Ben Child
CINCINNATI — It took somewhat convincing, however Joe Burrow has formally made his huge tv debut.
The Cincinnati Bengals star is one among three quarterbacks featured within the second season of the Netflix present “Quarterback,” which debuted Tuesday. Burrow, the Detroit Lions' Jared Goff and Atlanta Falcons' Kirk Cousins had been adopted and captured by cameras for a seven-episode season that took a behind-the-scenes take a look at their 2024 seasons.
Initially, Burrow didn't appear inquisitive about partaking within the sequence, spearheaded by Peyton Manning, who served as an govt producer. However with the Corridor of Famer and founding father of Omaha Productions overseeing the present, Burrow agreed.
“I would not most likely would not have carried out it if he wasn't concerned, however I've a whole lot of belief and religion in him to not do something that will harm me or the workforce,” Burrow stated in a information convention Might 20.
That's the expectation for many tasks, particularly in sports activities, during which unimaginable entry is granted. Usually, the battle that makes for compelling tv is exchanged for intimacy with somebody well-known. Burrow himself additionally reviewed the episodes to ship approval over the content material.
Though “Quarterback” presents a clear and polished take a look at Burrow, a couple of issues may be realized about him by watching the present. Listed below are the three largest issues that jumped out.
1. Burrow is persistently intense
When Brian Callahan was the Bengals' offensive coordinator for 5 years, together with Burrow's first 4 seasons, he famous an attribute that was highlighted in “Quarterback.” Very like Manning, whom Callahan coached in Denver, Burrow exudes a excessive stage of excellence each day. And there may be little tolerance for falling in need of that bar.
Many scenes and photographs had been initially captured and aired in the course of the in-season version of “Laborious Knocks” that adopted the 4 AFC North groups final fall. That features the heated trade between Burrow and coach Zac Taylor after the Week 15 win in opposition to the Tennessee Titans.
Whereas “Laborious Knocks” performed a snippet of that dialog, “Quarterback” performed an prolonged model. And it confirmed a deeper take a look at Burrow's depth stage, even after a win over a nasty Titans workforce.
“Embarrassing efficiency by us,” Burrow stated. “F—ing embarrassing.”
“I do know that,” Taylor informed Burrow. “Hear, we'll tackle it. However on the similar time, let's take pleasure in a few of these wins”
“F— that,” Burrow stated. “F— that. We sucked at the moment. That was embarrassing. We jumped offsides f—ing eight instances.”
When issues are out of Burrow's management, such because the workforce's playoff destiny in Week 18, he was far more reserved concerning the state of affairs. However when it comes to the issues that may be influenced, there's an depth in his demeanor that explains how he helped remodel the Bengals franchise right into a winner.
2. Burrow is absolutely into fossils
There is a notable absence of a lot really non-football content material in Burrow's scenes. Certain, there's a nice scene with Kyle Smith, his private stylist, that runs by his wardrobe selections, and a pleasant dinner with Burrow's household and the household of Ja'Marr Chase, his longtime teammate relationship to their days at LSU. However these are nonetheless tied to the sport.
And that is smart. In spite of everything, the present was filmed in the course of the season. And as he stated in a later episode that chronicled final 12 months's break-in at his dwelling, he doesn't like divulging many particulars about his private life.
That is what made a detour into fossil speak a refreshing diversion.
In the course of the season, Burrow and 4 teammates took a visit to the Area Museum of Pure Historical past in Chicago, the place they bought to see uncommon fossils.
“It was such as you go to the shoe retailer and so they're like, ‘Perhaps we've it within the again,' and it is all of the fossils again there,” Burrow stated on the present. “It is fairly sick.”
At follow, Burrow informed others that he tried to purchase a fossil however was rebuffed. As for why he was excited about fossils in an in any other case tense season?
“When aren't fossils in your thoughts?” Burrow stated. “They return hundreds of thousands of years. That is sick.”
3. Burrow values a superb run recreation
One of many components the place “Quarterback” shines is when cameras are at Burrow's dwelling or inside his Maybach as he drives round Cincinnati. Burrow's first prolonged scene within the opening episode reveals him taking part in a Chickering & Sons piano in his dwelling, which was a part of his restoration course of from a season-ending wrist harm suffered in 2023.
A few of these moments revealed quite a bit about how Burrow views the sport, too. Whereas watching the Detroit Lions from the sofa, he made an fascinating remark about why the Lions have an incredible offense.
“It begins with working the ball,” Burrow stated whereas watching the Lions beat the Colts. “They run the ball higher than anyone. Then you possibly can play-action and have guys working huge [open] down the sphere as a result of you have to respect the run.”
Burrow is right. Final season, the Lions had the very best offense within the league. They led the NFL in factors per drive and touchdowns per drive. That effectivity was fueled by an beautiful steadiness between the run and the cross. The Lions had been first in completion proportion and yards per try and in addition third in whole carries.
In the meantime, Cincinnati has struggled to run the ball successfully all through the whole lot of Burrow's tenure. In 2024, the Bengals had been final in proportion of yards that got here through the frenzy (25.3%) and thirtieth in whole dashing yards per recreation.
Burrow's remark in “Quarterback” would possibly seem to be a small commentary. But when the Bengals can enhance their run recreation in 2025, that might be one thing Burrow drastically appreciates.
