One Bengals legend clearly does not want Joe Burrow to return this season unless they have a very likely chance to earn a playoff spot.
Chad Johnson explained why he doesn’t want Burrow to return on Inside the NFL. It has a lot to do with Cincinnati’s historically bad defense.
“Regardless of what Joe’s out there, it really doesn’t matter, because I think our record will still be the same, and our chances of making the playoffs will still be slim, because we can’t stop no damn body,” Johnson said. “We can’t stop anybody. So we get Joe back, we get excited. We put him out there again, and you know he’s coming fresh off a surgery. No, no, we don’t need that. We don’t need that unless we’re certain we have an opportunity to make the playoffs. Joe Sheisty, just relax, chill.”
Cincinnati is allowing an astounding 2.93 points per drive this season, which is easily the highest mark this century.
We’ll see if they’ve found any fixes across the bye week on Sunday against Pittsburgh, but football players play football, and Burrow could still barrel his way onto the field once fully healthy, even if the defense stays like it is.
Johnson doesn’t want to see him play at all.
“Absolutely not. I’d rather Joe continue to relax and sit down,” allow Joe Flacco to do what he’s been doing with the offense and see if the defense can somehow muster up some type of ability to tackle, ability to stop passes through the air, and then come back. Just coming back to come back, to say, ‘Hey, look, I’m back early from injury,’ and we go out there and have all world offensive play, and the other team scores 50, what’s the point? No disrespect. I love my Bengals, but let’s be serious. Let’s be realistic. I have expectations too, but I also understand where our Achilles heel is. It’s on the defensive end.”
If the defense can’t turn it around, they’ll have wasted back-to-back seasons of Burrow’s prime.
The next chance to turn it around is Sunday at 1 p.m. ET against Pittsburgh.
“We’ve got to be better, plain and simple. There’s no excuse for where we are right now. We need to hold ourselves accountable and make the necessary changes, because this isn’t acceptable.”
— Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres Forward
Buffalo Sabres fans, brace yourselves: change is coming. After yet another brutal defeat — a 5-2 loss to Utah followed by a 6-2 drubbing by the Colorado Avalanche — it’s clear that this team is nowhere near the contender they were supposed to be this season. And for fans who’ve waited 14 years for a playoff spot, the latest string of losses is a hard pill to swallow. With Buffalo’s record now at a dismal
Sabres in Crisis Mode: A Season on the Brink
The loss to the Avalanche capped off a disastrous five-game losing streak, with
The truth is, the Sabres have been in this situation for far too long. The fans are fed up, and even the players are starting to admit what’s been painfully obvious:
The End of the Line for Adams and Ruff?
At this point, there is no denying that accountability must fall on both
As Tuch stated, “There’s no excuse for where we are right now.” The Sabres have been left behind in a rapidly advancing NHL, and with another playoff-less season on the horizon, it’s time for ownership to act.
The Roster Shake-Up: Who’s Safe and Who’s Not?
But it’s not just the front office and coaching staff that needs to change. With this current Sabres team showing no signs of getting it together, nearly
The Sabres need to shed their past — and that means moving out players who aren’t contributing to the rebuild. It’s a painful reality, but every player needs to be held accountable
for this team’s continued failure. It’s no longer about potential or promises — it’s about delivering results, and if you’re not part of the solution, you’ll be part of the problem.
Buffalo’s Road to Redemption: How to Fix the Sabres?
So, what now for Buffalo? The road to redemption starts with tough decisions. Kevyn Adams will need to make bold moves to reshape the roster, bringing in fresh talent to bolster the lineup. The Sabres’ defense needs a complete overhaul, and the goaltending situation is looking more desperate by the day. The team can no longer afford to let mediocrity slip by — it’s time to build a
This won’t be an easy fix, but with the right moves, Buffalo could finally start to dig itself out of this hole. The fans deserve a competitive team, and the Sabres owe it to themselves to deliver.
Can the Sabres Turn It Around?
There’s no sugar-coating it — the Sabres’ current path is not sustainable. Another year of misery for Buffalo fans will simply not do. As the Sabres face the harsh reality of their worst season in recent memory, one thing is clear:
The time for change is now — and for the first time in years, it feels like the Sabres have no choice but to start fresh.