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Ben Baby, ESPN Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas — The discuss from key members of the Cincinnati Bengals main into Monday night time’s sport towards the Dallas Cowboys was about making recollections and having fun with the remainder of this season regardless of a disappointing file.
Then quarterback Joe Burrow shifted the dialog. After the Bengals’ 27-20 win at AT&T Stadium, the ultimate 4 video games of the common season won’t be the top for Cincinnati’s offensive trio of Burrow and extensive receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Higgins has failed to succeed in a long-term cope with the crew in every of the previous two offseasons and is enjoying on the one-year franchise tag. But in his postgame information convention, Burrow mentioned he believed the crew will discover a strategy to preserve Higgins round.
“Those discussions are ongoing,” Burrow mentioned. “I’m assured that I feel we will do what it takes to convey Tee again.”
Burrow even went as far as to say that he’ll get personally concerned within the matter.
“I do know that I’m going to do what it takes to get him again and so is he,” Burrow mentioned. “We’ve had these talks. Those are going to be offseason discussions. But I feel we’re enthusiastic about that chance.”
The odds to maintain Higgins previous this season have felt about as slim as Cincinnati’s playoff probabilities, even after a win that pushed the Bengals’ file to 5-8. Burrow is already making $55 million a yr, and Chase, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns, is eyeing a deal that may make him the highest-paid receiver in league historical past.
But Burrow doubled down on his confidence within the monetary logistics to maintain Higgins, expressing it each in his information convention and at his locker after the sport.
Higgins, Chase and Burrow have been all chosen by coach Zac Taylor to be the crew’s pregame captains for Monday’s coin toss. That was the primary time the trio, which has performed collectively since 2021, represented the crew for the toss.
No that means was given, however in that second, Chase mentioned he did some long-term considering.
“It runs in my thoughts,” Chase mentioned. “During the coin toss, that really ran throughout my mind.”
Of the 2 wideouts, Chase was the one who had an enormous sport. He completed with 14 catches on 18 targets for 177 yards and two touchdowns, together with the sport winner. With 1:01 left and the rating tied, Chase caught a cross, spun unfastened and ran down the sphere for a 40-yard rating that sealed it.
One of the principle causes Chase was in a position to have an enormous outing, Burrow mentioned, was Higgins simply being on the sphere.
“You really feel his presence when he’s on the market,” Burrow mentioned of Higgins. “You really feel the way it impacts the protection. You really feel the way it impacts the defensive coordinator’s calls. Even if he is not tremendous productive on the night time, groups have to fret about him and really feel his presence. The protection is frightened about him, and you’re feeling that.”
Monday was a type of nights when Higgins’ manufacturing lacked. He joked that he ought to not be a sport captain following his outing. He had two catches on 5 targets for 23 receiving yards.
Higgins, in his fifth yr out of Clemson, appreciated the sentiment from his quarterback after the sport. He additionally made a number of issues clear.
Without query, Higgins mentioned, he desires a long-term deal this offseason. He is not ruling out the potential for returning to Cincinnati but additionally is aware of the query about whether or not that’s financially possible can solely be answered by the entrance workplace.
And on the subject of the way to consider his synergy with Burrow and what Higgins is on the lookout for financially, there’s a hierarchy.
“The relationships are extra vital,” Higgins mentioned in a nook of the guests locker room. “Financially, that is going to return.”
The soonest the Bengals and Higgins can comply with a long-term deal is every time the season ends. While Cincinnati is not technically eradicated, the Bengals have a 1.9% probability of creating the postseason, per ESPN Research.
And given the uncertainty surrounding his future, Higgins cherished strolling onto the sphere right here with Burrow and Chase in entrance of a nationwide TV viewers.
“Like y’all mentioned, this might be my final season [with the Bengals], so I undoubtedly appreciated it, for positive,” Higgins mentioned. “I like these guys to loss of life.”
