Joe Burrow addressed reporters during voluntary workouts this week and pushed back on the idea that he had pressured the Cincinnati Bengals into their aggressive offseason moves.
The Bengals spent heavily in free agency and acquired defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in a trade. Reports and speculation had suggested Burrow played a significant role in pushing the organization toward an all-in approach. Burrow rejected that characterization.
"I would say if anything, I was less involved this year than in years past," Burrow said, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. "There's no secret that the last several years didn't go the way we wanted to, and there's a lot of blame to go around for that, myself included. And so, we're in a great spot this year. We brought in great people and great players. You can feel the vibes of the locker room. The energy is elevated right now."
Burrow did acknowledge staying in contact with the organization as the offseason unfolded, including sending messages and getting on the phone with team personnel. But he drew a distinction between that involvement and issuing any kind of ultimatum to ownership or management.
Yahoo Sports noted that Burrow did not need to issue a formal ultimatum for the pressure to exist. He is entering a contract year and the Bengals have underperformed in recent seasons. The implication of what was at stake for the franchise was already present without Burrow having to state it directly.
The Bengals open their 2026 schedule later this summer. Voluntary workouts continue this week.
