It is the JR Sport Brief Show here on the Infinity. Sports Network. I showed up to work today. Terry McLaurin didn't. Dre Hendrickson didn't.
When are they showing up to work? We have no idea. It seems like the Bengals have a few issues with a couple of players. Shamar Stewart not even signed to the team yet. Trey Hendrickson wants a new deal.
Sam Hubbard retired. Stewart supposed to help replace him. The defense was terrible last year. We got wide receivers getting all the money. We got Mike Brown upsetting some of the guys.
To talk about what's going on. In the world of the Bangles is someone who covers all things Cincinnati Bangles for the Locked On Bangles podcast for Sports Illustrated. Joining us right now is James Brapien. James, how are you, man? What is real?
Well, good to have you here.
Well, thank you for joining us. Here's a question right out the gate. When the heck is Trey Hendrickson getting paid? This guy's not, he's hanging out in Florida now? Come on.
Yeah, it's uh it's something that's It doesn't shock me that we're starting training camp this way, but it's certainly something. That I think a lot of fans are frustrated by. And I get it. It's. He had the NFL SAC leader.
He was second in defensive player of the year voting. And clearly. Your best offensive player by a wide margin last year, and you need your defense to be much, much better. if the Bengals are going to be a true Super Bowl contender.
So the frustration is there. And I think the frustration is there with Trey as well. And that's why you saw that Instagram post this morning with the sun rising in Florida, him making it very, very clear that he is nowhere near Paycor Stadium, as the rest of the veterans on the team reported for training camp today.
So when will it happen? I'm not sure. But JR, I do believe it will happen. I think the Bengals are going to sign Trey Hendrickson to an extension. I do think it's going to get done.
And a big reason why is because I know Trey wants to be in Cincinnati, and I know they want him in Cincinnati. And usually when that's the case, Both sides find a way to get it done. That doesn't mean it's not going to feel like you're getting your tooth pulled every day up until it does get done. But yeah, I do think it's going to get done at some point.
Well, James, we see some of the best edge rushers, quarterback getters in the league. These guys are now getting in excess of. You know, 40-ish, 40 million dollars, a guy like Miles Garrett, TJ Watt. What's been the holdup? Is it a matter of what the number is annually?
Are we looking at guaranteed money? Are they concerned about the length given his age? What's the holdup? The answer is yes. I think it's all of the above.
I don't think it's just one. And today, certainly the guaranteed money has been in focus when you look at these national reports. And that's usually the case with the Bengals when it comes to guaranteed money. Very few players. That Long-term guarantees.
Joe Burrow, Javar Chase are really the only two. T. Higgins broke that precedent as well and got some guaranteed money in year two of his extension that he signed in March. But those are the three. And so it's not just that.
That is a big factor for sure when you compare probably what the Bengals are offering, and I don't have the exact number of guaranteed money to any of these other star pass rushers that have gotten paid this offseason. And so I think that's where that grape comes from. But I don't think it's just that. I think the years element is a major factor. And the Bengals might have just bumped it up to a two-year extension versus a one.
But I know the years part of this was a factor for most of the offseason. And then the overall salary. I think that's where Trey Almost certainly will have to make a concession and understand that, yeah, you're probably not going to get the 40 million that TJ Watt. Got from the Pittsburgh Steelers or Miles Garrett got from the Cleveland Browns. I think it'll be in the 30s, and I think it's going to make him a very, very rich man.
But I would be surprised if the Bengals went there.
So, if I had to guess, I would say guaranteed money is the biggest sticking point. And then salary on an annual basis is probably second because I'm not sure that's there yet either. James Rapien is here with us on the JR Sport Re Show Coast to Coast. He covers all things Cincinnati Bengals. And that's Trey Hendrickson.
He said he's not going to play this final year of his contract until he gets a new deal. And I was being fine $50,000 a day. For not being at work, we have a guy in Shamar Stewart that they just drafted in the first round. Ridiculously athletic, but there's certainly questions about whether or not he'll be able to get the quarterback down. at the next level.
He's not even at work. Is this something you feel just as confident in that it'll be resolved? I do because I don't know. Think there's really another option for him. He's not that Trey had a ton of leverage, but if you're Shamar Stewart, you're not going to leave.
$18 million guaranteed on the table, $11 million within the first calendar year of signing. Like, I just, I think that this does get done. And it's interesting over the past couple of days. I've talked to people. Not Bengals related and not in Shamar Stewart's camp across the league about this default language that the Bengals are trying to use for the first time.
And they seem to think that this shouldn't hold up or prevent a first rounder from signing and missing the practice time and holding out because of this is a bit far.
So we'll see how long this goes. I think there are things that Bengals can do to entice Shamar to sign. But I do think the bottom line is when you look at some of these. These contracts. It's much, much different when you're talking about a veteran and guaranteed money and all these things, that there's a lot of factors.
With Shamar, the money slotted. He knows what he's going to make. There's no arguing or debating or discussing what he's going to make or anything like that. But what the Bengals could do is they could say, all right, since you're willing to, if you're willing to accept this clause, we'll give you. 25 extra percent of your signing bonus right now.
So instead of 50 percent, we'll give you 75 percent of it. In 30 days, we'll give you the other 25%.
So, the when certain bonuses kick in, the Bengals could bump those up a little bit, I think, to help Shamar along. Because at this point, with how public this has been, JR, I don't think the Bengals can blink here with this default language. I think they have to make sure that it's in that contract. It's been too public, it's been out there. They can't backtrack now.
Otherwise, they're going to be in this position year after year after year with first-round picks as they try to set that precedent moving forward.
Well, James, we heard from owner and head boss man Mike Brown yesterday. He talks once a year. You got to get it in when you can. And his example that he used or scenarios just like, yeah, if the guy does some stuff, conduct detrimental to the team or football, if he's in prison. I don't want to pay him.
To me, it sounds like an extreme example. Uh but are are are the Bengals really trying to change things up or or alter precedent by by doing this with Shamar? Is this kind of boilerplate boilerplate across the league? It's boilerplate across the league. Most teams do it.
I would say two-thirds. Of the league, 23 to 24 teams or so use this type of language. And the reason why, it's kind of ironic, because the reason why the Bengals haven't used this. Type of language is because they never got into guarantees past that first year outside of first-round picks.
So they haven't needed to use it. The Eagles have used it, the Eagles used it with veterans like Saquon Barkley. And so it's not like this is abnormal to use, but it's the first time they've really tried to implement it. They haven't used it with any veterans. And I think they decided they're going to start it with rookies.
And I'm sure they tried last year with Amarius Mims. Amarius Mims signed, he was their first-run pick last year, 18th overall. He signed a year ago today.
So it's not like they get their first rounders done. In a hurry, and who knows, maybe that debate of the default language was something that was an issue last year. Regardless, though, I do think that this is It's new for the Bengals. It's not new for the NFL. And that's why I ultimately think they need to and really have to at this point push to get it in there.
Because if they don't and they blink, then it's setting the precedent that no NFL team wants that they're going to blink when a rookie says, hey, I'm going to hold out. James Rapien is joining us here, covers the Cincinnati Bengal. You you talk about and we all know how poor the defense was last year. It's just I can't say ironic that the two contractual issues the Bengals are dealing with is is A, a rookie and then B, one of the best defensive players. In the entire game, we know the Bengals need help on defense.
You mentioned the fans, and typically, when you have players and you have ownership, I'd say in most cases, the fans typically will lean with the team and owner versus the players. What is the fans' sentiment about what's going on between the two of them right now? Yeah, I I think It's so interesting because if you look at the Trey comments, especially today. Sans are extremely frustrated. And rightfully so, because it's just, it always seems to be something.
And that's where the Bengals, like, I think. Most of what the Bengals are doing with Shamar, it makes sense. But it's not like they've earned the benefit of the doubt. And so, if you haven't earned the benefit of the doubt, even if what you're doing makes sense in that moment with that. individual situation.
They're not going to get it. And so I think it's twofold. With Trey, I think there's mostly frustration with the team because he's proven. There are some that think, oh, well, he's 30 and why would you give him all that money and he should serve his contract? I think that's a loud minority.
I think the majority of fans want to see Trey Hendrickson signed. They know he's a big part of what the Bengals are doing and they need him to be a big part of it. If they're going to make a deep playoff run this year, it's hard to see that path without number 91 out there.
So keeping Trey Hendrickson happy and on the field and dialed in makes a lot of sense. With Shamar, I think it's the other way. I think people are starting to view it and say, all right, rookie, it's time. It's time to get in there. It's not like they're not guaranteeing your money or anything like that.
And not that that's necessarily right. I get what Shamar is saying. I I also think that From my just my opinion. I wouldn't, if on the Bengals or Shamar's camp. Want Shomar missing time?
because of this.
So how do you get it resolved now?
So he can be the best that he can be. Because ultimately, that should be the goal for everybody involved is that he's the best that he can be as a rookie. And so I do think that fans kind of split with these two big contractual discussions and contract drama that Honestly, in Cincinnati, we've been talking about for months and months and months.
Well, James, we know that the Bengals last season barely missed on a postseason. They had to scramble late. They have an MVP candidate and And Joe Burrow. They have two of the best wide receivers in the entire game. We know where they can go if the defense kind of.
carries its water. What's the expectation? Let's say, as I expect, Shamar and Beautre Hendrickson are there to start the season at least. What should we expect from this team competing in the AFC North?
Well, I think if you get Trey in there and you get Shamar in there, they should be right there in the north. And whether it's because of Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, T. Higgins, like you mentioned, or the continuity that they have now on offense, Mike Gosicki is back at tight end. You have Chase Brown, who really established himself as a true starting running back last year. Their skill guys have settled in and even beyond the Jamar Chases and T.
Higgins's of the world. They should be able to be a factor and make opposing defensive coordinators stay up pretty, pretty late at night, which you already had to do with Joe Burrow and those receivers.
So I think expectations should be high. But it is going to come down to two things. Obviously, the defense as a whole. New defensive coordinator Al Golden comes in from Notre Dame. Everyone's raving about him.
Guess what? Everyone raves about. coaches in in June and July. How do things go over the next month? How do things go when the games matter?
That's obviously going to be a question until we see them on the field when the games matter. And then this offensive line. It's always going to be a topic with Joe Burrow. because they're going to drop back as much as they do. Can they be more efficient and effective on the ground when they do run the football?
And can they protect Joe Burrow when he's dropping back in Baltimore, when he's dropping back in Cleveland week one, when you're dealing with all the pass rushers you have to deal with? I think there's a lot of questions about this team. I also think there's a lot of talent, especially at the top of the roster. And so it wouldn't shock me at all if they snap their streak of playoff list football and get back to the postseason. Yeah, I know the fans would appreciate that.
Right now, a feeling a little bit of angst. as they wait to see what happens with Trey Hendrickson and then also Shamar Stewart. And I mean, hey, based on what's going on right now, he better show up and get some sacks. He can't do all his fussing in July and August and not produce.
So. For his sake, I I hope it works out, James. Yeah, yeah, he's the pressure's on. And I think that's the other thing with fans: a lot of fans are already like, man, what is this? You know, what's going on here?
But he comes in and he's productive. This is just going to be a footnote. This won't be his story. And that's what I've tried to remind people. It's hard for people to comprehend that in the moment, I think, sometimes.
But if he comes in and works hard and His talent will probably handle the rest because he is a super talented kid. And without a shadow of a doubt. Hey, James, thank you so much for taking the time to join us. Please tell everybody where they could follow you and all your work. BengalsTalk.com, Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube, and the Locked on Bengals podcast.
Hey, James, we appreciate you. We'll catch you on down the line, okay? Absolutely. Thanks for having me.
