CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cleveland will always be in Rashard Higgins' heart.
In a video posted to his YouTube account, the former Browns wide receiver thanked both the team and the fans for the times they spent together. The 27-year-old's tenure with the club ended when he signed with the Carolina Panthers last month, and most of footage also shows him arriving in Charlotte for the first time.
"Sorry our journey had to end," Higgins said in the final minute of the clip. "It's been a damn, long, good ride: the good, the bad, the ugly."
A fifth-round draft selection out of Colorado State in 2016, Higgins was a key contributor on the Browns' offense for six seasons, catching 137 passes for 1,890 yards and 12 touchdowns. Even with his flashy nickname of "Hollywood," his reputation as a hard worker made him a favorite among the fanbase.
"To the organization, I just want to say thank you for believing in me," Higgins said of his time in Northeast Ohio. "I wouldn't trade it for [anything] in this world."
Higgins had just 24 receptions in 2021 as Cleveland's passing game struggled, and the front office decided to retool both the quarterback position and the receiver room. Deshaun Watson and Amari Cooper are on their way in, while Higgins, Jarvis Landry, and presumably Baker Mayfield are headed out.
Carolina went a pedestrian 5-12 last season, although wideout D.J. Moore had more than 1,100 yards for the third straight year. Although he's excited to begin "a new chapter," Higgins will never forget his days as a Brown.
"I'll love Cleveland forever," he said. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
