The Large Image: Joe Burrow’s Discontent Units Up Bengals’ Most Vital Offseason Ever

[ad_1] Joe Burrow isn’t simply caught. He’s trapped.

Throughout press conferences these previous few weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has seemed like a 29-year-old man who can’t see his manner out of a nasty scenario. He was requested, straight, whether or not he might see any world the place he’s a QB1 for an additional NFL franchise in 2026.

"I can not see that, no," he mentioned.

However would Burrow need to play some place else sometime?

"You concentrate on a variety of issues," Burrow mentioned.

People, that is unhealthy. His teammates know it is unhealthy.

"If I’m being trustworthy, I’ve by no means been in a scenario with him the place I’ve needed to uplift him. However going ahead, I'd must as a result of he does it for me," star receiver Ja’Marr Chase mentioned after Sunday’s recreation, a shutout loss to Baltimore that dropped the Bengals to 4-10. "You by no means know what he may be going by."

In March, issues appeared to be wanting up when Cincinnati signed each Chase and fellow star receiver Tee Higgins. That was a gesture in contrast to something the Bengals, notoriously the most cost effective franchise within the NFL, had ever made to its quarterback.

Joe Burrow and star receivers Ja'Marr Chase (left) and Tee Higgins (proper) began the season with massive aspirations, however the Bengals have double-digit losses for the primary time since 2020. (Photograph by Kara Durrette/Getty Photographs)

However simply as rapidly because the Bengals opened the tap, they turned it off — refusing to reward All-Professional edge Trey Hendrickson with a long-term deal. In August, he held out in hopes of getting a profitable extension. He ultimately signed a one-year contract, making him a free agent after this season.

Relating to Burrow, all of the doom and gloom began final week on his birthday.

"I feel I have been by greater than most," Burrow instructed reporters amid one other injury-ravaged season. "And it is definitely not straightforward on the mind or the physique, so simply making an attempt to have enjoyable doing it once more."

In the event you’re like me, you'll have been considering: Wait a second, might Joe Burrow retire?! That’s probably the most tactical technique to engineer an exit from the Bengals, in any case. Say goodbye to soccer — till a crew exhibits up and saves him from Cincinnati. However he clarified: That was not what he was saying.

"My feedback had nothing to do with Cincinnati," Burrow mentioned days later. "My feedback had every little thing to do with me and my mindset and soccer."

He additionally clarified: "I anticipate to play for a very long time."

You'll be able to select to imagine him. You'll be able to select to not imagine. However bear in mind his remark — "You concentrate on a variety of issues" — and it’s honest to surprise how a lot time Burrow has spent contemplating the place he might have signed as soon as he made it to free company.

And to be clear, he may not have made it to free company till after the 2026 season. Drafted in 2020, Burrow was on a four-year rookie contract with a fifth-year choice. Then the Bengals might franchise tag him twice. In fact, there was no manner he was going to show down the monetary safety of his 2023 extension: 5 years and $275 million. And there's no manner he wouldn’t have demanded a commerce if the Bengals didn’t give him that extension.

However lastly, we’re speaking about demanding a commerce. Which Burrow has not accomplished. Not ever.

Would he?

Like principally each beginning QB, there’s a no-trade clause in his contract, per reviews. However meaning principally nothing. Any QB who desires to get traded will waive that clause. It’s of no import. Most gamers shouldn't have leverage in the case of springing themselves unfastened in a commerce. However most gamers will not be as essential as Burrow. If he threatened to retire or maintain out till the Bengals traded him, it’s straightforward to think about him successful that standoff.

In a similar-but-different scenario, the Patriots as soon as tried to commerce Rob Gronkowski. He didn’t need to go to the Detroit Lions. So Gronk threatened to kill the commerce by retiring. It labored. The Patriots backed out of the cope with the Lions. And that was the top of it. Equally, Gronk refused to come back out of retirement in 2010 till the Patriots traded his contract rights to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The previous star tight finish has admitted there was no manner he was enjoying for New England after Tom Brady left.

Burrow has all that energy — and extra.

You'll be able to see why he wouldn't need to go away. Not but. His receiving corps is the perfect within the NFL. He's tight with Chase and Higgins. And Higgins, particularly, took a team-friendly deal to stay round with Burrow. It could be a tricky enterprise determination to depart these guys.

However you may as well see why it could be tempting to depart. The Bengals' offensive line has by no means been good throughout Burrow’s tenure. The defenses have by no means been particular. And whereas the contracts for Burrow’s prime receivers is a pleasant gesture, it clearly hasn’t been sufficient to make the Bengals a contender for an additional Tremendous Bowl run. They should put money into your entire roster. And if historical past is our information, it is exhausting to challenge the Bengals instantly investing within the crew. That is simply not what proprietor Mike Brown does.

However Brown would possibly simply must resolve between his pockets — and his quarterback. That is why there has by no means been a extra essential offseason for Cincinnati than this one.

The Bengals appear to have an sad quarterback. Perhaps as a result of they've a nasty roster.

However there are now not any excuses to repair it. The Bengals have the wage cap house, with $70.5 million in spending cash this offseason. And that’s simply face worth. You'll be able to wager Burrow and/or his receivers would tweak their contracts to release extra space. Cincinnati can also be projected to have a top-10 choose.

Burrow can plainly see how tough and the way dramatic it could be to demand a commerce. But when the Bengals botch this offseason — and don’t construct a contender round their star quarterback — then the (as soon as tough and dramatic) determination turns into easy.

At that time, he ought to demand a commerce. He must settle for {that a} transfer would probably imply his new crew would not have first-round picks for a couple of years. However he nonetheless may need a greater probability at successful with nearly another group than the Bengals.

Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.

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