Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are reporting that the Bengals currently plan to franchise tag WR A.J. Green before the upcoming deadline.
According to ESPN, Cincinnati wants to ensure Green is back in 2020 either via the tag or a long-term extension.
This confirms a report from Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who mentioned a few days ago that the Bengals were planning to franchise Green if they can’t get a long-term extension in place before the tag deadline.
Dragon reports that the ongoing CBA discussions have stalled contract talks between the Bengals and key players like Green and RB Joe Mixon, who will be entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2020.
The Bengals have maintained that they plan on bringing Green back this offseason, so this shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
The franchise tag would cost the Bengals around $18 million fully guaranteed for the 2020 season, but it would also buy them time to negotiate an extension.
Green said previously that he’d be fine with the franchise tag, but his preference would be to get a long-term extension done.
“I have no problem with the franchise [tag],” Green said. “I don’t like it, but I’m not a guy that’s going to sit out the whole year. But at the end of the day, that shows me they’re not committed to me. That’s fine. They have a business they have to run. As the player, I have my own business, so if you do that I have to protect myself.
“If you’re not committed to me long-term, I understand. There are no hard feelings. You have a business to run. All great businesses face difficult decisions. I understand that. For me, I have to make a big decision as well.”
Green, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Bengals back in 2011. He just finished the final year of his five-year, $70.176 million contract that included $26.75 million guaranteed and set to make a base salary $11.97 million in 2019.
Green has landed on injured reserve each of the past two seasons after undergoing surgery for torn ligaments in his toe in 2018 and tearing ankle ligaments in training camp in 2019.
In 2018, Green appeared nine games for the Bengals and caught 46 passes for 694 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
We have him included in our Top 100 – 2020 Free Agents list.
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