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Cincinnati Bengals Release Popular Wide Receiver In Shocking Move

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Cincinnati Bengals helmet on the field. The team waived Jermaine Burton.
Cincinnati Bengals helmet (Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)

The Cincinnati Bengals are waving the white flag on Jermaine Burton, one year after using a valuable third-round draft choice on the Alabama product.

On Sunday, news broke that the Bengals suspended Jermaine Burton for Sunday’s afternoon road game against the Buffalo Bills. 24 hours later, the team has decided to give him a fresh start.

The Bengals announced on Monday that they have waived Burton, pulling the plug on one of their most disappointing draft picks in recent memory.

Burton had yet to play a game this season before his suspension. He suffered an ankle injury before the club’s Thanksgiving Game against the Baltimore Ravens, another frustrating development in his turbulent Cincinnati tenure.

Drafted 80th overall by the Bengals in 2024, Jermaine Burton was supposed to be a quality No. 3 receiver to complement Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. It never materialized. He had just four catches for 107 yards in his rookie year, per Pro Football Reference.

Cincinnati lost 39-34 at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, falling to 4-9 on the year. The loss clinched the Bengals’ first losing season since 2020.

Jermaine Burton Joins Duke Tobin’s Growing List Of Swings-And-Misses

Jermaine Burton holding out his hands
Jermaine Burton (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

Bengals Director of Player Personnel and de facto GM Duke Tobin has received more lives than Catwoman from Batman Returns. Owner Mike Brown has been ridiculously loyal to a man with five playoff wins in 27 years at the helm.

Aside from Higgins, Chase and Burrow, Tobin’s draft record has been atrocious. Never mind first-round draft busts like John Ross, Billy Price, Jonah Williams, Daxton Hill, and Myles Murphy.

Tobin hasn’t found any significant value beyond the first round. He took Burton over future studs like Blake Corum (83rd overall), Dominick Puni (86th), Troy Franklin (102nd) and Evan Williams (111th).

If this isn’t a reminder that Cincinnati needs a new GM. Just saying.

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