Trey Hendrickson: Bengals executive’s contract comments ‘disappointing’ amid poor communication

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One day after Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn spoke about contract extension negotiations with Trey Hendrickson at the NFL’s annual league meeting in Florida, the star edge rusher took to the media Wednesday to address his frustrations with what was said.

Hendrickson signed a one-year contract extension in 2023 and he has sought a long-term extension each of the last two offseasons. He has one year with a base salary of $15.8 million remaining on his contract.

Last year’s leader in sacks went on “The Pat McAfee Show” and unleashed a series of frustrations with the state of the negotiations, including calling communication “poor,” expressing disappointment with the respect given to him and outlining what he doesn’t want to accept in a potential extension.

On Tuesday, Blackburn was asked if it is feasible to give Hendrickson what he wants after paying large extensions to both Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.

“I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” Blackburn said. “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. He’s been a great player. We’re happy to have him. And so maybe we’ll find a way to get something to work. We’re just gonna see where it goes.”

Hendrickson took umbrage with the comment Wednesday, starting with the idea his happiness could be holding it up.

“That was a little bit disappointing because communication has been poor over the last couple months,” Hendrickson said. “They haven’t communicated with my agent directly. That’s a little bit frustrating.”

The Bengals gave Hendrickson permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason, and director of player personnel Duke Tobin stated a desire to get a contract extension worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“We would like to extend that,” Tobin said. “We would like to keep him not only happy but with us on a longer-term basis.”

The Bengals completed long-term deals with Higgins and Chase, pushing Hendrickson’s deal down the line. They also scaled back spending in free agency due to the size of the receiver contracts, Blackburn admitting “that did shift it, there’s no question.”

What’s left for Hendrickson in an exploding edge rusher market was part of his 10-minute airing of grievances on the show.

“I treat it like a house now,” Hendrickson said. “House values have gone up. It’s the cost of living. Some ways life continues to move forward. I know I’m a football player. I’m training to be the best Trey Hendrickson I can be, however that looks and whatever team, we can address that.”

Hendrickson, who turns 31 in December, also outlined what he is not willing to sacrifice in the structure of a potential contract extension.

“I’m not willing to play for incentives that will be out of my control,” Hendrickson said. “I don’t think I want to play for a short-term contract and see where it goes. I would like to tell my wife here is where we are going to live and here is where we are going to build a family together.”

Cleveland’s Myles Garrett ($40M AAV), Danielle Hunter ($35.6M) and Maxx Crosby ($35.5M) all signed contract extensions this offseason topping Nick Bosa’s previous market-topping number of $34M.

Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks last year with 17.5 and has 35 over the last two seasons combined. He was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. Those numbers and accolades deserve the “respect” Blackburn mentioned on Tuesday, but after seeing the statement, Hendrickson wasn’t feeling it.

“I would prefer not to address these things with the media,” Hendrickson said, “but if I am hearing from X or Twitter details from my contract that aren’t privy to me or happiness I’m not feeling under certain situations – you can say respect. Respect is something I have for (coach) Zac Taylor and I take that approach every day being on time, communicating with him and, ‘Yes, sir, I will do all the right things.’ There’s a mutual respect. Just to say the word respect and actions are speaking a lot louder in a different direction, it’s disappointing.”

(Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)

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