The Bengals have faced plenty of adversity this season. Unfortunately that adversity will likely continue once the season ends. Though we all hope that end will come later rather than sooner, the fact remains that two big contracts loom large for this team. Those being the deals for wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Joe Burrow knows this better than anyone. In his comments to the media just before the end of the year, the Bengals quarterback was very clear about what it takes to win in this league:
“You don’t want to make a living out of letting great players leave the building. I think that’s why you got to do everything you can to get those deals done early.”
“Whenever a great player leaves, you wish you could have found a way to keep them.”
Bengals fans have been understandably skeptical about ownerships’ ability to keep key players. Look no further than the cases of Andrew Whitworth and Jessie Bates. And the way that the front office has struggled to put together deals for Chase and Higgins is equally frustrating.
The team has downplayed fans’ wishes for quite a while, but there’s one man that refuses to be ignored. And that is Joe Burrow.
He is the franchise defining quarterback with MVP numbers. The face of this team and the only one who can lead it to success. If he wants contracts to be done, the Brown family would be ill advised to defy him. He’s certainly earned the right to make demands, although at this point they aren’t as direct as other marquee quarterbacks have made in the past. But the message is coming through loud and clear nonetheless.
That’s not to say that there hasn’t been progress. Higgins seems to be giving the Bengals an opening. He switched agents and is now represented by the same group as Chase. There seems to be room for compromise.
As for Chase, his price tag can only be going up. 117 receptions for 1,612 yards and 16 touchdowns make that price worthwhile. That, and Burrow’s clear directive that both he and Tee are mandatory requirements for this team going forward.
The front office may be able to dismiss the fans, but they’d be damn foolish to turn a deaf ear to Joseph Lee Burrow.
Listen to the man. Get these deals done, and give him a defense that can stop a pop warner team.
Then we’ll really be in business.
