Bengals Beat: The Bengals Officially Have A Ja’Marr Chase Problem, And They Need To Address It Now

KANSAS CITY, Mo.– Sunday should be a breaking point for the Bengals as it relates to their mercurial and frustrated receiver.

Just moments prior to a 53-yard Evan McPherson field goal that gave the team a 25-23 lead, Ja’Marr Chase thought he was hip-dropped by Kansas City corner Trent McDuffie.

Chase immediately protested. And then when referee Alex Kemp told him they didn’t see it that way, Chase took it personally. He got up in the face of Kemp and got more and more heated. By the time Joe Burrow came over to try and settle him down it was too late. Fifteen yards and a 3rd-and-7 was suddenly third-and-22. The Bengals picked up the difference of the penalty but had to settle for the field goal.

The Bengals took the lead but the point is that the highly frustrated Chase is tired of playing for his $1 million plus his $3.8 million bonus. He wants and feels he deserves the contract extension that was so close to coming to fruition.

The Bengals lost, 26-25, on Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal as time expired. Chase had just four catches for 35 yards and was kept out of the end zone. No Griddy yet. Remember when Chad Johnson couldn’t get into the end zone and got frustrated in the the late 2000s? Every receiver feels they need the ball in their hands to do what they do.

Chase is at the point now where he feels it’s in his best interest to take a policy out on himself to protect, and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he did exactly that after telling the team he won’t be negotiating in season. He reportedly took out a $50 million insurance policy.

He garnered loads of sympathy from the Bengal fan base who believe the team should “pay the man” and get him under contract for the next several years in Stripes.

But Sunday, Chase crossed that line. It’s OK to be selfish when you’re negotiating a new deal. But once you step on the field, you can’t put yourself ahead of the team. And that’s what happened Sunday.

There was no question that the tackle was a questionable one. But screaming and yelling at the official in the fourth quarter of a game you trail 23-22 on the road is not the time nor place.

“It’s pretty clear cut,” Kemp said in a pool report. “It’s just simply abusive language toward a game official. That’s all it was. And there was really no interpretation. I’m not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language that he used – just abusive language.”

Kemp tried to let Chase vent but felt Chase just carried it too far.

“The simple answer is, profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official,” Kemp added. “That’s the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can’t let that happen in pro football.

“He was questioning the tackle. He thought he was hip-drop tackled on the previous play. And so, he came to me wondering about a hip-drop tackle. That was the beginning line of questioning. We informed him that we did not feel it was a hip-drop tackle.”

As for Chase, “I ain’t talking about it.”

Joe Burrow immediately recognized Chase’s frustration and tried to help.

“Just trying to deescalate the situation,” Burrow said. “I’m not entirely sure what was said or who threw the flag.”

Burrow shouldn’t be trying to deescalate anything. He should be trying to win the game and right the ship of a team that was supposed to compete for the AFC this season.

How frustrated is Chase?

“It doesn’t feel great losing,” Chase told me.

Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor realize this Chase problem is not sustainable long term with the Bengals. It’s got to be addressed if the Bengals have any plans of making a run this season. When your second-most talented player is frustrated and hurting you at the same time, there has to be a heart-to-heart between Chase and the players, between Chase and the coaches and perhaps even between Chase and the organization.

Chase stepped up last week and made a point of telling his teammates in the wide receiver room that they need to step up and act like winners. Now, it’s time for Chase to look in the mirror. He’s a brilliantly skilled receiver that is getting doubled and clouded with Tee Higgins out with a hamstring.

Chase had four catches on five targets for just 35 yards Sunday. Chase wants to make big plays and score touchdowns. So do the Bengals. Chase has every right to be frustrated with potential injury and his contract not getting extended. But he can’t hurt the team right now with that attitude. The Bengals have too much on their plate right now.

Their two starting defensive tackles – BJ Hill and Sheldon Rankins – had to leave with hamstring injuries Sunday. Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson and Myles Murphy have missed the start of the season with injuries. Tee Higgins is still out with a hammy. They are 0-2 for a third straight season.

They don’t need Joe Burrow’s best weapon acting up and becoming a problem child with a bad attitude.