As always, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was there for his guys Tuesday.
So barely had the ink dried on the franchise's biggest transaction day ever at Paycor Stadium when All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase dug into his pocket to answer his phone.
"Hey Brother," Chase said to Burrow on the other end. "Just did it. See you in four minutes."
Burrow waited in the locker room with hugs for Chase and receiver running mate Tee Higgins. His smile split wider when he heard that Bengals president Mike Brown had said about opposing teams, "They have to stop us. That's hard to do."
"We know how defenses feel when they step on the field against us. We feel it when we're out there," Burrow said. "As long as we continue to put in the work to be the best we can be, the sky's the limit for us."
It was a heady day for the NFL's top passing offense with Chase and Higgins in the fold together through 2028. Throw in 65-catch tight end Mike Gesicki's deal last week, and Burrow has under contract through 2027 the receivers who accounted for 67% of his NFL-leading 4,918 yards and NFL-best 43 touchdown passes last year.
"They're two of the best players at what they do," Burrow said of Chase and Higgins. "When you can re-sign guys like that and keep them around for an extended period of time, that gives you the best chance to go out and win Super Bowls and win a lot of games and win division championships. We got two of our best players re-signed. That's a big deal. Plus, Mike G. We're doing the right things."
With head coach Zac Taylor and wide receivers coach Troy Walters joining the locker-room reception, Burrow knew it was a big day for the organization after Bengals vice president Katie Blackburn and director of player personnel Duke Tobin locked up the final details of what turned out to be a double play with Rocky Arceneaux negotiating for both Chase and Higgins.
"I think everybody was confident we'd get Ja'Marr done," Burrow said. "But to be able to get Tee done along with that speaks volumes about ownership, Duke, Zac and their ability to get those things done."
No what-ifs here. No what if Isaac Curtis had Charlie Joiner for eight years? Or, what if T.J. Houshmandzadeh hadn't left Chad Johnson after five?
"You never know how somebody's career is going to work out," Burrow said. "So we might be together until the end of somebody's career or we might move on after that.
"But for the next four years, you know what you're going to get from us and we're going to be right here. We're paying the right guys. Guys who work really hard for what they have. Guys who aren't going to get complacent or anything like that. Guys who really care about the product they put on the field, and care about the fans and the organization and the people in the locker room. We've got the right guys."
Chase and Burrow have been the right guys for each other since they were at LSU in 2018. A year-and-a-half ago, Burrow signed the richest NFL deal ever. On Tuesday, Chase signed the richest non-quarterback deal ever.
No matter.
"He's earned it," Burrow said. "Dinner's on him next, that's for sure."
