On Tuesday afternoon, the Cincinnati Bengals made waves with statements regarding their star receiver, Tee Higgins. Later that evening, Higgins responded with a single emoji on Twitter—a cap symbol, universally recognized as an indication that he believes a lie has been told.
The controversy stems from Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin's assertion that the team plans to sign Higgins to a long-term contract. However, Higgins's use of the cap emoji suggests he doubts the veracity of Tobin's claim.
The Bengals have already applied the franchise tag to Higgins for 2024, setting his salary at $21.8 million. If they choose to use it again in 2025, the cost would rise by 20 percent, bringing it to $26.16 million. This figure serves as the baseline for any potential multi-year contract negotiations.
Essentially, for a long-term deal to be appealing to Higgins, the offer must outweigh the benefits of playing for $26.16 million in 2025, followed by unrestricted free agency in 2026. The rules make a third franchise tag prohibitively expensive, thus shaping the negotiation landscape.
It's conceivable that Higgins suspects the Bengals are merely going through the motions in long-term negotiations, intending instead to tag him for another season or potentially trade him. His cap emoji suggests he believes there is dishonesty involved.
The Bengals have until Tuesday, March 4, to apply the franchise tag to Higgins. Should they do so, they would have until mid-July to convert the one-year tender into a long-term agreement.
At this juncture, it may be in Higgins's best interest to allow the situation to play out and wait to see if the Bengals decide to tag him a second time. Such a move would effectively prevent the franchise tag from being used on him ever again, as a third tag would trigger exorbitant costs.
In conclusion, the ongoing saga between the Bengals and Tee Higgins involves a complex web of contractual obligations and strategic decisions. As the deadline approaches, both parties must navigate these challenges to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
