NFL: Joe Burrow Discusses “Disappointing” Contract Talks Between The Bengals And Trey Hendrickson, Shemar Stewart

While speaking at a press conference with members of the media after the end of practice, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow opened up about how “disappointing” it is to not have Trey Hendrickson or rookie first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart in attendance.

“Ya know, [it’s] obviously disappointing,” Burrow said. “You’d like to have all your guys out there Day One to try to build that cohesion that I was talking about earlier, but that’s not how it usually works out.”

After failing to come to an agreement on a contract extension, Hendrickson flew down to Jacksonville, Florida, where he currently remains. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, he received two offers from the Bengals that didn’t contain “the guarantees past the first year he was looking for.”

“You know, it’s a business,” Burrow sighed. “And that is how it’s gone.”

This is not the first time that Burrow has seen the franchise botch contract negotiations. Last off-season, wideout Ja’Marr Chase staged a “hold-in” where he refused to participate in practice. Though those efforts didn’t yield a contract extension at the time, they resulted in Chase signing a four-year, $161 million deal this off-season.

“Of course it can be frustrating, but that’s the business of the NFL,” Burrow explained. “That’s how things go.”

Burrow had to go through contract negotiations with Cincy when they gave him a five-year, $275 million extension in 2023. He said that he knows “how it goes.”

At the end of the day, Joe Burrow understands what Trey Hendrickson is going through. He just wants to be paid what he feels he is worth.

“Nobody’s ever gonna fault the player for doing business how he feels he needs to,” said Burrow. “It’s a cutthroat business. You gotta fight for everything you can get. That’s how it goes.”

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor opened his press conference earlier today by saying he’s excited for “a fresh start for everybody.” However, he added that “he had a sense” Trey Hendrickson wouldn’t show up for the start of training camp.

“It’s an easy topic to hit for you all,” Taylor told reporters after practice today. “It’s newsworthy, certainly. But the guys that have been in the locker room, they just want to go take care of business. It does not come up for us. I understand in these settings it’s going to come up. But it has been nothing for us.”

Whether or not the holdouts are a distraction has yet to be seen. But Joe Burrow knows that it’s best if these contract negotiations don’t drag on much longer.

“Me and Trey are in constant contact,” he said. “I think the earlier you get these things done, the better.”

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