Amid mega NFL contracts, Shannon Sharpe had a reminder for fans.
The former NFL star went on a passionate rant defending athletes over their salaries as stars like Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase negotiate new deals with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Higgins and Chase are two of the Bengals‘ biggest stars but they are yet to sign new deals with the franchise.
Chase is entering the final season of his contract while Higgins received the franchise tag for the second straight year.
Much of the delay on their new contracts is around their salaries and it comes after the Bengals front office and billionaire owner Mike Brown did not extend their contracts in 2024 despite the pair wanting new deals.
So as Bengals’ fans grow frustrated that their stars are not tied down, Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco Johnson were quick to remind them that athletes are looking out for their best interest financially and they have every right to do so.
“This is what I don’t like, fans are confusing and saying, oh, T. Higgins is 26 million. Oh, that’s enough. He should be well off with that,” Ochocinco said.
“They need to stop comparing themselves.”
Sharpe echoed Ochocinco’s comments and said fans should not compare themselves to athletes when it comes to money.
“A lot of times fans looking at it from their perspective. 26 million is a lot of money to you. You have to look at it from an athlete’s perspective,” Sharpe said.
“If I’m making $75,000 a year and somebody offered me a million dollars a yeah, yes.”
The former NFL star went further and took aim at owners, telling his viewers that when it comes to contract negotiations, why would any player look out for the pockets of billionaires.
“I don’t feel I should be obligated to help a billionaire stay a billionaire. So you feel a connection to that player. Who y’all paying for them yachts?” Sharpe added.
“Y’all don’t have no problem paying for that. Because guess what? Those owners are going to be owners a lot longer than these players are going to be players.”
In recent days, good news has emerged for Bengals fans who will be delighted to hear that Chase and Higgins are nearing new deals.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that progress has been made and that Chase is set to sign a new contract.
The new deal is expected to average “somewhere in the range of $40.1 million to $41 million per year,” which would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
It comes after Chase just enjoyed a remarkable season as he caught 127 passes for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns.
He also became the sixth wide receiver in league history to pace the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in a single season.
While Higgins had a stellar campaign too, catching 73 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to a hamstring issue and quad aliment.
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