys said, he's manifesting that they're going to win this year. But you have to put your money where your mouth is and you have to go out start fast when when against the blocks and start the train rolling early. Well said by all of you. Well said by all of you. Joe, my return is 30 in December. And when asked about how it longing wants to play, he says, I used to want to go and maybe play a different sport after a couple of super balls. But now I'm like, I'm just going to play until I can't quote, let that squash any false national narrative that there is about Joe Borough. And if the bangles win the Super Bowl this year, they are forever changed with their stripes. That's going to do it for us on the Bengal Squash show this evening. Coach Arpa Laram, Mike Centagna, Bengals, underscore stands at Reson the Film expert, Evan Stacey and lockdown, Bengals hit at Evan's, Dacey three or lockdown, Bengals hit guru. I'm Alex Frank, a Frankie underscore daddy have a great Friday night in Joy College football Miami Stanford coming up. Nine o'clock that game on ESPN ACC match up there are coast to coast match up, if you will, even though it

1:02:43stands for the Atlantic Coast Conference, best just one thing that stands out. We're back on Sunday. We're on a Friday Sunday schedule for the foreseeable future with all games on Sundays or midweek shows on Fridays. So we'll talk to you on Sunday afternoon coming up on Sunday. We got a good show coming up for you are unsung heroes that we expect to emerge on the Bengals. How they actually start fast against Tampa Bay Houston Pittsburgh and Jacksonville and the nine players after Borough chase Higgins and Dexter Lawrence will define this team and our official season predictions for the 2026 since 90 Bengals have a great rest of your Friday night. Have a great Labor Day weekend. We'll talk to you on Sunday afternoon here on the Bengal Squash show part of lockdown Bengals and the lockdown podcast. They're the number one sports podcast. They're in America and the world celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Hey NFL fans. I'm Brian Peacock and that is Matt Williamson hosts of the NFL six pack part of the Lockdown podcast network. Your team every day NFL six pack brings you the latest NFL news

1:03:49and analysis and breaks down all of the weekly action. A six pack of takes daily on the playoff pushed in the 2025 season or if your team's in draft mode. Yeah, we'll hit that too. All right here every day on the Lockdown podcast network. The NFL six pack subscribe on YouTube or everywhere you get your podcasts.