It’s been a drama-filled offseason for Cincinnati Bengals superstar wide receiver Tee Higgins as he requested a trade from the team after the Bengals used their franchise tag on him to keep him on the roster for the 2024 season. And it sounds like that drama is continuing.
According to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN, Tee Higgins has not yet signed his franchise tender and does not plan to do so before next week, meaning he will not be with the team when they begin Organized Team Activities next week.
“Bengals WR Tee Higgins still has not signed his franchise tender and is not expected to by next week, per source. This would make him ineligible to report back to the Bengals in time for their organized team activities next week. Higgins cannot rejoin the team until he signs,” Schefter said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins still has not signed his franchise tender and is not expected to by next week, per source. This would make him ineligible to report back to the Bengals in time for their organized team activities next week. Higgins cannot rejoin the team until he signs. pic.twitter.com/RltfFRe5dh
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2024
Obviously, this is a pretty brutal move as it indicates that Higgins is still unhappy with his contract situation. There reportedly have not been contract talks between Higgins and the Bengals in over a year and he is the only franchise-tagged player in the entire league who has not received a long-term extension this offseason.
Needless to say, it may be a brutal move against the Bengals to decline to sign the tag, but the move makes sense.
