While it may not seem like much, any player who plays for the Cincinnati Bengals has to earn the respect of the fans. Obviously, there is more than one way to do this but buying into the local culture is never a bad first step. There are plenty of options for a newcomer but almost instinctively, there is one thing that almost every single new player in Cincinnati ends up doing.
Cincinnati Bengals Free Agents Take a Stab at the Local Cuisine
Just last week, tight end Mike Gesicki and running back Zack Moss headlined this year’s class of free agents who get to play in the city of Cincinnati. They will be filling vital needs for Cincinnati as the tight end and running back positions were left vacant after the departure of starters Irv Smith Jr. and Joe Mixon. Even though each player is coming in on a short-term contract (one year for Gesicki and two years for Moss), they both made sure to ingratiate themselves with the fans.
How might these two young players do that you wonder? Well in case the introduction didn’t tip it off, Gesicki and Moss each went onto the team’s social media account and tried some of the city’s most popular food: Cheese Coneys.
To those out-of-towners who don’t know why these are unique, Cincinnati cheese coneys are like any chili dog but with Cincinnati’s unique chili, a huge handful of cheddar cheese and a dollop of mustard and onions. They can be found at virtually any of the city’s chili parlors (if that’s a unique concept to you, there are almost more of them than there are McDonald’s in Cincinnati).
“I can get used to this” – @mikegesicki
First coney in the books ✔️ pic.twitter.com/RT47t2bQLy
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) March 20, 2024
While both of these guys handled the challenge with a tremendous amount of class, I have to admit that I believe Moss has a genuine reaction. As a transplant from Cincinnati living outside of the region, I have forced Skyline Chili (the most popular brand in town) on many of my friends living in Connecticut. Let’s just say that Moss’ reaction would have been considered one of the better ones amongst the others, including my wife sadly!
Even as someone who grew up eating three-ways (the hilarious term for spaghetti, chili and cheese), I can completely appreciate that it is an acquired taste. A few years ago, superstar quarterback and southwest Ohio native Joe Burrow even went on the record and said that he couldn’t stand the taste of Cincinnati chili. While Burrow may basically be Superman in my household, I’ll have to forgive him for that one flaw.
While either their taste or how much they’re willing to lie about food may not seem important to many, it’s vital information for teammates who are wondering just what type of people they’re going to be sharing the field with. Gesicki and Moss each came off well in the promo and are certainly doing what they can to be team players. While they aren’t the most exciting free agents to come to town over the past few seasons, their personalities show that they could definitely make it the long haul.
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