A.J. Green began his career as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. Over the next five seasons, the team went 52-27-1. Green caught 415 passes for 6,171 yards and made 45 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl each year and was considered a top talent.
Now, retirement could be knocking at Green’s door. He’s 31 years old and missing the start of the season due to an injury. With his contract set to expire, many predict the Bengals will trade their receiver for the right price.
A Terrible Start for A.J. Green
The imposing shell A.J. Green once formed around the team has slowly melted away. While he tried to fight back, producing impressive yardage, the 31-year-old’s injuries have introduced new challenges.
This season, the Bengals are 0-4 and one of the worst teams in the NFL. While the Dolphins are blatantly tanking, the Bengals seem to be trying. For now, that is. During a recent game, the team ran 64 plays and held the ball for more than 30 minutes — yet they only amassed 175 yards of offense and four third-down conversions.
Green sat on the sidelines, and his reactions became a trending topic online. As the Pittsburgh Steelers dominated the Bengals 27-3 on Heinz Field, cameras caught the receiver’s unmistakable look of disgust.
When healthy, Green is one of the best wide receivers in the league. Now the Bengals look like a high school varsity team — going nowhere fast.
A Lost Cause?
Bengals fans are accustomed to disappointment, but do they have a breaking point? After the Steelers game, many believe the answer is yes.
Mike Moroski, an elected Cincinnati School Board official, tweeted a message to the Bengals encouraging them to leave. He also reminded them to pay their property taxes — for the kids.
According to Moroski, the animosity isn’t due to their dreadful playing. Instead, he claims they do nothing to improve the city, and that his comments stem from frustrations over teams using the city’s riverfront like private property.
Todd Portune, a Hamilton County commissioner, hasn’t gotten along with the Bengals either. In fact, he’s sued them twice in an attempt to get more money for taxpayers.
Portune claims he wants the Bengals to stick around. However, he believes there should be limits to what taxpayers do to keep them. He says the city should not offer any more deals.
John Cranley, the mayor of Cincinnati, also voiced his concerns, claiming taxpayers will have a never-ending commitment to pay for the stadiums.
The Bengals’ lease at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati will expire in 2026. At that time, city leaders will decide if they want to pay the estimated $300 million for upgrades or kick the team out. That may be dramatic, but how can they get better?
A Possible Trade
Green has already missed 11 games in the last two seasons. He’s now dealing with the after-effects of preseason ankle surgery and expected to miss at least two more games. Ankle injuries are very common in the NFL, so it’s not sure how long he’ll even be able to play when he’s back anyway.
Despite his past success, he is one of the few veteran receivers up on the trading block. Some believe Cincinnati should keep Green until the end of the season, then re-sign him or let him walk. If the Bengals depart the receiver, they’re guaranteed a 2021 compensatory pick.
Many believe the Bengals are searching for a new asset before Green’s contract expires. Yasiel Puig faced the same fate this year with the Cincinnati Reds.
What type of deal can A.J. Green expect as a free agent? When the 49ers traded 31-year-old Terrell Owens to the Eagles, he got a 7-year contract for $49 million. Unfortunately, Green’s injuries and absence could detract from his value on the market.
As for now, we’ll just have to wait and see.
