Tee Higgins' Mom is Calling the Bengals 'Selfish Bastards' for Franchising Her Son, and All of New England Stands With Her

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As Robert F. Kennedy so eloquently put it, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." Which is what I intend to do right now, as an injustice is reportedly about to be done to one of the finest players in the National Football League:

Now sure, you may argue that 25.693 million injustices guaranteed is the sort of unfairness we could all live with. But you'd be missing the point. Tee Higgins is, if not the most sought-after free agent of 2025, he's at least in the top two or three. And by far the most bankable player at his position. More to the point, he just played the 2024 season under the Franchise Tag. Meaning his employers are denying him the right to achieve the career dream of every football player as they reach their athletic peak. Which is to test their value in the open market, like a free American:

But those anti-Capitalist Bolsheviks in Cincinnati don't believe in free markets or a man's right to get paid what he's worth. They don't care if they breed resentment in their locker room by denying a popular player his worth. They only care about saving themselves a few lousy bucks, Higgins' personal liberty be damned. 

And like any good, loving mother, Higgins' mom is not taking it lying down. She's speaking out against The Man:

Hear, hear. Any mother that eloquent deserves the support of all who still believe in the American Dream. Who want to see others succeed. Who want to live in a country where a person is free to create his own opportunities, achieve his full potential, and fulfill his destiny. 

Now a cynical person might accuse me of acting in my own self-interests on this issue, just because I'm a Patriots fan. And because it was the primary mission of free agency that the Pats sign Higgins:

And to that I say, "How dare you?" as throw my scarf over my shoulder, spin on my heels and take my leave of you. I will not be tarred with these epithets. I don't come here to fight this battle for New England, but for all talented wideouts who just turned 26 and only want to cash in with some team that has an embarrassment of salary cap riches to spend and an even more embarrassing wide receiver depth chart. I'm just looking out for @adizlady's beloved son and all others like him struggling under the yoke of NFL free agency oppression. 

That said, I wouldn't hate it if Higgins explores any of his other options. Refusing to sign the tag. Threatening a hold out. Forcing the Bengals hand. Maybe a trade, if it's not too expensive. Exercising whatever limited power a player in his position has against the team that's doing him dirty. I just want him and his mother to know they'd be welcome like heroes in Foxboro. Not just because we're in desperate need of a true WR1. But because we're all about justice. And we hate selfish bastards, too.