Imagine walking into your boss’s office, demanding a raise, and when they lowball you, you whip out a $50 million insurance policy. That’s essentially what Ja’Marr Chase just did to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now, we’ve seen some wild moves in the NFL, but this one? This takes the cake, frosting and all. ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped this staggering news on September 14, and let me tell you, it’s got the whole league talking.

So what’s the deal? Well, it seems like Chase is feeling a bit underappreciated by the Bengals’ brass. Sources close to the situation say the team promised him an extension at the end of last season. They dangled that carrot again during the offseason. But when it came time to put up or shut up? Crickets. Thus, as reported by Schefter: “Ja’Marr Chase has no plans to negotiate long-term deal with Bengals during 2024 season.”

Don’t get me wrong, the Bengals didn’t come empty-handed. James Rapien, who’s got his ear to the ground with the Bengals for Sports Illustrated, spilled the beans on September 12. The team offered Chase a four-year, $140 million extension. The offer included $90 million in practical guarantees and a $30 million signing bonus. But here’s the kicker – the guarantees. 

See, Chase was looking at his LSU friend Justin Jefferson over in Minnesota, who’s sitting pretty with $88.74 million fully guaranteed at signing. The Bengals? They wanted to stretch Chase’s guarantees out to 2027. In NFL years, that’s like waiting for your great-grandkids to be born.

Chase himself tried to play it cool before Week 1. He told reporters, “I want to say we’re off a little bit, but it’s in reach. I’d say we’re pretty close. A few numbers need to be switched around and changed other places, but I’ll say we’re pretty close.” Talk about an understatement, huh?

But here’s where things get messy. Sources close to Chase say he feels flat-out misled by the Bengals. Remember those promises of an extension? Well, Chase took those to heart. He watched his draft classmates like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith cash in with big deals. Even Trevor Lawrence over in Jacksonville got paid.

So when the Bengals’ offer fell short of expectations, Chase decided to play hardball. He’s shut down contract talks for the season. That’s right – no more negotiating. Before that, things got so heated that Chase’s camp even threatened to sit out the first two games. Yeah, including the big showdown with the Chiefs. But cooler heads prevailed, and Chase suited up. Why? He’s betting on himself, and with that $50 million insurance policy, he’s covered if things go south.

Chase’s power play could drop the NFL on its head

Now, this ain’t just about Chase protecting his future payday. This is a move that could change the whole game. Think about it – if more players start following Chase’s lead, we could see a whole new ballgame in contract negotiations.

And let’s not forget, this is all happening while the Bengals are trying to bounce back from a tough loss to the Patriots. They’ve got the defending champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, coming to town.  Meanwhile, Chase? He’s not backing down an inch. He’s doubling down. On September 14, he came out swinging: “Everybody knows that, bro. It’s not ‘if.’ We are the team to beat in the AFC. And we know it. And we gotta play like it, too.”

Do you want to know who else isn’t mincing words? Stephen A. Smith. On ESPN’s NFL YouTube show on September 13. He hopes the Bengals “fall flat on their damn face” until they pay Chase. Strong words, but that’s Stephen A. for you.

Smith also pointed out something that’s been bugging a lot of Bengals fans. Joe Burrow, their franchise QB, has been getting knocked around like a pinata behind that O-line. “Russell Wilson’s the only QB taking more hits, with a staggering 100 sacks over the past two years,” Smith fumed. So, the Bengals are getting ready to face the Chiefs, and all eyes are on Chase. Will this contract drama light a fire under him? Or will it be a distraction bigger than the Bengals’ playoff drought?