Cincinnati Bengals fans might be surprised at the reported view quarterback Joe Burrow has on the Trey Hendrickson contract situation.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Burrow does not blame the team for its inability to get something done with Hendrickson, who is in the midst of a holdout as he seeks a contract extension.
Instead, for whatever reason, Burrow blames himself.
"I checked with a source, and I was told that Burrow really doesn't blame people behind the scenes, front offices, coaching staff, other players, when it comes to football operations," Fowler reported.
"He puts it all on his shoulders and says, 'Hey, we have to get this done. I'm the quarterback of this franchise, let's do it.' But he does acknowledge that this is a distraction, that getting Hendrickson done is important."
While that's an admirable position to have, Burrow doesn't have any control over the Bengals' wallet, otherwise this thing would be done already and Hendrickson would be paid what he's worth.
Instead, the Bengals have reportedly offered Hendrickson a deal that would pay him $28 million annually, which simply isn't enough for a top-five pass-rusher who has more sacks than any edge rusher over the past two years.
According to Over the Cap, at exactly $28 million per, Hendrickson would rank eighth at the position behind T.J. Watt, who signed his contract in 2021.
Fowler added in his report that Hendrickson remains "dug in" and that missing games is very much on the table for him.