CINCINNATI — Trey Hendrickson will want a brand new contract if he’ll step on the sphere for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.
The All-Professional defensive finish met with reporters Tuesday through the workforce’s offseason exercise and spoke at size about his present contract dispute with the workforce. Hendrickson is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his present contract however is looking for a long-term deal.
Carrying a golf cap and a blue polo T-shirt, Hendrickson met with reporters for greater than 20 minutes to handle the scenario whereas the workforce wrapped up its voluntary exercise.
The connection between Cincinnati’s star edge rusher and the entrance workplace reached a boiling level Monday. In line with Hendrickson, Bengals coach Zac Taylor despatched him a textual content message Monday that lacking the workforce’s necessary minicamp, which is strictly 4 weeks away, will lead to a nice.
That prompted Hendrickson to voice his aspect of the scenario.
“We have tried to maintain it as least quantity as private as doable, however sooner or later on this course of it is turns into private,” Hendrickson mentioned. “Being despatched 30 days earlier than necessary camp, or what number of ever days it’s, that if I do not present up I will likely be fined alludes to the truth that one thing will not get performed in that timeframe.”
Hendrickson, 30, mentioned the message from Taylor prompted his assertion to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday, wherein Hendrickson refuted a report that the Bengals had been in communication with him because the NFL draft in April.
The four-time Professional Bowler mentioned the enterprise negotiations began to take a private flip over the previous week.
“And when there is a lack of communication in any relationship, if it is enterprise or private relationship, lack of communication results in animosity, and that leaves my narrative solely to me with no clear route,” Hendrickson mentioned.
Since becoming a member of Cincinnati in 2021 as a free agent, Hendrickson has turn into among the best gamers within the league. Final season, he led the NFL with 17.5 sacks and, together with Ja’Marr Chase, helped Cincinnati break a nine-year drought of not having an All-Professional choice.
In March, the Bengals granted Hendrickson the power to hunt a commerce. On Tuesday, he mentioned he wished to clear up the misunderstanding that there was a predetermined return that Hendrickson believed he might fetch in a commerce.
“There is no approach of figuring out that,” Hendrickson mentioned. “We have been advised what they have been on the lookout for and if it was 5 first-round picks, I’d have agreed.”
Hendrickson mentioned the workforce is pushing for a short-term contract whereas he has maintained his stance of wanting long-term safety in Cincinnati.
There has additionally been a number of questions on why Hendrickson has frequently sought motion on his deal. In 2023, Hendrickson signed a one-year extension on the four-year, $60 million deal he initially signed with the workforce. Final offseason, he requested a long-term deal after which a commerce earlier than he in the end participated in offseason exercises.
Hendrickson casted doubt on his capability to discover in free company if the unique deal he signed in 2021 had expired and he did not signal the extension.
“I believe if I didn’t take that deal, we’re speaking franchise tagging the 30-year-old, proper?” Hendrickson mentioned. “That is the magic quantity.”
As issues stand, Hendrickson is ready to make $15.8 million in base wage this season. Hendrickson famous how a lot the market has modified over the past 12 months, particularly in gentle of Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett resetting the market this offseason with a contract extension that averages $40 million yearly.
What occurred this week has escalated the strain between Hendrickson and the entrance workplace that has simmered via the offseason. In current months, the native Floridian has taken exception to feedback made by the entrance workplace at league occasions relating to his standing with the workforce.
“There are unprovoked shark assaults and there is provoked shark assaults,” Hendrickson mentioned.
Together with his feedback Tuesday, Cincinnati’s star defender is now not trying to tread water whereas looking for a long-term deal.
Hendrickson did provide the franchise reward and mentioned Taylor, the workforce’s sixth-year coach, has been trustworthy with him via the method. And as for the connection between himself and the decision-makers in Cincinnati, Hendrickson believes it may be salvaged. He pointed to Garrett, who requested a commerce earlier than later signing his extension with the Browns.
“That relationship will restore with time,” Hendrickson mentioned. “And identical with this. That is simply the uncomfortable enterprise aspect that we have sadly needed to cope with for the final couple years.
“And fairly frankly, I believe we’re all spent.”
