Calling Cincinnati Bengals holdout Trey Hendrickson a ‘generational talent,’ Vice President JD Vance hatched a plan to preserve his favorite NFL team’s defense by getting the All-Pro edge rusher back to the Jungle.
‘It’s very hard to get a guy like that,’ Vance told podcaster Theo Von of Hendrickson, a 30-year-old defensive end coming off his best NFL season. ‘Like, I’m a big football fan, but edge rushers have become, it’s almost where left tackles were 10 or 15 years ago when everyone realized there’s this really underpaid position that you got to have.’
With that in mind, the native of southwest Ohio made a pitch to Hendrickson that relies largely on the Florida Atlantic product’s political persuasion.
‘Here’s what I have to say to Trey, if you’re watching the show: If you’re a Republican, I will show up to a Bengals game and take a photo with you if you sign with the Bengals,’ Vance said. ‘And if you’re a Democrat, I’ll stay the hell away.’
Hendrickson has vowed not to play or participate in offseason practices without a new contract. Mandatory minicamp begins on Tuesday.
The Bengals have faced a salary cap crunch since signing quarterback Joe Burrow’s favorite targets Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to contract extensions totaling $276 million this offseason. Currently the two star receivers account for less than 17 percent of the team’s cap figure, but that figure balloons to more than 20 percent in 2028, making a long-term deal for Hendrickson a bit more complicated.
JD Vance is pictured alongside Theo Von, a former cast member of MTV’s Road Rules
Trey Hendrickson has been vocal about his contract situation and is digging in for a long fight
In fact, the Bengals needed to cut veteran linebacker Germaine Pratt on Monday, making the 29-year-old the team’s latest cap casualty.
Of course, those details don’t matter much to Vance, who, like most fans, just wants to see his favorite players back in uniform.
‘Just sign with the Bengals because we got a chance, man,’ Vance said. ‘I say this every year, but with Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, if we get our defense and our offensive line, we could have a true championship run.’
And Hendrickson isn’t the only defensive player currently on the sidelines.
First-round pick Shemar Stewart, a defensive end from Texas A&M, and second-round pick Demetrius Knight II, a former South Carolina linebacker, are both in team meetings, but sat out of drills during organized team activities (OTAs) because they decided against signing the requisite waivers.
Meanwhile, defensive end and hometown favorite Sam Hubbard retired, leaving the Bengals with another hole on defense.
The inconsistent Bengals missed the playoffs at 9-8 last season while surrendering 348.3 yards per game – more than all but seven NFL teams.
Cincinnati also surrendered a touchdown on 67.9 percent of opponent’s red-zone possessions, the third-worst rate in the NFL
The Cincinnati Bengals cut Germaine Pratt on Monday, making the veteran linebacker the team’s latest cap casualty after this off-season’s spending spree
Despite the absence of Hendrickson and the inactivity of Stewart and Knight, new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden was pleased with his other players’ efforts during OTAs.
‘We can push the limits of our core fundamentals,’ he told reporters in Cincinnati last week. ‘We can try to see how many concepts we can efficiently get to, which I think is important, and then draw on that in training camp.
‘Although it’s not as physical or perhaps as long as training camp, this does serve as a springboard and great foundation for us. Without this segment, it’s hard to start off where you want, so that’s why there’s urgency right now for us.’
Specifically, Golden is working to teach young defensive players the assignments of their teammates so that everyone is on the same page whenever on-field adjustments are made.
‘When you sit in on those unit meetings and you look at the pre-practice work and all the stuff that they’re getting as a unit, it’s a very hungry group,’ head coach Zac Taylor told reporters. ‘Al’s done a great job setting the standard in that room. The position coaches have followed suit, so I’m really excited about the direction that group’s heading.’
Golden previously served as the Bengals’ linebackers coach in 2020 and 2021, when he worked directly with Pratt, before moving on to Notre Dame for three seasons.
