The Real Reason Talks Between Hendrickson and the Bengals Have Died

The Cincinnati Bengals have a problem. Well, more than one, but with NFL training camp upon us, the problem that is getting the most attention right now is their handling of contracts. Specifically, two notable players are absent and for similar contractual reasons.

First-round pick Shemar Stewart is borderline livid at his situation and has expressed his frustration with the Bengals. He’s the last unsigned first rounder and the dispute is over guaranteeing money when – as owner Mike Brown said yesterday – Stewart “could be in jail.”

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson looks like he packed up and moved to Florida based on his Instagram photo. 30-years old and entering the final year of a deal that will pay him $16 million, Hendrickson feels disrespected by the Bengals’ “atrociously low” offers.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the issue is less about the amount of money and more about the fact the Bengals don’t want to guarantee much of it.

“This is an issue revolving around guaranteed money; the Bengals have been willing to offer only one year of it while other top pass rushers – Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, TJ Watt – have gotten three,” Schefter posted on X.

Do you see a recurring theme?

Hendrickson has no plans to report to the Bengals

Hendrickson’s frustration with his contract is nothing new. And, Schefter confirmed what we already guessed in an earlier post on Tuesday.

“NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson, in search of a new contract for the better part of two off-seasons, will not be reporting to training camp today with the rest of the Bengals, he told ESPN,” Schefter posted on X. “All along, Hendrickson has said he would not play under his current contract and he is dug in and sticking to his word.”

If Schefter is correct about the guaranteed money – and there isn’t a reason to believe that he’s not – then the Bengals are really being foolish here. Yes, he’s 30 now and offering guarantees after two or three years wouldn’t be prudent, but the Bengals have to look around the NFL and read the room.

The Kansas City Chiefs just signed defensive end George Karlaftis to a deal that includes a reported $62 million in guaranteed money. Karlaftis is younger than Hendrickson, but he’s not nearly as good. If the Bengals aren’t even close to Karlaftis’ money then most people are going to side with the reigning NFL sack leader here.

What did Mike Brown have to say about the Bengals’ negotiations?

Team owner Mike Brown spoke to the media on Monday at the start of training camp and he offered his thoughts on both players and their situations.

On Stewart, Brown acknowledged that the hold up is the guaranteed dough.

“We feel there’s really no reason why it shouldn’t be [signed],” Brown said. “The issue seems to be about guaranteed money if, in the event, he acted contrary to league rules or our rules. A criminal situation — something at that level.

“That’s never happened and we (Bengals) have been here for a long time. And that is what is holding up this contract. From our vantage point, it is a form of foolishness for this not to get done.”

Surely, there has to be a happy medium between ensuring a decent part of the contract (look around the league and offer something comparable) and making sure his family is set for life even if he’s doing time for murder one.

As for Hendrickson, both sides truly seem exhausted.

“It’s been a long negotiation,” Brown said. “Trey Hendrickson is a fine player. He’s a good guy. We want him here. Dealing with him is sometimes not so easy, and that’s all right. He’s got the right to argue his case. We’ll try to make sense of it from our perspective. We’ll see. I’m not persuaded that it isn’t going to get done. As far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better.”

The Bengals – yet again – are being penny wise and pound foolish. They’ll need to adapt with the times and follow the lead of other teams. Plenty of other teams are getting their big-time stars signed (not you, Dallas) so clearly they have to look at how they do business.