Just days after the Dallas Cowboys made wide receiver CeeDee Lamb one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, Ja’Marr Chase pulled the funniest stunt ever.
Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals are very engaged in contract talks. He has been on a “hold-in” at practice and has been around the team, but only in-between practices. According to reports, Chase wants a deal similar to LSU teammate Justin Jefferson, who received a four-year deal worth up to $140 million from the Minnesota Vikings.
On Tuesday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he expects Chase to be a full participant in practice going forward as the team prepares for its Week 1 matchup with the New England Patriots.
But Chase was late to practice, shadowed, and, as you might have guessed, didn’t practice.
If for some reason the deal doesn’t go through, Chase’s antics in that four-second video could be etched in Bengals folklore forever.
Taylor walked back his comments in a press conference with the media on Wednesday, acknowledging he may have spoken too soon about Chase’s contract status, and declined to say whether he expected Chase to play in Week 1.
“I think I may have spoken too hastily and opened my mouth,” Taylor said”This is an everyday situation. We’ll continue to treat it that way.”
Ouch. Looks like Chase has put his foot down. And Taylor is putting her foot in her mouth.
Chase should get paid. There’s no doubt about that. He’s one of the top receivers in the NFL, racking up 3,717 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in just three seasons.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft still technically has two years left on his contract, so something will have to be figured out eventually. Not to mention they will have the franchise tag to use on him after next year’s fifth-year option, and they showed they aren’t afraid to use it by tagging Tee Higgins this offseason.
It would be easy to give Chase the money he’s worth. But we know how Mike Brown runs these Bengals. There are no guarantees.
So, even though the Bengals could technically take a completely hard stance and not extend Chase’s contract for four more seasons, the 24-year-old receiver has already dragged his foot down.
It’s hard to see Chase giving up here. These Gen Z NFL athletes are built differently. They have narcissism running through their veins. Not to mention that Chase has seen the same story with his teammate Higgins, whose own contract situation is still unresolved.
Chase has to come in late and keep doing his job until he gets the money. This could be a great comedy.
