Latest news with #TreyHendrickson
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals under ‘microscope' as pressure mounts for hopeful contender
Few teams appear to face more pressure to make the playoffs and compete for a Super Bowl in 2025 than the Cincinnati Bengals. Those Bengals just missed the playoffs again last season after some bad luck and historically brutal defenses, spoiling an MVP-like season from Joe Burrow. Advertisement For Bleacher Report's Moe Moton, not many teams face more pressure to contend in 2025. By that same measure, few coaches are under more pressure than Zac Taylor, too: 'However, Zac Taylor, though he's an offensive-minded head coach, should be under immense pressure to get this team back in the mix as contenders. With the organization under a microscope, Cincinnati needs a strong season, or Taylor could lose his job.' RELATED: Bengals, Shemar Stewart nuclear option includes 2026 NFL draft route The Bengals are certainly in a weird spot. Joe Burrow's offense has Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the long-term, which is a win-now situation. But the defense is undergoing a youth movement with new coordinator Al Golden, which could create some growing pains. Advertisement In the background, the team has the messy contract standoffs with All-Pro Trey Hendrickson and first-rounder Shemar Stewart, too. There's no easy way to project the Bengals in 2025 right now. But most would probably agree that Taylor's seat could be warm heading into the season. RELATED: Bengals standouts after mandatory minicamp includes surprises This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals under 'microscope' as pressure mounts for hopeful contender
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals' Prolonged Trey Hendrickson Decision Means One Thing
Bengals' Prolonged Trey Hendrickson Decision Means One Thing originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Following a months long messy feud between the Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson, things are starting to clear up. The two sides expressed frustrations with the other earlier in the offseason before Hendrickson's blow up in front of reporters declared a temporary pause in their communication. Advertisement The NFL's sacks leader demands a contract extension, wanting the top-dollar treatment of his peers on opposing defensive fronts. Unfortunately for the Bengals, rival edge rusher Myles Garrett reset the market earlier this offseason with an extension paying out $40 million per year. Now Hendrickson may not get that high of a figure but a yearly salary close to it is not out of the question. However, there is a problem (or two) that could throw a wrench in their plans if they do not act with urgency here. Both Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt are in the process of working out their own extensions with their respective teams. As CBS Sports' Joel Corry details, the market is set to get more expensive this summer and the Bengals should take caution. 'The Bengals should be looking to get ahead of any additional changes with pass rushers that are foreseeable. The edge rusher market should continue to escalate before the regular season starts in September thanks to Micah Parsons and Watt. It's just a matter of time before the Cowboys pay Parsons at the top of the market. Aidan Hutchinson getting a contract extension from the Detroit Lions is also a possibility. Advertisement "A strong deal by Watt, in particular, will complicate matters between Hendrickson and the Bengals. There is about a two-month age gap with Hendrickson, as Watt turns 31 in October.' Watt's proximity in age is certainly a threat to the Bengals here and if the Pittsburgh Steelers work faster to strike a deal, Hendrickson's price almost certainly goes up. This all comes with the Dallas Cowboys lurking in the background, unpredictable with when they will extend Parsons or how much that deal will be. It's been a bumpy road just to get anything resembling contract talks back on track. But if things are progressing, Cincinnati would be well advised to expedite the process and beat their competitors to getting a deal done. Related: Bengals' Trey Hendrickson Included in Questionable Three-Team Trade Idea Related: Trey Hendrickson's Latest Move Could Signal Change in Bengals Conflict This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Zac Taylor's One Job Revealed to Avoid Bengals Firing
Zac Taylor's One Job Revealed to Avoid Bengals Firing originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Most of the talks about disfunction within the Cincinnati Bengals organization this offseason has stemmed from the front office and its questionable handling of multiple contract disputes. Advertisement However, other prominent members of the staff are not excused from some scrutiny. Head coach Zac Taylor has suffered back-to-back nine-win seasons, missing the playoffs both in 2023 and 2024. Those two years come after many thought the Bengals were entering a golden era with star quarterback Joe Burrow guiding the team to a Super Bowl and another AFC Championship Game. With cornerstone pieces still on the roster, the Bengals can compete for a championship for the next few years, but the last two seasons have offered minimal confidence in the window remaining wide open. CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan believes the Bengals desperately need to reassert themselves in the conference title race. Advertisement Or else? Another letdown season could result in Taylor getting fired. 'Taylor will need to get the Bengals back into the playoffs to keep his job, and it's no sure thing he'll be able to do that," Sullivan said. "On top of playing in a division with the Baltimore Ravens and the new-look Pittsburgh Steelers with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the Cincinnati defense has major questions. The team is currently embroiled in contract spats with pass rushers Trey Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart. Hendrickson's situation could ultimately lead to a trade, which would make a defense that allowed 25.5 points per game (tied for the fifth-highest in the NFL) even worse. And the offense may not be able to bail them out, either. Last season, the Bengals lost six games despite the offense scoring 25 points. They also lost two games despite a 38-point output from the offense. All of that doesn't exactly bode well for Taylor in what feels like a make-or-break season.' You can make the argument that each team in the AFC North got better this offseason. Baltimore added Jaire Alexander to strengthen an already stellar secondary. Another veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins also adds to perennial MVP candidate Lamar Jackson's repertoire. The Steelers, of course, feature quarterback Aaron Rodgers - in what could be his final NFL season - paired with DK Metcalf. Even the Cleveland Browns could see a slight uptick in production, depending on who plays well coming out of their four-man quarterback competition. Advertisement Cincinnati's roster, especially on defense, offers more questions than answers. The pass-rush issues must be resolved if the Bengals have any hope for escaping the bottom of the NFL's defensive rankings. Offensively, the pass game remains an elite force, but there needs to be more production on the ground. Hopefully breakout running back Chase Brown can continue to rise to stardom and complement Burrow's aerial attack. Taylor enters his seventh season in Cincy with a 46-52-1 record as head coach. He now sits on one of the hottest seats in the NFL. The job is simple: make the playoffs. Who Dey Nation may not be satisfied with just that, though. But a double-digit win season in a tough division is at least a sign of Taylor moving forward and avoiding a streak of three straight disappointing seasons. Advertisement With as talented as this roster is at its best, anything short of another Super Bowl appearance could still be justified as a disappointment. Related: Bengals' Joe Burrow Judged Best QB in NFL At One Critical Skill Related: Bengals' Prolonged Trey Hendrickson Decision Means One Thing This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Breaking: Trey Hendrickson turns down $28M from Bengals, future in Cincinnati now uncertain
Trey Hendrickson turns down offer, puts Bengals' 2025 hopes at risk (Image via: Getty Images) Trey Hendrickson has officially turned down a $28 million-per-year offer from the Cincinnati Bengals, intensifying his contract holdout and casting serious doubt over his future with the team. Despite leading the NFL in sacks last season, the star EDGE rusher remains unsigned long-term, fueling speculation that one of Cincinnati's most dominant defenders could be on his way out in 2025. Trey Hendrickson still waiting as Bengals' contract offer fails to match market value Trey Hendrickson isn't just another pass rusher, he's the most productive EDGE defender in the NFL over the last two seasons. After posting a league-leading 17 sacks in 2024 and a staggering total of 35 since 2023, Hendrickson has become the anchor of a Bengals defense that desperately needs his presence. Yet, despite his performance, the Bengals have reportedly offered just $28 million annually—a figure well below market value for a player of Hendrickson's caliber. While the deal would place him eighth among NFL EDGE defenders in annual salary, it still falls short of what most believe he's worth in today's rising salary cap environment. Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson SOUNDS OFF on Contract Status, Future in Cincinnati According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Hendrickson isn't demanding to surpass Myles Garrett's record-setting $40 million AAV. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo Instead, he's seeking multi-year security that reflects his elite status and long-term impact in Cincinnati. 'He would like to get a multi-year deal that gives him security and keeps him in Cincinnati,' Pelissero stated on The Rich Eisen Show. 'Bengals just have not stepped up with significant enough of an offer for him to take it.' Bengals defense needs Trey Hendrickson now more than ever The Bengals' hesitation to lock in Trey Hendrickson is raising concerns—especially after their defense struggled during the 2024 season. With Joe Burrow returning healthy, Cincinnati is back in win-now mode. Losing their top defensive player could seriously hurt those chances. Also Read: Michael Penix Jr. takes over as Falcons' starting QB; $27.5M Kirk Cousins moved to backup role To make matters worse, stars like T.J. Watt are also due for new deals, and market prices are rising. If the Bengals wait too long, they risk overpaying later or losing Hendrickson entirely. And if that happens, the Bengals may find out just how hard it is to replace a true game-changer off the edge. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN's Adam Schefter Rips Bengals With 'No Excuse' Take On Contract Dispute
ESPN's Adam Schefter Rips Bengals With 'No Excuse' Take On Contract Dispute originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cincinnati Bengals have a mess on their hands. Well, two of them, actually. And as a result, NFL insider Adam Schefter is ripping the organization almost as brutally as veteran superstar Trey Hendrickson and Bengals first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart are. Advertisement Hendrickson has essentially accused the front office of lying to him as he seeks a contract extension surely in excess of $30 million per year. Stewart was a hold-in for most of the week but eventually marched out of Bengals HQ by questioning whether the club is serious about achieving success. "Y'all (Bengals management) just want to win arguments instead of winning more games, in my opinion,'' he said boldly. And Schefter is in a sense leaning that same way. Stewart, the defensive lineman from Texas A&M, has yet to sign his rookie deal because the Bengals have inserted into it an unusual clause that would allow them to force a forfeiture of his guaranteed money. Advertisement And what does Schefter say? His view is that the Bengals have "no excuses'' for failing to get this done, adding, "It should not be difficult to get a deal done with a rookie first-round draft pick ... . "It should be relatively simple to sign a first-round draft pick.'' Stewart says he has the support of some of his new teammates, which is also the case with Hendrickson. "It's made it very easy when the people in your locker room say you're doing the right things. Especially the star players," Stewart continued. Speaking of which ... Quarterback Joe Burrow admitted that all of this a distraction, but added that it's part of the business of sports. Advertisement "You'd love to have none, but that's life in the NFL," Burrow said of contract disputes. "We're all supporting Trey and would love for him to be back." Related: Bengals vs. Rookie Shemar Stewart Feud Takes Brutal Twist at Minicamp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
