The Stone Shields Show: Cincinnati Bengals, Reds, Bearcats Daily Sports Talk

Bengals NOT Discussing A Contract Restructure With Joe Burrow, Reds vs. Cardinals Series Preview, Jerrod Calhoun Lands 5-Star

On today's show, we discuss the Bengals not going forward with a Joe Burrow contract restructure this offseason, a critical series for the Reds as they host the Cardinals this weekend, and Jerrod Calhoun landing a 5-star recruit from Princeton High School.  The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 The rivalry always feels louder when the Cardinals come to town, and this weekend’s series at Great American Ball Park arrives at a pivotal moment for the Reds. Cincinnati returns home carrying some momentum after a much-needed series win in Philadelphia, where the pitching staff tightened up and the lineup rediscovered some late-inning punch. From a Reds perspective, the formula is pretty clear: ride the energy of the home crowd, let the young stars create chaos, and pressure a Cardinals pitching staff that has been inconsistent despite St. Louis staying competitive in the NL Central race. Elly De La Cruz remains the centerpiece of everything Cincinnati does offensively. When he’s getting on base and forcing mistakes, the Reds become one of the league’s most dangerous transition offenses. Veterans like Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson also give Cincinnati needed balance against a Cardinals club that has leaned heavily on younger contributors this season. The biggest encouraging sign for the Reds lately has been the rotation stabilizing. Andrew Abbott continues to look like the dependable anchor Cincinnati desperately needed, and the bullpen has shown signs of regaining form after a shaky stretch earlier this month. Terry Francona’s club knows these divisional games carry extra weight, especially against a Cardinals team that appears ahead of schedule in its youth movement. The Cardinals will arrive confident, but this feels like an opportunity for the Reds to reestablish themselves in the division race. At home, with the weather warming up and the ball carrying at GABP, Cincinnati’s offense has the potential to turn this into an explosive weekend. If the Reds can grab Friday night’s opener and force St. Louis to play from behind, the atmosphere downtown could start feeling a lot like meaningful summer baseball again. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow

Joe Burrow Opens Up On Bengals Offseason, Reds Take Series In Philadelphia, Aaron Rodgers Retirement Tour

On today's show, we discuss some takeaways from Joe Burrow's press conference yesterday, as it felt like there was a newfound energy and confidence for the Bengals' QB1. Plus, the Reds take the series against the Phillies after a nice outing from Andrew Abbott, and Aaron Rodgers announces 2026 will officially be his last season in the NFL. The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 At his press conference on Wednesday, Joe Burrow sounded confident, energized, and more optimistic about the Cincinnati Bengals than he has in several years. The biggest headline from the session was his bold belief that the Bengals can win the Super Bowl this season. Burrow said the current roster is the most talented team he has played with since entering the NFL, pointing to the organization’s aggressive offseason moves as proof that the front office is fully committed to competing for a championship. Burrow praised the Bengals for adding experienced defensive talent, including Dexter Lawrence II, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Jonathan Allen, and Kyle Dugger. He explained that those additions give the team more toughness, leadership, and consistency on defense. According to Burrow, the team now has veteran players who understand how to maintain a high level of play every week, which he believes is critical for a deep playoff run. He also discussed his own health and mindset after last season’s toe injury limited him to only part of the year. Burrow said he feels healthy again and appears motivated by the frustration of missing the playoffs for three straight seasons. He noted that there is noticeable excitement around the locker room and that players understand the urgency heading into 2026. Another interesting moment came when Burrow addressed former teammate Trey Hendrickson joining the Baltimore Ravens. Burrow said he was not surprised by the move and acknowledged that he understands Hendrickson’s mentality and competitive nature. Even so, he made it clear that AFC North matchups against Baltimore will now carry even more intensity. Overall, Burrow’s message was simple: the Bengals believe their championship window is open right now. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow

Chase Burns An All-Star? Zac Taylor Disrespected In NFL Head Coach Rankings, Cavs Collapse vs. Knicks

On today's show, we discuss another brilliant performance from Chase Burns: should he represent the NL in the All-Star game? Plus, Zac Taylor gets disrespected in NFL head coaching rankings. Also, a catastrophic collapse at MSG for the Cavs, and Rashee Rice is going to jail. The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 The Cincinnati Reds walked into Citizens Bank Park needing a spark, and rookie flamethrower Chase Burns delivered a masterpiece. In a 4-1 victory over the Phillies on Tuesday night, Burns looked every bit like the future ace Cincinnati believes he can become, overpowering one of baseball’s hottest lineups with poise, command, and electric stuff. Burns was dominant from the opening inning, attacking hitters with a fastball that exploded through the zone and secondary pitches that consistently kept Philadelphia off balance. Over six innings, he allowed just one run on three hits while striking out nine and issuing no walks. Even more impressive, the Phillies failed to record a hit after the third inning as Burns completely settled into rhythm. The only blemish on his night came on a solo homer from Trea Turner in the third inning. Burns responded like a veteran, retiring hitters efficiently and refusing to let the game speed up on him. Every time Philadelphia appeared ready to build momentum, Burns answered with another strikeout or weak contact. His command was razor sharp, and his confidence only grew as the night unfolded. Cincinnati’s offense backed him with timely situational hitting. Sacrifice flies from JJ Bleday and Dane Myers helped the Reds erase an early deficit before adding insurance runs late. But this game belonged to Burns. Against a Phillies team that had won eight of its previous nine games, the young right-hander looked fearless. At just 23 years old, Burns is rapidly becoming more than a promising rookie — he is evolving into the stopper Cincinnati desperately needs. Tuesday night wasn’t merely another strong outing. It felt like the arrival of a star. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow

Joe Burrow Speaks On Bengals Offseason & Schedule, Reds Crushing Loss To Phillies, Brendan Sorsby Files Injunction

On today's show, we discuss what Joe Burrow had to say to Geoff Hobson regarding the Bengals offseason and schedule release. Plus, the Reds blew another late lead last night after Graham Ashcraft surrendered a home run to Bryson Stott in the 8th inning. Also, Brendan Sorsby files an injunction against the NCAA, and Aaron Rodgers officially returns to Pittsburgh. The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 The Cincinnati Reds found another painful way to lose Monday night, coughing up a late lead in a 5-4 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. For a team that looked poised to build momentum earlier this month, the latest collapse felt far too familiar. Cincinnati carried a 4-3 advantage into the bottom of the eighth inning after Spencer Steer delivered a clutch RBI double, only to watch the bullpen unravel again when Bryson Stott crushed a two-run homer with two outs. That swing erased what had been a solid effort from much of the Reds roster. Nick Lodolo battled through traffic and kept Cincinnati in the game, while Sal Stewart continued his breakout season with a game-tying homer earlier in the night. The offense did enough to win on the road against a Phillies club that entered the series red hot, but once again the late innings became Cincinnati’s undoing. The frustration surrounding the Reds is growing because these losses are beginning to pile up in identical fashion. The bullpen has been overworked, the defense has had shaky moments, and every narrow defeat seems to drain confidence from a talented young roster. Graham Ashcraft had been reliable for most of the season, but Stott’s decisive blast turned another winnable game into another gut punch. At 20-11 earlier this month, the Reds looked like one of baseball’s surprise contenders. Now they are back at .500 and searching for answers. If Cincinnati wants to stay relevant in the National League playoff race, it has to figure out how to protect late leads before this rough stretch spirals into something much worse. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow

Bengals Schedule Breakdown & Takeaways, Reds Drop 12 Of 16, Aaron Rai Wins PGA Championship

On today's show, we break down the Bengals 2026 schedule. We discuss how this is another example of the offseason going well for Cincinnati, good primetime fortune, and the most pivotal stretch of the season. Plus, the Reds lose the series in Cleveland; they have now lost 12 of their last 16. Also, Aaron Rai rallies to win the PGA Championship. The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 The biggest takeaway from the 2026 schedule for the Cincinnati Bengals is simple: the path back to the playoffs is there if they survive the opening month. Cincinnati opens against several dangerous opponents, including playoff-caliber teams like Tampa Bay, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Jacksonville. That stretch could define the season early, especially after the Bengals stumbled out of the gate in recent years.   After that, however, the schedule becomes much more manageable. Analysts have pointed out that the Bengals own one of the league’s easiest strength-of-schedule rankings entering 2026, thanks largely to games against the AFC South and NFC South. The middle and late portions of the schedule feature several rebuilding or inconsistent teams, giving Cincinnati a real chance to stack wins if Joe Burrow stays healthy. Another major storyline is the favorable late-season setup. From Week 10 onward, the Bengals avoid many elite teams, and key games against rivals like Kansas City and Baltimore are scheduled at home. That could be huge in a crowded AFC playoff race where tiebreakers matter. The international game in Madrid against the Atlanta Falcons also stands out. It gives Cincinnati added national exposure and another showcase for Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. One quirky scheduling wrinkle: the Bengals do not get consecutive home games until Weeks 17 and 18, an unusual layout that could make sustaining momentum more difficult throughout the season. Overall, the 2026 schedule feels like an opportunity. Cincinnati has enough star power and offseason upgrades — especially along the defensive line with Dexter Lawrence — to capitalize on a softer slate. If the Bengals avoid another slow start, this schedule sets up well for a return to postseason contention. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow