Trey Hendrickson Update

[Whatever]

(07-27-2025, 01:29 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: The more time goes by and different stories of past players come to light I really think it's just another negative of the front office. I get that sometimes you can come to an impasse but that appears to be part of the Bengals strategy. Feels like we need to try and do a better job keeping communication lines open and not just drawing hard lines in the sand. They eventually caved and took a an extra 500k upfront of the signing bonus. Just makes you wonder if the Bengals offered a 60% 40% payout of the signing bonus instead of the 50/50 existing from the start would this whole thing been avoided?

Every team in the league hits brick walls in negotiations.  We're more sensitive to it when it's the Bengals because it's our fave team and when stuff like this happens, we're often checking daily for updates.  

The reality is, we as fans want what's best for the team on the field.  That means guys signed early and happy with their contracts.  The team, however, has to look at it like a business.  You have to be very careful what precedents you set in negotiations, because agents will use those against you.

Case in point, this negotiation.  The Bengals were trying to add language to the contract.  To the agent, even though nearly every team uses that same language, the Bengals previously hadn't.  So, he takes the position that since the club has no precedent for it, his client deserves accommodations to accept the language.  Never mind the fact that Stewart's signing bonus is $10.4 mil and Mims only got $7.99 mil.  He wants something for his client.  

If you go 60/40 on the payment schedule immediately, then the agent for next year's first round pick is going to expect a 60/40 payout schedule. .If you want to walk it back to 50/50, you may deal with another prolonged holdout, if you can walk it back at all. By going 60/40, you set a precedent that for the club's conceivable future, forces you to keep more liquid cash on hand to sign your 1st round pick.  That has long reaching implications on your business. To knock that back to $500k in exchange for a guy missing three practices that aren't even in pads is better for the club long term.