Stephen A. Smith has criticized the Cincinnati Bengals for the way they have handled the drama surrounding Ja’Marr Chase’s contract. The ESPN debate show’s Thursday edition included a heated discussion headed by the First Take commentator, who didn’t hold back. Smith previewed Sunday’s Bengals game against the Kansas City Chiefs alongside fellow analysts Dan Orlovsky and Jason McCourty.
After a subpar performance in Week 1, host Molly Qerim questioned how much pressure Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow was under. Stephen A. changed the course of the discussion by criticizing the franchise instead of Chase.
Stephen A. Smith’s rant in full
Throughout the offseason, star wide receiver Chase and the club have been embroiled in a contract dispute. Chase is a hold-out throughout training camp since the two sides are still unable to come to an agreement. Smith said : “You are listening to a guy and looking at a guy right now who hopes Cincinnati loses every single damn game they play until they sign that man and give him his money,”
“I hope that the Cincinnati Bengals fall flat on their damn face.
“That organization makes me sick.”
In Week 1’s game against the New England Patriots, Chase dressed and caught all six of his targets for 62 yards. However, Stephen A. was not done criticizing the Bengals for not arming quarterback Joe Burrow with the receiving weapons he so richly deserves.
“This man, Mike Brown, here you are,” “You got Joe Burrow, who is an all-world quarterback, won a national championship at LSU, came into the NFL.” “He got injured his first year as a rookie. He comes back and all he does is go to back-to-back AFC Championships.
“This is an organization that spent years having fans wear bags over their heads.” “Here you are. You luck up. You get a guy like Joe Burrow on your squad who flat-out balls.” “It doesn’t matter who he goes up against.” “You pay him his money, but then going to give a problem to the people that he utilizes as primary weapons.”
