Bengals legend Anthony Munoz: What if Browning 'blows it up?' Fill-in for Burrow did.
CANTON — The greatest Bengals player hopes Cincinnati's 2021-22 surge can pick up where it left off before Joe Burrow's bad news.
"It's a shame Joe had to get hurt," Anthony Munoz said Monday during a stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He headed back to Cincinnato to watch a Jake Browning masterpiece nobody saw coming.
Munoz played left tackle for Bengals teams that lost thrillers to the 49ers in Super Bowls capping the 1981 and 1988 seasons.
The franchise reached its only other Super Bowl in 2021. The 2022 team had a fourth-quarter lead at Kansas City before falling 23-20 in the AFC title game.
In September, Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension. In November, he left a game against Baltimore with a season-ending wrist injury.
Munoz, speaking at the Hall of Fame Luncheon, had liked the Bengals' chances for a hot finish behind Burrow.
"Now, with the lack of a running game, with an inexperienced guy, Jake Browning, at quarterback, it's going to be tough," he said before Cincinnati's Monday night game against Jacksonville. "Without a running game, (Browning) would have to blow it up."
Browning had a monster game in a 34-31 overtime win, providing some fun with the topic of what he might do next. Browning is scheduled to be an exclusive rights free agent after his $750,000 contract for 2023 expires.
Munoz sounded optimistic Burrow can make it back in 2023, but he is apprehensive about a quick return to Super Bowl contention under fifth-year head coach Zac Taylor.
"People talk about the window you have with that talent," he said. "Who are we going to lose (in free agency)?
"I like what Zac is doing. I like his assistants. It's just been crazy, with Joe suffering his third injury in four years."
Browning put up crazy stats Monday night, going 32-of-37 for 354 yards.
Munoz, 65, works for the Hall of Fame as "chief football relationship officer." He is point man in the Hall's quest to make enshrinees "feel like family" and regards Canton as a second home.
His playing era was the 1970s and '80s. He played in one of the epic games in USC history.
"It was Jan. 1, 1980," Munoz said. "Ohio State was No. 1, Alabama was 2, and we were 3."
Munoz had missed the regular season with a knee injury.
"When they announced No. 77, Anthony Munoz, a lot of people said, 'Who the heck is that?'" he said.
It was Earle Bruce's first season as Ohio State head coach after Woody Hayes was fired. Art Schlichter was the Buckeyes' boy-wonder quarterback.
"Ohio State was a great team," Munoz said. "But we had four future Pro Football Hall of Famers.
"Four of our five linemen were first-round picks. Our fullback was Marcus Allen. Our running back, Charles White, won the Heisman the year before.
"Our defense had Ronnie Lott, Emmith Smith, Troy Brown, all first-round picks."
Ohio State led 16-10 when USC took over at its own 15 with the fourth quarter melting away.
"Our coach, John Robinson, looked out on the field and said, 'Do NOT throw the football,'" Munoz recalled. "We ran 85 yards and scored with seconds left and won 17-16."
The Bengals picked Munoz in the draft four month later, third overall after after Billy Sims (Lions) and Lam Jones (Jets).
"I really believe the Ohio State game convinced Paul Brown, Mike Brown and Pete Brown to pick me at No. 3," Munoz said. "It might have been my best game in four years."
Paul Brown was a famous coach at Massillon, Ohio State and with the Cleveland Browns who spent 25 years operating the Bengals.
Munoz thought of "PB" while attending Thursday's OHSAA Division II state final, in which Massillon beat Akron's Archbishop Hoban.
Browns vs. Bengals was a tremendous rivalry throughout Munoz's 12 seasons in Cincinnati.
In the Bengals' Super Bowl seasons of 1981 and 1988, the teams split their two games in each regular season.
He loved playing against Browns linebacker Clay Matthews.
"Clay was one of my best teammates in college," said Munoz, drawing applause at the mention of Matthews' name. "The Browns had Reggie Camp and Mike Johnson and the Dawg Pound. I remember Brian Sipe and Ozzie and the Kardiac Kids."
Munoz grew up in California with four siblings. He never met his dad. His mom is his hero.
He dreamed as a little boy of playing Major League Baseball. He was a youth football quarterback whose favorite QBs included Bill Nelsen of the Browns and Alliance's Len Dawson of the Chiefs.
He spent a short time as a relief pitcher at USC, in addition to playing football.
He was a Parade All-American in high school, heavily recruited.
Woody Hayes took a shot.
"I appreciated the offer," Munoz said, "but I said I had made my mind up about USC.
"Looking back, that's one thing I regret. I wish I had visited Ohio State. I wish I would have met Woody Hayes."
Reach Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz talks Joe Burrow 2023 Bengals at Luncheon
