Joe Burrow doubles down on message to Bengals on $21,800,000 Tee Higgins future in Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a tough 19-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. They need it now Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos on the road Sunday and the New York Jets top the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium.

Ja’Marr Chase was once again the star of the show for the Bengals as he caught 10 receptions for 96 yards and scored his team’s only touchdown. Chase supported it Tee Higginswho capped off a stellar season with four catches and 53 receiving yards in his team’s biggest game of the season.

If things don’t go in the Bengals’ favor in the Broncos and Dolphins games on Sunday, this could potentially be the last time the 25-year-old plays for Cincinnati. Tee Higgins played this season for a franchise that paid him $21.8 million. However, he is seeking a long-term deal and the Bengals have shown little interest in giving him a new deal.

The wide receiver seemingly has one foot out the door, but Burrow isn’t ready to say goodbye to him just yet. In a postgame press conference, the quarterback pleaded with Cincinnati’s front office to offer Higgins an extension and retain his services:

“(Me and Higgins) started the whole thing together. We came together (in the 2020 NFL Draft) and built this thing from the ground up. You don’t want to get into the habit of letting big players walk out of the building.”

“Like I said earlier this week, Tee is a great player. A guy who does everything the right way and works really hard to do it. When you have a guy like that, you just can’t let him leave the building.”

Tee Higgins discusses his future after the Bengals beat the Steelers

Joe Burrow wasn’t the only Bengals player discussing Tee Higgins’ future after the win in Pittsburgh. Higgins also spoke to reporters after the game:

It’s kind of bullshit, but I’ll let God take the wheel, whatever my future holds, so be it. I hope he can be here, but if not, I wish the best to all my boys.

“I wouldn’t mind being here at all. I know the city inside and out, I know the facilities inside and out, the coaches, I have a great relationship with the front office and the coaching side.”

The Bengals’ playoff hopes are still alive after their win, but they need the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets to help them in the postseason. It will be interesting to see if Cincinnati succeeds and what the future holds for Tee Higgins.