NFL fans roasted the Bengals for being cheap about Tee Higgins' and Trey Hendrickson’s contracts

Just a few short seasons ago, the Cincinnati Bengals were the toast of the NFL. With Joe Burrow in tow, the Bengals won five playoff games over two postseasons, qualified for back-to-back AFC title games, and earned a berth in Super Bowl 56. Thanks to some trademark cheapness from owner Mike Brown, the Bengals now appear poised to squander all of that goodwill and slam their championship window shut.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson formally requested a trade, as contract negotiations with the organization have stalled. This comes on the heels of star receiver Tee Higgins also requesting a trade, also because his individual contract negotiations have largely gone nowhere.

For a team that probably still fancies itself a Super Bowl contender, there is no good reason for the Bengals to lose two of their best players other than a refusal to properly reward good work and effort:

It may not seem fair that the Bengals are being labeled stereotypically cheap at first glance. After all, according to Spotrac, they are 10th in cash payroll entering the 2024 NFL season. Per Over The Cap, they also only have under $20 million in effective cap space for 2024 — a number that doesn’t shift much in coming seasons and is assuredly not enough to pay a franchise defensive end and receiver at the same time.

Still, even with that in mind, the Bengals were rated last in the NFL in the NFLPA’s labor conditions survey for how little they invest in services and facilities for their players. They’re not exactly the picture of investing in their players.

Plus, perhaps more importantly, Joe Burrow was adamant that his monster contract extension from the fall would afford the Bengals enough flexibility to maintain a quality supporting cast around him for the long run. With only $146 million fully guaranteed on his deal — despite getting a chance to reset the market — it appears Burrow fulfilled his end of the bargain.

With Higgins and Hendrickson both unhappy about their financial futures, it doesn’t look like the Bengals are matching their quarterback’s energy.

The people I feel for most here are Bengals fans. After decades of anguish and frustrating football, they finally have a generational team with a real superstar quarterback and real championship aspirations. And it doesn’t look like management is interested in keeping the band together before they even win one.