Bengals Draft Hendrickson ‘Insurance’ with Shemar

The Cincinnati Bengals management is usually viewed as the cheap, frugal villains when it comes to contract negotiations. They have shown, however, when it comes to their star players like quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja"Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, they open their books and have the ability to write the big checks.

Sources indicate the Bengals are playing fair with defensive end Trey Hendrickson and have been since free agency started. The Bengals allowed Hendrickson to seek a trade to another team who would give the Bengals proper compensation and nothing materialized. 

They then reeled Hendrickson back into the fold, made nice and have been trying to negotiate an extension in good faith. Katie Blackburn, the executive vice president of the Bengals, who handles much of the negotiations, said Hendrickson has to realize what his value is and accept a fair deal.