The Bengals are 2-0 and rolling into Sunday’s meeting with the Steelers, but one of the team’s little sideline flourishes has already been shut down by the league.
Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase had been celebrating first downs and touchdowns with a move that quickly got attention from Bengals fans. Now that routine is over after both receivers were fined by the NFL, with the total bill landing at nearly $90,000.
Higgins was hit with a $59,704 fine, while Chase was fined twice for a combined $29,852. Altogether, the two wideouts were docked $89,556.
Higgins addressed it on the Kay Adams Show and pushed back on the idea that the celebration was anything major.
“I’m a fan of WWE, the people’s elbow, and we just threw in a first down celebration with it,” Higgins explained. “Unfortunately, we did get the letter. Everybody on the internet is making it seem like something that it isn’t.”
Chase also weighed in during his weekly press conference, and his frustration was aimed at the system behind the punishment.
“I think this is where the superstars have to get in with the NFLPA and fight for our money. I can’t really do much about it.
We could complain. I don’t even think we can tweet about it because we get fined for tweeting about it.
So, it’s really like players have to keep their mouths shut and deal with it. But we’ve got to have a superstar in the NFLPA to do something about it.
Help us along the way.”
In Other News...
Aaron Rodgers Just Put Bengals Pass Rush In Steelers Spotlight
Cincinnatis 2-0 start has come with the kind of defensive edge that can travel, and it was on display again in the win over Houston. Now the Bengals turn their attention to Pittsburgh, where the matchup is already tilting toward their front seven after the Steelers have stumbled through two games on offense and enter a week that looks like a stress test for their blocking.
Aaron Rodgers added to the intrigue by praising Bengals defensive standout Dexter Lawrence ahead of the matchup, a nod to just how disruptive Cincinnati can be when its pass rush is rolling. For a Steelers line already dealing with pressure, that kind of recognition only sharpens the spotlight on what awaits Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Already Have An Answer To Their Joe Burrow Problem
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One possible answer is already on the roster in Samaje Perine, whose value goes beyond what he does with the ball in his hands. His reputation as a reliable pass blocker makes him a useful option when the Bengals want to give Burrow extra support against pressure, especially in situations where protection matters most. If Cincinnati leans on him more in those spots, it could be a simple way to protect its quarterback without changing the shape of the offense too much. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Nearly Made A Rival AFC North Choice On Defense
When the Bengals went looking for a new defensive coordinator after firing their former one, they did not limit themselves to familiar names inside the building. Zac Taylor brought in Patrick Graham for an interview, a reminder that Cincinnati was weighing a coach with broad NFL experience and a rsum that stretches from the Patriots to the Giants and Raiders before the team ultimately chose Al Golden.
Graham now runs the Steelers defense, which only adds another layer to the AFC North backdrop around the decision. He also brings connections to players such as Maxx Crosby and Dexter Lawrence, and his current job in Pittsburgh gives the Bengals another face to track in a division where coaching moves can matter just as much as personnel ones. The interview itself did not change Cincinnatis hire, but it shows how close the team came to taking a different defensive path inside its biggest rivalry. [Read more 🡒]