Joe Burrow: “I’m solely focused on this season”

One of Joe Burrow’s greatest strengths as a football player is escaping pressure in the pocket.

But off the field, he can’t escape the media and questions about the Bengals.

Earlier this week, Burrow was in Fort Worth to collect his Davy O’Brien Trophy, and CBSDFW’s Keith Russell couldn’t let him go without talking about the Bengals in the post-ceremony interview.

Less than a minute in, Russell prompted: “With the first pick in the NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select...”

Burrow laughed and said, “That’s not for me to decide. That’s out of my control.”

But Russell pressed on.

“Even as a guy from Ohio...”

“It’s up to them.”

Burrow made it clear in this interview that he is only going to try to control what he can control and focus on becoming a professional football player.

He also refused to dignify the notion that he has an opinion one way or the other on playing for the Bengals. His focus is on becoming a better football player, regardless of which team drafts him.

There’s nothing wrong with refusing to commit to a certain NFL team two whole months before the draft. There is still plenty that can happen between now and then.

“It’s time to start the new year,” Burrow said, “and I’m in a pretty unique spot that I can focus solely on the season and not have to prove myself. You can go watch the film and see all that. I’m solely focused on this season and trying to be the best player I can be.”