Trey Hendrickson Mentioning Trade Has Bills Mafia Buzzing

We understand the origin of the idea of the The Buffalo Bills trying to trade for Myles Garrett.

But where did the idea of Bills Mafia being able to get its hands on Trey Hendrickson come from?

Cleveland Browns edge rusher Garrett, who is a finalist and favorite for his second-straight NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, has asked out of Ohio.

Bills fans know all about the player ... and the fan-driven movement to trade for him.

Myles had a career-high and NFL-leading 22 tackles-for-loss this season, paired with his 14 sacks. Garrett has recorded double-digit sacks and tackles-for-loss in the last seven NFL seasons. His team hasn't been much of a force when it comes to the Bills annual playoff push. But he certainly has.

So along comes guys like Robert Griffin III making their public pitches.

"The Buffalo Bills should doing everything they can to trade for Myles Garrett, who just requested a trade from the Browns." Griffin posted.

Very well.

But where is the legitimate media source that is connecting the Bills with Trey Hendrickson?

This gossip started somewhere, and it all seems to spring from a quote that may or may not be innocuous.

In an interview this week on ESPN's ‘Pat McAfee Show,’ the Bengals superstar edge Hendrickson - coming off a career-best 17.5 sacks - discussed his situation.

He talked of his future with the Bengals. He talked of potential contract extension there.

“Inevitably, the goal is to win a Super Bowl for Cincinnati,” he said, “What that looks like this season, whether it’s something we can agree on in terms, that would be great. …''

Obviously, that is his preference.

Hendrickson did mention, too, "If it’s something that helps the Bengals win a Super Bowl if they get picks or anything like that, I want to help win a Super Bowl for Cincinnati, if I’m there or not.”

Aha. So there is a hint at the possibility that Cincy might not be able to work out a deal.

But know this: Hendrickson, who is under contract through next season, mentioned the same idea of a trade a year ago. And the Bengals - wisely, to us - didn't budge.

And now? It doesn't sound like the Bengals are budging this time, either.

"We would like to get Trey extended?" exec Duke Tobin told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "Yes, he's an important part that played well for us, right? We can't have guys at the top of the payroll in every position, right? We'll do what we can. We'll do what we what we feel is right, and we will try to get Trey re-signed."

No Bills player this year had double-digit sacks, and only Gregory Rousseau had double-digit tackles-for-loss, with 16, to go along with a team-leading eight sacks.

Rousseau and Garrett would immediately become one of the premiere edge-rushing duos. But so would Rousseau and Hendrickson. 

Whether Garrett is the addition needed to get the Bills over the hump that is the Kansas City Chiefs remains to be seen, but he would be a major addition for a Bills team that is seen as the biggest contender to the Chiefs in the AFC.

This setup seems a far cry from that of Garrett, who is all but demanding to leave Ohio. But ... 

There is no denying Hendrickson's star quality. He's got 70.5 sacks in the last four years, putting him in a class with T.J. Watt (73.5) and Garrett (72). 

So if the Bengals ever sell? The Bills should try to buy. But unlike with Garrett, this hardly seems front-burner for the Bengals.