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Ja'Marr Chase is gearing up for negotiations with the Cincinnati Bengals, and he's made it clear that he has specific priorities for his next contract. During a recent media interaction, Chase emphasized his desire for upfront money in his next deal: "I don't know, you're going a little too far now buddy." He playfully added, "I don't know - gave you a little spice, don't take it all," much to the delight of the reporters present.
When asked about the possibility of taking a paycut to retain star wide receiver Tee Higgins, Chase pondered the scenario, highlighting the potential impact on the team by stating: "It depends how much I'm taking. It depends at the end of the day. Because then I might not really be taking a cut, they might cut someone else. It might come from somewhere else."
Chase also expressed his eagerness to continue playing alongside Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow, with whom he formed a strong bond during their time together at LSU. He emphasized the positive impact of their partnership, stating: "I mean makes everyone else around us better. I mean that's the whole objective - that's the reason why they got us, you know what I'm saying? Got to lead by example, they look at us as leaders so gotta lead by example."
Despite outlining his expectations for his next contract, Chase remains committed to the Bengals and expressed his desire to stay with the team. However, he acknowledged the uncertainty by saying, "Lord knows, I want to do that. I mean, but we'll see what happens."
Chase has made his expectations clear
Looking ahead, Chase also hinted at the possibility of teaming up with his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson in Cincinnati, expressing his willingness to make adjustments for the greater good of the team: "Man, if we could do that, I'm with it, I'm with it. I ain't a selfish player, I don't mind. I might have to take a cut, he might gotta take a cut too. But I ain't a selfish player - that would be fun to see."
As negotiations loom on the horizon, Chase has made his expectations clear. It remains to be seen how the Bengals will respond to his outlined preferences for his next contract. If they fail to align with his expectations, it could potentially lead to challenges for the team.