Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals fell short in their Super Bowl LVI matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, but at least quarterback Joe Burrow didn't walk away empty-handed.

Jeweler Leo Frost revealed during a discussion with Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase purchased Burrow diamond grills ahead of the Super Bowl.

Frost said he had just four days for a process that typically takes two weeks and predicted fans will see Burrow wearing the grills at some point this year, perhaps during a press conference.

"I've been selling jewelry for two-and-a-half years, and I will tell you when Joe put those grills on, that was probably one of the coolest moments of my jewelry career," he said.

There's no doubt they were real diamonds, too, considering Burrow previously joked that he makes too much money to wear fake ones.

Chase set quite the bar for himself on the field as the Offensive Rookie of the Year for a Super Bowl team during his first season in the NFL. He apparently set the bar quite high as a gift-giver as well, which means he may be under pressure to one-up himself if he and Burrow both have excellent seasons again in 2022.

There is reportedly some skepticism within the NFL regarding whether Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown is willing to offer the type of contract needed to keep quarterback Joe Burrow in Cincinnati long-term.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Brown is considered one of the NFL's most "conservative" owners, and some within the league are questioning if he will fall in line when it comes to the recent trend of quarterbacks receiving a ton of up-front and guaranteed money.

Given the sizable contracts that Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson have signed recently, Brown will likely have no choice but to follow suit if he wants to ensure Burrow is with the Bengals for years to come.

The Bengals used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft on Burrow after he led LSU to an undefeated record and a national championship while also winning the Heisman Trophy.

Burrow has been everything the Bengals hoped for and more, as he took them to the Super Bowl in only his second NFL season.

The 25-year-old gunslinger's rookie season was cut short after 10 games because of a torn ACL and MCL, but he showed no ill effects in 2021, completing an NFL-high 70.4 percent of his passes for 4,611 yards, 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

With Burrow at the helm, the Bengals reached the playoffs for the first time since 2015, won a playoff game for the first time since 1990 and reached the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988.

Each of the 10 highest-paid players in the NFL on an annual basis are quarterbacks, and many of those contracts have been signed within the past two years.

Per Spotrac, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers leads the way with an average annual salary of $50.3 million. He's followed by Watson ($46.0 million), Mahomes ($45.0 million), Allen ($43.0 million) and Derek Carr ($40.5 million), who agreed to a three-year extension with the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Teams also have to shell out significant guaranteed money for high-level quarterbacks, and that number continues to go up.

The entirety of the five-year, $230 million contract Watson signed with the Cleveland Browns this offseason after getting traded from the Houston Texans is guaranteed, marking the most guaranteed money in a contract in NFL history.

That is despite the fact that Watson didn't play at all last season and could face a suspension this season amid 22 civil lawsuits that have been filed against him by women who allege he sexually assaulted them or engaged in sexual misconduct during massage sessions.

Watson has never advanced beyond the divisional round of the playoffs either, which means Burrow could be in line for significantly more guaranteed money and a higher annual salary than Watson when the time comes for him to sign a new deal.

Burrow is signed through 2023, and the team has a fifth-year option for 2024. So nothing is imminent, but if the Bengals want to keep their superstar quarterback happy and in the fold, they will need to pony up in the not-too-distant future.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is recovering from labrum surgery. 

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Higgins had the procedure done last month and is expected to be ready before training camp. 

It's been known for some time that Higgins underwent surgery at some point during the offseason. His left arm was in a sling at a 7-on-7 tournament in March. 

Higgins missed two games in September with an unspecified shoulder issue. He originally suffered the injury in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears. 

There was no indication in Higgins' performance last season that the injury was causing any problems. He set career-highs in targets (110), receptions (74), receiving yards (1,091) and tied his career high with six touchdowns. 

During Cincinnati's playoff run, Higgins posted back-to-back 100-yard performances in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs and Super Bowl 56 against the Los Angeles Rams. 

Two of Higgins' four catches in the Super Bowl went for touchdowns. 

Even though labrum surgery can be serious, reports of Higgins being able to return in time for training camp are an encouraging sign that this won't be a lingering issue for the 23-year-old going forward.

The Cincinnati Bengals are making sure Jessie Bates III can't become a free agent for at least another year. 

The Bengals confirmed that they franchise-tagged Bates on Monday after NFL Netowrk's Ian Rapoport first reported the decision.

Per Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac, the 2022 franchise tag value for safeties is estimated to be $13 million. 

Bates has been with the Bengals since 2018 when he was drafted in the second round (No. 54 overall) in 2018 out of Wake Forest. 

The Indiana native has started all 63 regular-season games he played with the Bengals. He recorded at least 100 combined tackles in each of his first three seasons, including a career-high 111 as a rookie. 

Bates looked like he was ready to ascend to the top tier of safeties in 2020. The 25-year-old led all players at the position and tied for sixth overall with 15 pass breakups. 

The 2021 campaign was a step down for Bates. He still finished the regular season with 88 combined tackles and a career-high three tackles for loss, but his four pass breakups were the fewest of his career. 

Pro Football Focus noted that Bates has some scheme versatility that will make him a valuable asset in most defenses: 

Bates showed in 2020 that he can be an elite center field safety with the range to get to the sideline and make plays on the football. He is an ideal player for the Seattle Cover 1/Cover 3 style of defense, which is becoming increasingly less prevalent. He would also thrive in any system that runs with split safety shells, which makes him an ideal fit for most of the league in some shape or form.

Bates did come up big in Cincinnati's 26-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in the AFC Wild Card Game. 

Bates was Cincinnati's best defensive player during its run to the Super Bowl. He had six pass breakups and two interceptions in four playoff games.

As long as Bates can find a consistent level of play, he could end up being a foundation piece on a Bengals roster that is clearly ascending after winning the AFC North in 2021.  

At the very least, bringing Bates back for one season on the franchise tag to prove himself makes sense for a playoff-caliber team. 

No one knows Bates' skill set and talent better than the Bengals. He gives them a potential ballhawk in the secondary if he gets back to his previous level. 

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery last week to repair a torn labrum, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The 25-year-old played the second half of the regular season and the playoffs with a full tear, Fowler added. 

The Bengals selected Wilson in the third round of the 2020 draft. After recording two interceptions, one sack, three passes defended, 33 tackles, four tackles for a loss and two quarterback hits in 12 games during his rookie season, the Wyoming product took a step forward in 2021. 

Wilson recorded four interceptions, one sack, four passes defended, one forced fumble, 100 tackles, five tackles for a loss and one quarterback hit in 13 games. He started all 13 games, compared to just two during his rookie season.

The 25-year-old also performed well through four playoff games, recording one interception, three passes defended, 39 tackles, four tackles for a loss and one quarterback hit.

Wilson has two years remaining on his four-year rookie deal. He should continue to start at linebacker alongside Germaine Pratt next season. 

The Bengals reached the Super Bowl this year for the first time since 1988. It was also their first postseason appearance since the 2015 season and the first time they had made it past the Wild Card Round since 1990.

If Cincinnati reaches the Super Bowl again next season, Wilson figures to play a big role in the team's success. 

The NFL fined Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III $5,555 for his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the Bengals' 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI last weekend, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Hargreaves, who was inactive for the game, went onto the field in street clothes and celebrated when Bengals safety Jessie Bates III intercepted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in the end zone with two minutes remaining in the first half.

The half-the-distance-to-the-goal penalty backed Cincinnati up to its own 10-yard line. The Bengals and Rams exchanged punts to end the half, and L.A. entered the locker room with a 13-10 lead.

Cincinnati scored 10 unanswered points in the second half to take the lead, but the Rams cut the deficit to 20-16, and then Stafford hit Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp for a one-yard touchdown with 1:25 remaining.

The Rams defense stood tall, forcing quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals to turn the ball over on downs, thus cementing L.A.'s 23-20 victory.

Hargreaves' penalty didn't directly lead to any points being scored in the game, although it potentially could have prevented the Bengals from putting together a scoring drive late in the first half.

The 26-year-old Hargreaves is something of a journeyman, having played for three different teams during his six-year NFL career.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers originally selected him 11th overall in the 2016 NFL draft, but after struggling to establish himself as a consistent starter, he was waived and the Houston Texans claimed him in 2019.

Hargreaves appeared in eight games for the Texans last season before getting waived and claimed by the Bengals.

In four regular-season games for the Bengals, he had five tackles with no interceptions or passes defended. He was then active for only one of the Bengals' four playoff games.

Hargreaves will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple posted a message Thursday outlining his plans to move forward from his 2021 season, which ended with criticism of his performance in the Bengals' 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.

In an Instagram post in which he addressed his coaches and teammates, Apple vowed to come back stronger next season on the heels of Cincinnati's narrow defeat:

Apple got beaten on the game-winning touchdown by Rams wide receiver and eventual Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl.

The 26-year-old also had a pass interference call go against him in the end zone before that, allowing L.A. to get the ball at the 1-yard line.

Apple entered the NFL as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft by the New York Giants.

After the former Ohio State standout struggled mightily in parts of three seasons with the Giants, he had short stints with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.

Apple signed a one-year contract with the Bengals prior to the 2021 season, and while he was far from a top corner, he enjoyed one of his best seasons.

Starting 15 of the 16 regular-season games he appeared in, Apple finished with 49 tackles and 10 passes defended, plus he tied his career high with two interceptions.

Apple also started all four games during the Bengals' surprising playoff run, but allowing the game-winning touchdown is likely what most will remember from his season.

It remains to be seen if he will display his reawoken fire with the Bengals, as Apple is set to hit free agency this offseason.

After leading the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years, head coach Zac Taylor has been rewarded with a contract extension.

The Bengals announced Wednesday that the extension will keep Taylor under contract through the 2026 season.

Bengals owner Mike Brown said in a statement: "I think the city of Cincinnati sees him the way the players and I do. He's brought excitement to the town and deserves credit and recognition for that."

Taylor had a rapid ascent to becoming an NFL head coach. He spent two years in the league as an assistant on Sean McVay's staff with the Los Angeles Rams, including being quarterbacks coach when they went to Super Bowl LIII.

The Bengals hired Taylor in 2019 to replace Marvin Lewis, who spent 16 seasons with the team. His initial deal was for three years, but a 6-25-1 record through his first two seasons cast doubt about his long-term outlook with the franchise.

Coming into the 2021 season, Taylor was the betting favorite to be the first head coach fired.

Instead, two years of successful drafts and shrewd moves in free agency paid off for Taylor and the Bengals.

Quarterback Joe Burrow not only had a successful return from the torn ACL and MCL that cut short his rookie campaign, but he also established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. The 25-year-old led the NFL in completion percentage (70.4) and threw for 4,611 yards with 34 touchdowns during the regular season.

After all the debate about whether the Bengals should select Ja'Marr Chase or Penei Sewell with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Chase immediately reestablished his connection with Burrow from LSU.

Chase led the team with 128 targets, 81 receptions, 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. Tee Higgins also crossed the 1,000-yard mark.

The Bengals became the first team in NFL history to have a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher age 25 or younger in the same season.

Another major offseason move saw the Bengals let Carl Lawson leave as a free agent to sign Trey Hendrickson. The 27-year-old became the anchor of the defense with 27 quarterback hits, 14 sacks and 12 tackles for loss to earn his first Pro Bowl selection. 

That core helped the Bengals win the AFC North and make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. They defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 26-19 in the Wild Card Round for the franchise's first postseason victory since Jan. 6, 1991. 

The Bengals knocked off the Tennessee Titans, the No. 1 seed in the AFC, 19-16 in the divisional round. They followed that up by erasing a 21-3 deficit against the Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC Championship Game 27-24 in overtime. 

Cincinnati's dream season came to a heartbreaking end. The Bengals lost 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI despite leading for most of the second half. 

Taylor has helped oversee this Bengals turnaround and led them to their most successful season in more than three decades. Given the young foundation in place, this looks like the start of a long run of success for a franchise that isn't accustomed to being in this position.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffered sprained MCL injury during Sunday's Super Bowl loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed to reporters Wednesday.

Taylor added that rest will be Burrow's best option as opposed to offseason surgery.

Still, any injury to Burrow is sure to cause concern in Cincinnati for multiple reasons. For one, he's the franchise quarterback who led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his second season after they selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft.

But he also saw his rookie season come to an end due to a torn ACL and MCL, so there is an early injury history.

However, the 25-year-old remained healthy in his second season and elevated Cincinnati to contender status while completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 4,611 yards, 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

The Bengals are primed to compete for the foreseeable future with the LSU product under center, so making sure he is fully healthy by the start of the 2022 campaign will be a top offseason priority.

Super Bowl LVI averaged 112.3 million viewers across all platforms, a 14 percent increase in viewership from last year.

NBC said an estimated 101.1 million people watched the Los Angeles Rams' 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on NBC and Telemundo, along with an additional 11.2 million people on streaming platforms.

Super Bowl LV drew 96.4 million average viewers across all platforms, which was the lowest since 2007. This year's iteration is the highest-rated show on television in five years. 

“The Super Bowl once again delivered a massive audience, which included NBC and the unmatched power of broadcast television as well as first-ever presentations on Peacock and Telemundo, and led into our most-watched Olympics coverage in four years,” NBCUniversal chairman of television and streaming Mark Lazarus said in a statement.

NFL ratings soared across the board this postseason, thanks in no small part to a seemingly never-ending string of close games. Every game in the final three rounds of the playoffs was a one-score game, with a majority coming down to game-winning scores in the waning moments.

Matthew Stafford hit Cooper Kupp from one yard out with 1:25 remaining to put the Rams ahead for good.

Legalized sports gambling can also likely take some credit for increasing the already-fervent NFL fanbase. As more states legalize gambling, more fans have been tuning into games they might not otherwise watch.

Neither the Rams nor the Bengals are considered marquee NFL franchises, but they were able to considerably outperform a Super Bowl starring Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes last year.

Even if it wasn't the only factor, the estimated $7.6 billion on the line from bettors over the weekend undoubtedly kept viewers with a vested interest glued to the screen.