C.J. Uzomah says tight ends are the real MVPs

Every day is C.J. Uzomah Dey, especially after his respectable performance in the Cincinnati Bengals’ rout of the Ravens in Week 16.

The seventh-year tight end caught five passes for 36 yards as the Bengals dump-trucked over the Ravens 41-21 on Sunday.

Every single one of Cincinnati’s offensive stars came to play with Tee Higgins posting the most remarkable stat line of 194 yards and two touchdowns.

Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd also got showered with praise after the game, but Uzomah wanted to know where the love was for himself and his fellow tight ends.

2021 has been Uzomah’s most productive season by far as he’s set career highs in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

Cincinnati Bengals’ C.J. Uzomah wants more league appreciation for tight ends

Uzomah shouldn’t be considered a top-tier tight end in the NFL — that distinction belongs to more productive and consistent players like Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, and George Kittle.

Uzomah also probably doesn’t mean that tight ends are doing absolutely everything. He can look at Burrow’s connections with Higgins, Boyd, and Chase throughout Week 16’s game and know that different position groups have different responsibilities. As they should.

All Uzomah is saying is that tight ends deserve a wee bit more respect given how their performances can often go unappreciated.

The same applies for offensive linemen: San Francisco 49ers’ Trent Williams has been enjoying a monster season warranting a 99 overall PFF grade that ranks highest among all players. Yet Williams was somehow snubbed in Pro Bowl voting, ranking only eighth among offensive tackles.

As Uzomah notes, there is a National Tight Ends Day celebrated on the fourth Sunday in the month of October which is meant to bring attention to the position.

But why should tight ends be celebrated for just one day? Why not every day, all day?

Uzomah’s comments sound a tad narcissistic but nonetheless come from a place of genuine concern and love for his tight end brethren.

Other Cincinnati players have stolen the spotlight this season, helping the Bengals potentially clinch their first playoff spot since 2015. In the wake of the team’s success, Uzomah isn’t asking for much, just more respect on his name and that of other tight ends.