NFL LIVE | Time to Panic! Contract drama Bengals and Ja'Marr Chase ultimate leverage - Adam Schefter

PA this comes you see him right there one day after head coach Zack Taylor said Chase would practice all week after the star wide receiver practice on both Sunday and Monday so what's going on here okay he's still waiting for the deal of course our Bengals reporter Ben baby added this just moments ago he said Zack Taylor says wide receiver jar Chase is day today added that Taylor probably quote put his foot in his mouth when speaking yesterday about Chase's availability Adam what more can you add well Laura I think that the negotiations between these two sides are slowo right now and I think Zack Taylor was enthused about the fact that Jamar Chase had been back participating in practice but those have only been walkth through practices when he's practice it was all individual drills not fullon practice and this is a situation that has bared watching all training camp and continues to Bear watching and you could tell today it was almost as if Jamar Chase was trying to replace the narrative that Z Taylor used yesterday in fact Zack Taylor yesterday was very confident and optimistic that Jamar Chase would be practicing today that he would be playing in week one and Jamar Chase almost made a statement of his own by showing up and not practicing today as if to say this narrative is not going to be dictated entirely by the Cincinnati Bengals and clearly they're still is an issue unless Jamar Chase gets paid yeah you can just tell you know well if you read between the lines you can just tell that this young man is very frustrated very frustrated he doesn't he knows that he doesn't have a whole lot of options here other than to just do exactly what he did which was look I don't have any leverage the only leverage you know I I don't have a Dak Prescott type of situation where I'm setting up for free agency next year where I could just walk and leave out of here you know I'm on a oneyear deal he he really the only thing he can do is sit out and withhold services and you just know that anybody who right now kind of like puts it puts it out there in any way shape or form that this guy has no other choice but to play he's going to push back against that and this this sounds like that like he goes like hey you know what you think I'm going to practice okay watch this I'm not practicing I'm going to go out here in my street clothes I'm going to watch you guys although we probably it's probably a safe bet to you know you wind up seeing him week one and you wind up seeing him play it's got to be extremely extremely frustrating for someone who's been so productive and they know that they need in order to get to where they want to get to and Louis I see it the exact same way you do like it's very frustrating he's a top five wide receiver maybe top three wide receiver in the game of football he's going to play for a million bucks and he knows that he's worth way more than that and on top of that you've seen the wide receiver Market explode CD lamb just got 136 M over four years but understand this with this Collective bargain agreement he's basically tied to Cincinnati for two more years and we know what Mike Brown and should I say how Mike Brown decides to negotiate deal so I think he's stuck now the relationship between burrow and Chase is such that chase is not going to want to miss opening day with his partner because he's going to want to be out there but even if he does at at a certain point he's got to come in to get an a crude season so like he really has no choice but to come and play I Feel for him but this is not a decision that was made based on Jamar chase this was a collectively bargained issue the team that drafts you in the first round has a four-year deal and a chance for a fifth year option and then they can franchise you two more years so he has zero leverage whatsoever but to figure out a way to go to Mike Brown and say Hey listen are you going to do the right thing I'll come out here I'll show up I may not give you my best but if you will do the right thing for me okay T Higgins is not going to be here most likely Tyler board is already gone everyone knows I am your wide receiver Mike Brown do the right thing that's all he's asking and he's pleading and he's doing that through the media he's doing that he's doing it every way he can without ever saying a word I just wonder if Mike Brown will listen because this young man is crying out to Mike Brown to do the right thing and Mike Brown is saying hey this is how we do business in Cincinnati we're not doing anything different and he's gonna test this young man's resolve I don't think it's right but it's what the collective bargaining collective bargaining agreement says that he can do F you said 136 M's right there's a lot of M&M's going around right now at the wide receiver position and you say he's got no leverage I would disagree Jamar Chase can simply say my back's bothering me I don't think I can play that week one my hand strings tight I don't think I can play week one and the Bengals will get that message if that's what he decides he wants to do so he has leverage he doesn't have as much leverage as he'd like to have due to the collective bargain agreement having two years left in the contract but nobody wants a situation how's that going to go over though Shifty how is that going to go over if he starts talking about his hamstring or his back come like players in the locker room understand the business you don't have to lie in order to keep players understand the business players also understand to your point that he scheduled to make $1 million in base salary this year he had a $3.8 million roster bonus so he's going to make $4.8 million so he's going to step out there right now when all those M are out there and risk that like I again has he been willing to do that this summer has he been willing to do it so far have we seen him practice once have we seen him do anything other than a walk only no you're right look the only leverage the only leverage he has which we have already said is to withhold his services and figure out a way to continue pushing this out and pushing this out and pushing this out now understand look the wide receiver room in Cincinnati is pretty darn strong they've drafted pretty well okay Jermaine Burton has looked pretty good Andre oshas looks pretty good Charlie Jones is pretty good T Higgins is pretty good they've got a fleet of tight ends also and they've got a quarterback who's pretty darn good so look I mean for cincin this is is this is this is going to be the epitome this is right here this is the very definition of the cat and mouse game that teams and players are going to play with each other play with one another when the team feels as though they have the leverage and the player only has one course of action I'm going to hold out final who's going to Blink first you know what his Leverage is I believe that in week two the Cincinnati Bengals play the Kansas City Chiefs that's his leverage the Cincinnati Bengals are caught in a rising storm one that could shape the fade of their upcoming NFL season their star wide receiver Jamar Chase finds himself at the heart of a contract standoff that threatens to Ripple through the entire organization just a day ago head coach Zack Taylor confidently declared that chase would be practicing all week gearing up for week one yet in a move that left many stunned Chase arrived at practice in Street Clos refusing to participate what exactly is happening behind the scenes what does this mean for the Bengals and most crucially for their star player just yesterday Zack Taylor stood before the media exuding confidence he assured everyone that Jamar Chase would be back on the field practicing all week this was a significant statement one that seemed to Signal a turning point for the Bengals Chase had participated in light practices on Sunday and Monday fueling Taylor's optimism it was a moment of relief for Bengals fans who had been anxiously watching the situation unfold however by Wednesday the narrative had shifted dramatically despite Taylor's reassurances Chase arrived at practice dress not to play but to watch his decision to sit out wasn't just about resting it was a bold statement Chase's absence from Full participation hinted at deeper issues issues that could potentially jeopardize the Bengals preparations for week one this wasn't merely a case of a misprice it was a red flag signaling that all might not be well within the Bengals Camp what caused this sudden shift was it a miscommunication between the player and the coach or was it something far more significant but the underlying tension between Chase and the Bengals is about much more than a Mis day of practice it's about the future behind the scenes the situation is far more complex than it appears on the surface at the heart of Jamar Chase's decision to hold out from Full participation is a contract dispute that has been brewing all preseason Chase one of the NFL's brightest stars is set to earn just $1.1 million this season a figure that barely reflects his true value on the field for player who has been instrumental in the Bengals recent success the salary is more than just a number it's a clear indication of where he stands in the eyes of the organization compare this to the recent explosion in the wide receiver Market just this week CD lamb of the Dallas Cowboys secured a massive 4-year extension worth $136 million and earlier this summer Chase's former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson Ain a historic deal with the Minnesota Vikings making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history the message is clear Elite wide receivers are being paid and Chase knows he deserves to be in that conversation Chase has made his position clear by engaging in what is known as a Holden he's been present at training camp showing up to team activities but he hasn't fully participated in any significant way he's made it known that until he gets a deal that reflects his worth he won't be risking his health on the field this approach keeps him connected to the team while still applying pressure on the Bengals front office the Stakes are incredibly high for the Bengals failing to secure Chase could mean not just losing a star player but also sending a damaging message to the rest of the team and the League this standoff is more than just a negotiation it's a test of the Bengals willingness to invest in their future but while money is a major factor the real issue lies in the power dynamics at play John Mar Chase finds himself in a precarious position despite being one of the top wide receivers in the league the structure of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement leaves him with little leverage the Bengals hold significant power over Chase's immediate future with the fifth year option already exercised the Bengals can keep him under contract for two more seasons paying him over $21 million in 225 beyond that they can utilize the franchise tag potentially extending their control over Chase for up to two additional years this means that despite his immense Talent Chase has very few options he tied to the Bengals in a way that limits his ability to negotiate freely unlike a player nearing free agency who can Leverage The Open Market Chase is effectively locked into his current situation it's a frustrating reality for a player who knows his worth and wants to be compensated accordingly Chase's frustration is understandable as a key player who has consistently delivered for the Bengals being paid a fraction of what lesser players are earning is not just a financial slight it's a professional one the only real tool at his disposal is to sit out withholding his services in the hope that the Bengals will come to the table with a deal that reflects his true value but sitting out comes with its own risks for Chase this standoff isn't just about securing a lucrative contract it's about insuring his legacy and as time ticks away the pressure mounts on both Chase and the Bengals to reach a resolution time is of the essence and with week one approaching the stakes couldn't be higher as the NFL season draws near the Bengals are faced with a crucial dilemma Zack Taylor has voiced his expectation that Jamar Chase will be ready to play in week one against the New England Patriots but with Chase's participation in practice still in question and the contract standoff unresolved this is far from a sure thing the Bengals are walking a tight rope balancing the need to prepare for the season with the uncertainty surrounding their star receiver status the relationship between Joe burrow and John marah Chase is the lifeblood of the Bengals offense together they have created one of the most electrifying quarterback receiver Duos in the NFL Burrow's confidence in Chase is evident every time they connect on the field and it's no secret that the Bengals hopes this season rest heavily on their continued success but what happens if Chase isn't there in week one the Bengals offense built around Burrow's precision and Chase's explosive playmaking could falter without its star receiver the pressure on the front office to resolve this situation is immense and every day that passes without a resolution brings more uncertainty Zack Taylor's confidence in Chase's return might be well intentioned but it's becoming increasingly clear that this situation is anything but under control the Bengals need Chase but they also need to ensure that he feels valued not just as a player but as a Cornerstone of their future the future of Jamar Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals hangs in the balance the Bengals are a team with their eyes set on the Super Bowl and Chase is a vital piece of that Vision without him their path becomes significantly more challenging but as of now the situation remains unresolved will the Bengals make the move that locks down their star player or will this contract standoff cast a shadow over what could be a pivotal season this isn't just a negotiation over money it's a defining moment for the Bengals as as a franchise their handling of Chase's contract could set the tone for years to come affecting not just their relationship with Chase but with every player on the roster it's a test of their commit commment to their players and their desire to win as the clock ticks down to week one the Bengals must decide will they secure their future by investing in Jamar Chase or will they risk losing him and perhaps they're shot at a Super Bowl by letting the standoff drag on the next move is theirs and the entire NFL is watching as we stand on the brink of the new NFL season the tension in Cincinnati is palpable Jamar Chase has made his position clear now it's up to the Bengals to respond will they choose to secure the future of their franchise by locking down one of the best receivers in the game or will this contract dispute signal the beginning of a rift that could derail their Super Bowl aspirations stay tuned because this story is far from Over the decisions made in the coming days could reshape the future of the Cincinnati Bengals and Jamar Chase and in a league where every game matters the stakes have never been higher