Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase Wants 'One Penny More' In Contract Dispute: Steelers Tracker

SEPT 1 ONE PENNY This is big money. Serious business.

This is also one penny. And really silly.

The Steelers' rival Bengals are trying to get an extension done with Ja'Marr Chase, and he wants to be the highest-paid non-QB ever, jumping over Justin Jefferson, who got a new four-year, $140 million extension in June.

And what does Chase want, exactly? One penny more, exactly.

"My understanding is that the two sides are still discussing a long-term extension, that, if he got it, would make him either: Tied for the highest-paid receiver with Justin Jefferson, or beating Justin Jefferson by one cent, which I believe is the goal by Ja'Marr Chase," Ian Rapoport said this week .

If true ... Chase wants to beat Jefferson's deal by a single cent, which means that a four-year extension worth $140,000,000.01 will seal the deal.

AUG 27 THE JOURNEY Washington Commanders receiver Martavis Bryant is still trying to mount that comeback, as the former Steelers standout who was on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad last year is his chance with the Commanders.

He scored a TD in their preseason finale against the New England Patriots as he hauled in three catches for 20 yards and a touchdown against New England.

Head coach Dan Quinn appreciates what Bryant has endured in coming off a half-decade of suspensions.

"You really have appreciation for somebody's journey," Quinn said of Bryant . "So, for someone like him to stay with it, that shows a lot of grit where it would've been real easy just to walk away and not be able to do it.''

Is he going to make the 53-man cut? He's got a shot, and here's among the reasons why, via Quinn: "I think it's probably a combination of he's a good teammate as a new guy here, but there's also some appreciation for a story that shows some real resilience and some fight which these guys certainly appreciate."

AUGUST 27 - CEEDEE EXTENSION - After a weeks-long holdout from training camp, star receiver CeeDee Lamb returned to the Dallas Cowboys facility Monday as he signed his new contract.

After almost a month of waiting and even some indirect back-and-forth between Lamb and Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones, the two sides came to an agreement on Monday.

According to reports, Lamb signed a four-year contract totaling $136 million, with an annual average value of $34 million. He became the league's second-highest-paid non-quarterback. Only Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson ranks above him in terms of money.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Cowboys and Lamb in Week 5, which will be NBC's "Sunday Night Football" game.

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AUGUST 26 - TOUCHDOWN - The road back to the NFL was long for former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant . The now-current Washington Commander had his once-promising career sidelined as he served a six-year suspension due to multiple infractions of the NFL's policy on drug use.

However, despite the long layoff, he is still trying to make an NFL comeback. This led to Bryant's first highlight during Sunday's 20-12 Commanders preseason win over the New England Patriots, where he found the endzone for the first time since being reinstated.

The four-yard touchdown reception was Bryant's first since December 17, 2017, when, ironically, he totaled 59 yards and a touchdown on four receptions as a member of the Steelers versus the Patriots.

AUGUST 25 - CHASE IS BACK? - With the NFL's preseason wrapped up for all but six teams, attention is turning toward the upcoming roster cutdown day and preparations for the regular season opener. However, for others, like Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja'Marr Chase, it is time to return to work.

The former first-round pick has been a holdout from Bengals training camp as he awaits a contract extension. Despite not having one yet, he finally returned to the practice field as a participant Sunday, according to NFL.com's Tom Pelissero .

While this doesn't necessarily mean that Chase will receive a contract extension immediately, it seemingly indicates that his holdout will likely not extend into the beginning of the regular season.

AUGUST 23 - KICKER TRADE— In what may not ultimately go down as a surprising move, the Pittsburgh Steelers ' rival Cleveland Browns pulled off a trade Thursday. And no, it wasn't a trade for San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk .

Rather, they were the team giving up a player, kicker Cade York, who they sent to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick.

With the NFL's roster cutdown day looming, teams are expected to begin making roster moves, even including trades, as they trim down to the 53-man limit.

After signing veteran kicker Dusty Hopkins to a three-year, $15.9 million extension this offseason, it comes as little surprise that the Browns moved on from York.

AUGUST 21 - BROWNS PLAYER RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL - Anytime a player goes down with an injury, there could be a tendency to hold your breath, hoping it is nothing serious.

However, that holding-your-breath feeling must've been more extreme for the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, as they saw third-year running back Pierre Strong Jr. enter the ambulance with an apparent upper-body injury.

However, fortunately, the injury wasn't too serious. The Pittsburgh Steelers ' AFC North rival announced Wednesday evening that the 25-year-old had been released from the hospital with a rib contusion.

"Browns RB Pierre Strong suffered a rib contusion," the Browns said in a statement. "He has been released from University Hospitals after being transported there by ambulance as a precaution while experiencing shortness of breath."

Strong is now the second Browns running back to be released from the hospital following an injury in training camp. D'Onta Foreman was taken into an ambulance after a neck injury.

AUGUST 20 - SIGNING— While the NFL's cutdown day is just a week away, the Pittsburgh Steelers are still adding to their roster before their preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.

As first reported by the KPRC2's Aaron Wilson , the Steelers signed former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kyahva Tezino. Tezino, the former San Diego State product, is coming off two impressive stints in spring football, where most recently, he played for the UFL's Birmingham Stallions, totaling 42 tackles, eight sacks, and three pass breakups.

That came after a standout season in the USFL with the Pittsburgh Maulers, during which he was named to the All-USFL league team, totaling 94 tackles and two interceptions in 2022.