Sure, here’s a rewritten version of the piece with a more polished tone while keeping the critical perspective intact:
The Cincinnati Bengals continue to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, and there’s little indication that things are improving.
Right now, the franchise is entangled in ongoing contract disputes involving star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and first-round draft pick Shemart Stewart. Hendrickson is seeking a major extension, while Stewart remains unsigned. With both situations unresolved, it feels like something has to give—and soon.
If the Bengals can’t find a resolution, the defense—already struggling—could deteriorate further. But these issues are only the tip of the iceberg. According to recent reporting, the dysfunction within the organization runs much deeper than just contract negotiations.
So, is there anything the Bengals are doing right?
ESPN’s Sarah Barshop recently shed more light on the Bengals’ internal culture, particularly how the team treats players’ families—an important factor in the NFLPA’s organizational rankings.
“Multiple current Bengals players, who were granted anonymity to speak freely on the subject, referenced the lack of gameday amenities available to them and how difficult that can make it on their families,” Barshop reports.
“One player noted that another AFC team had an indoor cookout-style meeting area in the stadium postgame. Up until last year, when the Bengals added a postgame area inside the stadium for families to meet, they had an outdoor area beneath a large white tent roughly 20 yards away from the players’ parking lot.
One player described the tent as a ‘s–t show,’ especially when it was cold.”
It’s yet another example of how the Bengals seem stuck in the past, lagging behind other franchises in even the most basic aspects of player support. While other teams build state-of-the-art facilities and prioritize family accommodations, Cincinnati was using an outdoor tent until just last season.
In some ways, it’s almost unbelievable—though not exactly shocking, given the team’s history. One could argue they stumbled into Joe Burrow in the 2020 NFL Draft more than anything else.
To their credit, the Bengals did manage to lock up wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins earlier this offseason—deals that now seem like minor miracles. Still, it’s fair to wonder whether reallocating resources—perhaps trading Higgins to extend Hendrickson—might’ve made more sense strategically.
At the highest levels, the Bengals’ leadership continues to come off as out of touch with the demands of today’s NFL. And with cornerstone talents like Burrow and Chase already deep into their prime years, the franchise risks squandering a golden opportunity.
Unless Cincinnati gets its act together—both on and off the field—they could soon find themselves back at the bottom of the AFC. ESPN’s latest report only reinforces what many fans and players have felt for years: being a functional, modern NFL team really shouldn’t be this hard.
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