Jermain Burton

[DanBengalfan]

Is he immature? yes. he got in plenty of trouble in college. I think he has ADHD.

Can he be helped? yes. someone needs to mentor him and take an interest in him. It should be us. I know kids like this, and they do need guidance and a kick in the pants from time to time. therapy would help. hopefully, he doesn't turn to drugs. if he does, then he'll be toast.

Is it unfortunate that he hasn't been a star this year? yes. but I would project him on a curve just slightly behind Chad Johnson. Chad had 329 yards his first year and 28 receptions. Chad became a big star and a pro-bowler. It's going to take Burton a little longer, but he has the stuff. once he gets rolling, he will really be rolling.

my prediction: by mid 2025 people will be buying Burton jerseys praising his name. he will get fined now and then and he will have an ego like OBJ.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Is he immature? yes. he got in plenty of trouble in college. I think he has ADHD.

Can he be helped? yes. someone needs to mentor him and take an interest in him. It should be us. I know kids like this, and they do need guidance and a kick in the pants from time to time. therapy would help. hopefully, he doesn't turn to drugs. if he does, then he'll be toast.

Is it unfortunate that he hasn't been a star this year? yes. but I would project him on a curve just slightly behind Chad Johnson. Chad had 329 yards his first year and 28 receptions. Chad became a big star and a pro-bowler. It's going to take Burton a little longer, but he has the stuff. once he gets rolling, he will really be rolling.

my prediction: by mid 2025 people will be buying Burton jerseys praising his name. he will get fined now and then and he will have an ego like OBJ.

Can he be helped? Who knows. First he has to learn to help himself. You can't help someone who doesn't think they don't need help.

I'd pass on having an OBJ like character on this team - they already have Chase as a top 5 WR in the NFL - they don't need a clown show for another WR. That shit can go elsewhere.

Don't think this team hasn't already tried to do the things you are talking about. They've done extensive work on his background and even had a connection with TJ Housh being a mentor of his...let's not act like the Bengals are out there letting this kid hang in the wind...

At some point - you have to put on your big boy pants and just man the F* up...Burton is in this category. He's talented, but he's not so talented that teams are going to look the other way and ignore his issues....teams that do will also have locker-room issues. This team, for all of its warts, does not have a locker room issue and it's because guys like Burton can't just do whatever they want and then see the field on Sunday. That privilege is EARNED...not given....no matter how talented you are.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Can he be helped? Who knows. First he has to learn to help himself. You can't help someone who doesn't think they don't need help.

I'd pass on having an OBJ like character on this team - they already have Chase as a top 5 WR in the NFL - they don't need a clown show for another WR. That shit can go elsewhere.

Don't think this team hasn't already tried to do the things you are talking about. They've done extensive work on his background and even had a connection with TJ Housh being a mentor of his...let's not act like the Bengals are out there letting this kid hang in the wind...

At some point - you have to put on your big boy pants and just man the F* up...Burton is in this category. He's talented, but he's not so talented that teams are going to look the other way and ignore his issues....teams that do will also have locker-room issues. This team, for all of its warts, does not have a locker room issue and it's because guys like Burton can't just do whatever they want and then see the field on Sunday. That privilege is EARNED...not given....no matter how talented you are.

oh. I'm not saying it's going to last. even Chad crashed and burned at the end. there will be good years. there will be times when Chase is injured or double covered and we will be very greatful that we have Burton. Similar to Tee, but better in some ways, and worse in others. Tee is a team player, just sadly entering the time of his career curve where injuries become prevalent.

The Bengals drafted him knowing EXACTLY what he was like. Now, they have to see it through.

 

[cincygrad]

I shrugged it off when Nick Saban had a negative reaction when Burton was drafted. In retrospect, that was probably telling.... To me though I thought it was disingenuous as Saban had Burton as a starter and key contributor on a playoff team. So clearly he was working around the difficulties. But it's pretty rare to see a coach crap on a former player on television. Makes me wonder what sorts of shit the dude did down at Alabama.

 

[DanBengalfan]

oh, there's going to be good times and bad. if he has a 1000 yard season in the next few years, he's gonna want a new mansion or some shit. he'll be smoking diamond encrusted cigars.

 

[cincygrad]

oh, there's going to be good times and bad. if he has a 1000 yard season in the next few years, he's gonna want a new mansion or some shit. he'll be smoking diamond encrusted cigars.

It's also not like he is the only immature receiver in the NFL. I just don't understand exactly what it is that causes issues.... Does he really struggle to show up for practices and meetings? Is that his fundamental problem? And if so, is it because he has substance abuse issues or is he just immature? It seems like this sort of thing can be fixed if there aren't other deep-seeded issues..... But as @Cincyfan78 basically said - he has to want to do it. Maybe that's the big problem.... he just doesn't care.

 

[DanBengalfan]

It's also not like he is the only immature receiver in the NFL. I just don't understand exactly what it is that causes issues.... Does he really struggle to show up for practices and meetings? Is that his fundamental problem? And if so, is it because he has substance abuse issues or is he just immature? It seems like this sort of thing can be fixed if there aren't other deep-seeded issues..... But as @Cincyfan78 basically said - he has to want to do it. Maybe that's the big problem.... he just doesn't care.

might be a cultural inside disagreement. One person is like "lets draft this kid who has all these personality issues, but runs real fast and catches good." and the coach is like, Ok, but if I can't control him, he can't play.

I've been hired to jobs before where one manager thought I was great, and another one thought I was not a good fit for the culture. I was dismissed even though I was catching on and doing decently. it wasn't approved by a certain manager and he got rid of me to show he was the real boss. incidently, he got fired next, lol.

I know other folks who have gotten hired for jobs, and then never given a start date and never worked for the job that hired them. probably some manager internally that was like "I never approved this!"

The Bengals need to get on the same page. hopefully, the current discipline is coming acrossed as consistent and persistent and it will all work out.

 

[DanBengalfan]

another option is just trade him to a team that can handle it.

 

[Cincyfan78]

might be a cultural inside disagreement. One person is like "lets draft this kid who has all these personality issues, but runs real fast and catches good." and the coach is like, Ok, but if I can't control him, he can't play.

I've been hired to jobs before where one manager thought I was great, and another one thought I was not a good fit for the culture. I was dismissed even though I was catching on and doing decently. it wasn't approved by a certain manager and he got rid of me to show he was the real boss. incidently, he got fired next, lol.

I know other folks who have gotten hired for jobs, and then never given a start date and never worked for the job that hired them. probably some manager internally that was like "I never approved this!"

The Bengals need to get on the same page. hopefully, the current discipline is coming acrossed as consistent and persistent and it will all work out.

I think they were on the same page - I think they felt with Housh training/mentoring him, Chase, Burrow, etc...the locker-room would be strong enough to withstand any issues. I think that's correct. Burton was only a nominal blip of a distraction last week despite the issues at hand. Burrow, Taylor, and others continue to hold him accountable while also giving him room to grow/learn from his mistakes without a final judgement.

It will remain to be seen if things turn around, or not, for him - but I do think the calculated risk they took was a good one - the locker room and staff seem to have been consistent from day 1 with him - and to this point, his issues have not caused any kind of ripple effect on the rest of the roster.

 

[cincygrad]

I think they were on the same page - I think they felt with Housh training/mentoring him, Chase, Burrow, etc...the locker-room would be strong enough to withstand any issues. I think that's correct. Burton was only a nominal blip of a distraction last week despite the issues at hand. Burrow, Taylor, and others continue to hold him accountable while also giving him room to grow/learn from his mistakes without a final judgement.

It will remain to be seen if things turn around, or not, for him - but I do think the calculated risk they took was a good one - the locker room and staff seem to have been consistent from day 1 with him - and to this point, his issues have not caused any kind of ripple effect on the rest of the roster.

Did anyone see Chase's interview this week? He specifically mentions oversleeping a team meeting before the Baltimore game in his rookie season. Says it never happened again. Also said that putting up 200 receiving yards probably mended a few fences that week.

On the one hand, it's important to note that these are young guys and some of them have trouble with the freedom that accompanies being a professional athlete. On the other hand, I continued to wonder whether Zac Taylor has double standards for star players. Chase was under no threat to report this offseason even though he was under contract. We also learned that he received no consequences for his immature behavior as a rookie. Now, maybe one offense isn't a big deal and the bigger issue is that this is a pattern for Burton. We just don't know.