Training camp drama is nothing new in Cincinnati.
Only last year, Ja’Marr Chase sat out over his contract negotiations. There was Joe Burrow’s calf injury in 2022 and an appendectomy the year before. Plus trade requests from Tee Higgins and Jonah Williams.
So it comes as no surprise that the Bengals’ preparations for next season have already hit some turbulence.
This time, two key defensive players are absent from Organized Team Activities (OTAs). This casts a shadow over a unit that desperately needs to improve under new coordinator Al Golden.
Will they pay Trey?
The big stumbling block remains Trey Hendrickson. The veteran – a cornerstone of the team’s pass rush for the last four years – is reportedly holding out for a revised contract.
The 29-year-old signed a one-year extension in 2023 and is due to receive $21 million this season. And yet, he is seeking a deal more in line with the like of Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby and Danielle Hunter.
Hendrickson’s production – 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons – certainly supports his case. However, hoping for another contract so soon is not a good look. Expectations are being raised, but eyebrows are too.
The front office’s stance is that Hendrickson should honour his recently renegotiated contract. On the other hand, Trey believes that his performances, as a Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, merit a bump-up.
Sources suggest the edge rusher is prepared to sit out and absorb the financial hits if necessary. It is a high-stakes stand-off and if it goes south, it could be catastrophic for the team.
Stewart’s contract conundrum
The unresolved situation with rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart only compounds matters. The first-round pick has yet to take a single snap in any of the voluntary drills due to his own dispute.
The issue is reportedly about new wording included in his contract. The terms, which could potentially void his guaranteed money, were rejected by his representatives. Apparently, Stewart just wants the same language as former first-round picks Amarius Mims and Myles Murphy.
For now, negotiations have stalled. And with every missed rep, the chances are that the rookie will have to start his NFL career playing catch-up.
Stand-off… or stand down?
For now, Stewart is lurking on the sidelines and Hendrickson is off-site. It is the worst-case scenario for Golden, who is trying to install a fresh scheme and reinvigorate a pass rush that largely went AWOL last year.
The Bengals have made no official statements regarding either absence. However, head coach Zac Taylor did emphasise the need for focus and urgency to secure a fast start in 2025. That looks like pie in the sky at the moment.
The front office may want to appear functional but it is failing miserably. For a team with playoff aspirations in a loaded AFC North, this combination of contract gridlock and rookie resistance is the perfect storm.
With Stewart now giving locker-room interviews about how the Bengals want to win arguments, not games, the optics are terrible.
To calm these choppy waters, all parties need to display some Cs here: communication, compromise and common sense. With a bit of each, surely these ridiculous stalemates can be put to bed – and then we can all get on with our lives!
If Cincinnati wants to truly contend in 2025, they will need to resolve these two stalemates pretty quickly – and pray that there is no lasting damage as a result.
