[jwplayer Ms1vBFZx]
While 2020 has been odd for many reasons — it hasn’t been odd enough for the Cincinnati Bengals and A.J. Green to work out a long-term agreement and avoid the star wideout from playing 2020 on the franchise tag.
Green, one of the few tagged stars yet to sign his tender, has the same July 15 deadline for a long-term deal as anyone else. And there hasn’t been a peep about if from Paul Brown Stadium.
For good reason. Green’s injury history is extensive, he’s going on 32 years old and cap space isn’t plentiful like it has been in the past thanks to the expensive trip to free agency.
Don’t forget outside factors like players not being permitted at team facilities in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Circumstance says the logistics of a long-term deal just don’t work.
Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com put it best recently: “I think they’d love to sign him long-term. I also think they’d like to see him run a go route before they hand over the guarantee, but the timetables don’t look to be matched up.”
This was always going to come down to whether the Bengals actually got to see Green’s health status in person before the deadline. World events suggest that won’t happen. They’re not going to dish a massive extension to a guy who hasn’t played since the 2018 season based on a video conference or workout video.
Maybe that’s for the best. The Bengals limit their risk factor if Green plays on the tag and the wideout himself gets top dollar and a chance to prove himself before potentially hitting market and driving his price up even higher — in Cincinnati or otherwise.
While some have tabbed Green as the NFL’s biggest comeback player candidate, it’s unfortunate the Bengals might not get to make a normal assessment on the situation before the deadline next month.
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