The Cincinnati Bengals star receiver is getting ready for his fifth season in the NFL and is fresh off signing a massive contract extension this offseason. But what about representing the United States in a different sport?
At the recent NFL owners meetings, the league gave its approval for players to be eligible to participate in the flag football event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. For now, it doesn’t appear Chase will be campaigning for a roster spot.
“I don’t know how I feel about it, if I’m being completely honest,” Chase said, via WPCO’s Marshall Kramsky. “I want to know the timing for us, offseason, in-season. I want to know if we’re getting paid. I want to know where we traveling every other week or every day, like all that plays a part, because we have an offseason, we have a life. Also, how long would that be? I don’t know. There’s a lot of questions to it.’
Chase went on to point out that he’s not 100% on board yet, saying the idea is cool, but there are still a lot of unknowns.
When asked if the Pro Bowl gave him any insight into the flag football game, Chase said they’re not the same.
‘First off, NFL Pro Bowl is against pros,’ Chase said. ‘Listen, Pro Bowl. All pros. You playing in the Olympics, not saying they not pros, but they not the same people we seeing every day.’
While the receiver continues to ponder his potential role, he also took a moment to point out the clashing of the two games if NFL players take flag football team roster spots every four years in the Olympics.
‘We taking they love of the game, and bashing it with our love of the game,’ Chase said. ‘Now we taking away their love of the game and we killing them. It’s a lot, bro. I think it’s cool, but I just don’t know if I’m 100% in on it.’
Whether Chase eventually comes around to the idea remains to be seen, but former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson was singing a different tune.
‘Just to think about the chances of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal, it’s a dream,’ Jefferson told reporters last week following announcement.
‘Just reverting back to being a kid and watching the track and field meets, watching basketball win the gold medal – that’s something that as a kid, I always wanted to be a part of,’ Jefferson said. ‘But football wasn’t (global). So now that we’re expanding the game and we’re going more globally, it’s pretty cool.’
The Minnesota Vikings’ star is seemingly all-in on flag football at the Olympics. Despite early roster spot debates, Jefferson has plenty of time to get Chase on board.