Joe's Doc "all systems go"

[*Nately120*]

(05-22-2021, 04:12 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Swagger, moxy, x-factor...whatever you want to label it, does mean something if it comes from a place of hard work, lots of practice, respect for the game and being a leader on the field. That's why other NFL players point to it when talking about Burrow, even though he's only been in the league a year. They recognize he has the drive and talent to fuel that 'swagger' unlike a Manziel.

Right, that makes sense but the further you get from college the more winning you have to do to keep people interested in your potential.  The thing about Burrow that is interesting is that there are real and fantastical assumptions we had about him going into 2020.  Going into 2020 it was realistic and ended up being true that Burrow would instantly revitalize the fanbase. 

The fantastical proposition for 2020 was that Burrow would revitalize John Ross and AJ Green because Ross would be too scared to get on Burrow's bad side by playing like crap and AJ Green would finally have a QB who didn't throw the ball 10 feet over his head. I also feel like Burrow was supposed to do a whole lot more screaming in teammates faces last year, because we were playing some pretty lousy football.

I don't hold it against Burrow that he didn't make John Ross suddenly stop sucking or turn the clock back on AJ Green, the guy isn't a magician. I also don't hold it against him that he didn't blow out his vocal chords screaming at people.  Again, the usual disclaimer is that I'd say there is a 95% chance Burrow is super awesome but this team has got to start winning or else the "Are the Bengals ruining Burrow" talk will start.  I can even see a grim reality where opposing players are mockingly doing the "I'm smoking a cigar!" pose when they sack him.  But this mostly goes back to me wanting ZT out of here if we don't make the playoffs and that's a whole 'nother argument.