Jake Browning, the star quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, has recently made headlines but not just for his fantastic feats on the football field.
After the Bengals’ remarkable victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Browning was caught on camera making a heated comment: “They never should have cut me” a statement referring to his rough departure from the Vikings in 2021.
In 2021, his time with the Vikings came to an abrupt and somewhat unexpected end, creating a sense of dissatisfaction within Browning.
The Vikings’ management, which has since undergone significant changes, including hiring a new head coach and General Manager, was primarily responsible for the decision.
Fast forward to the recent Bengals-Vikings showdown. With the past still fresh in mind, Browning helped the Bengals secure a victory, setting a stage for his response to his former team.
After the game, Browning, in front of the cameras, made his feelings known, expressing discontent about his departure from the Vikings.
However, Browning, at his postgame press conference, expressed regret over his postgame comments.
He felt that he had let his personal feelings interfere with acknowledging the collective effort of his Bengals’ teammates, attributing the victory solely to his “authentic reaction” to his past with the Vikings.
“You keep it all pent up and then it comes out,” Browning said, via the team’s website. “But I guess my biggest regret was that game turned into like my revenge game, when in reality there were so many things that went into getting that win. Making sure it’s acknowledged it wasn’t just my revenge game, it was a great team win.”
Jake Browning regrets win over Vikings turned into "my revenge game." https://t.co/PIhHC80St7
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 20, 2023
As the Bengals gear up for their upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s clear that the same personal stakes won’t be at play for Browning.
Winning this game, however, would launch the Bengals closer to the playoffs, which would further Browning’s aspirations.
