The position of quarterback in the NFL comes with tremendous responsibility as the head of the team and face of the franchise. Quarterbacks are expected to shoulder the blame when it comes, divvy out all the praise to their teammates, and generally lead from the front.
That’s what Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has done since he was selected by the team with the first overall pick in the 2020 draft. Leaders lead with their actions and their words, and Burrow leads with his words.
First, he praised rookie right tackle Amarius Mims, who has stepped up and taken on the mantle of starter while Trent Brown continues to rehab a minor injury that has kept him sidelined.
“My feeling on that guy is pretty good right now,” Burrow said, according to WLWT’s Olivia Ray. “His mindset, his athleticism, his size, his willingness to be coached, grow, and learn, it’s all an A+.”
Mims, taken with the No. 18 overall selection in this year’s draft out of Georgia, was set to spend his first year as the backup to Trent Brown and possibly the league’s best swing tackle. However, considering Brown’s availability over the last several seasons, it’s clear Mims could see quite a bit of action in his rookie season.
The right tackle position could be a battle we weren’t expecting by the time the preseason is over.
The team’s new offensive coordinator, Dan Pitcher, also added great words of support for the team’s first-round pick, according to Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson.
“He’s not making the same mistake twice,” he said. “He’s really coachable, he has a great way about him, and has a good blend of self-confidence and humility.”
Burrow also showed his support for the team’s No. 1 wide receiver and his teammate at LSU, Ja’Marr Chase, who is staging a “hold-in” as the team attempts to negotiate an extension with him.
He’s at camp, and he’s even signed autographs, but he hasn’t taken part in any practice.
Burrow knows what the process is like having just been signed to an extension, making him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. He has a unique perspective on the subject, considering he was just in the same place.
“I went through it last year, so I kind of have some insight into how these things kind of go,” he said, according to Dayton Daily News’ Laurel Pfahler. “So we’ve been creating a dialogue and talking through certain things. Obviously, His business is his business. But I’ve been able to give some insight into how my process was because I think it’s pretty similar.”
The Bengals used their franchise tag on Tee Higgins, who is expected to play one last season in stripes. They’ve also stated they intend to do everything they can to keep Chase in Cincinnati with Burrow for the long haul.
Burrow seems pretty confident the deal will get done, and he’s not worried about Chase missing any reps.
“Once he’s out there, it’s one indy (individual) period, and he’ll be ready to go,” Burrow said.
Bengals football is back, and Burrow is back in full force, both on the field, leading the team, and in the locker room.
2024 is going to be a fun year!
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