Frustration boiled over for Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns on Sunday, when he angrily hit the sideline after a neutral zone infraction on teammate Nick Thurman. The penalty, which came in on a fourth-and-1, gifted the Detroit Lions a first down and added to an already miserable campaign—let alone a miserable day.
So, you really can’t blame Burns—and neither does head coach Frank Reich.
Buy Panthers TicketsReich was asked about his star defender following the 42-24 loss on Sunday. Here’s what he said:
“I cannot say enough about Brian Burns,” Reich replied. “He stands for everything you want a football player to stand for, everything you want a leader to stand for. That guy . . . he’s the epitome of what you want as a winner. That guy is a winner. That’s where you feel bad for guys like that. He’s been here a long time, we’ve not been able to win.
“Everybody deserves better, but he deserves better. And he deserves better. I believe that’s why we’re here, and I believe that it can work out where he can see that.”
Burns has never seen a winning season in the NFL, or anything close to it. The Panthers, since drafting the pass rusher back in 2019, have gone a combined 22-48 over the past five years.
The two-time Pro Bowler would later apologize for displaying his frustration at his locker.
Brian Burns on the frustration that he showed on the sideline after the Panthers had a fourth-and-1 penalty that gave the Lions a first down. pic.twitter.com/s5tVJ3OTl9
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) October 8, 2023
But, again, it’s hard to blame Burns considering his situation. We’re now over a month into the season, and he remains without a long-awaited contract extension and—perhaps more simply—a win.
