Schefter: Bengals' Tee Higgins is Pissed Off Amid Contract, NFL Trade Rumors | News, Scores, Highlig
Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesCincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins remains less than enthused about the lack of movement following his trade request, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
During Wednesday's edition of NFL Live (via Awful Announcing), Schefter affirmed that Higgins is "pissed" when colleague Marcus Spears speculated as much.
That followed a discussion between Schefter and Dan Orlovsky about whether the fifth-year pass-catcher could make a "business decision" midway through the 2024 season to preserve his health.
NFL on ESPN @ESPNNFL.<a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdamSchefter</a> was stunned by a comment <a href="https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danorlovsky7</a> made about Tee Higgins 👀 😅 <a href="https://t.co/Dn34sQhjih">pic.twitter.com/Dn34sQhjih</a>
The Bengals applied the franchise tag to Higgins in February, which will guarantee him $21.8 million. Given the extent to which the receiver market is booming, you can't blame the 25-year-old for seeking a bigger payday.
When it comes to ongoing negotiations, it doesn't appear Cincinnati is willing to meet Higgins halfway or anywhere in between.
The Cincinnati Enquirer's Kelsey Conway reported in April the 2020 second-round pick was looking to get a contract that broadly aligns with the three-year, $70 million pact Michael Pittman Jr. signed with the Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals haven't come close to that figure, though.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN also reported in April the team has signaled it has "no plans" of trading Higgins, which aligns with how the front office and ownership have approached similar situations in the past.
Jessie Bates III played out the 2022 season on the franchise tag before leaving as a free agent. Jonah Williams also had to take back his trade request when it became clear Cincinnati wasn't moving him last offseason.
Higgins has said publicly he expects to suit up for the Bengals. At the end of the day, he stands to lose too much by actually sitting out an entire year.
But Schefter raised an important point about how Higgins' lingering discontent might manifest down the road.
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