The NFL is a deadline-driven business. Any industry that entails two sides negotiating hinges on the parties identifying a mutual deadline — and then waiting for it to arrive.
It’s a simple proposition. As the clock strikes twelve, parties move toward their bottom-line positions. If one moves toward the last, best offer prematurely, that side will be squeezed for more.
That’s likely what’s happening with three receivers who are waiting for new deals: Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers, CeeDee Lamb of the Cowboys, and Ja’Marr Chase of the Bengals.
Two are holding in. One is holding out. As it currently stands, each is likely to have a new deal at or about the moment the teams and the agents have agreed is the last practical minute for doing so.
For Lamb and the Cowboys, it’s been clear from the start of camp that the deadline wasn’t the start of camp. It’s likely the start of the regular season or, more accurately, the commencement of the practice week in advance of the Week 1 game at Cleveland.
That same thing could be true to Chase and the Bengals. Last year, however, quarterback Joe Burrow got his contract three days before the regular-season opener. Unlike Burrow, Chase isn’t practicing. If the Bengals want him to be ready for Week 1 vs. the Patriots, they’ll need to get it done when the players regroup after the post-preseason break over Labor Day weekend.
With Aiyuk and the 49ers, the fact that things have gotten so quiet (again) makes it more likely that, before Week 1 against the Jets, the 49ers will make a final offer and Aiyuk likely will take it. But the 49ers won’t do it now, because Aiyuk’s side would rightly squat on the offer and wait for more as the deadline approaches.
And if the Steelers are going to trade for Aiyuk, what are they waiting for? It already feels too late to get him ready for Week 1, at Atlanta. New team, new offense, new coaching staff, new teammates, new city, new everything. In football, there are few plug-and-play positions, especially on offense. What one does interrelates with the other 10. The less time a new guy has to get up to speed, the harder it will be.
Regardless, time is the key word. Time is running out. When the witching hour approaches, that’s when we’ll know whether this trio of pass catchers ends up getting new contracts.
The Bengals got Sam Hubbard back on the practice field this week, but another one of their defensive ends is now dealing with an injury.
Reporters at Tuesday’s practice shared that Myles Murphy had to be helped off the field by members of the training staff after suffering a non-contact injury. Murphy reportedly grabbed at his right knee and then went inside for further evaluation.
Murphy was a first-round pick last year and he had 20 tackles and three sacks during his rookie season.
The Bengals lost Cam Sample for the season to a torn Achilles earlier this summer and his absence makes Murphy an even more important piece of the edge rusher group in Cincinnati.
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo spent most of the offseason indicating that Jacoby Brissett would be the starting quarterback for the regular season. But with Week One approaching, Mayo said yesterday that it’s still a competition between Brissett and rookie Drake Maye.
For his part, Brissett told reporters after Mayo’s comments that he views himself as the Patriots’ QB1.
“I still treat myself as if I’m the starter,” Brissett said.
Asked about the competition with Maye, Brissett said he can only focus on what he does.
“I can’t worry about that,” Brissett said. “I just go out there and do my job. I’ve been in this league long enough, and a lot of crazy things have happened in my career so far, and I wouldn’t be shocked by anything. But at the same time, I’m enjoying this process, putting my best foot forward, and just letting the chips fall where they may. . . . I don’t really worry about the competition.”
Brissett is still the favorite, but as New England’s Week One game at Cincinnati approaches on September 8, Maye hasn’t been ruled out as an opening-day rookie starter.
Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase is at Monday’s practice, appearing to resume his hold-in.
Chase had been holding in until last week when he didn’t attend practice.
Coach Zac Taylor would not say whether Chase’s absence was excused or unexcused, Ben Baby of ESPN reports. Taylor would not comment further either.
Chase did make the trip with the team to Chicago last week for a joint practice and a preseason game, though he continued to watch from the sideline.
Entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, Chase is eligible for a contract extension.
He is scheduled to make only $1.055 million in base salary this season, and the Bengals have exercised the $21.816 million fifth-year option on his contract for next season.
Chase has eclipsed 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons since the Bengals selected him fifth overall. Last year, Chase caught 100 passes for 1,216 yards with seven touchdowns in 16 games.
The Bengals have made a few roster moves on Monday.
Cincinnati announced the team has placed running back Chris Evans and offensive tackle D’Ante Smith on injured reserve.
Both Evans and Smith suffered a knee injury during last week’s joint practice with the Bears.
The team also waived defensive tackle Devonnsha Maxwell.
