Bengals Move Joe Burrow Schedule Amid Hendrickson Controversy

Yahoo

7 hours ago

Maybe it's all a coincidence ... just like the Cincinnati Bengals having selected Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart in the 2025 NFL Draft had nothing to do with the foreshadowing the team's plan for current edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
But the timing of a new Joe Burrow move is certainly notable.
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Hendrickson is desirous of a hefty contract extension with the Bengals after his fourth year in Cincy. He topped the NFL in sacks last year with 17.5, meeting that total now in back-to-back seasons.
Is Cincy giving up on him? Doubtful. Even with the young addition in Stewart.
But Cincy is pulling the plug on negotiations, Hendrickson is now claiming, adding that the Bengals essentially lied to him about their plans to up his salary.
"The (contract) offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level,'' Hendrickson tells ESPN. "Coaches are aware of these past conversations.''
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And, as things have turned ugly, Bengals QB Joe Burrow - who has been vocal and supportive of the idea of management paying to keep the gang together - is in the news due to a schedule change.
Burrow was initially scheduled to speak with local reporters on Tuesday. But in the wake of this statement from Hendrickson - maybe just coincidentally - the Bengals have told local reporters that they have pushed the press conference to Tuesday, May 20.
Maybe by then ... the Hendrickson heat will have cooled?
The player is asserting that the Bengals have shut down talks altogether. ... and he's obviously angry about it.
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"Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating,'' he said. "I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.
The Athletic recently reported that things were moving in the right direction.
That is clearly not quite accurate, as the claim that they are "getting really good vibes coming out of Cincy that they're going to try to get a deal done with Trey'' does not jibe at all with this news.
Like he has done for past deals, quarterback Burrow is adding to the "good vibes" by campaigning to keep Hendrickson with the Bengals.
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Cincinnati was able to sign Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. ... and Burrow would love to talk about those deals, no doubt.
And eventually, he will. But not now.
Maybe just due to a coincidence.
Related: Hendrickson Releases Angry Statement As Bengals Fans Panic