Last season was an interesting rollercoaster for the Cincinnati Bengals. From Training Camp all the way through Week 18, the Bengals had to deal with adversity at every corner. In Training Camp, Joe Burrow inexplicably strained his calf on what appeared to be an innocuous rollout. As a result, he was held out of camp. He did make it back just in time for the regular season to kick off, however. Despite that, he wasn’t his old self until at least Week 4.
After the second loss, Bengals owner Mike Brown did what he always does and attended practice. This was right before the close win against the Los Angeles Rams and then the shellacking at the hands of the Tennessee Titans. The difference was that he picked up Burrow on his golf cart, chatted with him for a bit as they took a lap, and dropped the franchise quarterback off. When this occurred, Burrow was observed with a bit of a frustrated look but it wasn’t until recently that the details of that conversation were made public.
Bengals Owner Mike Brown Wanted to Bench Burrow
Each year, Brown treats the local beat to a luncheon featuring his favorite food, mock turtle soup (yeah, I don’t know either). It was there that the embattled owner divulged in his comments to Burrow on that golf cart ride.
“I was convinced he shouldn’t play, and he looked like he wanted to play in that game, and I went out there to tell him he wasn’t going to play,” Brown said on Monday, via Fox 19. “I was going to make sure he wasn’t going to play, where upon he played. That’s all that happened.”
This was all kept close to the vest ever since, but now that this year’s Training Camp is underway, Brown finally let the beat know.
At that point in the season, the team was 0-2 after a pair of poor showings. In Week 1, the Bengals were thoroughly dismantled by the Cleveland Browns, 24-3 in the sloppy conditions where Burrow managed just 82 years, a career-worst. Then, in Week 2, the Bengals battled but were ultimately dispatched by the Baltimore Ravens, 27-24. While Burrow threw for 222 yards and two scores, the score suggested a closer game than it actually was.
It was after this game that the meeting took place. Brown wanted Burrow benched. That must have lit a fire under Burrow as he led the Bengals to a win on Monday Night Football, albeit still not being 100%. Then, the 27-3 beatdown at the hands of the Titans occurred and morale was low.
On to 2024
Now, nearly a year later, Burrow was cleared for contact after healing from his most recent season-ending wrist injury. What was said in response to the Bengals owner saying that he was going to sit Burrow? That side of the conversation – not to mention what head coach Zac Taylor thought of it – has yet to emerge.
Brown actually regrets overstepping in that moment:
“I still feel a little bit shame-faced about it,” Brown said. “I try to stay away enough that I don’t get in the way. I don’t want to be a problem for the coaches. In that particular moment, I overstepped and did a dumb thing.”
Considering the history of the Bengals and the Brown family, his decision to try and interfere and impose his belief on the team was not entirely surprising. Of course, he’s not on Jerry Jones’ level when it comes to meddling.
Either way, Burrow played. He got healthy and led the team on a four-game win streak. Then, he was out-gunned against the Houston Texans and then injured against game two at Baltimore. He beat the Super Bowl runners-up San Francisco 49ers (convincingly) and then diced up the Buffalo Bills.
As for 2024, Burrow should be good to go. Week 1 vs the New England Patriots is getting closer and closer by the day.
Main Image: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
