I've got an uneasy feeling...

[WeezyBengal]

Ever since Joe Burrow was drafted, I considered him a life long Bengals player. He didn't seem to care about which team he got drafted to or where he played. He even said so himself when the media and others continued to pressure him about refusing to play for the Bengals (remember that?).

Fast forward about 5 years later, and this is the first time I'm starting to feel a bit uneasy about Joe finishing his career in Cincinnati. It's very, very clear this off-season that Joe is pushing what he wants the front office to do through the media. He clearly wants them to keep Higgins, Chase, Hendrickson, etc.

I've never, ever seen an athelete go about things the way Joe currently is. Sure, other athletes have demanded things (behind the scenes), but never through the media in such a passive (yet demanding) way that Burrow has done it.

There's been a CLEAR shift in the way that Joe views things. He's gone from "I don't care, I'll play anywhere...I am the franchise, the window is my entire career" to some frustration/concern setting in to "OK, now I kind of see what everyone was talking about...maybe I need to speak up to get some shit done here in order to help us build a winning team".

This is truly the first time that I really feel like if the front office doesn't do what Joe wants, he will leave. Does the front office really want to test this? 

[kalibengal]

(02-14-2025, 11:35 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Ever since Joe Burrow was drafted, I considered him a life long Bengals player. He didn't seem to care about which team he got drafted to or where he played. He even said so himself when the media and others continued to pressure him about refusing to play for the Bengals (remember that?).

Fast forward about 5 years later, and this is the first time I'm starting to feel a bit uneasy about Joe finishing his career in Cincinnati. It's very, very clear this off-season that Joe is pushing what he wants the front office to do through the media. He clearly wants them to keep Higgins, Chase, Hendrickson, etc.

I've never, ever seen an athelete go about things the way Joe currently is. Sure, other athletes have demanded things (behind the scenes), but never through the media in such a passive (yet demanding) way that Burrow has done it.

There's been a CLEAR shift in the way that Joe views things. He's gone from "I don't care, I'll play anywhere...I am the franchise, the window is my entire career" to some frustration/concern setting in to "OK, now I kind of see what everyone was talking about...maybe I need to speak up to get some shit done here in order to help us build a winning team".

This is truly the first time that I really feel like if the front office doesn't do what Joe wants, he will leave. Does the front office really want to test this? 

He is seeing that Jalen Hurts just got a ring with a team that actually does what it takes to win....and was drafted in 2nd round after him 

[ERIC1]

(02-14-2025, 11:35 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Ever since Joe Burrow was drafted, I considered him a life long Bengals player. He didn't seem to care about which team he got drafted to or where he played. He even said so himself when the media and others continued to pressure him about refusing to play for the Bengals (remember that?).

Fast forward about 5 years later, and this is the first time I'm starting to feel a bit uneasy about Joe finishing his career in Cincinnati. It's very, very clear this off-season that Joe is pushing what he wants the front office to do through the media. He clearly wants them to keep Higgins, Chase, Hendrickson, etc.

I've never, ever seen an athelete go about things the way Joe currently is. Sure, other athletes have demanded things (behind the scenes), but never through the media in such a passive (yet demanding) way that Burrow has done it.

There's been a CLEAR shift in the way that Joe views things. He's gone from "I don't care, I'll play anywhere...I am the franchise, the window is my entire career" to some frustration/concern setting in to "OK, now I kind of see what everyone was talking about...maybe I need to speak up to get some shit done here in order to help us build a winning team".

This is truly the first time that I really feel like if the front office doesn't do what Joe wants, he will leave. Does the front office really want to test this? 

OH please..Joe Burrow is not going anywhere..he is under contract..nor will he sit on the bench and mope.............Furthermore ..like it or not..Joes  lengthy and reccuring injuries are one of the reasons this team has been behind the 8 ball the past 2 years

[ERIC1]

(02-14-2025, 12:04 PM)kalibengal Wrote: He is seeing that Jalen Hurts just got a ring with a team that actually does what it takes to win....and was drafted in 2nd round after him 

I love how everyone on this Board..as passionate as they are..and I respect that..make up works of fiction I would imagine that there have been dozens of conversations between burrow taylor and Brown regarding the team and the direction it needs to take..lol@ round pick..Tom Brady was a 6th round draft pick

[StoneTheCrow]

If they botch the Burrow years and he goes elsewhere, I’m going with him. I’ll try to anyway, I just somehow can’t seem to quit this organization of ingrates.

Throw tomatoes at me if you must.

[ERIC1]

(02-14-2025, 12:11 PM)StoneTheCrow Wrote: If they botch the Burrow years and he goes elsewhere, I’m going with him. I’ll try to anyway, I just somehow can’t seem to quit this organization of ingrates.

Throw tomatoes at me if you must.

Burrows injuries are helping "botch" the Burrow Years..lol@ organization of "ingrates"..do you realize the definition of ingrates suggest s complaining about everything..I am grateful we have Burrow..a football team to beatch about and hopefully if we get some help help in the trenches..a highly competitive football team

[Clark W Griswold]

The good news is that Burrow is the most influential player in Bengals history when it comes to the FO. I think his position and popularity will help force them into signing these guys. They need to change their way of thinking and restructuring contracts. If they do this (because Burrow may force them to) then they should be able to field a very good team next year and going forward.

[WeezyBengal]

(02-14-2025, 12:11 PM)StoneTheCrow Wrote: If they botch the Burrow years and he goes elsewhere, I’m going with him. I’ll try to anyway, I just somehow can’t seem to quit this organization of ingrates.

Throw tomatoes at me if you must.

I'm with you. 

[jj22]

Burrow can say what he wants but actions speak louder than words and while he talking Chase and Tee taking less money, they likely giving him the side eye for not practicing what he preaches now when he had the chance.

We all love Joe, but he gets no love for acting like everyone else including the FO has to sacrifice and do what he wouldn't.

And getting 30m up front , and forcing a new deal for him to come 2 years early because of the pushed back cap hit of the final years  for restructuring a contract is not a sacrifice contrary to what people around here struggle to understand.

[Frank Booth]

good to know we have a mike brown fan in here

[J24]

(02-14-2025, 01:04 PM)jj22 Wrote: Burrow can say what he wants but actions speak louder than words and while he talking Chase and Tee taking less money, they likely giving him the side eye for not practicing what he preaches now when he had the chance.

We all love Joe, but he gets no love for acting like everyone else including the FO has to sacrifice and do what he wouldn't.

He's never said they should take less money and he never said he would take less money. Also,  he did structure his contract in a way to make signing Tee and Chase both possible.

[jj22]

(02-14-2025, 01:08 PM)J24 Wrote: He's never said they should take less money and he never said he would take less money. Also,  he did structure his contract in a way to make signing Tee and Chase both possible.

He did mention them taking less money tho. He said it specifically. 

Bengals' Burrow willing to alter deal, lauds Eagles' cap control - ESPN

Quote:"You could convert some of the money to a signing bonus, which will lower the cap hit," Burrow said. "You can push some of the money to the back end of the contract. That lowers the cap hit. And then when you get to the back end of the contract, you can restructure it and convert it to a signing bonus. You can also just take less money."

Joe just needs to stay out of it given when he had his chance he made sure he was paid the highest contract in NFL history at the time.

[J24]

(02-14-2025, 01:10 PM)jj22 Wrote: He did mention them taking less money tho. He said it specifically. 

When?

Restructuring a contract isn't taking less money. Its converting base salary into a signing bonus thus lowering his cap hit for this season.

[jj22]

I'm not defending the FO and they have to modernize their contract approach even if it means none of the great grand kids have college funds anymore and their inheritance is wiped out. We get it. They are a mom and pop shop. This team isn't a tax write-off like it is for the other 31 teams, but times are changing and aren't going back. They have to either adapt or sell.

But Burrow has no say in any of this after the fact. He had his chance to do what he hopes Chase and Tee do. And we see what he did when he had his chance, so why should he expect different from them?

[jj22]

(02-14-2025, 01:11 PM)J24 Wrote: Restructuring a contract isn't taking less money. Its converting base salary into a signing bonus thus lowering his cap hit for this season.

I been telling folks this. That paragraph wasn't about his willingness to restructure though it was about how contracts can be signed to help the cap. 

[BengalYankee]

(02-14-2025, 12:11 PM)StoneTheCrow Wrote: If they botch the Burrow years and he goes elsewhere, I’m going with him. I’ll try to anyway, I just somehow can’t seem to quit this organization of ingrates.

Throw tomatoes at me if you must.

(02-14-2025, 12:56 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: I'm with you. 

[Soonerpeace]

There are a lot of cap experts who say we can retain Jamar, Tee, & Trey. Of course Doug is right also we can’t have the highest paid QB,WR, & DE. So I’d say the players need cooperate as well.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

I understand your feeling Weezy. I like how Joe both pushes for what he wants and also says he has faith in the FO getting it done though.

Not like he is throwing the FO under the bus. He expects these things to get done. I like his leadership and the way he has gone about it.

We will see if the FO and company can hold up their end of the bargain. Joe certainly has held up his unlike what that ERIC1 guy is saying.

Joe Burrow is the toughest QB in the NFL IMO. He shown it his entire career and even more so this last season when he was the best QB.

[Clark W Griswold]

(02-14-2025, 01:10 PM)jj22 Wrote: He did mention them taking less money tho. He said it specifically. 

Bengals' Burrow willing to alter deal, lauds Eagles' cap control - ESPN


Joe just needs to stay out of it given when he had his chance he made sure he was paid the highest contract in NFL history at the time.

I get that it sounds hypocritical for Burrow to say that after the extension he signed but be careful what you wish for. If Burrow stops putting pressure on them publicly then they will probably cheap out and let more good players leave - thats how the Brown family likes to roll…

[StoneTheCrow]

(02-14-2025, 03:39 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I understand your feeling Weezy. I like how Joe both pushes for what he wants and also says he has faith in the FO getting it done though.

Not like he is throwing the FO under the bus. He expects these things to get done. I like his leadership and the way he has gone about it.

We will see if the FO and company can hold up their end of the bargain. Joe certainly has held up his unlike what that ERIC1 guy is saying.

Joe Burrow is the toughest QB in the NFL IMO. He shown it his entire career and even more so this last season when he was the best QB.

He doesn’t get enough credit for this. He’s carried himself and chosen his words exceptionally professionally since day one in the league. And that was what, 2020 when everyone everywhere was losing their minds?