Burrow, who missed nine games in 2025 due to injury, has a right to be frustrated. The Bengals have failed to provide the star QB a complementary defense that could give the offense a chance. The backup quarterback situation was also a problem last year, with Cincy going 1-8 in non-Burrow starts.

Being frustrated with the lack of success and wanting out are two very different things. Brown said he hasn’t talked with Burrow about it but said the rumors are just part of being a high-profile NFL player.

“To be honest, I’ve never really spoken to him about it,” he said. “I’m just under the assumption that it’s part of the business. I think today’s NFL, and even throughout the course of NFL history, media has driven the sport. It’s what makes football, football. It makes American football so popular. These storylines are always great, but a lot of times they are full of s—.”

Even if Burrow wanted out, the Bengals and owner Mike Brown have a history of rejecting that sort of play. Would the QB be willing to pull a Carson Palmer and sit out until he got his way? That feels like the only method to force a trade from Cincy. Until Burrow lights a fire by pushing the narrative that he wants out, we can safely brush aside the offseason smoke as a product of a rumor mill that always needs something to burn.