Higgins had been seeking a contract extension for the past two years, but under Mulugheta’s guidance, negotiations stalled out long ago. He is playing on a $21.8 million franchise tag this season.
“It wasn’t really many conversations, you know, it’s just a business decision,” Chase said of Higgins decision to change agents. “I’m not gonna tell him what to do. It’s what he wants to do at the end of the day, and what I would say is we locked in for life. We’re gonna be on trips in the offseason now, like you’re gonna see me on a regular.”
Even just a few weeks ago, it seemed these final weeks of the season could be the swan song for Higgins in Cincinnati. Now going into Week 16 of 18, and the “Battle of Ohio” against Cleveland on Sunday, that doesn’t necessarily appear to be the case.
Chase said Arceneaux has been everything he could ask for in an agent. He obviously hopes that will be the case for Higgins, too. When asked if he thinks sharing agents will help Higgins get his deal done, Chase simply responded twice, “there’s a possible chance.”
Chase has certainly helped his own contract situation this season while putting up triple-crown worthy numbers. He’s the only player in the league right now with more than 100 receptions (with three games left), and has 300-plus more yards and four more touchdowns than the rest of the pack.
Chase was unable to secure the long-term extension he was hoping for before the season started, even after he “held in” during training camp in hopes of preserving himself from injury while under contract negotiations. Now his stock has climbed even higher.
“It’s just me having a little more leverage than I had,” Chase said.
The 2021 No. 5 overall draft pick has done everything he can to put himself in position to be successful, including emphasis on taking care of his body. He’s been doing acupuncture since his senior year of high school, and his trips into the cryo chamber became a topic this week after he was featured walking into one on “Hard Knocks.”
Chase said he just tries to stick to the same routine as far as treatments that seem to be helping his body, and so far, it’s paying off for him and the Bengals. At 102 catches, 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns, Chase has a chance to put himself atop all of the franchise single-season receiving records lists.
It’s his second time going over 100 receptions, but the only other player in franchise history to do that was T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who has the record at 112 in 2007. Carl Pickens, in 1995, established the touchdown record at 17, and that is within reach, too.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Chase already holds the yardage record, which he claimed his rookie season in 2021 when he finished with 1,455 yards, but his goal this season was to get to 1,500 yards. So, not only can he break his own record, but he has a good chance of reaching that milestone as well.
“It just gives me confidence that I could do anything I put my mind to, you know, stuff like that,” Chase said. “So, you know, it’s just a great opportunity for me to take advantage of and me to set a goal like that, and actually complete it is just, you know, like I said, just proving to myself I could do anything.”
The receiving yards stats mean the most to Chase because those are the most difficult to achieve. He’s been over 1,000 yards each of his four seasons in the NFL but getting above 1,400 isn’t easy. His performance Sunday in a win at Tennessee, when he had nine catches for 94 yards, put him in an elite category of just five receivers in NFL history to record 100 catches, 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns in a single-season, joining Jerry Rice (1995), Marvin Harrison (2001), Randy Moss (2003) and Cooper Kupp (2021).
Chase said he wanted to “smash all the records” when he was drafted and he’s well on his way.
“It’s crazy to see,” Chase said. “…When I was in college, I wasn’t thinking as far of what I could do. I just worried about getting to the league and just wanting to make a play and just getting here. But, you know, just hearing my name within those baddest group of receivers in the world, it’s just nice to be, you know, noticed.”
SUNDAY’S GAME
Browns at Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS, 700, 1290, 1530, 95.7, 102.7, 104.7
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