Georgia great AJ Green is one of the most humble, drama-free players in the NFL.
However, when it came time to step up and think about himself first, Green did so.
Good for Green, who has sat the whole season, a contract year, with injury.
Last offseason, Green said multiple times that he would like to stay in Cincinnati and finish his career there.
The two parties have not reached a deal that would allow him to play out the rest of his career in Cincy, and the Bengals have said they would franchise tag Green if they could not reach a long-term deal.
To that, Green responded that he would play the regular season, but will skip OTAs and maybe training camp.
A.J. Green said if he is franchise tagged he would definitely not be participating in any of the OTAs and maybe not all of training camp next year.
On TC: "I don't know. It's still a business."
On proving he's healthy in offseason: "I don't have to prove anything to nobody."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 18, 2019
Green, 31, would be paid $18m next season if he is tagged by the Bengals.
Green gets that, but he said it makes him feel like the team is not committed to him.
“But that also shows that they’re not committed, and in that circumstance,” Green told ESPN, “I have to protect myself.”
If the Bengals do tag Green, they will have until July to reach a deal before the tag turns into a one year contract.
If no deal is reached, Green will not participate in much preseason training.
Can you blame him, though? He’s on the wrong side of 30, he has a history of getting injured and he’s still one of the best receivers in the NFL when healthy.
He does not need training camp or OTAs anyway. He’s AJ Green.
Why risk injuring yourself in practice when you’re franchise tagged rather than under a long-term deal?
