Joe Burrow is the chief I assumed he was

I’ve gone on document stating that Joe Burrow could be probably the greatest leaders within the NFL. Nonetheless, after seeing the stunt he’s pulling forward of his crew’s remaining sport of the season with the AFC’s prime seed on the road, I’ve to change my assertion.

After seeing this, I’m assured that Burrow is a top-5 chief within the NFL now.

“Hey, silly! He’s NOT enjoying within the sport. Can’t you learn? This makes him a foul chief!” shouts the soccer fan with a considerable amount of fragile masculinity.

I can learn simply advantageous, thanks. And certain, the extra elder soccer followers might view Burrow’s determination with slightly extra distaste on condition that Tom Brady hasn’t sat out the ultimate sport of the common season for relaxation as soon as in his profession. And sure, whereas that’s admirable by Brady, it’s additionally not the usual of greatness we must always maintain our athletes to.

Burrow suffered a semi-serious leg injury within the closing moments of his crew’s Week 17 victory over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Burrow’s backup, Brandon Allen, even needed to are available and run just a few performs earlier than Evan McPherson kicked the game-winning subject objective. I’d take into account that an harm price maintaining a tally of, particularly when the man who received injured is within the MVP dialog.

Burrow has gone on to say that his knee is “nothing serious”, however I’d quite have completely certainty that my greatest participant goes to be 100% for my crew’s first postseason look since 2015 than have him go on the market and face Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, whereas two of his five starting offensive linemen are on COVID reserve would possibly I add. There’ll undoubtedly be conditions this Sunday the place Burrow will face large strain and get hit. The Bengals, and their followers, shouldn’t need their franchise QB’s compromised knee, irrespective of the severity, anyplace close to potential tacklers and doubtlessly ruining his probabilities of enjoying within the postseason and even worse, lacking video games subsequent season so as to recuperate.

Additionally this sport means nothing if both the Chiefs beat the Broncos (Ok.C. has crushed Denver in 12 straight meetings by the best way) or the Tennessee Titans beat the Houston Texans. That’s such a slim probability to realize a bye week; it’s not well worth the threat.

Take note, too, that the Bengals play the Browns this weekend. You understand, the identical Browns who’ve misplaced four-of-their-last 5 and five-of-their-last seven. To be honest, they did beat the Lions and a “Lamar-less” Ravens crew throughout that stretch…by a mixed FIVE POINTS. Oh, and to additional add to the dismay, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield introduced that he wasn’t going to play this weekend both, a proactive transfer to heal his shoulder up ASAP so he can begin prepping correctly for subsequent season. You possibly can clown Mayfield for the way he’s carried out this season all you need, however I’d nonetheless quite have Mayfield beneath middle than Case Keenum.

Fairly than Burrow being egocentric whereas coping with a minor harm, his determination to take a seat out this remaining week must be considered extra as him trusting Allen and the remainder of his crew that they’ll beat a Browns crew sans Mayfield. I’d hope each quarterback had that type of religion in his crew. Positive, within the lone sport Keenum began this 12 months, he beat the Broncos, however he wasn’t some elite arm that would win video games for Cleveland. Moreover, Burrow’s determination to take a seat out this week is a sign that he’s conscious of the highway that lies forward.

Regardless of this being his first journey to the postseason, Burrow is aware of that the playoffs are all that issues, and he’d quite maintain himself and provides his all in a postseason sport than give a partial efficiency in a sport that can almost definitely imply nothing in any respect. The Bengals simply clinched their first division title in over half a decade. Benefit from the division title. Don’t get grasping and ask for a first-round bye now, all whereas risking the well being of your star quarterback — AKA the man who missed a variety of the 2020 season with a knee harm and has been coping with an harm on his pinky finger for the reason that begin of December.

To prime all of it off, I’m certain Burrow and the Bengals group are conscious that the Chiefs play on Saturday. If the Chiefs occur to lose, Burrow will nonetheless have nearly 18 hours to decide on whether or not or not he feels he can play. If the Chiefs win, nevertheless, this complete argument turns into moot and Burrow can relaxation all he desires to prepare for the playoffs. Asking Burrow to threat his well being in a sport that possible gained’t have any playoff implications forward of the most important sport of his profession is egocentric and silly.