Jason LaCanfora: Pats really want Higgins "He's going to New England"

[Real fan 02]

The HC has too much going on to also be the lead scout, director of player personnel, general manager, etc, etc. There's a reason why the HC having final say on players is extremely rare in the NFL.

It worked out pretty well here because he stumbled ass backwards into the greatest QB of all time. Once that guy left, how well did it work out?

And if you don't see San Francisco fans complaining, you must not follow football that much. They had their window which is rapidly closing. They are not a happy fan base.

Having a GM be a GM and an HC be an HC worked out pretty well for Philly. And KC. And LA. And Tampa Bay. But certainly not NE once the GOAT left.

I see your points.. I'm simply referring to having the say on personnel Vrabel wants in his offense or defense. Basically wolf and Cowden are identifying the talent along with Vrabel.. however Vrabel has the say on the final say on the roster as he's charged with coaching, who's on/off PS, IR, who's starting, not starting.

 

[imahobgoblin]

And I refuse to believe anyone else is off limits.. it does not mean the team WILL dump them. It simply means Drake and gonzo are foundational pieces they are less likely to be moved over anyone else not nailed down.. so we'll see.

Foundational is not the same as off limits. I agree Maye and Gonzo are foundational. So are Owenu and Barmore because they just got paid like it. Both had a poor 2024, but for very different reasons, shape and health. If Barmore returns healthy, he is a foundational player. If Owenu comes into camp motivated and in shape, he is foundational. He is only 27 and just started his 2nd contract. The Barmore thing is out of the team's control. The Owenu situation is not. I believe Vrabel will get him in shape. Keion White is foundational, but its clear he needs a Belichick style coach. That dude has no sense of humor or tolerance for soft coaches like Mayo. Well, he just a jerk in Vrabel. I think you are going to see him explode as a defensive end in a four man front. Brenden Schooler is foundational. We cannot underestimate Special Teams. Slater was foundational and Schooler is now a probowler. The Pats intend for Dugger to be foundational and paid him like he is. With a $23 million dead cap his this year, he is paid as foundational. Let's hope he stunk this year because of the misdiagnosed injury on his ankle. That is the team's fault and not his.

You can claim all you want there are only two foundational players, but that is just not true. There are three all-pro players. Maye, Gonzo, Schooler.

 

[Real fan 02]

Foundational is not the same as off limits. I agree Maye and Gonzo are foundational. So are Owenu and Barmore because they just got paid like it. Both had a poor 2024, but for very different reasons, shape and health. If Barmore returns healthy, he is a foundational player. If Owenu comes into camp motivated and in shape, he is foundational. He is only 27 and just started his 2nd contract. The Barmore thing is out of the team's control. The Owenu situation is not. I believe Vrabel will get him in shape. Keion White is foundational, but its clear he needs a Belichick style coach. That dude has no sense of humor or tolerance for soft coaches like Mayo. Well, he just a jerk in Vrabel. I think you are going to see him explode as a defensive end in a four man front. Brenden Schooler is foundational. We cannot underestimate Special Teams. Slater was foundational and Schooler is now a probowler. The Pats intend for Dugger to be foundational and paid him like he is. With a $23 million dead cap his this year, he is paid as foundational. Let's hope he stunk this year because of the misdiagnosed injury on his ankle. That is the team's fault and not his.

You can claim all you want there are only two foundational players, but that is just not true. There are three all-pro players. Maye, Gonzo, Schooler.

I love Barmore, peppers, Bentley, Dugger white, to your point yes they are all great players. But none I'd say are foundational pieces are they leaders absolutely they are. I want then here next season not saying I want them moved. I too agree with the team recognized who they wanted to be around... also FA wasn't as desirable last year so the obvious thing was to invest in their own players in rham, ownenu, dugger, peppers. I do hope Barmore gets better and is 100%..

 

[TheRainMaker]

And if you don't see San Francisco fans complaining, you must not follow football that much. They had their window which is rapidly closing. They are not a happy fan base.

I don't follow the 49ers fan base much, but I do know one reporter that isn't liked by the 49ers players and coaches because he's the only one that will call them out. His name is Grant Cohn. He's about as based as it gets. In fact, he's gotten under one player's skin so bad (Javon Kinlaw), that Kinlaw tried to physically intimate him.

My friend grew up a fan of the 49ers since the late Montana days and I'm more pissed than him that the current 49ers squad has pissed away multiple opportunities to break the slump. Their window is absolutely closing fast.

 

[imahobgoblin]

I love Barmore, peppers, Bentley, Dugger white, to your point yes they are all great players. But none I'd say are foundational pieces are they leaders absolutely they are. I want then here next season not saying I want them moved. I too agree with the team recognized who they wanted to be around... also FA wasn't as desirable last year so the obvious thing was to invest in their own players in rham, ownenu, dugger, peppers. I do hope Barmore gets better and is 100%..

Lol so its just semantics then. "I want to say there are just two foundational players. The team has paid more to be foundational players, and I recognize it. Because it doesn't fit the narrative and point I am trying to make, I am not calling them foundational players but they are great."

 

[Love The Drake]

Bengals Say Preference Is To Sign WR Tee Higgins To Extension

Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, Bengals de facto GM Duke Tobin said he's "optimistic" about getting a long-term deal done with WR Tee Higgins and that is the organization's preference. “Our preference with Tee

nfltraderumors.co

 

[SlowGettingUp]

No clue what this means:

 

[XLIX]

No clue what this means:

It means that Tee Higgins is calling the Bengals liars when the Bengals state they are negotiating with him in good faith.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Yes I see your point. On McDermott I just thought I may have heard that he had some input but not final say.. we know for sure Vrabel has final say. 1. Vrabel, 2. Cowden, 3 wolf and I believe Highsmith is mixed in there as well. What a **** show it was last season the "collaboration "

Wolf is above Cowden.

 

[imahobgoblin]

It means that Tee Higgins is calling the Bengals liars when the Bengals state they are negotiating with him in good faith.

I am not sure if it is that specific. He is calling someone somewhere a liar. That's it. Perhaps it is the Bengals. I hope so.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I am not sure if it is that specific. He is calling someone somewhere a liar. That's it. Perhaps it is the Bengals. I hope so.

Since Rapoport responds it is assumed it is football related which means the Bengals are lying. Bengals had their press conference today. The timing and responses fill out the messaging.

 

[Brotherblues]

No clue what this means:

Clearly a Pats hat

 

[Ross12]

Since Rapoport responds it is assumed it is football related which means the Bengals are lying. Bengals had their press conference today. The timing and responses fill out the messaging.

Right. They said in their press conference that day that their preference is to sign Higgins long-term. Higgins posts a “cap” in a bit later that day which implies that this is a lie, and that the team is not trying to retain him long-term in earnest.

It seems obvious to most, I’m sure, that they would only tag him in order to get trade comp for him. But they can’t say that out loud - they have to pretend in public like they’re trying to really keep him.

In reality I think they are probably trying to talk to teams right now about what they’d hypothetically give up for Higgins’ rights in such a scenario. I doubt teams have a lot of appetite for the conversation since they can see what we see. When Cincinnati doesn’t really get any meaningful offers, they’ll end up not even tagging him in order to save their cap space.

 

[PatsFan2]

Right. They said in their press conference that day that their preference is to sign Higgins long-term. Higgins posts a “cap” in a bit later that day which implies that this is a lie, and that the team is not trying to retain him long-term in earnest.

It seems obvious to most, I’m sure, that they would only tag him in order to get trade comp for him. But they can’t say that out loud - they have to pretend in public like they’re trying to really keep him.

In reality I think they are probably trying to talk to teams right now about what they’d hypothetically give up for Higgins’ rights in such a scenario. I doubt teams have a lot of appetite for the conversation since they can see what we see. When Cincinnati doesn’t really get any meaningful offers, they’ll end up not even tagging him in order to save their cap space.

Ross I think the Bengals are being smart: and if Higgins was a little older I would agree with your take. But him being this young they can have Teams get in a bidding war for him. Washington - Pittsburgh and US can accommodate him...maybe a few others also. I would give up our Second if it comes to that I think that's the only advantage we have over the other Teams. I know the Patsfans experts will disagree: But Tee Higgins would Elevate our WR room to the next level. That said I would give up a Draft Pick for a Proven Player 24/7.

 

[borg]

Simply based on the shade of blue in his post and me having way too much free time............

But maybe his color shade game is off...

 

[Dec54]

Negotiate for a round 3 pick, always knowing you would, if push came to shove give up a 2 pick for him.

 

[Love The Drake]

Negotiate for a round 3 pick, always knowing you would, if push came to shove give up a 2 pick for him.

I don’t like giving up a second for something that should be free.
Bengals are tagging in bad faith will ill intentions here.

 

[PatsFan2]

I don’t like giving up a second for something that should be free.
Bengals are tagging in bad faith will ill intentions here.

IF we were in their shoes you would call us geniuses. Other Teams are inquiring too not only us.

 

[Ross12]

I don’t like giving up a second for something that should be free.
Bengals are tagging in bad faith will ill intentions here.

Yep.

If Higgins has the stones, he can have his agent tell teams that he will not negotiate a new deal if he is tagged. Tank his own trade value. Tell them if he is tagged then he will not sign the tag and will sit out of camp and the first 11 weeks of the regular season, play the minimum number of games to qualify for an earned year, and then hit free agency next year.

By tanking his own trade value to basically nothing, withholding any playing value in 2025 from the Bengals, and also still holding $26M+ of their cap space hostage, he could force them to just not tag him at all.

 

[PatsFan2]

I don’t like giving up a second for something that should be free.
Bengals are tagging in bad faith will ill intentions here.

Like I said we have the jump on the other suitors unless they're are offering a First. Our Second Rounder should be good enough.