"Cheap-a**": NFL fans slam Mike Brown amid report of underpaying Ja'Marr Chase

When news surfaced that Ja'Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals almost made a deal, Bengals fans grew anxious when their talks broke down. Chase is still holding out, and the team has to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

And considering their other star wideout, Tee Higgins, has been designated "day-to-day" due to his hamstring injury, things aren't looking good for the Bengals. While Higgins' injury is out of owner Mike Brown's control, paying Ja'Marr Chase isn't.

According to a report by Sports Illustrated, the two parties actually agreed on the overall value of the contract extension, however, they failed to agree when it came to the fine print.

For starters, he was offered only $30 million as a signing bonus, and the $90 million in guarantees would only kick in 2027. Chase's party wanted it to come into effect much earlier, and that's where the talks broke down.

Bengals fans were outraged at owner Mike Brown for holding up the contract extension of such a key player.

"MIKEEEEEE, you cheap-ass. Let me take care of it"

Another fan said that since Higgins is dealing with an injury, trying to fleece his best wideout may not be the best thing to do at the moment.

"The owner wanting to fleece his best WR is crazy"

Other fans also joined in, labeling Mike Brown "cheap" for delaying the extension just based on nitty-gritty.

"The owner being cheap as usual! SMH!" one fan said that it was nothing unusual.

"Yeah he’s definitely leaving for sure," another fan said that the worst will happen and Ja'Marrr Chase will leave the Bengals for some other team.

"Wow, that's a surprising move from Mike Brown. Chase deserves more than that curious to see how this plays out," one fan said that it's a wait and watch situation.

One fan went so far as to say owners like Brown shouldn't be allowed in the NFL.

"🤡 like this should be banned from owning a team," one fan said.

Mike Brown said Bengals would get Ja'Marr Chase deal done

The fact that the deal is taking so long to get done is surprising. Especially when he himself said in July that the team would "bend over backward to get it done".

Brown himself had talked Ja'Marr Chase up, calling him the second most important piece in the Bengals team:

"He's a key player. Next to Joe, he's our next one, and he knows it. We know it. This may take a while," Brown said per NFL.com.

But that was way back in July. And now the season has already kicked off. And considering that the Bengals have rarely signed contracts while the season is underway, Chase's chances of landing an extension are not looking great.