“Ja’Marr Chase is one of the top receivers in the NFL.” Stephen A. Smith’s fuming, and it’s not just a bad takeout order. The ESPN star went on a fiery rant about Cincinnati, particularly targeting their handling of Ja’Marr Chase’s contract standoff. Smith’s rant, delivered on ESPN’s NFL YouTube show, was as explosive as a Hail Mary pass in the final seconds.

“The bigger point to bring up here, fellas, is something as it pertains to Ja’Marr Chase,” Smith asserted, expressing his frustration with how the Bengals are handling Chase’s contract. Chase, who grabbed six passes for 62 yards, is still unsigned, even after Cincinnati offered him a record-setting $140M deal. The 56-year-old’s frustration is palpable: “You are listening to a guy and looking at a guy right now who hopes Cincinnati loses every single damn game they play until they sign that man and give him his money. I hope that the Cincinnati Bengals fall flat on their damn face. That organization makes me sick.”

The sports radio host and journalist didn’t mince words about the Bengals’ owner, Mike Brown. “This man, Mike Brown, here you are—you’ve got Joe Burrow, who is an all-world quarterback,” he said, clearly exasperated. Smith throws shade at Cincinnati, saying the organization had fans donning bags over their heads for years because of their lousy performance. And the team’s history with their notoriously tight-fisted owner? Just as dismal.

Stephen A. Smith’s criticism didn’t stop at Brown. He took aim at the Bengals’ broader management, accusing them of failing to support their star QB adequately. “How the hell are you going to take care of the quarterback but not take care of what helps the quarterback be great? It’s stupid,” he said. ESPN’s commentator noted that while Joe Burrow keeps crushing it, Cincinnati’s O-Line is still a weak link. Russell Wilson’s the only QB taking more hits, with a staggering 100 sacks over the past two years. For comparison, Justin Fields has only been sacked nine times in that stretch. Since 2020, Burrow’s been the most sacked QB in the league.

As the season progresses, the Bengals are feeling the heat. Despite a record-setting $140M offer, the contract talks with Ja’Marr Chase broke down over one sticking point. 

Ja’Marr Chase and Bengals contract drama: Close but no deal before kickoff  

The contract saga between Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals has fans and insiders splitting up, and it’s not just because of game-day jitters. As Cincinnati prepped for their opener, whispers about the negotiation standoff began to surface, and here’s the scoop.

Before Week 1 against the Pats, Chase hinted that a deal was “pretty close,” but it seems the final agreement hit a snag over one critical issue. To break it down, let’s compare the WR’s situation with that of his peers. Vikings’ star Justin Jefferson secured an impressive $88.74M fully guaranteed at signing, with additional guarantees pushing his total to $110M. Jefferson’s contract also includes a hefty $36.94M signing bonus and a $30M option bonus for 2025, giving him a solid financial cushion and security.

Chase’s eyeing a similar level of guaranteed cash. While the Bengals typically offer a signing bonus and sometimes a roster bonus, their guarantees usually don’t extend beyond the first year. Joe Burrow’s the lone exception, landing a massive $40M signing bonus and a $55M option bonus, totaling over $105M in guaranteed cash by the end of 2024.

The LSU standout was clear before the season, stating, “I want to say we’re off a little bit, but it’s in reach.” His comments on Sept. 6 indicated that while the two sides were nearing an agreement, a few key details still needed tweaking. 

It remains uncertain if Cincinnati will continue talks during the season—historically; they prefer not to negotiate once games are underway. But one thing’s for sure: Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals were close, just not close enough to seal the deal before kickoff.