Joe Burrow's public attempts to encourage the Cincinnati Bengals to keep both of their star wide receivers don't seem likely to pay off. Per ESPN's

Ja'Marr Chase Over Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has effectively admitted he likely won’t win MVP this year despite his spectacular season. Fans can be able to forgive Ja’Marr Chase, then, for wondering aloud if somebody else might win the award this year.

The Cincinnati Bengals may have missed the playoffs this season but their ability to pass the ball was the best in the league. They averaged an NFL-high 272.9 passing yards per game, and while quarterback Joe Burrow played a big role in that,

The Cincinnati Bengals are ready to open contract negotiations again with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who likely is seeking to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Chase, 24, is entering the final season of his rookie deal and is coming off a season in which he won the receivers' triple crown,

Near the end of the season, serious momentum seemed to suggest the Cincinnati Bengals would be able to keep Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on long-term contracts. Now, a little pushback to the idea has arrived,

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase will now resume negotiations with the team this offseason, as he is entering the final year of his rookie deal and did not get a long-term extension ahead of the season.