“We Want Him Here Forever”: Cincinnati Bengals Reactions to Joe Burrow’s Contract

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will not be answering questions about his five-year, $275 million extension that makes him the highest-paid player in the league until the deal is officially finalized and signed, which likely won’t happen until Saturday.

But Burrow’s teammates skipped the formalities and expressed their excitement about the deal, including wide receivers Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, both of whom are entering the final year of their contracts and know the team almost certainly won’t be offering them a new one after what it spent on Burrow.

What Are Bengals Players Saying About Joe Burrow’s Contract?

“I’m so happy for him. He’s deserved it,” Higgins said. “He’s playing like the best quarterback in the league. It’s well deserved. That’s life changing. He can buy whatever. He can go buy an island if he want to. Honestly, I want him to just a buy a jet so we all can just use it. That’s really all I want him to buy.”

Boyd said the money will change what Burrow can afford, but not how he works.

“Joe’s gonna be Joe,” Boyd said. “I don’t think he’s gonna stop because he got the biggest deal. He’s probably gonna try to hit another peak at some point.

“I was just kind of relieved,” Boyd added. “A lot of guys play better and are more stress-relieved knowin’ that you got your bag secured and the organization believe in you, trust in you, and now you just cut out there and cut it loose.”

While Boyd is the longest-tenured Bengals player heading into his eighth season, defensive end Sam Hubbard has known Burrow longer, and arguably better, than anyone else in the locker room, dating back to their days at Ohio State.

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Hubbard shared the same excitement as his teammates, but he expressed an additional feeling: gratitude.

“Without him out there on the field, we’re not the same Bengals.” pic.twitter.com/ygdHPRacQI

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) September 8, 2023

“I’m very thankful for the front office, the coaches, everybody that made that happen, because without him out there on the field, we’re not the same Bengals,” he said. “He’s our guy, our quarterback. He inspires this locker room, this team, this city. And you know, they made him the quarterback for the future for a reason. I’m happy to have him.”

Hubbard isn’t just happy Burrow is in Cincinnati, he’s at least partially responsible.

“I was campaigning during his senior season,” he said. “We were looking to be top of the draft. He was looking to be a top draft pick. And Zac was asking me about him. Joe was asking about the Bengals. I was trying to broker that relationship.

“I knew it’d be a perfect fit. I knew he was going to be the guy that turned it around. An Ohio guy. Somebody who is very like-minded and can inspire a whole locker room and change the direction of the whole franchise. And it came to fruition and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

While Higgins and Boyd were debating the luxury purchases of islands and jets, center Ted Karras had a more practical request when asked what kind of he gift he was expecting from Burrow.

“Just 500 yards a game, I hope. I don’t need anything from him. He does a great job for us. He’s an awesome leader. I’m sure once Christmas time rolls around, we’ll kind of chide him a little bit. But he’s always hooked us up unbelievably just on his rookie deal. So with a max deal, we’ll see what we get.”

The only person willing to ask for more from Burrow was head coach Zac Taylor. The quarterback’s new deal keeps him under contract with the Bengals through 2029.

“We want him here forever,” Taylor said.