In recent weeks, things have seemed a little more positive around the outlook for Tee Higgins and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Higgins, though, met with reporters around the time of the Super Bowl and gently walked the necessary tightrope ahead of his potential trip to free agency.
“Obviously, we want to build something here in Cincy, but it’s not in my hands right now,” Higgins told reporters, according to Fox 19’s Joe Danneman. “I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do and if that’s go to another team, you know, that’s what happens.”
Joe Burow’s endless wave of public pressure applied to the Bengals about keeping Higgins and others has changed the vibes around the situation ahead of the key offseason.
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Higgins also commented on Burrow’s public support for himself and other members of the core.
“Yeah, of course, we all want to keep the core pieces what it is (right now) even with Mike Gesicki,” Higgins said. “That’s a core piece as well. So obviously, we want to build something here in Cincy. But you know, it’s not in my hands right now. So I got to do what I need to do and if that’s go to another team. That’s what happens.”
For Bengals fans, some of this will remind them of Jessie Bates’ interviews before he wound up leaving in free agency. That’s how this goes in February — the possible impending free agent needs to apply a little pressure of his own while keeping all options open.
The reality? Higgins is saying what he needs to say, but major roster-building problems (including Jermaine Burton), plenty of cap space and what Joe Burrow wants play a big role here and these comments shouldn’t sway those vibes.