Bring Florida Man Home, But Not Just Yet
April 25th, 2024
Pro Bowl DE demands trade.
So as often happens on the day before the draft, an NFL bombshell is detonated. This year, the site was Cincinnati.
Bengals Pro Bowl edge rusher Trey Hendrickson sees what edge rushers are making this offseason. And being 29, Hendrickson probably figures he can get one more bite of the apple.
Thus, he has demanded a trade. Of course, stingy Cincinnati owner Mike Brown won’t budge. Last year Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks. Only once in the past four seasons did Hendrickson not have at least 13.5 sacks.
Joe is not optimistic at all the Bucs will try to get him. Hell, the Bucs could have had Haason Reddick for peanuts and the Bucs turned their noses up at him like they smelled Gaines Adams’ corpse. Right now, $15 million for a proven edge rusher is friggin’ dirt cheap.
(Yeah, $15 million a year for a proven stud edge rusher is too expensive. That aged well, no?)
Never, ever, forget, barring a global pandemic, salaries do not go down. When people wail that a player is too expensive, the next year his salary is a bargain. It’s that simple.
There is a fair chance the Bucs tonight will once again try to find a pass rusher in the draft and hope in 2025, possibly Mike Evans’ last year, that he shows he belongs in the NFL. Double-digit sacks? Who knows.
Or, the Bucs could go out, make Brown an offer he can’t refuse in return for Hendrickson (a graduate of Warren Sapp Memorial High School), and get an established stud pass rusher.
In March of 2018, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht broke down, decided to give up a cherished third-round pick, and ship it to the Giants for Jason Pierre-Paul, 29.
It was the heist of the century. Maybe the second-best move Licht ever made. Instead of the Bucs using that third-round pick on the next Charles Sims or Sneak Vaughn, the Bucs got one of the best pass rushers in the game.
Little did we know it at the time, but JPP would turn out to be one of the foundational rocks in a Super Bowl-winning team. All for a dang third-round pick.
Even if the Bucs somehow talked Brown into letting go of Hendrickson, Joe doesn’t see a trade before June 1. The Bengals would take a nasty cap hit trading Hendrickson. Not as bad if they wait until after June 1.
This Bucs franchise, over the past 40-plus years, has been inept in drafting and developing a first-round pick of an edge rusher. Not since Lee Roy Selmon have the Bucs pulled that off.
Yeah, when Grandpa was in high school.
Yet in the Bucs’ history, they have been pretty good in trading for or signing edge rushers. Simeon Rice and JPP spring to mind. Might Hendrickson be the next?
Lavonte David, Chris Godwin and Evans aren’t going to last forever. It’s not hyperbole to suggest the future is now.
If the Bucs somehow can come up with Johnny Newton tonight and then later trade for Hendrickson, brother, Joe sure as hell wouldn’t want to line up against the Bucs’ front-seven.
April 25th, 2024 at 12:26 am
Glad you could squeeze in one last edge rusher rant before the big day. Hope your dreams come true over the next 3 days.
April 25th, 2024 at 12:50 am
“Bucs turned their noses up at him like they smelled Gaines Adams’ corpse.”
What an awful thing to say. TF is wrong with you??
April 25th, 2024 at 12:50 am
If he all for it!
Question though- if Bowles can’t coach up d-lineman / edge, why even bother drafting them? Just keep buying in FA
April 25th, 2024 at 12:51 am
* I’d be all for it^
April 25th, 2024 at 12:53 am
Joe, what’s the story? on that guy Washington just released.
April 25th, 2024 at 1:08 am
We don’t have cap space. I don’t understand why you don’t understand.
April 25th, 2024 at 1:14 am
Thanks Joe! My wish was granted, haha.
April 25th, 2024 at 1:34 am
This move could work out. If the Bengals wouldn’t want to cut him prior to June 1st because of the cap, that gives the Bucs time to get their cap fixed up with restructures.
April 25th, 2024 at 1:55 am
You make cap space with ramming thru Winfield and Wirfs extensions. They will just want too much. If Coen was entering year 2 with a better record fhan Canales last year, and we were borderline contenders in everyone’s eyes… I could see them making big swings.
A home run draft here and fingers crossed we are there next year, wouldn’t be mad if they took the big swings now though.
April 25th, 2024 at 1:56 am
Bengals will want too much, not Wirfs and Winfield. Damn.
April 25th, 2024 at 2:02 am
Gaines Adams corpse? Come on man. Shameful.
April 25th, 2024 at 2:05 am
I like Hendrickson a lot. I wanted us to draft him coming out. That said, we are clearly in the mode of shifting to a younger cheaper roster and trying to develop our guys. Frankly I’d rather take a swing at developing and playing Watts than I would giving up draft capital and a high salary to a nearly 30 year old player.
April 25th, 2024 at 2:07 am
The Bengals don’t want to part ways with Hendrickson, if they do it probably won’t be for a 3rd round pick. Referencing Gaines Adam’s corpse was totally classless.
April 25th, 2024 at 2:18 am
That Gains Adam’s comment was classless and trashy. I would expect that from someone who has a drinking problem. Usually alcoholics, spew vomit out their mouth through words.
April 25th, 2024 at 2:35 am
Wow your comment about Gaines Adams (may he rest peacefully) was incredibly cringe and gross. Shameful.
April 25th, 2024 at 3:00 am
for those who don’t know Gaines Adams was a 26 year old former buc that met an untimely death due to a heart condition
I join the chorus of fans here – shameful to anyone who thought that would be funny or insightful and if You knew him or were related (no that long ago) please take solace in the many comments deploring the crass reference.
April 25th, 2024 at 3:15 am
Meanwhile
A) this isn’t a bombshell because they are unlikely to trade him
B) I don’t know why its STILL so hard for some to figure out bucs were always less likely to get Hassan being in the same conference.
April 25th, 2024 at 3:38 am
Agree with you guys, Joe that was a disrespectful thing to say about Gaines. I remember him apologizing about his play only to find out later after he was dumped that he had a deadly disease. You have confused disrespect with humor. Low life thing to write. Joe what the hell is wrong with you?
April 25th, 2024 at 4:04 am
Get a grip ladies, take a midol or something. You people carrying on about being offended over joke is the most 2024 thing ever. The guy died 14 yrs ago. #tOo sOoN. Fart noise.
April 25th, 2024 at 4:19 am
Jeebs the Honey Bear … ‘We don’t have cap space. I don’t understand why you don’t understand.’
Neither do I. Bucs currently sit at #32 in the NFL with only $398,298 in Top-51 CAP space at present. We have close to zero wiggle room. We could free up some more by redoing contracts for Godwin, Vea & Dean but that’s about it (not sure that JL wants to do longer deals for any of those 3 actually).
Right now Wirfs is costing us $18.2 mil this year on his 5th year contract, and Winfield is costing us $17.1 mil on his franchise tag. They both have the leverage at this point because we NEED both of them to be competitive, and their Market Value is over what we’re now paying them. Freeing up 2024 $$$ by re-signing them means we’ll be kicking the can even further down the street. It’s called ‘Rock meets hard place’.
In terms of adding another expensive player to the roster (Trey Henrickson?), Licht & Bowles would love to I’m sure, but I just can’t see it happening … because of money. We have little choice but to build through the draft & plug holes with relatively inexpensive veterans.
April 25th, 2024 at 4:50 am
The corpse of Gaines Adams is probably the worst turn of phrase you guys have ever used and that’s saying a lot. What’s wrong with you?
April 25th, 2024 at 6:40 am
Gofortheface30 Says:
April 25th, 2024 at 4:04 am
The guy died 14 yrs
—-
we know – to a nine year old that sounds like a long time ago.
April 25th, 2024 at 6:43 am
It would be a dream come true if we could get Hendrickson, but the Bengals are not getting rid of him quite yet. We have other areas to spend money on.
Still cheering for Jared Verse too.
April 25th, 2024 at 6:45 am
What you eluded to but didn’t say in the article is that Hendrickson wants a contract that is commensurate with the top pass rushers. Nick Bosa is making $34M per season. I would love to have him at $15M per year but he won’t play for that. I don’t see us paying him a new contract before we resign Wirfs and Winfield either.
April 25th, 2024 at 6:56 am
Joe I agree with the others
Your comment about Gains Adams was definitely classless. He may of not been a good football player but he was still somebody’s son , brother or father..
Let the man rest in peace.. I sure hope a relative of Gains doesn’t read your post.
April 25th, 2024 at 7:04 am
Could have used an ASJ reference instead of Gaines Adams……
Joe is a great writer and smart guy…..certainly can do better…..I’ll chalk it up to Edge Rush Mania…….
April 25th, 2024 at 7:19 am
Joe he signed an extension last year 20223. Don’t think they would trade him.
April 25th, 2024 at 7:21 am
These wishful articles are kinda pointless. Not Gonna Happen.
April 25th, 2024 at 7:25 am
Gaines Adam’s corpse? Yikes.
April 25th, 2024 at 7:42 am
Team already informed him that they have no intentions of trading him. Do better. Absolute POS thing to say about Gaines Adams. I hope one of these days you have to answer to someone for the cowardly disrespect you display from behind a computer. Can’t imagine anyone on the team thinks of you and your platform very highly with comments like that.
April 25th, 2024 at 8:03 am
I come to expect a little edge on reporting from Joe, that why I seek my info here. If I want vanilla I’ll go to MFL.com. Stop being a snowflake.
April 25th, 2024 at 8:05 am
The class thing to do would be to edit your article and remove your poor attempt at humor. Most likely, your arrogance will prevent that from happening.
April 25th, 2024 at 8:06 am
Gaines Adams comment was very bad taste. Shame.
April 25th, 2024 at 8:22 am
Only after the draft and it sinks in with the Browns that something is better than nothing. Don’t trade for him tonight or over the weekend
April 25th, 2024 at 8:22 am
Tony – everyone dies. Hate to break it to you champ, maybe your old man should have a heart to heart with you about the hard realities of life one day. When I die, by all means crack jokes. I won’t care. I can promise you Gaines Adams doesn’t. He’s prob in some other galaxy millions of light yrs away living his best life in the meta verse, who gives a f. Don’t break that pearl necklace from clutching them so hard. What happened to democrats, they used to be the cool party. Now you guys are f’ing lame
April 25th, 2024 at 8:28 am
I wanted the team to sign him instead of Shaq on that last contract. Different type of players but Shaq had his great run that Super Bowl year vs back up tackles and/or players out of their normal position. Still one of the all time great playoff runs by Shaq.
April 25th, 2024 at 8:35 am
Joe wrote
“This Bucs franchise, over the past 40-plus years, has been inept in drafting and developing a first-round pick of an edge rusher. Not since Lee Roy Selmon have the Bucs pulled that off.”
Let alone “develop” a franchise qb instead grabbing Mr. Trash Heap Mr. Winsome Losesome Baker Mayfield with his glorious professional record and his band of fangirls, and thinking he did something against bad defenses but ignite the fact he doesn’t against good ones. That’s what we’re left with.
April 25th, 2024 at 8:39 am
If we resigned Wirfs and Winfield we could kick the can down the road far enough to sign that guy, but he is 29. I kinda doubt he is gonna play for $15 million of he would just play for the Bengals. Honestly, Brown is not going to just let him go. Interesting article, though.
PS: you really should consider apologizeing for the Adams remark. A simple Mia Culpa would suffice.
April 25th, 2024 at 8:43 am
Of, and thanx a lot for the grandpa comment about Leroy. Yeah…I was in high school.
April 25th, 2024 at 9:14 am
Gofortheface- It’s not about shock that people die. It’s the crassness of someone whose whole business is predicated on building relationships with current and former Bucs players and staff to say something so lowbrow. Not Joe’s finest moment. Joe’s business is not predicated on anything of the sort. The moment Joe starts worrying about relationships with the Bucs, then that’s the moment gets a big step toward being worthless and not credible in this space. –Joe
April 25th, 2024 at 9:22 am
[No Joe did not! He ripped the tired stunt to try to drum up money for said charity and in fact Joe said he would donate personally to that very same charity if that tired stunt was stopped. Lying about Joe is a good way to get run. — Joe.]
April 25th, 2024 at 9:40 am
I’ve been a huge fan of this site for years and I read the articles a lot more than I post but I had to say something about that Gaines Adams comment. What crappy comment from you Joe! That disrespect is outrageous and you should be ashamed but I bet you aren’t at all.
April 25th, 2024 at 9:43 am
If you don’t like Joe’s jokes then leave and never come back.
Problem solved…
WAAAAAAAA!!!!!
The site would be better without you little lifeless worms.
April 25th, 2024 at 9:46 am
That Gaines Adams comment was tasteless, you’re better than that Joe
April 25th, 2024 at 9:58 am
Perhaps Cincy would take ‘lawnchair dean’ off our hands with that fat contract of his, for Mr. Proven Trey Hendrickson’?
Oh yeah, a man can dream now, can’t he?
Hey, dumber things have happened you know, like when the Bucs traded the rights to earl campbell back in the day….
April 25th, 2024 at 10:04 am
Knew this was another ‘midnight’ Edge Rusher Article. The Bucs are NOT a Super Bowl Contenders. PERIOD. This would be (same as Reddick) another ‘All-In’ move. Only a ‘one-year’ rental for WHAT!? They are NOT handing a 30-year old (December, I think) EDGE a what… Probably, 5yr/$150/MIL/$100MIL fully guaranteed CONTRACT.
April 25th, 2024 at 10:06 am
Taking shots at the dead is ok, but not having a pass rush is the problem. Got it.
April 25th, 2024 at 10:09 am
Then you are not serious about winning and teams not serious about winning don’t want to win.
If the Bucs are not all-in, then they should be or they should have starting selling off spare parts months ago. If the Bucs weren’t gunning for a Super Bowl why bring back a 31-year old receiver and a 34-year old linebacker?
It’s one or the other. Which is it? Joe chooses to follow the money.
April 25th, 2024 at 10:25 am
Joe, you are completely missing the important factor with these guys. Just like Reddick he wants 25-30 million per year. The trade compensation might be peanuts (as you put it) but these guys are being traded for a reason. They are demanding insane money. We already ae going to have to pay big money to Mayfield, Evans, Godwin, Wirfs, and Winfield. The math doesn’t add up to be able to pay one of these guys. Unless Joe wants to start a “Go fund me” page.
April 25th, 2024 at 10:30 am
Gofortheface30 Says:
April 25th, 2024 at 8:22 am
TDon’t break that pearl necklace from clutching them so hard. What happened to democrats, they used to be the cool party. Now you guys are f’ing lame
—
I am a Republican Conservative nitwit. People dying doesn’t mean I have to talk about their corpse smelling. Now go and watch someone getting kicked in the nuts for your highest rated humor
April 25th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Wow, a lot of people getting their panties in a bunch over the Gaines Adam’s comment. 😂 😢
Anyway, totally agree. They need to do what they got to do and then figure out if they can make a strong play for him towards the end of May.
My guess is they could get him for next years 2nd rounder and throw in JTS.
April 25th, 2024 at 10:36 am
Oh… and for those saying, they can’t do it because of the salary cap, where there’s a will there is a way. He could easily be a four-year deal backloaded because at that time Evans and LVD will be off the books.
Of course they still need to go out there and give Tristan 20 million per year
April 25th, 2024 at 10:37 am
George R Says:
April 25th, 2024 at 7:19 am
Joe he signed an extension last year 20223. Don’t think they would trade him.
—
Yep and they give in to his trade demand because he wants to leverage more dollars then they open the door to similar stunts from other players. If they do let him go it won’t be for cheap. Just a third sounds like daydreaming to me.
April 25th, 2024 at 10:54 am
YES PLEASE DO IT JASON
April 25th, 2024 at 10:59 am
You might wanna do a little damage control and apologize for that one Joe.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:03 am
You are a dumbass using Gaines Adams quote wow new low
April 25th, 2024 at 11:08 am
WTF? How dare you make a reference like that? Gaines Adams death was absolutely tragic. You reference it as a throwaway line? What is wrong with you?
April 25th, 2024 at 11:15 am
The triggered left and right Buc fans over a man’s statement. Priceless! 😛😛😛
April 25th, 2024 at 11:22 am
Wow, you are definitely better than that comment Joe come on. For those crying about the people taking offense you are crying about crying endless circle people can strive to be better nothing wrong with that.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Hey, that comment about Gaines may have been less tasteful than necessary. But, the Joes make lots of off-center comments to make a point and to to make these pages more interesting. It isn’t a federal offense.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:49 am
It isnt a federal offense to say you don’t like something either.
April 25th, 2024 at 12:38 pm
Not a fan of Reddick and that move for the Bucs but I would love to see this dawg in our locker room. This is what we need, a proven double digit pass rusher/defensive end. I just don’t think Reddick was a good fit for our scheme but this guy would be freaking perfect. I know we don’t have the cap space and this is not truly possible but this guy is one of the greats still playing ball right now. 17.5 sacks?! And he can stop the run. I’m all for FA pass rushers because they are so hard to judge and evaluate coming out of college. Proven pass rushers are much much easier to judge. I know Cinci isn’t going to budge on this guy but it’s definitely worth a phone call from Licht.
April 25th, 2024 at 12:49 pm
“turned their noses up at him like they smelled Gaines Adams’ corpse.”
yikes! what a distasteful comment. You guys are better than that.
April 25th, 2024 at 1:45 pm
Whoa, people not giving jo a little slack and playing ‘gotcha” over gaines adams bothers me way more than the surprisingly powerful line did. no one,and im sure that includes Joe, has bad intent. you gotta sell advertising and that means trigger emotions, a game we require that our writers play. That is misguided. Joe doesn’t play games. This reference was sarcasm. Joe can’t make anyone understand that if they don’t want to. It’s not meant to trigger emotions and there’s not one thought to writing for advertising here in this space. The day Joe has to worry deeply about feelings of Bucs players, management and fans, then Joe is cooked and should hang up the keyboard. If fans think the comment was in poor taste, that’s ok. Joe hears it and considers it.–Joe
and yes, we are sorry mr. adams was denied so much by a power none of us can control.
April 25th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
Justifying a he comment with sarcasm is the lames excuse in the planet
You can make a point without using someone’s memory and corpse
Stop with the excuses and the triggers it’s call empathy which is a human trait
April 25th, 2024 at 3:17 pm
I think all the Joe’s suck the D
April 25th, 2024 at 3:52 pm
Dude!
Not cool.
April 25th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
Nice censorship job Joe..
Another credential for your application.
April 25th, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Btw Joe
You gonna donate the same amount that Eisen brings in? Doubtful.
I mean your site here has every inch covered with ads, but your not gonna match it are you?