Paul and Mo on all things Tee Higgins
In this episode of The Growler, Paul Dehner Jr. and Mo Egger delve into the Cincinnati Bengals' plans for wide receiver Tee Higgins. With the team focused on winning the Super Bowl in 2023 with their current roster, the consensus is that trading Higgins, despite potential future risks, maximizes their championship odds more than any reasonable trade could.
The discussion also touches on the controversial franchise tag system and the reasons behind the NFLPA's lack of prioritization in challenging it, highlighting the complexities involved in balancing players' concerns with the realities of their short careers.
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1-Page Summary
T Higgins' Future with the Bengals
Keeping Core Together for Super Bowl Run
The Bengals' strategy, according to Paul Dehner Jr. and Mo Egger, prioritizes winning the Super Bowl in 2023 with their current core of Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, and T Higgins. The team plans to keep this trio intact, potentially using the franchise tag on Higgins next year.
Hesitance to Trade Higgins
While fans ponder trading Higgins for draft picks, the hosts express reluctance. They argue that no reasonable trade package could enhance the Bengals' championship odds more than retaining Higgins' proven talent.
Franchise Tag Debate
The discussion touches on the franchise tag system, acknowledging its widespread dislike among players and fans. However, the NFL Players Association has not actively challenged its existence, likely due to players' short careers and aversion to striking.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Tee Higgins is a key player for the Cincinnati Bengals, forming a crucial part of the team's core alongside Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase. The Bengals prioritize keeping this trio together to enhance their chances of winning the Super Bowl. Higgins' proven talent and contributions make him a valuable asset that the team is hesitant to trade, as his presence is seen as vital for the team's success.
- The franchise tag system in the NFL allows teams to retain a player for one year by offering them a contract based on the average salary of the top players at their position. Players often dislike the franchise tag as it limits their ability to negotiate long-term contracts and can delay their chance at free agency. Teams can use the franchise tag to prevent key players from leaving in free agency, ensuring they stay with the team for at least one more season.
- The franchise tag system allows teams to restrict a player's movement by offering a one-year contract based on the average salary of the top players at their position. Players often dislike it as it limits their ability to negotiate long-term contracts and potentially earn more money. Fans may also dislike the system as it can lead to contentious negotiations, player holdouts, and disrupt team chemistry. The system is seen as a tool that benefits teams more than players, creating tension between players seeking security and teams aiming to maintain control over valuable talent.
- Using the franchise tag on T Higgins would allow the Bengals to retain him for another season at a predetermined salary based on the average of the top salaries at his position. This could provide the team with more time to negotiate a long-term contract with Higgins. However, it may also lead to potential contract disputes or dissatisfaction from Higgins if he prefers a multi-year deal or feels undervalued under the tag.
- Trading players for draft picks in the NFL involves teams exchanging current players for future draft selections. This strategy allows teams to acquire young, promising talent through the draft while providing another team with an established player. The value of the draft picks involved in the trade is often a key consideration, with higher picks typically being more valuable. Teams may engage in player-for-pick trades to address roster needs, build for the future, or capitalize on the potential of incoming draft prospects.
Counterarguments
- The Bengals' focus on the Super Bowl in 2023 might be too narrow, as building a team for sustained success over multiple seasons could be more beneficial in the long run.
- Using the franchise tag on Higgins could create tension between the player and the organization, potentially disrupting team chemistry.
- Trading Higgins for draft picks could be a strategic move if the team believes in their scouting and development to find a replacement while also addressing other areas of need.
- The franchise tag system, while disliked, does provide teams with a tool to retain key players; however, it could be argued that a more balanced approach that considers players' preferences should be explored.
- The NFL Players Association's lack of action against the franchise tag system could be seen as a failure to protect players' interests, and there may be merit in revisiting the collective bargaining agreement to address this issue.
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T Higgins' future with the Bengals
A focus on T Higgins' place within the Cincinnati Bengals reveals a deep commitment by the team to clinch the Super Bowl in the immediate future.
Bengals prioritizing winning the Super Bowl in 2023 with T Higgins
The Bengals' strategy is to secure winning the Super Bowl and they believe they can achieve that with T Higgins on the team. The focus is strictly on victory with the current roster, which has been methodically built towards its peak which is expected to be in 2023.
According to Paul Dehner Jr., there is also the possibility of using the franchise tag on Higgins next year, symbolizing the Bengals' emphasis on maintaining the current successful dynamic. Mo Egger voices a preference for deferring discussions about Higgins' long-term future, advocating for a win-now strategy that hinges on maintaining the team's core.
The discussion concludes with the firm intention of keeping Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, and T Higgins on the field together to pursue a Super Bowl victory in the next season.
Debate over trading Higgins for draft picks
While fans enjoy fantasizing about trade scenarios involving draft choices, the sentiment leans heavily against trading T Higgins. The argument stands that keeping Higgins, even at the risk of losing him later, epitomizes the Bengals’ dedication to chasing the championship immediately. The idea that any trade offer for Higgins needs to unequivocally enhance the Bengals' chance to win this year is central, but doubts are cast on whether any reasonable trade package could achieve that better than retaining Higgins.
Despite acknowledging the temptation of drafting potentially valuable players, the unreliability of draft picks to match T Higgins' production underlines the preference to capitalize on the proven talent they have in Higgins. There’s agreement tha ...
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T Higgins' future with the Bengals
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Tee Higgins is a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, a key player in the team's offensive lineup. He is seen as an integral part of the Bengals' strategy to compete for a Super Bowl victory in the near future. The team values Higgins' talent and contribution to their success, aiming to keep him on the roster to maximize their chances of winning. Higgins' presence alongside other star players like Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase is crucial for the Bengals' pursuit of a championship.
- The franchise tag is a mechanism in the NFL that allows teams to retain a key player for one season by offering them a contract based on the average of the top salaries at their position. It can be used to prevent a player from becoming a free agent and gives the team more time to negotiate a long-term deal. However, players often prefer long-term security and may view the franchise tag as a temporary solution, potentially leading to contract disputes and player dissatisfaction. The decision to use the franchise tag on a player like T Higgins signifies the team's desire to keep him in the short term while working towards a more permanent contract solution.
- The debate over trading T Higgins for draft picks revolves around the Bengals' commitment to immediate success and the value of retaining Higgins for their Super Bowl aspirations. The discussion weighs the potential benefits of acquiring draft picks against the proven talent and production Higgins brings to the team. Despite the allure of draft picks, the consensus leans towards keeping Higgins due to his established contributions and the team's focus on maximizing their chances to win in the near future. The preference for retaining Higgins underscores the team's strategy of building on their current roster strengths rather than risking a trade that may not significantly improve their championship prospects.
- The franchise tag in the NFL allows teams to retain a player for one year at a salary determined by the average of the top salaries at the player's position. Critics argue that it restricts players' abil ...
Counterarguments
- The Bengals' commitment to winning with T Higgins does not guarantee success; other teams are also strengthening their rosters and strategies.
- Focusing on the current roster might limit the Bengals' adaptability to injuries or unexpected changes in player performance.
- Using the franchise tag on Higgins could create salary cap challenges or player dissatisfaction, which might affect team chemistry.
- Maintaining the current successful dynamic assumes that other teams will not adapt or overcome the Bengals' strategies.
- Keeping Burrow, Chase, and Higgins together is important, but football is a team sport that requires depth and contributions from all positions.
- Trading T Higgins for draft picks could be beneficial if the draft picks turn into valuable players and the team can address multiple needs.
- Immediate championship pursuit might compromise the team's long-term success if it leads to cap issues or a lack of young talent development.
- While draft picks are less reliable, they offer the potential for long-term team building and sa ...
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