Todd McShay stirred the Joe Burrow conversation again this week, and he didn’t exactly hide where he stands.
Appearing on The Bill Simmons Podcast, the Ringer NFL Draft analyst said he would like to see Burrow play somewhere else if Cincinnati doesn’t get back to the playoffs over the next few months. McShay made clear he’s talking about the kind of move that would give a star quarterback a fresh start, even though Burrow has never signaled that he wants out and a trade after this season would be a near-impossible outcome.
McShay framed it as a matter of not wanting Burrow’s talent to be wasted.
"He's just different. But this thing has eroded him, like physically, emotionally, I don't think confidence-wise, but I do wonder when that starts to set in," McShay said on the show.
"I kind of want to see him go somewhere else if this year isn't, 'Hey, we're back in the playoffs, things are rolling.' I want to see Joe Burrow get an opportunity somewhere else like Stafford--who's next up that we're going to talk about?
"I wouldn't mind seeing a Stafford-like situation. It isn't as dismal in Cincinnati. They obviously made the Super Bowl, but I want to see elite, special players wind up with opportunities where they can actually go and be themselves."
The idea has been floating around national media, with some drawing a line to Matthew Stafford’s path out of Detroit and into Los Angeles. But Burrow’s situation is not the same, and the Bengals quarterback has shown no public sign that he wants a change.
In fact, Burrow offered a strong endorsement of the people around him just last Friday night. Speaking on the CBS Sports Eagles-Bengals preseason broadcast, he backed Zac Taylor’s staff without hesitation.
"I really think we have a great coaching staff," Burrow said. "Those guys work really hard and give us a lot of answers to the test before we take it. … I really think we have one of the top staffs in the league."
The Bengals have already worked to give Burrow help, and the next stretch is about results. If Cincinnati stays healthy, the pressure lands on Taylor and his staff to put together wins and keep the team moving in the right direction. If that doesn’t happen, it’s far more likely the Bengals would eventually change the coaching setup around Burrow than move on from Burrow himself.
For now, though, the simplest answer remains the same: winning shuts down the noise fast. Burrow and the Bengals can do that by getting off to a strong start and taking control of the AFC conversation next Sunday and beyond.
In Other News...
Bengals Added A Tackle Orlando Brown Clearly Believes In
The Bengals added Myles Hinton, and Orlando Brown Jr. wasted little time making clear he likes what Cincinnati brought in. Brown pointed to Hintons talent, size and athleticism, a useful mix for a team that has spent plenty of time trying to keep the pocket cleaner and the offensive front sturdier around Joe Burrow. It is the kind of move that does not grab headlines the way a splashy signing does, but it still fits the broader push to keep building depth where it matters most.
The move also lands in a week where the Bengals have had plenty of other roster threads worth tracking, from Joe Giles-Harris finding his lane on special teams to Burrows measured optimism about where the team is headed. There is still the larger backdrop of Trey Hendricksons contract situation and how it could shape draft-pick decisions, plus the usual summer noise about whether Cincinnati belongs in the Super Bowl conversation. Hinton is not the center of all that, but he is part of the same bigger picture, and Browns endorsement suggests the Bengals see something worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Be Fast-Tracking Joe Burrows Next Big Protection Test
The Bengals have been leaning on one of the NFLs toughest interior defenders in practice to sharpen Connor Lew, a rookie center working his way back from a torn ACL. Dexter Lawrence, a two-time All-Pro, gives Cincinnati a problem that looks a lot like the ones Lew will face on Sundays, and that kind of daily stress is part of the plan as the team keeps developing him behind veteran Ted Karras.
For Cincinnati, the bigger picture is obvious: the center spot is one of the most important lines of protection for Joe Burrow, and the franchise is already thinking ahead to the eventual transition. Lew is viewed as a potential long-term answer there, so every rep against Lawrence serves both the present and the future, even if the real test of how ready he is still lies ahead. [Read more 🡒]
JaMarr Chase Just Gave Bengals Fans A New Off-Field Reason To Care
JaMarr Chase has turned another chapter of his partnership with Fabletics into something Bengals fans can actually shop, releasing a new collection that blends performance gear with casual looks. It is the third drop in the relationship, and this one comes with a fairly wide spread of options, from cargo pants and oversized tees to joggers, shorts and hoodies, giving Chase another way to stay visible beyond Sundays.
The collection features 25 styles and is available online and at Fabletics stores nationwide, with prices running from $14.95 to $159.95. For Cincinnati-area fans, there is also a local wrinkle: exclusive items are being sold at the Kenwood, Ohio location, adding a little hometown appeal to a rollout that keeps Chase in the conversation even when he is not making plays on the field. [Read more 🡒]