When the Cincinnati Bengals decided to use their franchise tag on star wide receiver Tee Higgins, it seemed like a solution that would keep Higgins in Cincinnati for the 2024 season – and give him a pretty significant raise in the process. But apparently, Higgins is not happy with that resolution.
In a pretty brutal turn of events, it sounds like Tee Higgins is now requesting a trade from the Bengals after not receiving a long-term contract extension, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN.
“Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per sources. Higgins loves Cincinnati and hoped to be with the team long term, but is disappointed that the team has not had any talks about a long-term contract extension since March 2023. He’s ready to move on to a new home,” Schefter wrote in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per sources. Higgins loves Cincinnati and hoped to be with the team long term, but is disappointed that the team has not had any talks about a long-term contract extension since March 2023. He’s ready to move on to a new… pic.twitter.com/T0qy7uMu8n
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024
Obviously, this is some pretty terrible news for the Bengals as one of their top players is no longer happy playing for the team, and the NFL world had a lot to say about it on social media as a result.
This feels baffling on the part of the Bengals. He's worth a big contract extension and should get it. https://t.co/FhMg02VqbK
— Tim Bielik (@timbielik) March 11, 2024
This feels like a major error from Bengals management…
Or it's a heck of a negotiating ploy. https://t.co/R1Qp4sjTBM— Jerod Smalley (@JerodNBC4) March 11, 2024
MAKE THE CALL NOW NEW ENGLAND
ANYTHING IT TAKES https://t.co/OHzHrvngUJ
— Football (@BostonConnr) March 11, 2024
Did not see this coming. https://t.co/FfRTad86VB
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) March 11, 2024
I'd just get it done today and leave myself as much cap space and paths towards solutions as possible. https://t.co/QVE0V6ezu2
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) March 11, 2024
Good luck getting Mike Brown to do something he doesnt want to do. https://t.co/QPMod403gM
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) March 11, 2024
Higgins has been with the Bengals his entire career, joining the team as a No. 33 overall pick second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. We’ll have to see what happens next.
