As the weeks pass and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase continues to sit out of practices because of his contract situation, fans are growing more restless. Though many believe Chase could step on the field and reestablish his chemistry with Joe Burrow in a day, the fact that nothing appears to be happening is unsettling.
Fans recently got another dose of an unsettling reality as former Bengals great wide receiver Chad Ochocinco weighed in on what he thinks is the worst-case scenario if the two sides do not reach a contract deal before Week 1. It is worth mentioning that Ochocinco thinks a contract deal will happen in time, but if it does not, he thinks Chase will sit out.
Ochocinco also said that if he were in Chase's shoes, he would be practicing. This is the new generation of NFL football. Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell ushered in the era of sitting out due to contract issues. Though no situations have gone as far as Bell's, it is common to sit out training camp awaiting a contract extension.
Ochocinco may have a different opinion about what he would do if he played in the modern-day NFL. Chad Ochocinco played for the Bengals for 11 of his 12 NFL seasons from 2001-2011. Throughout his 12-year NFL career, he earned $48.866 million. In 3 NFL seasons from 2021-2023, Ja'Marr Chase has already earned $25.95 million.