CINCINNATI (AP) 鈥 A text from head coach Zac Taylor led Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson to head to Cincinnati, attend Tuesday鈥檚 optional team practice as a spectator and speak to reporters.
Hendrickson, entering the final year of his contract, has been seeking a new deal and also requested a trade. The Bengals鈥 front office hasn鈥檛 matched what he鈥檚 looking for.
On Monday, Taylor texted Hendrickson that he鈥檇 be fined if he didn鈥檛 report to mandatory minicamp next month.
That message frustrated Hendrickson, who held court with local reporters for 20 minutes during Tuesday鈥檚 practice.
鈥淎 little bit transpired between me and Zac,鈥 Hendrickson said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e tried to keep it the least amount personal as possible, but at some point in this process it鈥檚 becomes personal. Being sent 30 days before mandatory camp or how many ever days it is that if I don鈥檛 show up I will be fined alludes to the fact that something won鈥檛 get done in that time frame.
鈥淭he lack of communication post draft made it imminently clear to my party 鈥 meaning my wife, my son and my agent, a small group of people 鈥 that this might not work out.鈥
Hendrickson led the NFL with 17 1/2 sacks last season and was selected as an All-Pro. He said that as the defensive end market escalates, he鈥檚 looking for a new contract that matches what top pass rushers are getting paid.
Hendrickson is scheduled to earn $15.8 million in base salary and has a cap number of $18.7 million.
The Bengals haven鈥檛 budged from their stance, and the two sides haven鈥檛 been able to find a middle ground. That鈥檚 led to frustration coming from Hendrickson, who released a statement to ESPN on Monday about the lack of communication since the NFL draft concluded on April 26.
鈥淚 think over the last week or so, it鈥檚 become personal unfortunately,鈥 Hendrickson said. 鈥淲hen there鈥檚 a lack of communication in any relationship, where it鈥檚 a business or personal relationship, lack of communication leads to animosity, and that leaves my narrative only to me with no clear direction.
“So, the lack of direction, the lack of communication is leading me to things that are allowing me to think about what鈥檚 going to happen more than how great they鈥檝e treated me over the last four years.鈥
Taylor and the Bengals鈥 front office and ownership weren鈥檛 made available for comment on Tuesday.
Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said during the league meetings in late March the ball was in Hendrickson’s court to agree to a deal.
鈥淚 think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he鈥檚 not, that鈥檚 what holds it up sometimes,” she said. 鈥淚t takes him to say yes to something. We have all the respect in the world for him. He鈥檚 been a great player. We鈥檙e happy to have him.”
Hendrickson said that he wouldn鈥檛 be willing to play in 2025 without a new contract. He鈥檚 uncertain about what his future with the Bengals will look like.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 control the narratives,鈥 Hendrickson said. 鈥淭hat is one thing I found through this whole process. The way I feel is not being conveyed. I definitely am disappointed, I love Cincinnati. It鈥檚 this weird dilemma. Players go through it a lot more often. I am just not going to let fear overtake me to do something and also give me a platform to glorify God in the good and in the bad. I am very blessed. The perspectives I can鈥檛 control. I鈥檓 a football player. I鈥檓 itching to play football.鈥
While both sides appear to be deadlocked, Hendrickson did say he thinks the current relationship with the Bengals can be repaired over time with a new deal. Hendrickson cited Myles Garrett’s demands to be traded out of Cleveland earlier this year before he agreed to a extension worth $160 million, including $123.5 million guaranteed.
鈥淗e鈥檚 done great things for his family and obviously providing on and off the football field. He鈥檚 tremendous. But I think that relationship will repair with time. And same with this,鈥 Hendrickson said.
鈥淭his is just the uncomfortable business side that we鈥檝e unfortunately had to deal with for the last couple years, and, quite frankly, I think we鈥檙e all spent.鈥
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