The Cincinnati Bengals have long been known as an organization that is less willing to spend big when it comes to paying its players. Although the Bengals awarded generous contract extensions to their star wide receiver duo of Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase this offseason, it has still found itself in two other very public contract disputes.
One is with star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, the reigning NFL sack leader, who is looking for a contract extension that more accurately reflects the stellar season he is coming off. The other is with rookie Shemar Stewart, who is holding out of signing his rookie contract until he receives amended language in one clause.
Now, Bengals owner Mike Brown has decided to speak out on the contract disputes, according to one prominent insider.
“I’m not going to go into details of negotiation but I think we’re in a good spot and hopefully something is done soon,” Brown said of the Hendrickson situation, according to Jay Morrison.
Browns also addressed things with Stewart.
“A very peculiar thing. It’s not about money. It’s about the guarantee in the case of if he were to do something contrary to the discipline levels of the league. I don’t think that’s going to happen ever,” he said, per Charlie Goldsmith.
“That’s what’s holding it up. It’s never happened as long as I can remember. His agent wants it to be if he acted in a terrible fashion — this is all hypothetical — something that rises to the level of going to prison, we’d be on the line for the guarantee.”
It’ll be interesting to see if the pair of defensive linemen eventually get their way or if they end up playing their 2025 ball somewhere other than Cincinnati.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.