The Cincinnati Bengals had been unable to achieve an extension with extensive receiver Ja’Marr Chase earlier than Week 1 of the NFL season kicked off.
And Stephen A. Smith is now praying for the downfall of the Bengals.
“I hope that the Cincinnati Bengals fall flat on their rattling face,” Smith mentioned on ESPN’s First Take. “That group makes me sick.”
The Bengals drafted Chase with the No. 5 total choice within the 2021 NFL Draft. At simply 24 years outdated, he’s already cemented himself as among the best receivers within the NFL and is seeking to safe a large pay day. He practiced from time to time for the Bengals all through this preseason as he negotiated a brand new deal.
Underneath Mike Brown’s possession, the Bengals haven’t precisely been frivolous spenders, even with their very own gamers. They’d no selection however to offer quarterback Joe Burrow a five-year, $275 million extension earlier than final season.
“He was thought of the rattling Donald Sterling of the NFL,” Smith mentioned of Brown’s possession. “You get a man like Joe Burrow in your squad… You pay him his cash, however then go and provides an issue to the those who he makes use of as his major weapons.”
Burrow’s contract was an indicator to many who the Bengals had been able to go all in for a Tremendous Bowl ring.
With Chase’s ascension into among the best receivers within the NFL, paired subsequent to fellow extensive receiver Tee Higgins, the Bengals offense figured to be unstoppable on paper for years to return.
However following this season, Higgins shall be an unrestricted free agent after the Bengals couldn’t work out a long-term take care of him. Absolutely, one other group shall be keen to pony up big-time money for the Clemson product, who continues to be simply 25 years outdated and might be a No. 1 receiving possibility.
The identical factor is unfolding with Chase in actual time. And Smith referred to as it out on nationwide tv.
There’s little question that Chase is already one of many NFL’s greatest extensive receivers. Certain, he technically nonetheless has two extra seasons left on his rookie contract. However that’s not how the NFL works. You need to give one in all your greatest gamers an opportunity to have some sense of safety.
To not point out, it nearly feels just like the Bengals will find yourself shedding Higgins this offseason as a staff shall be keen to pay him as a real No. 1 possibility. That makes Chase much more priceless.
Andrei Iosivas, Jermaine Burton, Charlie Jones and Trenton Irwin are the one different receivers on Cincinnati’s roster. The Bengals higher get this sorted out.
