For the second time in two months, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton has received an eviction notice. And the former Alabama wide receiver might be on the outs with his NFL team, too.
According to Hamilton County (Ohio) records, Itan Properties LLC filed an eviction complaint against Burton in Municipal Court on Feb. 6. The complaint says Burton was served with an eviction notice on Jan. 31 for “lease violations” and told to vacate the apartment by Feb. 4.
On Dec. 23, Radius Acquisition LLC filed an eviction case against “Jermaine Burton and all occupants” of his apartment while seeking from the wide receiver $2,506.33 in unpaid rent and $10,000 “for injury to the premises above and beyond ordinary wear and tear.”
Between the two court filings, Duke Tobin, the Bengals’ director of player personnel and de facto general manager, said Burton had “done nothing” to deserve a spot on the team.
Burton joined the Bengals as a third-round selection in the NFL Draft on April 26. As a rookie, Burton had four receptions for 107 yards and returned 13 kickoffs for a 29.1-yard average. He was on the field for 131 offensive snaps and 37 special-teams plays.
In an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer during Senior Bowl Week, Tobin was asked what Burton had done as a rookie to show he belonged with the Bengals.
“He’s done nothing, and he’s going to have to start doing something quickly,” Tobin said. “We knew we were taking a risk. We felt comfortable that we could help him through some of the challenges he’s had in the past, and we’re going to continue to try to help him. But this is professional football, and you have to take accountability, and you have to be accountable to your teammates, your coaches and the team that you’re playing for, and he has to figure that out. He’s got to figure that out fast.
“He’s a very talented player, and we knew that there were risks in taking him. We knew there were rewards in taking him. We know what both of those are. We’re hoping for the rewards. We’re giving him the resources he needs to get to those rewards. But at the end of the day, you can’t want it more for somebody than they want it for themselves. And we’re hoping that Jermaine figures that out.”
Burton signed a four-year, $5.821 million contract with Cincinnati. But the guaranteed portion of that contract – a $1.053 million signing bonus – has been paid.
The Bengals already have offseason issues to deal with at wide receiver.
Tee Higgins played on the franchise tag in 2024 and is expected to command a $100 million contract if Cincinnati allows him to reach free agency on March 12.
After leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions in 2024, Ja’Marr Chase is scheduled to play for $21.8 million on the Bengals’ fifth-year option in 2025. Chase already sat out training-camp practices in August seeking a long-term contract.
Working as an analyst during ABC’s draft coverage, his Alabama coach, Nick Saban, said Burton needed more “emotional maturity” in the pros.
“The No. 1 thing that he needs to do — and I think emotional maturity is the best way to say it — is do the right things all the time,” Saban said. “He does the right things on the field. He knows the importance of what he has to do in the field. He wants to be a player. That’s all he thinks about.
“But you’ve got to do the right things in your life all the time so that you can do the best things that you can do on the field and be the best you can do.”
Burton was a game-day inactive three times during his rookie season, including for the ninth game, when Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said Burton had been “a big part of the plan” with Higgins out, but had been benched because “we just got to handle all of our business the right way.”
The Bengals also announced Burton would be left home as the team traveled to Pittsburgh for its season finale. It was later reported that in the week before the game a 19-year-old woman who had been dating Burton called 911 to report the wide receiver had chased her into her apartment, broken her phone, choked and hit her. The woman also said Burton had put a knife to his neck and threatened suicide. No charges have been filed.
When the Bengals benched Burton for their November game against the Las Vegas Raiders after prepping him all week to replace Higgins, his two career receptions had gained 47 and 41 yards.
“He’s a guy who’s going to have, I think, a really good career here,” Taylor said in discussing his decision to sideline Burton at the last minute, “and we’re going to support him. And he wants to help us win and do things the right way. Today was just a necessary step we had to make. But we’re going to get him back in the fold and keep him moving along and becoming a pro. There’s a lot of things to love about Jermaine, so his best days are in front of him, and we’re going to make sure he achieves that.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.