“It’s pretty self-explanatory….we’re not a good enough team.” Joe Burrow was clearly frustrated when the team added another loss to their board (4-7) in Week 11. It is not that Burrow isn’t giving his best. Despite his excellent performances such as rank 3 in quarterback rating 106.9, the team isn’t able to win. As obvious, it questioned almost everyone in the franchise, including the President of the Cincinnati Bengals, Mike Brown.

During a recent appearance at the Dan Patrick Show of NBC Sports, Hall of Famer Steve Young was asked about Joe Burrow’s impressive stats – 27 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, three games of 300+ yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions – and why the Bengals were still losing games despite such elite performances. And guess what? Young’s response dug into deeper issues.

He pointed out that modern football has become more simplified, partly due to limited practice time and changes in player safety protocols. With fewer intense practices and shorter preparation periods, teams may lack the discipline and cohesion needed to avoid critical errors. This can lead to bad defense, penalties, and costly mistakes – “all the classic stuff” that can derail even a team with a star quarterback like Burrow.

Young also noted that the Bengals have historically struggled to consistently “put it all together,” despite their Super Bowl run. While Burrow is playing at an exceptional level, the problems may lie elsewhere, including coaching, team structure, or even organizational culture. Therefore, interestingly, Young highlighted a rarely discussed factor: team ownership.

The HOF further explained his points, “I think what you gotta do is not look at Joe Burrow. You probably have to look at everyone else. We don’t do a good job of looking at the owner either in the NFL. And I think we should do more of that, personally. Because I think it speaks to a lot of what’s happening on the field.” He again added, “Of course, we can’t fire the owners and the equity owners in the league who have made half a billion dollars a year for the last 20 years in equity value. So, I’m not saying it’s the owner’s fault. I’m just saying, when things look really weird, go to the top, and then work down kind of thing.”

With his statements, it seems, he subtly attacked $3.9 billion Mike Brown, dusting off all the dirt from Joe Burrow’s sleeves.

Is Mike Brown the real problem for Joe Burrow and the team?

The Bengals’s journey over the past 20 years has been a rollercoaster. It was full of frustration, disappointment, and the occasional glimmer of hope. At the heart of it all is Mike Brown, a figure both celebrated and criticized. For years, Brown has controlled nearly every aspect of the organization – owner, General Manager, and President all rolled into one. And as Kyle Battle stated in a 2013 report, this concentration of power hasn’t always worked in the team’s favor.

Take the infamous Paul Brown Stadium debacle. The project went $205 million over budget. Hence leaving the city of Cincinnati to foot the bill – a decision that still stings taxpayers. Fans fed up with the mismanagement, have made their voices heard in creative ways. From billboards to boycotts and even comedic skits mocking the franchise, they’ve pushed for change. But Brown has often doubled down, bringing back coach Marvin Lewis despite fans pleading for a fresh start.

Then there’s his vote against private equity in the NFL, seen by some as a move that held back smaller franchises. Yet, for all the controversy, Brown was the man at the helm when the Bengals reached their first Super Bowl in 33 years.

So, it seems, he isn’t the only problem of the group. Other underlying issues of the franchise could be Joe Burrow’s team’s offense, which must start faster to defeat other teams. In addition to that, the running game continues to struggle for the team, hence, that needs to be addressed too.