The Walkthru is a daily look at the Bengals, your questions and whatever else spills from the brains of beat writers Paul Dehner Jr. and Jim Owczarski. You can follow them on Twitter (@pauldehnerjr, @JimOwczarski), Instagram (@enqbengals) as well as Enquirer Sports on Facebook for behind the scenes and breaking news.

At last!

The only time in my tenure at The Enquirer when Geno Atkins fielded questions from the media was following perhaps one of the most heartbreaking losses in franchise history, the AFC Wild Card game played at Paul Brown Stadium on Jan. 9, 2016.

Prior to that, I would ask him every postgame and open locker room if he would talk to me. The answer was always no. Occasionally, I would write notes to Geno at halftime of some games, which became the popular #GenoNotes on Twitter.

I’d ask him on a regular basis all of last season if he would talk to me, and he always would say no. Always polite. But always no. So if he ever did say anything – or we asked anyone else about him talking to me – well, we had to document if Geno spoke (Which became the popular #GenoSpeaks on Twitter).

It’s even become a running gag with his teammates on Beyond The Stripes.

Well, on Tuesday, Aug. 29 – perhaps the biggest news day of the Bengals year so far in that it was the first time Vontaze Burfict and Marvin Lewis addressed the linebacker’s five-game ban (it has since been reduced to three) – Geno decided to hold court.

Well, “holding court” meaning he sat there and agreed to hear words spoken by me.

Here is an abridged Q&A of the long-awaited, most-anticipated, so-not-overhyped EXCLUSIVE this reporter has desperately sought since joining the beat in 2015. (Abridged for clarity, on my part. It was a rambling mess. You will be able to listen to this entire phenomenon on the next Bengals Beat Podcast.)

Me: You’re at the point in your career, seven, eight years in, where do you think about getting to a point where you’re considered a Hall of Famer?

Geno: I do not.

Me: When your team has played contemporaries like Ndamukong Suh or Aaron Donald, your teammates will chime in and say you’re not quite as appreciated. Do you feel a little underrated?

Geno: I don’t feel that way.

Me: What about the top 100 player votes, or All-Pro recognitions – things like that matter at all?

Geno: What matters – me doing my job.

Me: When you say ‘do your job’ – does that mean disruption, commanding and beating double teams?

Geno: Whatever coach asks for me to do.

Me: The ‘Cam Erving game’ two years ago in Cleveland or the Pittsburgh game in 2013 – what is that like?

Geno: I don’t remember.

Me: Bill Belichick said you’d be the first pick in the draft and said you can ruin a game by yourself. It means they game plan for you. Is it flattering? Does it make it difficult to do your job?

Geno: The answer to that question, they’re doing their job, I’m doing my job.

Me: Defensive core group here has been together – thoughts on 2017 group.

Geno: I see everybody doing their job.

Me: Was the Washington effort by the first group, three, three-and-outs, what you wanted to see?

Geno: I would say so.

Me: Thoughts on Andrew coming along next to you this preseason and in training camp.

Geno: He’s doing a good job. I like it.

Me: You had Domata next to you for so long – are they different at all?

Geno: Ask me that 10 years from now.

Me: It’s the news of the day – it’ll be three years in a row that Vontaze won’t be with you to start a season. Were you surprised by how many games he was suspended, and what might that do to your defense?

Geno: No comment.

Me: On social media, you’ll put yourself out there a bit, interact with people. You’ve said you don’t like this part of the job, but you share stuff socially, what’s the balance of wanting to connect that way as opposed to this?

Geno: I just post stuff.

Me: Just stuff you want to get out?

Geno: I just post stuff.

Me: I appreciate it, man.

Geno: No problem.

In case you missed it

Doc weighs in on the Burfict suspension – and thinksit's time the NFL streamlines some of its decisions.

Marvin Lewis got a little…perturbed.

And the national media got a little…confused.

Paul and I predict the 53 (nevermind that whole Marquis Flowers will fill in for Burfict part, though).

Bengals old video of the day

If 2017 is the Bengals’ golden season, then lets look back at the silver. It, of course, starts with the hire of David Shula.

Bengals new video of the day

The club continues a tradition of sending players to New England. It’s been a fruitful history, for the most part.

Bengals tweet of the day

Around the division

Baltimore: Jamison Hensley of ESPN wonders if the Ravens should dip their toe in the trade market for a running back.

Cleveland: Hue Jackson wants a player to stay. The front office says,nah.

Pittsburgh: Steelers be like, thanks Browns!

And finally

Nothing can make oddly dressed grown folks dance oddly more than Geno Atkins speaking in the longest time.

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