Sam Hubbard, the Cincinnati Kid who is already author of two of the greatest sequences in Bengals postseason history, is looking to publish an updated edition.
"I want to have the best year of my career this year. I'm just getting started," Hubbard said Thursday after a vintage high-motor practice on the second day of Bengals training camp. "It's a situation that can really motivate you to get back to being hungry again. I'm about as hungry as I've ever been in my career."
That situation is his grueling offseason rehab from reconstructive ankle surgery, a procedure that didn't come until a few hours after a season he finished the greatest one-leg stand since one of your grandmother's antiques.
After nicking the ankle in training camp and then reaggravating it in the Monday night win over Buffalo Nov. 5, Hubbard sat out the next two weeks before limping through the last seven games only because they were in a playoff run.
In the decisive Dec. 31 game in Kansas City, scene of his back-to-back sacks of Patrick Mahomes on the last two plays of regulation in the 2021 AFC title game, he recovered a fumble to start a go-ahead touchdown drive. The next week in a game that only counted for dignity, he racked up career sack No. 36.5 in his 90th Bengals game, which leads the roster and makes him The Dean.
But you can be sure he never saw those plays because he once said he'd like to burn the film of those last seven games.
"I didn't watch that. You can't protect yourself. I was just getting thrown around out there," Hubbard said. "When you're on one leg, you do what you can. I fought pretty well, but I want to play at a high level at all times."
It's beginning to feel that way. Not only because he's jumping around the Kettering Health Practice Fields like he's back at Moeller High School dashing between the lacrosse field boxes, but also because this Mighty Man of Mo has been able to watch tape of these two practices.
And he was able to keep up with old Ohio State buddy Joe Burrow when Burrow dashed out of the pocket like he was still gunning for the Buckeyes' starting job.
"I'm feeling great just being an athlete again. Moving how I want to move. Running at top speed and cutting," Hubbard said. "Joe got out of the pocket and I was with him, making cuts and tracking his hip like I couldn't in the past. You never know how it's going to feel until you get out there doing football full speed again. With two days under my belt, I'm feeling great, getting my confidence, and looking good on film, which is exciting."
What's also exciting is that at 29 and going into his seventh season, he's not going to be a High School Harry about it. "After a major surgery, you never want to push through it." So he probably won't practice Friday as he works with Matt Summers' training staff to manage a body he already treats like a temple.
"I'm doing everything I can possible (from) a recovery standpoint to play as well as I can late in the year going into the playoffs," Hubbard said.
Hubbard knows all about being at your best as January bleeds into February. There are not only the Mahomes Sacks, but also the 98-yard playoff record Rumble In The Jungle fumble return.
The postseason is just part of his goals. He knows his career-high sacks 8.5 came in his second season. He's seventh on the Bengals career sacks list with those 36.5, one place and three sacks behind his Bash Brother on the other side, Trey Hendrickson. Looming are Michael Johnson's 40.5 and Justin Smith's 43.5. And he sees them.
"I want to get an unquestioned double-digit sack season. What better time to go there but this year?" said Hubbard as he pondered the all-time list. "I want to get up there and stay up there high enough not to be taken off for a long time. That's on the list of goals for the legacy."
