The Cincinnati Bengals plan on using the franchise tag to retain AJ Green. We now know that someone may have forced their hand. Presumptive number one pick, Joe Burrow, told the Bengals to keep AJ Green. Burrow is leaning into becoming a Bengal. He’s taking the bull by the horns. You have to love the move.
Peter King of NBC Sports had the following:
“Burrow made it clear here he wants the team to sign free-agent wide receiver A.J. Green. ESPN reported Sunday that Green was likely to be franchise-tagged, which is good and bad. Good, in that Burrow will have him when the games start. Bad, in that it’s possible Green, without the financial security of a long-term deal, won’t be motivated to work with Burrow in the offseason. But what is the market value of a very good receiver who is always hurt anyway? Since turning 30, Green has missed 23 of 32 games with injuries. If Cincinnati sheds Andy Dalton’s $17.1-million salary this spring (likely), they’d have $62 million to spend on veteran players—their own and other free agents. If I were Burrow, I’d be most concerned with the offensive line, which was Pro Football Focus’ 28th-best pass-blocking line last year and allowed 38 sacks, the most attributed to linemen for any team.”
I LOVE this move. Joe Burrow’s stock goes up. Oh, you want to let AJ Green go? How about I pull an Eli Manning? Have to respect it. Burrow has to keep going. I would demand personnel control. Let’s be honest. Owner Mike Brown is the ipso facto GM. He’s done nothing but run that team into the ground. Let Burrow make the calls. He can’t do worse than what’s been already going on. Joe Burrow can at least go to Cincinnati knowing AJ Green will be there.
