It's safe to say that the current state of the Cincinnati Bengals isn't good.
After losing in Week 15 to the Baltimore Ravens in blowout fashion. Cincinnati is officially knocked out of the playoff race for the third straight season.
The current state of the Bengals franchise has left quarterback Joe Burrow with a concerning outlook on the team, and it's caused some buzz throughout the league.
Understanding what's next for Joe Burrow
In a disheartening interview in recent days, Joe Burrow stated that his main goal in playing football is to "have fun doing it."
"I've been through a lot, and if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for? So that's the mindset I'm trying to bring to the table," Burrow added, according to ESPN's Ben Baby's Dec. 10 article.
These comments brought in comparisons to what the NFL saw from former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who abruptly retired before the start of the 2019 season due to concerns about the injuries that had piled up over the years of playing football.
Fast forward to an interview after the Bengals' 24-0 loss to the Ravens in Week 15, Burrow brought some clarity to what he's thought of his 2025 season.
"My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati. My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset and football."
Joe Burrow's comments could be just reactions to the heat of an NFL season, and insider Dan Graziano believes this is the case as well, saying that he "spoke to a couple of people who insist Burrow is obsessively competitive, loves football and is just down about the way this season has gone from a win-loss standpoint."
At the end of the day, it would be surprising to see the former No. 1 overall pick hang up the cleats early. It would also be understandable, though.
Through six seasons in the league, Andrew Luck retired after sustaining 174 sacks in his six-year career. In a similar, now six-year career for Burrow, 206 career sacks.
Putting this statistic in the air can help with a little bit of understanding where the Bengals' quarterback is coming from.
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