Despite some serious star power entering contract years, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor expects a full attendance sheet to start training camp at the end of the month.
In the wake of leaguewide news like Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon revealing he’ll hold out and perhaps demand a trade, Taylor told onlookers he’s expecting all of his guys to show up no matter what.
Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer recorded his thoughts:
“We expect our guys to be in there. We have a great group that’s really focused on helping this team do well. Business is business sometimes, but these guys are really dialed in and bought in to the things that we’re preaching. So we’re expecting everyone to be there.”
The Bengals have a little more than the Chargers have to worry about, too.
A.J. Green headlines the free-agent class for the Bengals entering training camp. Tyler Boyd isn’t far behind after his breakout season with 1,000-plus yards. If Tyler Eifert stays healthy, he’s another. A starer like Nick Vigil and role players like Giovani Bernard, Trey Hopkins and Christian Westerman are also entering contract years.
Of course, Green and Boyd are the big fish. They have both made it clear they want to stick with the team for the long term and will show up for training camp.
Traditionally speaking, it wouldn’t be a shock to see one or both get new contracts over the summer. Either way, how the Bengals have done business in the past seems to guarantee Taylor’s expectations will be met as his tenure enters its first training camp.
