Burrow, who missed nine games in 2025 due to injury, has a right to be frustrated. The Bengals have failed to provide the star QB with additional protection that could give the offense a chance. The quarterback situation was also an issue last year, as Cincy went 1-8 in non-Burrow starters.
Being frustrated with a lack of success and wanting out are two very different things. Brown said he hasn’t spoken to Burrow about it, but said the rumors are just part of being a high-profile NFL player.
“Honestly, I’ve never talked to him about it,” he said. “I just think it’s part of the business. I think the NFL today, and even throughout the history of the NFL, the media has driven the sport. That’s what makes football, football. It makes American football so popular. Those storylines are always great, but often they’re full of s—.”
Even if Burrow wanted to leave, the Bengals and owner Mike Brown have a history of rejecting such a move. Would the QB be willing to draft Carson Palmer and sit out until he gets his way? It feels like the only way to force a trade from Cincy. Until Burrow starts a fire by pushing the narrative he wants out, we can safely brush aside the smoke of the offseason as the product of a rumor mill that always needs burning.