Happy New Year 2025

Tag: Bengals

NFL Free Agency: Bengals expected to tag Tee Higgins again

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to hit Tee Higgins with the franchise tag for the second consecutive season, according to SI.com.

However, it isn’t because the Bengals don’t want to extend him.

SI adds that the Bengals intend on signing Higgins long-term after tagging him.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. (Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)

It’s also worth noting Cincinnati intends on hitting Higgins with the non-exclusive tag, which means they would be compensated with two first-round draft picks if he were to sign elsewhere.

Higgins was expected to be among the top free agents available this offseason, but the Bengals are clearly showing they still want him to be a part of their offensive efforts.

BENGALS’ JOE BURROW SAYS HE PUT UP MVP-CALIBER SEASON DESPITE LINGERING WRIST INJURY

Last offseason was contentious, though, when Higgins was hit with the franchise tag. They had a bit of drama, as Higgins wanted his long-term deal to remain with the team, but he ultimately played on his franchise tag.

The Bengals and Higgins will now have until Feb. 18 to March 4 to negotiate a contract before they decide to officially tag him.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) walks off the field after the victory over the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium. (Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)

Higgins’ teammates have been vocal with their support of him, hoping the front office and the veteran receiver can find common ground.

“You don’t want to make a habit of letting great players get out of the building,” quarterback Joe Burrow said of Higgins following the Bengals’ rollercoaster 2024 campaign. “Tee is a great player and a guy that does everything the right way. He works really hard for it.”

Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins’ receiving counterpart, also said something to the same effect.

The 26-year-old Higgins is coming off a season where he caught 73 passes from Burrow, the NFL’s leading passer in 2024, for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Over five seasons with Cincinnati, Higgins has 4,595 yards with 34 touchdowns on 330 catches.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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If Higgins were to play on the franchise tag in 2025, he would be guaranteed $26.18 million for the year, as the league combines the average of the top five receiver salaries from last season.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 18, 2025
Bengals react after Chilean men indicted, take selfie with stolen items in robbery of Joe Burrow’s home

The three Chilean men facing charges on suspicion of breaking into Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow’s home posed for photos with some of the items that were eventually stolen from the property, a recently filed federal criminal complaint showed.

A jeweled necklace reading “JB9” with a Nike swoosh and a diamond “9” necklace were the luxury possessions that could be seen in the selfie, per the complaint. Burrow, a two-time Pro Bowler, wore the No. 9 jersey when he played at LSU and still wears the number for the Bengals.

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Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, all of Chile, are charged in the burglary of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home in December.

A separate photo showed multiple pieces of stolen jewelry laid out on a table, a complaint from the FBI stated.

Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, all of Chile, are charged in the burglary of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home in December.

Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, all of Chile, were nabbed by Ohio State Patrol after authorities tracked them in multiple states following the burglary, according to court documents.

BENGALS’ JOE BURROW SAYS HE PUT UP MVP-CALIBER SEASON DESPITE LINGERING WRIST INJURY

The Bengals released a statement on Wednesday thanking authorities for their efforts.

“The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and their partner agencies at the local, state and federal level did a wonderful job investigating the crime and bringing bad actors to justice. The Cincinnati Bengals would like to thank them for their efforts and extend our sincere appreciation for their good work. We recognize there was a tremendous amount of complex investigative work that led to these indictments, and the Sheriff’s Department was exemplary in this work,” the Bengals said.

“The Bengals have worked with the Sheriff’s Department for decades on many matters and we know them to be a real source of strength and pride for the community. The Bengals appreciate their good work and will continue to fully support their efforts as the criminal process moves forward.”

The men, who police say were in the country illegally, had tools for break-ins at the time of their arrest, along with a Bengals hat and Louisiana State University shirt believed to be stolen from Burrow’s home.

The elements of the robbery were consistent with other burglaries recently carried out in varying parts of the U.S. by South American theft groups, the complaint stated. The document added that the groups have typically been comprised of South Americans who enter the country illegally or remain in the U.S. after their visa expires. The groups have targeted jewelry and designer accessories, per the complaint.

Burrow was on the football field for a game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, when the home was burglarized.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow celebrates after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Olivia Ponton, a model and social media influencer who was identified as Burrow’s employee in an incident report, was at the home at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported during the break-in.

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Burrow broke his silence a few days after the break-in, saying it left him feeling “violated.”

“So, obviously, everybody has heard what has happened. I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one. And way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share, so that’s all I got to say about that,” Burrow told reporters in December.

Fox News’ Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
Bengals’ Joe Burrow says he put up MVP-caliber season despite lingering wrist injury

Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow is coming off a season in which he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns — and he wasn’t 100% healthy.

During a recent appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take,” Burrow, 28, was asked how his wrist was during this past season after having surgery on it in November 2023 to repair a torn ligament.

“Whenever you have a ligament injury, your joint is going to take around two years to get all the mobility back and everything that you feel like you need,” he said.

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Joe Burrow appears on the red carpet before NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre in New Orleans on Thursday. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Despite not being two years removed from the surgery and not having “all the mobility back,” Burrow was fantastic for the Bengals this season.

He finished fourth in the NFL MVP race, with the former LSU star completing over 70% of his passing attempts despite having the most pass attempts in the NFL.

The two-time Pro Bowler amassed 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns while playing in all 17 games.

BENGALS’ TEE HIGGINS SAYS HE’D ‘LOVE’ TO RETURN TO CINCINNATI AHEAD OF FREE AGENCY

AFC quarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals throws the ball during the Passing the Test event of the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge at Nicholson Fieldhouse at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 30. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

There were times during the season when Burrow’s surgically repaired wrist, which is on his throwing arm, didn’t feel so good.

“It feels good right now, there were a couple times I fell on it during the year it didn’t quite feel as good, I would say. Kind of just depending on the day, but we got into a good routine at the end of the year to feel as good as I could by Sunday,” he said.

The Bengals narrowly missed the playoffs at 9-8. They won their last five games of the season, but dug themselves too deep of a hole to climb out in time.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow celebrates a Week 17 overtime win over the Denver Broncos that kept his team’s slim playoff hopes alive. (IMAGN)

Burrow said having an offseason where he can train and not focus on rehab will be helpful.

“I think that’ll just help me level up even more because I’m not going to be focused on rehab and everything, I can just focus on quarterback-specific things, working out, getting my body the way that I want to for the year. So, I’m excited about that,” he said.

With Burrow having a full offseason to train, Bengals fans can only dream of what their franchise quarterback can do next season while being closer to fully healthy.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
Bengals’ Tee Higgins says he’d ‘love’ to return to Cincinnati ahead of free agency

Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Tee Higgins would love to return in free agency, but knows it’s not in his control.

Higgins, 26, and fellow star Ja’Marr Chase have been one of the league’s best wide receiver duos since Chase entered the NFL in 2021.

“I mean, obviously I would love to be there in Cincinnati. I love it here. I love the city. I love the fans. I love the coaching staff, everything in the building. But, hey, it’s not in my control.” Higgins said via FOX19 Cincinncati.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins walks off the field after the victory over the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium. (Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)

Higgins is one of many key players the Bengals have hitting free agency, and it’s not guaranteed they will make a strong offer to retain their 2020 second-round pick.

Defensive tackle B.J. Hill, cornerback Mike Hilton and tight end Mike Gesicki are among the core group of players hitting free agency.

In addition, Chase and star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson are seeking large contract extensions.

SUPER BOWL LIX SHATTERS VIEWERSHIP RECORDS AS MILLIONS WATCHED EAGLES WIN

Cincinnati Bengals, from left, Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins take the field for the Steelers game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Jan. 4, 2025. (IMAGN)

Higgins said he is going to take some time away before deciding on his future.

“I’m just trying to stay away from it right now and clear my head, get away from the game, especially after this, after (the Super Bowl). Clear my head, get away from the game for a few weeks, and then, obviously, in March, that’s when things will start ramping up for me with the free agency coming up,” Higgins said.

Higgins will be highly sought after in free agency. Despite being second fiddle to Chase in Cincinnati, he has proven his ability to be the No. 1 receiver in any team’s offense.

The 6-foot-4-inch receiver has dealt with injury issues, missing five games in each of the last two seasons, but has been highly productive when on the field.

Higgins caught 73 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins catches a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. (Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)

Through his five-year career, Higgins has caught 330 passes for 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns.

The Bengals finished 9-8 this season, just missing the playoffs after suffering one-too-many heartbreaking losses early in the season.

Retaining Higgins, among other key players, would go a long way to ensuring the Bengals remain in playoff contention for years to come.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 11, 2025
Police body cam video shows Chilean migrants arrested in connection with Bengals’ Joe Burrow home burglary

Ohio State Highway Patrol have released dash cam footage showing a traffic stop and the eventual arrest of four men. The men are suspects in the December robbery of an Ohio home owned by Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow.

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback was competing against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas when the home invasion took place. Olivia Ponton, a model and social media influencer who was identified as Burrow’s employee in the incident report, was at the home at the time of the incident. But, no one was injured during the break-in.

However, Burrow’s house was rifled through, per a report from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

The four suspects, who were described as Chilean nationals, were arrested following “an ongoing investigation involving burglaries of multimillion-dollar homes in multiple states,” according to WLWT-TV, citing court documents.

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Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on before kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 8, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Sergio Cabello, Bastian Morales, Jordan Sanchez and Alexander Chavez were arrested in Clark County after being pulled over by Ohio State Highway Patrol on Jan. 10, documents showed.

“All four males were identified as being illegally in the country or overstaying their permissions,” the arrest report read, as all the men provided fake IDs.

JOE BURROW BREAKS SILENCE ABOUT HOME BURGLARY, SAYS ‘LACK OF PRIVACY’ IS ‘DIFFICULT…TO DEAL WITH’

Court documents added that authorities found “an old LSU shirt and Bengals hat, believed to be stolen from the December 9, 2024 burglary in Hamilton County, Ohio.” Burrow’s played college football at LSU and currently resides in Hamilton County.

The search of the vehicle the suspects were in also discovered “two Husky automatic center punch tools wrapped in a cloth towel.” The tool has been used by the South American Theft Group, according to authorities.

The four suspects face charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, participation in a criminal gang, possessing criminal tools and obstructing official business.

Ponton called her mother Diane Ponton, and then 911 was contacted as the break-in was happening, deputies reported.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

“Someone is trying to break into the house right now,” Diane Ponton was heard saying on the recorded 911 call. “My daughter is there. This is Joe Burrow’s house. She is staying there. He’s at the football game. She’s wondering what she should do, if she should be hiding or if she should go outside.”

Burrow broke his silence a few days after the incident occurred, saying the situation left him feeling “violated.”

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow rolls out to pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

“So obviously everybody has heard what has happened. I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one. And way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share, so that’s all I got to say about that,” Burrow said during a scheduled media availablilty in December.

“We live a public life, and one of my least favorite parts of that is the lack of privacy. And that has been difficult for me to deal with my entire career. Still learning. But I understand it’s the life that we choose. Doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.”

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The NFL released a memo earlier this year urging players to be on high alert after homes were hit, which included Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

In November, the NBA sent a memo to team officials after Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley were victims of home invasions.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 23, 2025