Our Happy Place

Summer is here and so is the Who Dey ALL Dey Podcast!

Vibes are high at OTAs as Joey B restructures his contract.  Bergs, Brian, and Brant discuss. 

Cashius Howell is signed and ready to go!  What does this mean for the 2026 Bengals defense?

Ja'Marr Chase is back in Cincy at practice.  The Fellas talk about Uno's greatness. 

Finally, with cash available still to spend, there is smoke a plenty.  The Boys talk who the Bengals may look to add. 

Who Dey ALL Dey!!!

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Gentlemen, happy June 10th, 2026, and welcome to the Hood All Day Podcast. I'm your host, Michael Berggs, and hot, carefree Arizona. Saw 109 on the thermostat today. A little hot, a little toasty. Yeah, summer is back. Speaking of hot, got our boys with us tonight, Brian Kyle, Utah County. Brian, how you doing?

SPEAKER_00 1:07

Man, I'm doing well. I just hope we uh we've been talking about being clutch on this podcast. We come through clutch, unlike the Reds bullpen today in our conversation. So uh we're here, we're here for it, and we're here to to lift your spirits, Bengals fans. Uh, if you've been following the Reds. So lots lots to talk about. Excited to be here.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

Uh, fun fact listening coming uh home, the end of that game, the Padres uh play-by-play guy shared that the Reds bullpen in losses has an over eight ERA. In wins, the bullpen has a two ERA. What a concept. Brandt, Northern Kentucky, good looking haircut. How are you doing?

SPEAKER_02 1:52

Yeah, thought it looked fresh for you guys tonight, you know. Yeah, there's a little bit uh little bit of a difference there with the ERA uh splits. So yeah, maybe we can uh maybe we can work on that for the Reds. But yeah, excited to talk to you guys tonight. Uh happy to think about Bengals season is is getting closer day by day, and maybe we can forget about some of this Reds uh the Reds results right now. So let's do it.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

You know, it it's uh it's interesting. I think I've been texting you guys. I think this is probably the best June we've had of sports and feeling like football is right there at the gate. I love summer, but man, super pumped for this year. You got Stanley Cup, you got the NBA Finals, you got World Cup getting started this weekend. Yeah, the Reds are terrible, uh frustrating right now. College baseball world series, even electric. Uh, but there is nothing better than our four downs with our Cincinnati Bengals. So you all know the drill. We're gonna go first down. Joey B restructures his contract. I want to get both your takes. What does that mean? Should we be excited about that? Second down our second round pick, Cassius has assigned and is in the building. We'll discuss third down. Uh Jamar Chase is back at practice and in the building. Just want to get your takes on that. And then fourth down, a lot of smoke. A lot of smoke, especially with Joe restructuring rumors, players, free agents. We'll talk about that. But Brian, kick us off. Our man restructures. What say you?

SPEAKER_00 3:31

You know, I think the biggest thing about this is if you didn't already realize it, Bengals fans. Your Cincinnati Bengals have joined the new era of the NFL. This is how this is what championship level teams, great franchises, do is uh you know, they sign their quarter, their friend one, they're lucky enough to hit on a franchise quarterback, and then they do things to make the money work so that the team can keep building. Uh teams like Kansas City Chiefs have done this. I think they've done it a couple times with with Patrick Mahomes now. Uh, I love that the Bengals have woken up and realized uh that's what they have to do to compete to compete, not just be, you know, they've got the roster that to always be like 500 or above, but to be a Super Bowl contending team, this is what these are the things you gotta do. So, one welcome welcome to 2026 NFL Football Cincinnati Bengals. Congratulations. I don't know who in the brass uh kind of you know pitched this, made this work, but the thing, great thing is is folks are listening and things are getting done. Hopefully, that means that they'll also circle back to the report card from the players and get some of those things done and upgraded as well. But the biggest thing that I besides okay, now we're a modern football team, is sure there's free agents out there that we'd still like to add. There's gonna be cuts in the summer players we'd like to add. But what I really feel like this does by freeing up about $10 million in cap space is it's gonna allow the Bengals to keep guys home that they want to. I think they really want to keep Dax Hill in the building. Chase Brown, obviously, they feel is a piece of the future. I do think they didn't uh do the fifth-year option on Miles Murphy because they want to extend him, and now's the time, get him while he's cheap. And then uh DJ Turner, DJ Turner may be uh number one on that list and get that guy done. So there's money there now to get all four of those guys restructured done, and even with I think at least two of them, uh mainly I think it's Murphy and and Turner. No, it's Stax Hill, that if you extend them, that you actually save some save additional cap space by doing it because of what they're on the books for for this year. So I love it. I think it's good signs. It's nice that it's done now before July and training camp. That whether you want to call it a destruction or just logistical business, it's done. So I'm excited for them. Uh credit to the Bengals organization and Joe working together to free up some money so we can go uh we can get get some other pieces done. I love it. Exciting.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Uh only took us 58 years to uh to get modernized in uh in pro football operations. Brant.

SPEAKER_02 6:25

Yeah, I probably just would uh say a lot of the same things that Brian has is mentioned, but you know, I'll just reiterate them real quick. Uh I think one from a flexibility standpoint, you know, it it just allows a lot more flexibility with exactly what you know Brian mentioned. Uh, if you want to extend some of these guys that are extension eligible, eligible, DJ Turner, Dax Hill, Miles Murphy, uh, it gives you that room now. Where before we really were operating, I think last time I looked at it, it was what was it, six, seven million dollars in cap space, which was around like the third least, I think, in the whole NFL. Um, and the Bengals, you guys know this. This is where the Bengals have not changed. They don't like to be in that position. That doesn't give them a lot of wiggle room. So I'm I'm sure uh you know the Blackburns and the Browns were sitting there and kind of itching, like, uh, this this account isn't isn't big enough. We need we need a little cap, we need a little cap space, a little wiggle room. So I think you know restructuring the 12.5 million out of Joe's contract and then freeing up $10 million in cap space, getting us to roughly, what is it, $17, 18, somewhere in there million. Again, more flexibility. I'm really bullish on, I would probably look at extending DJ as my number one priority, like Brian said, and then I'm actually looking to add to this team and take advantage of some guys that maybe their price is falling. So, you know, this is the year, guys. It feels like we're all in. Let's go all in and use that money. So the second thing like Brian mentioned, uh, I love that the Bengals are early on things. This has traditionally not been them. So I don't know if elevating some of the guys that they elevated in the front office, giving them a little bit more responsibility, a little bit more power is has resulted in us doing things differently and earlier than than normal. But you know, whatever it is, I'll take it. Because you know, this offseason, everything's lining up just like two off seasons ago when they really talked about alignment. I feel like this is the year where things are lining up, we're going all in, and you're seeing us just you know compete and modernize, like Brian said, and I love every second of it. So keep it going.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

Yeah, love that. And both of what you're saying, that then has equaled to Joe Burrow leaving subliminal message posts that say, my happy place, and it's just him out there practicing because he wants to be here. He wants to see this team win, he wants to win it all in Cincinnati, but he also wants the Bengals to do their part. Look, I know the three of us at times have been very harsh with the front office. Uh, one of you gave a shout-out the other week to to Trey Brown uh and to Mike Potts and the work that they've been doing behind the scenes uh behind Duke Tobin. Uh Stephen R, I don't want to mess up his his last name, Radissevic. Yeah, you're good. Radissevic um even snarkly said, I don't know if that's a word, but had kind of a snigh on his face, like, yeah, we're not done. So I bel I believe what both of you are saying that that there's work to be done. You know, Joe didn't take this phone call from the Bengals after the off after uh the season ended when the Bengals wanted to have this talk about restructuring because he had been not given any proof that we were gonna make some moves. And so the fact that now he, oh yeah, let's have a conversation, let's do it. He would take that call. It's everything you both have said, which leads to second down, cash is how is signed. The draft class is ready, everybody's gonna be in camp. Brand, our second round pick, Texas AM, Cassius Howe in the building, signed, sealed, delivered. How are you feeling?

SPEAKER_02 10:30

Again, I I I'm feeling excellent about you know, kind of building off of what we talked about with first down, but there's no distractions, guys. Like, I mean, you know, the the general feeling that we had last year with, you know, are they gonna get Jamar signed? Are they gonna get T signed? Uh, you know, what's going on with Trey? Is Joe happy? Uh, you know, what's going on with the offensive line? Are we gonna ever sign Dalton Reisner uh and fit figure out the guard position? There was just so many like just distractions, the volatility around the team in the offseason. It just it just didn't feel like you know we were in a really great spot. Just come you know, just throwing wrenches, you know, and just you know, just shooting ourselves in the foot all offseason. That doesn't feel like that right now. And then, you know, signing catches how that's just icing on, you know, icing on top right now. Uh I love that it and you guys can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe his contract's fully guaranteed. Did they did they figure that out? That part I hadn't heard. Okay, so I I think we would have to confirm that, but I think that was the worry, right? Like last year, I think he has picked pick 42 this year, pick 41 up to pick 41, I believe, had a fully guaranteed contract last year. So that was the big worry, like you know, with precedent being set, are they gonna actually pony up this year and guarantee his contract? Um, I'm really hoping they did. Hopefully, we can confirm that. Uh, but I know that I was a little nervous because I know that most of the guy, oh, I think it was almost all the guys that had uh been picked in front of him had signed. And then I think the last three or four behind him had signed as well. So was getting a little nervous, but again, we got this done. Cassius How's in the building, he's been practicing, so it's not like a lot of the same stuff that we had with Shamar Stewart last year. Uh, and I just love what he's gonna bring to the table and getting in there early and practicing with his defense.

SPEAKER_01 12:37

Love that. And you you bring up such a great point because we played this game before, even though it fell, and this is what's been done, you know, with the picks before or after, confirmed the four-year $12 million and $8,000, which cracks me up, uh, all fully guaranteed. And by the way, if you think about that too, I mean, that is three million bucks a year on average. I know we got a signing bonus up front, but on three million a year, if this guy is who we think he is, it's a steal. Why jerk around with him? Get him in the building, be done with it. Don't be that one outlying franchise that's like, well, we don't guarantee money. They didn't even hesitate this year. Great, great to see, Brian.

SPEAKER_00 13:22

No, yeah, I'm I'm with Brant. Super excited that it's done. Uh now he's ready to roll for all the activities, you know, training camp, all of it. No more, you know, not a distraction at all. This guy's wanted to be not only in the building, but on the field from day one. Uh, I was actually looking at him, I think because he you know got his deal done. So I was kind of revisiting it. And uh I was like, you know, is it is it too far-fetched to think that this guy can be, you know, Von Miller? And that's yeah, that's probably a little far-fetched. Um I I think I forget because we've seen him recently play at an older age, forget how exceptional of an athl, just an athlete von Miller is, and and uh and definitely was, but they do have some some traits, and the and the one area uh you know his his pass rate, uh pass rush win weight is really high. How's got some of that burst and been to him? Where he does match up and may even be just a tad better than Von Miller is was in his 10-yard split in the in the 40s. So he's explosive, and I'm like Brand. I love what he brings to the table. He's different. I said it before on the podcast, he's different from what the Bengals have had in the past, and I just love the idea of him and Boye on the field at the same time, screaming off the edge. Uh so I hope uh uh I hope Mr. Aaron Rodgers, I hope those 40 plus year old legs are I know mine are a little sore just from just from waking up in the morning. So I hope you're ready to run. He's uh so uh yeah, quarterbacks be aware of the the Bengals pass rush is I think is gonna be legit this year. Uh excited for it.

SPEAKER_02 15:07

I think the comp for him, and I I mean if he turns out to be Bon Miller, unbelievable. But Nick Benito, like I think could he be right?

SPEAKER_01 15:15

That's a great, great call. And the defense needed a piece like that. The athletic, the freak, something different. There's kind of a theme in the the way we've been acting in the offseason and bringing in talent, doing something different, maybe that doesn't fit exact mold. The thing that I love about hearing both of you with Cassius Howe signed and done and fully guaranteed is that the story sticks with it's still all about ball. It's all about football right now in Cincinnati. And that's why vibes are so high. It's not all these things that are lingering like they were. You know, I think about here in Arizona is, you know, they don't know who their quarterback is. Uh Josh Tweet now, he doesn't want more money. He wants out of here because he was with the last coaching staff. Hey, come on down to Cincinnati. We can broker that deal, another weapon on defense. But again, the story is a stench at Arizona. And so even though we're excited for football, the story in Cincinnati is all about football, ball on the field, which we love. Speaking of on the field, third down, Brian, Uno, Jamar Chase back at practice. It's good to see that uh handsome fella back in Cincy. How do you feel?

SPEAKER_00 16:33

You know, what I'm seeing from Jamar, uh that I that I love is because it's so early in the game, and so you you know don't don't get too high strong, Jamar, but he seems very, very businesslike. Uh he's a fun guy, he has a good time. I think T kind of keeps him like, hey, this is we get to play football for a living, like let's have some fun, Jamar. But you said it before about Joe Burrow, and it may even be more true for for Jamar is that or he's adopted Joe's mentality of he's ready to be an assassin this year. He he said he kind of said it, uh he either he or T said it, but I think it was Jamar that said, we've you know, we've kind of we've kind of done done what we are who we are. The numbers are gonna be there. The only thing that matters right now then is is winning and winning championship. Uh he does I won't say he doesn't care about he's won the triple crown. He's gonna have you know a thousand yard plus season, he's gonna score plenty of touchdowns, he's gonna get plenty of catches. And sure what it means something because if those things are happening, then we're playing good football. Um, but I love it. He is it's it's June. It is June uh the 10th, and that guy is dialed. And um, if so, if you look, you're gonna they're gonna have fun because there's gonna be fun within the competition and and then putting wins on the board. Um, but I love the business approach. Uh and I don't even think it's business because that it's he's got a killer mentality right now. Like he's taking that approach of every everything is outside of it is just noise, and and you're just standing in our way. Uh, and you might want to get out of the way because the offense is coming.

SPEAKER_01 18:26

I I think when especially Joe has gotten back to just focusing on football. I know he's an icon now. He is a massive celebrity. You know, the the ladies love him, but I think for Jamar too, I think there was some of that like fun, loving, enjoying. And I think they realized, like Brian, you were saying, they're missing one thing. They've got all the accolades. There's one thing missing, and Jamar knows there's only one way to do it, and that's to focus on Paul. That's what they did at LSU, and it's it's coming back, Brandt.

SPEAKER_02 18:59

Yeah, I I think the biggest thing for me that Jamar is there is it means so much to me in terms of him being a superstar, and he's there at voluntary practice when he doesn't have to be, and he's getting work in. And yeah, he did come a little couple days later than when it really kind of kicked up and got going. But he's there and he's displaying those leadership skills that we really need out of, you know, especially in that wide receiver room. But not just there, but you know, in the uh on the offense and throughout the whole team, you know, I think people really do look up to Jamar. I quite honestly, I love his takes. Jamar, you know, he he's really uh I think he's really thoughtful about what he has to say win, lose, draw. Uh, but I I if you if you listen to him, he's not really pulling a lot of punches, he's just really thoughtful about what he says. So uh again, his leadership being there when he doesn't have to be. I've watched some clips of OTAs right now. The guy just moves at a different speed than everybody else. I don't know if everybody understands how good it would feel to move like that. And it's and it's not just the speed at which he moves, but he's so fluid and agile. It you're I think people need to realize when they're watching him, you're watching uh a future Hall of Famer. And I say that, and I'm gonna throw some throw some stats out here here at you guys because this is the fun part, right? So he already leads uh in Bangle Bengals franchise records. He's got most receptions in a in a season, he's got most receiving yards in a season, 1,708. Uh, he achieved those in 2024. He's got highest receiving yards per game, 87 and a half, all-time postseason records. He's got most receptions, 45. He's got receiving yards, 588. What did this guy say he was gonna do when he when he when we drafted him? Break all the records, right? So here's the here's the one he's gonna break this year, guys. So he's gonna move into, I'm gonna predict, this is the easy one, it's not a big prediction, but he's gonna move into third all-time on the Bengals receiving yards list. He's number five right now with 6,837 yards. He's gonna pass our boys Carl Pickens and Isaac Curtis. Carl Pickens sitting at 6,887 yards and Isaac Curtis at 7,101. So who's the two receivers that are still gonna be in front of him probably after this year?

SPEAKER_01 21:44

Ocho.

SPEAKER_02 21:45

Yep, AJ. Yep, Ocho and AJ would be the only two left. So the guys racking up yards at a fast class. So Chad, AJ, I'm sorry. It's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_01 22:01

He's gonna break all the records. It's such a great perspective. And I think that that's why he has both of you talked about this that he has such clout in the locker room. But also I love Jamar in the honesty moments, talking about, yeah, I was we were recruiting everybody. Like we were talking to everybody, like guys. And I think what they realized was look, if the Bengals do what they say they're gonna do and we know that they can do as a franchise, we've got the talent in the building. And Joe T and myself, Jamar will drag everyone else to a championship. Do you want to be a part of that? And that is appealing for guys that are hungry and that haven't gotten that title. Loved even seeing Jamar locally putting on a local camp for the kids. You see how just these kids just worship him and look up to him, you know, doing the gritty, wanting to play toss with him, get a picture with him. That stuff is the best. And that's why this is such a fun. These are the glory days of the Cincinnati Bengals. We've had some good days. These are some special days. Fourth down. Let's get out of here, Brant. We got some smoke going around. Might have some extra money to spend. Might have some players that uh maybe Jamar did properly recruit that want to come over. Free agents, trades. What are you hearing?

SPEAKER_02 23:18

Yeah, I think uh we kind of talked about it a little bit before we jumped on. I think the really, you know, the I think the the enticing carrot that's kind of being dangled around. We'll see what happens maybe in the preseason uh with the Dolphins. But if if Jordan Brooks, you know, does become available, it you know, it's super interesting. I don't know from a financial standpoint if that's really how much money we're looking to looking to spend, but if Miami would be willing to absorb some of that cost and maybe we have to move up a little bit with uh you know the price tag in terms of a draft pick. Uh I think I would be interested in in exploring that. So I know that's been out there for a little bit, but uh we'll see what happens with Jacob Rodriguez being you know a linebacker that they drafted this year, and if he can really take that green dot and and be the leader that they're hoping for early, I think that would maybe maybe make Brooks a little bit more expendable. I think the only other one that I've kind of seen recently is that that running back room in in Arizona is pretty crowded. So uh, you know, I I love what we have at the running back position in terms of with with Chase Brown and Samaje. Uh, you know, they both filled two great roles for us. However, I I would love a third because if if Chase goes down, I mean Samaje can give you a lot in terms of pass protection, but he's not the the dynamic player that I think that Chase is. So you you you you hope to get maybe get a blend of both of what they offer in a in another running back. I'm not giving up on Taj Brooks yet, but uh I think we need some more competition in that room. So that would be really interesting. I think the only other smoke was, you know, I think that extension for DJ Turner is gonna happen, fellas. I think that he wants it to happen. I think we want it to happen. I think the money is, you know, the cap room's freed up now. And if I was the Bengals, I'm doing everything I can to make sure that this happens before the season starts. Because my last point, that dude was balling out with a very, very subpar defense last year. How good do you think he's gonna be when we actually have a decent pass rush this year?

SPEAKER_01 25:35

It's such a great point, and I really believe that that's why also the Bengals didn't take a first or second round pick. I know we spent a third, but I think that's why we didn't spend a first or second on a corner. Was they knew, like you said, it's such a great point that DJ was that good with that terrible defense. You give him any support, Brian? What you think?

SPEAKER_00 25:57

Yeah, I I think there are there's a there's a little bit of smoke. I think what it says though is that is that the Bengals are are talking and exploring things and are open to exploring things. I don't know if anything will happen. Uh I think I'm with Brandt. Brooks would get me the most excited. Um, you know, there's there's some free agent linebackers that are still out there, but I think Brooks at this point in everybody's career might move the needle the most if we were able to get something like that done. I think what's really gonna happen and fits a little bit more into the Bengals MO is that they're they're waiting for these teams to start cutting guys, whether it's because of you know, age or saving some cap space. There's gonna be a running back out there that makes sense. But Brent really hit the nail on the head um when he was talking about the running back room, is bringing guys in that give honest, true competition that can press a guy like Brooks' roster spot, or even you know, I think Pirine's on the roster no matter what, but maybe push to get some of his his snaps. We saw that last year, and sure it came about because of injury, but the guy is still, you know, he's in camp and he's gonna push Charlie Jones for a roster spot, and that's Keyshawn Williams. Uh last year did a great job returning kicks. Great point. And so the more of those type of guys, high level at every spot, treat the treat the 53rd spot as if it's Joe Burrow's spot, and you're bringing you're bringing in, if you can get better at it, then then do it. Don't just go, oh, you know what, we're comfortable with Charlie Jones. No. You can't if you can get even a half an inch, you know, any given Sunday, inch by inch, man, if you can get that inch because you brought in a guy at the 11th hour, that you know, is a tad better than do it. And I feel like the Bengals have been kind of trending that way and they're keeping doing it. And I'll just end on this note. I think it would maybe it would have happened regardless, but I really feel what's put these guys over the edge as in terms of confidence and knowing what they can accomplish was the front office making the big splash and making a we're we want to win right now move in in trading for Dexter Lawrence. Uh, you know, ideally Dexter plays at that Pro Bowl close to all pro level for us, which is great, but just from a mental standpoint, making the trade to bring a guy of that caliber into the building to me changed it, it helped change the culture even more. Like we're not screwing around.

SPEAKER_01 28:33

What Brandt had been screaming for this for years was to go all in, make these moves, and you see the wave that flowed through that locker room, exactly what you're talking about after that move. And look at all of these other actions that have come because of that momentum. Guys wanting to come back into Cincinnati, get recommitted uh onto this year. Again, we are June 10th. We're a month and a half away from training camp. And these guys are chomping at the bit to get out there. I know there's another week uh finish up of OTAs, and then these guys are gone for four weeks. I will bet you that most of them they may take a little vacation, but they're gonna be very eager to be back hanging out with Brant and his barber to make sure that they're looking good and looking right and ready to roll for the season. You both are the best. Keep this thing going, stay cool, and who day all day.