‘The Bengals Weren’t Making Any Moves’ – Tee Higgins Shelves Disappointment, Goes Full Go in First Practice

CINCINNATI – Tee Higgins wasn’t trying to send a message. He was sick of getting them.

Following Wednesday’s first practice of Cincinnati Bengals training camp, the wide receiver spoke to the local media for the first time since signing his franchise tag in June.

Asked why he decided to sign the tag as soon as minicamp ended instead of waiting until the July 15 deadline to agree to an extension — or later — Higgins said he was fed up with everything being written and said about him — and to him.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins Talks For First Time Since Signing Tag

“Obviously, I could’ve waited, but I just wanted to kill all the noise,” he said. “I was tired of everybody tweeting me and all the other bulls—. I just wanted to kill all that and just lock in.”

Higgins made it clear after signing the tag that he had no interest in missing time in training camp, something Jessie Bates, who also is represented by agent David Mulugheta, did two years ago when the team used the franchise tag on him.

The receiver said communication from the team ceased after it placed the tag on him on Feb. 26, guaranteeing him $21.8 million this season.

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Frustrated by the lack of negotiating beyond that from the front office, Higgins and Mulugheta discussed all of the options. But it ultimately came down to what Higgins wanted to do, which was to show up on Day 1.

“Obviously, the Bengals weren’t making any moves other than obviously tagging me,” Higgins said. “But it was just like, I grew up with nothing at the end of the day (and) $21.8 (million), that’s life-changing money. You know what I’m saying? I could live with that for the rest of my life if I wanted to.

“But obviously, I wanted more, and it didn’t happen,” he added. “I made the decision to sign and be here with my guys.”

One of his guys, quarterback Joe Burrow, threw his first pass of the opening 11-on-11 period to Higgins, who dropped the ball.

A few plays later, Higgins beat Dax Hill for his first reception of camp, and he continued to participate in every drill.

Head coach Zac Taylor said before practice that Higgins will be limited Thursday as part of a plan that had wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase resting today.

Chase watching the other WRs go thru an early drill pic.twitter.com/Wm8IzzpOc5

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) July 24, 2024

Higgins said he was thrilled to be playing football today and eager to put all of the contract stuff behind him.

“I’ve always been about just football,” he said. “Ya’ll been talking to me for going on five years now. I’ve always been the same. Haven’t changed yet and won’t change. For me, it’s all about ball when I step inside this building, and it’s going to continue to be that.

“Just getting back out with the guys who I’ve been with for going on five years now, it’s a feeling like no other.”

Burrow and Higgins struggled to connect a couple of other times in the practice. One came when cornerback DJ Turner got his hands on a slant pass, and the other came on a Burrow overthrow on a deep ball.

Or at least that’s what it looked like initially.

Higgins put the blame on himself.

“He threw me a ball so deep today, I was like, ‘Man, what the f–k?” Higgins said. “But he looked good. I’m excited for him. He looks like the Joe y’all seen in the Super Bowl run.”

“I had to get my legs back. I’m gonna put that one on me,” he continued. “He put it out there where I can go get it, and I just … shoot, couldn’t get there.”

But Higgins said he knows he’ll get there in short order, and he’s looking forward to helping the team get where it wants to be as well.

“It feels good just to be back and not worried about nothing else. Just being me and playing my game,” he said. “I just want to play my best at the end of the day and put my best foot forward to help this team win games and be in the best position possible to get back to the Super Bowl.”