Mike Giardi Twitter thread on Bengals

[*pally*]

I thought this was a remarkable thread for a couple of reasons. One is because he waited more than a week to post which means he's been thinking about it and it wasn't just a knee-jerk reaction. Two, because NFL reporters are in locker rooms all the time, the fact that this stood out to him enough to post about it a week later tells us just how unusual the Bengal's locker room really is.

It is a testament to Zac, his assistants, and the players on our team. They represent our city well

Hendrickson stopped, put his hand on Ossai's chest, got close & told him that 1 play didn't decide the game, that the Bengals had plenty of plays where they could have won. Trey made sure Joseph was looking at him, remarking that Ossai had balled out ... (2)

— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) February 5, 2023

not just on Sunday, but all year. Then he hugged him. And what followed was a steady stream of teammates approaching Ossai, reminding him to keep his head up & telling him they loved him. Then, lastly, 1 more man entered the room: Zac Taylor. He shook hands and hugged every...(3)

— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) February 5, 2023

and the locker room. Most of you saw teammate BJ Hill standing up next to Ossai when he did his postgame interview (credit to Ossai btw. I've seen many players dip and duck rather than answer) but there was so much more to appreciate in those moments than just that,

— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) February 5, 2023