While the public reason for the Bengals’ lack of interest in a deal is that they are still looking to work out a long-term agreement with Higgins, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk notes, the optics may be as important to the Bengals as their actual plans for Higgins.

Multiple teams inquired about the availability of franchise-tagged Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, but Cincinnati's appetite for parting with the No. 2 receiver remains unclear, according to reports.

Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Tee Higgins mom took to social media to voice her displeasure with the team as they franchised Higgins again on Tuesday denying him the right to take advantage of unrestricted free agency.