Bengals, Trey Hendrickson facing a specific contract issue that could lead to holdout

The Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson are at a crossroads.

Broadly speaking, it's because they can't reach a contract extension agreement. But really, there's likely one specific holdup in the negotiations that could lead to a Hendrickson holdout if the problem isn't cleared up.

ESPN's Dan Graziano explained the situation in a new article released Wednesday:

"The Bengals' long-held rule was to guarantee no money outside of the first year -- specifically, the signing bonus," Graziano writes. "They broke this rule for quarterback Joe Burrow a couple of years ago and broke it again this year for (Ja'Marr) Chase and (Tee) Higgins. I don't know for a fact that future-year guarantees are the holdup in Hendrickson's deal, but it's a fair assumption to make based on what I've heard from sources."

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Graziano goes on to point out that Hendrickson is 30, while the three offensive stars were all 26 at the time of their extensions.

Hendrickson has a case for wanting a payday. He's put up 17.5 sacks each of the past two seasons.

But Cincinnati seems to be holding its ground. If Hendrickson wants to approach the $160 million over four years recently signed by Myles Garrett in Cleveland, that seems like it'll be a losing battle for the pass rusher.

Who will budge first? It may come down to those future-year guarantees, one way or the other.

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