Justin Jefferson is eager to see his friend and former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase get the payday he deserves, but the Vikings star hopes it won’t come at the cost of Chase missing any regular-season games. Jefferson shared his confidence that Chase will take care of business and be ready when it matters.
However, Chase has not yet returned to practice as he continues negotiations with the Bengals for a new contract.
There’s speculation that one factor delaying the deal is Jefferson’s own extension. Reports suggest that Chase is aiming to surpass Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million contract, potentially making him the highest-paid receiver in league history.
“I hope that he gets the contract that he’s looking for, but I also hope that he plays it smart and not let it get in the way of, you know, his greatness and being on that field,” Jefferson told Up & Adams.
“It’s always love, especially on my end, about my brothers, that are making good in this league and making a name for themselves. We always talked about that in the receiving room at LSU, saying that we were able to be on that same platform as some of the top guys that were in the league while we were watching the film at LSU. So to see it all come up, come to life and for us to fulfill our dreams is definitely heartwarming.”
Though Chase is expected to secure his massive contract soon, the ongoing negotiations raise questions about his availability for the Bengals’ season opener against the Patriots. As he remains on his current contract, his absence from practice puts his status for the game in doubt.
Ja’Marr Chase Showing Up Late to Cincinnati Bengals Practice Was Hilarious..
Just a few 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 hot and heavy in contract negotiations. He’s been a “hold-in” at practice and has been around the team, but has only practiced intermittently. According to reports, Chase is seeking a similar deal 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 that he expects Chase to be a full participant in practice moving forward as the team gets ready for their Week 1 matchup with the New England Patriots.
But Chase rolled into practice late, shades on, and, you guessed it, did not practice.
Chase’s strut in that four-second video could live on in Bengals lore forever if this deal somehow does not get done.
Taylor backtracked his statements in Wednesday’s press conference with the media, admitting that he might have spoken too soon about Chase’s contract situation and refusing to state whether he anticipated Chase to play Week 1.
“I think I probably put my foot in my mouth speaking too quickly,” Taylor said. “This is a day-to-day situation. We’ll just keep seeing it as that.”
Whoops. Sounds like Chase must have put his foot down. And Taylor is putting his own into his mouth.
Chase deserves to be paid. There’s no question 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 has to get figured out eventually. Not to mention, they’ll have the franchise tag to use on him after next year’s fifth-year option, and they showed they’re not afraid to use it by tagging Tee Higgins this offseason.
It’s just easier to give Chase the money that he deserves. But we know how Mike Brown runs these Bengals. It’s never a guarantee.
So, even though the Bengals could technically play complete hardball and not extend Chase for four more seasons, the 24 year-old receiver is already putting his foot down.
It’s hard to see Chase giving in here. These Gen Z NFL athletes are built differently. They’ve got pettiness in their veins. Not to mention, Chase just saw this saga play out with his teammate, Higgins, who still does not have his own contract situation resolved.
Chase needs to keep showing up late and doing his own thing until that payday arrives. It could be great comedy
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