Ja’Marr Chase supply: AP Just some days after the Dallas Cowboys made extensive receiver CeeDee Lamb one of many highest-paid receivers within the NFL, Ja’Marr Chase pulled the funniest stunt ever.
Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals are sizzling and heavy in contract negotiations. He’s been a “hold-in” at apply and has been across the group, however has solely practiced intermittently. Based on stories, Chase is looking for an analogous deal to LSU teammate Justin Jefferson, who acquired a four-year deal value as much as $140 million from the Minnesota Vikings.
On Tuesday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned that he expects Chase to be a full participant in apply shifting ahead because the group will get prepared for his or her Week 1 matchup with the New England Patriots.
However Chase rolled into apply late, shades on, and, you guessed it, didn’t apply.
Chase’s strut in that four-second video might reside on in Bengals lore eternally if this deal in some way doesn’t get finished.
Taylor backtracked his statements in Wednesday’s press convention with the media, admitting that he might need spoken too quickly about Chase’s contract state of affairs and refusing to state whether or not he anticipated Chase to play Week 1.
“I feel I most likely put my foot in my mouth talking too rapidly,” Taylor mentioned. “It is a day-to-day state of affairs. We’ll simply preserve seeing it as that.”
Whoops. Appears like Chase should have put his foot down. And Taylor is placing his personal into his mouth.
Chase deserves to be paid. There’s no query about that. He’s one of many prime receivers within the NFL, racking up 3,717 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in simply three seasons.
The No. 5 general decide within the 2021 NFL Draft nonetheless technically has two years left on his contract, so one thing has to get discovered ultimately. To not point out, they’ll have the franchise tag to make use of on him after subsequent yr’s fifth-year possibility, they usually confirmed they’re not afraid to make use of it by tagging Tee Higgins this offseason.
It’s simply simpler to provide Chase the cash that he deserves. However we all know how Mike Brown runs these Bengals. It’s by no means a assure.
So, though the Bengals might technically play full hardball and never prolong Chase for 4 extra seasons, the 24 year-old receiver is already placing his foot down.
It’s onerous to see Chase giving in right here. These Gen Z NFL athletes are constructed in a different way. They’ve bought pettiness of their veins. To not point out, Chase simply noticed this saga play out along with his teammate, Higgins, who nonetheless doesn’t have his personal contract state of affairs resolved.
Chase must preserve displaying up late and doing his personal factor till that payday arrives. It could possibly be nice comedy.