Ex-Bengals WR Gives Up Loyalty in Strong Message Against Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase’s Wishes Amidst Tee Higgins Return Rumors

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.

“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. Chase on the other hand is playing on his rookie contract and will be up for a franchise tag next year. The only way out of this mess is to pay Higgins now, think about Chase later. However, it’s safe to assume that both players have an urgency to get paid now. Football is an unpredictable business, and that money is just a security blanket for when things go south.

Despite the financial semantics of the deal, Joe Burrow is borderline emotional about losing Tee Higgins. “I know that I’m going to do what it takes to get him back and so is he,” Burrow said. He also mentioned how the team is preparing to have “offseason discussions” which might implore the management to re-sign the wideout.

Some would argue that Ja’Marr Chase should be paid first, and they would be right. Chase had played games where he easily gained more the 250 yards. Also, had multiple 150+ yard games, so scoring a touchdown or two in a game is light work for the wideout. Higgins, on the other hand, hasn’t shown that vigor. However, Higgins has missed 5 games this season, so his numbers also add up. It’s also worth noting that Higgins has reached the peak of his career. He averages 79.7 yards and five receiving TDs this season.

But despite the commotion, word is going around the NFL streets that Higgins might stay where he is and not leave the team.

Tee Higgins has had quite a journey

Believe it or not, the Bengals offensive coach Troy Walters has had a major hand in turning Tee Higgins’ life around. During that week 8 game against the Eagles, Higgins sat in the locker room, frustrated, and pulled out a book called “Experiencing God,” suggested to him by Walters. ESPN noted that he had a meeting with the offensive coach later and it 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.

“I ain’t going to say I’m trying to have a perfect season to get a big contract in the future,” Higgins said. “I’m not saying that. I’m here to help my team win. And the rest will take care of itself.” If anything, Higgins’ statement reflects on the possibility that he isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.