Tee Higgins and the Bengals don’t appear to be close to a long-term deal.
Higgins, who requested a trade in March after being franchise tagged, posted an intriguing message on Instagram Thursday amid the standoff, writing, “I tell them no, they want to call me selfish…”
The post featured a variety of photos, including snapshots of the wide receivers working out.
Higgins’ message came days after it was reported that he and fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase did not attend the team’s OTAs.
Head coach Zac Taylor, in his sixth season as manager, was asked Tuesday about the players’ absences.
“[They] “They are still working hard elsewhere and will return at the appropriate time,” Taylor said. According to ESPN:“And the great thing is, we know these guys, we know what they do, and when they come back they’ll be ready and focused.”
Cincinnati designated Higgins their franchise player just before the NFL Combine in late February, when Bengals chief football operations officer Duke Tobin explained why the team did not wait until after the NFL Combine to designate Higgins as their franchise player.
“It’s pretty simple really. He’s a good player, we want to keep him and we have the resources to do so, so we decided early on to do it.” “We’re thrilled to be working with him,” said Tobin, the team’s director of player personnel. “And that’s where we are. We like Tee. We’re a better team having Tee. The way the cap is managed, we were able to put the franchise tag on him, and we did.”
Higgins, the Bengals’ second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, requested a trade in March after negotiations on a long-term contract stalled, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
If Higgins plays under the tag, his 2024 contract will be a one-year deal worth an estimated $21.8 million.
The two sides are scheduled to negotiate a new contract extension by July 15, but a trade could still happen before then.
Higgins, 25, said in April that he plans to play for the Bengals in the 2024 season.
“My love for Cincinnati has grown in ways I never expected, but I’m excited,” he said. He spoke to WLWT at a youth football camp..
Higgins missed five games last season due to injury but still managed 42 catches for 656 yards and five scores.
Higgins caught 257 passes for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons with Cincinnati, including two 1,000-yard seasons.
Trading Higgins would leave a big hole in Cincinnati’s offense and split up its Big Three, which includes quarterback Joe Burrow and Chase, who is also seeking a trade.
One of Burrow’s favorite targets, Higgins developed a strong bond with the quarterback and played a key role in the Bengals’ Super Bowl run during the 2021 season.
Cincinnati lost to the Rams 23-20 in a big game in February 2022.
The Bengals will open the 2024-25 season at home against the Patriots on Sept. 8.
