Star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson has voiced growing frustration with the Cincinnati Bengals, revealing that his dispute over his contract has “become personal” and that he has no intention of playing under his current deal.
The 30-year-old Hendrickson has skipped the Bengals’ voluntary offseason workouts, instead training on his own as a protest over the lack of progress on a contract extension.
But on Tuesday, he appeared at the team facility – not to participate, but to make his dissatisfaction known after a tense exchange with head coach Zac Taylor.
Reporters, who are allowed to attend one offseason practice per week, observed Hendrickson on the sideline in street clothes before he met with media to explain his position.
“A little bit transpired between me and Zac,” Hendrickson said. “We’ve tried to keep it as least amount as personal as possible, but at some point in this process, it’s becomes personal.”
According to Hendrickson, Taylor recently sent him a message warning that skipping June’s mandatory minicamp would result in fines.
The escalating penalties include $16,459 for the first day missed, $32,920 for the second, and $49,374 for the third – totaling nearly $99,000.
“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,” Hendrickson continued.
“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 informed them 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.”
Hendrickson, a Pro Bowler with 39.5 sacks over the past three seasons, signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Bengals in 2021.
He later agreed to a one-year extension through 2025. Now, entering the final two years of that deal, he says he’s not willing to play under the current terms.
“Other things have transpired like the importance of me being here in OTAs doesn’t seem to be respected. I think I’ve carried a lot of respect.
“I don’t mean to insinuate anything about anyone’s character, but that was disappointing. I think that was the word of the offseason,” he added.
Though Hendrickson declined to say whether he would skip training camp, he didn’t dismiss the possibility either.
“I don’t have a predictive analysis,” he said. “I’ve been hoping for the best through the entire process. The only thing that alluded to fines was the text I got yesterday from Zac.
“I thought this was a little early to talk about fines personally with how I’ve conducted myself. I’m incredibly humbled to talk about a potential extension. That’s the part that’s disappointing. Hard work works. I’m a firm believer in that. It’s disappointing.”
Hendrickson also expressed disappointment over what he felt was a lack of appreciation for his presence and leadership during the offseason program in past years.
Hendrickson is scheduled to earn a base salary of $15.8 million in 2025, with a cap hit of $18.6 million – numbers he feels don’t reflect his impact.
For now, his stance is firm: he wants a new deal, and he’s not backing down. Whether the Bengals blink remains to be seen.
What are your thoughts on the ugly situation in Cincinnati? … What do you think will end up happening???
