The Cincinnati Bengals are entering dangerous territory with Trey Hendrickson.
The star defensive end wants to be paid as what he is, which is one of the best pass rushers in the game.
The Bengals, however, have not only failed to meet his financial expectations but have also not contacted him since the NFL Draft.
That’s why, according to a report by Ari Meirov of “The 33rd Team,” things have now gotten personal for Hendrickson.
“Hendrickson admitted that things have gotten personal between him and the organization,” Meirov wrote on X.
Trey Hendrickson today to reporters: “If I sat here with four sacks, they’d want a pay cut and some money back. … I’m not going to apologize for the rates being paid to defensive ends in the National Football League."
Hendrickson admitted that things have gotten personal… https://t.co/Nff3PKl3eJ pic.twitter.com/kllaq6ncED
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 13, 2025
Hendrickson claimed that if he had poor numbers, the Bengals would most likely ask him to take a pay cut and get some money back, which is why he wasn’t going to back down from his request.
“If I sat here with four sacks, they’d want a pay cut and some money back. … I’m not going to apologize for the rates being paid to defensive ends in the National Football League,” he said.
NFL teams usually do what’s best for them, regardless of whether that’s what’s best for their players.
They treat them as if they were replaceable and expendable, and while most of the time, they are, Hendrickson is not like most players.
That’s why it’s only right that he demands to get what he deserves; it’s the same approach teams take when it’s the other way around.
They won’t be able to just move on from him.
Hendrickson is coming off an outstanding season, and he was one of the strongest candidates to win Defensive Player of the Year.
The Bengals’ front office has a long history of doing their players wrong and getting on their wrong side, and this story could take a bad turn sooner rather than later.
NEXT: Trey Hendrickson Speaks Out About His Contract Situation