Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green has not played this season due to an ankle injury. On Wednesday, the star wide receiver took the field during the team’s bye week for practice ahead of his expected season debut in Week 10.
Speaking to ESPN’s Ben Baby, Green made it clear that he does not want Cincinnati to place a franchise tag on him.
“I’m not into a one-year,” Green said on Wednesday. “Give me a long-term (deal) or just let me go.”
Although Green hasn’t touched the field this season for the 0-8 team after missing seven games last season with an injury, he was previously a valuable asset for the Bengals after the team drafted him with the fourth overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Green averages 14.8 yards per catch over the course of his eight seasons on the field. The seven-time Pro Bowler has 602 career receptions for 8,907 yards — all with Cincinnati.
But at 31-years-old and facing ongoing injury issues, there is no clarity regarding his future with his career-long team or any other. Green did insist on Wednesday that he wants to stay with the Bengals.
During his first day participating in team drills this season Wednesday, Green did make it clear that he was not going to hold out on the Bengals for the contract he wants saying, “I’m not giving free money away. I don’t care what that is,” according to NFL.com.
