While speaking to members of the media on Tuesday at the NFL’s annual league meeting, Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn made some very interesting remarks about the ongoing contract negotiations between the team and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks last season.
“As you’re trying (to put) all these pieces together, you have certain limitations eventually,” Blackburn told the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway. “So he seemed to feel strongly about it and thought the strength of interest out there was going to be at a certain level. And so, we said that it would be okay to at least explore, and so we don’t do that all the time, but in this case, we felt like it was the right thing to do, case-by-case basis every time. And he’s still a Bengal, so we’ll see. It’s just something that we’ll keep working through.”
Blackburn added that the team has already made Hendrickson a competitive offer and that he should be grateful for what Cincinnati is willing to give him.
“I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” she continued. “I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, you know, that’s what holds it up sometimes. So, you know, it takes him to say yes to something, and also, we have all the respect in the world for him. He’s been a great player. We’re happy to have him. And so maybe we’ll find a way to get something to work. We’re just gonna see where it goes.”
“Those comments from Katie Blackburn were definitely disappointing & communication has been poor over the last couple of months..
It’s been a little bit frustrating & if they have anything they’d like to discuss we’re definitely willing to listen” ~ Trey Hendrickson #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/C9PUdfKewj
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 2, 2025
While appearing on an April 2nd episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Hendrickson responded to Blackburn’s comments.
“Yesterday was April Fools, so I was ‘traded’ to all 31 teams and had like a hundred different contracts,” he said. “The one thing that I was hoping was an April Fools joke was that article. But, I called my agent [and] found out it was not.”
Hendrickson went on to say that Blackburn’s comments were upsetting.
“That was a little disappointing because communication has been poor over the last couple of months,” he said. “That’s something that I hold in high regard. They have not communicated with my agent directly. It’s been something that’s been a little bit frustrating, but again, this is the business of it. I’m incredibly blessed to be in the NFL, and I’m excited to be a Bengal, right?”
Hendrickson’s comments on Bengals situation on @PatMcAfeeShow doesn’t paint a great picture
Wild to just be very passive with such an important piece. That just seems like bad business.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) April 2, 2025
Hendrickson, who is only under contract with Cincinnati for one more year, has been looking to sign a long-term deal with the team for some time.
“Last year and the year before, I’ve been talking about long-term contract, guaranteed money, things like that. And it was discussed with me in a meeting – which I’m very fortunate to have had with my agent – that we would get something done this year,” he explained. “That being said, ‘Last year, go out and play. Play to the level you have. We’ll get it done.’ That was communicated with me… They also reiterated that at the combine. That just kinda clears the air on that.”
Hendrickson did reply to Blackburn’s comments regarding his happiness.
“Moving forward, the happiness of my camp. They (the Bengals) are more than welcome to call me. I’ve had my cell phone. Same cell phone number since high school,” he said. “Open line of communication is always open with me and my agent, so if they have anything they’d like to discuss, we’ve been nothing but willing to listen.”
