2025 Training Camp Thread

[HoosierCat]

In the biggest non-surprise of the offseason, Hendrickson will not be reporting to camp today.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45793481/trey-hendrickson-report-bengals-camp-amid-contract-stalemate

Things are reportedly going nowhere fast.

Quote

Sources: The #Bengals and All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson made attempts over the past few days to reengage on a new deal, but talks failed to gain serious momentum. Both sides are dug in and frustrated. I’m told there are key differences between the two sides, and there’s currently no clear path to a resolution.

 

[ArmyBengal]

Ok, I listened to both Mike Brown and Duke Tobin talk about Shemar's situation.
1. Mike seems far more lucid than I recently recall.  Maybe meds were optimized before the media session.
2. Mike seemed straight forward about the situation.
3. Duke comes off as a dick to me, but I didn't find myself disagreeing with him either.

There is so much information out there about the content of the waiver, what exactly the new language is in the contract and who is doing what.
I want to simply take a step back for a minute and realize I have no real idea and can only go by what I read and listen to.

Here's where I am today.
I think Shemar's agent (Hiller) is young and losing sight of the big picture.  That won't play well against the Bengals front office.
He has represented 1 first round draft pick (Zay Flowers) for their initial contract and has a handful of active players he represents.
Flowers didn't have this new language in his initial contract with the Ravens and I think that is a badge of honor for him.

I have never taken issue with what the Bengals are trying to do and agree with it.  It's the execution of what they are trying to do.
Hoosier and many others have said numerous times the Bengals should simply give a little to get this done.
Seeing as how they have absolutely zero precedence with this, just get it started and move on.

Shemar, regardless of having an agent, should remember his agent works for him.  Hiller is setting Shemar up for problems in the future.
Him not being in camp is just not the best approach here regardless of anything else.

Money isn't the issue.  Mims was given slightly better than 50% as a signing bonus.  Bump that to 60% or more for Shemar and move forward.
I think both sides have lost sight of what is most important here and they both share the blame.  I'm staying in this camp until it's resolved.
Hiller is a dink and I think Shemar should fire him.
Shemar needs to grow up and ensure those who work for him, take care of him.  This isn't it.
The Bengals front office should be focused on doing whatever to get this added and get Shemar in camp.

Jesus this is old.

[ArmyBengal]

6 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

In the biggest non-surprise of the offseason, Hendrickson will not be reporting to camp today.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45793481/trey-hendrickson-report-bengals-camp-amid-contract-stalemate

Things are reportedly going nowhere fast.

 

Not even concerned.  This was, like you said, not a surprise.
I don't agree with Trey's approach here either, but whatever.

I just wish the season would get here sooner rather than later so we can stop talking about this shit.

[HoosierCat]

To me, the Stewart thing has now reached farcical levels. Both sides are completely dug into positions that neither can defend without sounding foolish. Stewart's camp sounds like a toddler complaining that their friends got dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets the last time they went out, and they only got normal-shaped chicken nuggets and they aren't going to eat them even though everything but the shape is the same. Meanwhile, the Bengals are out here now claiming the clause is no big thing, that it will never be used except in the case of absurd hypotheticals...so they are making a big deal out of it why again? In the annals of dumb Bengals contract disputes, this takes the cake.

[AMPHAR]

My wild ass guess is the agent has already started his "exit" strategy of losing the negotiation.  He went nuclear over a common clause.  You can't have your client report on time, sign a clause AFTER you attempted to sway public opinion that is was unfair without something gained.  So he's already started leaking to Florio bonus structure view points.  So that will be his saving grace.   Its just a question about how much time does the agent want to waste to put on his show.   That would be my guess at the whole thing because it doesn't sound like the clause is going to be dropped.

 

As for Trey.  He's going to push and close the gap as much as possible which I think is smart.   Does he have a fine limit? Is he willing to burn a regular season game check?   But at some point a long hold is unlikely to recoup what he's risking.   Much like MB, I think it gets done.

J'mar Chase backed out of a rumored deal beating JJ last summer.  Anyone's guess about was it smart considering very few know the potential payouts etc.   But he only beats JJ's deal by $12m over 4 years which pretty damn close to the cap growth percentage. But using JJ's contract as a guide it saved the Bengals $33m in cash last year. 

 

 

[WelshBengal]

To be completely honest Mike has said that its highly unlikely that the clause will be activated and the fact Shemar has not yet signed the deal is 1 of 2 things.

One was mentioned previously that is all about the agent getting butthurt and not Shemar or there is something behind Shemar being worried about going to Jail.

1. DUI.  I can't see the Bengals being that cruel unless it says it in the contract.

2. Felony.  Then If he is stupid enough to do something this bad the Bengals clearly missed it and are covering their financial ass and I don't blame them.

The clause is clearly there to say your in the NFL now behave.

Suck it up Kid because if you do sit out the season and then go back to college, you can bet the next team that drafts you will have the same fucking clause.......

[HoosierCat]

Welp, so much for our international player.

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-waive-dante-barnett-bengals-roster-update

[HoosierCat]

Zach Moss to the NFI list.

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-zack-moss-active-non-football-injury-list-bengals-roster-update

[HoosierCat]

BJ Hill (foot) still not ready to go.

https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/bengals-unique-training-camp-plan-veteran-bj-hill-01k0qrhn179p

[AMPHAR]

They need to keep BJ Hill around 500 snaps this year.     IF Trey signs, I would like for a reduction of snaps for him too.   There wasn't much a rotation under Lou and there's a lot of snaps played among those 2.   

[ArmyBengal]

Depending on you want to give time listening to, there have been reports about them wanting to be able to slide Shemar inside at times as well.

Not a bad idea if the two sides could stop the Tomfuckery.

[TJJackson]

On 7/21/2025 at 2:45 PM, HoosierCat said:

I’m sure everything will be covered, guys. After all, they’ve got like 6 GMs now, so there’s more brainpower focused on this deal than any deal ever before in franchise history. This contract will be EPIC.

6 morons is no better than 1, and arguably worse

[COB]

Trey thinks he deserves a very large multi year deal.  Good.  Play out this current deal, one year, 2025, then go get it.  But time after time he refuses to bet on himself, then whines when the Bengals won’t bet on him either.  

[Coltsguy451]

7 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

Zach Moss to the NFI list.

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-zack-moss-active-non-football-injury-list-bengals-roster-update

Aww dang I really wanted to see him shine on your team, esp since we have to deal with Mixon in Houston now twice a year

[AMPHAR]

If Trey is talking year 2 guarantee and the last time he talked about incentives.   You can guess length and total dollars are fine, and now maybe Year 1 is good.   I don't see this not getting done its just a matter of when.   If you got total dollars you like then you only lose with a hold out.  It could be his last chance at a big contract, there's benefit to him being here but its nothing that can't be made up so I think he's in the right to push as hard as he can.   I'd only change that opinion IF he threatens regular season games because I don't see the benefit for him. 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

Like most things in this regard I can see one side AND the other as both being reasonable (to a degree).

Should Trey be pushing to make more money?  Yes absolutely.
Should Trey be looking for guarantees beyond 1 year?  Yes why wouldn't he.
Does Trey have anything to lose in holding out at this point?  Not really.  Camp reps?  Needed but he's also not a rookie.

However...

Are the Bengals right to be concerned about giving big dollars to Trey turning 31 during the season?  Yes
Should they try to keep salary costs to a minimum in damn near every negotiation?  Absolutely
Do the Bengals have anything to lose in not meeting his demands at this point.  Not really.  Irritating players?

There's probably more on either side of that conversation, but agree that it gets done. 
The lack of an extension at this point isn't really concerning to me.

Then there's the other side that I've only seen mentioned once or twice throughout this whole thing.
This marks the 3rd year in a row Trey has come asking for more money and honestly, that shit it getting old.
At ANY point in time he could have bet on himself instead of agreeing to what the Bengals offered.
He didn't do that.  Don't get me wrong, I love Trey and want him on this team for the next few seasons at least.
That being said, don't do that Trey.  It's a bitch move.

[HoosierCat]

10 hours ago, Coltsguy451 said:

Aww dang I really wanted to see him shine on your team, esp since we have to deal with Mixon in Houston now twice a year

Yeah, sorry about that. For the record, I was one of those who wanted to keep Joe. Moss still has an opportunity here, but his injury last season really gave Chase Brown a chance to shine, and he did. It'll be an uphill battle, imo.

[COB]

52 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

 

This marks the 3rd year in a row Trey has come asking for more money and honestly, that shit it getting old.
At ANY point in time he could have bet on himself instead of agreeing to what the Bengals offered.
He didn't do that.  

People don’t want to see it, don’t want to admit it, but this dude is an absolute drama queen who loves being the center of attention.  3rd year in a row he’s done this, and one of those years he wasn’t even league eligible for a new deal because it was too close to when he signed his previous deal.  He held out anyway.  What in the world was he holding out for?  
 

He personally has done more to revive and perpetuate the “bengals are cheap” narrative than any player I can think of.  
 

Other guys who have absolutely had it normally just finagle their way out of town.  Carlos Dunlap and Corey Dillon come to mind.  
 

But Trey doesn’t want out.  What he wants is this.  He wants the national media telling him how great he is.  He wants to skip camp, that’s very clear.  He’s a diva but in a strangely deceptive way.  

[AMPHAR]

Can the Bengals keep 4 RBs and 3 QBs?  Doubtful.   Ridder and Moss are interesting watches during preseason.   

Trey is a diva.  Being a pain in the ass is his only play right now to better whatever he's upset about.  I think they'll get it done. 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

Well, in looking at last year, the opening day 53 man roster included 2 QB's and 3 RB's.
I don't have any reason to believe they go in a different direction this season, but who knows.

That being the case, I'm guessing it's Burrow and Browning again at QB.  Ridder is practice squad in my opinion unless he can beat out Browning.
The 3 RB's are probably Brown, Perine and Brooks with Moss going on IR or released all together.

Perine isn't costing the Bengals 4 million for this year and next, so I doubt he's in jeopardy.
Moss getting released would still save the Bengals money, although it's less than $3 million.

Maybe they go in a different direction, but I'm not expecting much variance.

[ArmyBengal]

Also, for those locally who enjoy it.

The Bengals are doing their stadium practice thing they do every year on August 2nd in the evening at 6pm and tickets are free on ticketmaster.
Just thought I would give a heads up to any one who may be interested.  If it's for free, it's for me !!!
You can get up to 6 and that's what I got.  I know enough people who will want to head down for an evening practice.

[HoosierCat]

Day 1 report.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/07/23/bengals-training-camp-observations-defense-won-day-joe-burrow-offense-nfl-preseason/85342935007/

D on point

O not

Chase Brown getting lots of snaps

Perine looks like his old self

 

 

[Stripes]

Noah Fant has my interest and my attention.

[Coltsguy451]

Brown and Perine are a perfect 1-2 punch from the backfield, but of course the problem here is not the offense...

[Stripes]