While the public reason for the Bengals’ lack of interest in a deal is that they are still looking to work out a long-term agreement with Higgins, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk notes, the optics may be as important to the Bengals as their actual plans for Higgins.

While the NFL free agent market doesn't appear as star-studded this season compared to years past, one potential game-changing wide receiver could be available.

The Cincinnati Bengals slapped the franchise tag on Tee Higgins yet again this offseason, this time seemingly in an effort to buy them enough time to agree on a long-term extension. At the very least,

Alexa Belcastro talks about the Bengals situation with WR Tee Higgins, where they plan to use the franchise tag again. *The 1st MAJOR Domino Has Fallen In NFL Free Agency...* For MORE NFL coverage: Fa

The growing tension between the Bengals and Tee Higgins could work in the Patriots' favor to eventually make a trade for the receiver happen this offseason.

It seemed as if things were going to be different when the Cincinnati Bengals used their franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second consecutive year. This time, it seemed there was a plan to ink him,

The Cincinnati Bengals are facing a major dilemma: how to fairly compensate their star players while managing their salary cap. One of the biggest questions for the Bengals remains: What are they going to do with Tee Higgins?

Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network updated Higgins' status. It's fair to say the Bengals have no plans of trading him this offseason. "The asking price for Tee Higgins is quote 'crazy'

Elsewhere, Tee Higgins was recently hit with the franchise tag, and it’s getting harder to see a long-term extension being hammered out with him, despite the franchise’s publi