Bengals All-Professional DE Trey Hendrickson talks Lou Anarumo and Charlie Partridge at Radio Row

Radio Row on the Tremendous Bowl is an annual custom that options 1000’s of NFL media members, personnel, and gamers alike to cowl and report on the week main as much as the sport itself.

Since changing into a prevalent determine within the media, former Colts punter Pat McAfee has taken his present to Radio Row, and this yr isn’t any totally different. Previous and current NFL gamers are consistently shuffling out and in of McAfee’s in-house studio all through the week, and day one in all his look featured Bengals All-Professional defensive finish Trey Hendrickson.

The NFL’s sack chief in 2024, Hendrickson is ready to play out the ultimate deal of his contract in Cincinnati. Nonetheless, a disconnect between the Bengals’ gamers and their Director of Participant Personnel and de facto Common Supervisor, Duke Tobin, has muddied the water for Hendrickson and some of his well-regarded teammates in vast receivers Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Though Hendrickson touches on this example throughout the Bengals group throughout his interview with McAfee, he spent nearly all of his time talking about his profession to this point, together with a few shoutouts to his former defensive mentors in Lou Anarumo and Charlie Partridge, each of whom at the moment are teaching one state over for the Indianapolis Colts protection.

Trey Hendrickson’s tenure as a Cincinnati Bengal (2021-) has been led by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Since touchdown in Cincinnati, solely Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (60.0 sacks) and Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt (58.5 sacks) have totaled extra sacks than Hendrickson (57.0 sacks).

Hendrickson accredited his manufacturing in Cincinnati to Anarumo’s scheme, saying, “I used to be blessed to be productive below his scheme. I believe he does a superb job of creating it a really open room, that means you’ll be able to discuss to him about scheme. [As in] this doesn’t essentially match to what we predict we’re going to do to assault them. Very natural. He’s a pacesetter of elite males. He acquired guys at 4-8 to rally behind a trigger and proceed to win soccer video games.”

In 4 seasons below Anarumo, Hendrickson logged no fewer than eight sacks in a single season, with season sack totals of:

2021: 14.0 sacks

2022: 8.0 sacks

2023: 17.5 sacks

2024: 17.5 sacks (led NFL)

Moreover, Hendrickson took the time to shout out some former coaches of his that’ve in the end formed him into the NFL participant that he’s as we speak. Most notably, he introduced up present Colts defensive position coach Charlie Partridge, who was Hendrickson’s faculty head coach whereas at Florida Atlantic (2014-2016).

Partridge is ready to educate his second season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, and with Hendrickson’s future in Cincinnati on the ropes, might a possible reunion be on the horizon?

Communication between the gamers and the entrance workplace in Cincinnati has actually been on the forefront of points for numerous stars through the latter half of this season. Hendrickson expressed on The Pat McAfee Present that he’d desire to signal an extension to stay a Bengal, although he has no drawback being traded if which means the scenario in query is settled sooner quite than later.

If the Colts had been to make the decision, a worthwhile dialogue would possible start with a Day 2 draft decide and a contract extension to pair with it. Indianapolis might supply a bundle of DE Kwity Paye, who, like Hendrickson, has one yr remaining on his present contract, and their 2025 2nd Spherical Decide. How Cincinnati would reply stays to be seen, although Hendrickson’s objective of being ‘paid what he’s value’ means that any crew buying him by way of commerce must pony up a worthwhile extension to maintain him round for the lengthy haul.

Trey Hendrickson desires to keep away from a contract dispute lingering into OTAs and coaching camp in order that he can deal with offseason preparation within the meantime, in addition to get what he deserves salary-wise. To not point out, he made it identified that he doesn’t need to be compelled to play out his present deal both. His willingness to get a deal performed as quickly as attainable stays precedence primary, due to this fact, any NFL crew entertaining a commerce for Hendrickson in the end falls flat except they’re ready to again up the Brink’s vehicles alongside it.