Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who arrived a few weeks ago at voluntary camp packing the same 215 pounds that helped him put on one of the great heavyweight quarterbacking seasons in NFL history last year, is saying the words ringing through Who-Dey Village.

"This is the best that I've felt in the offseason," said Burrow Tuesday in his first Cincinnati media availability since he sifted the Steelers for 277 yards in the Jan. 4 regular-season finale. "Just like every year, trying to get better, trying to get stronger, faster, healthier. Try to find ways that you can optimize your health throughout the whole season, not hurt as much. I'm in a good spot."

In practice, he's zinging the ball well enough to make the 2023 wrist injury seem like a fleeting moment.

"It's better this time of the year than it was last time at the same time," he said.

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More Preseason Game Work

During much of Bengals head coach Zac Taylor's seven-year run, they've had a joint practice with another team in the days leading up to a preseason game. Last year, they did one at Paycor Stadium and one in Chicago.

Not this year, Taylor said Tuesday. Last preseason he played his regulars more in the games and seems inclined to do so again.

"I think the one thing I do feel good about is playing our guys more in the preseason," Taylor said. "That's always subject to change, depending on health and how things go with our team during training camp. But that's one thing that we've openly talked about with our players."

International Joe

Burrow, who has a pretty good batting average as a lobbyist, is lobbying for his team to go international after the NFL 2025 schedule released last week didn't have the Bengals headed overseas.

The last time they went was in 2019, the year before Burrow became a Bengal, and after spending a good deal of his offseasons traveling in Europe, he's noticed.

"To not have a stage like that is a little disappointing. I feel like I've consciously worked hard to try to grow the game internationally over the last 18 months or so," Burrow said. "Hopefully at some point in my career we can go over there."

Growing the game globally is a reason he opted to sign up for Peyton Manning's Quarterback docuseries that's scheduled to drop this July after shooting him, Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins on and off the field all last season.

The intensely private Burrow once pooh-poohed appearing on the show, but Manning is the one guy he would have done it for.

"Caught me on the right day, I guess. I think it's going to be good entertainment. Not necessarily the season that I wanted to have in the spotlight," Burrow said.

"He's going to protect me, protect our team, protect our organization. I have trust in him for saying that and trust that he's going to do that. I probably wouldn't have done it if he wasn't involved, but I have a lot of trust and faith in him to not do anything that would hurt me or the team."

Another Suggestion

You can guess the part of the schedule Burrow disliked.

"Playing in Baltimore for the fourth straight year in primetime isn't ideal. Maybe we can get one of those in Cincinnati Burrow said. "Please."

Taylor would like more primetime games at Paycor Stadium, thank you, but the Thursday night game in Baltimore this year hits a chord.

"I think playing on Thanksgiving night in a standalone game with the whole world watching, sitting on their couch, is really exciting. It's why you're in this business," Taylor said. "Not only to win championships. You get a chance to perform in front of everybody that watches football is going to be watching those games, so I'm really excited about those things.

"I love playing in primetime. The travel part is what gets you there on the back end of those games for the next week, so you always appreciate the more home primetime games you could get which, for whatever reason, the last couple years hasn't gone our way."

Flag Day

With the NFL owners expected Tuesday to give the go-ahead for each team to allow one player to play flag football in the 2028 Olympics, Burrow is all in.

He's not sure of the particulars as Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio speculates the players could go from June's mandatory minicamp right to competition and have no summer break.

"That's an exciting opportunity. I'm not entirely sure how that would work out with training camp and all of our obligations here," Burrow said. "But that's something I would like to do for sure."

Schedule Tweak

Taylor is looking at every way possible to get off to a fast start and mix things up. He's tweaked his routine this spring and meets with the team every day of voluntaries.

"We haven't done that in the past, and that's for a chance for me to get up and kind of get the message of what we're trying to focus on for now," Taylor said. "At the same time, get to know your teammates. We're asking more of our players to get out there and present those things, to show their teammates what they're capable of and just get to know those guys a little bit better."

Golden Days

From what Tayor can see in these very early stages, re-hiring former linebackers coach Al Golden as his defensive coordinator has been a coup. He can feel the energy.

"Hunger and urgency would be two words that I see from that group," Taylor said. "They're really eating up what those coaches are giving them. When you sit in on those unit meetings and you look at the pre-practice work and all the stuff that they're getting as a unit going through practice, it's a very hungry group and I can tell that they're buying in to everything that Al and those position coaches are giving to them.

"They're eating it up. They're prepared every single day. It's really extraordinary to watch how much those guys have really looked at their iPads."

Slants and Screens

Veteran defensive tackle B.J. Hill, who has been seen in a boot this spring, is taking it easy. But Taylor is optimistic about him being ready for training camp: "I think it is more short term than long term." …

Burrow is bullish on wide receiver Jermaine Burton after a tough rookie year Burton was benched twice.

"I think he's stepped up this year so far. Has taken it very seriously. Has matured, it seems like," Burrow said. "Based on the conversations that we have had, he's in a good spot mentally and physically. And he's been working hard, which is exciting to see." …

No. 1 pick Shemar Stewart isn't practicing as he waits to get his contract hammered out, but he's doing everything he can. Even being available to defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery if he needs a body to take up space in a drill.

"He's in meetings, he's studying, he's been great about all that,' Taylor said …

Taylor says he's talked to Trey Hendrickson, the NFL sack champion who hasn't been here because of a contract impasse. Hendrickson was here last week to meet the press.

"It was good to see him, good having him," said Taylor, who had no update on his status …