Arkansas Bengal Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 By Mike Florio Published March 6, 2025 10:03 AM The Bengals are sticking with their stated plans. For now, at least. When they applied the franchise tag for the second straight year to receiver Tee Higgins, the Bengals reiterated their “intent” to try to sign Higgins to a long-term deal. Which means they won’t promptly trade him. Via Dianna Russini of TheAthletic.com, “multiple teams” have contacted the Bengals about a Higgins trade. The Bengals have said Higgins “remains unavailable” as they work toward a long-term deal. On one hand, it will be very difficult for the Bengals to turn his $26.16 million for 2025 and a straight shot at 2026 free agency into a long-term deal. They’ll need to make him an offer with guarantees that extend beyond this year; the Bengals typically avoid that. Even if they’re willing to fully guarantee at least two years of compensation, the dollars will not be insubstantial. Higgins can always say, “no thanks,” take his cash for 2025, and go to the highest bidder in 2026. On the other hand, the Bengals need to placate quarterback Joe Burrow. Even if they can’t, and ultimately won’t, make Higgins an offer he won’t refuse, the Bengals need Burrow to think they tried everything they could to get it done. They need Burrow to believe that, at the end of the day, Higgins is the one who was being unreasonable. At this point, they can’t make it look like they want to trade him. By late April, when the draft gets rolling, the Bengals might feel differently. In the interim, other teams could host Higgins for a visit. Even if no one will sign him to an offer sheet that, if matched, would send a pair of first-round picks to the Bengals, he’s allowed to talk to anyone (as of next Wednesday). If nothing else, such a visit could lay the foundation for the moment when the Bengals believe they can persuade Burrow that the failure to sign Higgins to a long-term deal isn’t their fault. The dance has just started. It will continue. And Higgins has plenty of moves he can make. In the end, he can refuse all offers, stay away from the offseason program, training camp, and the preseason. He can show up just before the start of the regular season, claim his $26.16 million, and prepare to sign with any team he chooses in 2026. If the Bengals want to keep him beyond 2025, they need to put something on the table that gets him to trade in a very attractive Plan A. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-bengals-are-rebuffing-tee-higgins-trade-interest Quote
claptonrocks Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 31 minutes ago, Arkansas Bengal said: By Mike Florio Published March 6, 2025 10:03 AM The Bengals are sticking with their stated plans. For now, at least. When they applied the franchise tag for the second straight year to receiver Tee Higgins, the Bengals reiterated their “intent” to try to sign Higgins to a long-term deal. Which means they won’t promptly trade him. Via Dianna Russini of TheAthletic.com, “multiple teams” have contacted the Bengals about a Higgins trade. The Bengals have said Higgins “remains unavailable” as they work toward a long-term deal. On one hand, it will be very difficult for the Bengals to turn his $26.16 million for 2025 and a straight shot at 2026 free agency into a long-term deal. They’ll need to make him an offer with guarantees that extend beyond this year; the Bengals typically avoid that. Even if they’re willing to fully guarantee at least two years of compensation, the dollars will not be insubstantial. Higgins can always say, “no thanks,” take his cash for 2025, and go to the highest bidder in 2026. On the other hand, the Bengals need to placate quarterback Joe Burrow. Even if they can’t, and ultimately won’t, make Higgins an offer he won’t refuse, the Bengals need Burrow to think they tried everything they could to get it done. They need Burrow to believe that, at the end of the day, Higgins is the one who was being unreasonable. At this point, they can’t make it look like they want to trade him. By late April, when the draft gets rolling, the Bengals might feel differently. In the interim, other teams could host Higgins for a visit. Even if no one will sign him to an offer sheet that, if matched, would send a pair of first-round picks to the Bengals, he’s allowed to talk to anyone (as of next Wednesday). If nothing else, such a visit could lay the foundation for the moment when the Bengals believe they can persuade Burrow that the failure to sign Higgins to a long-term deal isn’t their fault. The dance has just started. It will continue. And Higgins has plenty of moves he can make. In the end, he can refuse all offers, stay away from the offseason program, training camp, and the preseason. He can show up just before the start of the regular season, claim his $26.16 million, and prepare to sign with any team he chooses in 2026. If the Bengals want to keep him beyond 2025, they need to put something on the table that gets him to trade in a very attractive Plan A. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-bengals-are-rebuffing-tee-higgins-trade-interest I don't think Katy and Co.give a rats ass on what the media fans and players want. They'll do it their way regardless if it turns out good or bad. They either ride with him on the tag to see if they make the playoffs or trade him for draft capital... Who knows which way they'll decide. 1 Quote
dex Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 39 minutes ago, claptonrocks said: I don't think Katy and Co.give a rats ass on what the media fans and players want. Oh, I think they definitely give a damn what Joe Burrow wants. Maybe not with any other player, certainly not the media, but definitely with that one player. 3 Quote
claptonrocks Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 40 minutes ago, dex said: Oh, I think they definitely give a damn what Joe Burrow wants. Maybe not with any other player, certainly not the media, but definitely with that one player. He has their ears..they listen I don't think JB really knows their thinking on business matters. 1 Quote
sparky151 Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 If Metcalf is worth a 1st and 3rd (I doubt Seattle gets that for him), then Tee is worth more. Starting next week he's officially free to visit and negotiate with every team. Who knows what he'll discover once he starts making visits. Quote
Homer_Rice Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 By Mike Borio Published March 6, 2025 In the Afternoon-ish Tee Higgins Ought to Leave the Bengals... ...cuz I don't like the Bengals. This is displayed by my mere speculations suggesting worst-case scenarios. I've devoted my life to trash-talk, even though I am a lawyer and I could be saving some whales or some other nice shit. Anyhow, Tee Higgins should leave the Bengals. Have I said that before? And while I'm thinking of it, Trey Hendrickson ought to leave, too. Why? Because I think the Bengals suck. That's why. 2 1 Quote
LostInDaJungle Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 These guys have agents... They know the deal. If a jagass like me can go out and prove that they can pay Higgins in 15 minutes with public sources, you'd better believe those agents can too. And Joe's agent can as well. Joe is going to know they could have put a winning team around him and didn't and that goes well beyond just resigning Tee. That's a real shame. 1 Quote
dex Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 2 hours ago, claptonrocks said: He has their ears..they listen I don't think JB really knows their thinking on business matters. We had Joe do a 100 interviews Super Bowl week saying what needs to happen. Then we had the untitled General Manager being asked in a interview to address Joe's comments, and what did Tobin say? He claimed to agree 100 percent with everything Joe said. The entire Bengals roster knows what Joe said plus what Tobin said. So if it doesn't happen? It would be an organizational failure that will resonate with everyone connected with the Cincinnati Bengals. This goes well beyond whether some fans think that it's too much money to invest in one position or not. 1 Quote
|BlackJesus| Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 They should rebuff all trade talk. The secret sauce to this team is the big 3 on offense. Everyone else is negotiable and trade-able (see Trey news), but the big 3 should be kept together at all costs. Pay whatever it takes. Quote
T-Dub Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 3 minutes ago, BlackJesus said: They should rebuff all trade talk. The secret sauce to this team is the big 3 on offense. Everyone else is negotiable and trade-able (see Trey news), but the big 3 should be kept together at all costs. Pay whatever it takes. Because that worked out so well for them last season? Career year for Chase, the other 2 both playing at a high level.. 9-8, no postseason. Yeah I'm sure losing the NFL sack leader won't set them back at all. Another .500 season and no playoffs here we come! 1 Quote
|BlackJesus| Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 1 hour ago, T-Dub said: Because that worked out so well for them last season? On offense it actually did. They had the best offense in the NFL and Burrow had a career year. If they just get any competence at all on defense and don't have lottery winning levels of bad luck like last year, they win 12 games easily with this passing game alone, even with nothing else. 3 Quote
Le Tigre Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 1 hour ago, BlackJesus said: On offense it actually did. They had the best offense in the NFL and Burrow had a career year. If they just get any competence at all on defense and don't have lottery winning levels of bad luck like last year, they win 12 games easily with this passing game alone, even with nothing else. The line is still shit. A breaking down LT…Volson…a one-year remaining center…an empty space RG…and a wonderful RT. Oh, and yawning nothing behind them. One off-season to make this KC or PHL? Quote
T-Dub Posted March 7 Report Posted March 7 3 hours ago, BlackJesus said: On offense it actually did. They had the best offense in the NFL and Burrow had a career year. If they just get any competence at all on defense and don't have lottery winning levels of bad luck like last year, they win 12 games easily with this passing game alone, even with nothing else. I don't see how losing the NFL sack leader makes the defense any more competent. It's just one more hole they have to fill for that to happen. 1 Quote
sparky151 Posted March 7 Report Posted March 7 Making the offense the best in the league is doable. Sign a couple of starting caliber guards, bring back Gesicki, Ford, maybe Williams. Sign a UFA RB and draft one too. Sign a vet swing tackle as backup. My suggestions: Teven Jenkins and Brandon Scherff at guard. JK Dobbins at RB plus Cam Skattebo in round 3 or Damien Martinez in round 5. Sign Kelvin Beachum as the vet swing tackle. Trade for Mayer if possible. Draft a center of the future, maybe Wilson in round 3 or McLaughlin in round 5. Keep Higgins, Chase, and Hendrickson. Use the rest of the cap space and draft picks on defense. 1 Quote
claptonrocks Posted March 7 Report Posted March 7 3 hours ago, Le Tigre said: The line is still shit. A breaking down LT…Volson…a one-year remaining center…an empty space RG…and a wonderful RT. Oh, and yawning nothing behind them. One off-season to make this KC or PHL? Winning teams build in the trenches.Ehy do so many teams not get this formula?? Go back to all great teams. Their lines among the best.. Our line was one of the worst last year . They'll look for a fa vet and a draft pick. JB pocket was/is weak.... 1 1 Quote
-GoBengals- Posted March 7 Report Posted March 7 10 hours ago, sparky151 said: If Metcalf is worth a 1st and 3rd (I doubt Seattle gets that for him), then Tee is worth more. Starting next week he's officially free to visit and negotiate with every team. Who knows what he'll discover once he starts making visits. i dont think there is a market at all for Metcalf, not from any team with common sense. he is a dumbass and a pain in the ass. and a 32 mil cap hit for 2025. he is worth a 4th or 5th rounder. sounds like a raider to me.. 1 Quote
Hooky Posted March 7 Report Posted March 7 15 hours ago, Homer_Rice said: By Mike Borio Published March 6, 2025 In the Afternoon-ish Tee Higgins Ought to Leave the Bengals... ...cuz I don't like the Bengals. This is displayed by my mere speculations suggesting worst-case scenarios. I've devoted my life to trash-talk, even though I am a lawyer and I could be saving some whales or some other nice shit. Anyhow, Tee Higgins should leave the Bengals. Have I said that before? And while I'm thinking of it, Trey Hendrickson ought to leave, too. Why? Because I think the Bengals suck. That's why. That was awesome. But he forgot to mention that Burrow should leave too. "Borio" is in good company. I wish I had a dollar for every article assuming that the bengals are going to screw up. I've seen a couple draft mock headlines already like "Bengals make horrible mistake by drafting this person". 1 Quote
Shebengal Posted March 7 Report Posted March 7 10 hours ago, GoBengals said: i dont think there is a market at all for Metcalf, not from any team with common sense. he is a dumbass and a pain in the ass. and a 32 mil cap hit for 2025. he is worth a 4th or 5th rounder. sounds like a raider to me.. Agreed. He's a headcase, too. All you have to do is watch his game against us year before last to see how CTB got into his head. 2 Quote
Dautcom08 Posted March 7 Report Posted March 7 13 minutes ago, Shebengal said: Agreed. He's a headcase, too. All you have to do is watch his game against us year before last to see how CTB got into his head. And the initial reports were he wanted to play for a "competitor" and now it's he wants $30M a year. Hard pass if I'm running a competitive team. 3 Quote
sparky151 Posted March 7 Report Posted March 7 Lots of teams are interested in Metcalf. He's a big, fast, physical receiver who poses matchup problems for defenders. That's why someone will pay him 30 mil per year. Seahawks will likely get a 2nd for him plus maybe a bit more. 1 Quote
dex Posted March 8 Report Posted March 8 Higgins apparently took a private jet from Miami to Cincinnati this morning. We will see if that leads to something. 1 2 Quote
Griever Posted March 8 Report Posted March 8 23 minutes ago, dex said: Higgins apparently took a private jet from Miami to Cincinnati this morning. We will see if that leads to something. 1 Quote
I_C_Deadpeople Posted March 8 Report Posted March 8 24 minutes ago, dex said: Higgins apparently took a private jet from Miami to Cincinnati this morning. We will see if that leads to something. Who paid for it? 🤪 Quote
|BlackJesus| Posted March 8 Report Posted March 8 2 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said: Who paid for it? 🤪 ... The fuel costs are going to be deducted from his signing bonus. Quote
sparky151 Posted March 8 Report Posted March 8 Bengals will reimburse him coach rate fare on the redeye. Quote
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