‘Not going to apologize ‘ – Bengals star speaks out on personal attack as he looks to join $550m core
It’s never quiet in Cincinnati. Long gone are the days of the Bengals just going about their business, staying out of the headlines and remaining out of the league spotlight. X/@FOX19JOEHendrickson met with the media on Tuesday afternoon to tell his side of the story[/caption] Those days are gone because you have Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins forming one of the most talented and entertaining (and expensive) trios in the NFL. The spotlight is going to be on the stars. Oh, and because of disgruntled star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, who has publicly voiced his frustrations with the organization and front office on a few occasions. On Tuesday afternoon, Hendrickson showed up to Paycor Stadium dressed like he had just played a round of golf. He spoke to reporters about his ongoing contract negotiations and the disappointment he has had in the franchise and their empty promises. Most importantly, Hendrickson gave the dreaded one-word answer no Bengals fan wanted to hear, when he was asked if he was willing to play out this season under his current contract, which has one year and $21 million remaining. “No,” Hendrick said plainly. The runner-up for NFL Defensive Player of the Year expressed his frustrations throughout the near 25-minute long session with the media. “I’m not going to apologize for the rates of the defensive ends being paid in the National Football League,” Hendrickson said. He even mentioned an interaction with head coach Zac Taylor that made this whole situation feel personal. Hendrickson finished second in the DPOY raceGetty Hendrickson has been one of the league’s most dominant pass-rushers in the 2020sGetty “A little bit transpired between me and Zac,” he said. “We’ve tried to keep it as least amount as personal as possible, but at some point in this process, it’s become personal. “Being sent 30 days before mandatory camp, or how many ever days it is, that if I don’t show up, I will be fined, alludes to the fact that something won’t get done in that time frame.” “With the lack of communication post-draft made it imminently clear to my party — meaning my wife, my son and my agent, a small group of people — that I had (to) inform that this might not work out. “I don’t think it was necessary. I think we should have all hoped for the best until proven otherwise.” However, it wasn’t complete doom and gloom during Hendrickson’s diatribe on the organization. He mentioned that he loved the city, his teammates and kept the door ajar to coming back. “I think every relationship is repairable, right?” he said. “Like, I think Myles Garrett proved that he’s a great man, and he’s done great things for his family, and obviously providing on and off the football field. He’s tremendous. “But I think that relationship will repair with time. And same with this. This is just the uncomfortable business side that we’ve unfortunately had to deal with for the last couple years, and, quite frankly, I think we’re all spent.” Less than 24 hours before meeting with the media in person, Hendrickson and his agent gave an update on where his negotiations currently stood in looking for a new contract. A contract that he richly deserves after leading the league in sacks last season with 17.5. Chase, Burrow and Higgins are all signed in Cincinnati for the long haul Hendrickson’s team released the statement to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post-draft,” Hendrickson said. “The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. “Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. “I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.” While the reputation that the Bengals and team owner Mike Brown have accumulated over the years is that they are cheap, they have also broken precedent the last few seasons. They signed Burrow to a five-year, $275m contract in 2023, making him the highest paid player in the league at the time. Less than two months ago, they reached historic deals with star wide receivers Chase and Higgins. The Bengals made Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history by inking him to a four-year, $161m extension. And they gave Higgins a four-year, $116m deal. In other words, the Bengals have spent big on their big three. $551m to be exact. They, of course, have also cost themselves millions by waiting to get all these deals done, as the bill always comes due in the end, but nonetheless, the deals got done. The same can’t be said for Hendrickson,
It’s never quiet in Cincinnati.
Long gone are the days of the Bengals just going about their business, staying out of the headlines and remaining out of the league spotlight.
Those days are gone because you have Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins forming one of the most talented and entertaining (and expensive) trios in the NFL.
The spotlight is going to be on the stars.
Oh, and because of disgruntled star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, who has publicly voiced his frustrations with the organization and front office on a few occasions.
On Tuesday afternoon, Hendrickson showed up to Paycor Stadium dressed like he had just played a round of golf.
He spoke to reporters about his ongoing contract negotiations and the disappointment he has had in the franchise and their empty promises.
Most importantly, Hendrickson gave the dreaded one-word answer no Bengals fan wanted to hear, when he was asked if he was willing to play out this season under his current contract, which has one year and $21 million remaining.
“No,” Hendrick said plainly.
The runner-up for NFL Defensive Player of the Year expressed his frustrations throughout the near 25-minute long session with the media.
“I’m not going to apologize for the rates of the defensive ends being paid in the National Football League,” Hendrickson said.
He even mentioned an interaction with head coach Zac Taylor that made this whole situation feel personal.
“A little bit transpired between me and Zac,” he said.
“We’ve tried to keep it as least amount as personal as possible, but at some point in this process, it’s become personal.
“Being sent 30 days before mandatory camp, or how many ever days it is, that if I don’t show up, I will be fined, alludes to the fact that something won’t get done in that time frame.”
“With the lack of communication post-draft made it imminently clear to my party — meaning my wife, my son and my agent, a small group of people — that I had (to) inform that this might not work out.
“I don’t think it was necessary. I think we should have all hoped for the best until proven otherwise.”
However, it wasn’t complete doom and gloom during Hendrickson’s diatribe on the organization.
He mentioned that he loved the city, his teammates and kept the door ajar to coming back.
“I think every relationship is repairable, right?” he said.
“Like, I think Myles Garrett proved that he’s a great man, and he’s done great things for his family, and obviously providing on and off the football field. He’s tremendous.
“But I think that relationship will repair with time. And same with this. This is just the uncomfortable business side that we’ve unfortunately had to deal with for the last couple years, and, quite frankly, I think we’re all spent.”
Less than 24 hours before meeting with the media in person, Hendrickson and his agent gave an update on where his negotiations currently stood in looking for a new contract.
A contract that he richly deserves after leading the league in sacks last season with 17.5.
Hendrickson’s team released the statement to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post-draft,” Hendrickson said.
“The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level.
“Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating.
“I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.”
While the reputation that the Bengals and team owner Mike Brown have accumulated over the years is that they are cheap, they have also broken precedent the last few seasons.
They signed Burrow to a five-year, $275m contract in 2023, making him the highest paid player in the league at the time.
Less than two months ago, they reached historic deals with star wide receivers Chase and Higgins.
The Bengals made Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history by inking him to a four-year, $161m extension.
And they gave Higgins a four-year, $116m deal.
In other words, the Bengals have spent big on their big three.
$551m to be exact.
They, of course, have also cost themselves millions by waiting to get all these deals done, as the bill always comes due in the end, but nonetheless, the deals got done.
The same can’t be said for Hendrickson, as he heads into the 2025 season with just one year left on his contract.
Hendrickson has made four Pro Bowls in his four seasons in the Queen City and last season was a member of the First-Team All-Pro squad, while finishing second in the Defensive Player of the Year race.
Safe to say, he is more than worthy of a new contract.
But in Cincinnati’s defense, it’s also fair to say that Hendrickson signed an extension only two seasons ago, and should be expected to play it out.
It feels like the situation is headed towards a messy resolution, whatever that may end up being.
