Ed Orgeron explains his approach to dealing with the transfer portal, NIL

Ed Orgeron may not be on the sidelines this season, but the former LSU Tigers‘ coach has strong opinions about two of the biggest issues in college football, the transfer portal and NIL.

“Two different things, listen man if they are thinking about the transfer portal, then go,” Orgeron said.

“We don’t need anybody half in over here. What are we gonna do? Are we gonna baby them?”

The currently retired college football coach then shared his message to the team last season when it comes to potential deals they could acquire via new NIL rules.

“And the NIL, here’s what I told our players. I want y’all to get paid, now think about this. I don’t think there is any company that is going to pay you the amount of money that if you stay here, and you win a championship and are the first player picked like Joe Burrow, look how much he signed for. I don’t think there is any NIL deal that’s going to do that for you.”

Ed Orgeron talks how Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Burrow have changed perception since leaving LSU

Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron addressed how pleased he was when he found out the Cincinnati Bengals were drafting Ja’Marr Chase with their first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, just as they had done with quarterback Joe Burrow one year prior. Since, the pair have become one of the most exciting duos in the NFL after just one season together with the Bengals.

“Good for Cincinnati for listening to Joe, I’m sure they did,” Ed Orgeron said about the Bengals drafting Chase last season. “What a tremendous connection that those two have together. Jamar has a tremendous ability to go up and get the football big, strong hands, great worker. Him and Joe got to know each other over the summer [at LSU]. The wide receiver coach made them catch 10,000 balls together.

“As you know, if you got to get 10,000 balls together, you get to know each other. They’ve just got tremendous timing, but they are some good playmakers. Let ’em play.”

Burrow gets a lot of the credit for turning LSU around, even from Orgeron. Without the star quarterback captaining the offense, the Tigers could’ve been a collection of talent that never reached their full potential. However, with Burrow at the helm, they elevated to one of the greatest teams to ever grace college football.

Ed Orgeron described Burrow and Chase as difference makers to the Bengals, which goes without saying after the former LSU duo hooked up for a rookie record-breaking 81 receptions, 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns for Chase, not to mention an improbable Super Bowl 56 run to cap off an amazing season for both men.

Burrow bringing Chase into the organization is just the first time word has gotten out of the franchise quarterback’s willingness to help former LSU stars over to Cincinnati. Former LSU star offensive tackles La’el Collins, who started for the Dallas Cowboys for the last six seasons, joined the Bengals last month. Word got out that Burrow had Collins over to his house alongside fellow Bengals stars during his trip to visit the team while he was a free agent.

With Burrow and Chase highlighting a Bengals offense that is surrounded by talent, the addition of Collins to one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines will only improve Cincinnati’s standings when it comes to making out of a tough AFC North division and ultimately a run back to the Super Bowl over the next calendar year.