The Cincinnati Bengals placing a franchise tag on A.J. Green is one of the NFL’s worst-kept secrets.
Mike Brown and the Bengals have been adamant since last offseason Green will remain with the team for the long-term one way or another.
Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Bengals to intend to use the tag on Green.
That’s merely a follow up on weeks of notes on the subject. Zac Taylor has stressed this point, as has director of player personnel Duke Tobin. The team’s website noted the front office will go all-out in pursuit of extensions on Green and Joe Mixon. Bengals personnel also used the Senior Bowl platform to stress Green wasn’t going anywhere. Green himself has openly talked of playing on the tag.
Perhaps most notably, probable No. 1 pick Joe Burrow has noted he’d like to play with Green.
The impasse between the Bengals and Green stems from his spotty injury history over the last few years. But Brown himself has made it clear he won’t lose Green and Green has noted he won’t hold out over a tag. Said tag estimates to check in at about $18.4 million.
When it comes to the tag, it’s always been more “when” than “if” here. The window is open, though another report suggested the CBA negotiations have stalled the long-term talks with Green and Mixon.
