CINCINNATI – Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow isn’t shy about living up to the expectations that have been placed on him during the offseason.
If and when the season begins, Cincinnati wants the first pick in the 2020 Draft to come and succeed immediately. At his first press conference since the Bengals picked him, Burrow said he shared the same aspirations in his first season in the NFL.
“At the start of my freshman year I expect to play well and expect to win a lot of games,” Burrow said Friday when asked to reflect on recent successes which include a Heisman Trophy and a national title. “If I look back now, I’m doing myself a disservice and the team a disservice.”
Burrow’s remarks came after the team announced he had officially signed his four-year rookie contract worth $ 36.1 million after agreeing to the terms earlier this week, according to Adam Schefter. from ESPN.
Earlier in the week, Bengals coach Zac Taylor indicated where Burrow is on the pre-camp depth map, although he did not explicitly declare the recent Heisman Trophy winner as a Week 1 starter. of the team.
“Obviously we’ve got weeks to figure out who’s going to start and all of that good stuff, but Joe is going to come in and take the first shots at the quarterback,” Taylor said Wednesday. “He’s prepared for this.”
The second-year coach said the basic expectation for his new quarterback is to play well in Week 1 of the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Burrow welcomed Taylor’s early hopes for him.
“It’s great to have the confidence of the coaching staff immediately,” said Burrow. “I’ve come a long way in the last three to four years in this aspect. It’s great to come and know that they are supporting me and that if I make a mistake in training, I won’t be on the bench. “
To prepare for the task ahead, Burrow has spent most of the offseason living with his parents and training in Southeast Ohio. Burrow said he moved to the Cincinnati area a few weeks ago and met “a lot of different guys” when asked if he had been able to pitch with one. of his new teammates.
Burrow has confirmed being able to pitch to rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins, the Bengals’ second-round pick.
“I’m really excited about Tee,” said Burrow. “I’ve been very impressed the two times I’ve played with him. I think he’s going to be a very, very good player for us.”
The 2020 draft class will be crucial in helping the Bengals return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. In addition to the playoff drought, Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff game since January 1991, long before Burrow and many of his teammates were born.
Since it became clear last fall that the Bengals were going to have the No.1 pick in the April Draft and a chance to draft one of the most transcendent college quarterbacks of recent years, Burrow has been seen as the one who would uplift the discouraged. franchise.
On Friday, he downplayed the chatter surrounding long-term expectations for his stay in Cincinnati.
“I try not to pay attention to all of this,” Burrow said. “My job here is to be the best that I can today and to improve myself every day. That’s all I’m focusing on right now. I’m letting everyone have their say.”
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