We are nearly in June, and star receiver Tee Higgins still does not have a new contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. At this point, it’s starting to get really hard to believe he’ll ever receive one, as he skipped veteran OTAs.
That’s especially the case if his latest Instagram post is any indication.
On Thursday, the receiver took to his Instagram to seemingly post away some of his troubles with a cryptic caption that read, “I tell ’em no, they can’t wait to call me selfish.” Now, if you’re familiar with a certain brand of wide receiver tweet, you know that Higgins could’ve been talking about literally anything in his life. Sometimes, this is just how pro football playmakers use their social media platforms. Higgins isn’t even the only star receiver this offseason to do this!
But considering the quote was about apparently being called selfish, the connection between Higgins wanting to get the money he definitely deserves while being potentially lambasted for it (by fans, media, the Bengals, etc.) is impossible to miss:
Given where he stands and what he’s produced for the Bengals, Higgins would have every right to be upset with the organization. Their salary cap constraints are of no concern to him when he’s an elite athlete in his prime who has earned a payday at top market value.
Higgins could, again, just be sharing a random quote about the (ahem) “enemy speaking kindly and holding a knife,” as the famous tweet goes. But it doesn’t seem that simple, with Bengals training camp just about two months away. At this stage, a longer holdout feels inevitable.
NFL fans had a lot of theories about Higgins’ cryptic Instagram post
Wish we could actually try and find a compromise. The fact that there’s not even a conversation being had is unreal to me. Guess the #Bengals made up their mind. 🥺 https://t.co/jFDhta3iIh
— David Hensley Jr (@MufasaRoarha) May 30, 2024
Tee Higgins (33rd) was paired with Joe Burrow (1st) in the 2020 NFL Draft
Burrow tore his ACL and Bengals (4-11-1) earned the 5th pick in 2021
They drafted Ja’Marr Chase
Higgins is very good, not selfish, but a victim of circumstance
This holdout has been years in the making https://t.co/gvipidZmct
— Colin McTamany (@Colin_McT) May 30, 2024
Receivers are so dramatic. There was no need to make an entire post lol. https://t.co/cZXAnWpxXt
— PH (@ThePhcomesfirst) May 30, 2024
Can we just pay this guy already… https://t.co/2meSBrf4ff
— Baker Leyman (@BLshakenbake) May 30, 2024
Off-season + WR IG Captions = NFL is coming https://t.co/H40hPeN64G
— Uncle Mike T (@StLsMost) May 30, 2024
Him and Brandon Aiyuk competing in a cryptic-off right now https://t.co/SN6GaSL1Fd
— JAY® (@JayLGK) May 30, 2024