Joe Burrow and the Bengals are rolling right now, but one clip from Thursday still managed to set off a fresh round of online debate.
Cincinnati, fresh off a fourth straight win, is preparing to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football after Burrow accounted for four touchdowns in last Sunday’s 34-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid. Still, social media zeroed in on something far less glamorous than the scoreboard: the walk to practice.
Dov Kleiman posted video of Burrow heading with a teammate toward an entrance labeled Kettering Health Practice Fields, and the post drew attention for the fact that players have to cross a street to get there. “One of the most pathetic facilities in the NFL,” he added.
“A billion-dollar franchise and Joe Burrow has to look both ways before practice. Mike Brown’s idea of a facilities upgrade is a crossing guard in a Bengals hoodie.”
The replies split the usual way. “Multiple teams travel further btw,” one fan wrote.
Another pushed back on the outrage: “It’s been like this for literally ever and not once has anyone been hurt or anything happened while crossing. Is it dumb?
Yeah for sure, but it’s really not that big of a deal,” a third fan posted.
This isn’t new territory for Cincinnati. Sports Illustrated reported in September 2024 that the Bengals stopped reporters from filming players crossing the street from the practice field.
FOX Sports also reported that the team’s new lease, connected to a $470 million Paycor Stadium renovation, does not include an indoor practice facility. Per that report, the Bengals have used an indoor practice bubble across the street since 2022.
Brown’s view of the arrangement was also included in the FOX Sports report: “We aren’t looking for fancy, new things.”
Now the Bengals turn back to football, with a rematch against a Steelers team that beat them 30-27 on September 27.
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Joe Burrow Has Bengals Fans Arguing About The Franchise Again
Joe Burrow and the Bengals head into Sunday nights matchup with the Steelers coming off a win over the Falcons, but the conversation around the team has drifted far beyond the scoreboard. Social media has once again put Cincinnatis practice setup under a microscope, with criticism centered on the fact that players have to cross a street to get from the facility to the field.
Mike Browns stance has only sharpened the debate. The Bengals owner said the team is not looking for new facilities, and the new lease connected to the stadium renovation does not include an indoor practice facility, leaving a familiar franchise issue hanging in plain view as the spotlight shifts back to football. [Read more 🡒]