Cowboys are Cooking + Bengals HC Zac Taylor | Schrager Hour

0:04 What's up everybody?

0:05 Welcome to another episode of The Schrager Hour.

0:08 If you felt like the pressure of the draft

0:11 and the excitement of the draft was massive,

0:14 this is now the downtime and The Schrager Hour is going to take a little

0:18 bit of a shift in which we're going to get to know coaches better,

0:21 we're going to get to know general managers better.

0:22 We're not going to just be asking pressing questions of who you're taking.

0:26 It's going to be more how did you get here?

0:28 What are you all about?

0:30 Let's talk about what your team is going to be doing

0:33 as we chart out the path for the following offseason and season.

0:38 It is the first week of May.

0:41 I spent last night watching a show on TV called The Pick Is In.

0:46 It was on ESPN and it gave us

0:49 exclusive access to the war rooms between Las Vegas,

0:54 Cleveland, and Dallas and took us through the actual

0:58 maneuvering of the first round of the NFL draft.

1:01 It's pretty cool they turned this thing around.

1:02 This was an NFL Films production and we learned a couple things.

1:06 We learned a couple things.

1:07 The first thing I thought was awesome to see was how

1:10 these GMs kind of manipulate the board and play chess and and try

1:15 to figure out if they can still get their guy while

1:17 moving back or they have to move up to get their guy.

1:20 Some big takeaways from The Pick Is In which

1:23 I encourage everyone to go find and watch.

1:25 Number one, the Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew

1:29 Berry really manipulated the draft board really well.

1:32 They had three guys that they had their eyes on in the top 10.

1:36 That was Spencer Fano, that was CC Sabathia and there was Jordan Tyson,

1:41 the wide receiver out of Arizona State.

1:43 They're sitting pretty there at six and they

1:45 could take any of those three players at six,

1:48 but they knew and based on Andrew Berry's intel,

1:51 they knew that well, the Giants might take offensive line at 10.

1:56 So we've got to get We've got to stay in front of them at 10.

2:00 But, we don't think Washington is going offensive player at seven,

2:04 which means if Saints go offense at eight,

2:09 and the nine is the Kansas City We have to at least get before the Giants.

2:12 So, what they did was they traded with the Kansas

2:14 City Chiefs who wanted to move up and get Mansour Delaine.

2:17 And the Browns said, "Okay,

2:18 we'll sit pretty right here." And sure enough, what happened?

2:21 Sonny Styles goes seven, Jordan Tyson goes eight, so they can't take him.

2:25 But, then they had their choice between Fano and Maui Noa.

2:28 They take Fano at nine, who they very well likely were going to take at six.

2:31 And in the process, they got some extra picks.

2:34 I thought watching the actual conversations

2:37 in that Browns war room was fascinating.

2:39 I also thought Andrew Berry did a really

2:41 nice job of being upfront with his owner,

2:44 Jimmy Haslam, and, you know, the whole Haslam Sports Group,

2:47 and also with his coach, Todd Monken.

2:49 They make the trade, and Monken just gives them a little fist.

2:53 They're like, "All right, we're good.

2:54 We got our guy." So, they get Fano at nine.

2:56 I love what the Browns did in this draft, by the way.

2:59 I I didn't do draft grades, and I didn't really like anoint winners,

3:02 but I I don't know if any team

3:04 drafted better than the Cleveland Browns this year.

3:07 And I guess that comes with a lot of eye rolling,

3:09 because the Browns could very well win four games,

3:12 and very well be in the same spot they are,

3:15 top 10, as they are every seemingly every other year.

3:18 Until they get their quarterback situation settled, we really can't grade.

3:22 But, in the meantime, last year's draft, Judkins,

3:26 Fanning, Schwesinger, Mason Graham, also throw Shedor in there.

3:32 I mean, they stacked the roster with guys who are going to contribute and play.

3:36 This year's draft, I love Fano.

3:39 I love Concepcion.

3:41 I love Denzel Boston falling to the second round.

3:44 So, the Browns did a really nice job.

3:45 And this film gave us a real good look at how they were able to do that.

3:50 The other thing was some of the interesting stuff between

3:53 the Dallas Cowboys um and their chase of Caleb Downs.

3:57 So, they weren't sure Caleb Downs going to slip to 12, so they had to be nimble.

4:01 But, there was this like cool chess match and I keep on using chess,

4:05 but it is also like game theory,

4:07 which if you want to get into the dorky analytic side of it,

4:11 it's knowing what your other opponent needs and wants and then kind of play

4:14 off that and using that as leverage to see what you want to get.

4:17 So, once the lane goes at six,

4:20 it was Caleb Downs for the Dallas Cowboys and we learned that.

4:24 And the doc revealed that Dallas was aggressively

4:28 trying to trade up to nine after the Browns

4:31 moved down to nine and they offered Stephen

4:34 Jones and Will McClay offered a massive first-round spot.

4:36 Dallas offered the number 12 and 20 for Cleveland's nine and 24,

4:43 which would have been they move up,

4:45 Cleveland picks up even more picks and they still might

4:48 have been able to get Fano Maualuga there at 12.

4:52 And then the Browns, knowing that they wanted one of those two players,

4:56 said, "We can't risk it.

4:58 We're not going to move back to 12." They say no.

5:01 Fano, who knows if he would have gone 10 to the Giants

5:06 instead of Maualuga and at 11 they couldn't bank on anything.

5:09 So, they say no and then the Cowboys have to like

5:12 just like sit pretty and like hope they and then

5:14 they do manipulate the draft board just a little bit

5:17 once Fano goes nine and Maualuga goes 10 to the Giants, they saw Caleb Downs.

5:23 They don't want anyone else to get in front of them.

5:24 That was their guy.

5:25 They move up one pick and it was cool to see Stephen Jones,

5:29 Will McClay, and of course Jerry Jones and then Brian Schottenheimer.

5:32 I also liked the interplay between Schottenheimer and Jerry Jones.

5:37 Like, these two were laughing.

5:40 They were they were cool.

5:41 Like, they were hugging.

5:42 So, I Shotty is a fascinating fascinating character

5:46 in the NFL this season because very quietly, and I'm not trying to go viral,

5:50 I'm not trying to get ratings,

5:52 none of this actually affects my bottom line or the tick on my interest at all.

5:58 Like the Cowboys are really interesting team.

6:03 The Cowboys are fascinating.

6:04 Their offense last year was great.

6:07 All right?

6:08 Their defense were the pits.

6:10 And very quietly, they beefed up their defense in free agency,

6:16 with the Gary trade, with bringing in Thompson,

6:19 with bringing in different defensive backs,

6:21 and then in the draft, I think getting Caleb Downs,

6:24 Malachi Lawrence, then then picking up linebacker and corner

6:29 with two of their next picks in the following days,

6:33 the Cowboys could be a team to be reckoned with this year.

6:36 And it really all comes down to Shady, Dak, and I'm going to give you maybe

6:41 the most interesting person in the NFL this season.

6:44 All right, let's get let's get the the social

6:46 media guys working here cuz here's the clip.

6:48 You ready?

6:48 I always do this.

6:49 I like to give a little preview of what I'm going to say.

6:53 Christian Parker, the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys,

6:57 might be the most fascinating person in the NFL this season.

7:01 34 years old, an absolute firebrand,

7:05 like like out of bed, like energy, energy, energy,

7:08 beloved by players, and he comes from the rival Eagles,

7:13 where he was the defensive back coach.

7:14 He's now the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.

7:18 And the Cowboys wake up from this nightmare of last season,

7:21 where their offense was high-flying, and they traded Micah Parsons,

7:24 and they thought maybe they can get

7:25 by, and then their defense was absolute crap.

7:29 And they wake up from this nightmare like 8 months later,

7:33 and it's wait a second.

7:35 We suddenly have Rashan Gary.

7:38 We suddenly have Malachi Lawrence.

7:40 We still have Kenny Clark in the middle.

7:43 And oh, by the way, we spent in free agency a little bit.

7:46 And now we've got Caleb Downs and the new defensive coordinator, who by the way,

7:52 is going to be a head coach very soon if they have success on defense.

7:56 I think Christian Parker the delta, that's the term,

8:00 the delta of adding Christian Parker, who again,

8:03 is just 34-years old to this team over what they had last year,

8:08 and this is nothing against Eberflus.

8:10 It sounds like an anti-Matt Eberflus kind of It's not.

8:13 But with the talent and with the young

8:15 energy and new breath and new fresh voice, that delta is massive.

8:21 And if the defense is somewhat somewhat serviceable,

8:26 I'm talking top half of the league,

8:28 you better believe the Cowboys are a playoff team,

8:31 and you better believe the Cowboys are a Super Bowl contender.

8:35 I said that on First Take, and Stephen A was cracking up, laughing at me,

8:40 and I got all the comments on Instagram, and all the comments on Twitter.

8:44 Here's Schrager trying to stir the pot,

8:46 trying to get clicks, trying to get ratings.

8:49 I know the George Pickens situation is a little murky right now,

8:52 and I know that there are questions about a first-time coordinator,

8:56 and I know that Dak hasn't gotten it done in the biggest

8:58 spots the last couple years when they needed it most.

9:01 I also know that roster is getting significantly better by the day,

9:05 and I know that Christian Parker is going to be an absolute catalyst on that So,

9:12 my most interesting person right now in the NFL, shockingly enough,

9:15 is a guy you might not have ever heard of.

9:17 It's Christian Parker, the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.

9:22 The third piece to this show,

9:24 which I thought was really interesting, was that Eagles-Cowboys dynamic.

9:28 Remember, they They've done deals before.

9:30 I think it was Micah and DeVonta Smith,

9:32 and that was like 2021, and they They to trade with each other,

9:36 and they got with the Giants involved because

9:38 the Giants took uh They took I think Tony,

9:41 they traded back, and then they also got another extra pick,

9:44 and then it was a whole thing at like 9, 10, 11 with the NFC East.

9:48 Jerry Jones was shown specifically waiting for Howie Roseman to make

9:53 the first call when they're sitting there at 20 and they want Lawrence.

9:56 And they would have taken Lawrence apparently based on what we watched,

9:59 and they're waiting and he's waiting for Howie to call first,

10:01 not for him to call Howie.

10:03 Howie does eventually call, and they make interdivisional trade,

10:08 which I think is very interesting,

10:09 and of course the Steelers are on the back end of that.

10:12 They were on the phone trying to you know

10:14 talk to Levis and say they might be taking him.

10:16 Well, they were on the clock, doesn't matter.

10:18 That's all secondary.

10:19 Eagles trade up to 20, get in front of 21, which was the Steelers.

10:23 They get Makai Levis,

10:25 and of course in the fallout the Steelers take offensive tackle,

10:29 and they go a different route.

10:31 But to see the Eagles and the Cowboys just like kind of working off each other,

10:35 and you know Howie's been doing this, I read this, he's

10:37 been in the front office with the Eagles for 27 years.

10:41 And of course Jerry's been the owner of the team since 1989.

10:45 So those guys have been As much as they're

10:48 arch-rivals to work a trade together is really interesting.

10:52 Again, it was called the pick is in.

10:54 Again, I have nothing to do with it.

10:56 Schefter's all over it, and Schefter's on like 100 out of 10 in this thing.

11:00 He's working the phones, and I got a trade.

11:02 You know, it's great.

11:02 It's good.

11:03 It's really good behind the scenes stuff.

11:04 It's fun to watch.

11:06 But if you can, give it a watch.

11:08 I think you get a lot of insight on on what's going on.

11:11 A couple things that I would say are just

11:14 big-picture things I'm watching over the next couple weeks.

11:18 One, the schedule release.

11:19 We still don't have the day that the schedule release kind of come out.

11:23 We were told it was originally going to be the the week of May 11th.

11:26 So May 11th to May 15th.

11:28 Usually it's on a It's on a Thursday usually.

11:30 So I was circling that date, okay,

11:32 probably May 13th or 14th, Wednesday or Thursday.

11:35 And then today, Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio, you know,

11:38 sprinkles out that it might be pushed back another week,

11:40 which makes me wonder like what what are they exactly waiting for?

11:44 You have that and I figure it's just Aaron Rodgers.

11:46 That's the only thing I can think of that they were going to give

11:48 the Steelers six primetime games and now

11:51 they might give the Steelers three primetime games.

11:53 But other than Rodgers,

11:55 uh I don't know what would be the delay of a full week to get the schedule out.

11:58 And even with that, if it's the Steelers without Aaron Rodgers and it's,

12:03 you know, Will Howard or Drew Allar, and I I still think that's interesting.

12:06 I still would want to see that.

12:07 So, I this is my message to Mike North and Annie Bose and Blake

12:12 Jones and all the folks at the schedule making facility there at the NFL.

12:16 Guys, come on.

12:18 Come on.

12:19 You got through the draft.

12:20 Make the schedule.

12:21 Let's go.

12:22 It's time.

12:22 I need to book my travel.

12:23 I need to know where we're going Monday night.

12:25 Um that's one thing I'm watching.

12:29 Two, the Pickens situation will linger.

12:31 And yes, it's the Cowboys, and yes,

12:33 it's an agent, David Mulugheta, um Mulugheta,

12:36 who is obviously Micah Parsons' agent,

12:39 so it makes it very interesting how that dynamic goes.

12:41 And also, Pickens, the character himself.

12:43 Remember, Pickens traded for a third-round pick to to to the Cowboys

12:48 from the Steelers and then exceeded all expectations.

12:51 And then as it as it goes on the last couple months,

12:55 we're starting to hear things that maybe he wasn't

12:57 the model teammate or he wasn't always the most reliable guy.

13:01 I don't care.

13:02 This guy was awesome.

13:04 And I'm fascinating to see fascinated to see what the Cowboys do

13:09 as far as if they're not going to give him the long-term thing,

13:11 like how do they entice him to come back?

13:13 Are they even going to try to entice him to come back?

13:15 And then, yeah, he signed the the tender,

13:17 but like does that mean long-term deal,

13:19 even though we said that's probably not going to happen this offseason?

13:23 Um George Pickens situation, obviously interesting,

13:26 as I did a whole bit about the Cowboys.

13:28 All of that could be flushed down the the toilet if

13:30 Pickens doesn't want to play and Pickens is going to sit out.

13:33 Well, we'll see what happens as far as that all goes.

13:36 And then the last part that I think I'm watching from afar,

13:38 I mentioned it last week.

13:39 I'll keep on mentioning it.

13:40 Like what are the Rams doing?

13:43 What are the Rams doing?

13:44 And Stafford, we haven't heard from him.

13:49 Kelly Stafford had a couple posts, nothing inflammatory by any means,

13:53 but we haven't heard from Matthew and Ty Simpson is there.

13:58 But like, are we done?

14:00 If we're done, we're done.

14:01 But as I said last week and I did the windy fingers,

14:04 I I just can't imagine knowing Les Snead, Sean McVay,

14:09 knowing that ethos of that building and the bloodlines in that building

14:12 that they're just going to sit on their hands and be like, we're done.

14:15 So, when you see all these different disgruntled receivers

14:18 or you see all these different uh potential guys who who,

14:22 you know, are are still on the on the board.

14:24 Deebo, uh Jauan Jennings and I look at a guy like Aiyuk.

14:29 Like I don't I'm just throwing names out right now.

14:31 But I would be shocked shocked if come December and January

14:37 the Rams haven't added some some piece to that team,

14:40 whether it be offense or defense.

14:41 I'm not sure what it is.

14:42 I just I can't imagine they took Ty Simpson

14:46 and did a standard draft and they're like, we're good.

14:48 It's just not the way they are.

14:49 So, as I've got this Rams logo behind me here

14:52 on this football as if you're watching on YouTube or ESPN,

14:55 I'm still watching them cuz Les Snead doesn't Les Snead doesn't sleep at night.

14:59 And Sean McVay certainly doesn't sleep at night.

15:01 One more note, very interesting.

15:03 Um huge contingent of NFL people in Vegas

15:08 this past weekend and it wasn't for some convention,

15:12 it wasn't for some Michael Rubin, you know, Fanatics thing.

15:16 It was for the Morgan Wallen concert.

15:18 Waylon or Wallen?

15:19 Do we have a producer here?

15:20 Am I killing this?

15:21 Am I Am I just awful here?

15:23 Can I Wallen.

15:25 I said it right.

15:26 Morgan Wallen.

15:27 I have I don't I could tell you I'm not going to tell you which ones,

15:29 but three different NFL GMs went and hung out together,

15:33 and I know multiple coaches in the NFL flew out to be at this concert.

15:39 So, he was in a Larry Johnson jersey.

15:41 I thought that was cool.

15:42 Um but yeah, the NFL that that might be

15:46 a little little tidbit there that you're not getting anywhere else.

15:49 The Morgan Wallen concert, a huge NFL contingent.

15:54 Uh as I record this, I am sitting here in New York City.

15:57 Again, it's Monday morning.

15:58 I'll be going to the Knicks game tonight.

15:59 Knicks versus Sixers, second round.

16:02 Everyone uh in New York thought it was going to be Celtics,

16:05 especially when they were up 3-1.

16:07 Now it's the Sixers.

16:08 I'm petrified.

16:09 I know I'm not alone.

16:11 Suddenly they're healthy, Embiid looks angry and good,

16:14 and uh as we as we record this, obviously when

16:18 you're listening to this, game one might have already happened,

16:20 but um Celtics it was like, all right, we beat them last year.

16:24 I say we, I'm a Knicks fan.

16:26 We're going to go at it again, and you know, we'll see what happens.

16:29 Then when Tatum got hurt, okay, we could probably have the advantage.

16:31 And then Sixers, though.

16:32 Maxey looks like he's Usain Bolt out there.

16:35 He runs 100 mph and finishes every layup.

16:38 Embiid, for all that everyone wants to talk about Embiid's shortcomings,

16:42 the guy was awesome when it mattered most in that game seven,

16:45 his first game seven win.

16:46 And then there's playoff P, there's Paul George,

16:48 who suddenly is putting up 20 points,

16:49 10 rebounds, and it's like, oh, I forgot about him.

16:51 He's awesome.

16:52 So, Knicks-Sixers, unexpected second round matchup in the NBA.

16:57 I'll be going to the game tonight.

16:58 I like to go to as many as I can.

17:00 I'm grateful to be invited to go.

17:02 I'm going to go, uh but not like by any means this like,

17:05 let's go fired up feeling.

17:07 It's more of like dread and and fear that they're going to lose.

17:10 Uh Our guest today.

17:13 Our guest today is a beauty.

17:15 Um he's really cool for coming on.

17:17 Uh, he's already done his media after

17:19 the draft and usually these guys go underground.

17:22 Uh, but they are a very interesting team

17:24 and they are the Cincinnati Bengals and the guest is

17:27 going to be their head coach Zac Taylor who

17:30 amazingly enough was now 7 years into this job.

17:33 I think of Zac as he just got there but he's been to a Super Bowl.

17:37 They've missed the playoffs three straight years.

17:39 Um, but they had a very very productive off season adding talent.

17:45 Going to talk to Zac.

17:45 We're going to talk about him.

17:46 We're going to talk about his team and we're

17:48 going to talk about the NFL as a whole.

17:50 Uh, it's the Schrager Hour and it's the off season.

17:52 Let's dig in.

17:53 With no further ado,

17:54 he was the 2006 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and now as we enter 2026,

18:03 he's the coach of a team that's getting a lot of buzz this off season.

18:06 With no further ado, the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Mr.

18:10 Zac Taylor.

18:11 Zac, what's up, man?

18:13 Not much.

18:13 I appreciate that introduction.

18:14 Yeah, that isn't brought up very often.

18:17 Let's talk about the 2006 Nebraska Cornhuskers.

18:20 Let's give it a little love here.

18:21 This is how we start the Schrager Hour.

18:22 We don't go right into Dexter Lawrence talk.

18:25 We start with the 2006 Nebraska Cornhuskers.

18:28 Take us through that team.

18:29 You were the quarterback.

18:30 What do you remember?

18:31 Well, the award should have an asterisk.

18:34 Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone.

18:36 Is that right?

18:37 Okay, so there's that same season.

18:39 would have been some pretty stiff competition there.

18:41 Um, we had a good year.

18:42 We went 9 and 3 and got beat

18:44 in the Big 12 Championship game by my hometown Oklahoma Sooners.

18:47 And I'm still a little bitter because

18:49 that game was played in Arrowhead in December,

18:52 which you can imagine what the weather was like.

18:54 Not fair.

18:54 Um, and now they've since moved it to Jerry World down in Dallas

18:58 and these quarterbacks are throwing for 400

19:00 in the Big 12 Championship game and um, I didn't get that environment.

19:03 So we we came up short and and weren't able to win the championship that year.

19:08 Oddly, I never put this together.

19:10 So that's '06.

19:10 You guys lose in the And then you go in and you

19:12 beat Mahomes in Arrowhead to go to the Super Bowl.

19:14 Have you ever put those two things together?

19:16 Like I got my revenge.

19:18 Uh yeah, I yeah, I I would like to have both.

19:21 Um but, you know, and especially it was

19:23 against my child my dad pointed to Oklahoma.

19:25 I was from Norman.

19:26 Um so so it was kind of a storybook uh

19:29 setting to be able to play OU in that championship game,

19:32 but they had a great team and and uh

19:34 unfortunately I threw three picks and we came up short.

19:37 Was that Ndamukong Suh on your team or no?

19:39 Uh he Ndamukong would have been a freshman.

19:41 And was he playing as a freshman?

19:43 I don't remember.

19:43 Was Yeah, he played some as a freshman.

19:45 He he took off more when when Pliny got there um 2 years later,

19:49 but yeah, he he and I were in the same recruiting class.

19:51 I was a JUCO kid and he was a high school kid.

19:53 And then we were together at the Dolphins

19:55 um and then we were together at the Rams.

19:57 Oh, that's great.

19:58 So, you and I have been together at three different places.

20:00 I love that.

20:01 Um all right, so let's do the segue from one defensive tackle to another.

20:05 Uh I thought it was I thought it was

20:08 maybe the biggest move of the off season uh transactions-wise.

20:12 You guys trade the 10th overall pick for Dexter Lawrence.

20:14 You sign him to a deal once he comes in the building.

20:17 Like I don't know, is that that doesn't seem to be

20:19 typical Bengals huge swing move and yet that was a massive trade.

20:24 Take us through the trade, the conversations,

20:26 and then what you thought of Dexter Lawrence so far.

20:28 Yeah, it was I I'm thrilled to do it.

20:31 Um everybody in the building was on board.

20:33 You know, our our ownership and personnel really drove

20:35 that and and were able to get that accomplished for us.

20:38 As a coaching staff, we just hey, thumbs up.

20:40 We would we'd love to have this guy and and they went to work and you know,

20:43 it it took place over several weeks.

20:45 Those things don't just happen overnight.

20:46 So, they worked really hard at it and were able to get it done and and gave

20:50 us really a foundational piece for our defense um

20:54 that we can lean on and and build around.

20:55 And so, um Dexter's been unbelievable.

20:58 You know, he's he's uh had great energy every day he's been

21:02 in the building and I've enjoyed getting to know him a lot better.

21:04 Uh he was in here, shoot, 10 minutes before this interview started.

21:06 So, I've really enjoyed getting to know him and and watching him work.

21:10 Yeah, and when you say it's going on for weeks,

21:12 is that you guys proactively calling the Giants

21:14 or them once the once his trade demands went out, it was like, "Oh, that Okay.

21:19 Red flag.

21:20 Let's go and and chase that one down." How'd that all go down?

21:23 You know, that's that's the part I I step back from.

21:25 It's Okay, I know it's a possibility and and I

21:29 don't like to be involved in every second of it,

21:31 you know, if if we feel like it's going to happen, that's great.

21:34 Um but I know, you know,

21:35 our Katie Blackburn and Duke Tobin and Steve Odishawich,

21:40 um they worked really hard on it and got it all figured out

21:42 and and their communication with New York is

21:44 really good and Joe Schoen and all those guys.

21:46 So, um just happy it worked out for us.

21:48 It's interesting cuz you look at the landscape of it

21:51 and we had on last week guy Arif Hasan,

21:54 who is like one of these quants who looks at the draft

21:57 board and does all the analysis as far as consensus big board.

22:01 And the truth of the matter is it played out exactly as so.

22:04 The first defensive tackle was taken in the late 20s, Peter Woods.

22:07 Was that part of it?

22:09 You're like, "We need defensive tackle and at 10,

22:12 we don't necessarily see a guy that hits that value." And Dexter Lawrence,

22:16 of course, exceeds all the guys in this draft.

22:19 Yeah.

22:19 I think it he's a proven NFL player, number one.

22:22 So, you know what you're getting when he walks in the door.

22:25 He hit us at a spot that was obviously helpful for I think

22:28 any anybody in the league doesn't want to turn down a premier D-tackle, D-end.

22:33 Um so, for a guy like that to be available for us to be in a position

22:35 where we could give something that New York would

22:38 want and be able to make this trade happen.

22:40 Uh it was really a rare position for us to be

22:42 able to be in and we took advantage of it.

22:43 And so, um it was a win-win for everybody.

22:45 You know, it's a it's a new coaching staff there in New York.

22:48 They get a chance to to start their process.

22:50 We get a guy that that allows us to to hit the ground running here on defense.

22:54 And um so, I think it just worked

22:56 out for everybody and and we're excited about it.

22:58 And then he and B.J.

22:58 Hill, you know, they have a tight relationship.

23:02 relationship.

23:01 B.J.

23:01 we we traded for BJ Um from the Giants in 2021 at the end of training camp.

23:06 And so I know that those two guys are really close.

23:08 For So for them to be reunited is is fun to see as well.

23:11 Was BJ one of those guys once Dexter said

23:14 he wanted out who was kind of texting you guys,

23:16 "Hey, hey, hey, hey." Or he didn't have anything to do with this?

23:19 I think BJ did a great job playing his role

23:22 and and letting Dexter know what it would be like here,

23:24 you know, and cuz it's one thing if a player doesn't want to be here.

23:27 Uh but I think Dexter had heard enough and and could see that this is a place

23:31 that he could really flourish and so I

23:32 think BJ BJ gets the assist there for sure.

23:35 I I got to keep asking about the defense because

23:38 you also added Jonathan Allen who is a, you know,

23:41 long-time NFL veteran who has done it at a high level.

23:44 You add Boye Mafe, you add Bryan Cook.

23:46 Like I know I I keep on saying it from this lens of, "Oh,

23:50 wow, the Bengals." But I maybe shouldn't be surprised.

23:52 But you guys really made it a point to beef

23:54 up that defense with veteran talent this off season.

23:57 As we wake up on May 4th,

24:00 you look at this defensive unit and at least has the names and it

24:04 seems like there's great potential for this thing

24:06 to really take off this season.

24:08 I I agree.

24:08 And we we were able to add several guys on defense.

24:11 You know, you mentioned Jonathan Allen and Boye Mafe up front.

24:14 Bryan Cook who's a local local guy for us.

24:17 He's from Cincinnati, Mount Healthy.

24:19 He went to UC and get a chance

24:21 to bring him back home has been awesome at safety.

24:24 But then you just pair those guys with a lot of the young

24:26 second and third-year players that we already have in the mix.

24:29 And those guys are really ready to take the next step as well.

24:32 And so I think just the the variety we have on defense of the veterans,

24:36 of all the guys you mentioned,

24:37 the young guys that are about to take a big jump,

24:40 they'll all help each other reach their potential.

24:42 And so it's it's a really good mix of guys that we got right now.

24:45 The big question amongst Bengals fans is the linebacker position.

24:48 You guys did draft Cashius Howell who was the SEC Player of the Year,

24:52 comes out of Texas A&M, was given a first-round grade by a lot of teams.

24:56 You guys get them in the second round,

24:58 but that linebacker position still might be a question mark.

25:01 What you have in-house already,

25:02 do you guys feel pretty comfortable with the guys you got?

25:05 We do.

25:05 You know, and Baron Browning Demetrius Knight Jr.

25:08 Those are two guys that that we pressed into the fold early last year.

25:11 Demetrius started day one,

25:12 Baron kind of took over that job midpoint of the season

25:15 knowing that the dividends were going to pay off you know,

25:18 at the end of the season, which which they did.

25:20 The experience those guys got and then going into year two.

25:22 So, um and I think like any great linebacking core

25:25 when you beef up the guys in front of them,

25:27 it makes their job a lot easier as well.

25:29 So, um those guys have really worked hard all off season.

25:33 They're they're ready to jump out the bits to get back on the field.

25:35 So, I really think those two guys are poised to take

25:37 a really big jump behind all the veterans in front of them.

25:41 Um and just with the year's experience of seeing

25:43 what this league's going to be like and so,

25:45 um we're really high on on their ceiling

25:47 and the direction they're headed right now.

25:49 Great.

25:49 Um that's the defense and then we look at the offense,

25:52 which has not had any issues the last few

25:55 years as long as Joe Burrow's on the field.

25:58 You feel good about the offensive unit.

25:59 Of course, you guys made some some moves in the off-season to kind of bolster

26:02 that, but as a whole that entire roster

26:05 looks like it's blue-chip players across the board.

26:09 How you feeling as you go into the 2026 season?

26:11 For great.

26:12 We got all 11 starters back.

26:14 Um so, you know, everybody's back on the on offense and um able

26:18 to add some pieces in the draft that can come in here and compete.

26:21 We got guys that are developing in year two and so,

26:24 I just I I think it's really good mix of guys and um you add

26:27 that with the things that we did on defense and I I think there's there's a lot

26:30 of reason for excitement um here in our building and here with our fan base

26:34 and and now we just got to put in the work and and go get after it.

26:37 Yeah, and then obviously you guys have such good offensive line play,

26:41 but you added depth there also.

26:43 I guess the question is how do we keep Burrow upright

26:46 and how do we make sure Joe can make it through the season?

26:48 Are there any anything you can do strategy-wise in April, May, June,

26:52 July to ensure that this guy can get it through the season?

26:55 Well, I think probably our offensive line doesn't get

26:56 enough credit for how they really played last year.

26:59 And and just when a guy gets injured, um you know,

27:02 there's a lot of blame that that falls on their feet.

27:04 But if you you really watch the tape and watch how these guys played,

27:07 we're we're really um excited about where our offensive line is at.

27:10 And and especially with how our defense can play, you know,

27:13 with the talent we've added over there, um we're going to control games.

27:17 And so, um I feel very confident Joe's going

27:19 to be in a great place for us and be able

27:21 to maximize all the all the talent that he's got

27:23 around him and and be able to have a big year.

27:25 But um our personnel department's done a great job

27:28 of giving us a lot of great players to work with.

27:30 And now now it's on us as coaches and players to to get

27:33 the work done and and put our best foot forward when the season starts.

27:36 You're the only head coach in the NFL that Joe Burrow's had.

27:38 Take us through your relationship and the quarterback

27:41 head coach uh dynamic that you two have.

27:45 Yeah, I love working with Joe.

27:46 I think we got a great relationship.

27:48 Um able to be transparent with each other on where we are at all times.

27:51 And um it's been fun just to watch him evolve over

27:54 his his seven years in the league now going into year seven.

27:57 And uh he's got high expectations for himself.

28:00 We have high expectations for him.

28:01 And um just again trying to maximize everything around

28:04 him to make sure that we can achieve that success.

28:06 But he's very hungry um to get back out there on the field

28:09 and and get to work like the rest of these guys.

28:11 When you see him at the Derby or you see him at that Fanatics, you know,

28:15 deal playing for like is that stuff you're

28:17 aware that he's going to be out and about?

28:19 Or is that one you find out like the rest of us like,

28:21 "Oh, Joe Burrow's at the Derby hanging out with the Raising Cane's guy." Okay.

28:23 Like No, no, I don't I don't keep tabs on his social life.

28:27 Uh the Fanatics part was was but that falls into my world as well.

28:30 So, uh we gave him approval to do it.

28:32 I did not watch it.

28:33 I was at the Nebraska-Vanderbilt Sweet Sixteen game uh or a round of 32 game.

28:38 But um I I just I didn't want to watch that part of it.

28:42 And fortunately, we got through it.

28:43 And he was able to go out there and compete, which is what he's all about.

28:46 And and promoting the league.

28:48 And so, I think that's all great.

28:50 Uh but, we got through it.

28:51 Now, we focus on the Bengals.

28:53 Yeah.

28:53 And of course, you've got those two receivers in Higgins and and Ja'Marr Chase.

28:58 I I don't think there's a better duo in the league.

29:01 Um when you look at that wide receivers room,

29:04 and it goes deeper than that, obviously,

29:06 uh with my guy from Princeton, Yosh Vas.

29:09 We go right down the list.

29:10 It is as deep and as talented as any group.

29:13 Um what's your expectation for them as far as what

29:16 they did last year and where they can go next year?

29:19 Yeah, I I think they've they complement each other really well.

29:22 You know, Ja'Marr and Tee, speaking about those guys.

29:24 And they played together for a long time.

29:27 We're able to use those guys, try to maximize their abilities.

29:29 You know, Tee's a big outside receiver um that teams have to prepare for.

29:34 And then, Ja'Marr's the guy that we move around in the slot and outside.

29:37 And um he's tremendous in any way.

29:38 You can play him at running back role,

29:39 if you wanted to, to get him even more touches.

29:41 But, um always exploring ways to get the ball in his hands.

29:44 So, it's it's a really great starting point for us.

29:46 And then, so much competition behind him.

29:47 You mentioned Andrei Iosivas from Princeton, Hawaii.

29:51 Um he's been awesome for us.

29:53 Uh and then, we just drafted, you know,

29:55 uh Colby Young from Georgia, who'll come in here and compete.

29:58 And And we got a lot of guys in that room.

30:00 So, a lot of guys that have been here several years.

30:02 Um Mitch Tinsley, Charlie Jones,

30:04 guys that are just coming in here and competing and trying to find opportunity.

30:07 And we'll give it to all those guys to go earn it.

30:10 Uh but, we feel like we've got a really deep room there.

30:12 All right, let's take it from like a bigger picture.

30:15 No more John Harbaugh in the division, no more Mike Tomlin.

30:19 Uh you're the most tenured coach, obviously, in the AFC North right now.

30:24 But, with those changes,

30:26 there's obviously a different dynamic as far as how we look at this division.

30:31 Have you had a chance to kind of consider it and say,

30:32 "Okay, now it's me, Todd Monken, uh Jesse Minter, and then, of course,

30:38 Mike McCarthy are now the head coaches." How much

30:40 watch swayed over the course of the last 12 months?

30:43 It's different with what that means, I don't know.

30:45 You know, it's we're just focused on ourselves and let's

30:47 be the best version of the Bengals we can be.

30:50 So, every everything I'm trying to do is just a training camp schedule.

30:53 How can we be at our best?

30:55 What are our early season challenges we'll

30:56 face once the season the schedule comes out?

30:59 And then when we play those teams, we'll we'll see if it's any different,

31:02 you know, and but it is it is you're right, it is strange, you know,

31:06 it's since I walked in here it was Harbaugh

31:09 and Tomlin were at their respective teams the whole time.

31:11 Kevin got hired in Cleveland the year after I got hired here.

31:14 He and I have known each other forever,

31:15 so that part's it's unusual when you think about it for a minute,

31:19 but I think what does it really change?

31:23 We'll find out when we play those teams.

31:24 I think the perspective from where I'm sitting,

31:27 it feels like the Bengals are having a different kind of offseason.

31:31 Couple little things.

31:31 Obviously, big trade and then some, you know, signings.

31:35 Obviously, I kind of like the fact that you

31:37 guys had your assistant general manager speak with the media

31:41 after the draft and those guys got a chance

31:43 to talk because there's always been this cloud of mystery.

31:45 Like we know Duke Tobin's there,

31:46 but like and it felt like the Bengals are kind of like here,

31:50 open up the door, here we are, transparent.

31:52 We got Trey Brown, you can mention the other two guys who also spoke,

31:55 but a different type of approach to speaking about the team,

31:59 which I thought was pretty cool.

32:00 I think first of all, it's just we feel like we're an ego-less organization.

32:05 No nobody really wants the credit, you know,

32:06 it's it's we want to pass around the credit when things

32:09 are good and take responsibility when things aren't going our right way,

32:12 but you're right, Duke Duke let those guys get

32:15 up there and speak and you saw Steve Rodich, Mike Potts, Trey Brown.

32:20 Those are three guys that that got a chance

32:22 to do the press conferences and they're all really impressive.

32:25 They'll all be GMs, you know,

32:27 sooner rather than later in my opinion because they put

32:30 in the work and Duke does a great job of just empowering everybody.

32:32 He wants everyone's opinions.

32:34 He wants to know where where stand.

32:35 He wants to know what what feedback you've got on any decision.

32:38 Um so, I think it's a very collaborative group that we have

32:41 up there and um they've they've certainly all earned the opportunity to get

32:45 up there and speak and and stand on the guys that we brought

32:48 in and uh that was exciting to see those guys get that opportunity.

32:51 And after the draft, which was cool.

32:53 Usually it's like we'll do something at maybe combine or like I feel

32:55 like this is the first time I've heard Duke talk after the draft,

32:57 which gave us a greater detail and depth into your thinking as an organization.

33:02 It It's great.

33:02 And you know, just the other thing about

33:04 our scouting staff is those guys live here, they work in the building.

33:07 Whereas if you go elsewhere, they they live around the country,

33:09 but we get a chance as a coaching staff to really know them,

33:12 know their families.

33:13 So, you feel really connected uh to to the personnel side

33:17 of things here cuz we're in the building every single day,

33:19 you know, we see them working out,

33:20 we see them at practice, we see them in the community.

33:22 And so, um I I think that's what separates Cincinnati a little bit is

33:26 is that bond that we have with the the coaching staff and the personnel staff.

33:29 You mentioned Katie Blackburn and I you know,

33:32 you got Mike Smith Mike Brown there obviously as well.

33:34 Can you take us through like the higher levels of the building and how

33:37 hands-on they are and maybe how the football ments with the business side of it?

33:42 Yeah, constant communication.

33:44 You know, they they work in the building, they're at practice every day.

33:48 Um I wouldn't have it any other way because there's there's nothing left unsaid,

33:51 you know, it's you get a chance to communicate every decision you're making.

33:54 And and it's been really good for me, you know,

33:56 as a first-time head coach eight years ago to have all that experience,

34:00 you know, Mike Brown's been around this profession for decades.

34:02 And um started the team in 1968 with his dad.

34:06 So, just to have all that uh experience to to draw from and um

34:12 they've treated me they they couldn't have treated me and my family any better,

34:15 you know, and and so,

34:17 um grateful to have the opportunity to be here and interact with them every day.

34:20 And um again, it's just you get a chance to articulate

34:23 all your thoughts and feelings and um it's not a once-a-month meeting,

34:26 it's it's you get a chance to be around them all the time.

34:28 And so, I think that's um how I prefer it.

34:32 That's That's how I would do it if you

34:33 were starting from scratch and um I thought Katie did

34:36 a great job with the Dexter getting that deal done

34:38 and finalized and and working through that and um you know,

34:41 so it's been a really good process for all of us.

34:44 He's 92.

34:44 He's still active with the team?

34:46 Oh, yeah.

34:46 Mike's He's uh Mike's one of the first ones in the building.

34:49 So, Mike and and again, he's not someone that said he wouldn't

34:52 want credit for anything, but um you know,

34:54 I I really value my relationship with Mike and I think

34:57 anyone that's been around him here in the building is is grateful

34:59 um to have just him as a resource because he's he's

35:02 been phenomenal for me and my growth over the last 8 years.

35:05 I love it.

35:06 That is so cool.

35:07 Um all right, let's go around the league a little bit.

35:09 Uh obviously, you were an assistant for Sean McVay.

35:12 Um what did you learn from Sean in that brief

35:15 time you were with him and then how have you applied

35:17 that maybe to what you have done and now that you're

35:20 8 years in if there was a young up-and-coming coach,

35:24 what would be one thing you would say that you would like to give

35:26 as advice for how they can get started and kind of hit the ground running?

35:30 Well, I I think for for Sean, you know,

35:32 you saw what culture really was and and how

35:35 it can immediately translate to success on the field.

35:38 Um I didn't think probably when we got there in 2017 that first spring,

35:43 I didn't know how good we were going to be, you know,

35:45 and and uh he ended up helping that team get to the playoffs in year one,

35:49 win the division in year one, make the playoffs in year one,

35:52 and then year two being the Super Bowl.

35:54 And and so, I think that just speaks

35:56 to how he articulated why we did everything.

35:59 Here's why we're going to meet the way we're meeting.

36:01 Here's why we're going to do our walk-throughs the way we do them.

36:03 Here's how we're going to utilize sports science.

36:05 Um here's here's how we're going to practice every single

36:08 day and the expectations and and it it was very transparent,

36:11 not just with the players, but with the coaches as well.

36:13 It wasn't just say, "I'm the head coach.

36:14 I'm going to sit in my office and you're going to guess

36:17 why we're doing all this stuff." He was 31 years old,

36:19 which is crazy to think about.

36:21 Um I think I was 34 at the time he got hired.

36:24 And so, just really cool to see a guy that transparent in the seat he was in.

36:29 So you felt like you learned a lot faster that the whys.

36:33 And so then when you went into a job interview to be a head coach,

36:36 you're not guessing what it was supposed to look like.

36:38 You don't have your book in front of you

36:39 and you're trying to flip through the page.

36:40 You were just speaking what you knew and what

36:42 you believed in cuz you'd seen it happen.

36:44 And I think that's probably why you see a lot of those guys get jobs

36:47 and and have success because they they've seen how

36:49 it's supposed to be done and believe in it.

36:51 And when you believe in it, the people around you believe in what

36:55 you're saying and and again everything changes.

36:57 The the the buildings that we're in a stadium here in Cincinnati.

37:00 So our schedule's got to be different how we

37:02 lift and meet different than what they do in LA.

37:04 It's probably different say plug in exactly what the Rams did.

37:07 Yeah and it's just so you evolve in your own way over over the years.

37:10 I'm sure Kevin's done the same thing.

37:12 I'm sure Matt's done the same thing in Green Bay

37:13 and um so everybody just gets the opportunity to Here's the nuts

37:17 and the bolts of what I know works and then

37:19 we'll grow it to how it works best for our organization,

37:21 our players and and take it from there.

37:23 And I think all those guys have probably done that.

37:25 Michael LaFleur was his offensive coordinator.

37:27 They draft Ty Simpson and Sean is is looking

37:30 just furious on the call with Simpson and then

37:32 the president Michael LaFleur who's now a rival

37:34 and the would have to keep on calling him Mr.

37:36 Grumpy.

37:36 Have you had a chance to check in with Sean to see

37:38 how he's doing cuz he didn't look happy the night of the draft.

37:42 Yeah I I'm not going to read too much into that, you know.

37:44 And uh probably the last time I talked to Sean was at the league meetings,

37:47 you know, in Phoenix.

37:48 But um now Sean's Sean's got got a reason for everything he does and

37:53 I've never seen him mad before.

37:54 He looked actually disgruntled and then he says the next day,

37:56 "I was just feeling grumpy." I'm like,

37:58 "All right, I've never seen you grumpy either, pal.

37:59 All right, that's good." Um all right, so you have that.

38:02 Did you also work with Ben Johnson in Miami?

38:04 Did you guys have yeah, Ben four years.

38:07 about Ben Johnson cuz I think he's another fascinating person in this industry.

38:11 Yeah, Ben's unbelievable.

38:12 Uh Ben Ben and I worked side by side

38:14 literally side by side for four years together in Miami.

38:17 Um we sat in the quarterback room together for four years

38:19 with with Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore and all those guys,

38:22 and um And so now, you know, Ben it's awesome to see him in Chicago.

38:27 No no shock that he's having success.

38:29 He's one of the smartest people I've ever been around.

38:31 Reminds me of Sean in a lot

38:32 of different ways from from a football IQ standpoint.

38:35 Um two very similar people that way, and and so it's cool.

38:38 It's my brother Press is there as the OC,

38:40 so um obviously an organization I'm invested in when we're not playing

38:44 them because uh two guys that I I think the world of.

38:47 What and one more, Dan Campbell.

38:48 What was it like young Dan Campbell in Miami?

38:51 Yeah, well, it was you know,

38:52 our our offensive staff meetings were I think uh I was in the middle,

38:56 Dan was to my right, and Ben was to my left.

38:58 So, for years uh you know, the the the three of us sitting right there.

39:02 So, we had some great times, learned a lot from those guys.

39:05 Um you know, Dan's taught me a lot.

39:08 Um I knew him when I was at Texas A&M.

39:10 He came in and helped me coach tight ends there,

39:12 and and uh learned a lot from Ben as well.

39:14 So, uh two great guys, and now they're rivals in the division now,

39:17 you know, so that's that's fun to watch as well.

39:20 It is.

39:20 Um all right, what does Zac Taylor do when you're not

39:24 in the building or in the stadium as we're doing this interview?

39:26 Like, what do you What are your You're so low-key like I never You never

39:29 see Zac Taylor shirt off at a concert going nuts at like an EDM festival.

39:33 So, like, what do you do What do you do to unwind?

39:36 Well, I'm I'm probably at a a basketball gym,

39:39 a soccer field, a flag football field, a softball field.

39:43 Um uh or volleyball.

39:45 Uh those are How many kids do you have?

39:48 I got four kids, you know, and they're All sports.

39:51 All sports, basically.

39:52 We're we're in everything.

39:53 So, uh literally every second of my weekend or weeknight

39:56 um is at a field somewhere, in a car driving.

39:59 Um but, you know, I I I go to Vegas once a year, and and uh play craps.

40:04 That's That's my only way to unwind, really, um when I'm not with family.

40:07 So, um I check your pride.

40:09 We got a group about 15, 20 guys that goes every year,

40:12 and we enjoy our 3 days there, and then we get back to get back to work.

40:16 I Could I come one time?

40:17 I want to come to this thing.

40:18 everybody's free to come.

40:20 15 15 dudes, 3 days,

40:22 and is it at the tables the whole time or you just playing craps?

40:26 Yeah, I'm I'm just craps.

40:27 I'm not I'm not at the And do you have a strategy or you complete

40:30 them or you're not like a come line guy?

40:33 The what?

40:34 The come You don't play like the You You You're aggressive, right?

40:36 Like you don't play against the Okay.

40:39 Do you play craps?

40:40 I do.

40:41 Okay.

40:42 I I play the come line.

40:43 I I do not play the don't come.

40:45 That would be the issue.

40:46 I would walk away from the table.

40:47 Yeah.

40:48 Um no, I I love playing.

40:49 I'm I'm aggressive.

40:51 That's That's how I unwind for my three days.

40:53 abuse a dealer ever or are you like all friendly and smiles?

40:57 Cuz I get I get personal if I'm losing.

41:00 I get upset if people are putting their hand

41:03 on the table as the dice are coming out.

41:05 You're going to feel my body language real fast.

41:07 And uh Yeah, if you're if you're one of my friends at the end of the table,

41:11 I'm going to make sure you got your end of the table.

41:12 That That's your responsibility.

41:14 You make sure you keep those people in line and um but when we're we're winning,

41:17 man, I'm I'm the life of the party.

41:19 I can promise you that.

41:20 So, uh no, we have good times out there.

41:22 Who's the Zac Taylor craps crew?

41:24 I want to hear.

41:26 It's changed over the years.

41:27 So, it's it's a bunch of childhood friends of mine from Norman.

41:30 Okay.

41:30 And then and then people I've met over the course of my life.

41:33 So, I got a buddy from Wake Forest when I went to school there.

41:36 Um a buddy from Nebraska uh that that um I met when I was in school there.

41:40 And then a bunch of, you know, some Cincinnati dads that I'm friends with.

41:44 like literally dads.

41:46 And a couple Yeah, I mean, the guys in my neighbors uh my friends that you know,

41:49 coach my my youth sports teams.

41:51 A couple coaches on our staff.

41:53 And then uh Ben Johnson's been um I'm trying to think who else has been.

41:57 My brother's been.

41:59 Uh yeah, so there there's some Raiders guys, you know,

42:00 that I know sometimes that are out in Vegas.

42:02 Nick Colts um that crew, you know, they'll come out there and visit with us.

42:06 Uh and what kind of dad are you at these games?

42:08 Are you as the coach of an NFL team, if you're watching flag football,

42:11 do you let the coach do his thing or are you kind of vocal and say, "Hey, guys,

42:15 I only ask when needed.

42:17 I try to stay out of it.

42:18 Um Basketball, too?

42:19 You're just a

42:20 No, I I am the best scorekeeper you've ever seen at a basketball game.

42:23 So, I I immediately go to the I run the scoreboard.

42:27 Um we're going to have team fouls, we're going to have player fouls,

42:29 we're going to have the possession's going to be right.

42:31 If it's a jump ball, we're not looking around.

42:33 We know No, look, it's I'm pointing the direction that's got it.

42:36 Sure it is.

42:37 And so, I'm I I think I'm best in the world at keeping score at these games.

42:41 I've probably done it a thousand times.

42:43 So, Electronic scoreboard or the flip of the No, no, electronic.

42:47 We're way beyond the flip.

42:48 We're we're electronic.

42:49 I'll keep the book if I have to.

42:50 I'll do both at the same time if you need me to.

42:52 You can do both books?

42:53 I've done I've done scoreboard and book when needed.

42:57 Take great pride in that.

42:58 If they need it official at volleyball, I'll raise the flag.

43:02 Okay.

43:03 Um I like to do the jobs people don't really like to do.

43:05 I know it's a pain when when you're trying to get someone to to do those tasks.

43:09 And so, um I take great pride in volunteering when needed.

43:13 I've ref'd soccer before.

43:14 I'll do whatever you need me to do.

43:15 Quick with the yellow card or are you kind of patient?

43:17 You let the guys play?

43:18 Oh, I called my daughter for offsides.

43:20 She asked me on the car ride, "What is offside?" I tried to explain it to her.

43:24 And then as I'm raising the flag,

43:26 I realized I probably didn't do a very good job.

43:28 Uh She was inside the 18-yard line.

43:30 I mean, what do you want me to do?

43:31 She's in the box.

43:32 Yeah, she can't do it.

43:33 That's it.

43:34 Uh on that note, it's it's amazing with AI

43:37 and all this stuff that we're doing with automation.

43:39 Like, I have a heart for the chain gang guys.

43:41 I'm upset they're getting rid of the chain gang guys.

43:44 We still have them in youth football, I guess, but cuz I've done that, too.

43:47 Um so, it's it's still going strong, I think, in the youth sports.

43:50 So, I Yeah, maybe as it gets as it

43:52 gets pushed out um in the in the higher leagues,

43:54 but um still going strong in the youth sports, I can promise you that.

43:58 Okay.

43:58 So, it's May 4th, we're recording this.

44:00 We'll wrap it.

44:00 But, what is the next few months like for the Bengals?

44:03 And do you have workouts?

44:04 Do you have the guys in the building?

44:05 Just to give the listener and the viewer a chance

44:07 to understand what the off season is for an NFL team.

44:11 So, we got our rookies coming in here May 11th.

44:13 Um so, that'll be their first day after

44:15 the rookie mini camp on the field with our vets.

44:17 And so, uh we'll have a couple weeks of phase two where we get

44:20 a chance to go out there and throw routes on air, do on air work.

44:24 And then once June hits, um we go on the field for OTAs.

44:28 So, we'll have a couple weeks of OTAs or mandatory mini camp.

44:31 Um you get a chance to do offense versus defense stuff.

44:34 And um so, again, you know,

44:35 it's a big team chemistry portion of the off season for for our team.

44:40 We got new free agents coming in.

44:41 We got new draft picks.

44:42 Getting to know everybody, getting them acclimated with one another so that when

44:46 we take that break and come back in training camp, these guys know each other.

44:49 They know the expectations.

44:51 And they're ready to go compete.

44:52 Can I ask one thing that I would love to see just as a goof almost?

44:55 So, you know, Burrow's it's the Met Gala tonight.

44:58 He might be there.

44:59 Uh the Fanatics party, the Taylor Swift wedding, all these things.

45:02 Burrow might be on the scene.

45:04 Can you one time, whether it be Milan or Paris or a fashion show,

45:09 like can you show up to one of these things and just be No, one time.

45:12 Just one time.

45:13 And like Burrow see you and be like, "Oh, crap.

45:15 Coach is here." No, I don't think he'd be too concerned if he saw me there.

45:19 Um but no, I you're not going to see me at any of that stuff.

45:22 It's uh you rarely see me outside of my house

45:26 if I'm not at a a youth sporting event.

45:28 I don't I don't get out very much.

45:29 I love it.

45:30 Um I appreciate you taking the time.

45:32 I know you're busy.

45:34 And I will say this, uh three years you guys haven't made the playoffs in a row,

45:38 but yet there is a little buzz around the league about what

45:41 the Bengals did this off season and the way you guys fought last year.

45:45 How's it feel that maybe this season

45:47 it's you're not the underdogs in that division.

45:49 You might be the lead dogs even though

45:51 you haven't made the playoffs in three seasons.

45:53 Yeah, that's always been our mentality.

45:54 It's been a frustrating three seasons uh to be

45:56 sitting there in January and be at home.

45:58 So, it's um I'm I'm glad you brought that up cuz

46:01 it's it it pushes you through the day because it is frustrating.

46:05 We got a lot of talent we're building and now we

46:07 got to maximize that and get back to to where we belong.

46:11 Okay, this is the 2006 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

46:15 Don't ever forget it and I don't want to hear about Adrian Peterson.

46:17 If he was healthy, he would have played and you still would have won it.

46:19 That's how I look at it.

46:21 I'll take it.

46:22 Appreciate it, Peter.

46:23 Zac Taylor, awesome man.

46:24 Thank you for joining the Schrager Hour.

46:26 Thanks for having me.

46:27 Appreciate you, dude.

46:28 I thought that was awesome.

46:29 Zac Taylor, a man of many traits and many skills.

46:33 I didn't realize he's the best basketball scorekeeper

46:35 in the greater Ohio region, maybe the country.

46:38 If you are a better youth basketball scorekeeper,

46:41 please chime in, say the word, would love to hear from you.

46:44 Uh but I I know it's early,

46:46 but like I'm kind of in on the Bengals and I know it sounds like,

46:49 all right, I just drank the the the good juice from from Zac,

46:52 but there is some stability there.

46:54 When you hear 11 starters are coming back

46:57 on offense and they beefed up the defense with studs.

47:00 Like Dexter Lawrence is a stud and Bryan Cook

47:03 is a stud and a major loss for Kansas City.

47:06 Jonathan Allen is a stud.

47:08 Like I don't know.

47:09 To me, uh Bengals might be the team to watch

47:12 in the AFC North and I appreciate Zac Taylor joining the show.

47:15 Uh schedule, hopefully next week we'll do a whole pod around it.

47:19 If it's 2 weeks, that means those guys are being lazy.

47:21 Yep, calling them out.

47:22 Um we appreciate you guys listening and watching the Schrager Hour.

47:26 Find it every week over where you find

47:28 your podcast and over on ESPN linear channels.

47:31 Thanks for listening, everybody.