The Cincinnati Bengals began their offseason with one major goal: protect Joe Burrow.
They took a major step toward doing that in 2022. On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Bengals signed former Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle La’el Collins. The contract’s details remain unconfirmed.
Former Cowboys’ OT La’el Collins is finalizing a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2022
According to Bengals reporter Marisa Contipelli, Collins revealed the first thing he said to his new quarterback.
“Your new bodyguard is in town,” Collins told Burrow. “No one’s touching you.”
Just spoke with La’el Collins who told me the first thing he said to Joe Burrow: “Your new bodyguard is in town, no one’s touching you.”
— Marisa Contipelli (@BengalsMarisa) March 20, 2022
Those words were likely music to Burrow’s ears. After the Bengals coughed up the third-most sacks during the season, the second-year quarterback got sacked nine times by the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Round and seven times in their Super Bowl loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s easy to see why Burrow would want Collins on the team. Per TheMMQB’s Albert Breer, the former No. 1 pick played a heavy role in recruiting the big man to Cincinnati.
To punctuate the Bengals’ recruiting pitch, Joe Burrow had La’El Collins over to his house on Friday night, along with Ted Karras, Alex Cappa and Hayden Hurst, and their wives/girlfriends, I’m told.
So Burrow’s a pretty good closer on multiple fronts for Cincinnati.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 20, 2022
Considering how far they got with poor pass protection, it’s scary to think what Burrow and Co. could accomplish with more time in the pocket. Collins, along with center Ted Karras and guard Alex Cappa, will look to make that dream a reality.
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