“Everybody knows that, bro. It’s not ‘if.’ We are the team to beat in the AFC.” Ja’Marr Chase‘s bold declaration to reporters earlier this week masks a storm brewing behind the scenes. The Cincinnati Bengals‘ star receiver isn’t just talking tough on the field—he’s playing hardball off it.

In a twist that’s got the NFL world buzzing, Chase has taken out a $50 million insurance policy on himself for the 2024 season. This move comes after contract talks with the Bengals hit a wall, despite the team reportedly offering a record-setting $140 million deal. It’s a financial Hail Mary that’s left fans scratching their heads and front offices taking notes.

Why the need for such a hefty safety net? Sources close to Chase spilled the beans to ESPN, revealing that the three-time Pro Bowler feels the Bengals pulled a fast one on him. According to these insiders, Chase was told an extension was coming his way at last season’s exit meeting and again at the NFL scouting combine. But as the 2024 season kicked off with a loss to the Patriots, Chase found himself still waiting at the altar.

This isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about trust. Chase watched from the sidelines as his 2021 draft classmates cashed in. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith all landed fat contracts. Even Trevor Lawrence, the top pick that year, briefly became one of the NFL’s highest-paid players. Meanwhile, Chase’s deal remained as elusive as he is on the field.

The plot thickens when you consider Chase’s training camp drama. Sources told ESPN he initially planned to skip the first two days, aiming to show up just in time to snag his $4 million reporting bonus. A mix-up led to his on-time arrival, painting a rosier picture of negotiations than reality warranted. Now, with talks shelved and his insurance policy in place, one source put it bluntly: “He’s good.”

Bengals’ old-school playbook in contract negotiations

While Chase’s $50 million gambit grabs headlines, the Bengals’ dusty playbook on negotiations is raising eyebrows. Cincinnati’s front office is sticking to their guns, refusing to talk turkey once the season’s underway.

How long has it been since the Bengals extended a core player mid-season? You’d have to blow the dust off the record books to find out. It was way back in 2015 when offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth inked a one-year extension—the only in-season deal Cincinnati’s made in 20 years. Talk about being set in your ways.

This old-school approach is clashing hard with today’s NFL. A new deal was supposed to make Chase the league’s top-paid receiver, beating out the $35 million average annual value his LSU buddy Justin Jefferson scored from the Vikings. But the devil’s in the details, and the structure and payout left Chase’s camp cold.

The standoff has even got ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith fired up. On September 13, he ripped into the Bengals on ESPN’s NFL YouTube show: “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.” Ouch.

Smith didn’t stop there, aiming at Bengals owner Mike Brown: “This man, Mike Brown, here you are—you’ve got Joe Burrow, who is an all-world quarterback.” He pointed out the team’s history of disappointing fans, noting years when supporters wore bags over their heads in shame.

As the Bengals gear up to face the defending Super Bowl champ Kansas City Chiefs, Chase’s focus seems laser-sharp. But with contract talks on ice and his $50 million insurance policy in play, fans are left wondering: Will Cincinnati’s old-school ways cost them their superstar receiver? In the high-stakes game of NFL contracts, it looks like Ja’Marr Chase just called check. Your move, Bengals.