Trey Hendrickson on Contract Talks With Bengals, Decision to END Holdout

Cincinnati Bengals On SI

Transcript

00:00Prior to leaving to Florida, I was here 30 days in Cincinnati, so the goal was always to be in Cincinnati.

00:06Some things transpired. It became public that I left to go to Florida,

00:11but it was never something that I wasn't going to be here to help the 2025 Bengals.

00:18Why did you set the Coke to practice today, Val?

00:21Like I said, the plan was to be here day one.

00:25Like I said, things transpired. Nothing's really changed.

00:29So being here, just acclimating with the guys, that was a priority for my wife and I.

00:35How did you describe a process with the front office? Have things progressed? Are you optimistic?

00:42I think I answered that two questions ago. Things are exactly the same.

00:47What I'm not going to do is, as best as I can, avoid being a distraction.

00:52I want to help the guys. The guys that have helped me along the way, Demario Davis, Cam Jordan,

00:57and even Sam Hubbard helped me a lot when I was here.

01:00So to be that right now, I think that's what's most important,

01:04and this narrative will kind of iron itself out as we continue to progress towards the season.

01:10Cam, you're working with Jamar Stewart quite a bit.

01:12How valuable do you think that is for him right now to work with him?

01:15Well, I mean, Cam Jordan was so valuable to me when I was, you know, maturing in the NFL,

01:20and I feel like he's in that state.

01:22So if I can help him in any way, that's my goal for being here.

01:26And like I said, you know, the plan was to be here day one.

01:29Things transpired.

01:30You know, news happened to me, and, you know, we just kind of make decisions as we go.

01:36There's no blueprint on what to do, how to do it.

01:40We're just going to stand true to what being Hendrickson means to us

01:44and moving forward from that.

01:46Is we're trying still to play just on a new dealer for the end of the season as kind of a better on yourself?

01:52I think not only I've mentioned it multiple times this offseason,

01:55but also I believe ownership has as well that there are plans on not having to play under the current deal.

02:04So I think that's something we have a common goal to get to.

02:07I think that's the plan moving forward is, like, you know, no distractions.

02:13I'm excited to be here.

02:14I think it's great seeing the brotherhood that's been created here, and, you know, it's special.

02:20Are you optimistic that something gets done?

02:22I mean, I think everyone's feeling you coming back.

02:24It's potentially getting a little bit closer to you.

02:26Well, you know, I think optimism is a, you know, I think it's just a one day at a time.

02:33I'm going to be the best Trey Hendrickson I can be, whatever that looks like.

02:37And like I said, I'm not going to be here to be a distraction, do this for 20 minutes, not interested.

02:42I'm going to go back to the way it's been the last four years.

02:46I'm very excited about that.

02:48So, you know, get it while you can.

02:51Personally for you, you've done more media than you've ever done in the last few months.

02:55How are you handling all this personally?

02:59Well, I'm a firm believer of hard work works.

03:01The work I've done in the last four years, five years, eight years in the NFL is done.

03:07I can't do any more at this time to rush the passer on Sundays.

03:11The hay's in the barn.

03:12It's just whether we agree or not.

03:15It's what you're looking for in the deal.

03:16Has that changed at all?

03:17You told us back on the phone or we spray.

03:19Is that pretty much still what you're looking for and what you would like?

03:22Yeah, I think I've been saying it for years.

03:23You guys can look that up.

03:24I'm not interested in going over what I've said before.

03:27I think everything's out there.

03:29Now it's just like focusing on this defense, like how I can help, how I can mentor,

03:34how I can be a part of it in this weird process that we're going through.

03:39I've always talked about your presence being a difference maker in that ability.

03:43As a guy who's been here for several years,

03:44are you aware that your presence makes a difference to young defense trying to grow?

03:49Well, what I can say is that I'm blessed to have the opportunity to give wisdom

03:54and knowledge that I've gotten from other players.

03:56To hold that as my own and say that I know everything is not true.

04:00I'm looking forward to learning and adapting into this 2025 defense however I can when that time comes.

04:06But for right now, like I said, nothing has really changed.

04:09My perspective and my wife talked about it, prayed about it.

04:13What are we going to do?

04:14How are we going to handle what's been conveyed to us?

04:17And I think punishing the young players and not being a part of their development

04:23would be a selfish act.

04:25So to come back, you know, quote-unquote, it was never the plan to leave.

04:30So being here for those guys is something I look forward to doing soon.

04:33Trey, why don't you know, practicing, what's the key to being ready for a week after the football's game?

04:38I'm always ready.

04:39You know, I think that's something that I take a lot of pride in,

04:42training hard in the office and getting bigger, faster, stronger.

04:45I think I tell Jeff Hobbs the same thing every offseason when we've been here together the last two years.

04:51So how I train, I'm not worried about.

04:54If I'm going to be ready, I'm not worried about it.

04:57You know, hopefully everything works out that we don't have to worry about anything like that.

05:02You feel like you put a ton of work in, you put a lot of production in.

05:04How good is it for you to be recognized maybe as one of the best?

05:09Recognition is not something I'm chasing.

05:10It's not.

05:11I think I've made my statements clear.

05:13Security is something that I value.

05:16And tell my wife where we're going to play.

05:18You know, those are things that matter to me.

05:20I can't talk about statistics.

05:22I can't talk about recognition or anything like that.

05:25I think when you get those things, it's an honor and a privilege,

05:28and I'm blessed to have some of the athletes I do, but I don't chase those things.

05:33What's the conversation been like with Al as you've kind of tried to figure out

05:36what the defense is going to look like from afar?

05:37How much have you talked to Al to get a feel of kind of what he wants the unit to look like,

05:40what he wants your role of advice this season?

05:42Yeah, you know, in the short time I've been in these meetings, it's been encouraging.

05:46I think he's a very wise coach.

05:48He's been here before, you know, so nothing but respect for him.

05:53And moving forward, we'll see what transpires.

05:57So, I think that's been, what, five minutes?

06:00So, maybe one or two more.

06:03Have you noticed, there's been a lot of talk, Trey, about the energy, the young guys,

06:08the conference, the young players.

06:09You've been around, I know, just one day.

06:11Can you sense it?

06:12Can you notice what the defense is putting out there as far as their energy?

06:16Yeah, I think a ton of raw talent.

06:19You know, when you see guys with the athletic ability that they have and the tools with not

06:24only the coach's scheme and how they fit within it, I think it's really exciting, like we were

06:29talking about earlier.

06:30So, I have confidence in them and what they can do.

06:33I hope that I can give them something that I've learned in the past in the time I'm here

06:38doing whatever this is.

06:40The front office is pretty open about saying, we'd rather give him a raise.

06:43Like, they've been pretty, they're not always as vocal about that kind of stuff they were

06:46with you.

06:47What does that, what does that, how did you interpret that, the fact that they were pretty

06:50open about, listen, we know he's outperformed this contract, we want to make that happen.

06:54Yeah.

06:54What was your, what was your response when they said something like that?

06:56Well, I've played the last four years and represented this ownership wherever I've gone.

07:01On Sundays, I'm wearing stripes, you know, so that's something that for them to talk

07:05about me in high regard is a special thing.

07:09You know, if you told me that when I was 18 years old, that that would happen, part of

07:13me would, my heart would be warm.

07:15Circumstantially, I'm more excited to getting something done.

07:18But, you know, as we continue to go through this process, I plan on handling it with respect

07:23to Zach Taylor, to the 2025 Bengals and not being a distraction in any way, shape or form.

07:39I plan on handling it with respect to Zach Taylor, to the 2025 Bengals and not being a

07:42larva, it's only the 2nd oferton, but being a traveler strikes, and I plan on Hayat

07:46and say, take a step, comment in any way, shape or form.

07:50Available by Nero and 5362.

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