Cincinnati Bengals

Tee Higgins, wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, is uncertain about his future with the team as he approaches free agency next month.

"Obviously, we want to build something here in Cincy, but it's not in my hands right now," Higgins told reporters. "I've got to do what I've got to do and if that's go to another team, you know, that's what happens."

After finishing season with 911 yards, 10 touchdowns (a career high) and 73 receptions, Higgins and the Bengals have yet to reach an agreement on a contract renewal, something they were not able to finalize last season.

Unable to strike a longer-term deal, Higgins signed a one-year, $21.8 million contract with the Bengals. The team finished the season 9-8 and missed the postseason.

With that in mind, Higgins is now considering his future beyond Cincinnati, the only team he's played for over the past five years.

"I'm just trying to stay away from it right now," Higgins added. "Clear my head, get away from the game, especially after tonight, clear my head. Get away from the game for a few weeks. And then, obviously, in March that's when things start ramping up for me, with free agency coming up, and I would love to be here in Cincinnati. I love it here. I love the city. I love the fans. I love coaching staff—everything that we're building. But it's out of my control."

In addition to focusing on his own future, Higgins would like to see the majority of the Bengals' core stay intact heading into next season. That certainly includes tight end Mike Gesicki, who will become an unrestricted free agent and finished the season with 665 yards and two touchdowns.

"Yeah, of course, we all want to keep the core pieces what it is (right now) even with Mike Gesicki," Higgins said to Danneman. "That's a core piece as well. So obviously, we want to build something here in Cincy. But you know, it's not in my hands right now. So I got to do what I need to do and if that's go to another team. That's what happens."

With many moving pieces expected for Cincinnati in the offseason, the 26-year-old wide receiver, Higgins, would undoubtedly attract a lot of interest if the Bengals were to move on from him.

The Cincinnati Bengals will have to make a decision on the future of Trey Hendrickson ahead of the 2025 season.

The veteran pass-rusher—who led football with 17.5 sacks this past season—will be making just $16 million in 2025 and will be a free agent following the season. He already requested a trade ahead of the 2024 campaign, though the Bengals obviously didn't grant it.

As Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport noted on Sunday, "Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said recently they'll try to extend Hendrickson but noted both sides must agree. Cincinnati rarely makes trades, with Tobin often noting that he doesn't like to trade away great players. But if Hendrickson became available, there would be a strong market."

It could be quite the offseason in the edge-rusher market, with Myles Garrett already requesting a trade and Micah Parsons an interesting trade candidate if the Dallas Cowboys decide they don't want to reset the market with an extension to keep him for the long term.

Losing Hendrickson would be a major blow, no doubt—he has 57 sacks since joining the Bengals in 2021—but it might be necessary from a salary cap perspective if the Bengals want to keep both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at wideout. It seems more likely, however, that both Chase and Hendrickson will get extensions and Higgins will walk in free agency.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase acquired a new accessory to commemorate his remarkable 2024 season.

The 24-year-old shared a video on his Instagram story of his new chain, which displays the words "uno" and "triple crown" on the front alongside "1708," which was his receiving yards total for the 2024 season. The back of the chain shows Chase making a one-handed grab while acknowledging that he was the NFL's triple-crown winner for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Chase played in all 17 games in 2024, making 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. In addition to leading the league in all of these categories, Chase also set his career high in each category while being named first-team All-Pro and finishing eighth in MVP voting and third for the Offensive Player of the Year award.

He becomes the first player since Cooper Kupp in 2021 to win the receiving triple crown and joins Kupp, Steve Smith (2005), Sterling Sharpe (1992), and Jerry Rice (1990) as the only receivers to win the triple crown in NFL history.

This effort helped the Bengals escape a 1-4 start to eventually finish 9-8 but Cincinnati still finished just outside the playoff field. Still, it was a remarkable season for Chase that comes just as he is set to play on his fifth-year option unless the Bengals are able to extend him.

For the second time in his career, Joe Burrow has won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback earned the honor on Thursday over finalists such as Minnesota Vikings passer Sam Darnold, Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins, New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.

Burrow helped lead the Bengals to playoff appearances in 2021 and 2022, but his 2023 campaign was cut short after he suffered a wrist injury in Week 11 that ultimately required season-ending surgery.

The 28-year-old's availability during the ensuing year wasn't affected by the procedure, as he appeared in all 17 regular-season games during his 2024 campaign. Although Cincinnati failed to meet expectations and narrowly missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record, Burrow wrapped up an impressive individual season.

He completed 70.6 percent of his throws, leading the NFL with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdown passes. Burrow averaged a career-high 289.3 yards per game through the air and was picked off just nine times.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft previously won the award for the 2021 season, leading the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in his rookie year.

Darnold started in 55 of his first 56 games in the league, but he spent the 2023 season as a backup on the San Francisco 49ers after struggling with turnovers and overall inconsistency. He was inserted into a starting role when 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy went down for the season with a torn meniscus, blowing past expectations and leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record.

Dobbins' 2023 season came to a swift end after suffering an Achilles tear in Week 1, later signing a one-year deal with the Chargers as a free agent. In 13 appearances during his 2024 campaign, he rushed for a career-high 905 yards and nine touchdowns as Los Angeles earned a playoff berth.

Gonzalez was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, but he suffered a torn labrum that required season-ending shoulder surgery after just four games. He started in 16 contests during his sophomore campaign, racking up 11 passes defensed and two interceptions while emerging as a bright spot in New England's secondary.

Hamlin appeared in just five games with Buffalo in 2023 as he recovered after going into cardiac arrest on the field in Week 17 of the 2022 season. He momentarily didn't have a pulse before he was defibrillated. Hamlin made 14 starts in 2024, and his two interceptions were tied for the Bills' lead.

Burrow overcame season-ending surgery for another stellar year in which he led the league in multiple passing categories, resulting in his second Pro Bowl nod.

He'll also be receiving another Comeback Player of the Year award.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expressed a willingness Thursday to be flexible with his contract in order to accommodate the team's other star players.

During an appearance on FS1's Breakfast Ball (h/t Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic), Burrow said, "Of course," when asked if he would restructure his contract to allow the Bengals to get other key players signed such as wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, defensive end Trey Hendrickson and tight end Mike Gesicki.

Burrow also responded positively to a question about his confidence in the Bengals' front office's ability to keep the core together, saying: "I do. I do. We have the cap space to get it done. I want to make it happen. Everybody involved: Trey, Tee, Ja'Marr, Mike G, we all want to stay together. When you have guys that are motivated like that, I think you can get those things done."

Both Higgins and Gesicki are set to become free agents this offseason, while Chase and Hendrickson are signed through 2025.

While Chase was a training camp hold-in last year who did not start practicing until shortly prior to the start of the 2024 regular season, he ultimately played under his current deal and turned in a dominant performance.

After winning the receiving Triple Crown with 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, Chase will almost certainly insist on a new contract this offseason that makes him the NFL's highest-paid wideout.

Hendrickson requested a trade last offseason when he and the Bengals couldn't come to terms on a new contract, but like Chase, he eventually reported to the team.

The 30-year-old veteran went on to record 17.5 sacks for a second consecutive season, leading the league in that category. He was named a Pro Bowler, First Team All-Pro and NFL Defensive Player of the Year finalist.

This week, during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t ESPN's Ben Baby), Hendrickson suggested that if he does not get a new deal this offseason, he will insist on a trade this time around.

Burrow, 28, is coming off a career year that saw him lead the NFL with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns to go along with nine interceptions.

Despite that, the Bengals went just 9-8 and missed the playoffs, largely due to a defense that ranked 25th in the league in both total yards and points allowed.

Still, the Bengals will be considered top contenders to win the AFC and go to the Super Bowl next season if they are able to keep the core of their roster together.

Chase and Hendrickson are elite players at their respective positions, while Higgins and Gesicki are key to Burrow's success as well.

Higgins, 26, had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022 before injuries limited him to 12 games in 2023. Higgins also played in only 12 games this season, but he still managed 73 grabs for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He is shaping up to be arguably the best free agent at any position this offseason, which could make it difficult for the Bengals to compete with teams that have more money to spend.

In his only season with the Bengals, Gesicki had 65 receptions for 665 yards and two scores. He would be far cheaper to re-sign than Higgins, but figures to have plenty of interest on the open market as well.

Burrow signed a five-year, $275 contract extension in 2023 and is set to have a $46.25 million cap hit next season, per Spotrac.

OverTheCap.com estimates that the Bengals have the ninth-most cap space in the NFL at $46.5 million, and a Burrow restructure could get them even more, as could signing Chase and Hendrickson to extensions.

Doling out several massive contracts could have negative consequences in the future, but if the Bengals want to go all in and compete for Super Bowls over the next few years, they do seem to have the means to make it happen.

A federal grand jury in Cincinnati charged three men in connection to the burglary of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio (h/t ESPN's Ben Baby), Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, were charged after an indictment on Monday.

The three men, all of whom are Chilean and believed to be part of a South American theft group, were charged with transporting stolen goods interstate and falsifying records in a federal investigation, per Baby.

"Our investigation remains ongoing as these individuals seem to be the alleged tip of the iceberg of South American Theft Groups committing crimes throughout our district and elsewhere," U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker said in a statement. "We owe it to the victims, whether they are or are not professional athletes, to follow the evidence into these alleged criminal networks and hold the law-breakers accountable."

Additionally, the three men are facing felony charges in Ohio after their initial arrest in January, according to Baby.

In recent months, a number of athletes across the NFL, NBA and other professional sports leagues have dealt with break-ins. Amid the slew of robberies, the FBI in December issued a warning to sports leagues about professional athletes being targeted by organized theft groups who burglarize their homes while they're playing games or traveling.

In the warning, the FBI noted that organized groups from South America use tactics such as social media and other publicly available information to target athletes. The FBI also said the groups use advanced technology like Wi-Fi jammers to bypass security systems.

Burrow's home was robbed in December. Athletes such as Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and Luka Dončić have also dealt with break-ins in recent months.

For the third straight year, the NFC emerged victorious over the AFC in the revamped Pro Bowl Games with a 76-63 win on Sunday.

The NFC entered Sunday with a 14-7 lead following their success in the Skills Competition on Thursday. Head coach Eli Manning secured bragging rights over his brother Peyton Manning once again as the NFC dominated the majority of the mini-games before taking full control in the flag football game. Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was the offensive MVP, and Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy was named defensive MVP.

Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs also could have earned MVP honors on defense thanks to this play:

Fans were treated to highlights on both sides. For the NFC, New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers wowed many with his acrobatic catches. Fans on social media were impressed by his breakout performance:

Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja'Marr Chase was the brightest spot for the AFC, as the 2024 Triple Crown winner reached the end zone time and time again to keep things competitive. He showed fans why he's likely to break the bank with a massive contract extension this offseason.

The continued success of the Pro Bowl Games likely means the NFL will stick with this format going forward. Players have enjoyed the extra competitions as well as the carefree play of the flag football game. The battle between the Manning brothers is always entertaining, but Peyton has a long way to go to catch up to his younger brother Eli.

Tee Higgins could be due for a massive contract this offseason.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver's market is expected to be around $30 million per year.

"The over/under on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins' market is $30 million per season, and the majority of team personnel that I spoke with believe he'll hit or clear the over," Fowler wrote. "The lowest estimate I heard was somewhere slightly above DeVonta Smith's three-year, $75 million deal. The rest saw him breaking into the $30 million range, based on his status as a No. 1-caliber receiver and the number of teams desperate for pass-catching help."

Higgins performed well on his rookie deal and the franchise tag contract the Bengals gave him this season. He had 908 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a rookie before posting back-to-back 1,000-plus receiving yard seasons in 2021 and 2022. He dealt with injuries last season, limiting him to 12 games, 656 yards and five touchdowns.

This season, Higgins once again played just 12 games but racked up 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. He posted those kinds of numbers while playing behind the Bengals' No. 1 option Ja'Marr Chase, who led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns this year.

Assuming Higgins is given the reigns as a No. 1 receiver, he could put some of the best numbers in the league.

It seems Higgins has no plans to elongate his free agency this offseason. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported on her podcast, Scoop City, that Higgins "wants to have an answer" about his contract "very soon."

That could give the advantage to the Bengals since they'll be working from the inside.

Staying in Cincinnati might prevent Higgins from being the No. 1 option, but he, Chase and Burrow have had past success and could perhaps be the trio that brings the Bengals a championship.

As much as staying loyal to a team might appeal to Higgins, a massive contract from another team might be too much to turn down.

Cincinnati Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase just wants what's fair in regards to a new contract.

ESPN's Laura Rutledge spoke with Chase in Orlando at the Pro Bowl Games regarding his contract situation. The Bengals wideout is notably entering 2025 on the final year of his rookie deal after Cincinnati picked up his fifth-year option.

"I just hope I get what's fair at the end of the day," Chase said (18-second mark). "You know, doing what my worth is at the end of the day. Hopefully I don't put too much pressure on anybody, but you know, I just want it to be fair, that's all."

Rutledge then asked what Chase thought was fair, and he provided this response after a chuckle: "Fair is just what I deserve. I can't really say everything I want to say, but you know, it's what I deserve, it's what I worked for, it's how hard I worked for. It's a written story already, so it should be a fair change, yea."

Chase became one of just 13 players to earn the NFL's receiving triple crown when he amassed 127 catches, 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns this past season.

Naturally, Chase deserves a record-breaking and market-setting wide receiver contract. Chase's ex-LSU teammate, Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson, owns that record with a $140 million contract ($110 million total guaranteed) over four years ($35 million average annual value).

However, there's a sticking point here that ESPN's Dan Graziano discussed Friday.

"The Bengals have a long-held policy of refusing to guarantee any money beyond the signing bonus in long-term veteran contracts (other than Joe Burrow's deal), and if Chase demands they make an exception for him, this could drag out for a while," Graziano wrote.

"Cincinnati is likely to offer a massive signing bonus to try to convince Chase to sign while still holding to its policy. If he goes for it, that likely means he'd top the $38 million signing bonusCeeDee Lamb got from the Cowboys prior to the 2024 season."

Graziano ultimately predicted that Chase will get five years for $180 million ($70 million guaranteed).

Last summer, Chase was a contract "hold-in" during training camp before playing out the year. He proved that he's the best wideout in the game right now, and that should, in theory, lead to a record-breaking contract. For now, though, the waiting game on Chase's deal continues.