Trey Hendrickson claps back at the Bengals on the Pat McAfee Show for a reason that becomes more clear by the day
It didn't take long for Trey Hendrickson to respond to what Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn had to say about his potential contract extension.Blackburn told local reporters at the NFL Annual League Meeting Tuesday that it's up to Hendrickson to be happy at the "certain rates" being offered to him, a comment that's […]
It didn't take long for Trey Hendrickson to respond to what Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn had to say about his potential contract extension.
Blackburn told local reporters at the NFL Annual League Meeting Tuesday that it's up to Hendrickson to be happy at the "certain rates" being offered to him, a comment that's not been received well by fans and others observing the situation.
That public comment led to Hendrickson choosing to hop on the Pat McAfee Show Wednesday afternoon to reveal what's been going on behind the scenes from his perspective.
A decision that is completely understood by everyone following the saga with a close eye.
Trey Hendrickson claps back at Katie Blackburn, Bengals over contract talks
After a brief conversation about the fish Hendrickson caught in the morning, McAfee addressed Blackburn's comment and Hendrickson revealed that talks with him and his agent have been not up to par.
"That was a little disappointing," Hendrickson said. "Because communication has been poor over the last couple of months, you know, that's something that I hold in high regard. They have not communicated with my agent directly. It's been something that's been a little bit frustrating. But again, this is the business of it."
Communication issues stem all the way back to the Senior Bowl when director of player personnel Duke Tobin commented on Hendrickson's future and Hendrickson found out over social media. A meeting between his camp and the Bengals was had later in February.
Between then and now, the Bengals spent most of their time ironing out new contracts for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Hendrickson clarified that it hasn't been complete radio silence from the other end and that his star teammates deserved their prioritized pay days, but made it clear that his patience hasn't been rewarded.
"When I say it's been poor, it's been like here and there," Hendrickson said. "And respect to Ja'Marr and Tee, I don't want to take anything away from all the great things they've accomplished in their careers. They deserve everything that they've gotten, and no doubt in my mind, they're going to excel in the National Football League. I have a tremendous respect for both of them, but when it comes to my situation, it would have been nice to know in some ways, like, Hey, we're going to put you in the queue. No problem with me, my wife and I try to be as humble as possible, as Christ loving people. So we don't have any desires of being highest-paid or first in line. We try to be as patient as possible."
Hendrickson didn't directly say he had a deadline for when he wants a resolution, but mentioning OTAs that start up in May and how he wants to fill the void that Sam Hubbard created when he retired does seem to indicate he will not show up for offseason workouts without a new deal.
"When you have things like OTAs coming and guys like Sam Hubbard, who's in a tremendous captain for our team last year, that leaves a vacancy for that, and I'm excited to fill that, but how do we reach that before we get there? And those are the things that matter. When you're talking about a Super Bowl, it's in the little things and the little details."
Hendrickson has every right to leverage his offseason availability in these talks as the best player on Cincinnati's defense, but the fast that he's putting all of this out to the media yet again signals how his side of the conflict is really up against the wall.
Why Trey Hendrickson is taking all of this to the public
The Bengals have never preferred to address negotiations publicly. That was the policy when constructing Joe Burrow's contract two years ago, which was the largest contract in NFL history at the time. Both sides agreed to keep things internal instead of airing out dirty laundry to the press.
In Hendrickson's defense, it was Tobin's comments from the Senior Bowl that got him to speak out in the first place, but the reason why the 30-year old All-Pro is continuing to put a microphone in front of his face is because it was his inaction that got him here altogether.
Hendrickson allowed his agent to accept a one-year contract extension back in 2023, a deal Hendrickson said last year he'd take again. Had he not taken it, he would've been a free agent this year and would've likely gotten a long-term deal elsewhere.
But the goal hasn't been to just get a long-term deal, it's been to get one with the Bengals. Hendrickson said it started even a year before that one-year deal came to be, and he was told that a new deal would materialize this offseason.
"Three years ago I began to ask for a long term contract with guaranteed money," Hendrickson said. "So those deadlines have kind of just all been a blur. I've just been hunting quarterbacks. So at this point, it is what it is.
"I would have been willing to sign three years ago, two years ago, and this year it was communicated with me that we would get something done this year."
Obviously, this year is far from over. Three weeks remain before the NFL Draft, which is when any unlikely trade involving Hendrickson would likely occur, and OTAs wouldn't start up until several weeks following that.
In order to actually get the result he desires, Hendrickson has bypassed his agent and taken it upon himself to apply public pressure on the Bengals. If his agent has truly been in the dark, what other choice does he have?
Hendrickson made it clear he does not want to put himself in these spots, but being stuck on a contract he's clearly outplayed leaves him with little options to get Cincinnati to budge.
"You know, I would prefer not to address these things with the media. But again, if I'm hearing from X or Twitter or whatever it's called on details on my contract that aren't privy to me, or happiness that I'm not feeling under certain situations. . .You can say respect, but you know, respect is something that I have for Zac Taylor and I take that approach every day, being on time, communicating with him, and telling him that, yes, sir, I'm going to do the right things and all those things. And there's a there's a mutual respect.
"Just to say the word respect, and then actions are speaking a lot louder in a different direction. It's disappointing."
Everyone has their well-informed opinions on how the Bengals communicate, I certainly have my own, but this has been their way of handling negotiations in the past. Contracts get signed, and there's an expectation for the player to honor it. When a new one is offered, there's very little wiggle room the organization is willing to make.
The truth is that Hendrickson has virtually no leverage, and all he can do is get the public on his side. Even that may not work out in his favor, but it's his last ditch effort to get the deal he wants.