Bengals: The countdown is on for Joe Burrow's extension
We're in the witching hour for the Cincinnati Bengals to extend quarterback Joe Burrow. After an offseason full of reports and rumors regarding Burrow's pending mega-deal, just six days remain until the regular season begins, which will act as a deadline for both sides to reach a deal until next offseason. Burrow may not be entering […]
We're in the witching hour for the Cincinnati Bengals to extend quarterback Joe Burrow.
After an offseason full of reports and rumors regarding Burrow's pending mega-deal, just six days remain until the regular season begins, which will act as a deadline for both sides to reach a deal until next offseason.
Burrow may not be entering free agency following this season, but it would be odd for the Bengals to not extend him before his fourth season starts.
When Spring turned into Summer, the window for Burrow's extension to be finalized looked promisingly wide. Justin Herbert soon became the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, and his five-year, $262.5 million deal appeared to be a clear benchmark for Burrow to provide the team to exceed.
Considering a deal wasn't reached soon after that, it became clear that structure isn't what the Bengals want to follow.
To have these negotiations drag into the days of preparing to face the Cleveland Browns to open the season is not what either side should've wanted. The only logical reasoning is that the club wants Burrow to sign a contract that is notably different compared to what Herbert signed this year. Herbert is fully guaranteed $133 million and nearly $200 million is guaranteed for injury.
Whether it's guarantees or the length of the deal (it could be both), the Bengals and Burrow are still ironing out the details. The longer it takes, the more leverage Burrow has, and rightfully so.
The Bengals have had to overcome plenty of narratives surrounding their operations, but paying quarterbacks is one tradition they've always managed to keep. Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton were handsomely compensated before the beginning of the fourth season of their respective careers. It's a monumental part as to why Burrow's deal getting done this Summer was the clear expectation.
Every hour it doesn't happen, the worse the club looks, fair or not. Burrow is on track to becoming the most accomplished player in franchise history. Not rewarding him immediately is grounds for criticism.
To reiterate, Burrow isn't going anywhere for a while. He's under contract for the next two years and the franchise tag could follow. The Bengals have time in the grand scheme of things, but this will become a distraction from the outside if it's not completed in the expected window.
That window closes on Sunday morning when the team is up in Cleveland. Buckle up for an interesting week, folks.
Bengals: Former agent reinforces suspicion of Joe Burrow’s contract structure
He’s getting the entire bag.
Featured image via © Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
