Bengals owner Mike Brown ready to “bend over backwards” to try and re-sign Ja’Marr Chase soon

Mike Brown emphasized Ja'Marr Chase's importance in the team by admitting he stands next to star quarterback Joe Burrow.

Bengals owner Mike Brown ready to “bend over backwards” to try and re-sign Ja’Marr Chase soon

Mike Brown and Ja'Marr Chase (Via Reddit/Imago)

Ja’Marr Chase seems to have a fate similar to that of his counterpart Tee Higgins when it comes to a contract extension. The Cincinnati Bengals have officially dismissed the contract talks, saying it’s unlikely to take place now that the offseason has ended. 

Although the Bengals couldn’t qualify for the playoffs last season, the star wide receiver had a remarkable year individually. Logging 1,216 yards and career career-high receptions count of 100, Chase earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2023. With such stats, he entered the offseason with high expectations regarding his extension, however, the training camp has started yet there’s no offer. 

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Last Monday, Bengals owner Mike Brown finally broke his silence on the subject, saying that the current circumstances are not suitable for signing the star player. He clarified that the team is open to discussing a deal if fits right to the franchise as they want to keep Chase long time. 

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It's not so likely that this is the good time to negotiate. The offseason is a better time for that and we're going to try to keep focused on the football part. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I will tell you that the die has probably been cast. This may take a while. We are going to bend over backwards to get it done. I can't tell you when.
Mike Brown told the reporters on Monday

Additionally, Brown emphasized the wideout’s importance in the team by admitting he stands next to star quarterback Joe Burrow for the team and he knows that well. 

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Ja’Marr Chase skips voluntary workouts, minicamp participation limited

As per a source close to ESPN, star receiver Chase is due for a $3.8 million roster bonus which he is scheduled to receive on Thursday– the third day of the training camp where he is not participating. If he didn’t sign an extension, that bonus money is all mentioned in the Bengals’ books for Chase to earn in 2024. 

Ja'Marr Chase Chiefs Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase (Via NFL.com)

Even though Chase showed up for the mandatory minicamp last month in June, he did not participate in the team’s voluntary workouts. He also didn’t take reps during the team drill and when asked about it, he refused to comment. 

It’s evident that the three-time Pro Bowler is leveraging his participation in his contract negotiations. He is seeking a deal close to the mammoth extension offered to Justin Jefferson by the Minnesota Vikings and has declared it as a blueprint for his extension.

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