Before mandatory minicamps wrapped up last week, Joe Burrow met with the media to discuss what was a very busy offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Among the topics discussed was Burrow’s decision to change his leadership style to be more vocal this year.
“If something isn’t up to a standard, then calling it out right then and there,” Burrow said. “Maybe a little louder than I have in the past. That’s a growth as a leader that maybe I keep doing it, maybe I don’t. I don’t know, but certainly try it out and just
try to bring a little intensity to the room.”
Burrow discussed a sense of urgency after all the moves the Bengals made this offseason, going as far as to say that his new vocal leadership style could be a bit mean.
“This offseason I really focused on trying to bring urgency to the room and try to just get everybody to understand the level of urgency that we have this year,” Burrow said. “The level of play that’s going to be required from every individual who steps on that field. I’ve tried to communicate that. I’ve tried to be a little more vocal in a mean way.
“I think that’s a little out of my comfort zone, but that’s somewhere that I’m improving. Maybe it’s good, and maybe it’s bad, but we’ll find out.”
I like that Burrow is sharing a sense of urgency with the locker room. There is too much talent on this roster to miss the playoffs a fourth straight season.
If it takes “Mean” Joe Burrow to help get back there, so be it.
