“Everybody Knows What We Got In Him,” Joe Burrow once said about his LSU teammate in June. For Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals, that sentiment might be hitting close to home. As the clock ticks down to kickoff, the Bengals’ quest for a fairy-tale ending in the Big Easy is facing an unexpected plot twist.

Chase, the electrifying wide receiver who helped Joe Burrow lead LSU to national glory, is now absent from Bengals training camp. Coach Zac Taylor’s terse “day-to-day” label for Chase’s status on Tuesday (CBS Sports, Aug 2024) has set Who Dey Nation on edge. The timing couldn’t be worse for a team eyeing a trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans – the very city where Burrow and Chase etched their names in college football lore.

Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, never one to mince words, laid out the stakes on The Adam Schefter Podcast Live yesterday. “Think about the Cinderella story,” Johnson mused. “Joe Burrow played for LSU, Jamarr Chase played at LSU, Super Bowl is in New Orleans. That’s the perfect story.” But this storybook ending is now in jeopardy, with Chase joining a growing list of star receivers playing hardball over contracts.

The Bengals aren’t alone in this predicament. CeeDee Lamb of the Cowboys and Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers are also in contract limbo. Justin Jefferson‘s record-breaking $88.7 million guaranteed deal with the Vikings has set a new bar, one that Chase and his contemporaries are eager to clear.

Chase’s situation is particularly pressing as he enters the final year of his four-year, $30.819 million rookie contract. Although the Bengals picked up his fifth-year option, his holdout makes it clear that he has no interest in playing under those terms. If he plays under his current contract, he’d earn less than $10 million this season—well below the market value for a three-time Pro Bowler.

Burrow, who showed up to a game in New Orleans in 2022 wearing Chase’s LSU jersey, has been diplomatically silent on his teammate’s absence. “I think the best way to handle that is to let him handle business the way that he sees fit,” Burrow told reporters (Fox8, Aug 4, 2024). But Johnson believes the quarterback’s patience won’t last forever.

“I’m sure Joe Burrow will probably grow frustrated at some point not having his top receiver out there,” Johnson predicted. “I don’t think Joe Burrow would allow Mike [Brown] to do that. You understand how important Jamarr Chase is to the success of the Bengals.”

Johnson also emphasized the importance of training camp: “I would have much rather him being at Camp getting the work in so it makes it that easy and hit the ground running when the season starts, but it’s unfortunate.”

The Bengals’ front office, known for its traditional approach to contracts, is facing a ticking clock. Owner Mike Brown’s policy of not negotiating during the regular season leaves the team with a narrow three-week window to strike a deal. It’s a high-stakes game of chicken that could determine whether the Bengals’ offense roars like a Bengal tiger or sputters like a beaten-up Pinto.

Joe Burrow’s influence could be key in Chase contract talks

As the Chase saga unfolds, all eyes are on Joe Burrow. The franchise quarterback, who secured his own bag with a massive extension, might be the X-factor in resolving this standoff. This speaks volumes about the connection between the two players, a bond forged in the crucible of their 2019 national championship run at LSU.

That magical season saw Burrow and Chase, along with Justin Jefferson, form one of the most lethal offenses in college football history. As Pro Football Network highlighted on November 5, 2023, LSU’s 2019 squad is considered by many to be one of the greatest teams ever assembled. They outscored their opponents by a staggering 726-328 margin, with both Chase and Jefferson accumulating over 1,500 receiving yards each.

The Bengals brass, including Brown, are well aware of what’s at stake. “We are going to bend over backwards to make it happen,” Brown said earlier about extending Chase as per CBS Sports. But with the regular season looming and Chase’s absence threatening to disrupt the team’s Super Bowl aspirations, will they bend far enough?

The crux of the matter might lie in the Bengals’ traditional contract structure. As PRO FOOTBALL RUMOURS reported, “The Bengals traditionally only include the signing bonus as a post-Year 1 guarantee, as Orlando Brown Jr.’s 2023 agreement showed recently. They might need to make an exception for Chase.” This policy has caused issues with players in the past, and it could be the sticking point in negotiations with Chase.

Interestingly, there’s a possibility that this standoff could extend beyond this season. “The Bengals would rather address this matter in 2025, Graziano adds, and SI.com’s Albert Breer offers that Chase may ultimately be OK with that route as well.” This could give both sides more time to navigate the complexities of the new receiver market.

As Cincinnati fans hold their breath, the clock keeps ticking. The Bengals’ dreams of a Hollywood ending in the Big Easy hang in the balance. Will Chase’s holdout be the plot twist that derails this potential blockbuster, or just another hurdle for Burrow and company to overcome on their way to gridiron glory? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: this drama is far from over.