Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals are in a standoff.
The All-Pro pass rusher has stomped his foot and crossed his arms after his demands of a contract extension before he enters the final year of his current deal.
The Bengals find themselves in quicksand facing the threat of sinking deeper and deeper into a hole the longer this situation drags on.
Who will budge? Reports are saying Hendrickson is standing his ground, using the phrase "dug-in" to this duel.
After a league-leading 17.5 sacks in 2024, Hendrickson for the second-straight season is campaigning for a raise on his current $21 million salary.
The leverage favors Hendrickson, as he makes significantly less money than other elite defensive ends while matching their production on the field. Myles Garrett, Danielle Hunter, Maxx Crosby and Nick Bosa each make at least $34 million annually. Hendrickson deserves to be among that group.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that people around the league believe the Bengals will get a deal done with Hendrickson now that trade rumors have seemed to settle down.
"I still think they can come to a compromise, getting him above that $30-million threshold while covering themselves," Fowler cites from an NFC executive. "The age is something that must be a factor for them."
Hendrickson, 30, is not just seeking financial respect, he's also hoping to secure long-term security. That means a one or two-year contract won't cut it.
For Cincinnati, this should still be a no brainer as Hendrickson has seemingly only gotten better with age. Recently locking in other foundational pieces like quarterback Joe Burrow and star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins assumes Cincinnati is bought into a championship window.
The organization won't cash in on that commitment if they continue facing pressure from their defensive cornerstone in this holdout of OTAs.
Fowler claims that the holdout may not be in any rush to conclude on Hendrickson's part:
"If no deal occurs, I've spoken to several people who believe Hendrickson very well might follow through on his promise to miss games or even the season. 'He's extremely dug in,' a source said."
Hendrickson missing the upcoming mandatory minicamps will result in a fine, along with each subsequent game during the regular season, but he maintains the stance that he will not play on his current contract.
That is bad news for Cincinnati, who needs all the help they can get to rebound from a mediocre 9-8 season a year ago.
It's now up to the Bengals to climb themselves out of his hole to avoid losing a major asset on the field this season.