Bengals: What if fans can’t see Joe Burrow play in person?

Would Bengals fans settle for a season where they could not see Joe Burrow play at Paul Brown Stadium?

Before shooting the messenger, hear the message. Would Bengals fans be OK not being able to watch Joe Burrow, a bevy of talent from free agency, and a promising team from the stands at Paul Brown Stadium? What if your only opportunity was to see the 2020 version of the home team from the cozy confines of home, with no one else around.

If you think that is a crazy idea, think again. While the National Football League might find a way to play the upcoming season, the thought that no fans allowed in would make for an interesting watch. For those in Cincinnati who have already been denied an opportunity to see Burrow selected on draft night, not being able to watch him for an entire season seems like an insult added to injury.

It’s an interesting concept, in that the idea has been kicked around by a few leagues, including the NBA, who have yet to decide what to do with their 2020 season.

On sports talk radio/TV, it’s been an interesting discussion as to how players and the game as a whole could be affected. Clearly, a basketball game in an arena is considerably different from a professional football game in an NFL stadium. While it might be hard to wrap the sports mind around such a concept, it’s one worth considering given the events consuming our every waking moment.

All that said, if it was games in an empty stadium or no games at all, it would be a safe, albeit bummer of a bet, that fans would be content sitting at home and watching their team, or at this point, any team, play a game. For Bengals fans, if that’s the only way they get to see the first overall pick play in stripes, one can imagine it’s a lock they would be OK settling for such a scenario.