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Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17 1/2 sacks
last season, released a statement to ESPN on Monday saying there
has been no communication between his representatives or the
organization since the NFL draft two weeks ago.
“The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we
shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play
at a high level,” Hendrickson said. "Coaches are aware of these
past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to
a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer
communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this
situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and
an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.”
Hendrickson was an All-Pro selection last season. He received
permission from the Bengals to seek a trade in March, but no
progress has been made. Hendrickson also requested a trade last
year before the NFL draft, but the Bengals did not grant the
request.
Hendrickson's 57 sacks since joining the Bengals in 2021 are
third most in the league over the past four seasons. He signed
with Cincinnati after four seasons with New Orleans.
The Bengals were 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs for the
second straight season. They hired Al Golden as defensive
coordinator after finishing 25th in total defense.
Increasing Hendrickson's frustration is the Bengals signed wide
receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to lucrative extensions
in March.
Chase’s $161 million contract made him the highest-paid
non-quarterback in the NFL, and Higgins’ $115 million deal made
him one of the league’s top 10 highest-paid receivers.
Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said during the
league meetings in late March that "he’s still a Bengal. It’s
just something that we’ll keep working through.”
Cincinnati drafted Texas A&M defensive end Shemar Stewart with
the 17th overall pick, but he is seen more as a run defender as
a rookie while honing his pass rushing skills. Stewart led the
Aggies with 39 quarterback pressures last season but had only 1
1/2 sacks.
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