Joe Burrow pinpoints unique nature of Cincinnati Bengals fans with Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made an appearance on fellow teammate and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase's first podcast episode of Chasing No 1 on Wednesday.

Burrow and Chase discussed many topics during the podcast, including their history with the LSU Tigers and the current state of the Bengals. One comment from Burrow that stood out was regarding the unique nature of Bengals fans.

While Burrow said at one point in the podcast that it's quite easy to tell which players will be good from very early on, that doesn't stop fans from hoping certain roster bubble types will pop.

Joe Burrow explained that Cincinnati Bengals embrace role players in a way other fanbases don't

When asked what stands out about Bengals fans, Burrow explained that their excitement and passion for niche players on the team is something that's not common with other fan bases.

“They get really passionate about very niche players on the team—like role players—that they decide that they love. Which I think is really cool because those players deserve more recognition.”

There are many such examples of Bengals fans embracing certain role players who don't see the field as much as some of the star players. One prime example of this is the adoration of recently-cut wide receiver Charlie Jones. Jones, affectionately named "Chuck Sizzle" by Bengals faithful, was a special teams specialist whose appearance on the field often brought delight to fans.

Although Jones was recently claimed by the New York Giants, the affection shown for that level of player is exactly what Burrow is talking about.

While Jones was a promising fourth-round pick, his 69 career receiving yards and three career return touchdowns wouldn't typically warrant the love he receives from the Bengals fan base. Burrow spoke positively of the love shown to role players on the team as he thinks guys like that often go underappreciated.

Joe Burrow's comments will have a positive impact on players and fans alike

Burrow making positive comments about the Bengals fandom likely puts some fans at ease, as the national media has been pushing for a Burrow departure from Cincinnati for the last few years. Analyst Dan Orlovsky claimed that Burrow was threatening theBengals organization with an ultimatum when he expressed a desire to win this season.

Other analysts and members of the national media, such as Colin Cowherd, Su'a Kristopher Cravens and Evan Sidery have suggested that Burrow will be a member of the Los Angeles Rams within the next few years. This is despite neither organization nor Burrow being linked to any actual reporting suggesting that this may be the truth.

Burrow's comments about the unique nature of Bengals fans should also prove beneficial to the team. If a new and/or young role player is trying to fight his way onto the 53-man roster, knowledge that your star quarterback thinks you deserve more recognition can only benefit team cohesion.

While Burrow's skills on the field as a quarterback have propelled him to being one of the best at the position in the NFL, it's his skills as a teammate that have overhauled the culture of the Bengals organization.

It can be easy to forget that the Bengals were home to one of the longest playoff-win droughts in the NFL until Burrow's first full season in Cincinnati. Burrow's skills as a teammate also led the LSU Tigers to one of the most impressive national championships in the sport's history, with a head coach who was fired just two years later.

In an article from Bengals.com, offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. explained that Burrow's ability as a leader is headlined by his knowledge of the importance of team cohesion.

"He understands to win, we have to have a great culture, and that starts with continuity and loyalty among each other. He's been the main player in that this offseason making sure guys are spending time together off the field. That's been huge."

Success in the NFL requires a lot of luck and a lot of buy-in from everyone on the team. Comments from the biggest star on the team acknowledging the fact that there is no role too small goes a long way for the undervalued pieces of the puzzle that are the heart and soul of the NFL.

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