Last week, just before the start of the 2023 NFL season, Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow signed a new deal with the team that officially made him the highest-paid player in the history of the league. That’s the good news. But the bad news is that his first game as the NFL’s highest-paid player did not go well at all.
During Sunday afternoon’s season opener against the Cleveland Browns, Joe Burrow completed just 14 of his 31 passing attempts for 82 yards, leading the team to zero offensive touchdowns and just one field goal and finishing the game with a quarterback rating of just 52.2. As a result of his poor play, the Bengals lost in a lopsided game, falling 24-3 to their division rivals to start the season.
It was an absolutely brutal performance from the star quarterback just after becoming the highest-paid player in the history of the league, and people had plenty to say about it on social media as a result.
Joe Burrow's first game as the highest-paid player in the NFL:
14/31 Comp/Att
82 Yards
0 TD
52.2 QB Rating pic.twitter.com/mldLl8XtMY— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 10, 2023
Joe Burrow in 1st game after becoming the highest paid player in NFL history:
14/31 for 82 yards
2.6 yards per attempt
0 TDs
52.2 QB rating
1 benching pic.twitter.com/xpXYfIx010
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 10, 2023
Bengals benched Joe Burrow in the 4Q after going down 24-3 vs. Browns
14/31
82 YDSHe just became the NFL’s highest-paid player on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/P5zTAuxwvg
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 10, 2023
Father—
I intended to write about today’s skirmish, but I cannot. Do not ask.
—Joe— Col. Joseph Lee Burrow (@ColJoeBurrow) September 10, 2023
Joe Burrow after getting $275 million
pic.twitter.com/cGB4wrdi3Z— Trey (@Trey2Triggerr) September 10, 2023
It’s safe to say that it wasn’t the way Burrow would have liked to play after signing such a massive and historic contract, but there’s little doubt that Burrow will bounce back from this.
After all, Burrow threw four interceptions in last year’s season opener, and he ultimately still led the Bengals to the AFC Championship game.
