Trey Hendrickson sends Bengals a message
The Bengals opened training camp Tuesday. But Trey Hendrickson was hundreds of miles away in Florida.
After some optimism from team owner Mike Brown on Monday, it now appears contract talks with the star pass rusher have completely unraveled. Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season, was expected to report. Instead, he made a statement by not showing up, and tagging Florida in his Instagram story.
“We will get it done at some point, I think,” Brown told reporters. “I think we are in a good spot. I hope this thing comes together soon.”
But Hendrickson’s absence tells a different story.
On NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, former linebacker Manti Te’o revealed that Hendrickson personally told him the Bengals’ latest offer was “atrociously low.”
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One-Year Guarantee Sparks Frustration
Cincinnati reportedly only offered one year of guaranteed money, far below the long-term deals recently handed out to top edge rushers like T.J. Watt, Maxx Crosby, and Myles Garrett. All received three years of guaranteed cash, setting a new market standard.
Hendrickson has consistently produced at an elite level. In fact, he ranks second in total sacks over the last three years, trailing only Garrett. He was also named First Team All-Pro and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.
Hendrickson has made it clear he won’t suit up under his current deal. Unless the Bengals offer him a contract closer to what he feels he deserves, his return to Cincinnati may be delayed indefinitely.
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