The Cincinnati Bengals continue to work toward a long-term contract extension for wide receiver AJ Green, with recent reports suggesting that a deal is in the offing. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported on Thursday that talks between the Bengals and Green have "ramped up significantly" over the last few days. Green, 27, is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract.
In almost direct opposition to Rapoport's report, is that of Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. Cole suggests that Green is unlikely to sign on the dotted line prior to the start of the season - which isn't really a surprise considering the season is less than three days away - and that Green's demands may be part of what is holding up a deal.
Per Cole, Green is looking to become the "second-highest paid" wide receiver in the league, eclipsing the likes of Dallas' Dez Bryant (five-years, $70 million, $45 million guaranteed), Atlanta's Julio Jones (five-years, $71.25 million, $47 million guaranteed) and Denver's Demaryius Thomas (five-years, $70 million, $43.5 million guaranteed), but slotting in somewhere below the $16.2 million per year average enjoyed by Detroit's Calvin Johnson.
This, according to Cole, makes Green's goal a deal somewhere around $15 million a year.
Unfortunately for Green, the Bengals and owner Mike Brown have become notorious for refusing to offer the kind of guaranteed money that would come along with a deal like this.
That being said, if there's any player on the roster that would be worth breaking the bank for, it's likely Green. In four NFL seasons, Green has posted over 1,000 yards every year. He's eclipsed 65 receptions every year. And he's averaged 14.0 yards per catch or more every year. And most importantly, Green's phenomenal athleticism and enormous catch radius make another important Bengal, quarterback Andy Dalton, look a whole heck of a lot better too.
In short, Green's one of the best wide receivers in the league at this point in his still-young career. While the team won't risk losing him, it sure seems like they're going to have to go against their normal operating procedure if they're going to hold onto him long-term and keep him happy.
