Ken Anderson never left the Cincinnati Bengals and he doesn't believe Joe Burrow will either.
The 77-year-old quarterback great was arguably the best passer of his generation. Anderson won the 1981 NFL MVP while leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl and led the league in passer rating four times and completion percentage three times. He did so in a generation full of great quarterbacks such as Dan Fouts, Terry Bradshaw and Ken Stabler.
Another thing worth mentioning is that Anderson spent his entire career with the Bengals, playing 16 seasons (1971-1986) in Cincinnati. While there are whispers of Burrow potentially wanting to leave Cincinnati if the Bengals don't start winning, Anderson doesn't believe that's the case.
"I do not," Anderson said
when asked if he thinks Burrow will leave. "I think, No. 1, he likes it here. He's an Ohio kid. I think that he's seen the organization make every effort to go out and to win a championship. I think he'll continue, the organization will continue along that path. So I think he's happy here, and of course we'll all be happier when they win a Super Bowl."
When Burrow has been healthy, the Bengals have had success. In his second season in the league, Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl and within a possession of winning it. During the following season, he led the Bengals to the AFC Championship Game.
However, the Bengals have missed the playoffs over the past three seasons. Burrow is locked in under contract through the 2029 season, but there have been whispers that could he force himself out if the Bengals don't start experience more postseason success.
He also calls Burrow the "best" quarterback in the league and said his "mechanics" are spot on. Anderson said he doesn't give much advice to the 29-year-old quarterback because he's so "locked in" during the season.
"No advice, our conversations are short," Anderson said. "That's because they usually come about during the season, and when he's locked in, he's locked in. That's what you love about a player like that. But he's a great guy, and like I said, his mental preparation is second to none."
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Ken Anderson's blunt answer on if Joe Burrow will leave Bengals
