“Joe Burrow has his top two receivers back in the mix, a route-running tight end, and a running back whose best days are ahead of him. It’s safe to assume that this high-flying act will be lighting up scoreboards this season, giving the defense every chance to help them get back to the postseason.”

At 28 years old, Burrow has put up impressive numbers throughout his five-year NFL career. He has thrown for 19,001 yards, 140 touchdowns, and 46 interceptions, while completing 68.6 percent of his passes in 69 games. Those numbers have come despite two seasons with major injury issues.

And there’s that big change to the timing of training camp practices and starters playing at least one preseason game. Joe Burrow? He’s bought in on the changes and players responding to them when it matters.

The implementation of a rookie wage scale in 2011 has largely ended contract holdouts of draft picks, with a couple of exceptions.