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During free agency, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made waves for hosting La’el Collins in a meeting that included cupcakes before the offensive tackle signed with the team.
That wasn’t the first time Burrow was a direct recruiter while the Bengals spent major cash on the open market over the last two seasons, or at least involved in the process while trying to get guys added to a close-knit locker room.
Burrow spoke about this after practice recently, saying he’d like to remain very involved in the process of helping the team build its culture.
“That’s something I want to do every year,” Burrow said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “I want to make sure the guys we are looking to bring in feel at home in Cincinnati and with the team because that is the culture we are building in the locker room. We are really, really close as a team, coaching staff, players, strength staff, trainers. I just want to portray that to the guys that are thinking about coming here and that we want to sign.”
Bengals staff have been adamant over the last few years, especially in the draft, that they only target team guys, if not former captains from winning programs.
Burrow’s referencing that pursuit a bit here. While he’s had some input schematically and roster-fit-wise because coaches at least ask his opinion, he’s all-in on this front once the team targets a guy.
It’s a little thing, but one of the reasons the locker room culture turned around in Cincinnati so much.
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