WELCOME BACK TO FOOTBALL!!!

What a glorious Dey!!!  Football is BACK in the Queen City.  Dey one of Training Camp is in the books.  Bergs, Brian, and Brant are here to break it all down. 

Ring of Honor nominees were selected this week.  James Brooks and Bob Trumpy will be honored at home vs. the Titans on November 1st. 

Stay healthy and keep enjoying this Team!  Who Dey ALL Dey!

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Gentlemen, happy July 29th, 2026, and welcome to the Who Day All Day Podcast. I'm your host, Michael Berg, hot, carefree Arizona. But more importantly, we got our boys with us tonight. Brian Kyle, remote, good old San Antone. How are you doing tonight?

SPEAKER_00 1:05

Man, I am doing fantastic. It's first day of training camp. Everybody in the building, and here we are, the three of us in the building respectively, ready to talk about it, get into it. I'm excited. We're two weeks away tomorrow, two weeks away from the Detroit Lions. So get excited, folks. It's here.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

That's all that is crazy. Love it. Glad you're enjoying some uh local cuisine down there in central Texas. Brand, northern Kentucky, back from the panhandle of Florida. How are you doing?

SPEAKER_02 1:43

Yeah, feeling refreshed, guys. You know, a little tropical storm in the face. All I can can do that for you. But uh excited to talk some bangles tonight with you guys. And yeah, the I it feels like you know, this is the start of the actual season. This is the kickoff. And so I'm just as feisty as uh Jamar. So let's get this going.

SPEAKER_01 2:04

Yes, absolutely love that. Yeah, welcome back to football. Training camp is here. Brian just said it, no drama. Everyone is in the building. What a turnout by the fans, by the way. The crowd there, amazing. If you can't tell this this city is ready, so you all know the drill. We're gonna go four downs. We're gonna spend the first three downs. There was so much to take away from the first day of camp that we're gonna cover it on all three downs. We're gonna go through a bunch of the different topics and conversations that came up. And then fourth down, the Ring of Honor nominees were named James Brooks, Bob Trumpy, November 1st game against Tennessee. We will discuss. But Brian, keep it going. Let's get into it. First down, training camp opens. What is one of the stories that stood out to you today?

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Yeah, I was just I'll just get the big one, the big news out of the way. Uh Shamar Stewart, you know, with an apparent knee injury going down. If you've seen the video by now, or if you haven't, was doesn't look pretty, doesn't look good. Um first thought was I I feel for the young man, he seemed uh ripping and ready to go after, you know, the rookie season that that nobody really wanted him himself included in that. Um so, and then to go down early on, you know, an 11 on 11. Uh, not a lot of contact there going up against Cody Ford. So hopefully it's not season ending uh for him. Uh, we'll see. And then I hope what I hope is well, I can appreciate maybe being patient uh till you know we start to see some cuts happen. I would I would love to see the Bengals at least pick up the phone um and bring some of these guys that are still out there in free HC. At least bring them in and have a conversation with them. If it's not right, if the money's not right, it's not right. And I I can live with it. I like what we still have in the uh in the room at defensive end. Uh, it means Mr. Howe, uh maybe the thought was maybe you're not gonna get a crazy amount of snaps this year. I think you better be ready to take a look a lot of snaps. So even if we do bring somebody in, uh there's still guys on this team. It gives Cedric Johnson a chance to continue to prove himself. Uh, I like what he brings to the table. So uh, but I do think we need that fifth. I think we do need that fifth guy, whether somebody you want to go out and grab right now or or or wait till some cuts come. Uh, I think the Bengals uh they've earned they've earned the right to uh that to let us know that they will do the right thing before the season starts. So the offseason has shown that so far. I hope they don't disappoint us uh with this one. They know that they're you know it's likely that they're gonna need an another uh and not just a camp body, but they're gonna need someone that's gonna come in and and provide you some with some snaps.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

So that is perfectly, and that's a great. I love what you said at the end. The front office has earned the right for us to expect that they will take care of the appropriate move if it's needed, which is crazy that we're here in 2026.

SPEAKER_02 5:09

Brant. Yeah, I'd start off by you know just saying the same thing that Brian said. You know, I really feel for Shamar Stewart, especially after the start he had last year. And quite honestly, I think he got some bad advice and kind of contributed to him not getting in camp early on. So I I think his he was in the right head space this year. Uh the distractions weren't there. Uh by all accounts, he was doing everything he needed to do to make sure he had a great sophomore season. And, you know, day one to go down. I mean, you just it's like one of the worst things that can happen. So uh have seen a report from an orthopedist, it seems like, on Twitter, and his professional opinion is hyperextension injury with probably multiple ligament tears. Uh, so obviously we'll wait for the official report, but looks like it could be season ending, hopefully not. But I think this goes to the point that you know we're always talking about and and why I love what the Bengals did this year, specifically with the draft, and just keep loading up, right? Go after the best players, and you know, us drafting uh Cassius Howe in the second round and feeling like he was the best player on the board, we weren't just you know happy to sit there and be satisfied with what we had at edge. Like, let's keep loading and you know, so we can have all the ammunition that we need. So, like Brian said, I hope we I still hope we go out and get somebody to keep that room uh competitive and get some actual veteran presence in there. Uh and we kind of talked about it beforehand. I think it's gonna be somebody most likely from a dollar standpoint that gets cut, that's a little bit more affordable than some of the available free agents that are a little bit more well known, like you know, Clowney or uh Arbosa. So we'll see what happens. But yeah, really unfortunate for Shamar. Uh hope that uh he has a speedy recovery.

SPEAKER_01 7:10

The uh the fellows from Kingpin Barbecue immediately text with Shamar, and they made such a great comment. We've talked about this, is we love the defensive line room and the rotation as a whole, healthy. We may not have a ton of superstars on there, but the whole group as a unit and what you can throw at an opposing offense is very intimidating and robust. And I think that the Bengals do make a move, whether it is to trade, whether it is to wait for a cut, whether it is to bring in one of these veterans. I have a feeling some of these conversations have already been had and that some of these veterans were probably trying to get through training camp, but that might not be an option now with a body out. Second down, Brant, more camp news. What you got?

SPEAKER_02 8:01

Uh, maybe a little off the beaten path, maybe not a top story for a lot of other people, but just somebody I love to listen to, especially uh when he gets his chance to be in front of the mic and and Dalton Reisner talking about just how much these next three, four weeks are gonna suck, and specifically because of how much better our defensive line is, and in particular, singling out uh sexy dexy and just you know, just the battle that he had already with him. And I love when he was getting interviewed, you know, uh Dalton holds up his forearm and he's got this big gash in his forearm, and he's just like, Yeah, this first day. So uh it but Dalton's attitude is just everything that you want from an offensive lineman or anybody else on this team for that matter, you know, and he understands that having sexy dexty across from him and Jonathan Allen, he specifically mentioned, and then when they're bringing in BJ Hill and TJ Slayton behind him, he said, we're only gonna be so much better for going against these guys for the next three or four weeks. He's like, again, he's like, it's gonna suck, but this defensive line is deep, it's good, it's gonna push us to be even better. And you could tell how excited he was for how much better he feels he's gonna be at the end of the game. So really excited about that.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

That is a leader right there that wants to be pushed every day. We always talk about protect Joe, protect Joe. We've done that by signing the right offensive line, bringing in the right offensive line coach, developing some depth, having some pieces behind. But one of the best ways is you prepare them now, and you're right. It's gonna be a battle every day. Amarius Mims, I loved listening to him. He's gonna be a pro bowler this year. Absolutely one of my predictions that he will be a pro bowler this year, but love listening to him be able to communicate and to just laugh when they say, well, it was just helmets today. He, honey, we are offensive and defensive linemen. It is doesn't matter if they're pads, no pads. We are bumping and slamming. So let's get after it, Brian.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

Yeah, I'm gonna build off what Brian said. Uh it you know, with Dalton and his comments. I think what we're seeing, what we didn't just are just hearing, but we're seeing first day of camp is uh the Bengals boys are not playing around, they are not playing around. Uh Jamar got a little best receiver in the league, 99 man rating. Yet you got a chip on your shoulder and yelling at people to show you some respect. Um and credit, I know it was DJ Turner's helmet that he ripped off, but credit to Jalen Davis saying, uh you better respect us too. Uh, that's Jalen Davis. That's a guy that does not want to give up. I think he right now the nickel spot is his, uh, and he wants to hold on to it. And he's letting the best receiver in the league know, like, hey, we are gonna be on you. Like, this is gonna be the toughest competition you face all year, is what uh the DBs are are are trying to do. Uh iron sharpen, iron sharpens iron, so it's great. Uh, the other thing to take away from is I think I I don't know if I realized how big of a man Dexter Lawrence is. Uh, I think you sent that clip, Mike, of him and uh I think it was Jonathan Allen just going through reps together. And Jonathan Allen is a big human being, and he makes Jonathan Allen look small. I didn't, I don't think I realized how tall Dexter was. I thought he was kind of short and squatty. No, that dude's big all over the place. Um again, good luck centers of the AFC North. I'm excited about it. I'm excited for the time where we go heavy on the defensive line, and you see uh him and Slayton on the field next to each other, along with BJ and Jonathan. That's a speed and then maybe one speed rusher. Um, or if that's on our goal line package, whatever. I'm excited about all that beef on on the field. So it's it's exciting. The competition is there already from day one. They already don't like each other, which is our but yet love each other, and that's that's how it works. And I'm excited. I'm excited for uh what tomorrow tomorrow brings, knocking on wood that everybody else uh stays healthy, going keep going going forward.

SPEAKER_01 12:23

So excited such great points. I loved what DJ Turner said, didn't back down from it. Let's get his contract done, by the way. He said brothers fight. I was listening to uh Arizona State's football coach speak locally uh this afternoon, and he talked about you're not really friends until you've gone through some sort of adversity together and come out the other side. And that is so true what you're seeing with this team. It's gonna be hot, it's exhausting. We want to get to the games, we want to play. There's gonna be some of this chippiness, and I love that they're working through it together. Brian talked about that with Dexter Lawrence and his size. I mean, he literally, it's like the eclipse comes in front of the camera wherever Dan Hoard was. Love, love listening to Dan Horde, but I love the line, just immediately mumbles under his breath. I want to see it today, Mr. Burrow. Burrow doesn't even look at him as he's throwing. And he said, You can see it every day, brother. Like they know they're gonna challenge and make each other better on all aspects. And absolutely love this. One more thing with Dalton Risner, his poor wife, they posted, I think it was uh the other day, there was a concert in Cincinnati, and she was talking about it being the last date of the year because they know everybody is invested in this year. There is no more playtime. Playtime is over, it is time to get to work. Third down, Brian, keep us going. More training camp news.

SPEAKER_00 13:53

Yeah, I will I will leave with this one. So just watching some short clips of of Joe Burrow. Gotta talk when we're talking Bengals, we gotta talk Burrow. Um what what's going on? What I've always I've always kind of pictured Joe almost like as a rookie or a young guy. Uh he looks and it's nothing's really changed with his face, but just his demeanor and the way he's walking, it's kind of gone from cocky to that, he's got that veteran walk going on today. And so I'm like, we got a vet at QB, not just a talented MVP level quarterback, but we got a vet and a leader uh in Joe. It's it's a thing of beauty to watch him spin the rock. And so, and then just that quarterback room in general, and then to see, you know, after a couple of clips and pictures of Joe Burrow, then seeing the young man himself, Joe Flacco, and going, Oh my gosh, we got a solid backup. And uh, I don't know if he's gonna make the roster. I don't know if the Bengals are gonna keep three QBs, but also knowing that Josh Johnson may be a part of the team, uh, that's that's quite the QB room. Uh, and I'll take it. And those two veterans, uh, though I'd call Joe a vet at this point in his career, those two veterans bring a lot to the table and can help Joe prepare week in and week out, looking at defenses, thinking about things that maybe Joe doesn't see. Uh, just makes the team better, again, making the team better. This roster is a lot stronger. Uh, and I hope that that continues until you know, and even through the season, when there's opportunities to upgrade or make changes, don't just sit on it, go ahead. And so, gentlemen that are that you know, 48 to 53 guy on the roster, you better bring it every single day from now until February. When the season's not gonna end in January until February. You you better bring it, or you or you're gonna be watching that Super Bowl from home while while the rest of the Bengals are playing on the field, getting that ring. So bring it every day. Keep upgrading the roster. Duke, don't rest on it, keep upgrading the roster where we can, and let's keep getting better.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Rich Eisen stole our platform. He was doing four downs today on each of the teams. And with the Bengals, of course, it was heavy on the borough conversations. And I like listening to Rich Eisen because he knows when the Bengals are healthy and are clicking, there is not a team in the league that can beat us, and everyone fears us because they cannot stop that offense. I loved his point. He talked about the defense clearly making the changes, the improvements we make we made this year. And he said, let's just say you take one touchdown off the board, just one, just even one on the defensive side. What does that do for Burrow and for the offense and for the record and for the performance? I think it'll be better than that. But the one thing I did think, Brian, that was interesting, when he was walking, for some reason, I had flashbacks to Boomer. He did. He finally had that veteran look of presence of like, this is my team. We know he's the best player, we know he's the best quarterback in the NFL. He's always had that swag, that confidence, but it looked different. It looked like that appropriate veteran. Brandt.

SPEAKER_02 17:13

Are you guys talking about his walk across the street to the practice field and just walking by himself?

SPEAKER_00 17:20

Yeah, and just on the field, the way he's kind of carrying himself. It's it's it's like a mature, uh mature Joe Burrow. It's it's it's interesting to watch.

SPEAKER_02 17:30

Yeah, it's it's funny that you guys noticed it too. Uh, just the the quiet confidence. I just kind of heads up. Yes, uh, you know, just you can tell like he's ready walking across that that street, getting to the practice field, you know, the sheriff's holding up traffic for him, you know, giving him that nod, and Joe's just giving him the nod back, like, yeah, we're ready to go. So I I saw the same thing. I love what I saw out of Joe. I'll come back to Joe in a second, but I just want to highlight uh one of the topics I would just it gets me super excited. You guys know me being a defensive guy, just the feistiness of the defense uh altogether. I mean, you know Jamar's gonna bring it, like that's just who he is, and he's trying to bring that out in the defense, and I he didn't have to wait long at all to see they're ready to match him, and uh it gets me super excited. But I would I would specifically highlight Jalen Davis and that you know nickel corner spot and Jalen kind of getting that start right now. And I don't know if you guys saw the clip of him going against Gasicki in the seam. Yeah, he jumps kind of to try to knock the ball out of Gasicki's hands. Gasicki makes a great catch, but Jalen takes him down to the ground and Gasicki pops up and he's like telling Jalen, like, you know, putting his hands up, like you gotta slow up, man, or you gotta pull up. Like, we're you know, this first day, we're not trying to do this. And Jalen's giving it right back to him. You don't really hear what he's saying, but you know he's like, nah, man, we're coming for everything this year. So uh I just love how feisty JD was today. Uh obviously, how much how feisty Turner was. They weren't backing down from the best receiver in the league going up against Gasicki, you know, and how you know freaky long he is. So uh love to see that. And then specifically about Burrow. Uh I don't know if everybody heard the comments after practice, but you know, they they specifically highlighted, you know, what do you think about Jamar and and and DJ going at it? And I I love that he, you know, you love his answer, and he says, you know, I I basically I don't mind it as long as it's not distracting from what we have to do. And it just and then he put that special burrow touch on it, and he's like, you know, hopefully they can just go, you know, punch each other in the face, and then 15-20 seconds it's over, and we're back to back to practice and getting our work in. And you know, I just don't know that I would have thought of that, you know, in the moment, but that's just how his brain works. So I love it. And then last point, uh, I love that we still get to see the nerdy or hear about the nerdy side of Burrow, you know, getting his telescope in the off season. You know, he just doesn't know what to do with himself sometimes, I think. And so uh, you know, he's he's tired of watching films, so why not go watch some stars or maybe a nebula in the sky? Or you know, maybe there's a black hole he can actually see with his you know crazy telescope that he got. So uh, you know, he's just an interesting guy. I love hearing how he um is authentic and doesn't shy away from who he is. So I think that's a part of the reason why we love him so much. So wouldn't want another quarterback on my team.

SPEAKER_01 20:52

You know, and I think that triggered the happy days of 2019 with the LSU Tigers. Everybody's seen that clip where they're getting ready to practice, and Burrow is just jawing at, I forget who their linebacker was at the time for LSU. Wasn't it? Patrick Queen. But Patrick Queen just getting after him and telling him what was coming today at practice. And that's how that team was. That's the culture Burrow was raised up on. Back to the rough times in Ohio, dad being the coach, fighting to get to LSU, having to get a chance to play. This is he's not wanting to have the red carpet rolled out. He wants to do this the tough way. I think that's why there was some of the frustration last year. He knew he was doing the work, it wasn't coming together, and why not? I think he's starting to see some of that stuff and start to kind of quietly laugh to himself like, oh, this is why we love football, the chippiness on there. Absolutely love that. One last piece, too, that stood out to me love Ted Karras. I think he struggled about it. What was that beginning of was that last year? He looked a little long in the tooth. I know he wasn't healthy and I know he's pretty beat up and he's been such a great warrior. Connor Lou from Auburn, we love Ted Karras. We love what he does for the city of Cincinnati. But Connor Lou already being able to practice after being out since October, amazing. Not going to go full contact yet, but being out there in all the other activities, super excited for Connor Lou, rookie center from Auburn, Wardam Eagle. Super pumped for him to learn from Ted Karras and those two to keep being Burrow, Flacco, and Josh Johnson's best friend. Love it. A lot of great stuff at training camp. Awesome energy. Can't wait to see what the rest of the week brings to you. Fans, if you want to nerd out on Saturday, and if it's super hot in your community, NFL Network is going to do uh welcome back to football. They just go from camp to camp to camp. You start getting a fix on all these players. McAfee has been having local commentators come on, tell them what's the story bigger than just the national headlines with some of these teams. We are so back. Life is back in order. Fourth down before we get out of here. Brant, Hall of Fame game, um ring of honor, excuse me, was announced for the Tennessee game November 1st. The two nominees that have been awarded are James Brooks running back and Bob Trumpy tight end. Your thoughts?

SPEAKER_02 23:33

I love the two picks. Uh, I really hope that we kind of continue these two picks, kind of like Willie Anderson's, you know, uh advocating for, you know, in the future, going with two until we really kind of get our numbers up and recognize some of these guys that really should have been recognized before. But uh Bob Trumpy, I'll start with him first. Uh, you know, great pick, a long-rangy athletic tight end, uh played with the Bengals inaugural season, 68 through 77. So uh 10 seasons with the Bengals. I did not know he was a 12th round pick. That crazy. Back when you know the draft was just days long, and we would have been the only ones there still watching. So uh, but yeah, scor scored the first ever Bengals receiving TD. He played in 128 games in those 10 years, most receiving yards out of tight ends in Bengals history, 4,600 yards, uh, 35 receiving TDs, holds the Bengals uh record for yards per reception out of tight ends, 15.4, and he made it to four pro bowl pro bowls. So uh also not to be you know, not to be looked past, but his uh awesome broadcasting career. Uh really sad that you know, uh this is what I'm talking about was keeping up with the two uh two picks every year, but really sad that he's not around to you know experience this with his family. So we really need to make sure we make that right for a lot of these older guys too. Um, and then quickly, James Brooks. I I don't know why, I just wasn't aware. I James Brooks is one of those players, uh, he's one of one of the players I have my first memories of watching the Bengals about. Like him, Icky Woods, like those are the guys I started really kind of growing up with and really kind of turned me on to the Bengals. But I wasn't aware that he was traded to Cincinnati uh from San Diego in 1984 for Pete Johnson. That's crazy. After he'd already been with San Diego for three years and and pretty much not getting a lot of playing time. So wild to kind of you know dive into that history real quick, but uh phenomenal player. I think uh a guy that was probably beyond his uh not really, you know, a little early for uh his time. Uh great runner, but a great pass catcher and could could pass you know could pass do pass pro out of the backfield, uh, you know, really beyond the size that he was. He was 5'9, 5'10, 195, not the biggest guy, but just a heck of a player. Uh, you know, again, could have asked for two better guys to represent the ring of honor. So great job, uh, season ticket holders. Great picks.

SPEAKER_01 26:17

Love that. Thank you for the background on both of those. Really appreciate the take on cranking it up till we get the numbers where they should be on who should be represented. Because some of these founding fathers of the Bengals, Bob Trumpy is definitely one of them. Brian.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

Yeah, two great picks. Uh, kudos to the fans of acknowledging the past. We get caught up in in recency, recency biased, and and there's guys definitely in recent history that are are well deserving, some of the best players in Bengal history, but gotta give credit where credit is due to the uh to the old at this point, older age. I don't 88 doesn't seem that long ago. But um what I love about Bob Trumpy, and he's he's getting in the ring of honor because of what he did on the football field for the Cincinnati Bengals. But you hear it a lot about individuals, but it seems to really ring true with with Bob Trumpy. The way people speak about him and knew him personally, is great football player, even better person, um, which is just it's it's great to hear, great representative of of the Bengals, wearing the old you know, Bengals logo on his helmet. Um, and like Brand said, heck of a heck of a career following uh his playing days, just just a true gentleman and professional. So well deserved uh for him to go up. Like Brand said, we fans, I hope you continue this trend and and get these gentlemen in. Um I'd actually like to see, I don't think it waters it down at all, because I think we're playing catch up. I'd like to see us maybe do more than two uh for a while until we kind of get caught up and get these uh these older gentlemen in while they're while we still are lucky enough to have them with us. Um it needs to be done. So Bengals, let's let's do at least four next year and get them in. That does no harm. The more the merrier, let's have a big party and win a game on the same day. And then James Brooks, James Brooks was probably one of my one of my favorites, uh just electric when he had the ball in his hands. Uh he had you know, not a huge, huge guy, and then but the pads he would wear would kind of get flopping all over the place when he'd start hitting full speed. But uh the stat, as far as stats that stick out for me with James Brooks, is he played eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, and 50% of the those seasons, he rushed for over five yards to carry, uh, which is phenomenal. I don't care what era, how good your offensive line was, that's phenomenal. Um and uh I I enjoyed him running the football, watching him run the football probably more than Icky's career was cut you know cut short, so we didn't get to see it all the time. Icky was fun. Uh it felt like a lot of times James and some of the other guys did the work to get down the goal line, and Icky got to because who's gonna stop him, uh, run it in. And but James Brooke, heck of a teammate, big part of some fun seasons with him and Boomer and the rest of the group. But love it. Keep honoring uh the players. It it creates another attachment for for fans um to to remember the some good old days and some great players of the Bengals. So let's keep celebrating it. Let's get more in there at one time. Uh, congratulations to Bob Trump and James Brooks and their and their families.

SPEAKER_01 29:46

Perfectly said by both of you. I know there were some dark days for the Bengals franchise, but there has been a lot of good players, a lot of good teams, a lot of winning football that the media goes out of their way to just say, ah, it's a poverty franchise. And so moments like this are such a reminder of where this franchise started and who were some of the uh players that were key at the beginning, and appreciate both of you, like you said, the fans getting it right. Seeing all those fans today, I know the Reds have had a tough year, but the excitement and the energy since Dexter Lawrence, we traded that 10th pick, which I still think Caleb Downs, Ruben Bain, they're going to be awesome players in the NFL. But what Dexter Lawrence has done for this organization and for this franchise and the boost that it needed to change the identity of the front office, what do you know? Here come the fans. The excitement is there. People cannot wait. More training camp, more clips. We thank you for all the coverage, the technology, having all of that information at our fingertips. Super excited. You both are the best. Have a great rest of the week. Stay healthy like our bangles, and hoodai all day.