Jake Browning sought revenge for how Vikings cut him in 2021

Browning wanted revenge for a negative experience with the Vikings.

Author:
Joe Nelson
Updated:
Dec 16, 2023 5:55 PM EST
Original:
Dec 16, 2023

They say revenge is best served cold.

Jake Browning got his revenge against the Vikings with a cold-blooded performance as the Bengals scored 21 fourth-quarter points and won 27-24 in overtime Saturday in Cincinnati.

"I think right after we made the field goal to win the game I screamed at a camera and said they never should've cut me," Browning said in his postgame press conference after throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns.

Browning was on the Vikings practice squad in 2019 and 2020 before being cut before the start of the 2021 season opener days. He signed with the Bengals eight days after his release from Minnesota and he's been there ever since.

It wasn't until after he led the Bengals over his former team that he shared how things ended in Minnesota.

"I remember being cut there the last time and just being told like, 'Hey we might have a spot for you on practice squad. Go to the hotel and wait.' And so I sat in the hotel for a couple hours not knowing if I had a job or not and then just basically got a call from my agent that, they didn't even tell me. I had been there for two years. I've been cut my fair share of times and that was probably the s******** one," Browning said.

In 2021, Rick Spielman was Minnesota's general manager and Mike Zimmer was the head coach. The current coaching staff and front office executives didn't arrive until after Zimmer was fired following the 2021 season.

"There was a little bit more this week. I know I denied it," Browning added. "And there's some great people over there, it's completely different, completely different coaching staff and everything. I want to emphasize that there are some incredible people over there, but that one felt good."