Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton approached his new start with an open mind. As he prepares for his second season in the NFL, he is focused on moving on from his troubled past. After a series of off-field incidents that led to scrutiny, Burton is focused on proving his worth to the team. Bengals exec Duke Tobin has been as clear as one can be on this topic. The youngster must raise his competition level to secure his place on the Opening Day roster.
Burton’s journey has been fraught with challenges. He’s seen action in six straight games this season. He was declared inactive for the season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 4. He missed that game as he was involved in one of the bigger Week 9 stories. Before the Bengals’ playoff game against the Las Vegas Raiders, he was a healthy scratch for missing the Friday walk-through.
Off the field, Burton has faced some troubling accusations. One woman he was dating called the police on him after he threw her down a set of stairs. She alleged that he slammed her to the floor, cracking her cell phone in the process. These incidents painted an alarming picture with respect to his character and behavior. Tobin said the Bengals took their draft pick with “eyes wide open.” Character concerns. If you thought the Steelers were unaware of potential character questions concerning the former Crimson Tide third-rounder, think again.
Burton’s college career at Alabama was an impressive one. He led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards for two straight seasons. Once drafted, though, he drew instant judgment due to his myriad of off-field problems. Tobin has now issued Burton an ultimatum to show marked improvement. Now, Burton finds himself under the gun to prove that he’s committed to the team and committed to growing for himself.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has any right to be confident about Burton’s development. He claimed that Burton has “obviously grown up a lot. There are positive signs that he’s taking steps to address his larger off-field issues. Burrow emphasized that conversations with Burton have revealed he is in a good mental and physical spot and has been working diligently.
“At the end of the day, actions over words,” – Jermaine Burton
Burton is well aware of the importance of what he’ll be doing in his new role. As for the comments about being the face of the franchise, he just wants to talk football and what he’s going to bring to the team. “I’m really focused on this year, focused on this team, focused on what I could do for them and focused on creating a better relationship with my guys,” he stated.
Burton’s teammates have noticed as well, and they’ve been impressed by his efforts. Tee Higgins applauded him for his consistency but Burrow continues to be one of his biggest supporters. Burton only stands to gain from this support and take full advantage of his opportunities. If so, he might have a Jabre Guyton level impact on the squad, just like teammate and other recent WR addition Andrei Iosivas.
Burton is tackling all of these issues through and through. He wants to validate the Bengals choice to draft him, but prove to other teams that they made a mistake by passing on his talent. Now, with that sense of urgency and determination, Burton is poised to meet the challenges ahead.
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