This is the Locked-on Bengals podcast.

I'm your host, James Erpene.

Great to be with you on a Wednesday, on Twitter, at James Rupin.

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If you're new to the podcast, I'm James Rupin and I cover the Bengals for ESPN 1530 and 700

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And we do this every single weekday.

It's your daily Bengals fix.

A lot to get to in today's show, including something that I forced into yesterday's podcast, admittedly, that I

want to elaborate on today. Plus, ESPN posted an article about the 99 NFL players, coaches,

and themes that will define 2018. Andy Dalton, Tyler Eifert, Marvin Lewis, make the list. I want to

discuss those coming up in just a bit.

But first, Peter Schreger defends Andy Dalton says that we're sleeping on him. Here's Peter

Shreger from NFL Network yesterday. I thought last year was a tough, tough road for Dalton. They've

been a top 10 pick on John Ross. He doesn't catch a single ball. They deplete their offensive line. Andrew Whitworth's gone. Kevin Zitler is gone. And then Dalton gets thrown in there,

and they fire his offensive coordinator about two weeks into the season. And what's he do to finish

the year? They beat the Lions. They beat the Ravens. They knock both those teams out of the playoffs. They end on a good note. And Dalton, for all his flaws and all his big prime time, inabilities, whatever you want to say,

this is the playoffs five out of seven years in the NFL.

And he's going to his eighth season.

And he's playing in a division that has been very good.

I mean, besides the Browns, you're looking at the Steelers and the Ravens who are perennial playoff contenders.

...