In keeping with the theme of teams and players hustling to get contract matters resolved before starting their regular seasons, the Bengals and wide receiver A.J. Green have agreed to a four-year extension.
The Cincinnati Enquirer was first to report that the deal was completed Friday, just before a team-imposed deadline to finish it before the Bengals fly to Oakland for Sunday’s season opener.
The Enquirer report said Green will get more money, sooner, and on average make more per year than fellow receivers Dez Bryant, Julio Jones and Demayrius Thomas, all of whom recently signed contracts in the neighborhood of $70 million over five years.
PFT has confirmed that a key negotiating point was the Bengals not guaranteeing money past the first year, making the duration of the deal key to Green’s representatives. He signed a four-year extension worth $60 million that puts his total contract in that five-year, $70 million range; settling on a four-year deal, not five, helped the sides get the contract finalized.
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, Green has helped the Bengals to four straight playoff appearances and made four consecutive Pro Bowls while catching 329 passes for 4,874 yards and 35 touchdowns.