Ja’Marr Chase wasn’t afraid to voice his disapproval of the city he has made his home in for the foreseeable future.
Chase will remain with the Cincinnati Bengals until the end of the decade after the team agreed to a record-breaking agreement with him on Sunday. Alongside fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins, Chase inked a contract.
Two days later, Chase and Higgins held a joint press conference. Chase was asked by a reporter to list his favorite things about Cincinnati. First, Ja’Marr gave a backhanded praise.
“I like Cincinnati because it gives me the opportunity to focus,” said Chase. “I’m not distracted. There’s not too many things that get me off pace out here. It’s strictly what I’m focused on. It’s really tunnel vision to play football.”
It was a kind way of conveying that there isn’t much to do in the city, even though Chase presented it as a positive. Since Chase is far from the nightlife that New York, Los Angeles, or Miami have to offer, he can concentrate on football.
Chase then made a quite overt jab at Cincinnati’s culinary culture.
“I mean, at the end of the day, the food’s not the best. We can work on that,” Chase added. “I’m from New Orleans. I’m not used to the food yet.”
It’s obvious that Chase dislikes Skyline Chili. The LSU graduate has rather high expectations for restaurants because he was born and bred in New Orleans.
Bengals supporters may not share Chase’s taste in food, but once he has another season with 17 touchdowns, as he did in 2024, everything will be forgiven.
