Everything's Fine: Ja'Marr Chase Is Just Delivering A Masterclass In Showing How Much Leverage He Has To Become The Highest Paid WR Ever

I know a lot of people are taking about Brandon Aiyuk and that whole contract situation, but the Ja'Marr Chase one is the most fascinating. You're talking about a guy with a couple years left on his contract doing a hold-in and making a point. Two days ago Zac Taylor said that he expects Chase to practice and play in week 1. This was yesterday at practice: 

Oh. Well that's certainly not practicing and for sure proving a point. I mean it got Zac Taylor changing how he speaks about the situation: 

It's pretty crazy that the Bengals just haven't paid Chase yet. You have some guidelines out there with Jefferson and Lamb getting paid already. You know where to slide him in and how to get the deal done. I'm going to say something a bit outlandish here, but Ja'Marr Chase is good, great even. If I was a Bengals fan I'd like him on the field knowing he's going to play week 1. I also want to keep him and Burrow together as long as humanly possible. I also know the Bengals will probably announce the extension 90 seconds into the Chiefs opening night game like they did with Burrow. 

I do appreciate Chase just embracing the true WR1 spirit though. Oh you think I'm going to practice the day after you say it? Stroll in 13 minutes late in street clothes to prove a point. That's something we've seen all the great WRs do once upon a time. I've said it before but the great WRs need to have that sort of diva to them. They think they are open on every single play, they gotta be a bit of a lunatic. Chase is going to get paid, it's just a matter of how much and when. The Bengals can't screw this up - in fact no one in the NFL can.