Ja’Marr Chase goes on bizarre rant after Bengals’ woeful Week 1 defeat to the Browns – and insists: ‘We just lost to some ELVES’
- Chase used the description as a tool to dismiss his AFC North opponents
- Although known only as the Browns, Cleveland has a mascot named Brownie the Elf
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Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase lamented his team’s 24-3 loss to AFC North rival Cleveland after chiming in against the Browns earlier this week.
Leading up to the Week 1 divisional game, Chase referred to the Browns as “the Elves” to dismiss the hype surrounding the Deshaun Watson-led team.
Come Sunday, the Bengals were on the receiving end of a loss as Joe Burrow and Co. struggled mightily in attack. The often unguarded Chase only five receptions for 39 yards.
“It’s frustrating because I called them elves and we just lost to a couple of elves,” Chase said after the game. “So I’m angry from my side, I’m angry from that side. We had missed opportunities, we didn’t take advantage of them… and we lost.”
The elves’ comment may seem bizarre if you don’t know that the Browns’ mascot is indeed an elf named Brownie. In fact, it is used as a logo at center field at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Ja’Marr Chase lamented the Cincinnati Bengals’ loss to Cleveland postgame Sunday
The Browns have a mascot named Brownie the Elf. It has been around since 1946
Brownie the Elf has been the Browns’ midfield logo since 2022, previously it was a helmet
As for any regrets? Chase certainly didn’t seem concerned about the inevitable reaction.
“What recoil?” he said. “If they have a problem with me saying something I’m saying now, they’re soft. If they’re soft when I say elves, then they’re soft.’
Browns stud defensive end Myles Garrett responded to the message board comments earlier this week, saying Chase “went too far” but conceding they didn’t tangibly affect Sunday’s outcome.
‘Influence? No, I mean, I think it gives you a little chip on your shoulder, something in the back of your mind, but I wouldn’t say it had too much of an impact,” Garrett said.
Although Brown’s corner Greg Newsome II had a different opinion, he admitted that Chase’s comments stuck with him.
“Oh yeah, I definitely take everything personally,” Newsome said. “We’re just using it as an advantage for us, but at the end of the day we have to go out there, prove it, show it.
“You have to earn respect, and that starts this week. And we have to keep doing it every week.”
After Cleveland’s surprising but impressive division victory, it will face another AFC North rival, Pittsburgh, on Monday night.