Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson broke his silence early this week on his contract standoff with the team.
While doing so, Hendrickson revealed that one of the biggest reasons for his surprise appearance and 20-plus-minute media session was a text message from Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.
Hendrickson told reporters that a text message from Taylor warning him about possible fines for missing mandatory camp in a few weeks played a big role.
“Fines are a part of the NFL. We will take them as they come. I thought this was a little early to be talking about fines, personally, with how I’ve conducted myself and protecting the organization,” Hendrickson said, according to WLWT’s Charlie Clifford.
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Hendrickson went out of his way to still praise Taylor throughout the interview. But he stressed that the fact the message had to come at all seemed to imply the idea that a contract extension wouldn’t happen.
Hence, Hendrickson showing up and giving his side of the story. Why Taylor was sending that warning message almost three weeks before mandatory minicamp is hard to say, but it’s also unlikely it was anything other than a courtesy.
Either way, Hendrickson felt the need to show up and speak publicly, with the text message and recent public comments the motivators.
#Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson said he received a text from HC Zac Taylor 30 days before mandatory minicamp warning he’d be fined if he didn’t show up — something that frustrated him, especially given the poor communication from the team throughout the offseason.
Hendrickson also… pic.twitter.com/VEJBYby0Il
RELATED: Trey Hendrickson, Bengals standoff gets uglier with DE’s scathing message
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson showed up after Zac Taylor message
Reporting by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire / Bengals Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
