Joe Burrow’s confirmation about his Bengals future is only news to those who may just ignore it entirely
There is a clear agenda that centers around Joe Burrow’s relationship with the Cincinnati Bengals. His latest comments should end it for good, but it just never seems to work that way.
It’s been an offseason of declarations for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. He’s predicted a Bengals Super Bowl victory, compared the team to the 2019 LSU championship roster, and affirmed his sense of urgency this offseason equates to a “now or never” mindset.
That last one revitalized an ongoing agenda against Burrow’s commitment to playing in Cincinnati. His latest comments should shut any and all speculation down in a logical world.
Joe Burrow makes his future crystal clear
In an exclusive interview with Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson, Burrow confirmed what went unsaid during his viral quote from last month.
“I’m efficient with my words, and when I’m efficient with my words, that leaves some room for interpretation,” Burrow told Hobson. “But I mean what I say. I’m here for the long haul. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just trying to bring a now-or-never mentality to the day-by-day process. If you’re not, what are you doing? Attack the day with a championship mindset. The rest will take care of itself.
“I’m just really proud to be quarterback of the Bengals,” Burrow continued. “I’m happy to be here. I’m proud to represent the city of Cincinnati, state of Ohio, the Brown family. I’m just proud and I want to make everybody else proud, too.”
That should be the end of it. Burrow has no intention of this season being his last season as the Bengals’ starting QB. There is no active win-or-I’m-out threat. He’s under contract through 2029, and Cincinnati will likely want to add more years to the deal when the time comes.
Unfortunately, that’s not how this works.
The agenda that’s always followed Burrow in the NFL
Burrow has been the face of the Bengals for the last six years. Even before he was the No. 1 overall pick by the franchise in 2020, and certainly in the years that followed, there have been those who wish that wasn’t the case.
What’s the reason? Your guess is as good as mine. Fans and sections of national media don’t like Cincy as a franchise. They think the organization is poorly run. It’s a small market that’s not fit to have a star at QB. Fans may share some of these criticisms of the club, but the everlasting narrative that Burrow shouldn’t be in the Queen City, or that he secretly wants to leave is where all reason leaves the conversation.
And it has been everlasting. It began leading up to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine when Burrow was actually asked if he would play for the Bengals if drafted to them. Three Pro Bowls, two AFC title game trips, and the largest extension in NFL history later, it has continued with pundits running with his comments from the preseason comments when all he was trying to do was reiterate his mindset of urgency.
There was a real television segment about why Burrow was wearing a hat with the words “I work here.”
There is a clear agenda that centers around Burrow wanting out of Cincinnati. It’s been alive for years, and despite evidence to the contrary, it just doesn’t go away.
There’s nothing more Burrow needs to say
This is but another litmus test for national media. There is no way to twist Burrow’s words or interpret a deeper meaning here. The best one can do is simply assume he’s lying and run off with fabrication. Anything for ratings nowadays I suppose.
The sad part is Burrow didn’t need to spell it out for everyone. His messaging this offseason has been very clear to those who take his words for what they are. He’s been banging the table to capitalize on what’s in front of the Bengals this year: a roster fully equipped to go all the way.
Next year doesn’t matter until it gets here.
The only folks who needed to hear his confirmation are those who may not even acknowledge it. If the agenda hasn’t stopped by now, it may never.
All the more reason for Cincinnati to run with Burrow’s words and shut everyone up for good.
