Bengals QB Joe Burrow, now the NFL’s highest-paid player, says contract talks weren’t a distraction

Burrow, who is beginning his fourth season in the NFL, has reversed the fortunes of the franchise while earning a reputation as a decisive and creative leader with a knack for figuring out how to pick up yards when plays break down. He has led Cincinnati to two straight AFC North titles and a Super Bowl appearance following the 2021 season.

Signing the 2022 Pro Bowler and 2021 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year to an extension was a goal of the team all summer, and Burrow didn’t waver from his desire to spend the rest of his career in Cincinnati.

“A very well-deserved day for Joe,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “He’s a guy who represented everything we want to be about. It’s on the field as a football player, it’s off the field in the locker room, it’s in the classroom as a student of the game.”

Burrow missed most of training camp with a strained calf muscle but returned to practice last week, and all indications are that he will start Sunday against the Browns.

He said getting the extension done before the opener was important to him, but he didn’t discuss what may have caused any delays.

“We got what we wanted, they got what they wanted, but I’m going to be here for a long time,” he said. “That’s the important thing.”

Burrow said after signing he took a deep breath and celebrated “for about five minutes.”

“You’re the highest-paid (player) for a certain amount of time until the next person breaks it,” he said. “You try to do as good for yourself as you can and then continue about your business. We’re all about winning here.”

Some of Burrow’s teammates said they were glad the issue was finally out of the way.

“I was just kind of relieved because a lot of guys play better and more stress-relieved because you got your back secure, and the organization believes in you and trusts in you, and now you just go out there and cut it loose,” wide receiver Tyler Boyd said.

Center Ted Karras said the offensive linemen were having dinner together Thursday night when word of the extension arrived.

“Really I’m just glad we got it done by Week 1, so we can settle in and not really talk about it anymore and go to Cleveland to win,” Karras said.

For Christmas last year, Burrow gifted his O-line with luxury cruises. Expectations may be greater when the holidays arrive this year.

“I’m sure once Christmastime rolls around, we’ll kind of chide him a little bit,” Karras joked. “But he’s always hooked us up unbelievably, just on his rookie deal. With a max deal, we’ll see what we get.”

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AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Mitch Stacy, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Bengals QB Joe Burrow, now the NFL’s highest-paid player, says contract talks weren’t a distraction

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