Podcast Summary: The Right Time with Bomani Jones

Episode: Diante Lee on Tua Benching, Joe Burrow's Unhappiness with the Bengals, Josh Allen's Playoff Pressure | 12.19
Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Bomani Jones
Guest: Deontay Lee (High School Head Coach, The Ringer)

Overview

This episode of The Right Time with Bomani Jones delves into the biggest NFL quarterback storylines with Bomani Jones and guest Deontay Lee. The discussion focuses on Tua Tagovailoa’s benching in Miami, Joe Burrow’s frustration with the Cincinnati Bengals, playoff pressure mounting on Josh Allen, and an engaging look ahead at the AFC/NFC playoff pictures. The episode is infused with candid football insight, real locker room talk, and their signature humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Deontay Lee: New Head Coach Banter

• Deontay opens with anecdotes about becoming a high school head coach and the peculiar tradition of coaches' short shorts.
• Memorable quote:
  • "Did you get this job because you wanted to have your ass out? Was that the gig he was after?" — Deontay Lee (02:39)
• The two riff on how aesthetics and traditions in coaching don’t always translate to modern times.

2. Tua Tagovailoa Benching: Miami Dolphins Drama

• Mike McDaniel finally benches Tua; Bomani and Deontay dissect what went wrong.
• Context: Tua’s self-deprecating, sometimes brutally honest press conferences seem to undermine confidence.
• Deontay points out early signs of friction:
  • “Even if that’s true, I don’t know if now is the time for you to be undermining your quarterback after y’all just got run off the football field.” (04:21)
• Bomani draws parallels to Carson Wentz and Jay Cutler, noting the difference between likability and leadership:
  • “Yo, he seems like a very nice person that people don’t like.” — Bomani Jones (04:33)
• They debate the delicate balance between honesty and over-sharing when you're an NFL leader.

3. Quarterback Honesty and Locker Room Dynamics

• Explores how quarterbacks navigate vulnerability and confidence:
  • “At the ripe old age of 45, 100% truth? Yee. That’s like 190 proof alcohol. You might need to step on it just a little bit.” — Bomani Jones (05:47)
• Deontay points out Tua’s self-awareness (“I can’t move like I used to”) is a double-edged sword for public messaging.

4. The Future for Miami & The Quarterback Dilemma

• With a poor draft position and tough cap situation, where do the Dolphins go next?
• Deontay outlines Miami’s financial bind:
  • “Do we need to keep Tua as a $50 million backup… or are we going to have to cut this guy and have over $70 million in dead cap trying to put together a competitive roster?” (11:24)
• Discusses possible moves for Miami, including exploring Kyler Murray as a trade option.
• The general theme: Sometimes benching the quarterback is only the start of bigger franchise issues.

5. College Quarterbacks and NIL Era Impacts

• Bomani emphasizes how Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) changes rookie quarterback calculus:
  • “You’re going to give me millions of dollars to be the man in college? Listen, come on.” (15:49)
• Deontay elaborates on why young QBs might stay in school:
  • “If I can go get 5, 7, $10 million to go hang out for an extra year, I’d probably rather do that than have to risk not being picked.” (14:22)
• They reflect on how “being the man” on campus has totally changed with NIL money.

6. Joe Burrow’s Disillusionment with the Bengals

• Explores roots of Burrow’s visible frustration, connecting it to the Bengals’ historic mediocrity and dysfunctional ownership.
• Bomani recalls:
  • “When Joe Burrow got drafted by the Bengals, a lot of us were like, hey man, you don’t have to do this… we’ve seen what this has been since 1988.” (18:59)
• Deontay compares Burrow to a college coach trying to overhaul a culture, but with little support.

6.1. Cincinnati's Team-Building Flaws

• Deontay notes cap trade-offs: paying WRs means skimping on O-line and defense.
• Bomani on sack issues:
  • “Sacks taken are a quarterback stat. And he takes a lot of sacks.” (21:31)
• Assessment: Burrow’s patience is his superpower and his curse.

6.2. Bengals’ Coaching and Front Office Woes

• “Who the hell trying to take them jobs, bro?” — Bomani Jones (22:50)
• The futility of demanding a trade from Bengals ownership (“People in hell want ice water, baby”). (24:21)
• Warnings for Burrow: be careful what you wish for, as a trade is unlikely and greener pastures aren’t guaranteed.

7. Josh Allen: Running Out of Excuses

• With AFC rivals faltering, pressure mounts for Allen and the Bills:
  • “Josh Allen better get this done this year, otherwise it’s going to be very interesting.” — Bomani Jones (27:03)
• Deontay isn’t buying excuses:
  • “This is one of them I don’t want to hear it type seasons. I know the defense is bad, I know you ain’t got no number one receiver. Guess what, buddy? I don’t want to hear it.” (27:08)
• Bomani notes Allen’s postseason reputation has been padded by beating up on low seeds.

8. AFC/NFC Playoff Picture and QB Uncertainty

• Wide-ranging discussion of the playoff paths for Denver (Bo Nix, referencing this year's resurgence), Houston (Texans’ stifling defense), Jacksonville, and more.
• Deontay describes Houston's defense as “scary” and references the 2002 Bucs (35:55).
• They debate:
  • The mystery of C.J. Stroud’s ceiling (36:09)
  • Bo Nix’s “cruise control” path to the playoffs and need to answer questions in big games.
  • “We’re still waiting on Bo Nix to have a good playoff game.” — Bomani Jones (38:06)

9. NFC Contenders: Bears, Lions, Packers, Eagles

• They break down which NFC teams are real contenders and which are smoke and mirrors.
• On the Bears and Caleb Williams:
  • “I think I believe in what they will be. I do not believe all the way in what I’m watching right now.” (43:19)
• On the Packers and Jordan Love:
  • “This is Oklahoma City before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And we keep waiting for Jordan Love to take that leap.” — Deontay Lee (44:43)
• On the Eagles’ blowout wins not meaning much:
  • “Good for you Eagles means nothing.” — Bomani Jones (46:04)
• Deontay is skeptical of Nick Sirianni’s actual value as Eagles HC:
  • “If you can’t get an offense with those guys, and you were an offensive coach before you became head coach, I think it’s fair for us to ask what exactly are we doing with you that’s adding value to this operation?” (48:11)

10. Coach and Franchise Legacies

• Bomani and Deontay discuss how legacies are built (or missed) in the NFL.
• They reflect on the surprising effectiveness of Brian Schottenheimer in Dallas and the legacy of Marty Schottenheimer:
  • “His father… was an excellent, excellent coach… One game away from being in the hall of fame.” — Bomani Jones (50:37–51:08)
• Discussion of how coaching changes, chance, and context make or break careers and franchises (Chargers, Browns, etc.).

11. San Diego & Miami Weather Sidebar

• Light-hearted reflections on living in perpetually nice weather cities, how it changes your perspective on “cold,” and how no one back home wants to hear about your weather struggles.
  • “50 degrees there is cold. It’s the same as San Diego. The 50 that you get is different than the 50 you get in other places.” (54:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On honesty as a QB:
  • “Honesty’s a thing for me… but at the ripe old age of 45, 100% truth? Yee. That’s like 190 proof alcohol.” — Bomani Jones (05:47)
• On Bengals futility:
  • “People in hell want ice water, baby.” — Bomani Jones (24:21)
• On NFL jobs:
  • “Who the hell trying to take them jobs, bro?” — Bomani Jones (22:50)
• On play-calling in Philly:
  • “All motion really means is pass it to Will, right?” — Deontay Lee (47:24)
• On San Diego living:
  • “I can’t imagine living in San Diego and my job is to be intense.” — Bomani Jones (53:25)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Tua Benching Discussion: 03:21–08:41
• QB Honesty & Leadership: 04:33–08:41
• Miami’s Future / Kyler Murray Possibility: 11:05–13:05
• NIL & College QBs Staying: 14:22–16:35
• Joe Burrow/Bengals Ownership Problems: 18:08–25:26
• Josh Allen’s Playoff Pressure: 27:03–27:49
• AFC Playoff Outlook (Broncos, Texans, Jaguars): 34:35–38:32
• NFC Contenders/Lions/Bears/Packers Chat: 42:00–45:36
• Eagles/Sirianni Skepticism: 46:04–48:11
• Brian Schottenheimer and Marty Schottenheimer: 48:58–52:34
• San Diego/Miami Weather Reflections: 53:08–54:58

Tone & Style

The episode is sharp, self-aware, and mixes deep football analysis with humor and real-world wisdom. Both hosts are unafraid to challenge players’/coaches’ narratives, inject cultural context, and make inside jokes that seasoned sports fans will appreciate. There’s a sense of camaraderie with listeners (“If you only give us four stars, I’m inclined to believe you’re a hater”) and a recurring emphasis on authenticity and honesty—even when it’s uncomfortable.