This might be it for the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincy has a 2% chance of making it to the playoffs, so it’s safe to count them out at this point. Now is the perfect time to think about their next off-season move. The Bengals are an offensive powerhouse with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. However, they might do a complete 360 next year.
You see, paying Chase and Higgins all at the same time is not possible. Per Chad Johnson, paying one receiver might even be “unfair” to the other one. With the receiver market inflating every year, the Bengals just can’t keep everyone happy. The thing is Ja’Marr Chase has been an absolute baller this season. Higgins has also stayed true to his former self but missed 5 games this season. It’s certainly going to be an interesting off-season for Cincy!
“I think it will be unfair to Tee. It will be unfair to Ja’Marr Chase, who is due a hefty deal,” Ochocinco said on Nightcap. “It’s impossible to pay Chase what he’s worth and Tee what he’s worth as well and still have them the same. At some point, the person that will be getting the s–t end of the stick is Tee Higgins. I think Tee Higgins deserves to go to a team where he can be the number one guy. It could be his show and he gets the money that he deserves as a number one receiver.”
The Bengals already have Joe Burrow on a $275 million payroll. And Ja’Marr Chase is in the last year of his rookie contract. On top of that, it looks like Higgins is the one making compromises, as far as financial gains are concerned. Though it doesn’t sound like a big deal right now, it might cause bruhaha in the off-season. If the Bengals sign both Higgins and Chase to an extension, they’d want to be the highest paid at their position, which is not financially feasible for the franchise either. To that end, Ochocinco thinks Higgins will have the short end of the stick.
The Bengals have franchise-tagged Tee Higgins this year for $ 28.81 million. In contrast, Ja’Marr Chase is still on his rookie contract and will become eligible for a franchise tag next year. The only solution to this situation is to pay Higgins now and address Chase’s contract later. It is clear that both players are eager to secure their financial futures. “Football is an unpredictable business, and that money is just a security blanket for when things go south.”
Although the financial details are complex, Joe Burrow is emotionally invested in retaining Tee Higgins. He stated, “I know that I’m going to do what it takes to get him back and so is he.” Burrow also mentioned that the team is preparing for “offseason discussions” that may encourage management to re-sign the wide receiver.
Many argue that Ja’Marr Chase should be prioritized for a contract, and this perspective is valid. Chase has had impressive performances, including games with over 250 yards and multiple games with 150+ yards, indicating that scoring touchdowns is routine for him. In contrast, Higgins has missed five games this season, which has affected his stats. Still, it’s important to recognize that Higgins has reached a peak in his career, averaging 79.7 yards and five receiving touchdowns this season.
Despite the speculation, there are rumors within the NFL that Higgins may choose to remain with the team.
Tee Higgins’ journey has been significant. Notably, Bengals offensive coach Troy Walters played a crucial role in his personal development. During a frustrating week 8 game against the Eagles, Higgins took out a book titled “Experiencing God,” which Walters had recommended. According to ESPN, his subsequent meeting with Walters was “life-changing” for him.
“It’s still making me want to wake up every day in a good mood, ready to come to work,” Higgins told ESPN in October. “It’s a good feeling, bro.” It wasn’t like this last season. All Higgins can do right now is to be his best. That, in his opinion, will give him an upper hand when negotiations come.
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