Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins' special bond is something the rest of the NFL world can't seem to grasp
Tee Higgins never wanted to leave the Cincinnati Bengals. Ja'Marr Chase made sure that wouldn't happen.Forget all your arguments about whether or not the Bengals should've paid both of their star receivers, you cannot argue against that fact. The moment Higgins decided to swap his agent for Chase's, it was a conscious decision to make […]
Tee Higgins never wanted to leave the Cincinnati Bengals. Ja'Marr Chase made sure that wouldn't happen.
Forget all your arguments about whether or not the Bengals should've paid both of their star receivers, you cannot argue against that fact.
The moment Higgins decided to swap his agent for Chase's, it was a conscious decision to make sure his future would be in Cincinnati.
Playing for the team he grew up rooting for.
"Man, I grew up a Bengals fan," Higgins said after putting pen to paper. "To have the opportunity to sign a four-year deal with my favorite team that I grew up watching, that's a dream come true."
Playing with his actual friend on the other side of the formation.
"He's been my roll dog since he got here," Higgins said of Chase. "For me, it was very important just to get that done."
Higgins knew it wasn't going to be easy restarting negotiations with the front office after two years of failed attempts with his previous representation. Chase had a comparative leverage advantage as the reigning triple crown winner and an All-Pro honor to boot. It's why Rocky Arceneaux, the agent now responsible for both of them, made sure to give the Bengals no choice but to sign both of them. Together.
Chase didn't straight up admit that was the case to reporters, referring to it as a question for Arceneaux, but what he did say serves as the verbalization of a wink and nod.
"I mean, you would say that to keep Tee, right?"
But why? Why would the now highest-paid receiver (and non-quarterback) in NFL history have zero issue sharing targets and the spotlight with another receiver over half the league would gladly welcome with open arms? Why would the receiver who's referred to as the second option of the duo be content staying in the same offense and not jump at the chance to be an unquestioned No. 1 for another team?
It's what the rest of the NFL landscape can't seem to comprehend.
Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, at the end of the day, are friends who want to stay together
Does it need to be any more complicated than that?
Obviously winning is important. Both of them clearly want that after coming so close to hoisting a Lombardi three years ago. Getting paid their worth matters too. It's what ultimately drives most decisions for players in the league.
When you can accomplish both of that together, as genuine friends, why wouldn't you?
I know receivers are often typecasted as divas. The examples are in no short supply. For anyone who doesn't understand why the Bengals are investing so much of their money into both of these guys at the same time, consider the fact that it's what both of them wanted. Demanded, even.
There's a level of respect here that's objectively uncommon. To everyone, Chase is the guy of the duo. The numbers speak for themselves in that regard. He's never been short on confidence as someone who set out to break every Cincinnati record the night he was drafted. That same guy wouldn't allow Higgins to be labeled as his No. 2.
"1A."
This is as rare as it gets. Clearly, the NFL did not expect the Bengals to actually go through with this. You never see two players of this caliber sign contracts of this magnitude together, pretty much simultaneously. You never hear about that kind of ultimatum in negotiations.
You've never seen a duo quite like Chase and Higgins. No one has.
Other teams have put together and paid high-caliber receiver tandems. The Miami Dolphins traded for and paid Tyreek Hill a year after drafting Jaylen Waddle. The Philadelphia Eagles did the same with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. The combination of cheap rookie and expensive veteran for each eventually turned into two expensive veterans. No one bothered to think it was preposterous.
But when the Bengals draft and develop their duo organically and decide to pay both of them at once, everyone loses their minds. It's hard to grasp why that is, especially when you understand why both players pushed for it in the first place.
We may not see another team duplicate this strategy. I mean, it's unlikely any team can draft two receivers as good as Higgins and Chase in back-to-back years anyways, but the decision to pay them both at the same time may not even be possible. Maybe it can only happen if both players will it to existence.
Maybe it takes the bond that Chase and Higgins share; a bond that doesn't quite exist anywhere else.