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In terms of the Cincinnati Bengals offseason, the one question mark still remains about star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson who has requested a trade. The reason being is that Hendrickson is seeking a long-term deal with the Bengals, but the team has been unwilling to oblige.
This has led Hendrickson to miss the first three weeks of the offseason program, but has since returned to the team Monday to voluntary on field workouts for the spring. Hendrickson spoke to the media about the contract dilemma he is currently in with Cincinnati and how it is difficult for him to “separate” the most important aspects of football and the business side according to the team's website.
“This is where separating business and the team is difficult. At what point am I contradicting what I want?” Hendrickson said. “Long-term, winning games, all those things are what I want to do here in Cincinnati and removing myself from the team doesn't help the team.”
Hendrickson credits the Bengals on his impressive statistics
There is no doubt that Hendrickson has been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL since joining the team from the New Orleans Saints in 2021. He had a career-best year last season where he racked up 17.5 sacks which was second in the NFL and a franchise record, but he credits his team more than anything.
“The stats mean I've had a good team surrounding me. That means I've had teammates who have given me the opportunity for individual achievements,” Hendrickson said. “I can't rush the passer on my own, I can't scheme a pass coverage like (defensive coordinator) Lou (Anarumo) can that is freeing me up on third-and-eight for a sack-strip, I can't do it without (head coach and play-caller) Zac Taylor giving us a 14-point lead, when sacks are more attainable. That's football. Not just defense. Not just the defensive line. It's a team.”
Hendrickson came out of Florida Atlantic University in the third round by the Saints in 2017 where he started to find his footing as an exceptional pass rusher in 2020 where he recorded 13.5 sacks with his former team. Since then, he's been a force to be reckon with as he talks about where he is physically heading into this upcoming season.
“I'm faster and stronger than I was last year and I'm excited about it,” Hendrickson said. “Every player should feel like he's in the best shape of his life at this point in the season. You should try something different here and there. I think I ran faster and worked out harder. I know it sounds cliché. But I want it. I want to win.”
Hendrickson says he loves it in Cincinnati
Last season was also different for Hendrickson as he mentioned that it was the first time in his career he missed the playoffs as the Bengals' year was derailed by the season ending injury to star quarterback Joe Burrow. Still, the team had a shot with backup Jake Browning, but fell short as the pass rusher talked about the jarring feeling.
“It's the first time in my career I was ever out of the playoffs. Never mind the first time not winning a division title,” Hendrickson said of 2023 via the team's website. “That was tough. We were a couple of plays away from being in the playoffs. A couple of plays away from punching our ticket to the Super Bowl. The first thing you have to do is get in the dance. Once you're there, you've got a shot.”
While he asked for a trade request in March, he has expressed his desire time and time again to stay with the Bengals on a long term basis. Cincinnati originally gave him a large contract when they first signed him on a four year deal worth $60 million which was according to the team's website ” their richest free agent ever before the Super Bowl run of 2021.”
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“I love it here. This is the team that opened its arms to me,” Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson talks about helping Bengals rookies
Monday marked the first day where rookies and veterans could mingle with one another and start formulating the bonds they will ultimately strengthen throughout the season. Hendrickson talked about how important that is for the first-year players as it helped him all those years ago when he was one himself.
“I want to help Dax Hill play corner, I want to help make the linebacker reads easier for Germaine (Pratt) and Logan (Wilson). I want to help get the ball back for Joey B,” Hendrickson said. “What the 2024, 2025 Bengals look like, today was the first brick.”
“We got to see rookies run through bags with the veterans,” Hendrickson continued. “We got together to meet as a defense and we began to see how we'll interact. It's the first look at what we'll be and for me not to be there or to let my frustrations pour over into the defensive meeting room is not right.”
Hendrickson wants to bring Super Bowl to Cincinnati
All in all, it remains to be seen how the Bengals and Hendrickson will figure out the contract situation in terms of a long-term deal, but in the short-term according to ESPN, “Last summer, he added an extra year to his contract through the end of the 2025 season.” The goals for himself are easy and clear to understand as any fan will be excited to hear that he wants “to bring a Super Bowl to Cincinnati.”
“My mindset is to win a Super Bowl and I think we've got the quarterback and the pieces to do it,” Hendrickson said. “I want to be here a long time. I want to win football games and I want to bring a Super Bowl to Cincinnati.”
The Bengals are looking to improve after a 9-8 record last season where they finished last in a tightly packed AFC North where the Baltimore Ravens won the division at 13-4, the Cleveland Browns were 11-6, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were 10-7. All made the playoffs, but Cincinnati as they seek to change the narrative next season.
