A scrapbook of emotions Tuesday during the Paycor Stadium summit signing of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. It was written all over the face of the usually stoic Higgins.
First, Higgins paid tribute to his mother, a formidable figure in her own right who beat drugs to raise her son.
"Y'all are going to make me tear up, you know what I mean?" Higgins told a jammed news conference. "For her, definitely, it's monumental. I wish she was here. But she wasn't able to make it so I'm going to see her when I leave here. It's surreal."
Then later, as he and Chase roamed the locker room while agent Rocky Arceneaux dined on pizza supplied by the Bengals equipment room, Higgins grew pensive as he thought about the wave of congratulations that had been rolling in.
The one that hit maybe the hardest was the one from Adriel Jeremiah Green.
If you want to know why Higgins wanted to stay in Cincinnati, start with A.J. Green. Yes, there is Chase. Head coach Zac Taylor. Wide receivers coach Troy Walters.
And master lobbyist Joe Lee Burrow.
But start with Green. Because Higgins did. All those years ago growing up in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
"When I saw A.J.'s (message), it meant a lot more because he was my favorite player growing up. I think probably because A.J. was close to my size," said the 6-4 Higgins. "I grew up as a Bengals fan."
It was natural, then. First choice? Stay with No. 18's team.
"I want to be here. It feels like family," Higgins said. "The coaches. The players. It's a no-brainer. It's close to my home. My mom can see me play. My family can come see me play. No brainer."
Green, just finishing a Little League practice in Arizona Tuesday night with one of his sons, recalled how he enjoyed playing with the rookie Higgins for a year in 2020.
He could sense they are of the same mindset. Blue-chip players with blue-collar approaches. Even the high-point-down-field catch seemed to jump out of an office copier.
"I'm so happy for him. It's great for everyone," Green said. "Why leave when you were with another great receiver and you've got a Hall of Fame quarterback? Tee knows what kind of person he is. He's secure. He knows who he is."
Higgins had the luxury Green didn't. He was able to break in under Green, who had more than 600 catches going into that 2020 opener. When Green broke in, the other starting receiver in Cleveland for the 2011 opener was Jerome Simpson with 21 career catches.
What struck Higgins even back on the day Green left Cincinnati in March of 2021 is that Green never wavered taking him under his wing even as he fought through the worst season of his career. Idols can act the way they should, Higgins discovered.
"He could be arrogant. A jerk. But he treats you like family. Like a friend," Higgins told Bengals.com back then. "He taught me a bunch of little things. Things I'll keep using."
On that same day, Green said he knew Higgins would get better and become a leader, and now he's thrilled to see it in retirement.
"He's not chasing anything. They've got two No. 1 receivers. That's it. Period," Green said Tuesday night. "Everybody knows it. Those two guys know it. They're not trying to be anything they're not. They're great friends. That's what it's all about. Playing for your brothers."
See the best shots from Bengals WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
WRs Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase celebrate a play in Week 7 against the Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, October 20, 2024.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a touchdown against the Cowboys in Dallas, Monday, December 9, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. The Cincinnati Bengals won 27-20. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins enter the field from the tunnel ahead of Week 18 against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, January 4, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter during Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, Sunday, November 17, 2024
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) pose for a photo prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Detroit. The Bengals won 34-11. (Aaron Doster via AP)
WR Ja'Marr Chase scores a first-quarter touchdown against the Cowboys in Dallas, Monday, December 9, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) interacts with wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) after a play during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, January 8, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates his touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with Tee Higgins (85) after Chase caught a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrate a Week 14 over the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, December 9, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with teammate Tee Higgins after scoring during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
WR Tee Higgins scores a touchdown in Week 17 against the Broncos at Paycor Stadium, Saturday, December 28, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) after making a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase scores a touchdown during Monday Night Football at Paycor Stadium against the Washington Commanders, Monday, September 23, 2024.
WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins celebrate a touchdown in Week 5 against the Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) run a route from the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with wide receiver Tee Higgins (5), and wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, December 9, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a 70-yard touchdown during the Bengals primetime Week 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins celebrate a touchdown on Monday Night Football against the Jagaurs in Jacksonville, Monday, December 4, 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) reaches for the end zone to score a touchdown over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) celebrate during an NFL Super Wild Card Weekend playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, January 15, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Kara Durrette/NFL)
WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins enter the tunnel ahead of a battle with the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, November 17, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kate Foultz/NFL)
