Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson says his old team is putting player in the “friend zone”
The former Cincinnati Bengals went on TV and ripped his old team after they agreed to a new deal with their star wide receiver on a short term basis.
The Cincinnati Bengals agreed to terms with their veteran wide receiver Tee Higgins who was on the verge of entering the free agent market, but a former Bengal doesn’t seem to impressed by his old team’s offer to the stand out pass catcher.
Burrow wants all weapons back
The Bengals has a dilemma coming into this offseason. After missing the playoffs by the narrowest of margins following a dreadful start to the season there was a real possibility of the team breaking apart. Joe Burrow is coming off of the best season of his career, but he and his team were in jeopardy of losing one or two of his top targets this year.
Burrow signed a record breaking contract extension last year with the Bengals, making him the highest paid quarterback in league history. His yearly average of $55 million a year tied Trevor Lawrence for the biggest contract ever at the time, but that left the Bengals a little strapped for cash coming into this season.
Bengals placed the $26.2 million franchise tag on WR Tee Higgins. This marks the second straight year that the Bengals have used their franchise tag on Higgins. pic.twitter.com/CBENnQe6FM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2025
After securing their signal caller’s future for the long term, now they have to figure out how to keep his favorite targets around for at least another season. “I know we all want to stay together and want to make it happen, so we’ll see what happens. But I’m confident that the guys involved are going to be able to do what it takes to get it done.”
It’s disrespectful, says Ochocinco
The Bengals slapped a franchise tag on one of Burrow’s two top wide receivers Tee Higgins for the second straight year. The one-year deal worthy $26.2 million will keep Higgins in town for another season, but former Bengal Chad Ochocinco Johnson isn’t buying it.
“It’s disrespectful. All it’s saying is, the first year you, you tag me, you want me to bet on myself to see if I can repeat it and do it again. The second time is like when you like a girl and you’re interested in her and she puts you in the friend zone. ‘I don’t really value you long term, so I’m going to put you in the friend zone,’” Said Johnson
That is just half the battle for the Bengals. Now Cincy will have to find a way to strike a deal with their No. 1 pass catcher, Ja’Marr Chase who will is in line for a contract extension as well. Last year Chase held out until right before the start of the regular season looking for a deal. This year, the Bengals will have no choice but to pay him.
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