Joe Burrow pushes Bengals’ front office regarding futures of Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase
CINCINNATI – During the course of his time in Cincinnati, more than a few facts have been clear about Joe Burrow’s comments with the media.
He says what he means. His words are almost always said with a calculated purpose. He specifically understands the power of his voice.
So, when he doubles down on a message directed at the Cincinnati Bengals front office, everyone must take close notes.
In this case, it came on New Year’s Eve at his weekly news conference, offering a resolution for an ownership group that has allowed stars Jessie Bates, DJ Reader and others to leave in recent seasons while facing another round of negotiations with star receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase this offseason.
“Whenever a great player leaves, you wish you could have found a way to keep them,” Burrow said. “You don’t want to make a living out of letting great players leave the building. I think that’s why you’ve got to do everything you can to get those deals done early.”
The last sentence hit the target like one of his 42 touchdown passes. The Bengals failed to reach the finish line on a negotiation with Chase in August that involved the star sitting out training camp and lasted until minutes before the opener against New England.
His cost is now skyrocketing as he’s on track to win the receiving triple crown. He should become the highest paid receiver in NFL history, almost certainly topping the four-year, $140 million contract signed by his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson last summer.
They also pushed Higgins down the line, failing to sign a deal when he was first eligible for a new contract in 2023 then applying the franchise tag this past season. That move prompted a trade request the team did not fulfill. Higgins arrived on time and without complaint, though, as a full participant in camp and, despite missing five games due to injury, racked up 69 receptions for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns. At 78 yards per game, he’s tied for ninth in the league in receiving yards per game this year.
His cost will only be higher as one of the most sought after free agents available in March.
There’s been a thought the Bengals would let Higgins walk in free agency after the franchise tag, but the tone changed after Burrow spoke up following a win on “Monday Night Football” against the Dallas Cowboys.
“I am confident we are going to be able to do what it takes to bring Tee back — that I’m going to do what it takes to get him back and so is he,” Burrow said on December 9th. “We’ve had those talks. Those are going to be offseason discussions, but I think we are excited about that opportunity.”
A week later, it came out that Higgins changed his representation from David Mulugheta, Bates’ former agent who the Bengals struggled to get deals done with and moved to Chase’s agent, Rocky Arceneaux.
Burrow is facing the possibility this week that it could be his last game together with Higgins and Chase. He voiced his expectations in that regard.
“It’s obviously a possibility — not one that I’m excited about,” Burrow said, “but that’s not in the plans, I would say.”
When asked if he’s still as confident the team can keep all three as he was after the Dallas game, Burrow said, “I think so.”
Required Reading
(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
