NFL reporter takes a shot at Bengals amid Trey Hendrickson drama by using Derrick Henry's new contract extension as ammo

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated May 14, 2025 5:36 PM ET

While the Cincinnati Bengals are in a standoff with Trey Hendrickson over his contract demands, the Baltimore Ravens are committing real money to an All-Pro player of their own.

Running back Derrick Henry is set to sign a two-year contract extension worth $30 million. The deal includes $25 million in guarantees according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Henry turned 31 years old back in January, and Hendrickson turns 31 this December, The contrast of their situations caught the attention of another NFL insider.

James Palmer of Underdog and Bleacher Report used the Henry extension to take an apparent shot at the Bengals.

So an organization is rewarding a player on the “wrong side of 30” who continues to perform at a very high level. Not all organizations think the same. https://t.co/FzT0SpZfVh
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) May 14, 2025

The timing of Henry's extension agreement and the latest update on Hendrickson's plight makes it clear who Palmer is referring to here. Hendrickson released a statement to ESPN Monday expressing his clear frustration about the Bengals' alleged lack of communication since the 2025 NFL Draft. He then showed up to voluntary workouts Tuesday and talked to reporters for nearly 30 minutes about the situation.

"What was conveyed of the vision of what I would be and this organization would be, if I continue to play at the level I am, that the door would be open to continue long term discussions about contracts," Hendrickson said to reporters Tuesday. "So it's one of those things that we're just not seeing eye-to-eye on the structure. And seems that a shorter deal is something that they are pushing pretty hard. That puts us in the same place I was in 2022 where I have to renegotiate the next year, because if goals are the same and [I'm] playing at a better level than I did last year, then next year, we're just kicking the can down the road."

Hendrickson has used the past two days to speak his truth, and subsequently has put the franchise on blast in an effort to garner leverage from the public. He already has J.J. Watt and other notable NFL defensive linemen going to bat for him.

It seems he's got another supporter in Palmer.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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