Due to the ongoing pandemic, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has yet to put pen to paper on his rookie contract. In an interview on the Pardon My Take podcast, the No. 1 overall pick indicated that the deal might not be inked anytime soon.
[RELATED: Panthers Sign Derrick Brown]
“We’re just waiting to see what happens over the next three months because we really don’t know,” Burrow said (via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby).
Most of this year’s 250+ rookies have yet to sign their deals, so Burrow’s situation is not unique. However, it could be indicative of a much larger issue. Some executives and agents have wondered whether it’ll take longer for top draft picks to sign this year, since teams are facing potentially enormous revenue losses.
Those league officials believe that the deals will be completed, eventually, but cash flow could be a concern for clubs. A season without fans would mean zero gate attendance revenue, a shortened season would mean significantly less dollars coming in, and a cancelled season would be disastrous, from a financial standpoint. With that in mind, teams may be looking to hold on to the allocated signing bonus money a little bit longer.
In the case of Burrow, the LSU product is due a ~$24MM bonus. After that, the bonus figures decrease pick-by-pick, in accordance with each player’s slot. New Redskins edge rusher Chase Young (No. 2 overall) is set to collect a $22.7MM bonus and Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (N0. 3) is in line for $21.9MM. The figure decreases the further you move down the board, though every player from Nos. 1-11 is ticketed for an eight-figure lump sum bonus.
Meanwhile, like all of us, Burrow is eager for football – and life in general – to resume normalcy:
“Instead of talking, we can get back on the field. Hopefully soon.”
now the real debate begins, who’s the better player young or burrow
Young will be better compared to his position but Burrow will be more valuable, if only because a QB is so much more crucial than a DE
My name says it all
what, that you’re a clown? Yes, it’s crystal clear
No….he used to be a clown, but got fired because he was freaking out the other clowns with his clairvoyance. Now he just lives in his Mom’s basement
In canton?
Bust like bust in the HOF? Awesome. Bengals fans will be happy to hear that. Been a while since they had a HOF caliber QB. Burrows HOF bust speech will be even more amazing than his heisman speech.
Getting in on the ground floor of trolling. Got to admire the gumption.
Wow, that’s deep!
we all know this will end as it will. if Baker didnt hold out of joining CLE then why would anyone else hold out of signing as the #1 pick?
If he held out, the Bengals could just select him again next year at #1.
it only been a few weeks since the draft should we make this a big deal?
Cancelled season would be disastrous?? Welcome to the real world and the lives of 33 million Americans. For a rookie to get $24 million why millions are broke shows how out of whack we are.
Capitalism, am I right? How dare the free market dictate compensation while other people who do not have the same skill set suffer. Do you think the bengals owner would use any of that $24 million to help any of the millions in need if he didn’t pay it to burrow?
“With that in mind, teams may be looking to hold on to the allocated signing bonus money a little bit longer”.
NFL owners are hurting financially much less than anyone who comes to this site and those young kids fresh out of college, so let’s not be fooled by their “poor us” routine.
To be at least a little bit fair to the owners, it’s probably safe to say that anyone who comes to this site isn’t on the hook to pay a single employee a $24M signing bonus
If I even hinted my wife was an employee, she would kill me. She’s the boss.
Good thing the Green Bay Packers are publicly traded so we can see that cash flow is not an issue for NFL teams.
If there wasnt social distancing orders in effect all over Ohio then maybe he would have signed by now, but he hasnt even been able to go to Cincy and I’m sure theyd like to do it in person. Hes been at home this whole time, like most of the other unsigned draftees. Not like its been that long since draft night.
Interesting take on Burrow’s current situation. Although this may concern some fans because he hasn’t officially signed his rookie contract, this is something completely normal given the current pandemic we are faced with and the challenges that come with setting up the start to next season. Given the loss in revenues for each team, this contract signing might be something that could take a while longer. Besides that, I’m excited to see what Burrow will do considering the well-deserved hype around him. According to this one NFL Facts to Know page, the last 12 QBs drafted No. 1 overall are winless in their first career start. I’m hoping to see Joe Burrow change this stat around and prove his worth/value in the NFL. link to prosportsoutlook.com
Joe Burrows: “Bengals?… I thought I was getting a contract to join the Bangles”.