Trey Hendrickson disappointed by Bengals’ stance on contract

Defensive finish Trey Hendrickson stated Wednesday that he is disenchanted and confused by Cincinnati Bengals govt Katie Blackburn’s current feedback on his contract talks with the group.

On Tuesday, on the NFL’s annual assembly, Blackburn, the Bengals’ govt vp, stated of Hendrickson, “I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at. I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, you know, that’s what holds it up sometimes. So, you know, it takes him to say yes to something, and also, we have all the respect in the world for him.”

Hendrickson, who’s on the lookout for a brand new contract after posting 17.5 sacks every of the previous two seasons, expressed his displeasure with these feedback Wednesday in an look on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

“First off, yesterday was April Fools’ [Day] so I was traded to all 31 teams and had like a hundred different contracts. The one thing I was hoping was an April Fools’ joke [was those comments]. Called my agent [Harold Lewis], found out it was not, and that was a little disappointing because the communication has been poor over the last couple of months,” he stated.

Hendrickson stated the Bengals haven’t communicated together with his agent instantly about his contract, saying that has “been something that’s been a little bit frustrating.”

“We’re on the D-end National Football League Street. The market value for that is going up like it did for wide receivers last year. Where I fit in that road is all up to discretion. We’re willing to talk about those things. With the market continuing to go up, I’m not going to apologize for that, because I’ve been basically asking for the same thing every year, to be solidified as a Cincinnati Bengal for life.”

Trey Hendrickson

Hendrickson, who is about to enter the ultimate 12 months of his contract, stated the group advised him in a gathering together with his agent final 12 months that one thing would get performed together with his contract this 12 months, which he stated was reiterated on the scouting mix in February.

“Open line of communication is always open with me and my agent, so if they have anything they’d like to discuss, we’ve been nothing but willing to listen,” he stated.

Hendrickson, 31, is coming off his finest season within the league. He led the NFL in sacks and was named to the All-Professional group for the primary time in his profession. Hendrickson additionally made the Professional Bowl for the fourth straight season. Nonetheless, at $21 million, he ranks tenth amongst edge rushers in common annual wage, in response to OverTheCap.com.

Hendrickson’s contract is the ultimate hurdle remaining for the Bengals in an offseason when in addition they wanted to deal with offers for vast receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals took care of each of their star vast receivers final month, signing Chase to a four-year, $161 million extension and Higgins to a four-year, $115 million contract.

“Through this process, communication, when I say it’s been poor, it’s been, like, here and there,” Hendrickson stated. “And respect to Ja’Marr and Tee. I don’t want to take anything from all the great things they’ve accomplished in their careers. They deserve everything that they’ve gotten, and no doubt in my mind they’re going to excel in the National Football League. I have a tremendous respect for both of them. But when it comes to my situation, it would have been nice to know in some ways, like, ‘Hey we’re going to put you in the queue,’ no problem with me.”

He stated that he isn’t trying to turn out to be the highest-paid defensive finish or “first in line” to get a deal performed however that with organized group actions set to start later this month, there’s an urgency to get one thing performed.

“When you have things like OTAs coming and guys like Sam Hubbard, who’s been a tremendous captain for our team last year, that leaves a vacancy for that and I’m excited to fill that, but how do we reach that before we get there. Those are the things that matter when you’re talking about a Super Bowl. It’s in the little things and the little details,” Hendrickson stated.

Hubbard, additionally a defensive finish, introduced his retirement from the NFL final month after seven seasons with the Bengals.

The Bengals had granted Hendrickson permission to hunt a commerce earlier this offseason, however up to now there have been no developments on that entrance. Requested Wednesday whether or not he has a deadline in thoughts on when he must get a deal or, if it involves it, drive a commerce, Hendrickson stated he would not know whether or not he “can put a time stamp” on that.

“That’s where to read what I read yesterday was confusing, like it’s my decision. I would have been willing to sign three years ago, two years ago and this year. It was communicated to me we would get something done this year and reiterated with [director of player personnel Duke Tobin’s] comments at the combine. I treat it like a house now; house value has gone up, it’s the cost of living. In some ways life continues to go forward. I know I’m a football player. I’m training to be the best Trey Hendrickson I can be, and however that looks, whatever team, we can address that,” he stated.

Relating to his contract, he stated, “There are things I’m willing to do and things I’m not willing to fudge on.”

“I don’t think I want to play for incentives that will be out of my control. I don’t think I want to play on a short-term contract and see where it goes. I would like to be able to tell my wife, here’s where we’re going to build a family together,” he stated.

He famous that the worth retains going up annually primarily based on contracts signed by his friends the previous few years. Simply this 12 months, Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett have reset the sting rusher market with their offers.

“Three years ago, it was the Rashan Garys, the Montez Sweats; those guys were balling out. The next year it was the Brian Burns, the Josh Allen deals; they were balling,” he stated. “Now it’s getting to the point where guys with two years left on their deals, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett; guys with one year left on their deals, Danielle Hunter, myself, T.J. [Watt] and obviously Micah Parsons, he’s an incredible athlete as well.

“I see that as that is the road. We’re on the D-end Nationwide Soccer League Avenue. The market worth for that’s going up prefer it did for vast receivers final 12 months. The place I slot in that highway is all as much as discretion. We’re keen to speak about these issues. With the market persevering with to go up, I am not going to apologize for that, as a result of I have been mainly asking for a similar factor yearly, to be solidified as a Cincinnati Bengal for all times.”

ESPN’s Ben Child contributed to this report.