2025 Training Camp Thread

[WelshBengal]

4 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

I got you TJ. Spare bedroom in the basement since ArmyBengal Jr. starts at Ohio State this coming Friday.

Proud dad plug !!

Congrats Army, one proud Dad right there.

[ArmyBengal]

Thanks guys !!

Going to miss that dude. He’s been going to baseball, football and basketball games with me since he was 4. Now I have to, gulp… make friends.

God help me.

[HoosierCat]

This is clearly coming from Trey’s camp. Last ditch effort to drum up a trade. Highly doubt it will work.

https://www.cincyjungle.com/bengals/172362/trey-hendrickson-trade-offers-cincinnati

[Stripes]

Yeah, sure guys.

See you in Cleveland week 1, Trey.

[volcom69]

But holy crap can we quit making things so complicated they have the money, and they have a need for him so stop playing dumb and just make happen. Finish this shit up and deal with that freaking RG mess that they seem to have. 

[TJJackson]

they need to get Risner in camp two weeks ago

[ArmyBengal]

Smokescreen at best.

Trey isn’t going anywhere.
Just continuing to play the game.

Now if some team gets desperate or suffers an injury which makes them willing to give up more, maybe.

Still fairly certain he’s here for 2025.

[AMPHAR]

It was Odd that Lou commented on Trey during a training camp sit down NFL network.  I'm thinking he's gone.  Maybe its the Bengals calling his bluff but seems odd. 

Supposedly the Bengals were demanding a 1st rounder.  I don't think that's unreasonable at all, but a this point in the game a 1st rounder doesn't help this year. 

Either way this seems like a tipping point and the resolution I hope comes fast. 

 

 

[COB]

 

 

Week 1 broadcast, Bengals vs Browns:

 

Daryl “Moose” Johnson: “We’re moments away from kickoff and we just got the news Bengals fans have been waiting for, Trey Hendrickson signed a new deal.  Thirty nine million dollars for this season, and added a year to his current deal, that’s all we know.  Our sideline reporter has Trey on the sidelines, take it away Allison Williams!”

 

Allison Williams: “I’m here with Trey Hendrickson, he’s suited up and ready to take the field here in about one minute.  Trey, you just signed your new contract five minutes ago.  Are you looking forward to getting back with the team?”

 

Trey Hendrickson: “It’s been an incredible run, these last five minutes I’ve had with my teammates.  I’ll never forget these last five minutes.  But I have to look out for my family.  Everyone knows I’m terribly underpaid.  I’m announcing now, I’m holding out for a new deal, starting now.”

 

Allison: “What?  You just signed five minutes ago.”

 

Trey: “What an incredible five minutes I had with my teammates under this last deal.  But my wife and I can’t even have a baby under this terrible deal.  Cut to an ESPN talk show please.”

 

Allison: “What?  We’re on Fox.  Aren’t you going to play even one game?”

 

Trey: “I have to get off this perpetual treadmill of play a year, hold out, play a year, hold out, etc. So that’s what I’m doing, I’m holding out right now.  I’d like to be interviewed by Pat McAfee now please.”

 

Allison: “Your defense is taking the field in 30 seconds.  We’re on Fox.  Are you seriously not playing today?”

 

Trey: “Thanks Pat, you are so right, I’m massively underpaid and everyone agrees I deserve a new deal.”

 

Allison: “I’m not Pat McAfee, I’m Allison Williams.”

 

Trey: “Thanks Pat.  First of all, I’d like everyone to know that I’m simply guided by Jesus in all matters.  Jesus would never play without guaranteed money in year three.  That’s from the Bible.”

 

Allison: “What?”

 

Trey: “Thanks Pat.  It’s from the Book of Javarius, Chapter 12, Verse something or other.  I love Cincinnati so much, this holdout is tearing me apart inside.  I don’t want to be a distraction.  All I want to do is play football and be with my teammates.  Pat, I’m available for any espn talk show these next several weeks.”

 

 

[HoosierCat]

Pitch perfect, COB! I am absolutely dead laughing.

[HoosierCat]

Well, reports are that 1) the Bengals are still not willing to give Trey any guarantees beyond year one, and 2) they have not budged in their asking price for a trade, i.e., the moon, the stars, and a planet to be named later.

Trey's almost last hope was that some team with legit playoff aspirations would lose their top pass-rusher to a camp/preseason injury, and come throw the kitchen sink at the Bengals' FO for him. Didn't happen.

His actual last hope is that Stewart gets knocked out for the year tonight, and that forces the Bengals FO to bend. (Not predicting they would, just saying that's about it.)

[Stripes]

Diana Russini suggested the asking price is a young defensive player (any position) AND a 2026 first round pick.

So, that's clearly never happening. They know that.

[AMPHAR]

Bengals shouldn't take less.   They've been probably negotiating against themselves for a while.   Hard to say because of the rumored teams willing to trade no $$$ were mentioned and much less to see if any of them were willing to guarantee money into his 2nd/3rd year. 

If you don't get your trade demand then its up to Trey to take the money on the table or gamble on himself.   I don't see him doing that, I guess. 

[ArmyBengal]

My thing with a trade at this point is we are so far down the 2025 season rabbithole.

The pick(s) won't help until next year, any new players would need to get up to speed and learn the playbook, and we are hoping the defensive end grouping of Ossai, Murphy and Stewart pan out.  I like Ossai, but not sure about him.  I think Murphy is a bust and Stewart is a rookie (although I like him).  

Trey is needed.

[AMPHAR]

Dalton Risner is taking off his shift at the Double Deuce and coming for a FA visit.    So is someone hurt more seriously or panic mode about starting guard?

 

 

[HoosierCat]

Bengals were among the teams Risner said he was talking to before the draft. Since he is still not signed I would guess that no one offered much over vet minimum. Could be that the other offers dried up and if he wants to play, Cincy is it. With Volson dinged and Patrick looking meh, why not, I guess. I have zero expectations tho.

[volcom69]

They need to do something at guard they have been pathetic and still are, so why not give Risner some money put him in and see what he does. Patrick has looked like ass all offseason making the DL look dominant. 

[volcom69]

Oh and just find a way to get Hendrickson deal done give him the freaking guarantee money please. He is to good for this team and he actually wants to be here so just do it 

[volcom69]

Ok after that game cut Patrick please that guy is a waste. Sign Risner, and have Rivers backup, Rivers has looked good at Guard. 

[ArmyBengal]

I have probably made arguments both for and against Trey.

I think it's tough to get rid of a guy that has gotten 17.5 sacks in back to back seasons.
I think he's earned making more than his current salary.
I think the defense will be worse if he isn't out there as a part of it.

However...

I think he's been a pissy little girl at times, having never bet on himself and then asking for more later.
I think if he does sign at this point, his ability to step right in week one will be less than ideal.
I think the thought of the defense sucking with him has merit.

Here's where I find myself as they head into the last fake game this Saturday.
If all is to be believed, the hang up is guaranteed money.  Everything else has been hammered out.
I have no idea however, how much or how long he wants guaranteed money.
The Bengals are reported to not offer anything after the first year.

Should they guarantee more?  Should it be longer?  Both?
Is it reasonable to suggest the Bengals are being stupid in their negotiations?
I really don't know to be honest.

I think the defense is better with Trey, but not sure that will matter "enough".
I'm at a point that moving on would almost be welcomed at this point with proper compensation.
Kind of a shit or get off the pot situation, because I'm tired of hearing about the shit already.

Is it week 1 yet?  Jesus...

[HoosierCat]

Set aside all the pontificating pundits, ragebait headlines and AI slop and what you see is....pretty standard operating procedure for this front office. Even Burrow passed a comment about how they usually wait to do things until right before week 1.

And Trey? Well, he traveled with the team to DC and was there mentoring the young guys. Doesn't look like a guy who is planning to sit out to me.

And last night we hear that the contract is done, everyone agrees on money and length, it's just the lack of guarantees beyond year 1 holding things up.

I see no reason to expect a deal won't get done. Likely the Bengals will offer some token year 2 guarantee that allows Trey's camp to claim a win and the whole affair will vanish down the same memory hole as the delays in extending Joe and Tee and Jamarr. And that, my friends, is a day to look forward to.

[AMPHAR]

Trey trying to get paid like he's going to produce 43 sacks the next 3 seasons like the last 3.  Bengals trying to get him on the field this year while playing the logic he's unlikely going to produce 43 sacks the next 3 years and don't want to be tied to him IF he declines. 

He's easily the best pass rusher I've seen.  They need him.  I have no ill will until it becomes reality he's missing games.

I see it both ways.  There's no need for him to rush to get to camp without pushing for the absolute top.  Bengals just watched Hubbard, Atkins and Dunlap experience declines.  Whitworth is the clear example as the opposite. 

But at the end of the day the money rumored to be offered to him is very likely NOT going to be there next year with a hold out AND he's still not guaranteed to be a FA because they have the tag.   So if he has a chance to cash a check for $35-40m this year then he's an idiot if he doesn't, IMO. 

 

[HoosierCat]

Risner cometh, Risner goeth. Off to Seattle and Pitt in search of the biggest bag.

[Stripes]

Hopefully the Bengals win the bid like they did with Fant. They need him.

[AMPHAR]

Risner will go with best combo of money and starting opportunity.   He and his agent should be breaking down the roster like fans do at this time.   There's 9/10 spots.   So I'd want to know who's leaving and how?   

Because IF they are just going to IR Volson.  That leaves him in a competition with Patrick/Ford.  Fine.  But does Seattle/Pitt have a better starting  job right now?  If Patrick's chest issue warrants IR spot then its a better landing spot.