Bengals: Joe Burrow's recent interview reveals underrated reason for optimism
The chatter around the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason has mostly revolved around Joe Burrow. That's likely to happen when a quarterback takes his team to the Super Bowl in a season in which doing so defies every single expectation set for the year. The effect grows when the player in question has an aura about […]
The chatter around the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason has mostly revolved around Joe Burrow. That's likely to happen when a quarterback takes his team to the Super Bowl in a season in which doing so defies every single expectation set for the year.
The effect grows when the player in question has an aura about him that earns him all sorts of nicknames. Joe Cool. Smokin' Joe. Joe Shiesty. Joey Brr.
But the superstar quarterback is always looking to share the credit. Earlier this week, he joined The Pat McAfee Show to discuss the state of the Bengals.
Pat asked Burrow about the Bengals' front office behavior this offseason, including the Paycor sponsorship and the new indoor facility in town. The quarterback had a response that should raise fans' long-term expectations for the franchise.
"You gotta give credit to the people upstairs," said Burrow. "We feel it in the locker room. The change of mentality. Just like the change of culture in the locker room, we can feel it upstairs as well."
"It's fun on gameday. Stuff is changing in the locker room. You've got to give credit to the people upstairs, drafting. Offseason work, getting us what we need in the training room, weight room, everything. It's been awesome."
Burrow also had praise for the Bengals coaching staff. After being asked by former nine-year NFL player Darius Butler how much input he had on game-planning, Joe's answer was exactly what you like to hear.
"Even in my first year in the system, they were asking me 'hey what do you think of this route or what do you think of this split?" said Burrow, adding that the Bengals' starting trio of wide receivers gets the same treatment.
"Our coaches give us a great game plan each week but we also have a lot of freedom out there on Sundays to play free and not second guess a decision," revealed Burrow.
As excited as Bengals fans are about the future with Burrow, long-term success requires chemistry between the front office and the staff. Likewise, the players need to feel the support of each of these groups to sustain success over a long period of time.
Zac Taylor's coaching staff and Cincinnati's front office seem to be hitting the nail on the head. They're all-in on this project. Why shouldn't they with a quarterback that makes their life easier?
You can catch the full interview here.
Featured image via Albert Cesare / USA TODAY NETWORK
