Trey Hendrickson says he will not play for Bengals with out new deal

CINCINNATI — Trey Hendrickson will want a brand new contract if he’ll step on the sector for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.

The All-Professional defensive finish met with reporters Tuesday in the course of the staff’s offseason exercise and spoke at size about his present contract dispute with the staff. Hendrickson is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his present contract however is searching 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 deal with the scenario whereas the staff wrapped up its voluntary exercise.

The connection between Cincinnati’s star edge rusher and the entrance workplace reached a boiling level Monday. In accordance with Hendrickson, Bengals coach Zac Taylor despatched him a textual content message Monday that lacking the staff’s obligatory minicamp, which is precisely 4 weeks away, will end in a high-quality.

That prompted Hendrickson to voice his aspect of the scenario.

“We have tried to maintain it as least quantity as private as potential, however in some unspecified time in the future on this course of it is turns into private,” Hendrickson stated. “Being despatched 30 days earlier than obligatory camp, or what number of ever days it’s, that if I do not present up I shall be fined alludes to the truth that one thing will not get achieved in that time-frame.”

Hendrickson, 30, stated the message from Taylor prompted his assertion to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday, during which Hendrickson refuted a report that the Bengals had been in communication with him for the reason that NFL draft in April.

The four-time Professional Bowler stated 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 stated.

Since becoming a member of Cincinnati in 2021 as a free agent, Hendrickson has turn into the most effective 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 flexibility to hunt a commerce. On Tuesday, he stated he needed to clear up the misperception that there was a predetermined return that Hendrickson believed he might fetch in a commerce.

“There isn’t any method of understanding that,” Hendrickson stated. “We have been instructed what they have been in search of and if it was 5 first-round picks, I might have agreed.”

Hendrickson stated the staff 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 regularly 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 staff. Final offseason, he requested a long-term deal after which a commerce earlier than he finally participated in offseason exercises.

Hendrickson casted doubt on his means 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 stated. “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 during the last 12 months, particularly in mild 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 by way of the offseason. In latest months, the native Floridian has taken exception to feedback made by the entrance workplace at league occasions relating to his standing with the staff.

“There are unprovoked shark assaults and there is provoked shark assaults,” Hendrickson stated.

Along with his feedback Tuesday, Cincinnati’s star defender is not seeking to tread water whereas looking for a long-term deal.

Hendrickson did supply the franchise reward and stated Taylor, the staff’s sixth-year coach, has been trustworthy with him by way of 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 stated. “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.”