Ja'Marr Chase has unique connection to Bengals' newest addition
The Cincinnati Bengals made a key addition to their roster to start the week. Cincinnati's biggest remaining need this offseason was arguably at tight end. And they addressed the tight end position by signing former Alabama star Irv Smith Jr, who spent the first four years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. Smith might […]
The Cincinnati Bengals made a key addition to their roster to start the week.
Cincinnati's biggest remaining need this offseason was arguably at tight end.
And they addressed the tight end position by signing former Alabama star Irv Smith Jr, who spent the first four years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings.
Smith might have played college football at Alabama, but he gives the Bengals another strong connection to Louisiana (Cincinnati is giving a new definition to the term "Bayou Bengals" these days).
The former Crimson Tide standout is from New Orleans and he went to high school at Brother Martin.
Smith and Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase have actually known each other since high school.
Chase, who is also from the New Orleans area and attended Archbishop Rummel, used to play against Smith in high school.
The two Louisiana natives also used the same trainer, continuing their relationship from high school.
"We knew each other from playing against each other and the year he came out in the draft we worked out together some," said Smith this week. "He came over to my house a few times and hung out and we caught some balls off the Jugs machine."
The Bengals' roster is riddled with unique connections. And those connections aren't just anecdotal — they provide an organic "closeness" that's hard to replicate.
There's no doubt that Cicninnati has something special going right now. The culture is unique and strong. And it's one of the big reasons why the Bengals are one of the favorites to win the AFC in 2023.
