Injured Cincinnati Bengals vast receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1 ) to the locker room. Picture credit score: Sam Greene/The Inquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t re-sign vast receiver Ja’Marr Chase earlier than the beginning of Week 1 of the NFL season.
Stephen A. Smith is now praying for the Bengals’ downfall.
“I hope the Cincinnati Bengals fall on their rattling face,” Smith mentioned on ESPN’s First Take. “That group makes me sick.”
The Bengals chosen Chase with the No. 5 general choose within the 2021 NFL Draft. At simply 24 years previous, he has cemented himself as among the best receivers within the NFL and is trying to earn an enormous payday. He labored out for the Bengals at instances all through the preseason and negotiated a brand new contract.
The Bengals do not spend cash calmly underneath Mack Brown, even with the gamers they’ve. That they had no alternative however to offer quarterback Joe Burrow a five-year, $275 million contract extension earlier than final season.
“He is thought-about the rattling Donald Sterling of the NFL,” Smith mentioned of Browns possession. “You might have a man like Joe Burrow in your squad … you pay him and also you go and trigger issues for the man he is utilizing as his major weapon.”
Burrow’s contract is an indication to many who the Bengals are able to go all-out and compete for a Tremendous Bowl ring.
With Chase turning into among the best receivers within the NFL, paired with vast receiver Tee Higgins, the Bengals offense will probably be unstoppable for years to come back.
However after this season, Higgins will turn out to be an unrestricted free agent as a result of the Bengals are unable to achieve a long-term contract with him. Certainly, one other group could be keen to spend so much of money on the Clemson product, who remains to be solely 25 years previous and could possibly be the primary receiving choice.
The identical factor unfolded immediately for Chase. Smith spoke out on nationwide tv.
There isn’t a doubt that Chase is already among the best vast receivers within the NFL. After all, he technically has two seasons left on his rookie deal. However that is not how the NFL works. You must give certainly one of your finest gamers an opportunity to really feel safe.
To not point out, it feels just like the Bengals will find yourself shedding Higgins this offseason as a result of the group is keen to pay him to be the true No. 1 choice. This makes Chase much more invaluable.
Andre Isivas, Jermaine Burton, Charlie Jones and Trenton Ervin are the one different receivers on Cincinnati’s roster. Bengalis could be smart to deal with this challenge.
