As expected, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has constantly come up in speculation as the NFL’s trade deadline looms closer.
No credible reporting has come out suggesting teams have called the Bengals about Higgins or that the team would ever consider it — they aren’t trading the franchise-tagged star for anything.
Yet that hasn’t stopped the endless onslaught of noise around Higgins in the speculation department.
Asked about whether he pays attention to trade rumors and speculation on “Up & Adams,” Higgins responded about how fans would expect.
“I’m locked in with the guys and ready to keep it pushing,” Higgins said. “Let’s hope we don’t lose and none of that will have to come up. That way we don’t have to worry about anything like that. Obviously, I heard it the last few weeks when my name’s come up in the trade talks, but I just in one ear and out the other.”
This tracks with how Higgins has handled everything from Day 1. He signed the franchise tag earlier than expected this summer to shut down noise, then reported to training camp without a holdout. He’s blatantly been playing 100 percent when healthy despite the lack of long-term security.
Unfortunately for Higgins, one of the reasons his name comes up in trade speculation is because it seems obvious the Bengals won’t be able to keep him and Ja’Marr Chase on big contracts.
And unfortunately for Higgins, his injury woes play a part in that — he was just a surprise addition to the injury report before Week 8 after already missing games this season.
The Bengals won’t trade Higgins, but he is right — if the team can keep winning, it will quiet some of the noise. Losing gives analysts an excuse to suggest the Bengals might be sellers (they won’t, fans know better).
Winning, as they say, cures all. Or at least most.
