A.J. Green Wants to Finish Career with Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the best players in the NFL in wide receiver A.J. Green. He’s one of the most high-profile contributors in franchise history and has youth on his side at 26 years of age.

If Green has his way, he’ll be a Bengal for life.

Green is entering the final year of his current contract with the Bengals. He’ll inevitably receive a litany of massive contract offers from teams around the NFL, but that doesn’t mean he wants to see that to happen.

As transcribed by Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Green told ABC 4 in Charleston, South Carolina that he wants to spend his entire career with the Bengals.

"“All that contract stuff really doesn’t bother me, because when you put in the work, the body of work I’ve put in, it speaks for itself,” Green told ABC 4 in Charleston, South Carolina. “So my time is coming. It’s always what great athletes dream of, to finish with the team that gave them their first opportunity. Cincinnati is a great place. We’re a great team that can be good for a long time. We’ve got a lot of young talent. So it would be great to stay there. I want to stay there. I think they’re going to get something done.”"

That would be a dream come true for Bengals fans.

Green has recorded 329 receptions for 4,874 yards and 35 touchdowns in four seasons with the Bengals. That’s good for an average of 82.3 catches, 1,218.5 receiving yards and 8.8 receiving touchdowns per season.

The numbers are not misleading.

Moving forward, one can only wonder how much money Green will command—and whether or not Cincinnati can fit his potential contract into its budget. For perspective, Demariyus Thomas just signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Denver Broncos.

Green took notice:

Interesting revelation from Demaryius Thomas in his press conference today. A.J. Green among first to text him, said "thank you."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) July 17, 2015

Connect the dots.

Green, one of the game’s most productive and consistent wide receivers, will receive offers in the neighborhood of $70 million over five years. The Bengals may have to pay even more than Thomas received if they hope to keep him.

Rightfully so.

According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Green is one of two players in NFL history to accumulate at least 300 receptions, 4,500 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns during the first four years of his career.

The other player to achieve the feat: Randy Moss.

Green is on the fast track to the Hall of Fame with four Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections. He’s also on the right path towards one of the biggest contracts a wide receiver has ever seen.

Green hopes that Cincinnati will be the team to dish out the cash.

Next: Which teams could crash the NFL Playoffs in 2015?

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