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By James Brizuela
Contributing Writer
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The Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson continue to have stalled contract talks. Though there was hope that Hendrickson's return to practice would help to ignite those talks, both parties remain at an impasse.
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In fact, it was recently reported that the Bengals would listen to trade offers regarding Hendrickson due to those contract talks stalling. The good news for the team and fans is that there has been no movement on trades just yet.
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It could be that the Bengals are seeking an impact player and top draft pick, which many teams might not be willing to let go. However, it could also be that the organization is being stubborn on one important aspect of the contract.
According to the telecast, when the Bengals took on the Washington Commanders, a new update was revealed regarding the contract standoff.
Laura Rutledge was speaking on the telecast when she revealed that there had been significant movement on the contract. Apparently, Hendrickson and the Bengals have agreed on the years of the deal and annual salary.
The big hold up is regarding guaranteed money. This makes sense as the guaranteed money for a contract is generally the most important aspect of any new deal.
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Players want to ensure they have guaranteed money in case of injury, trade, or any other instance that would impact their playing future. Hendrickson is a perennial pass rusher, but he is also 30 years old.
Most NFL players, especially those like defensive ends, start to dwindle past 30 years old. That is not always the case, but the game of football being so physical usually leads to "older" players losing a step past 30.
Hendrickson might be trying to set up his future with the team and ensure that if he happens to be injured, he won't have to worry about the money from his contract.
It is a bit strange that the Bengals are not willing to budge on the guaranteed money when they have an All-Pro defensive end in Hendrickson. He led the league in sacks in 2024 with 17.5, and also had the same number in 2023.
Hendrickson is the anchor of the defense and a disrupting player who matters in the grand scheme of things. The Bengals generally have a much worse defense than offense, and losing Hendrickson would severely impact the team's playoff hopes.
The Bengals need to find a resolution soon, as there are only a few weeks until the start of the regular season.
For more on the Bengals, head to Newsweek Sports.
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