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Bengals owner addresses WR Tee Higgins' future with team
One of the downsides to having one of the best teams in the NFL is being unable to pay all your talented players. That's exactly what the Bengals are beginning to experience.
Cincinnati already gave quarterback Joe Burrow a five-year, $275M deal last year, and the team will pay three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase in the near future.
That has left fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins as the odd man out and the reason he requested a trade in March.
Higgins has since come to terms with the fact that he'll be playing for the Bengals this season after they were not interested in entertaining his request.
"I do anticipate it," Higgins told WLWT in April.
However, that doesn't mean Cincinnati is planning to pay the former second-round pick. Owner Mike Brown said he'd love to retain Higgins but that there's only so much money to go around.
"The pie is not going to grow. It's only going to be a certain size, but when you reach a point with your quarterback that you have to pay him a big contract, that takes a disproportionate piece out of the pie," Brown said, via the team's website. "Which means you have less left to pay the others. Sometimes that impacts whether you can get the others signed."
Higgins deserves a payday of his own after registering 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns since entering the league in 2020, but it seems that may come next offseason from a different team.
"You can't just pay people willy nilly," Brown added. "You're restricted on how much you can pay, and we really like Tee Higgins. We would wish to sign him, but it has to be at a certain level to fit within the cap or it can't be done."
If Higgins has a similar season to the one he had a year ago when he finished with a career-low 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns, the Bengals may be able to convince him to re-sign on a cheaper deal than the one he wants now.
That seems unlikely as of now, however, as the 2024 season is looking more and more like Higgins' last in Cincinnati.
More must-reads:
- Bengals owner sends message about extension for superstar WR
- Bengals QB Joe Burrow takes massive step in return to action
- The 'First wide receiver drafted' quiz
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Former Steelers RB Najee Harris seemingly takes shot at Pittsburgh after arriving in Los Angeles
The Pittsburgh Steelers had to say goodbye to some important players during the 2025 offseason, with one of the most notable individuals being former first-round pick Najee Harris. It became clear that the 2024 season would be the running back's last year with the Steelers after the organization declined his fifth-year option, and he ended up signing with the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2025 offseason. This was a natural landing spot for Harris, as he had a pre-existing relationship with Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and grew up on the West Coast. The back signed a one-year deal in Los Angeles, and he had his introductory press conference on Friday afternoon. The back spoke about his excitement to play for the Chargers, while also reminiscing on his time with Pittsburgh. He got a tour of the facility and was asked about it during his press conference, and the former Steeler was impressed as he compared it to what he had in Pittsburgh. "It's a great weight room first of all." Harris said. "It's all great things. There's a lot of things that they provide here that you can take advantage of. I was just telling them, 'Man, it's not like this everywhere man.' This is a special thing right here. It sort of reminds me of college at Alabama, you know, all the resources that they have. So, just getting the chance to take advantage of all this opportunity is a blessing. I was telling him, 'Y'all got a great thing going on. It's not like this everywhere.'" It is no secret that Pittsburgh's facility is outdated, and that is highlighted by the NFLPA report cards every offseason. The Steelers share a facility with a college team, and their facilities are out-classed by most college programs. Players don't play in Pittsburgh for a glamorous weight room and facility; it is more about the tradition and history of success. As the years go on, more and more players entering the NFL care about the facilities and the kind of resources an organization has, and that makes sense. Players spend a lot of their time there, and everything they need should be in one place. Clearly, this is an area the Steelers need to work on. It is also important to note that the Chargers just finished building this new facility that Harris spoke so highly of. It is a top of the line practice facility called "The Bolt", and it was completed during the 2024 offseason. The building is not even a year old, and it is probably the nicest facility in the league. The Steelers should have the goal of upgrading their facilities in the near future. It is going to start to become more of a draw for free agents as the years go on, so it would be better to get a head start now. Steelers' own players even believe facilities need to improve Every season the NFLPA surveys players on various aspects of their organizations. This includes coaching, ownership, team travel, the food, and the facilities that are used. The coaching aspect of these report cards is usually good for the Steelers, while the ownership and facilities sections are fairly rough. Pittsburgh's report card going into 2025 was pretty bleak, as the Steelers received a D for their locker room, a C+ for their training room, a C+ for their weight room, and a D in ownership. Art Rooney II can get his ownership grade up if he simply decides to invest some money into the facility to make players' everyday life a bit more enjoyable. Athletes need essential tools and equipment to recover on a day-to-day basis, and making sure things like that are taken care of should be a top priority moving forward.
New York Yankees Get Excellent News Out of Gerrit Cole's Elbow Surgery
The New York Yankees got devastating news this week when it was revealed that ace Gerrit Cole would miss the entire season because of an elbow injury. However, if you're looking silver linings, the Yankees got great news out of the surgery, Per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com: Gerrit Cole’s UCL surgery included internal bracing, according to the Yankees, which can reduce inflammation and speed recovery time. Generally speaking, this could mean he is closer to a 12-month recovery than if he had the procedure with the traditional method. Given when the injury occurred, there is even a slight chance that Cole could be ready for Opening Day in 2026. For example, Spencer Strider had Tommy John surgery early in the 2024 season and is set to come back by late April of this year. Lucas Giolito of the Red Sox had internal bracing done last spring training and was on track for an Opening Day return this year until he injured his hamstring. The 34-year-old Cole is one of the best pitchers of his era, having gone 153-80 over a 12-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros and Yankees. A six-time All-Star, Cole won the American League Cy Young Award in 2023 and has won two ERA titles. He dealt with elbow issues last season but returned to go 8-5 in 17 starts as the Yankees won the American League pennant. He pitched just 95 innings for the season, striking out 99. The Yankees will open up the season on March 27 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Vikings Lose Former 1st-Round Pick to Chiefs: Report
The Minnesota Vikings bolstered their defensive front in free agency, signing Jonathan Allen (three years, $51 million) and Javon Hargrave (two years, $30 million) to lucrative contracts. It was a significant investment for the Vikings, who ranked 28th in spending on the defensive line with just $11.7 million spent on five rostered defensive linemen in 2024. That unit provided plenty of value, allowing the second-fewest rushing yards in the league, but offered more to be desired in the pass rush. It led to the Vikings selling out to create pressure, blitzing at the highest rate in the NFL. The desire to improve the defensive line has led several meaningful contributors to reach free agency, but there is still the possibility of re-signing as depth. However, that won't be the case with a former first-round pick who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on Day 5 of free agency. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Friday, March 14, that Jerry Tillery is signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs. The 28th overall pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2019 draft, Tillery didn't live up to his draft status initially and was released after three seasons. He spent two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders before signing a one-year, $3.8 million deal with the Vikings last season. Tillery played every game and made 11 starts, playing the third-most snaps (482) on the defensive front last season. He totaled 19 pressures and 19 total tackles, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Fellow starter Jonathan Bullard remains a free agent while nose tackle Harrison Phillips is poised to start with Allen and Hargrave on each of his shoulders. Bullard and Tillery's combined 25 total pressures pale in comparison to Allen and Hargrave's 113 combined pressures from the 2023 season. Jihad Ward, who played 452 snaps last season, is also still a free agent. Meanwhile, the Vikings have retained Jalen Redmond and Levi-Drake Rodriguez as developmental pieces.
Insider questions if Aaron Rodgers will respect ‘back up QB’ Kevin O’Connell, Vikings leadership
Former Lakers draft pick showcasing potential with dominant performances
Jalen Hood-Schifino’s NBA journey has been anything but smooth. After being selected 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 NBA Draft, his rookie season was derailed by injuries, significantly stalling his development. His time in Los Angeles ended abruptly when he was included in the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. Hood-Schifino was shipped to the Utah Jazz as part of the deal — only to be swiftly waived. Now, the 21-year-old guard is getting a fresh start with the Philadelphia 76ers, signing a two-way contract on Feb. 28. While he has yet to debut for the Sixers, he has been making an impact in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats, showcasing the talent that once made him a first-round pick. Through his first three games with Delaware, Hood-Schifino has averaged an impressive 27 points and four assists while shooting 50 percent from three-point range — all in just 25.3 minutes per game. His last two outings have been particularly dominant, with back-to-back 30-plus-point performances and 12 made three-pointers over the three-game span. His ability to score at all three levels, combined with his 6-foot-6 frame, has made him a tough matchup for G League defenders. This is not the first time he has excelled at this level; last season, he played 15 games for the South Bay Lakers, averaging 22 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 43.2 percent from deep. His biggest concern has been his health, but now that he is fully fit, his offensive skill set is on display. Even when healthy last season, Hood-Schifino struggled to earn minutes in the Lakers’ rotation as the team continuously reshaped its roster in pursuit of playoff success. However, with the 76ers’ season not going as planned, there could be an opportunity for him to get NBA minutes before the regular season concludes. As Philadelphia evaluates its roster for next season, Hood-Schifino’s strong G League production suggests he may still have a future at the NBA level. If he continues his impressive play, he could force his way into a role in Philadelphia or elsewhere.
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