While several of the NFL's top receivers spend the final hours of their respective franchise tag deadlines jockeying for new deals, the Bengals' A.J. Green will sit back and relax.
Per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, citing people who have spoken to Green, he'll be playing out the final year of his deal. The fifth-year option on Green's rookie contract is worth $10.1 million.
This doesn't come as a surprise considering the fact that Green has been open about his ambivalence toward a new contract.
Just last week, he had this to say: "I don't get into all the 'I need a contract' stuff. I'm not here for money. I'm not broke. So I'm fine. I can wait until the end of the year to get a contract, but I know that time is coming."
It's hard to say that Green is doing things the right way and that Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are doing it the wrong way. Every situation in the NFL is unique and every player has a different perception of his own value.
Outside of Bryant, though, Green has to be the most instrumental toward his team's long-term success, which makes it surprising that the Bengals haven't even entertained the possibility of a new deal yet. Maybe that was Green's idea, maybe not.
If they opt not to lock him up after this season and play the franchise tag game with Green, they'll risk upsetting a player who has not caused them any anxiety so far.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast breaks down the latest news surrounding Jason Pierre-Paul's injury, as well as the Mettenberger and Watt feud.
