The Cincinnati Bengals formally have two fairly massive messes on their fingers.
On Tuesday morning, star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson posted on his Instagram story that he was in Florida whereas the remainder of the Bengals veterans reported to coaching camp.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter famous that long-term extension talks broke down earlier than camp resulting from disagreements over assured cash. The Bengals are solely providing Hendrickson one yr of totally assured money, despite the fact that different high go rushers like Maxx Crosby, T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett obtained three years of totally assured cash this offseason.
Hendrickson’s absence from coaching camp—and the truth that he left the state of Ohio totally throughout a messy contract dispute—got here simply sooner or later after proprietor Mike Brown prompt issues had been going nicely in negotiations with arguably the crew’s most necessary defensive participant.
“I believe it’ll get finished,” Brown stated Monday.
However the contract drama for Cincinnati’s protection doesn’t finish there.
Rookie defensive finish Shemar Stewart, who the Bengals chosen No. 17 general, nonetheless has not signed his rookie deal due to a assured cash dispute.
In line with Stewart, he’s asking for a similar protections the opposite 31 first-round picks throughout the league obtained. He stays the NFL’s solely unsigned first-rounder, as each different rookie has reported to coaching camp.
“If we get a participant who does one thing unacceptable, guess what? I don’t wish to pay him,” Brown stated when requested in regards to the dispute. “I actually don’t. If he’s sitting in jail, I don’t assume I’ve to pay him.”
That’s a reasonably wild assumption for an proprietor to casually toss out about his first-round rookie.
Then once more, it’s not unprecedented—particularly this yr. Cleveland Browns second-round rookie working again Quinshon Judkins was arrested for battery and home violence earlier this month earlier than even signing his first NFL contract. The Browns are letting his authorized state of affairs play out earlier than shifting ahead.
This has develop into a sample in Cincinnati. The Bengals had a brutal time extending Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, despite the fact that they finally received these offers finished to help Joe Burrow.
But when the Bengals are severe about making one other Tremendous Bowl run, they could wish to notice simply how unhealthy their protection was final season—and care for these two edge rushers earlier than it spirals additional.