Bengals, Hendrickson in Standoff Over Contract

Cincinnati Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson is holding out for a new contract, seeking pay on par with elite pass rushers such as Danielle Hunter and Maxx Crosby after posting back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons. The Bengals have reportedly offered $28 million, but Hendrickson, set to earn $15.8 million this season, believes this undervalues his market worth and has expressed frustration over stalled negotiations and poor communication. Joe Burrow has publicly backed Hendrickson, stating he deserves to be paid what the market dictates. Head coach Zac Taylor acknowledged the strained relationship and noted that Hendrickson attended voluntary workouts only after fines were threatened for missing mandatory minicamp. The situation has increased scrutiny on the Bengals' front office, which faces criticism for struggles with player retention despite recent lucrative extensions for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. As mandatory minicamp approaches, Hendrickson’s future with the team remains uncertain.