dailyloe.com – Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown has publicly dismissed swirling offseason rumors about quarterback Joe Burrow’s future. Brown addressed the speculation during an appearance on FanDuel TV’s ‘Up & Adams’ show on Monday. He attributed the rumors to the team’s recent lack of playoff success. The Bengals have missed the postseason for three consecutive years.
Brown directly responded to chatter that Burrow is unhappy and wants a trade. ‘At the end of the day, no matter where you are, winning cures all,’ Brown told host Kay Adams. He linked the trade buzz directly to the team’s performance. ‘These last three years, we haven’t been in the playoffs,’ Brown said. He suggested such talk is part of the business and public relations.
‘That’s part of drawing money and attention,’ Brown stated about the rumors. He expressed his personal belief that the speculation is not real. ‘Whether it’s real or not, I don’t think it’s real,’ Brown said. He emphasized Burrow’s commitment to Cincinnati and his profession.
‘Joe gives his all for the city and he loves being a Bengal,’ Brown asserted. The offensive tackle reiterated that success on the field is the ultimate solution. ‘It all comes down to winning,’ Brown repeated. He believes playoff success would naturally end the speculation.
‘We get in the playoffs, and we start putting ourselves in position to play in February, I think a lot of that kind of stuff will die down naturally,’ Brown predicted. The context for the rumors includes three straight seasons without a playoff berth. This followed back-to-back AFC championship game appearances for the Bengals.
Burrow’s 2025 season was hampered by injury, causing him to miss nine games. The Bengals struggled mightily in his absence, posting a 1-8 record in games he did not start. The team has also failed to provide Burrow with a complementary defense. This has limited the offense’s chances to succeed.
Brown acknowledged that frustration from lack of success is understandable. He distinguished that from a desire to leave the franchise. ‘Being frustrated with the lack of success and wanting out are two very different things,’ the source material notes. Brown said he has not personally discussed the trade rumors with Burrow.
‘To be honest, I’ve never really spoken to him about it,’ Brown admitted. He operates under the assumption that such talk is inherent to the NFL business. Brown commented on the media’s role in driving the sport’s narrative and popularity. ‘I think today’s NFL, and even throughout the course of NFL history, media has driven the sport,’ he said.
‘It’s what makes football, football,’ Brown stated. He added that media storylines make American football popular. However, Brown was blunt about the accuracy of many reports. ‘These storylines are always great, but a lot of times they are full of s—,’ he concluded.[]
Source: NFL.com
