The Cincinnati Bengals secured wide receiver Tee Higgins with a four-year, $115 million contract extension this offseason, aiming to solidify their offense. Bengals owner Mike Brown expressed confidence in completing the deal and indicated mutual satisfaction between the player and the team.
Bengals Finalize Higgins’ Lucrative Contract Extension
During the negotiations, both the Bengals and Higgins expressed a strong desire to finalize the contract while navigating financial details. Owner Mike Brown stated,
“Not really. We wanted to get the deal done. He wanted to get the deal done. There was money to haggle over, and we did and finally something came up that was acceptable to both sides, and it got done. He’s happy here. We’re happy to have him here,”
reflecting the positive outcome of the talks via Paul Dehner Jr. of the team’s site.
Competition Heats Up at Right Guard Position
Alongside securing Higgins, Cincinnati’s front office is closely monitoring a competitive battle to fill the right guard spot. Executive Duke Tobin emphasized that multiple players will have opportunities to compete for the starting role, highlighting veterans Lucas Patrick and Cody Ford as key contenders. Tobin remarked,
“Those guys have shown that they can play and play effectively as starters. They both want to be the starter, for sure, and we’ll see how it goes. There’ll be other guys working through there. It’s not as if we’re only going to look at two guys. If somebody from beyond that group plays well and does things, maybe they can bubble into it. Maybe Cordell comes on and has a great camp or Kirkland or Stueber. I don’t rule out anybody at this stage, but those two guys are certainly, they have proven that they can be starting players, and it’ll be fun to watch them compete.”
Browns Respond to Rookie Quarterback’s Speeding Infractions
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns addressed recent speeding ticket incidents involving rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. General manager Andrew Berry expressed concern about the risks tied to such behavior, underlining the importance of safety and responsibility. Berry said,
“Not smart. That’s just not smart,”
and added,
“It’s something that we have addressed with him. He understands the implications. He understands the consequences. I think the thing is it’s not just about yourself… It’s about the fact that you endanger other people. It’s about the fact that if a deer or someone cuts out in front of you like your reaction time. It’s just dangerous, and it’s not something that we want our guys to be doing. It’s not something that they should be doing. The No. 1 reason is because we don’t want some catastrophic accident.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski also affirmed that all rookies have been reminded about prudent decision-making off the field. He stated,
“He knows this and all of our rookies know this: They need to make sure that they’re being safe and that can be whether they’re behind the wheel of a car or they’re in and around town,”
further emphasizing,
“They need to make really good decisions, so that they’re safe.”
Ravens Coach Praises Lamar Jackson’s Passing Prowess and Work Ethic
At the same time, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh highlighted quarterback Lamar Jackson’s exceptional skills and character, calling him one of the most proficient passers in <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL history. Harbaugh stated,
“There’s so many things, and Lamar as a person is the thing I’d say I appreciate the most — the leader, the person, the genuine human being that he is. I mean, I love him as a person.”
Harbaugh continued to explain Jackson’s elite abilities, saying,
“But I think from a football standpoint, just go to the most basic, simple thing — Lamar as a passer. He is a historically good passer. And that’s really quite a statement because of the narrative that’s been surrounding him ever since the beginning. Lamar Jackson can throw the football. He can throw it every kind of way, he can make every kind of throw any way you want. He’s as good as any passer that there’s ever been — and I think now the numbers are proving that.”
On the topic of continuous improvement, Harbaugh shared an analogy of dedication, recounting a story about a 95-year-old classical pianist practicing daily. He remarked,
“I’d say the work that you do — if you’re going to be good at anything, great at anything, you’ve got to work at it all the time… So, that daily, everyday working at your craft kind of thing, I think, is what Lamar does.”
Additional NFL Updates: Defensive Players and Injuries
Among other notable NFL updates, Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr praised cornerback Nate Wiggins, declaring him as exceptionally gifted. According to Jeff Zrebiec, Orr said,
“He’s one of the most physically gifted cornerbacks I’ve ever seen.”
Injury concerns have also surfaced for the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackles, with Nick Farabaugh reporting that Dean Lowry, Jacob Slade, and Esezi Otomewo all sustained knee injuries during a recent practice. Dean Lowry was subsequently placed on injured reserve, underscoring the ongoing challenges teams face in maintaining player availability.
Outlook for the Bengals and NFL Offseason Battles
By securing Tee Higgins through a substantial contract extension and fostering competition at key offensive line positions, the Bengals appear to be setting themselves up for rigorous preparation ahead of the upcoming season. The right guard battle involving Lucas Patrick, Cody Ford, and other hopefuls has the potential to shape the team’s offensive stability.
Simultaneously, other teams are managing disciplinary issues and injury setbacks while recognizing the dedication required to succeed at the highest level. Players like Lamar Jackson exemplify the combination of talent and relentless work ethic needed to thrive in the NFL, a standard that many aspire to match.
As the offseason progresses, these developments offer insight into the intensity and complexity of team building, with each franchise balancing player commitments, competitions, and challenges both on and off the field.