Watch: Joe Burrow once got destroyed by an Ohio State teammate in practice
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is mostly off-limits when it comes to getting unnecessarily hit in practice. And it's been that way since Burrow's last season at LSU. But it wasn't always that way. There was a time when Joe Burrow was just a backup quarterback at Ohio State. No one outside of Columbus knew […]
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is mostly off-limits when it comes to getting unnecessarily hit in practice.
And it's been that way since Burrow's last season at LSU.
But it wasn't always that way.
There was a time when Joe Burrow was just a backup quarterback at Ohio State. No one outside of Columbus knew much about Burrow. He was just a guy.
And his teammates — specifically future NFL Pro-Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore — weren't afraid to hit him during practice.
Check out this clip that was dug up by SB Nation Saints writer Brenden Ertle.
Can you imagine if that happened in Cincinnati during training camp later this summer? Practice would instantly devolve into a massive brawl between the offense and the defense.
Something like this actually did happen to Burrow during spring practice at LSU in early 2019. He wasn't supposed to be hit while he was recovering from shoulder surgery. Tigers linebacker JaCoby Stevens, a middle Tennessee native who now plays for the Philadephia Eagles, inadvertently hit Burrow and it started a fight.
Here's former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron telling that story (via 247Sports):
"And then in the spring, Joe had an operation on his shoulder," Orgeron continued. "Not many people were at practice. We were practicing in the spring. And I told everybody, and I had quick whistle, 'nobody hits Joe.' Well then our linebacker blitz came late and hit Joe and knocked him down. He came off. And then the next play I didn't want anyone fighting. This was at Tiger Stadium on a Saturday morning. We had a big fight. I go the bottom of the pile and it's Joe Burrow."
I imagine that would be the same outcome if a Bengals player hit Burrow in practice.
Burrow is just different. He doesn't need an offensive lineman to fight his battles. He's not afraid to go after the biggest defender on the field. It might not be smart, but it's just how he's wired.
Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
