Tee Higgins Contract

[cincygrad]

Higgins is signing his franchise tag contract. I'm surprised he is doing this before camp - I figured he would the Bates route and wait until around week 3 or 4 of preseason.

 

[DanBengalfan]

probably just missed playing.

 

[cincygrad]

I've been watching the Netflix documentary called Receiver.... Really a must-watch for receivers considering free agency. Devonta Adams was miserable playing with Jimmy G. Openly complaining to everyone that would listen that the guy was going to get him killed. It's easy to forget that there are only 10-15 high quality quarterbacks in the NFL and the other guys are either unproven, or worse, they might get you killed.

 

[DanBengalfan]

grass always greener somewhere. until your QB leads you into a sandwich hit and you get carted off into an ambulance.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I've been watching the Netflix documentary called Receiver.... Really a must-watch for receivers considering free agency. Devonta Adams was miserable playing with Jimmy G. Openly complaining to everyone that would listen that the guy was going to get him killed. It's easy to forget that there are only 10-15 high quality quarterbacks in the NFL and the other guys are either unproven, or worse, they might get you killed.

I've been saying for a bit now - guys like Tee who are solid #2, and leave because they believe they are a true #1 usually end up not matching the expected production.

They end up on teams that aren't very good, and while they may get paid and the billing of a #1 WR, they end up toiling those years away and end up also losing a lot of games.

If the goal is to make money and win - the pride should be swallowed a bit and accept that role on a winning team (#2 WR) - $20-30 or whatever Million a year is still a crap-ton of money...and it never hurts when you can be on an offense that is going to put up yards, points, and win.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I've been saying for a bit now - guys like Tee who are solid #2, and leave because they believe they are a true #1 usually end up not matching the expected production.

They end up on teams that aren't very good, and while they may get paid and the billing of a #1 WR, they end up toiling those years away and end up also losing a lot of games.

If the goal is to make money and win - the pride should be swallowed a bit and accept that role on a winning team (#2 WR) - $20-30 or whatever Million a year is still a crap-ton of money...and it never hurts when you can be on an offense that is going to put up yards, points, and win.

Question is, is it about winning or the money? Like most of us average Americans, a job is usually about the money, and if you had a chance to go to another company and your salary goes from 60k to 100k, you would probably do it even if it meant the work environment isn't as nice. Just saying, this is a job first, a team sport second for most these guys and I can't blame them.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Question is, is it about winning or the money? Like most of us average Americans, a job is usually about the money, and if you had a chance to go to another company and your salary goes from 60k to 100k, you would probably do it even if it meant the work environment isn't as nice. Just saying, this is a job first, a team sport second for most these guys and I can't blame them.

OH, no doubt. I totally get that.

But, then just say "I wanted to be a #1 WR, and I want to be paid like a #1 WR". Don't feed me this crap about winning and then go to the 2-15 Commanders, or whomever.

I also think they are short-sighted in this approach. If you try and make that jump to the #1 and it doesn't work - that mega contract isn't going to see the end of the deal. Chances are, you get cut - and then you end up on a cut-rate deal to land somewhere else, likely as a #2 again. In hindsight, you could have signed a very nice deal as a #2, stayed where you were - won a lot of games - saw the end of that contract AND likely still seen a chance to add years to that contract (a la Boyd) into your near 30's.

Anyway - I digress...you are right. It's a business first, and I 100% respect that - but if it's about the money, then just be upfront. Maybe I'm asking too much...likely this is a "me" issue more than a player issue....I accept that.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

OH, no doubt. I totally get that.

But, then just say "I wanted to be a #1 WR, and I want to be paid like a #1 WR". Don't feed me this crap about winning and then go to the 2-15 Commanders, or whomever.

I also think they are short-sighted in this approach. If you try and make that jump to the #1 and it doesn't work - that mega contract isn't going to see the end of the deal. Chances are, you get cut - and then you end up on a cut-rate deal to land somewhere else, likely as a #2 again. In hindsight, you could have signed a very nice deal as a #2, stayed where you were - won a lot of games - saw the end of that contract AND likely still seen a chance to add years to that contract (a la Boyd) into your near 30's.

Anyway - I digress...you are right. It's a business first, and I 100% respect that - but if it's about the money, then just be upfront. Maybe I'm asking too much...likely this is a "me" issue more than a player issue....I accept that.

Going to t he Commanders wouldn't be a guaranteed losing situation. If they build things properly, I mean, they have Daniels at QB, they could have a Tee Higgins and a Terry McLaurin on the outside, with Ekeler at RB. That is a pretty young skill position set. If they keep building right, and get the most out of FA's and the draft over the next year or so, I can see them competing. Because a scenario isn't looking great when a star goes somewhere doesn't mean it can't improve. I am just saying. Let's see how Daniels does, and Washington could be a hell of an attractive spot.

Also, I understand you were using Washington as an example not as where he is looking to land, but the same would apply for any team in the NFL. If this was baseball, I would tend to agree with you, because if your payroll doesn't reach the 130+ mark, you may as well forget it, unless you are the Cleveland Guardians, then at that point, you are just smarter than everyone else.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Going to t he Commanders wouldn't be a guaranteed losing situation. If they build things properly, I mean, they have Daniels at QB, they could have a Tee Higgins and a Terry McLaurin on the outside, with Ekeler at RB. That is a pretty young skill position set. If they keep building right, and get the most out of FA's and the draft over the next year or so, I can see them competing. Because a scenario isn't looking great when a star goes somewhere doesn't mean it can't improve. I am just saying. Let's see how Daniels does, and Washington could be a hell of an attractive spot.

Also, I understand you were using Washington as an example not as where he is looking to land, but the same would apply for any team in the NFL. If this was baseball, I would tend to agree with you, because if your payroll doesn't reach the 130+ mark, you may as well forget it, unless you are the Cleveland Guardians, then at that point, you are just smarter than everyone else.

Right - I just meant a team not-set up for actual winning. Commanders are trying, but even still..no guarantee. If you were a legit #1, then there would be an established team willing to pay you money. Maybe someone like KC who needs a #1 or whomever...It was less about the actual team and more about the point that many of these #2 guys go to situations where they are not set-up to win...but talk about winning.

In MLB, if you are a smaller market - that's an excuse. The revenue means that the majority of owners can easily afford a payroll in the mid 100's without breaking a sweat. For example, the Reds payroll is currently around 129M thanks to contracts owed to Griffey, Votto, and other back end deals. They were listed as 26th in terms of % of revenue returned into the payroll...or 40%. So, if they are only putting 40% of their revenue into the team, and the payroll is around 120-$130M - that tells you even the Reds could be spending between $150-160M a year and still only be putting in around 55-60% of their revenue. The Castellini's just like to cry poor and keep the money...but I digress...teams like TB and Cle do a great job of getting young talent, riding it for 4-5-6 years while it is under team control, and then trading them before a big contract is due for a nice return and restocking the minors.

In actually - the Reds have done a solid job of this - but they had a massive call-up last year with Steer already up, EDLC, Marte and CES. The issue, or AN issue, this year was losing 50% of your nearly every day 8 for basically all of the first half. No McLain. No Marte. Lost Friedl. Lost CES. Lodolo missed 4-5-6 starts, maybe more. Add in the poor job by Benson and having to play most of the season with guys like Fairchild and Espinal as your everyday guys...I'm actually surprised that they have a positive run differenital (testament to their good pitching) that they are only 4-5 games under .500. They've battled, but they are still young and figuring things out. Need another true OF bat (Hinds we'll see if he can stick) and will need to replace Montas in the rotation via F/A...but the team isn't set up poorly....

 

[alf8478]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought I remember reading somewhere a while ago, that Tee is/was a bengals fan growing up?

If so, then its definitely more about money/ego/being a #1 than winning. Again, not that there is anything wrong with it, like stated above. But its nearly impossible to chase the money and wind up in a great/winning situation.

 

[cincygrad]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought I remember reading somewhere a while ago, that Tee is/was a bengals fan growing up?

If so, then its definitely more about money/ego/being a #1 than winning. Again, not that there is anything wrong with it, like stated above. But its nearly impossible to chase the money and wind up in a great/winning situation.

Yeah.... I mean, maybe he'll end up in Jacksonville and play with Trevor again. But, even if that were the most ideal situation, they would then be a team paying franchise numbers at QB and WR to a pair that might be just under the bar of the upper echelon. Other teams that would be willing to pay him #1 money will be spotty situations at best.

Ultimately it's not really Tee's fault. I don't think the Bengals ever had any intention to sign him long term to anything other than an under-market contract. And they are probably making the right move.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Yeah.... I mean, maybe he'll end up in Jacksonville and play with Trevor again. But, even if that were the most ideal situation, they would then be a team paying franchise numbers at QB and WR to a pair that might be just under the bar of the upper echelon. Other teams that would be willing to pay him #1 money will be spotty situations at best.

Ultimately it's not really Tee's fault. I don't think the Bengals ever had any intention to sign him long term to anything other than an under-market contract. And they are probably making the right move.

Been saying all along - Tee would get tagged, and then be a F/A. Bengals were never going to sign him unless he took a sweetheart of a discount.

The plan all along has been to keep Burrow and Chase. It's the right move. Tee is a solid WR, and a top tier #2 guy that can fill in when/if the #1 guy is hurt. But he's not a top tier #1 guy like Chase is. That's not a knock on Tee, that's just a fact of the current situation at hand. If you are going to hand out a bunch of cash to one of them, it's going to be the guy who has a chance to be an All-Pro/HOF type guy - not the guy who is a really freaking good #2, but a lower end #1.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Bengals Tee Up Training Camp As Higgins Seeks Super Bowl Timing

 

[Cincyfan78]

Also - pointing out that Adam Schefter is a POS for his coverage, or severe lack thereof, on the Bengals presser with Mike Brown.

When people talk about how media try and create/control a narrative (and yes, I realize that is mostly used in the political world, but happens in sports all too often, too) - this is a PRIME example. He purposely left out the 2nd part of Brown's statement on signing Chase - and made it seem like Brown was all "Well, we tried, and it is what it is" and if they won't try and pay him and create that same old narrative that the Bengals are cheap. The very next sentence Brown states "We will bend over backwards to sign him".

Neither really here nor there, but in reading the Higgins article above - made me think of this from the other day....that kind of crap reporting just really irritates me to no end....

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Also - pointing out that Adam Schefter is a POS for his coverage, or severe lack thereof, on the Bengals presser with Mike Brown.

When people talk about how media try and create/control a narrative (and yes, I realize that is mostly used in the political world, but happens in sports all too often, too) - this is a PRIME example. He purposely left out the 2nd part of Brown's statement on signing Chase - and made it seem like Brown was all "Well, we tried, and it is what it is" and if they won't try and pay him and create that same old narrative that the Bengals are cheap. The very next sentence Brown states "We will bend over backwards to sign him".

Neither really here nor there, but in reading the Higgins article above - made me think of this from the other day....that kind of crap reporting just really irritates me to no end....

My question in how are the Eagles paying a $50 million dollar QB, a $30 million dollar WR and another $25 million dollar receiver and keeping a competitive team? I think we could as well, but I would rather see the wealth spread out a little over position groups.

 

[Cincyfan78]

My question in how are the Eagles paying a $50 million dollar QB, a $30 million dollar WR and another $25 million dollar receiver and keeping a competitive team? I think we could as well, but I would rather see the wealth spread out a little over position groups.

According to sport-trac - they may have big contracts, but their current cap hits are low...

Philadelphia Eagles 2024 Financial Summary

A current summary of Philadelphia Eagles 2024 player cap & cash figures.

www.spotrac.com

That being said, total cap they are right next to the Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Financial Summary

A current summary of Cincinnati Bengals 2024 player cap & cash figures.

www.spotrac.com

26th and 27th in total cap...


FWIW - the Bengals are pretty damned competitive. Not many teams go 9-8 missing a QB like Burrow and an NFL worst defense....against a generationally difficult schedule. Almost makes you start to think that things that went bad last year (especially defense) maybe weren't THAT bad...and that the offense, even without Burrow, was THAT good....

Get Burrow back, defense takes a few steps forward....