Big-money talks are never easy with the Bengals — and now they are becoming downright “confusing.”
In the midst of a back-and-forth contract negotiation with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson, executive vice president Katie Blackburn had some interesting comments for the best player on their defense.
“It is on him to be happy at some point,” Blackburn said of Hendrickson, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “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.”
The Bengals previously allowed Hendrickson to seek a trade as contract negotiations hit a brick wall this offseason.
Hendrickson called the comments by Blackburn “confusing,” as he has been talking to the Bengals’ front office about a long-term contract for several seasons.
“That was a little disappointing because communication has been poor over the last couple months,” Hendrickson said on “The Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday. “That’s something I hold in high regard. They have not communicated with my agent directly. It’s been something that’s been a little bit frustrating.”
Hendrickson added that his contract demands are not about being “the highest paid or first in line” at his position, while adding that he does not want a short-term contract.
The Bengals already had long battles at the negotiating table with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, which is surely going to inhibit their ability to give Hendrickson a market-value contract.
Chase reset the market when he signed a four-year, $161 million contract extension, the largest for any receiver.
Higgins, his partner in crime, received the ninth-largest deal for a receiver, getting a four-year, $115 million extension.
All of this on top of paying Joe Burrow $275 million over five years equals out to a challenging spot for the Bengals’ salary cap.
The Bengals have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, going 9-8 each year.
Hendrickson was the team’s top-rated defensive player in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, recording 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons and double-digit sacks in four of the last five.
