'That's one of the most ignorant quotes of the year' — Stephen A. Smith has strong words about Tee Higgins' recent take

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins doesn't like the narrative that his team needs to start the regular season fast, telling Mad Dog Sports Radio's Adam Schein earlier this week it's simply about execution over toppling narratives.

"I really don't like the narrative of getting off to a hot start," Higgins told Schein. "I just feel like at the end of the day, we just got to execute as a team. Offense got to complement the defense, defense got to complement the offense, and special teams got to complement both. At the end of the day, it just comes down to executing as a team and finishing the game all the way through the fourth quarter."

That answer got ESPN's Stephen A. Smith deep in his feelings.

Stephen A. Smith calls out Tee Higgins

Higgins' quote became a topic for Smith to discuss on Tuesday's episode of ESPN's First Take. He didn't hold back his thoughts.

"I respect Tee Higgins. I'm a fan, and I'm glad he got his bag, just like Ja'Marr Chase got his bag. He deserves it, but that's one of the most ignorant quotes of the year," Smith said. "That's going to be a top 10 ignorant quote of the year. The Cincinnati Bengals have started 0-2 in five of the six seasons under coach Zac Taylor. I have called for an investigation into Zac Taylor and his coaching staff as to what they're doing once the season is over, until mid-September, because they don't show up ready to play to start the season. They just don't. They are 1-11 in the first two games of a season under Zac Taylor, 1-11. That is embarrassing.

"So to me, for somebody like Tee Higgins coming off just missing the playoffs, to utter those words out of his mouth, you either are completely lost or you can't count. And I'm certainly not gonna question his intelligence. He can count. He knows what 0-2 has meant for the Cincinnati Bengals. He knows what kind of position this puts them in. That was a foolish statement on his part."

Smith's math and memory are correct. The Bengals' best start to a season under Taylor was in 2021 when they entered Week 3 with a 1-1 record.

It seems like he believed Higgins was dismissing the facts and simply not focused on the narrative itself. The only way to eliminate the talking point is to do what he said in his answer. Focusing on execution and finishing games is the recipe for winning contests he's seen end in losses.

Getting in meaningful preseason work could be an ingredient as well. Higgins played 12 snaps in last week's preseason-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he'll likely play more this Monday night against the Washington Commanders.

Winning is the only way Higgins can keep his name out of Smith's mouth.