For yet another training camp, Joe Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals are dealing with more contractual issues.
This time it's on defense, with Trey Hendrickson holding out over his contract and first-round pick Shemar Stewart unsigned due to guarantee language.
"Obviously disappointing," Burrow said of the latest round of contract squabbles, via ESPN. "You'd like to have all your guys out there Day 1 to try to build that cohesion that I was talking about earlier, but that's not how it usually works out. You know, it's a business. And that is how it's gone."
The club placed Hendrickson on the reserve/did not report list on Wednesday after he returned to Florida, while Stewart remains the only unsigned first-round rookie from April's draft.
Burrow said he has been in communication with Hendrickson during the process. The QB has been through his own contract negotiation and watched the club deal with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins' situations last training camp. Impasses are nothing new for the Bengals organization.
Burrow said he understands the business of the situation from both the players and the club's point of view.
"Nobody's ever gonna fault the player for doing business how he feels he needs to," Burrow said. "It's cutthroat business. You gotta fight for everything you can get. That's how it goes."
Burrow's disappointment in the latest round of contract issues that are keeping the entire club from being on the field to open training camp comes at a time when Cincy is attempting to avoid yet another slow start to a season. To that end, Burrow will play more this preseason than he has in the past.
