Latest news with #CincinnatiBengals
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Trey Hendrickson predicted to lose contract standoff with Bengals
Trey Hendrickson predicted to lose contract standoff with Bengals As written here consistently, barring a shocker, it has long felt like the Cincinnati Bengals will eventually emerge the "winners" of the contract standoff with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Those Bengals just happen to hold the vast majority of the leverage during this latest contract impasse with Hendrickson, despite the All-Pro's recent 20-plus minute airing of grievances at a team practice. Despite this, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated slots Hendrickson losing the standoff as one of his bold predictions for the season: "The alternative is to become Haason Reddick, which, for a player entering his age-31 season, cannot be appetizing. By taking the Bengals' reported current offer, Hendrickson can upgrade his salary by nearly $12 million and, while still being underpaid, improve upon his prospects for next offseason more by staying in Cincinnati than he could as a year-to-year mercenary for less on another roster." RELATED: Bengals UDFA is already turning heads at OTAs By now, Bengals fans know that isn't all that bold, though. This is merely the latest offseason dustup with Hendrickson over a contract. Past years have featured short one-year extensions and even reported threats of retirement. This offseason featured the Bengals actually granting him permission to seek a trade that never happened due to his age, production level, contract demands and trade asking price, to name a few factors. Right now, Hendrickson is simply using every last bit of leverage he has left to make noise before the fines start to kick in during mandatory minicamp this month and training camp after that. He's extremely unlikely to actually miss games at his age with millions of dollars lost in fines while hurting his value with other teams. Hendrickson will likely wind up "losing' this affair in the form of a massive pay raise over the short-term, but just not for the exact number or years he and his reps seek. RELATED: Cincinnati Bengals players missing OTAs list ahead of training camp
USA Today
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where do Bengals rank among teams likely to win first Super Bowl?
Where do Bengals rank among teams likely to win first Super Bowl? The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2025 NFL season as one of 12 teams yet to win a Super Bowl. When it comes to actually ranking those teams by their chances to win a Lombardi Trophy, things get tricky after rattling off the first few names. Franchises like the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers, at least as of this writing, round out the very bottom of the list. But how far up the list do the Bengals deserve to sit? For CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin, the answer is third overall: "Not even Joe Burrow's MVP-level passing production could get the Bengals into the playoffs last time around, which is real cause for concern. But the defense can't be much worse with Al Golden now atop that staff, and we won't have contract drama surrounding Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins going into September. If somehow Zac Taylor can get his team ready to roll out of the gate rather than halfway through the year, the Bengals should return to form as a challenger to the AFC powerhouses." RELATED: Bengals UDFA is already turning heads at OTAs That ranking going into the 2025 season puts the Bengals only behind the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills. Both of those teams have more well-rounded rosters and the latter happens to roster MVP Josh Allen. Behind the Bengals, other AFC hopefuls like the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers are right on their heels. Given this fair outlook, it's all the more understandable why fans and the team were so upset about last year's close call -- and why head coach Zac Taylor changed up his coaching staff going into this season. RELATED: Cincinnati Bengals players missing OTAs list ahead of training camp
USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bengals' x-factor for 2025 NFL season flying under the radar
Bengals' x-factor for 2025 NFL season flying under the radar When it comes to x-factors in 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals have a few who come to mind. Think, someone like rookie Demetrius Knight being able to step in and help on the defense right away. Or the front office when it comes to solving the contract standoffs with both Trey Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart. Somewhat joking about the front office aside, another key x-factor is second-year offensive tackle Amarius Mims, who just found himself spotlighted as such by Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman: "The Bengals had the second-lowest-graded offensive line in the league, finishing above only the Patriots. The unit remains mostly the same from 2024, and the player whom most are expecting to make a jump is right tackle Amarius Mims. The 2024 first-round pick mostly had a rookie season to forget, placing 67th among all tackles with a 57.8 PFF overall grade. If he doesn't experience a sophomore breakout, Cincinnati's offensive line could struggle mightily once again." RELATED: Bengals UDFA is already turning heads at OTAs The Bengals are certainly counting on Mims to make a second-year leap and stay on the field. They could also trot out two new starters at guard with free-agent arrival Lucas Patrick and rookie Dylan Fairchild. Arguably more than anything, the Bengals hope that a new-look coaching staff overseeing the offensive trenches offers a big solution too, helping to get the most out of their guys while finally developing some of their own draft picks properly. RELATED: Cincinnati Bengals players missing OTAs list ahead of training camp
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Could Colts injury woes push Bengals into a Germaine Pratt trade?
The Cincinnati Bengals remain highly unlikely to find a trade partner for Germaine Pratt. Pratt, after all, has an $8 million cap hit attached to his trade request from earlier this offseason. Tack on his age, what he put on film last year and how obvious it seems that he won't be back and it feels more like he's headed toward being cut. Advertisement Still, what if a team like the Indianapolis Colts gets desperate? Those Colts now have former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in the same role. But this goes beyond that simple connection. RELATED: Shemar Stewart's contract beef with Bengals revealed in report Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin had ankle surgery and could miss everything up until training camp, if not into it. Jaylon Carlies, another linebacker, continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery, too. Despite these factors and losses in free agency, the Colts didn't draft a linebacker until the seventh round this year. Advertisement So, perhaps this situation lends itself to helping a Pratt trade happen. Perhaps it escalates if Franklin isn't full-go soon or other injuries occur. It would help if the Bengals would be willing to modify any sort of deal to get Pratt out the door. But knowing them, it's probably unlikely they would give up cash in the process. After drafting Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, though, it still feels like the Pratt bridge has burned and collapsed, opening the door for ideas like this. RELATED: Bengals takeaways and thoughts on Jermaine Burton, contract drama This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Could Colts injury woes push Bengals into a Germaine Pratt trade?
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Trey Hendrickson considering drastic options in Bengals contract standoff
Several people believe Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson might sit out the final year of his contract if a long-term deal isn't reached, ESPN reported Thursday. Both sides are in prolonged negotiations as trade talks with several teams about Hendrickson, who is seeking marking value and a long-term deal, have stalled. 'He's extremely dug in,' a source said told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, who wrote that Hendrickson 'very well might follow through on his promise to miss games or even the season' if no deal occurs. Advertisement 4 Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson speaks to the media during NFL football practice on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Cincinnati. AP The Bengals granted Hendrickson's trade request this offseason and denying a separate request in 2024. Hendrickson explored the market before free agency and the NFL draft, and multiple teams initially showed interest in signing the 30-year-old to a long-term contract, but nothing materialized, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. Advertisement 4 Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) during the second quarter of a game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on October 13, 2024. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Hendrickson, who has a base salary of $15.8 million for 2025, has not participated in any voluntary workouts this offseason. He missed Cincinnati's offseason OTA workouts May 27-29, with another session set for June 2-4. Hendrickson, 30, has already been informed he could be fined if he misses the mandatory minicamp, which will take place June 10-12. Advertisement 4 Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) walks off the field following an a game against the Tennessee Titans on December 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. AP His deal remains in limbo after the Bengals locked up their two offensive weapons, signing wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term contracts in March. The Bengals have $27.6 million in cap space for 2025. 4 Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) is pressured by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) during a game on December 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. AP Advertisement Hendrickson has made it clear that he won't play if his contract situation isn't resolved. He played coy when asked if he was willing to skip games in the interim. Hendrickson was the NFL's sack leader in 2024 with 17.5 sacks — and accounted for 48 percent of Cincinatti's sack total last season. Last season, he was named to the Associated Press All-Pro team and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth straight time.
