CINCINNATI — In an ideal world for quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals would have already wrapped up all excellent contract points earlier than coaching camp began Wednesday.
However when the Bengals took the sector, a pair notable names have been lacking. Defensive finish Trey Hendrickson is away from the crew as he seeks a long-term deal, and first-round rookie Shemar Stewart is one the final remaining unsigned draft picks.
For yet one more 12 months, it is a problem the Bengals are attempting to navigate round as they put together for the beginning of the upcoming season.
“Clearly disappointing,” Burrow mentioned. “You’d wish to have all of your guys on the market Day 1 to attempt to construct that cohesion that I used to be speaking about earlier, however that is not the way it normally works out.
“You recognize, it is a enterprise,” the quarterback mentioned earlier than pausing and deeply sighing. “And that’s the way it’s gone.”
Burrow mentioned he has been in communication with Hendrickson, a 2024 All-Professional choice and the NFL’s sack chief final season. Bengals coach Zac Taylor, who spoke earlier than observe, mentioned he didn’t wish to disclose whether or not he had any communication with the four-time Professional Bowler.
When the crew’s veterans have been set to report for coaching camp Tuesday, Hendrickson posted a photograph on Instagram that confirmed he was in Florida, the place he lives. He instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he was not going to report.
Earlier within the week, Bengals president Mike Brown mentioned the crew had provided Hendrickson a brand new contract and that he believed the Bengals star merited a elevate. Nevertheless, Hendrickson instructed Schefter that the crew was not keen to supply assured cash after the primary 12 months of the brand new deal, which has been a function in contracts for different outstanding go rushers this offseason.
Hendrickson’s absence didn’t catch Taylor unexpectedly, with the coach saying he “had a way that may occur.”
Burrow spoke on either side of the scenario for Hendrickson and Stewart. He understands the enterprise facet that each gamers are coping with and the way that’s half and parcel of being within the NFL.
“No person’s ever gonna fault the participant for doing enterprise how he feels he must,” Burrow mentioned. “It is cutthroat enterprise. You gotta battle for the whole lot you may get. That is the way it goes.”
Nevertheless, when requested whether or not both sides of these negotiations ought to categorical extra urgency to resolve these issues, Burrow did not disagree with that notion.
“The sooner you get these items accomplished, the higher,” Burrow mentioned.
Within the first coaching camp observe, the protection did not endure with out Hendrickson or Stewart. That they had loads of good moments towards Cincinnati’s beginning offense for your complete morning session.
It considerably strengthened Taylor’s perception that the extended dialogue in regards to the contract holdouts has not been a distraction for the crew.
“It is newsworthy, definitely,” Taylor mentioned. “The blokes which were within the locker room, they only wish to go maintain enterprise. It doesn’t come up for us. I perceive in [media] settings it will come up. However for us, it would not come up.”